wtb: winter beater dd

I'm looking for something to drive at least for the winter and possibly keep longer term. I'm already perusing craigslist and the like, so this is geared more towards any 'spare' cars you might have sitting around or if you know of someone selling something like what I'm looking for.

I would definitely prefer minimal rust, manual trans, capable of over 30mpg, hatch or wagon, and under $2010 obviously. 4x100 with a Miata center-bore (54.1?) would be nice too

Small trucks are also in the running.

Closer to Dayton (south west-ish) Ohio is better, but I'm not averse to the fly-n-drive.

Models of particular interest: Mazda 323, Escort, Protege, Tracer, Mx-3, Tercel, Corolla, Echo, Sentra, Aspire, Metro...

I have a truly beat (and quite rusty) 89 Civic Wagon with a B18A1 i'm looking to get rid of soon. I need to find a replacement car first. It needs a tire, brake line, and driver's axle ASAP. Also needs new driver's side doors. The rest of the problems are pretty minor.

Definitely a beater but i put 9,000 miles on it delivering newspapers. I'm in Dayton as well. You can drive it home and it would be cheap.

Jacques

Hey, me too!

I found a Volvo 245 turbo in Dayton today and called on it but got no answer, now the ad is gone.

There is a 94 Swift in Chillicothe with a 4 cyl 5 speed. May be a GT, I'm not sure if any swifts had a 4 cyl other than the GT/GTi

Most of them did. The 3 cylinder was rare in a Swift.

Check the front frame rails.

http://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/2009797241.html

http://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/2009789419.html

http://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/2009701470.html

http://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/2009591062.html

http://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/2007552195.html

Hey Chris, check this one out, I'd be looking at it if I had space for another car:

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/2010811656.html

I got a yugo! :)

Thanks for the leads folks, keep 'em coming.

http://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/2006433030.html

Don't know what it looks like, but I'm guessing rusty. If you want me to go look at it just let me know.

Stan

EvanB wrote: Hey, me too! I found a Volvo 245 turbo in Dayton today and called on it but got no answer, now the ad is gone. There is a 94 Swift in Chillicothe with a 4 cyl 5 speed. May be a GT, I'm not sure if any swifts had a 4 cyl other than the GT/GTi

Oh, too bad. I just sold my '95 Swift for $500 to some guy that wanted to save gas. I had just rebuilt 1.3L 4-cyl. It had this amazing electronic carburetor... I think they called it "throttle body injection". The poor thing will probably never see an autox course again, but I had to get rid of it.

Anyway, I'd check and see if this is still for sale (Swift GT!): http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/cto/1988880728.html

Having previously owned a rusty metro, I would be wary of one with a hole in the floor board. Not that the floor board is a big deal, but if it's that rusty the front "frame horns" are likely to be quite rotted.

What's wrong with just a Miata? One of the best winter cars I've owned.

I'd like to keep my Miata as not-rusty as possible (it's been stored in the winters) and may be selling it in the Spring. I did have to drive it for a few days last winter and I agree that with the hard top, snow tires, and viscous diff it was a pleasure to drive in the snow.

cghstang wrote: Having previously owned a rusty metro, I would be wary of one with a hole in the floor board. Not that the floor board is a big deal, but if it's that rusty the front "frame horns" are likely to be quite rotted.

I know what you mean. I installed a 4-point brace under the front end to (hopefully) help keep the lower control arm mounts from falling apart. Although, my "frame horns" weren't really that bad, especially compared to the rocker panels (or lack thereof). Those GT's are hard to find, and a rotted out floor board could just be the result of an interior leak. I am probably too optimistic; everything is a rust bucket around here.

Personally, I like having a POS pickup for a beater. The body can rust straight off it, but the frame is still good for long time. The handing sucks, though.

Eastside, Looks like there may have been some shenanigans involved with that CRX: Florence crx hf scam

I think I'm shifting my focus towards mini trucks, Fords and Toyotas in particular.

Stan, did you ever do anything with those Crown Vic wheels?

Well, if you want to come to GA for it, I'm probably going to get rid of my well-beaten '92 Sentra SE-R. It is the defination of rough but runs very well. Previously hit hard in the rear and poorly repaired. Exhaust leak from cobbled-together pipes, No A/C (like it matters in the dead of winter.....), radio works occasionally, 275k-ish miles, cracked dash, wonky drivers seat. No rust tho! And it's going for somewhere in the $750 range.

cghstang wrote: Stan, did you ever do anything with those Crown Vic wheels?

Yes, sold them. I'm in the middle of a "clean-sweep" to get down to as few parts and extras as possible. Looking to sell my crx parts this weekend (crx meet in Springfield) and the rest at the swapmeet in Chillicothe the 6th of November. I'm also selling "my" (was my son's) '98 Saturn SL that has a cracked head.

Trying to get ready for that elusive V8 Mustang when it shows up un-officially while officially I'm cleaning out the garage so the wife can park her car in there for the winter.....

I do still have the Toyota P/U, but it just seems to be too handy to get rid of. If you get a mini truck are you just going to weigh the rear down and use snows?

In reply to stan:

Yep, snows all around and weight in the bed is the plan.

http://chillicothe.craigslist.org/cto/2013437158.html

http://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/2013962876.html

Do you still have the zx2?

Yep, still have the ZX2. I'd like to keep it long term for rallycross primarily. I've got a lsd to put in over the winter along with some other modifications and maintenance items to take care of.

http://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/2016937849.html