I am considering getting a beater. Something small, would like to have four doors (for the upcoming family), fuel efficient, and in good shape. Any recommendations (except Euro cars)?

 

...hmmm....civic sedan comes to mind...cheap, reliable, 4 doors, roomy enough...fuel efficient, can find many for good prices in good shape..or is that too plain for you?

 

That would be perfect. Now I need to try and find one below $1,000.

 

ouch...i guess you're looking at years 96-earlier then....u gonna do some light work as well? or do you want it "out of the box" and ready to drive? If so, then why not go for the accord 91-earlier?

 

I don't mind if it's a Corolla, Accord, Civic, or Camry. I just want a reliable car that gets great mileage for about $1,000

 

I got a '00 civic sedan a year ago with <50K miles for $7800. Financed it for 3yrs payments are only $200/month. Very fuel efficient, very reliable, tires and maintance are very cheap. I have 2 youngsters and I think its big enough to fit another. The kids aren't in it much at all usually its just me so it works just fine. Trunk is huge for after work grocery shopping and sams trips etc.

I have put ~20K miles on it in the past 14 months and wouldn't trade the gas mileage for anything. A very consistant 32mpg commuting and over 35mpg on road trips.

And it's very nice not worrying about who I park next to, door dings, etc...

 

No offense but why would you want your family in a $1,000 car?

Whats wrong with your 2004 accord, is it a coupe?

 

No offense taken. I'm thinking of just leaving my Accord as a project car or something like that, or even a road trip car.

And the family would not be going in this car often. It would just be a daily driver to me. Going back and forth to work (~12 miles) and such, taking the dog to the park, etc. Something that I could save the miles on my Accord sedan and something more fuel efficient.

 

Not sure if you will get something more fuel efficient than the accord for only $1k.
Dont forget that price you MAY save on gas will have to go towards keeping the car up and running.

Is 12 miles a lot these days?

Could get a scooter for $1k that will save on gas.

 

If I weren't married, then I would probably get one. However, I am married, so that goes out the window.

I don't like scooters/motorcycles.

 

Doesn't make financial sense, IMO. Spending money to save 12 miles a day on the odometer...... It'll be really hard to find something for $1,000 that won't cost you at least that much money per year to keep running.

 

I'm not trying to be a dick or anything and take what I have to say with a grain of salt, but I do you really need a beater??

12 miles really isn't that much (I drive 60 round-trip) , no winter in FL, your accord is already a 4 dr., your accord is already easy on the fuel consumption, the Accord will last forever....and, again, don't take this the wrong way...it's just an Accord.

Unless your Accord is a highly modded show car...I'd just drive that around.

 

i agree w/ ya- add in the cost of insurance for the beater as well.

 

1) There will be additional costs for the insurance on another car.
2) There will probably be repair & parts costs for a $1000 beater.
3) The beater will not be as nice or comfy as the Accord.
4) Fuel efficiency will likely be worse in anything Accord/Camry size or larger available for $1k.
Assuming a beater still makes sense, a 4-door 1st gen Integra or late 80s-early-90s Civics, Sentras and Corollas might be available for $1K.

 

Well said

 

Dammit! I hate when you guys are right.

I asked my wife that and she about flipped. She squashed it before I even had a chance to defend myself. Oh well.

My balls are cut off as we know it!

 

 

88 Accord Lx-i or 91 Prelude

 

Wish I could. I told my wife I wanted to possibly make my Accord into a project car, and use it for nice weekends, roadtrips, things like that.

She laughed and said, "Your car is JUST an Accord."

Wow. I was pissed but I didn't let her know it.

 

shes right. it is JUST an accord. not a porcshe

 

Well, it's the first car I bought with my own money out of college, so I love the thing.

And what's a "porcshe?" Is it a fat female porch?

 

What defense did you even have? The whole thing just doesn't make sense, IMO. ...At least for the resasons you provided in Post #1 (you need a beater to save 12 miles on the Accord each day).

Are you nervous about the new baby coming along and losing your love of cars and freedom to mod them or something?!

 

eh, don't let her hold your sack. if you want a beater, despite the fact that it makes no sence, you get a beater!

 

Yep, you hit the nail on the head. I don't want the baby to throw up all over the place and ruin my car. My car is probably the last thing that I can have for myself.

 

Are you a divorce lawyer?

 

i'm just messing around w/ you