Why Should You Own a Beater Car? [4k]
As an enthusiast channel, we usually focus on sports cars, the crazier the better. And that's a ton of fun, but we often neglect to unsung heroes: the beater cars. The cars we take to work. The cars we use to get groceries. The cars we drive when our fun cars are broken. In this video, I'll be extolling the many virtues of the A-to-B, the bucket, the beater.
Special thanks to TurboXS in Southern Maryland for hooking us up with dyno time yet again. Those guys are the real OGs.
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Special thanks to Jacob for waking up early to let us dick around with his R35, and for lending us his acting chops. You're the next King Leer.
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Special thanks to Casey for stealing my car and then giving it back.
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Most people DO own beater cars. They are also their _only_ cars.
Yeah, I have a 91 Mazda 323 F, and I love every part of it.
Mine's a 50hp ford fiesta mk4. I hate and love it at the same time. Btw you might buy a beater cheap, but repairing it up and keeping it roadworthy might cost you as much as buying a decent car. BUT in exchange you learn a lot of handy things about cars by owning one, things that will safe you a ton of money later in life. If you ask me your first car must be a bad one🤘
true.. Drive my 200.000+ miles, 2003 renault megane 2 hatchback every day. it's literally garbage. but it's the most fun i've ever had with a car. As an example. the first gear whines so much, it sounds like it has a turbo. been thinking about doing a muffler delete, and letting the mightly 1.6 litre 4 banger, sing its mighty song. i love the damn thing, even though it probably has a 70% chance of cathing on fire, every time i turn it on
I traded my 2009 RX-8 for a 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid a few months ago, and I love it. It's so quiet and smooth, and I get 45mpg without any change in driving style. I'm not even trying to conserve fuel. The hybrid system is that good nowadays. And it has room enough for my girlfriend to recline the passenger seat without hitting the baby seat behind her. It's not even close to being a beater car, granted, but I just felt like sharing my personal experience anyway.
Shawn Elliott We will worship those holier than thou people! They are better than those of us whom have both. Praise you oh beater car only God’s!!!!! We worship you oh great ones!
Is it an unwritten rule that beaters always have to be beige or metallic champagne in colour?
It's actually codified.
For some odd reason yes...
mine is white :)
Mine was red
mondayjoker Lmaoooo my 2002 civic is beige/Champagne color
Having a beater also makes you appreciate your "nicer" car even more everytime you drive it
Exactly
Agreed
thats off car throttle
So true
💯
the beater is the one that you remember, do the most fun stuff in and make the best memories with.
YES
Pretty sure the fastest I've driven myself was in a beater car lol
@@RennieAsh At that point it's a Yeeter then...
Facts
My 1996 Ford Ranger cost me $27.50 to own. My EX left it on my property. In the Sate of Missouri, anything that is left on your property over 30 days can be Re-Titled, car, truck, RV, etc.
That's a steal
I like that law.
Hell yeah brother
@@royaltyallen1162 Yeah but a legal one
Grymbathym Idiom way
It's all well and good until you fall in love with it and never want to get rid of it and own it for life.
I hear ya. Love my 99 XJ, planing on stroking it to a 4.6 when the motor goes out.
My 92 celica ..
@@bangelz0949 Scotty Kilmer wants to know your location
@@bangelz0949 an even older Celica than Scotty's, I'm impressed
That’s how I am with every car I ever buy. I don’t want to let them go. I get connected to them, it’s weird.
One important part you missed, is that having a second car as beater, still costs allot in insuring a second car.
my beater car costs like 24 a month in liability. the money i save in gas getting 28-30mpg is easily worth it
He also left out that the taxes on a beater are practically zero.
I'm not sure if your avatar is a joke, but you need an economy car if you own a fancy/sporty/toy one. My Camry and Supra were meant to be.
Not for me. Insurance sees it as though you can only drive one car at a time, so they're really only insuring you once. The only exception would be if someone stole both from your house, a flood/fire, etc. They also assume you'll drive the beater more than the nice car (esp. if you can input expected mileage), which means the nice car is at less of a risk from being on the road less. If it all works out right, at the worst the insurance should be about the same, at best you may even save. Plus, if the beater is crappy enough, you might not even put collision on it.
Actually insurance cost more due to the lack of safety features
I think ever car deserves love, even a beater car, it broke my heart to see the shopping cart hit the car on purpose.
My wife nagged on me when I got mine. I used to always park far out at walmart to keep shopping cars from hitting my Challenger. I got myself a 2002 Accord and we went to walmart and she was like...why you still parking out here. I said I didn't want anyone hitting my car. She was like but its a POS its got dents and paint chipping. I said well I don't want anymore dents.... lol
Agreed
i normally push my shopping cart into my door to stop the cart. My beater car is a 1994 Saturn sl1 though, and the car is made of plastic so it bounces right off! has never left a mark lol.
@@questionableprojects this may be the only acceptable vehicle for such treatment. Or a Chevy cavalier
@@silasmcgee3647 thanks for the offer bud, but even i don’t hate myself that much
If you've never owned a questionable car, then you've never truly experienced the transcendent joy of driving with new tires and the check engine light off for once.
I never managed to get the "death" light off, but I did get new wheel bearings and tires on my Ford focus. I drove everywhere with a huge grin on my face because it was finally a quiet ride inside the car.
Just got a new car it’s great.
My beater car 92 Civic, left me traumatized to the point where I'm always checking the temperature gauge
Amen to that. Hell I find myself more aware in my beater car than in my newer car. I actually love it. It’s like i have to be more aware and take more care with what I’m doing. Even if I take some exterior damage here and there, eh, it’s whatever.
Penny, your check engine light is on.
