Daily Beater - $5k or less

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  • Joe G
    R3VLimited
    • Apr 2010
    • 2942

    #1

    Daily Beater - $5k or less

    Hello fellow e30 degenerates. I don’t think I’ve been on r3v in a few years…but since I need advice on a quasi-frivolous car purchase, I knew where I needed to go for the right input. I’m looking for a daily knock around car that is reliable, relatively cheap to maintain and can haul dogs, handle Home Depot/plant store runs, etc. Been thinking Jeep Cherokee (90s), Ford Ranger-esk trucks or various wagons, and want to keep it under $5k. I daily a 997 and drive that 70% of the year, barring ice/snow/salt being on the road, and the new beater will likely never do more than 50-100miles of driving in a single go, for whatever that’s worth. I really want to stay away from carbureted stuff bc winter and yeah. AWD is preferred, but not mandatory. Do your thing, r3v. Help me buy something silly.


    Current Car: 2011 BMW 135i, M-Sport, 6 speed

    Originally posted by lambo
    Sounds like you need a massage.
    Originally posted by kpeng
    Who the hell is Vlad?
  • roguetoaster
    R3V OG
    • Jan 2012
    • 7753

    #2
    Get a Highlander with typical broken A/C and ride that until prices improve. It's not a bad vehicle and you can pretty much neglect it forever.

    Comment

    • 2mAn
      Señior Mod
      • Aug 2010
      • 20120

      #3
      Get a CRV with the K24 bruh...
      Simon
      Current Cars:
      -1966 Lotus Elan
      -1986 German Car
      -2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

      Make R3V Great Again -2020

      Comment

      • rcsoundn1
        No R3VLimiter
        • Nov 2012
        • 3361

        #4
        here for the replies, but I just need a cheap reliable DD, im in the south so no 4WD for me.

        Comment

        • AWDBOB
          R3V Elite
          • Aug 2013
          • 4377

          #5
          AMC eagle with a quick and dirty microsquirt conversion, what could go wrong?

          Serious answer....... CRV like 2man said. My sis took a CRV over 300k with frequent trips from west to east coast. She purchased a newer CRV and left the old one to my brother, who has now been its steward to well over 350k, still on original motor. Reliable, cheap, affordable.

          1989 Hooptie 325iS Build Thread
          1989 Zinnoberrot M3 Build Thread

          Comment

          • Joe G
            R3VLimited
            • Apr 2010
            • 2942

            #6
            CRV and Highlanders have been looked at…but since I’m a moron I’m going to checkout a Benz W124 wagon, and bonus it is the AWD variant. $3500, supposedly a strong runner with no rust. If it’s a bust, I’ll go CRV or Yota.


            Current Car: 2011 BMW 135i, M-Sport, 6 speed

            Originally posted by lambo
            Sounds like you need a massage.
            Originally posted by kpeng
            Who the hell is Vlad?

            Comment

            • Ritzace
              Member
              • Jan 2020
              • 81

              #7
              +1 for a crv, I got the family crv that just hit 200k and we've had it since new (2004). K24, stick, if you can find one, AWD, AND the first two generations have a fold out table in the back!

              Comment

              • varg
                No R3VLimiter
                • May 2014
                • 3288

                #8
                In for results. $5k or less for a car that isn't falling apart is a tall order in today's market and I'm curious to see what comes through. I'm not the one for answers on this, I'm an idiot who is building a big turbo E34 wagon with as a DD.

                IG @turbovarg
                '91 318is, M20 turbo
                [CoTM: 4-18]
                '94 525iT slicktop, M50B30 + S362SX-E, 600WHP DD or bust
                '93 RX-7 FD3S

                Comment

                • 82eye
                  E30 Mastermind
                  • Jan 2009
                  • 1897

                  #9
                  Originally posted by 2mAn
                  Get a CRV with the K24 bruh...
                  there's an even cheaper sketchy one here that sorta qualifies ...











                  already presented in winter beater duty with the "craced windshield" mod conveniently completed, so you don't have to cringe when it inevitably happens.


                  edit : i actually want it. i would winter beater and daily that crapcan til the mirrors fell off.


                  Comment

                  • 82eye
                    E30 Mastermind
                    • Jan 2009
                    • 1897

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Joe G
                    CRV and Highlanders have been looked at…but since I’m a moron I’m going to checkout a Benz W124 wagon, and bonus it is the AWD variant. $3500, supposedly a strong runner with no rust. If it’s a bust, I’ll go CRV or Yota.
                    also a good choice.oddly the benz would be the only one here not getting a market brand hike in value.

                    most wanna just drive it like an appliance. the benz suffers the resale value cause they actually need decent regular maintenance. i'd get the wagon over the crv too. hell i'd get any decent wagon over the crv.

                    Comment

                    • packratbimmer
                      E30 Fanatic
                      • Dec 2009
                      • 1329

                      #11
                      Toyota sequoia 4.7 V8 - pretty much the same as 1st Gen tundra except for coils in the back. 6,500 towing 2WD and a little lower for 4WD. Best deal in the USA with reliability.

                      Comment

                      • Joe G
                        R3VLimited
                        • Apr 2010
                        • 2942

                        #12
                        So I did this. $3500 NO RUST ~150k miles (broken odo, duh) -trans solenoid is bad, shifts like poop at the wrong times -needs front drive shaft flex disk to reinstall front driveshaft to get AWD back in action (allegedly) -blower motor is shot -seats don’t work (prob fuses?) -sunroof tilts, but doesn’t go back well at all -leaks some oil -speakers decide which ones wants to work and when But so far it’s fantastic. I missed silly old beaters.


                        Current Car: 2011 BMW 135i, M-Sport, 6 speed

                        Originally posted by lambo
                        Sounds like you need a massage.
                        Originally posted by kpeng
                        Who the hell is Vlad?

                        Comment

                        • 2mAn
                          Señior Mod
                          • Aug 2010
                          • 20120

                          #13
                          Excellent!

                          I expect a thread with all the joys of fixing an old neglected Benz wagon
                          Simon
                          Current Cars:
                          -1966 Lotus Elan
                          -1986 German Car
                          -2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

                          Make R3V Great Again -2020

                          Comment

                          • Northern
                            R3V Elite
                            • Nov 2010
                            • 5049

                            #14
                            Originally posted by AWDBOB
                            AMC eagle with a quick and dirty microsquirt conversion, what could go wrong?
                            I think I get this reference...

                            I guess I'm too late, but +1 for the CRV for the logical choice. I'd say Rav4 but I think the resale holds too well so you'd be pitting it against a newer CRV.
                            I would personally look for an E91 w/ sport package but the 300E (?) is great as well.
                            Originally posted by priapism
                            My girl don't know shit, but she bakes a mean cupcake.
                            Originally posted by shameson
                            Usually it's best not to know how much money you have into your e30

                            Comment

                            • eLKuRLy
                              Grease Monkey
                              • Oct 2007
                              • 360

                              #15
                              What do you mean by "Cheap to maintain?" Are you doing maintenance or dropping at a shop?

                              I have been looking at both Honda's and Toyota's as well and keep in mind the cost and time (if DIY) as some have timing belts and others timing chain.



                              Comment

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