What happened to "beaters?"

[Tattylou]

Some states have strict inspections for cars and you won’t pass with duct tape and crazy rust and all that.

 

[tvguy]

Some states have strict inspections for cars and you won’t pass with duct tape and crazy rust and all that.

We just have a smog check every other year here in California.
My wife's cousin lived in St. Louis and they had safety inspections there that were a joke. It was just a scam where the inspection place would fail you for something just make money fixing it.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

We just have a smog check every other year here in California.
My wife's cousin lived in St. Louis and they had safety inspections there that were a joke. It was just a scam where the inspection place would fail you for something just make money fixing it.

I can't say that's an issue with safety inspections, that sounds like there's some places there in STL who are not so honest.

I haven't heard of anyone of the people I know living on the MO side in KC stating they feel inspections were a scam designed for the place to make money (just my experience). Do they complain about having to do an inspection? Sure, but not stating that the inspection is designed as a scam to get more money by creating fails to get you to repair something unnecessarily, that's an individual place issue and if they do that for inspections chances are that's their business model to do it for normal repairs too. And they probably have a reputation for doing so too.

 

[tvguy]

I can't say that's an issue with safety inspections, that sounds like there's some places there in STL who are not so honest.

I haven't heard of anyone of the people I know living on the MO side in KC stating they feel inspections were a scam designed for the place to make money (just my experience). Do they complain about having to do an inspection? Sure, but not stating that the inspection is designed as a scam to get more money by creating fails to get you to repair something unnecessarily, that's an individual place issue and if they do that for inspections chances are that's their business model to do it for normal repairs too. And they probably have a reputation for doing so too.

I think they have reformed the inspection system there since this happened. They claimed my wife's cousin's car needed new valve lifters. What do lifters have to do with safety? Absolutely nothing. Oh, the entire engine was brand new.

 

[GAN]

I've got a couple options but one is a beater and I love driving it. 2009 Ford Escape with 175,000 ...it's still comfortable and runs well. The interior is in relatively good shape for riding with a 100lb dog. The exterior suffers from some rust around the rear wheel wells and the paint is meh but other than that I'll probably drive it till it stops. My daughter has been driving it recently while she waits for her Bronco and I can't wait to get it back! Beaters rule...

 

[tvguy]

I've got a couple options but one is a beater and I love driving it. 2009 Ford Escape with 175,000 ...it's still comfortable and runs well. The interior is in relatively good shape for riding with a 100lb dog. The exterior suffers from some rust around the rear wheel wells and the paint is meh but other than that I'll probably drive it till it stops. My daughter has been driving it recently while she waits for her Bronco and I can't wait to get it back! Beaters rule...

I guess I would have to see it, but a 2009 is kind of new to be a beater in my book. The company I retired from last year just retired the last of the 2006 Escape Hybrids they had in the fleet, and it was only retired because it was totaled. Corporate policy is cars can't be replaced until they hit 250,000 miles.

 

[GAN]

I guess I would have to see it, but a 2009 is kind of new to be a beater in my book. The company I retired from last year just retired the last of the 2006 Escape Hybrids they had in the fleet, and it was only retired because it was totaled. Corporate policy is cars can't be replaced until they hit 250,000 miles.

I think everyone can define their own beater ...to me, it's my beater. Another person might think it's a luxurious ride. To me, a beater is a car you drive around that you aren't really worried about(maybe only to work or on the weekends) and be satisfied if it died tomorrow. I guess we should get a clear definition... LOL

 

[tvguy]

I think everyone can define their own beater ...to me, it's my beater. Another person might think it's a luxurious ride. To me, a beater is a car you drive around that you aren't really worried about(maybe only to work or on the weekends) and be satisfied if it died tomorrow. I guess we should get a clear definition... LOL

LOL. Like I said I retired my family car 4 years ago after driving it for 31 years. My wife's SUV was 20 years old when we traded it in in 2020 and the dealer put it up for sale on their lot for $6,000 more than we got as a trade in. And this was in July 2020 before their was a shortage of new and used cars. Unlike you, I still would have been worried if one of them died. They never did (other than needing a new battery)

 

[GAN]

LOL. Like I said I retired my family car 4 years ago after driving it for 31 years. My wife's SUV was 20 years old when we traded it in in 2020 and the dealer put it up for sale on their lot for $6,000 more than we got as a trade in. And this was in July 2020 before their was a shortage of new and used cars. Unlike you, I still would have been worried if one of them died. They never did (other than needing a new battery)

That's incredible! And I'm with you -I haven't traded in or sold a car in over 10-years ...which explains why I have a couple(that and the kids are buying their own now). Before this shortage I always figured why sell a car for less than it's worth to me -it's rare to getting equal or greater value when unloading a car.

But, if someone said "this is my beater" to me that indicates they have another car sitting in their driveway.

 

[Colleen27]

Some states have strict inspections for cars and you won’t pass with duct tape and crazy rust and all that.