FB ad be like : 200k miles missing door. Nee tires. $5k. I know what I got. Dont low ball me. Rare parts.
😂😂
Robert Thomas literally worth like 500$ below. Lol
Won't last long!
You must be selling one of them super rare 92 Honda civics!
NO LOW BALLERS
Reason 4: they keep miles away from your "nice" car, keeping it nicer, longer
With that editing, that car actually looks sweet.
Because it IS a sweet car smh
@@smoof1973 what car is it
@@bahnanna4765 1994 mazda protege
I think it's cute as a button I don't usually see this generation of protege in person as it tends to be the later 2000s models i see but I always love seeing them especially when the paint is still nice and glossy
Beater cars also deserve love
My beater car *is* my fun car. Slow car fast.
@@Awemage01 why own a beater car... when you can buy an old dodge pickup truck with enough power to haul a few loads of wood and be useful for your life.
I give my beater car love by keeping up with regular maintenance to maintain it's health.
I’m getting a beater for a few years to save up for a 2018 Ford Mustang gt. I could just get one right off the bat but I kinda wanna be smart with my money and save it
Indeed. Loved my 94 Ford Aspire the underdog. It was a peppy car.
But, DO care about them. They are cheap to maintain, yes. But, you can make them look nice
Very true. Reminds me when I pounded out some crash damage on my front fender.
True actually. It's amazing how with a bit of skill and a few hundred dollars and some elbow grease, you can make a shitty car look pretty decent. Just by fitting new stuff in like headlights and cleaning out the interior, fixing or covering up dents and rust and giving it a damn good wash.
That kind of defeats the whole purpose though
@@ShellShock794 Not really. It just means you have a nice car that you won't feel too bad about losing if it happens to fuck up.
.......ish
I had a 1995 Ford Escort as my beater car for years, drove it to work, the grocery store ect leaving my fun car for the weekends. Not only was it cheap to run, repair and own, but it greatly reduced the wear, tear, and expense of my fun car. Dollar for dollar that little p.o.s. was the best car I've ever owned!
Oh man 😂..your comment is pure gold!!
This is so true. I just passed my driving exam 2 months ago and I am driving a beater car and I can say that it is much easier to learn to drive and you do not have to worry if you scratch it or something else. In much more expensive car it would be hard to learn because you would always be very careful
You should always be very careful on the road. There are always non-beater cars around you.
@mayte I know, I meant to say that you can easily practise parallel parking and do that kind of stuff and not worry. Of course I am not going to ram people off a road or destroy people's cars and property.
How’s your beater holding up?
@@grandtheftauto1233 it died 7 months ago but was holding up real good until rust practically ate it. I still miss that car but had a great fun with it ahah
I saved my money for 3 months just to buy a Mazda like yours. Stop calling it a beater, don’t kick a man while he’s down. 😥
You saved for 3 months to buy a beater bro, just accept it. No shame in that. I'm currently driving a beater while saving up for a better beater lol
Bruh deal with it
Stfu some people cant even afford a bike.
8IGHT stfu you stupid bum bitch
You realize that your lucky that you probably fully own your car? 70% of Americans are slaves to auto loans. I'd much rather have your car than a $40,000 brand new luxury car tbh.
I tried owning a beater car before. I ended up taking care of it so much it became a secondary project car. I can't leave things as be. The car enthusiast in me won't allow anything less than waxing, buffing, claying, detailing... .
Ha the tranny is going out before the engine but the honda is at 220k so I'm gonna buy a beater to drive while I'm building the honda my girl owns. It's gonna be her build and I'm hoping to teach her some things and she enjoys it. Maybe she'll understand how i can spend a whole day cleaning and detailing and maintaining my 1971 chevelle. I just sit on the porch and stare at my child smoking till the sun sets. Once a week I do this and it's the memory I keep with me whenever I'm at work haha keeps me sane
Yup same here i bought a 1999 crv thinkin i was juss goin to use it to like a pizza delivery car.I tinted the windows and the lights now im in love with it . I paid 2100 $ plus 500 repair and 200 for tints 2 years ago it now as 165 000 km .Im sure i can easily sell it for the same price
Very German
Lol same here bro
Same here
the GTR: First race of a NFS game. The Mazda beater car : the car you get after the police bust you in a cutscene after the first race.
Also the car that is the funnest because the races are so close or you get to actually enjoy the stuff happeningin the race
literally the intro for the first NFS:Most Wanted. Except the GTR was actually a BMW M3 GTR
I love beater cars!
me too
Same.
He actually successfully made a beater car look enticing. I actually went out and bought a 2001 Toyota Camry for just $800 a couple hours ago. YIKES!
Great and you know what they say: If you dont blow it up within a month its not really a beater.
If it's in ok condition it will last several years
I have a 2006 v6 camry Not a beater though
black fat ninja so it’s your daily? Have you thought about getting a “better” car and buying a beater to use for miscellaneous activities? That’s why I have a beater at least.
@@ScipioXII in my country imported cara have so much duties on em like a E63 s costs 110k in usa but in my country its price around 245k So i have no plans buying a decent car in my country
Several hundred dollars a month car payments with insurance in a new car to impress people you do not even know and who could care less about you and your car. Now my first car was a 1968 Mustang fastback brand new. And I got the new car thing out of my system back then. Heck, its just transportation from here to there. An older car can be just fine. Economic and reliable and only needs the liability insurance. "Gotta have it now, and have it new" is the consumerism trap that keeps us all poor. Best to everyone who read this.
it actually makes you all rich because without that consumerism you'd have no jobs for the majority of people.
So you need to save money to use it in non consumerism stuff?
Well said. Same thing with materialism
I buy 20 to 15 year old Benzes with cash only. Mercedes be surprisingly easy to work on. Just when control modules fail, you stuck getting them programmed to car at dealer.
