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I really had never heard this term until just recently and especially here on CD. What constitutes a "beater" car? Age, condition, mileage? My wife has a 10 year old Accord V6 with 84 K. Is that a beater? Thanks for the replies. :-)
Usually what people in rust country mean by a "beater" is a more or less disposable car to drive 2 or 3 winters so as to keep their "good" car out of the salt.
In general a "beater" can be any cosmetically bad car that you use for rough conditions.
I'm not certain if my old Scirocco - with one badly dented up rocker panel, slightly tweaked doghouse (hood and front fenders) and in rat rod black primer - but in mechanically excellent shape, with LED turn/running lights, relayed headlights, and generally functionally 100% outside of the A/C - is really a "beater" or not.
If your wife's car is cosmetically good, it's not a beater. At least not in my book.
Definitions can vary but it tends to be an older less expensive vehicle that may not be the buyers ideal car but is the best they could reasonably do with the resources available.
A car that other people would fix (or not own in the first place), but I drive as is, even though I can afford better. A car is not a beater if it the best one can afford -- it is essential life-giving transportation, for someone I give my beater to when even I can't stand it anymore. And then it's not a beater anymore.
We have three cars. I newer minivan the wife drives, my Challenger and a 2006 Corolla. I could consider the Corolla to be my "beater" car. Now there is nothing wrong with it cosmetically or mechanically. But for the most part is only driven in bad weather when I don't want to drive the Challenger or just want to switch things up a bit.
Usually what people in rust country mean by a "beater" is a more or less disposable car to drive 2 or 3 winters so as to keep their "good" car out of the salt.
In general a "beater" can be any cosmetically bad car that you use for rough conditions.
I'm not certain if my old Scirocco - with one badly dented up rocker panel, slightly tweaked doghouse (hood and front fenders) and in rat rod black primer - but in mechanically excellent shape, with LED turn/running lights, relayed headlights, and generally functionally 100% outside of the A/C - is really a "beater" or not.
If your wife's car is cosmetically good, it's not a beater. At least not in my book.
this pretty much sums it up nicely. a beater can be anything used as a daily driver, that is cosmetically not the best of condition, mechanical condition isnt that important.
Thanks, since I live in the desert Southwest, we don't have winter cars. I can understand about having an old car for the salt and sand on the roads. I just wondered how reliable a "beater" would be in bad weather if it is so old. Wouldn't it be a money pit? Thanks for all the answers.
BTW, wife's car is in good shape aside the parking lot dings.
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