College Beater

[MrSeth]

Hey team! I want your opinion on something...

I was just accepted into nursing school for this Spring, it will be 2x years of commuting ~ 1hr a day, not including work and/or clinical travel to locations over an hour away.

My 4Runner gets about 17.5mpg highway, has 293k on the odometer, and I am NOT selling it. I may park it to keep miles off, preserve it from door dings and robberies (my campus is near Oak Cliff in Dallas, TX ).

What car should I get as a beater?

I have been looking at buying another older Lexus IS350, but have also checked out Toyota Celica and Camry, Honda Accord and Civic, Infinity G35 and 37, Nissan 350 and 370z (hard to find one that's not clapped), and Mitsubishi Lancer.

Do y'all have beaters? Which car would you recommend on a $4k budget (ish). Should I just not touch my savings account and drive the 4Runner through school?



In the back of my mind, I want to protect my baby and I also know it's paid off, low insurance, and gas isnt too pricey... but I'd like something with better fuel efficiency and something I'd care a little less about in the dent/ding department.

 

[T4R2014]

Sounds like you need a bland econobox. Japanese is best. Anything interesting like a G37 or IS350 will get attention and make you spend money trying to have fun with it.

 

[Hungryhawk]

Beater vehicle

Look for a vehicle with conventional auto tranny -not a CVT.
Avoid engines with cylinder de-activation schemes, or turbos.
In 2020 lots of electronic gizmos were mandated by the Feds for SAFETY. Repairs will probably be expensive out of warranty.
When you have a couple candidates look them up on internet for TSB's and recalls.
When finalizing get a Car Fax report before purchase and comb thru it. You can pre-purchase on line with CC. Price incentive offered for 3 reports.
Have someone with auto mechanic skills to go on test drive with you.
Good luck.

 

[rdruss]

I had an '07 Matrix (Corolla) that I bought new. It was a 5-speed manual, roll-up windows, had air and cruise and was BY FAR the most reliable/durable car I ever owned AND it got 30 mpg. I put 215K TROUBLE FREE miles on it, then sold it to a friend who needed a vehicle, sorry I did now.

 

[Moist]

I had an '07 Matrix (Corolla) that I bought new. It was a 5-speed manual, roll-up windows, had air and cruise and was BY FAR the most reliable/durable car I ever owned AND it got 30 mpg. I put 215K TROUBLE FREE miles on it, then sold it to a friend who needed a vehicle, sorry I did now.

These are such fun little cars. I learned to drive in one and I swear it would be on three wheels if you were turning hard enough. The newer 2016 ish matrix is also bloody stellar.

Otherwise old Toyotas and Hondas are the way to go. Camry/Corolla, or Civic/Accord. Paperweight 2000's FWD Econobox. (Or American rebadges like Geo. I love you geo prizim.)
You can utterly torture these bad boys and they'll still get ya where you need to be. Doesn't matter how it looks since they all look the same. Easy to mod too (A rustbucket camry with subs the size of the trunk will never not be funny).
Something Naturally Aspirated, with little to no electronics, decent displacement so you're not screaming away at 4-5K and adding extra wear, and with parts so easy to find that any u-pull it will have them. The less innovation on the generic "an car" concept the better.
Boring cars, but they feel faster and more fun to drive when you push em IMO.

If you want attention like I've seen others post on here from these you have to be creative with mods. Put a chandelier up in the car or something idk. Be silly.

My 4runner is my beater. :/ One day she'll be restored but for now she gets the college beater treatment. Hit potholes, birds, small animals, large animals, broke it, fixed it, crashed it, lived out of it, the works.
I've gotten door dings, paint scrapes, and broken into. The 4runner will do it, especially if its well maintained. I guess it really all boils down to how much you love it and how much you want to spend on gas.