Amen
Beater car? That is a fine piece of automotive history right there. Tell that to someone who grew up in eastern Europe and was driving Trabant 601.
Another great thing about the beater is always having a mode of transportation, a lot of bad repairs or rushed jobs I see are due to the fact the person needs to have the car running quickly. Having a second car gives you the time to research, find correct parts and fix your fun car correctly 🙂
Goes to Walmart, leaves with Kroger bags...legend.
Christian Morrow lmao!!!!
Absolute mad lad.
All cars should be treated with respect Take care of your things
Not according to capitalism. Also if you can't use a product to its limit all the time, it's not a good product.
apart from new cars
@@badass6300 Interesting world view
@@NeonAstralOfficial what world view? Capitalism encourages frequent purchases of products to keep the economy going... and is one of the many reasons why capitalism sucks, though the stock market and the focus on money and profit instead of the product and evolution and improvement of the product are the worst.
nah fuck that, i got a $300 car off my friend 2 years ago. Been through 2 regos now and still going. Like hell iam doing any maintenance . This beater is getting driven till it dies. Plus it keeps all my other 6 cars in immaculate condition :P
My beater cost me $200 and still running after 3 years she is about to hot 200k miles
I've owned nothing but scrapers & beaters. I love those old toyotas with high mileage. They're such good cars that are cheap to own. I've never neglected their maintenance, esp. the oil changes, and they've never left me stranded. The beaters are the unsung heroes of the car world.
3:14 No one has ever used 4K rolling shot on a 1994 Mazda Protege before lol , that's a first
Made the car look pretty darn nice!
This made my day.
New cars keep you poor: - Interest paid on a depreciating asset - New cars depreciate up to 60% in the first 5 years - On going running and maintenance costs inc compulsory insurance etc It’s all a game fam
It's not an asset it's a liability. An asset puts money in your pocket (a successfully buisness) and a liability takes money out of your pocket (a car)
You’re right man, I took my Honda back to the dealer ship and I got a 1992 Nissan Sentra for only $200 and had it for years till the engine blew recently. Found another engine for only $250. I’ve already put $500 in the car, $400 of it was just me wanting something nice on it. So now I will have spent $350 to keep it running lmao.
@@justauser ayyyye Robert kiyosaki fan. Same
Yung Shaf Very well stated..
Yung Shaf You are 100% correct. Modding cars as a hobby is for people with disposable income that can still live within their financial means afterwards. Not to say “people shouldn’t have this hobby”, but it’s important to realize before you get started.
I love my 2003 chevy trailblazer with 184k. It still looks very good for a beater. It saves me like around $700 monthly, which is the average new car payment. I use that money for more important things like paying off my house, investing in my retirement account and paying off my unsecured debt. Win win! Subscribed
Wouldn't it be additional 200$ for insurance for an extra car even if is for rudimentary tasks Genuine question since as a foreigner(India), I read insurance is very costly in USA
@@vmkrishnareddytumati3406 It can be costly. There are a ton of factors taken into an insurance quote, like previous driving history, value of the car, are there multiple vehicles or do you own a home, job title, etc. It costs me $140 a month for both my 88 Chevy S10 Blazer that has liability only and my 2020 Silverado with full coverage.
I love beater cars. But it does not have to look "beaten". I like the simplicity, and a crew designed it and its made for our needs. Cars are a work of art, even the simplest one.
Scotty Kilmer approved 😂😂😂😂😂
“1994 Toyota Celica or bust”
😂😂
Amen
Scotty kilmer is so biased. Its annoying asf. He only likes toyota because he drives a peice of shit celica everywhere. But that being said his channel advice isnt bad till he starts promoting toyota.
@GRODT Gang u realize he gets paid by toyota not that he actually prefers toyota hes a honda guy.
3:02 funny how to badge falls off after the hit :'D
4:07
😂🤣🤣🤣🤣
Caught that too lol
It like flew out lol
Wasn't supposed to happen. Car went off script. 😪
I still flinched when the grocery cart hit the car... lmao
I have loved my beater cars over the years. Great stories, fun times, and they always have some weird quirk that is fun when you have a new passenger!
Only G&G can make a shit car look like a show car on camera haha
Peter Armour cinematography for dayzzz
Peter Armour and hoonagan
Peter Armour oh hey rx8
ikr
It's actually a cute design!
at least you have a car
What about u
I mean depending where your from I'm sure you could at least get a car that runs and drives and is street legal... it doesn't have to be perfect and with a decent job you'd have enough for SOMETHING in like 3 weeks depending on when your cheques come in lol
if you live in america you can very easily buy a beater
I had what we call a "bucket car" down here in florida i treated that toyota corolla 98 as if it was a luxury car
My first timing belt change was on my 2001 Progtege 5 several years ago. Good thing it's a non-inference motor! Took a weekend, but it drives! That was my beater car, my E90 M3 cost more to maintain yearly than daily driving the Protege 5.
I have a 2001 Toyota 4Runner. She's still going strong and gives me everything I need. Couldn't be happier.
3:43 Did he just crowbar the gas tank cover with his car key?!?
Yeah i do that too on both my cars too
An 89 nissan B12 Sedan. And a 97 Toyota crown royal saloon
I do that on my 98 corolla beater cause the the paper clip spring i MacGyver'd rusted out.
I do that with my 90 integra because the lever under the driver seat is busted
Internet: you need an awesome car to show it in 4K Gears and gasoline: HOLD MY BEER
4K for all
Me: watches in 144p
The high-quality cinematic shots and the music worked perfectly for this little old car Despite the dent on the passenger side fender knocking the headlight out of alignment it seems relatively clean and in pretty good shape and it’s very cute
3:03 I lost it when the emblem popped off
I have a 92 Camry I bought for $500 in 2005 w/250k miles on it then. Has 450k now. 32mpg and $450/year for insurance. Tires are $40 apiece from WalMart.
