What do you think would make the ideal beater for you, and why? What circumstances would you be using the car under, and what are some of the pros and cons of your choice?

IMO, a late '70s/early '80s Mercedes Benz 300D saloon is the ideal beater. I still miss my '83. I'd love to have another for normal daily driving (and a gutted, first-gen Miata for fun).

Pros: The 300D is one of the most solid-feeling cars I've ever driven. Cars like this gave M-B their "bank vault" reputation. The doors shut with that distinctive German "thunk," and no road abrasion ever produced a rattle or unsettling feeling behind the wheel. You could feel the road, but it felt as if the car were punishing the potholes instead of the other way around. The engine, a turbocharged, 3 litre, five-cylinder diesel, provided excellent low-end grunt for getting around town and typically returned 25~28 mpg. This engine is known for lasting nearly forever with many examples logging well over 300,000 miles without a rebuild. In addition, it is a great size, just right for carrying three passengers yet small enough to be easy to maneuver. On the few occasions I worked on it I found it easy to work on and parts were reasonably priced.

Cons: The vacuum-operated power door locks and other accessories were prone to malfunction. And it is an old car, so there will be more maintenance required than a new car. It is probably becomming more difficult to find examples in good condition.

 

a good beater is one that drives good, is good on gas, reliable, and cheap to maintain. my DX hatch is a perfect example of that. best $1500 I ever spent.

btw this isnt ITR related

 

Ideal beater.. hmmm something RWD, boosted, manual, can seat four, has A/C (I am in florida after all )..

82-85 Supra with a CT26/86.5+ exh manifold/etc bolted to it
85-88 Cressida with the same as above + supra 5speed tranny
88-89 Conquest/Starion (already got one)
89-91 RX7 TurboII (stock)
88-91 RX7 Vert with TurboII swap

Now for a less practical beater car I'd probably say:
E30 3series
MK1 NA MR2
Mk2 Turbo MR2
3rd gen RX7


Modified by dawhiteboy at 3:42 PM 4/29/2003

 

If I lived in an area where I actually had to deal with a change of seasons, and also had access to unpaved back roads, I'd have to pick up something AWD and boosted:

Celica All-Trac
Mazda 323 GTX

Cons: They are hard to find in a decent condition and they only become more rare as time goes on.

 

An ideal beater = ITR.

 

92 dx hatch

 

see sig.

-rwd
-boost
-status symbol
-257K+ miles (stock long block)
-stick shift
-two door
-pimp juice (nelly style)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CACK ***! &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">btw this isnt ITR related </TD></TR></TABLE>

this is ITR related if you own an ITR

 

I always wanted the A-Team Van with a hotted up motor and **** carpet in the back.

 

It says OT, so it doesn't have to be ITR related.

ideal beater? I'd take any beater.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Reid &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Celica All-Trac
Mazda 323 GTX
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Damn forgot about those. I'd like to also add Galant VR-4. Rolling R's with an AWD 4 door owns

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dawhiteboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ideal beater.. hmmm something RWD, boosted, manual, can set four, has A/C... </TD></TR></TABLE>

4/5 isn't bad. I wonder if the 3-litre turbo was offered in the US with a manual.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by steves98itr247 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">92 dx hatch</TD></TR></TABLE>

This only seems like a good idea.

Before you know it you're beginning to tinker...

First you put in a D16Z6 (92-95 SOHC VTEC engine) and it feels a little faster.

Then you put a B18C in it and realize how weak the D16Z6 is.

One day you come across a way to turbo the B18C cheaply (it's such a deal, you cannot pass it up). Now the car is significantly faster and you begin to look for suspension/brake upgrades that are able to keep up with the newfound speeds the car is capable of.

Once you order your suspension and brakes, you realize the stock 14" wheels and tires will not cut it and you're off to order some Rotas and Azenis.

Months go by and before you know it, you're daily driving the ITR because the Civic is a little too raucous and uncivilized.

You grow tired of worrying about the ITR getting stolen/vandalized everyday and trade the ITR in on a Neon SRT-4 (because the thieves will say "it's only a neon").

In conclusion, a Civic as a beater is not a good idea.

 

My 93 SI/ITR hybrid is my ideal beater....that's why I still have it. Now I'm looking for a car to buy that I can make fast.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dawhiteboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
89-91 RX7 TurboII (stock)
88-91 RX7 Vert with TurboII swap

Modified by dawhiteboy at 3:42 PM 4/29/2003</TD></TR></TABLE>

FC's own..

i'd have to say that or a 2002+ Honda Oddysey.. lots of room excellent reliability/quality.. and that 3.6 dohc vtec isnt that bad either

 

i drive a 2000 volvo s40 for my daily driver. Its great, leather, a/c, 6 disc changer, and great gas millage. It was my wifes car before we bought her a new car.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sbITR1044 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i drive a 2000 volvo s40 for my daily driver. Its great, leather, a/c, 6 disc changer, and great gas millage. It was my wifes car before we bought her a new car.</TD></TR></TABLE>

hehe we should put a price cap on this ideal beater thread.. I mean if I had the cash a 456GT would be my ideal beater..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dawhiteboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

hehe we should put a price cap on this ideal beater thread.. I mean if I had the cash a 456GT would be my ideal beater.. </TD></TR></TABLE>

i didn't pay a dime for the car. her dad bought it for her 3 years before we got married. so it was practically free for me.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MK Ultra &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

4/5 isn't bad. I wonder if the 3-litre turbo was offered in the US with a manual. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm thinking no. 300D non-turbo were only offered with auto. I believe the 300D(T) was the same. 240D's were available with 4-spd manual, but if you think a non-turbo 3 liter is slow... :slug:

I'm with Willard on the b00sted b0x idea. Even my n/a wagon is quite fun. 4.10 gears = holeshot

High skool gurls drive a lot of bricks, too

 

I figured about as much.

Too bad. The turbo-diesel would have been real nice with a manual.

 

240SX

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 4-1-1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">240SX</TD></TR></TABLE>

Replace "Civic" with "240SX", "B18C" with "SR20DET", and "turbo kit" with "turbo upgrade" in my above reply.

Mmm... 2-way LSD, RWD and boost...

 

I think I need to drive a car that has a locked hood (the key to which I'll leave with a friend, who I'll also have do my oil changes).

Yes, that's the solution.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MK Ultra &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I figured about as much.

Too bad. The turbo-diesel would have been real nice with a manual. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Oh hell yeah. I always wanted a turbo 300D. My dad had an '85 300SD (turbo), but the extra *** it was hauling around made a big difference.

 

I really miss my old CRX. A '91 Si with no rust = My dream beater.

(If I ever win the lottery, I'm spending all my money on a new CRX. I don't care if it costs a million, I want a brand new '91 CRX Si )