Beater time...

[Juice]

I'm moving up to Washington soon (Yes, that's 4 states I'll have lived in since joining here), and I'll be damned if I drive either of my cars in the salt and crap.

I'd like to find a beater, and I don't have my heart set on anything in particular. I've been eyeballing P71s, but I'm open to anything. Ideas?

Budget: 5-7k, but closer to 5 or less is always better.

[Taemian]

Whidbey Island?

[Mr. Man]

Rains a lot up there so you might not want a convertible.:lol: How about a 90's Mustang GT?:)

[DOOM]

CVPI FTW!!! :banana2:

[05crownsport]

1980s Rabbit diesel! I've had mine for about three weeks now...I have put almost one thousand miles on it and filled the fuel tank once so far...I felt guilty not getting gas twice a week! NOT!

[slickster]

3cyl geo metro. 50mpg. Easy to work on

[Shaijack]

Not so Smart Car?????????

[Juice]

Whidbey Island?

PSNS in Bremerton.


Rains a lot up there so you might not want a convertible.:lol: How about a 90's Mustang GT?:)

I saw a 89 notch 5.0 up there for a decent price. I already have a Mudstain though, I don't know if I could stomach having two.


CVPI FTW!!! :banana2:

In all reality that's probably what I'm going to get. They are dirt cheap and usually have the best maintenance history of any high mile car. Hard to beat the value of those things.


1980s Rabbit diesel! I've had mine for about three weeks now...I have put almost one thousand miles on it and filled the fuel tank once so far...I felt guilty not getting gas twice a week! NOT!

Talk about out of left field haha. I'll have to look into it.

[Juice]

3cyl geo metro. 50mpg. Easy to work on

There's beaters and then there's beaters. That is definitely the latter. I'm not sure I'd be willing to be seen in one of those. :lol:

[Mr. Man]

How about a 4x4? I hear there's some good trail ridin' up that way. You might hook-up with a 4wd club and have fun on the weekends doing some 4 wheelin'.:)

[Juice]

It's crossed my mind, but this beater would also be my commute to work car, and 4x4s aren't particularly known for their fuel economy. I'm not die hard gotta get the best mileage, but I can't see myself doing much off roading.

On a similar note though, I have been thinking about older Subaru's, maybe even a WRX and get in on some turbo AWD action. Having that extra traction during the winter months is always helpful.

[Mr. Man]

My Mom has an Outback and loves it. Gets her around in the NH Winters and she says it has never left her stranded.

[ImpalaSlayer]

f150 or bronco 96 or older ftw! can be had cheap out there.

[TAKEDOWN]

I'm moving up to Washington soon (Yes, that's 4 states I'll have lived in since joining here), and I'll be damned if I drive either of my cars in the salt and crap.

I'd like to find a beater, and I don't have my heart set on anything in particular. I've been eyeballing P71s, but I'm open to anything. Ideas?

Budget: 5-7k, but closer to 5 or less is always better.


At the end I went with a 04 CVPI, and she does her job!

[Spectragod]

I just picked up a 08' Grand Marquis LS for a winter beater. I say any Panther platform you will do well with.

[rayjay]

FWIW, Mustangs are not that great in snow, even with snowshoes on. Too light in rear.

[Fosters]

I don't know how anyone can live without a truck/suv of some kind... I for one am always at Home Depot/harbor freight/lowes/etc picking up some awkward thing or some big car parts - wheels/tires/etc...

if it's gonna be a winter beater and has to be good on gas, jetta diesel wagon or focus wagon. lotsa room + fuel economy + wrong wheel drive = decent in snow.

[slickster]

Vw jetta tdi. 45mpg and will not hurt to look at

[rayjay]

Vw jetta tdi. 45mpg and will not hurt to look at

Until it breaks... My superior had one. He loved the mileage, hated the repair bills, but he bought another one NIB a couple years ago.

Personally I kinda like my little yellow Evil Orb (Aveo hatch), 4 studded snowshoes on and it will go through most anything. 32mpg in the winter.

[Fosters]

Until it breaks... My superior had one. He loved the mileage, hated the repair bills, but he bought another one NIB a couple years ago.

Personally I kinda like my little yellow Evil Orb (Aveo hatch), 4 studded snowshoes on and it will go through most anything. 32mpg in the winter.

That's why I suggested the focus also... I had a tdi, got 47 around town, 51 all hwy. Damn thing ran and looked perfect at 158k miles, but maintenance and any repairs on it were vicious.

1200 dollar timing belt
100 dollar fuel filters every 10k miles
50 dollar oil changes
etc.

In the end, you break even with a focus getting 20mpg less, but it comes down to preference basically.

Also, on the older TDI's, get a manual... the autos suck (you'll find quite a few cheap auto cars that need a tranny). They're japanese trannys and they're built like a pocket watch.

[Chayton]

3cyl geo metro. 50mpg. Easy to work on

one of the worlds ugliest

[Guittard22]

Just got my p71 fixed man it feels good to have her back . you really can't kill the v8 blocks they have but you will kill every thing around the car....they will go 300K or more mine has 116K on it worth every penny

[Kodimar]

I'd say go with a Focus. Just make sure to get one with the Duratec or Zetec motors as the older SPI motors tend to drop valve seats. Although the SPI does get better gas mileage.

They do pretty well in the ice and snow as well.

[2,4shofast]

I just picked up a 02 Jag X-Type for a winter beater that is in your price range. The AWD is awesome in the winter time. I would get a 04 or new however if I had to do it again. There were a lot of little changes the first few years. That is what I would recommend.