Camrys last forever!
Yep, they sure do! I have a '99 and it's my beater AND my only car and it goes everywhere, went recently on a 1,900 mile vacation trip and averaged 28 mpg with a V6.
where I live insurance is closer to 100$ a year.... why would your car insurance be close to what you paid for the car itself ?
Price of car insurance is why I spent more on a car. Its about $700/year for my car (apparently spotless driving with 8 years of experience isn't enough for lower rates). I was like, cool, I can get a $300 car, spend roughly $300 on tires, and then pay more than that each year just on insurance... Nah, I think I'll get a really fun car since the fixed cost of insurance is the same (in that situation anyways).
obsolete professor nice
"What's it make?" ......... "81 HP" LOL
BIMMER ZEIT I have a car that makes 55 at the crank
JoshJLMG Productions the 1992 Ford Festiva I had made 55 too.
JoshJLMG Productions it seemed peppier than the 2013 Chevy sonic though.
BIMMER ZEIT don’t be silly it makes 70
JoshJLMG Productions My polo does 64 :D
My first car was a 2002 Hyundai Elantra, but I didn't bother doing maintenance. Then I bought a 1999 Mazda Protege DX with 180k miles for $200 after the Elantra's starter broke. It had a bad transmission. I used the Protege as a learning car--fixed the transmission by changing the filter and the fluid by myself--I'm confident in doing repairs (actually just changed my alternator) and it was fun to test out exterior things and what I could do to my ability (made it sporty looking and even did my own paint job using only rattle cans with an amazing result for less than $40). I'm so grateful for this car--gonna be selling it to my friend for $900 because it not only looks good but runs good off my very own repairs. A beater should always be someones first car--now I am upgrading to a New Edge Mustang :D
Beater half ton RWD trucks are the best. Dented and scratched, you can haul anything and not worry about causing damage. Also a ton of fun to daily drive because potholes are not a problem. I had one for about 5 years and started off kind of embarrassed to drive it but it grew on me. After putting less than $1000 in for tires, brakes, shocks, and maintenance like plugs, filters, fluid, etc…it was a very reliable truck. It took me where I needed to go in bad weather, hauled stuff, etc….so a bond developed driving it. My good cars cost way more and it is a treat to drive them on occasion but the truck was like a loyal workhorse. I would not trade it in on a new truck with all the bells and whistles because we have been though a lot together. To the average man it is a worthless vehicle but it is much more to me.
Don't go Chevy if you're going to get a beater. Go Honda or Toyota
Ever heard of sbc?
Lmao my first car was a 2003 chevy Malibu, it was what it was but the repairs add up. While I was driving it the entire exhaust fell off, break fluid leaked, and a myriad of other issues happened. I upgraded to a 2013 accord coupe this summer which is nicer than my friends leased BMW 3 series. I no longer have a beater but I kinda wanna get one just to do some stupid mods on it.
Toyota and honda are reliable as fuck! My Hyundai isn't too bad either
Nissans are the best old cats
Or just any Asian car brand (Honda, Toyota, Mazda, Nissan, Hyundai, or Kia)
Bought a beater car, turned into a project car. Now I need a third car. Thanks G&G
Same thought exactly
I have a Mirage G4 for 6 years now, bought it brand new and had it detailed for the first time ever. The car deserves some love and care after taking care of me all these years.
I just got my 2nd car after running my first pretty much into the ground. It still runs and I'm thinking about fixing it up a bit just for the learning experience, but it really made me appreciate my newer car. Being able to fill the gas tank and not worrying about it overfilling and leaking out of the top of the gas tank to being able to open the back doors and roll down the back windows. Being able to go 30 mph in less than 10 seconds Having Brakes that don't make me hover my hand over the e brake Not having to tap the headlights to make sure they're still connected Not worrying about the car overheating at a red light It's definitely taught me a lot of things like how to pull over in a hurry when the car dies or when you have people behind you so they aren't stuck going slow or that if your heater isn't working while running for 30 minutes it means you have no coolant and your engine is destroying itself from overheating.
My buddy bought a 2015 Ford Focus... had to replace the trans twice and now he has to replace it again out of warrantee. My 2003 Hyundai Accent for $1000 hasn’t given me any stress. And if it dies, idgaf
How long ago did you buy the Accent?
I bought the accent going on two years ago. About when he bought his ford lol
1 trans swap - understandable 2 trans swap - unlikely & unfortunate, but still happens if there are other underlying issues 3 trans swap - most likely user error
After the second trans swap he should have given that shit back to the dealer. He most likely fucked it up himself.
@@iamoutyoleague1419 New focus transmissions are total crap. I have a 2013 focus and I had to take it back to the dealer three times (automatic). There is a class action lawsuit because of it. They have extended the factory warranty to a 100k, so I never had to pay, but they still keep your car for days and the the transmission still shutters and herky jerky.
Yeah, but there is a flaw with this theory. If you enjoy driving, you won't buy a beater that you don't appreciate at least a little on one level or another. And if you do have some affinity for the car, you will eventually feel bad for leaving it such a degraded state. So you fix this, then you fix that, swap this and change that... Things start to snowball... 18 months later and you are adding up receipts thinking, "damn I guess I could have just bought the gtr."
Edward Agora Feenman you sir deserve an award
oj tyler just tried to "buy a beater," a few times before.
Yeah if you have to buy a beater to own a 100K + sport car, you're managing your finances wrong.
Brawndo what do you do when you end up owning a $100k beater?
