getting a daily beater...advice?

[wingman]

seeing as though the supra curse is starting to catch up to me and my wallet, I've got to start shopping for a daily driver and retire the supra to weekend/jackstand duty...i've been meaning to do it but now I might really have to.

I'm looking for something anywhere from $1000 to $6000, has to be fairly reliable, and at least decent on gas (20+mpg). I've looked at the AW11's and SW20's, but haven't heard much as to what goes wrong when it does. Gas mileage seems to be pretty good on them, and there still a bit sporty. I don't haul lots of people or stuff around so cargo space isn't that important right now. I've also looked into the subaru legacy, I know a few people here have one for a DD, but all the local ones are a bit out of my price range. Anything else that comes to mind works too...I'm not being picky at all, as long as it isn't a van or station wagon I'm cool with it. M/T strongly preferred though, I hate automatics!

....and anybody know how reliable your average 1988 porsche 944 would be? there's a guy in town wanting $4500 for his and I'm really thinking about it. Yeah, a 17 year old with a porsche...ROFL!

 

[Syris]

how about a celica?

 

[IJ.]

Something bland and NOT performance at all!

Grab a low mile car that old people have owned and there's a good chance of it being reliable.

Try to stay away from Boy Racer cars you want something reliable not 2 broken cars.

 

[americanjebus]

944 will NOT be reliable. you'll be in the supra boat once again this time with expensive parts that have to be ordered from germany,
its not that unusual for a 16 year old to have a porsche, 3 kids at my school had one, you get smug real fast i'll tell you that.
toyo truck, any year so long as your get the recals taken care of.

celica
corolla gts,
older legacy
audi's w/ the 5cyl engine pre 90's
civics,
accords

and my fav, nissan 240, cheep, reliable, and willing to take abuse and be cheep on your wallet. not to mention fun to drive.

 

[SnowMongoose]

I've got a 90 accord I can sell ya...
little bit o' body damage, runs like a dream...
160k, just got new timing belt and water pump...
do it, lol, Im almost local to you!


but yeah, nothing that will spark any urge to drive it fast.

 

[Yellow 13]

Mountain bike.

 

[shaeff]

get a DD like mine! '94 Toyota pickup. 4cyl, 4x4. great on gas. great off road, too!

-shaeff

 

[wingman]

yeah I figured the porsche wouldn't be all that reliable....it's probably been beat to hell and back too. Expensive parts from germany didn't sound good either...and I though some of Toyota's stuff was expensive!

there's an AW11 in autotrader the guy wants $2500 for, 120K miles, says it runs good. I know it's a little sporty, but I don't think I'll get the urge to drive like a maniac in it. I've always wanted one since I got the supra, and I don't plan on any go-fast parts...been down that road before. Does anybody here have one for a DD? Can anybody tell me of common problems they have? I know it's a PITA to work on them being mid engine and all, but it would make working on the supra seem like a cakewalk!

 

[SupraDreamPDR]

dude, you dont want to get something that has any performance potential, less you start to spend money on it and the Supra. you cant have 2 projects at the same time, cause one will always suffer. i bought my daily driver from a small dealership for $980 out the door. it gets about 23-27 mpg, so it does okay. no problems after i did a full tune up when i first bought it, good cleaning and a $10 flat black paint job. the only performance type part i put on were the WRX rims/tires, but i did that because i bought it will 3 steelies and a spare.

 

[Mr.PFloyd]

suzuki swift. im getting one soon as a beater

 

[s383mmber1]

If i were you, i would go with a legacy.

Seriously, that or a civic/accord.

 

[aye mate]

Something with 2 wheels.

 

[Mr.PFloyd]

Something with 2 wheels.

now he needs a car that runs doesnt he? :biglaugh:

 

[NDBoost]

Toyota Pickup w/ the 22R or 22RE badass motor lasts forever and its a pickup

 

[peachtits]

ide say civic.. im lookin to pick one up here soon.

 

[trydrew]

Whatever you get, get something that will be useful to you. Don't go buy another car that is gonna crap out on ya'. I know you already ruled out the Porsche and I say, good thing ya did. My friend had an 87 924s at 16 and may that car rest in pieces. Many problems came up with it.
Buy anything that some poeple have already suggested.

Personally, I think a Toyota truck would be nice, as you can still feel like a man and save money. :biglaugh:

Good luck, man.

 

[Topher E]

Toyota Pickup w/ the 22R or 22RE badass motor lasts forever and its a pickup

I concur.

 

[suprahoops]

one word....tercel. the lil mother fuckers wil last forever. i drive mine almost 100 miles a day and its yet to break down. not to mention 40 mpg. and theyre cheap as hell.

 

[Enraged]

chevy sprint/pontiac firefly/suzuki swift. I have a 3 cyl 5 spd that i got for $300, i just rolled over 300,000km, i abuse it daily, and it refues to die. plus it gets 150km to 9L of gas.

 

[87centertips]

i feel u need three things to live happy ur sports car. but u have that a pickup truck for grabing big parts for ur sports car and a toy with 2 wheels to go fast so i think u should go with a nice truck