Yeah, I could see that being an issue. I'm not in an inspection state but I looked up the standards and it sounds like my daily driver wouldn't pass in some states because of an exhaust leak and a few other minor issues that I haven't dealt with yet or don't plan to resolve at all (ie 1 burnt-out LED in a 13-light brake light bar at the top of my rear window; the part alone runs almost $300 and requires taking apart the entire hatch door to install, so I'm not fixing it as long as the other 12 LEDs are working!). I'd imagine some of the standards I found make it near impossible to keep an older car on the road, though most states' information on the standards is vague/subjective enough to leave me wondering what would and wouldn't cause a vehicle to fail.

 

[tvguy]

That's incredible! And I'm with you -I haven't traded in or sold a car in over 10-years ...which explains why I have a couple(that and the kids are buying their own now). Before this shortage I always figured why sell a car for less than it's worth to me -it's rare to getting equal or greater value when unloading a car.

But, if someone said "this is my beater" to me that indicates they have another car sitting in their driveway.

I guess you have a beater at your house 6 days a week as most of the U.S. Postal vehicles are over 30 years old, some 35 years old. Fleets are all about getting the lowest cost per mile and to do that you fix, not replace a vehicle when it breaks down.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I think everyone can define their own beater ...to me, it's my beater. Another person might think it's a luxurious ride. To me, a beater is a car you drive around that you aren't really worried about(maybe only to work or on the weekends) and be satisfied if it died tomorrow. I guess we should get a clear definition... LOL

Oh no my beater is most def. something I worry about and I would NOT be satisfied if it died tomorrow, it's my mode of transportation my Annabelle (yup she's got a name). Many people who drive beat up cars..they do so because they don't want to, don't have the funds to, etc get a new car. Generally speaking beaters are ones that are older in age and are showing their age lol

Newer cars can fall into this category but I doubt that people are sitting there saying "if it dies tomorrow meh whatever" I mean why else keep the car and pay for it with insurance and property tax (if your state does that) and gas costs and other maintenance costs.

 

[MrsPete]

Plenty of beaters around here. School parking lots are a mix of old and new, parents and kids cars.

We have a few in our school parking lot -- I'd say 5%. Certainly not common.

Well, I am into classic cars and own a 1965 Mustang.

I'd love to drive a '65 Mustang!

No idea. People like debt more these days.

I don't know that I agree with "like" debt more, but I think people are a whole lot more accepting of debt today.

 

[tvguy]

I'd love to drive a '65 Mustang!

To be honest, it is a beast compared to modern cars. No power steering.

 

[Tattylou]

We just have a smog check every other year here in California.
My wife's cousin lived in St. Louis and they had safety inspections there that were a joke. It was just a scam where the inspection place would fail you for something just make money fixing it.

Massachusetts has gotten pretty strict with their inspections. They’ll even fail you for tint that is too dark or too much rust.

 

[GAN]

Oh no my beater is most def. something I worry about and I would NOT be satisfied if it died tomorrow, it's my mode of transportation my Annabelle (yup she's got a name). Many people who drive beat up cars..they do so because they don't want to, don't have the funds to, etc get a new car. Generally speaking beaters are ones that are older in age and are showing their age lol

Newer cars can fall into this category but I doubt that people are sitting there saying "if it dies tomorrow meh whatever" I mean why else keep the car and pay for it with insurance and property tax (if your state does that) and gas costs and other maintenance costs.

Again ...to me, the term"beater" refers to a car you "beat on". If you need the car -it can't be a beater(well it could if you don't care for it) ...at least not in my definition. It might be a (you know what)box but not a beater.

Maybe it's a regional thing...

 

[Sinder]

According to Autolist a beater is an older car with high mileage that still runs. Maybe be a bit ugly to look at but does the job of getting you from point A to point B.
Some people refer to their beater cars as their daily drivers using them to get to and from work or for work (deliveries).

My definition of beater is the same. An older car, high mileage that most likely has some cosmetic damage. It starts to show its age in looks and maintenance. It doesn't mean a car you beat on on purpose, but more that if something goes wrong it isn't worth the money to fix it and it's time to find a newer beater.

 

[GAN]

According to Autolist a beater is an older car with high mileage that still runs. Maybe be a bit ugly to look at but does the job of getting you from point A to point B.
Some people refer to their beater cars as their daily drivers using them to get to and from work or for work (deliveries).

My definition of beater is the same. An older car, high mileage that most likely has some cosmetic damage. It starts to show its age in looks and maintenance. It doesn't mean a car you beat on on purpose, but more that if something goes wrong it isn't worth the money to fix it and it's time to find a newer beater.

Agree it could be that -like I said. When I said "beat on" in quotes that wasn't meant to be literal ...but more that if you got a ding or your buddy lays his tool box on it, you're not going to be upset. Plenty of people consider a "beater" a car that you continue to maintain and repair; because they want to be inconspicuous, are just plain cheap, or simply enjoy the freedom that comes from driving something they don't need to worry about.

 

[ChrisFL]

I think someone else alluded to this, but 20-25 year old cars don't necessarily look "old" like we expect.

This is a 2002 Toyota Camry

This is a 2000 Chevy Impala

 

[GAN]

I think someone else alluded to this, but 20-25 year old cars don't necessarily look "old" like we expect.

This is a 2002 Toyota Camry

This is a 2000 Chevy Impala

Good looking rides ...but you better check under the hood of that Camry. It looks like it might be parked in front of a cemetery. Coincidence?