Edward At 100K it's no longer a beater. You can own a Lambo and drive a Volvo XC90 for example. But driving a beatup Mazda when you own a GT-R doesn't make sense.
I literally just bought one. Great condition just missing some paint in the back, 02 civic with ac for 1800. 5 speeds trans, my first manual. Super fun to learn on, have owned it for 2 weeks so far and the cars growing on me.
I like it so much that you are filming in all the places I recognize in my old home of Lynchburg, VA.
I've had a 90's Camry for 11 years now that I paid $2k cash for. Had to start dumping oil in it constantly last year, and from a few youtube videos I found out the leak was a bad oil pump seal. I'd never done anything more advanced than changing the spark plug, but for a day and a half of my time, 8 bucks for a new seal, 6 bucks for a tube of sealant, and 25 for a new timing belt, I did it all myself super cheap and I just sprung for new tires and finally fixed the cracked windshield that I've been driving around with since I bought it. Only got less than 160k miles on it. That thing could last me another 10 years if my luck holds out. It's paid for itself 10 times over. 11 years with barebones legal insurance and zero car payments. Transmission seems to be going a little flaky now. Here's hoping it makes it through the winter and I can learn how to fix that in the spring. :) Beater cars FTW!
You didn't replace the hardware? Has your water pump went yet if you didn't?
@@leegraves8878 Which hardware are you referring to? I didn't replace anything with the water pump while I was down there. Everything is running fine still. Knock on wood. :)
@@thedude5295 When you do the timing belt they sell a kit it has a water pump and the idler pulley both need to be replaced with the timing belt. I know this from experience bought a 98 camry this year guy I bought it from said he had replaced the timing belt only thing is he didn't replace anything else. Guess what happened two weeks after I bought it if you said water pump went out you are correct.
@@thedude5295 Oh and tranny could probably use a new filter and fluid replacement if it isn't too far gone does it slip or shift weird? If slips I would just do the fluid if just shifting weird do both should cure the problem.
The Camry in the 90s will have rust problem sooner or later that is going to cause way more than the whole car worth to fix. Example: gas tank leak. Whether if it is from the sensor hole under the rear seat or the refilling neck, the tank needs to be replaced. It happened to my sister's 94 Camry and my 96. It is a safety thing too so we gave up. It does not make sense to spend $400 to fix a car that worth $400.
All I've owned is beaters. And all i will ever own is beaters. -why?. 1. they're cheap to buy. 2. they will out last any of these newer cars.(if you know what i mean.) 3. I have a family, and $18,000 is the cheap side of a new car. I can spend that money more wisely on what really is important.
Well said McLovin. :)
True, I know people spending 30k on cars which is ridiculous, the most I'll go on a car is 5k and I've had my pontiac g6 for well over a yr and hadn't had to do anything to it.
a beater car is all I ever owned !
I'm the same way. Biggest issue in the Midwest is rust. I been daily driving a beater 1990 chevy pick up for the past 9 years. Been a great reliable truck but the rust is taking over so gonna have to trade up soon
@Mc Lovin you can spend the rest on booze Mc Lovin
I actually get a ton of compliments on my old 2010 fully paid off Chrysler convertible with just about 50k miles on it. Bought it from an older lady who never drove it in a garage. Thing looks brand spanking new, impeccable interior and exterior etc. The car was designed by the same people who worked for Mercedes so it looks exactly like a c class convertible but with Chrysler badges on it. The best part, again, is having zero monthly car payments
Thanks for all the laughs. Agree, owing a beater car is a great experience when it’s properly optioned and it has the ability to get you from point a to b.
I think most people starting out own a beater car not by choice, and I agree they are great for learning especially when you're young. The only downside to older beater cars is the lack of safety, the Protege is a guaranteed death trap in a variety of accident scenarios.
BIMMER ZEIT my first car is a beater car it's a buick lesabre for only 400$
And this kind of funny because your not "protegé"(protégé in french can be translated as safe in english xD) in case of an accident... Okey I'm already out !
Except a brand new explorer is as good as a death sentence too..
My first car was a 2003 manual protege actually. Someone T-boned me at 45mph and completely destroyed my axel. Everyone in my car was perfectly fine even though I did a complete 180. Can't say much about a front end collision though.
And how is that so?
All i ever owned were beaters. $100-200 -hondas for the last 30yrs. Now have a 2000 crown vic . Paid $300 at auction for it. Driving it for over 4yrs & still dont have $900 in it. Not really a ford fan but love my vic. Ford got things rite with these cars.
Wahn Burnskiĺl yeah man, I know what car you’re talking about. They are wonderful cars.
I think you nailed it when you said "fun". The variable that add up to equal fun are simple; no worries, more money, laughing at others not having fun, and not planning to have fun. My beater takes on the ugly chores and my other car takes on the highway for some real fun.
Love how the robber didn't want it yet knew how to operate a stick and drove it a few feet away.
I smiled when the front emblem fell off. My type humor 😅
Thank you guys for watching, we hope you had fun! Just a sidenote that although I abuse the Mazda in this video (and also in real life), I adore that little car. It's a fantastic daily driver and actually really enjoyable. Let's hear your thoughts on beaters!
Your video has motivated me to not save up for a "proper" car as my first, but to just buy a piece of trash that I can love and cherish
Eloines you can have both for instance you can buy something cheap and be fun like a civic or a miata
I'm glad I started with beaters. Learned tons about doing all my own maintenance, besides now I appreciate my new STi so much more. When I mod the STi past daily drive enjoyability is when I'll consider going for another beater.
Your video is spot on. My beater is a little less beat then yours, an '08 Honda Fit, but the message is the same. People always ask me why I don't drive my GTO, and I always respond "I do, a lot.. I just don't drive it somewhere.. I just drive it". Anyway, great channel and great video.
