Good Beater?
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From: TEXAS/MEXICO
Originally Posted by Luke530,Sep 8 2006, 12:30 PM
Another opinion for a car:
How about a Ford Probe (with under 100k?)
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From: Oh kwa tan zen wan
Originally Posted by aklucsarits,Sep 7 2006, 03:54 PM
My beater is a 1992 Nissan Sentra SE-R. I bought it 4 years ago from its original owner for $2000. It had only 75,000mi on it. It has been a GREAT car. It has been very fun to drive and super reliable. The only thing I've replaced so far was the original 11 year old factory battery. Right now it probably needs a new clutch soon and I think the struts have seen better days. But it's never left me stranded.
It's pretty much unstoppable in the snow too...
Andrew
It's pretty much unstoppable in the snow too...
Andrew
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From: Philly
^^^ Yeah the SE-R is the sporty version. It has a 140hp 2.0l DOHC sr20de engine compared to the 110hp DOHC 1.6l in the regular 91-94 Sentras. The SE-R also has an LSD standard, which helps in the snow. It only weighs about 2600lbs, and it was quite a rocket in its time. They are pretty rare cars. It's not easy to find nice SE-Rs anymore. And the better ones (read: rust-free and not riced out) command a premium.
Mine was a lucky Autotrader find. The price I paid was not typical. I could easily sell my car today for at least 50% more than I paid for it 4 years and 27,000 mi ago.
The regular Sentra models - E, XE, SE, GXE - are excellent values too. They get better gas mileage, are more available, and cheaper than the SE-R models.
Andrew
Mine was a lucky Autotrader find. The price I paid was not typical. I could easily sell my car today for at least 50% more than I paid for it 4 years and 27,000 mi ago.
The regular Sentra models - E, XE, SE, GXE - are excellent values too. They get better gas mileage, are more available, and cheaper than the SE-R models.
Andrew
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From: The Colony, TX
Those little scooters are actually a lot of fun to ride aslong as you don't need to go faster than 35 mph. I bought one and played with it for a whole summer before I ended up just giving it to my at the time girlfriend. I had more fun on that thing that I did/do my Ninja. Check out Geely scooters, they are Chineese, cheap to buy, and fairly decent.
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From: Phoenix
Originally Posted by aklucsarits,Sep 8 2006, 11:37 AM
^^^ Yeah the SE-R is the sporty version. It has a 140hp 2.0l DOHC sr20de engine compared to the 110hp DOHC 1.6l in the regular 91-94 Sentras. The SE-R also has an LSD standard, which helps in the snow. It only weighs about 2600lbs, and it was quite a rocket in its time. They are pretty rare cars. It's not easy to find nice SE-Rs anymore. And the better ones (read: rust-free and not riced out) command a premium.
Mine was a lucky Autotrader find. The price I paid was not typical. I could easily sell my car today for at least 50% more than I paid for it 4 years and 27,000 mi ago.
The regular Sentra models - E, XE, SE, GXE - are excellent values too. They get better gas mileage, are more available, and cheaper than the SE-R models.
Andrew
Mine was a lucky Autotrader find. The price I paid was not typical. I could easily sell my car today for at least 50% more than I paid for it 4 years and 27,000 mi ago.
The regular Sentra models - E, XE, SE, GXE - are excellent values too. They get better gas mileage, are more available, and cheaper than the SE-R models.
Andrew
Regarding other Sentras, I have a friend with one and it never lets him down. Sentras in general are cheap, reliable daily drivers. I just looked on Auto Trader, and you can pick up an 00-01 Sentra SE 2.0 with 5-speed and all options for under $6000. It's over your $2000 maximum, but this is an example of a cheap car with all the goodies and some fun, all while getting good MPG.
The old Corolla GT-S was a free revver too. I drove one of those and it seemed pretty good and fun for a little thing. I think ttrying to find one of these in good condition is probably even harder than trying to find a nice SE-R though.
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From: Former Owner, FL
I would suggest a '88-'91 Toyota Corolla GT-S. I picked one up last year (an '88 5spd. 2 tone grey) for $300.00! It's got 140k on it runs well and only needs a new/used transmission($200). I plan to ice race it this winter 
There's plenty of cheap mods, not to mention the JDM engines.
There's plenty of cheap mods, not to mention the JDM engines.
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From: Taipei / NYC Metro
Originally Posted by S-TO-9K,Sep 9 2006, 02:58 PM
I would suggest a '88-'91 Toyota Corolla GT-S. I picked one up last year (an '88 5spd. 2 tone grey) for $300.00! It's got 140k on it runs well and only needs a new/used transmission($200). I plan to ice race it this winter
There's plenty of cheap mods, not to mention the JDM engines.
There's plenty of cheap mods, not to mention the JDM engines.
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From: Philly
Originally Posted by Slamnasty,Sep 9 2006, 10:48 AM
The other notable characteristic of that first SE-R was its very free-revving nature. I recal C&D waxing lyrical about how much they like the 2.0 in that car. It redlined at 7000-7500 IIRC. Pretty high for an early 90s car.
Regarding other Sentras, I have a friend with one and it never lets him down. Sentras in general are cheap, reliable daily drivers. I just looked on Auto Trader, and you can pick up an 00-01 Sentra SE 2.0 with 5-speed and all options for under $6000. It's over your $2000 maximum, but this is an example of a cheap car with all the goodies and some fun, all while getting good MPG.
The old Corolla GT-S was a free revver too. I drove one of those and it seemed pretty good and fun for a little thing. I think ttrying to find one of these in good condition is probably even harder than trying to find a nice SE-R though.
Regarding other Sentras, I have a friend with one and it never lets him down. Sentras in general are cheap, reliable daily drivers. I just looked on Auto Trader, and you can pick up an 00-01 Sentra SE 2.0 with 5-speed and all options for under $6000. It's over your $2000 maximum, but this is an example of a cheap car with all the goodies and some fun, all while getting good MPG.
The old Corolla GT-S was a free revver too. I drove one of those and it seemed pretty good and fun for a little thing. I think ttrying to find one of these in good condition is probably even harder than trying to find a nice SE-R though.
Plus, if you into upgrading, you can get a full FWD SR20DET engine swap for about $1500 or so. Additionally Japan gets a "SR20VE" version of the same engine, which you can buy for about the same price as a Sr20DET swap, updated with variable valve timing and lift. Nissan calls it NeoVVL. The 2.0l SR20VEs start at around 180 naturally asprirated HP, and they can easily make 200+ HP with the cams from the SR16VE and a good header. And of course if you get the SR20DET, you can make 250+HP safely by just turning up the boost.
Andrew