Help Me Pick my Next Beater!

[CJFusco]

Well, it looks like my Olds is dead (or, at least, it isn't worth fixing, IMHO). I've already started thinking about what to get next...

What I would be looking for is something cheap, reliable, and somewhat fuel-efficient, but NOT a complete POS. This is a 2nd car to get me through winter and errand running, so I don't rack up unneccesary mileage/wear-and-tear on my Porsche.

I have a couple possible cars in mind, and would like to hear if anyone has any opinions:

VW Golf or Jetta
Early 1990s Audis
Volvo 740 and 850
Saab 900
Jeep Cherokee (I have my reasons)

I have seen a few classified ads/eBay auctions for some of these examples, in decent condition, for under $1000.

[AFC-911]

Subaru

[Neilk]

This is the only time you will hear this from me regarding cars, but I'd buy American. Parts prices on European cars are too expensive for a beater. Although after your recent experience, I could understand your trepidation.

[notfarnow]

Why not a Corolla or Civic?

[Z-man]

Originally posted by AFC-911
Subaru

+1.

My '95 Legacy has 190,000 miles on the clock - I've owned it since new, and it never gave me any problems.

[scottmandue]

The jeep Cherokee is the least cool of all those cars but my experience from people who have owned them is that they refuse to die.

It's got 4wd and definitely has a "don't give a $hit what happens to it" factor which is what you probably are looking for in a beater.

Just my two cents.

[thamlin000]

Originally posted by notfarnow
Why not a Corolla or Civic?

Agreed, if reliability is required. GF has a 99 Corolla with 110K mi since new. All she has done is changed the oil and replaced the brakes. Neither American nor Euro cars can match that from what I've seen.

[CJFusco]

A Cherokee was my first car. It was a 86 with the 4.0 V6; basically, it was an 4WD steel box. That thing could take a SERIOUS beating, did very well in all conditions, and even had a little pep - although I wouldn't recommend turning at-speed.

Even as my Jeep's body was falling apart - my father sat on the back bumper one day, and it fell off in a rain of rust pieces, and was held on with bungee cords from then on - the engine ran strong to well over 250K miles.

[stevepaa]

Go get a 1992 Volvo wagon, it has a bullet proof engine and will never fail you.


Nothing newer. 1993 and above all have their peculiar deficiencies.

[rammstein]

Having experienced 2 early 90s Audis, I would recommend putting your wallet and money into a blender. If you enjoy this experience, then go ahead and get one.

Interestingly CJ, I am in the same boat as you in a couple of months. I made a thread about it awhile back. I think that no matter what, age is a factor, and IMO more important than mileage. The greatest Japanese cars in the world still use rubber and plastic that degrade.

My drove my grandmother's Saab back in the day, and that car was lovable in a weird, underpowered (it was an auto) kind of way. Super super versatile, HUGE hatch. But that was a real Saab, and I don't know how well they hold up being so old now.

[CurtEgerer]

Jeep Cherokee with the in-line 190HP 6. I sold mine to my dad many years ago with 190,000. He sold it several years later with 260,000 miles stilling running strong and looking great with the original motor. I really liked that vehicle. I know of several others with similar stories.

Avoid used Saabs and Audis! Well, one particular used Audi is OK in my book .....

[911boost]

Jeep Cherokee. We used 3 of them as patrol vehicles, different drives, on the road probably about 18 hours a day, and they ran and ran and ran. When I left Minnesota and moved to Colorado, each of them had over 200,000 miles on em and were still going strong as back up vehicles.

The were just the normal run of the mill versions, nothing fancy, the 4.0 six with 4wd.

Bill

[legion]

Of those?

Jeep Cherokee.

You're asking for some major wallet-aches with everything else.

[CJFusco]

Interestingly, the feedback on this board matches up perfectly with those I've talked to in the "real world". My experience with Jeeps puts them in good standing, and quite a few people have recommended Volvos.

[madmmac]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by rammstein
[B]Having experienced 2 early 90s Audis, I would recommend putting your wallet and money into a blender. If you enjoy this experience, then go ahead and get one.

Now that made me laugh.

Out of your list, the Jeep would be my ONLY consideration. Some are immediate money pits, the others, long term money pits.

Camry or Accord......

[notfarnow]

Originally posted by madmmac
[Some are immediate money pits, the others, long term money pits.

I'll certainly vouch for the VW Jetta/Golf fitting that description, especially if you're talking $1000-1500 cars.

I'll say it again, for sub 3k cars Toyota & Honda give the best bang for the buck. They may not be all that much fun or have a lot of personality, but they WORK. I've never met a $1500 jetta or golf that did, and I've owned four of the ####ers.

[pwd72s]

Originally posted by Neilk
This is the only time you will hear this from me regarding cars, but I'd buy American. Parts prices on European cars are too expensive for a beater. Although after your recent experience, I could understand your trepidation.

+1...parts availability is a ***** on "foreign" cars. You can walk into any small town auto parts store & find parts for a small block chevy...

[ckissick]

Winter errands for under $1000? How about this baby?



It can had for 600 bucks on TheSamba.com.

[928ram]

Cherokee. Station wagon on top of Wrangler underpinnings; fully capable in the muck and snow or off-road, plus the space to haul some stuff around. I've got a '95 4x4 5-spd 4.0 120K miles and get right at 20 mpg in combined driving.

[DeutschMark]

Another plug for the Cherokee. Its low-tech, cheap, and easy to fix. There are several good Jeep internet forums also.