Gears and Gasoline maybe a few mods Edit: just a few ;/
Excellent points. Another thing to consider is the cost of registering the car(s). In NH car registration can be extremely expensive for newer vehicles; however, as the vehicle ages and its value decreases the cost of registering it becomes less.
I drive a 30 year old caddy. I bought it 6 years ago from a farmer that had 3 of them, downsizing. I'm the third owner, it had 167k on it, 105k miles. its in excellent condition, I've had it for 6 years, runs like a dream, just general maintenance on it. payed for, cheap insurance, runs better than some new cars I've owned. Trick is, buy a car from a senior, they baby their cars and they run forever. buy a big car, you get alot of car for little money.
I live in eastern Europe and my beater car is faster than my funcar in 90% of the roads here. There are lots of potholes and bad roadrs, so beater car is a must I think
Yep the softer suspension or higher profile tyres can actually do better in the trash roads
@@RennieAsh no no, it's the fact you do not care about beater suspension, wheels or anything. You simply do not brake. Like every car can get off-road, as long as you do not care about it.
because you don't want the cops impounding your main whip *when...* *_not if_* ... you get caught with 16 kilos of that sweet Miami Sugar.
You'd end up in jail, who cares what happens to your car. You'll be in there a long time.
YEA 😎😎
PAKTRA_PRODUCTIONS WATCH_DOGS i prefer blacktar heroin, higher returns, and mighty tasty
Miami guy here and I approve of this message 😂😂
those are some expensive *carbs* huh?
i remember watching this video when it came out. Ive re watched several times over the years, and i finally rewatched it again today. Just bought a saturn sw2 wagon for 1600 bucks, already smogged (if you live in CA you know emission laws are bs) and looking to just drive it until it poops out on me. hey... the ac blows cubes and its a 5 speed so its a bit of fun to boot. wish me luck everyone
When we bought a new (used) car last year we decided that instead of trading in the Honda Civic 07 we'd keep it for a 2nd car. We use are BMW 3-series for most driving trips, but it's handy to have the extra car for when we both need to go into town or when there's a hail storm or something that we want to protect the bmw from.
Beaters, Hoopties, call them what you will... I love them. I’ve owned a 2000 VW Passat 1.8T for 9 years that I bought for $200 because the first owner ran it till the timing belt broke. A little head work and a new belt got it up and running. I just replaced the belt and tensioner for the 2nd time a few weeks ago (180,000 miles now) I notice I’m seeing fewer and fewer of them around. Yes, you do have to be willing to learn to do some wrenching yourself for a beater to make sense. With KZhead all of the knowledge you need is readily available. You just have to have some tools (all of mine are seriously cheap but have lasted for years) and the willingness to try. What is statistically one of the worst cars has turned out for me to be the best car I’ve ever owned. It is comfortable and new enough to be safe. What’s more I still enjoy driving it! My wife drives a 2005 Chrysler van with 220,000 miles on the clock that she still likes to drive My daughter has the newest car, a 2009 Hyundai Elantra with 190,000 miles that I paid $500 for as it had some minor body damage and was truly disgusting inside when I got it. A lot of cleaning, a little straightening and some minor maintenance made it nice little first car that she loves. If you don’t have much money you just have to arm yourself with knowledge. Cars are not magic. They are machines. Most machines are not that hard to fix with a little basic knowledge. If I can do it, anybody can do it.
Coincidentally I drive a 2002 Passat wagon. It’s the car I’m learning to drive on, and a side from the interior, the mechanics of the car function great! The clutch has held up remarkably well for its age and for the time I’ve spent learning on it. It’s a reliable car, and I wouldn’t change it!
Passat b5 v6 right here. Started out as a beater and the more I drive it the more I love it. Haha.
I got my 2005 Saturn Ion 5 speed for free from a frustrated young millennial. It didn't start. With lots of help from KZhead I have it running like a top. 142k miles now and I plan to have it for 500K miles. I'm no mechanic, but parts and labour = $600.00. I still need mechanical expertise sometimes. I've never paid more than $500.00 for any vehicle for myself. That's my motto.
Great response.
I sold my beater car becouse after fixing it it became to reliable😂😂
too
My beater costs me $800 a year in parts, but it also paid for itself eight years ago so I really can't be mad. The one thing is I really can't drive it on long trips anymore. Too many old seals, it's getting slightly creaky.
Dude when you did the same edit to the beater as you did to the gTR I lost it. love this
I owned the same Protege. Loved it. Never had the slightest break down. Even at limiter on any gears for years ...
if you live in a region full of vandals (I'm looking at you, southern california) an older used car is the only way to go. Get a new car and it drives me crazy seeing the new damage (that I know i didn't do!) But now my 2002 Camry is perfect. Peeled paint and dents, so what? What are they gonna do, scratch it again? (And they DO, but you just don't care). It's like having a force field of indifference.
My 2015 Tacoma turned into a beater and I thank southern California for it. I've got 7 dings on my truck, none are from me. How does one ding the frame above the door 🤔
Force field of indifference. Im gonna use that.
I feel you on that. I work in Downtown Portland Oregon and we all have to parallel park and it's just always a regular daily occurence that people hit each other's bumpers trying to parallel park
its nice having that force field. when i used to have my dream car, i was obsessive with it and it was stressful. I couldn't afford a beater car really, and i had a delivery job, so when i get more financially stable im gonna get a beater and my dream car again.
Beinrich Bimmler you have identified my super power the “force field of indifference”
Totally agree. I'd even go a step further and say your first project car should be a beater. The project being just keeping it on the road. I had an old truck I bought for 300 bucks that I did that with. Learned all my basics and made plenty of mistakes along the way, but it was a cheap stepping stone to mess up on before I moved up to a more performance oreiented project.
