Beater Review

[mechmike0034]

http://www.beaterreview.com/index.htm

Who they are:

The Detroit-based BeaterReview staff is composed of auto enthusiasts and experts with more time than money. We've discovered that no matter what you need—space, speed, luxury, or just basic transportation—there are a lot of great used vehicles available for under $5,000, but there isn't a lot of good information to help people choose among them. BeaterReview was formed to help the depreciation-averse enthusiast and automotive bottom-feeder alike find gold in them thar' mountains of rust.

Excellent idea...

[Napoleon54]

Wow, $5k?? That's significantly more than the total of what I paid for my first four cars.

[Napoleon54]

Hells yeah, here's my current one! My beater. '93 Cherokee, 4.0L I-6, 4x4, auto, 2-door, 153k miles. Today I threw a tow strap around the bumper and used it as a log skidder to pull some downed trees over to the fire pit. I figure since it looks like a lot truck, I might as well use it as one. Then I drove it to get groceries. Thing's an effing tank, just like they say. Body is in rough shape but it is dependable as hell, easy to work on, and takes all the abuse I dish out to it. I drive it damn hard too... quick acceleration and never <80mph on the highway. This is the only vehicle that has ever lasted me more than 1 year. I bought for $3k in '03 when it had 77k miles on it.

[johnnymk]

I am always amazed at the prices people pay to buy new cars, especially young people who aren't makng a lot of money.

They don't think twice of buying a car over $20K.

I know there are not a lot of options left anymore of new cars under that price. But for me, I will buy used. $5K is a good limit.

[Jah Rulez]

Bought a 1993 Honda Accord EX w/ 97K on it, remote start, alarm, Sony CD in 03/06= $2600

Sold it in October '06 for $2900 w/ 137K on it...ha ha.

Looking for a Toyota T100 now.

[DarkFury]

I am always amazed at the prices people pay to buy new cars, especially young people who aren't makng a lot of money.

They don't think twice of buying a car over $20K.

I know there are not a lot of options left anymore of new cars under that price. But for me, I will buy used. $5K is a good limit.

I'm sure that in the 60s - 70s, people said the same thing about any car that cost more than $7,500....

It's just the cost of inflation... plus the cost of the additional technology and safety features that most cars have in them today.

Case in point.. my Dad's old Furd F-100 Pickup truck only cost about $4,000 new, but it was the most basic of basics in a truck. No power windows or locks, just power steering... no Anti-lock braking... Pretty much, an engine, four wheels, 2 doors and a bed.

Now today... Trucks have all kinds of "creature comforts" in them that raise the price of them. But if you wanted a pure stripped down base model, you'll still pay around $15K upwards to $25K. But add some nice features and the price quickly jumps to the upper 20K - 40K range.

As far as used go... well if you have low expectations of a vehicle, then that might be the best way to go. Personally, I just take the opposite view... buy it new and keep it until it's good and old. At least I enjoy the full value of it, plus I feel comfortable with the car's full history as I know just about everything about the vehicle. Granted, in doing this I always recommend that you get EXACTLY what you want and don't settle for what's on the lot at the time... so you can be totally happy with the purchase.

What really disappoints me the most is that on the low end of cars, you still don't have much to choose from for vehicles in the under $15K department (like for the kids when they want to go to school). There are a few choices, but many just aren't that appealing to be honest... but alas, everything just costs more now. That is pretty much why I donated my used vehicle (my '96 T-Bird) to my 16 year old nephew instead of trading it in. That vehicle has a history on it that he can trust and it's gonna be a reliable car as long as he continues taking care of it like I did when I had it versus buying someone else's "problem child" used vehicle.

This is not to say that there aren't some "gem" used vehicles out there, but dayuuum... you sure put yourself at risk of getting burnt on some of those used cars. I guess it just depends on your needs and your level of tolerance for mechanical problems and/or failures.