Beater Cars. What would you suggest?

[Integroo]

Toyota Avensis. Job jobbed.

[anonymous-user]

Integroo said:

Toyota Avensis. Job jobbed.

Good idea

[ambuletz]

pretty much all the japaese stuff.

avensis, accord, or the early 00s corolla. or civic

[p4cks]

Corsa C?

[anonymous-user]

Also breadvan Civic - we put about 120k on an 02 reg 1.4 over about 14 years or something and it never had a single problem, only servicing after the first 3 years was oil and filter annually. Sold it for £600 a couple of years ago, had 3 phone calls and it had sold within the morning for the asking price. Fantastic little cars in every way, also they have a huge load space with the rear seats down.

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 13th March 18:41

[Dapster]

Or you could smoke about in a nice old sofa. You could actually enjoy bimbling about in something like this. Insane value...





https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[anonymous-user]

I know thats a 300 but it reminds me how much I want a v8 LS400....

[Ares]

Integroo said:

Toyota Avensis. Job jobbed.

As long as the desire for a throwaway car outweighs getting absolutely zero driving pleasure.

I was given an Avensis as a courtesy car when they first came out (Alfa dealer was shared with a Toyota dealer). It was, and still is the worst car I have EVER driven. Should be called the Toyota Offensive. Just horrid. Automotive beige at it's ultimate.

I'd go for an old, little, lightweight hatchback. I used to get given a Citroen AX as a courtesy car for an hour when I took my Subaru to John Wilding in Kendal. It was such good fun, lively, checkable and totally carefree.

...or a big old barge. Although the in that plan might come from such a level of daily use required. Old Merc or Lexus might do it? Or an old 5-series like this at £650: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...


On throwaway cars, I got a £500 1988 LPG V8 Range Rover when I had my Exige 2005-2007. It was knackered, but mechanically sound, came with proper off-road tyres, mould on the inside and an ignition that didn't need a key...bought from eBay.

It was only bought for the times when my Exige couldn't be driven due to bad weather or space. Having a car that you don't care about is amazing. Barrelling down snowy lanes, bouncing off hedges, or taking a green-lane route home. Irresponsible, carefree motoring.

Blew me away that it passed it's MOT after the first year with only £70 of spot welding required, but failed it's MOT next time around with £2,000 of rear sub-frame rot to deal with. Sold it for parts for £250.

Still see it as an automotive right of passage to own something like that.

[Ares]

...or a 528i https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Or teutonic E320: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Or S-Class: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

A4 2.8 Quattro Estate: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

V8 Cherokee: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...


You've really got me thinking now

[LeoSayer]

To be honest, whatever you can get for £900 that's not falling apart and preferably manual, naturally aspirated and Japanese.

[TooMany2cvs]

LeoSayer said:

To be honest, whatever you can get for £900 that's not falling apart

This.

Don't get all analytical on what make/model. Buy on condition and value.

[Big GT]

Out of interest how did the E36 steering of old compare to the new electronic 4 series ?

[gazza285]

Same as I have now, Volvo V70 D5, old enough to not have a DPF. After five years it's had some tyres and a couple of bulbs.

I am conveniently forgetting the split intercooler incident.

[MC Bodge]

Any car can be like that if you treat it as a Frenchman would.

I have a usually dirty 2009 Mondeo estate on black steel wheels (sans trims) since 2011. Mechanically it is great and I always use decent parts and tyres. I care nothing for it cosmetically and it has a few battle scars.

It gets used for everything, driven with gusto where the situation allows, still drives and goes quite well and it averages 55mpg. I've had some great fun driving it.

It is very liberating, gets some bemused comments (and probably offends some) of my colleagues

If you can get past caring what other people think of your image, it opens up a whole new world.

It's not about the car.
Vive la republique!

Ps. An old, cheap car will likely become a money and time pit.

Edited by MC Bodge on Tuesday 13th March 20:11

[jdwoodbury]

I have a Volvo V70 D5 that has done 180k miles, it's tired and battered, but it's a great workhorse. Use it for tip runs and the dogs, it very comfy, everything works and I expect if treated well could outlast me. I compared my V70 underside to my father in laws 12yr old C-Max and his is rusting to pieces underneath...mine is clean as a whistle. Also it's an early gen2 so none of the DPF and swirl flap nonsense....it's a keeper.

[anonymous-user]

Ares said:

Integroo said:

Toyota Avensis. Job jobbed.

As long as the desire for a throwaway car outweighs getting absolutely zero driving pleasure.

You can get driving pleasure from any car, if you can't you just have no imagination.

[Ares]

JimSuperSix said:

Ares said:

Integroo said:

Toyota Avensis. Job jobbed.

As long as the desire for a throwaway car outweighs getting absolutely zero driving pleasure.

You can get driving pleasure from any car, if you can't you just have no imagination.

Or have never driven an Avensis

[Pistonheader101]

Probably get a 1.9tdi Passat for that.

Or a Mondeo.

[LarsG]

Super_G said:

My 435d was in for it’s first service last week and my mechanic left me his 1996 318i. He said not to worry about scratching or denting it.

It felt quite relaxing heading to our local Waitrose car park and parking there in a damaged car. It is full of careless idiots. Every time we go I park well away and sit in the car and watch at least 2 cars being scuffed or even doors being opened into other cars - hit and run.

So this time I took the 318i and low and behold a massive scrape but it didn’t bother me!

I want a beater car. Any recommendations? Must be reliable. Local journeys. Probably 20-40 miles on weekends.

Budget £900 I think.

Edited by Super_G on Tuesday 13th March 18:30

Anything Ford, cheap parts, most garages can fix them

[TooMany2cvs]

JimSuperSix said:

Ares said:

Integroo said:

Toyota Avensis. Job jobbed.

As long as the desire for a throwaway car outweighs getting absolutely zero driving pleasure.

You can get driving pleasure from any car, if you can't you just have no imagination.

You are funny.