Proudly driving my 1999 Civic LX purchased off the lot . 183k miles, absolute beater and love it. Knocking on 20yrs no note..the disdain I get from other drivers on the road is AWESOME.. Will get rid of it once the 🛞 fall off...not sooner. ✌🏿
You make a lot of sense. You can afford a lot of repairs with what you save on that new vehicle payment as well! Well done.
I think one of the most important aspects of owning a beater car that didn't get addressed in this video is the fact that it serves as a secondary Backup commuter while your fun car is getting worked on or being repaired. It's a lot less stressful working on your fun car when you know you always have your beater to get you around. You won't put yourself in tight situations or feel like you have to rush to get things fixed as fast as possible. We all get busy with life and money can get tight sometimes. It's nice to know we can take our time properly fixing up our fun car when we are financially able to do so and have the time and place to do so knowing we still have a beater to get around in and dont have to take public transportation or whatever
"Should you own a beater car?" My answer is no and for a couple of reasons. In the video you state that the three reasons a person should own a beater car is because you won't have to care about it, they're cheap and easy to run, and they'll make for a great learning experience. And while those are good reasons to own a car, I say they are also bad reasons if you intend to have that car as a "beater". I'll tell you from my own personal experience. My first car was a 1997 Mazda Miata. I bought it with mismatching doors, a big dent behind the passenger door, the door cards weren't installed, and it needed a new paintjob. My plan was to buy the car and to restore it, which is what I did. I replaced the doors with ones that matched, replaced the window regulators, replaced a bad wheel bearing and hub, filled the passenger-side dent with bondo, aligned the body panels, did an oil change, got the paint job done by a local Maaco, and changed out the tires. The result was a car that was 5x better than when I first bought it. My point is that if a person wants to have something cheap, learn, and have fun then they should buy the car to restore it rather that to beat on it. When they're done with the car they will have learned to care for the car, give it the proper parts/fluids, and will have that feeling you get when you do something good, that feelin of satisfaction you get when you do something on your own, when you get to show off to others, when you get to display the fruit of your labor. Having a beater car encourages laziness, discourages appreciating what you own, and also gives you a bad image. Conclusion, buy a car with the intent of learning to improve your skills as well as improve the car in appearance and performance, because that is an experience that is more valuable that buying a car only to run it down further. Side note: I love all the effort you guys put into these videos. That intro was a great opener to the idea of a beater car. You guys deserve to have more recognition. Keep up the great work!
Good points! My situation is a little bit different because I already have the Evo to care about and treat well. For me, having a car that I don't have to worry about at all is very refreshing. I don't care if I'm negligent with the Mazda because it's dirt cheap and I have another car that I do care about.
No matter what car I get it will always be old cause I like restoring. The uglier the better it’s just more fun and keeps me busy I like new cars but they just don’t fit me can’t picture myself buying a new car even if I had the money.
Jesus MZ I feel ya, I see everyone abuse the hell out of old na miatas, all I see is rusty shirty paint jobs and broken cars. I bought my miata and I was doing all maintenance on it, replaced the soft top, repaired the rust myself, corrected my paint, all the seals.. everything. It's the same with 240's there's no more good 240's because everyone trashed them when they were cheap, all the old 90s Hondas.. all trashed. I feel like every car down to a old kia should be maintained and everything, but I see why it's nice to have a cheap car like that when you have a more expensive car
Jesus MZ I think you're missing the point. The way you see the beater is as a project car. But it's not. It can be used to get around when you're rebuilding the engine on you're project. And to not be affraid of parking up front between the rest of the cars at the supermarket, which I would be if my project car just got a fresh paintjob. As a object to practice repears and maintenance on, I can understand theres and your point.
I guess what you mean is that a beater is a sort of luxury and I'm overlooking that.
great video, not getting old especially in todays world where too many people are living in mental shackles of "buy-throw away-buy new" (personal opinion). also a great idea for young people who like to get into cars, and dont have the money (or the rich parents, grandparents etc) so they have to get a "beater car". parts are still available and relatively cheap for many cars from late 1990s or early 2000s. lots of help, and even better Repair Manuals are available in the bay and elsewhere, sometimes the cars come with an original repair manual from the seller. Tools to make small repairs happen are also available nowadays, which will save you even more money in the long term. also like to point to EricTheCarGuy with his video "why mechanics drive junk cars" and WatchJRgo with almost his entire video collection *lol*
I own an 01' Chevy Prizm (Toyota Corolla) as a 3rd car. I was going to get rid of it but can't bring myself to. It's great to have a cheap, reliable, beater that's easy on gas. I fully approve of this video
If your having car problems I feel bad for you son i got a 99 Honda and the bitch still runs
Bottom Gamer make the song 😆😆
Well played sir. . .quite creative
I'd say having a beater car depends on your circumstances. For me, I'd say it's a good idea. I'll explain why. It's about location and also where you often go to and where you park at. If you live in a place where you are almost never worried about dings and dents, or other malicious or potentially damaging situations, then there is no need for a beater. If you live somewhere like I do, which is near Chicago, it may be a good idea. I live in the suburbs and don't really worry about anything if I just am doing some errands around town; however, I do often go into Chicago as well. To visit family, or, just for pleasure; be it shopping, dining, going to a museum, etc.. I find parking downtown to cause anxiety quite often. Even just driving downtown before parking! If you go to an area you don't know well, you may not know how safe it is. It's always super crowded and cars parked close. My daily driver doesn't even fit into some of the parking garages due to it's height. The list goes on. Having a beater, just for going to places like this, could for sure be worth it; not only in actual money, but also, in peace of mind.
