Which car is best suited to its beater phase?

you want something with a long production run, fleet use and or platform sharing to ensure parts support for decades to come.

That being said air cooled beetle still wins

You want something that doesn't let the rain in. That rules out GM passenger cars.

You want something that starts up even if it's below 50 / above 60. That rules out anything manufactured by Toyota, unless it has fuel injection (and even then, I'm less than confident in their ignition systems).

You don't want to be inhaling antifreeze. That rules out a lot of 1990s-era "we're figuring out aluminum / oooooh it's orange for some reason" crap.

What's still standing after all those rounds of elimination? 1987 - 1993 2.3L Mustang.

Provided rust isn't an issue, I've found the A2 VWs to be made out of awesomeness. Parts are dirt cheap, engines run forever, easy to work on.

Toyota/Nissan/Datsun/Mazda pickups from the 80s/90s.

S10s with the iron duke and a stick

F100/150s with the 300-I6 and a stick

calteg wrote: I had an interesting opportunity the other day. I came across a really cheap, well maintained 2G prius. 2005 with 100k and leather. I talked the guy down to $4,000 and thought that was a pretty good deal. Then I did the math. Long story short, it would have taken four years just to make up the price differential vs my current 33mpg Prizm. At that point the prius would have 180k, and likely need a battery pack, setting me right back to 0. It struck me as odd, since it a 47mpg prius vs 33mpg prizm seemed like a no-brainer.

Please dear god share any more deals you find like that with us. ANY 2G Prius is still $6K+ in my search area, and thats even with well over 200k miles.

Battery failures are insanely low on those cars. Even if you are one of the 1% or so that needs a replacement before 200k miles, it doesn't cost nearly the $3K you'd save over a Prism in 80k miles.

Toyota Hilux

Just try and kill one

I see more of these around in southeast MI than just about anything else the same age.

4th/5th generation Maxima

e30

Look for cars that had plenty made! This ensures a better parts availability down the road. Lower options make for less to break, but also means no options!

Cars that have a good track record is helpful too. Parts that span various other models or even makes is a plus.

That being said, I drive a 1991 Escort Pony as a daily beater. Cosmetic parts are pretty much 91-96 but functional parts are good up till 2002 with many fun upgrades and a good aftermarket for parts.Mazda parts are used too.

I'm sure these guidelines can be applied to other makes and models, but I know my Escorts with 389,000 miles so I will let others speak for them.

Bruce

I think that pretty much all the domestic and import economy cars fit in this category. Who has had a Sentra or a Cavalier break down all the time?

I would say the GMT400 line of trucks, 88-98. I sold mine with 370K + Km on it and it ran flawlessly, was comfortable, everything worked(including a/c, power windows) only rust was cab corners and one fender and parts were dirt cheap and I could find a major engine part at 11PM....on a Saturday....at 7/11. Also it can tow pretty well any project car you throw at it and haul anything the wife/girlfriend decrees is most important from Home Depot/Pier One/Costco. Bought it for $1400....best truck ever.

Will wrote: I'm convinced that no car will run longer in worse condition than a Toyota, and that my MR2 is indestructible.

I'll take that bet! I can't remember how many times the wife would tell me that someting was wrong and the red genie lamp was on again because it had a half quart of oil left and she'd been driving it a week.

How did we get this far without mention of panther platform cars? As others have noted the more that were made, the better your parts availability.

In 8 years of banger rallying we learned a few lessons which seem to be echoed here.

An old GM with a V8 will run poorly longer than most cars will run and just keep on doing it.

Any large American car/truck is usually pretty easy for roadside service and parts availability no matter where you find yourself broken down.

Unique cars come with unique problems. I love air cooled VWs but not when I need a front brake slave cylinder at 4 in the afternoon in the middle of nowhere Tennessee. And that's at least a unique car that was produced in mass quantities. The weirder you get the worse it is.

ryanty22 wrote: Saw a dude today that had a b2200 with over a million miles 1,000,000 miles=beater supreme

I was going to post with "Anything Mazda F2-powered." You beat me to it.

My MX6 is squarely in "beater" category, and that's the way i like it. It's the best beater ever, handles neglect just fine, and even with a horribly blown head gasket, gave not one single E36 M3 for years of abuse, while pulling good MPGs and ripping the tires off in 3rd gear the whole time.

I didn't even have to change the oil, because it was leaking and burning so much of it.

These cars are manufactured from pure Japanese WTF, and that's why they make awesome beaters. The problem is that they also make great "nice" cars if you're into 80s goodness, and there's not many left, so there's always this inner struggle of wanting to make it nice again, but also being able to just point and laugh when it's assaulted by a shopping cart in a parking lot.

Swank Force One wrote: These cars are manufactured from pure Japanese WTF . . .

I'm pretty sure this is quote worthy material . . .

I believe mndsm actually coined that phrase, just so i don't steal all the fame and glory.

Best beater ever = slant six Valiant

In reply to spitfirebill:

This. In my dumber days, I'd run my /6 truck until the lifters started tapping then add three quarts of oil.

I've had 2 slant six valiants. There are a number of cars in this thread that are way better beaters.

Ford ZX2. All the cheap used parts of other Escorts but a newer body, which usually means less rust. Unfortunately a lot of people still think these things are worth something so the vast majority are over priced. I won't pay more than $1000 for one, but when I do they typically last for quite a few years, despite higher mileage.

One problem with enthusiasts cars like Miata and E30 is that people capitalize on the "want" of folks to have them. Part of the reason junky Miatas are outrageously expensive. That being said, my cheap junky Miata has dealt with my constant beating and has faired well.