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Think I have the oldest beater of anyone on this forum? Or at least a car driven daily I drive this all winter. Cost of ownership is lower than just about anything out there including new cars.
You don't have a Tesla? Come on....you're slipping.
2003 Corolla (EU-spec 3door 3zz-fe(1.6l destroked 1zz) sol-spec). Front bumper, undercovers and so on are mostly held by zipties. Beater means "car when my main car is down", which very rarely happens for long enough (>2 hours) to be a problem, but lead time for parts for relatively rare japanese vehicles here is... 2-3 weeks on average, so you never know. Its other and main use is any and all kinds of "off-roading" shenanigans (my village is pretty much at the base of a mountain... well, a bit up the slope). You'd be surprised how capable these little things are, which I guess explains the zipties
Join the club . Just need it to last my wife another ~2 years (33K miles). Once it hits 200K, it'll probably go back to the body shop where I bought it (probably worth more as parts car).
My beater / project car, a 2008 TSX 6MT w/ 200K miles i got in 2018 is now my daily driver after i sold my 14 IS350 due to ridiculous used car prices. Had to take those funds and buy a 17 MDX Hybrid for a family vehicle. Lexus is leaving so much money on the table by not producing a proper competitor for this vehicle.
Sold my 07 TSX 6MT beater with 185,000 miles in Feb. I miss it daily and was hoping the new Integra might take its spot in the driveway. After seeing the prototype, now I am thinking Civic instead.
I was dailying my 92 SC300 (half assed two tone paint ((I know I'm going to miss it when its gone)), dead suspension) , now I'm beating my 09 Challenger RT and fixing the 92. I just picked up a 95 SC300 that I'll be keeping stock and putting around in.
these 3 cars DO NOT get good gas mileage, highway average of probably 20-24 across the board. That isn't what I look for in a vehicle though. I've owned a few uninteresting cars, and my thought process on it is life is wayyyyyy to short to not drive something you truly enjoy. Overall they are reliable cars that haven't caused me many issues. If any of you are contemplating a first gen modern chrysler/dodge I'd probably advise you to stay away though. The build quality is kind of trash tier. Fun car that starts and drives every time though.
42k
160k
84k
My 92 is never going to see bad weather again, so its officially a retired beater
... I've owned a few uninteresting cars, and my thought process on it is life is wayyyyyy to short to not drive something you truly enjoy...
Same. My last beater was a gold 2000 Corolla with just around 190k miles on it. Sadly, it died and I just never bothered to replace it. I know everyone's situation is different but I realized I honestly didn't need another beater. And I'd rather spend my time behind the wheel of something I enjoy driving.
I know the IS300 isn't exactly topping any lists in terms of being a true "driver's machine" or anything like that, but I love driving it.
Sold my 07 TSX 6MT beater with 185,000 miles in Feb. I miss it daily and was hoping the new Integra might take its spot in the driveway. After seeing the prototype, now I am thinking Civic instead.
Curious how much you got for it? I don't think i'll ever sell this car. I got it in 2018 for $2400 with a fried clutch, bad AC Compressor and broken interior pieces, but after a few trips to junk yards and doing the clutch myself it's been working great. It's really the perfect DD. My mind might change if i could find the accord 6MT or civic SI/ type R for a reasonable price though lol
I once bought a "beater" car, within two weeks I absolutely hated driving it. Never again, unless if I was to live in a northern climate, then I would get a winter beater, something like a Jeep Rubicon for the snow days.
That's why I own a beater can't bring myself to drive nice cars on salty roads.
For me it's this and having to haul engines/large parts around plus the mulch trailer in spring.
I also derive a sort of sick pleasure driving such a worse car than my LS then going back to it after a few days. Makes it feel ultra nice for the first few hours
I also derive a sort of sick pleasure driving such a worse car than my LS then going back to it after a few days. Makes it feel ultra nice for the first few hours
lol I know the feeling. Also for cars I don't drive for a few months in a way forget what the car is like.
Come on....you're slipping. 
. Just need it to last my wife another ~2 years (33K miles). Once it hits 200K, it'll probably go back to the body shop where I bought it (probably worth more as parts car).
