Probably not. Buy the parts online, pull up a video, and go at it! Here are some little things you can do to make your beater, well, less of a beater:. Word of advice: Treat your car kindly! Even if it is a beater. Treating your car right and simply doing the maintenance on time can go a long way when it comes to the longevity of your car. Do you fix it? And, where can you even sell a broken down beater car?
Just asking yourself if somethings worth fixing based on the price to fix it is often enough, for example:. The problem comes in with the last question.
If it costs the price of what your car is worth to fix it, should you? Some say no, some say yes. I say — maybe, and it depends on the car. In fact, the decision should be made with this consideration:. What else is wrong with my car, and more importantly, what are the odds of something else expensive going wrong soon? But, if you know your car and everything else is in great order, then it might be worth it.
Or, sell it off at a significant loss, and buy something else and not know exactly what you have? I always utilize the tip outlined below when buying a car, buying right above the definition of a beater. For what some people pay per month for their car, not including gas and other costs, I paid over the span of two years. Buy a quality beater. So, if you can, consider buying slightly above the definition of a beater, especially if the goal is to save money.
Are they for everyone? No, not entirely. Now let's look into should you buy new or used cars. As my father used to tell me, a car is made for one reason and one reason only: to get you from Point A to Point B. Of course, it mainly comes down to priorities, values, and your personal situation in life.
Pssst: beater cars are great for new drivers. But boy do I wish I had had these new teenage driver gifts when I was just starting out driving 18 years ago! What happened is I pulled up to a stop sign behind a cement truck, and when they took their foot off the brake, they backed right into me.
I used to be an Amish taxi driver. And one of the things I loved about this? On my very first beater car that I had bought, I installed an alpine stereo. It was awesome! Unfortunately, three years into ownership the car started overheating really badly. We were able to get it to a car shop by putting water into it. That one stung. Well, then I consider that a winner. But only if you do it right. Hopefully, a nicer one than the first one you bought! Pssst: take a peek at the section on Who Buys Used Cars, as you should still be able to make a little money when selling your broken-down beater car at the end.
That way, you can take that money and add it into your next one! If you work from home and own a new car — with all the expenses it carries — it can be a complete waste of money. One of the real financial advantages to working from, or close to, home is being able to save money. That becomes possible because you are in a position to downgrade your transportation.
If you work from home, do you take advantage of that benefit? Posted In: Car Ownership. Kevin Mercadante is professional personal finance blogger, and the owner of his own personal finance blog, OutOfYourRut. He has backgrounds in both accounting and the mortgage industry.
These responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. Disclaimer: The content on this site is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not professional financial advice. References to third party products, rates, and offers may change without notice.
Please visit the referenced site for current information. We may receive compensation through affiliate or advertising relationships from products mentioned on this site.
However, we do not accept compensation for positive reviews; all reviews on this site represent the opinions of the author. Privacy Policy. Editorial Disclosure: This content is not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser.
Because of their age, you rarely have to visit a dealership for maintenance. Most parts are purchased from scrap yards, auto-parts stores, or online and are typically easy to install yourself. These imperfections will leave you worry-free if a rogue shopping cart bumps into it at the supermarket. This carefree attitude makes beaters the perfect cars for newly-licensed drivers, too! Typically, the vehicle has already reached its maximum depreciation , so keeping an eye on the mileage is unnecessary, provided the odometer even works at all.
0コメント