Earthling1984 - That’s true, there are many places like you described where it’s just not possible to park away from anyone else. Other people are careless if not malicious, and sooner or later a daily driven prize car will not be so spotless parking in the inner city. Peace of mind is important.
I also live near Chicago so I know exactly what you mean about the anxiety of driving downtown. I have to drive to and from O’Hare airport everyday for work so I pass right through downtown often, it can really be a pain driving a nice car around between the potholes and the reckless taxi drivers.
Also gas prices in Chicago ain’t getting any cheaper anytime soon.
Don't forget people be jacking the wheels off your car in Chicago lol. My uncle got a brand new Corolla, he lives near Jefferson Park. I kid you not, the second day of owning it, someone stole all his wheels.
Earthling1984 same I live in the Des Plaines area and even tho I’m planing once I get my lisence to go to an auction and buy an older Porsche Boxster I’ll still keep my Honda Accord around for when I’m in Chicago cause the reason you rarely see good cars in the city is because people don’t bring them my mom used to housekeep for some multi millionaire hpwhen she first moved to America and they daily drove like a Mazda 5 or something like that and only took out a Tesla or Porsche out side of the main city
I love beater cars! Living with something you can just get in and drive without worry of it getting dinged, PAID OFF, is absolute glory! Plus, they had to start somewhere back in the day... :)
I agree. I have 2 cars and one is my daily. (Beater), but I still take care of it and keep it looking decent. 👍
Plus, you can park a beater anywhere and everywhere! New dents are just more personality.
1989 'small body' Corolla fan here. I can drive it in Manila traffic and shrug when a tricycle or a bus scrapes the sides
I have a 2001 Corolla. It's the same exact size as yours. It's so tiny I have so much fun driving it around.
BritishBiker Philippines i have the same car with the same year
Have a 2001 Honda civic hit a deer 780 dollars damage still runs:) sold it should have kept it
whats the car culture like there; i go there for holiday
I own a 1.6GL AE92 Corolla too man, 1990, my anti-theft system is my starter motor that I have to bang every time to start her up hahahahhaha
Beaters are the best! Couple pieces of advice. 1. Get the best gas mileage vehicle you can find. 2. Get one that serves a purpose your "good" car doesnt. A 4 cylinder truck, off road type car, more room for hauling or big purchases.. You'll find yourself using both cars more often. If it just gets better gas mileage, you'll find you drive your "good" car less. Because it will always cost more to drive.
I have a 95 civic cx hatch 250k miles with cold ac and decent tunes. Perfect beater for work. Has saved me a lot of money.
Depreciation is the biggest cost killer buying new. Insurance is very expensive for a new car. A beater has no depreciation and insurance is cheap. Just get third party insurance for the other guy. If the beater gets wrecked, buy another beater.
yeah but it isn't always easy to find a cheap beater, last time not my fault, I told the insurance I wouldn't settle and give them the car and would keep the claim in limbo forever. Finally gave me the check and I kept the car, with no salvage marking on title.
@@joeboxer3365 ...Did they give you a CHECK, or did they give you a DRAFT? A check you can cash right away. With a draft, you have to wait an annoyingly long time (about a week or two). If your beater gets totaled, you may not have the luxury of being able to wait that long for your insurance money to buy another beater.
@@nonelost1 It took a couple of weeks but finally after telling them on the phone I wouldn't settle and i'd keep the car money or not for a salvage title and keep their liability on hold they said they would pay and deduct $50 or $100 for cars scrap value.The moral being that if you can still drive your car or use parts or part it out, you can fuck up their bookkeeping.
Charles James Yeah because with the beater it’s already depreciated so you don’t have to worry
My previous car was a 1994 Corolla and that car was the best. The radiator blew...$100. The exhaust fell out of it...$100. Only thing that did it in was getting rear ended...
Proudly drive my 1999 Toyota Camry around town every day. 240K miles, runs and drives great. Easy to work on so when something breaks I usually can fix it myself. And my GF loves riding in it too!
I now daily a 1983 Chevy Chevette. It was previously a beater about 25 years ago. It sat until last year when I bought it and put a carburetor on it and fixed the speedo and dash lights. It has some dents but is far from a beater now. She's a survivor and a little tank. I've even done a cut and buff of the original cracked paint. And from 30 feet away she looks brand new. and it has zero body rot.
Makes me appreciate my 99 accord coupe even more 😌 shit is a tank
I love those cars
At least it is an accord instead of civic or corolla. Old civics and corollas drive like a tank
My philosophy is that I want one car that does it all for me. Where I live, it's annoying having multiple cars. So, for my current lifestyle it makes a lot more sense to have one dual duty car. I can drive it to and from my driving events in relative comfort, drive it to work, to the 7-11, etc. So when people ask me if my FRS is my track car, I'll say that it's my everything car.
Would you choose a Toyota 4runner (or similar)? that'd be my choice according to what you said.
Used BMW!
Bingo, that's what I want as my all purpose all around vehicle. Stow the seats in the back to throw my camping gear in, haul my DJ equipment. Tow my dirtbike trailer, tow a small speedboat, throw my mountain bikes on the back rack, put kayaks on the roof. throw my skis inside, Haul some lumber with the seats folded up through the center console, whatever I want. And I wouldn't even worry if its brand new and I scratch up the inside hauling stuff because I would use the thing for its multipurposes and for fun and light offroad mods. A Toyota engine not to mention, will last forever
mark 2 blit ftw
Same, in Australia it costs 700 bucks a year for rego --- that's a big price to pay just to have another car sitting around in case you need it.
so true! I had 1999 Toyota RAV4, i never worried about it to be scratched on a parking lot, or driving on the road without pavement. In addition that car was a beast on snow and ice.
Seeing the Protege do the same montage as the r35 makes me laugh so hard