The difference between buying a new or used vehicle used to be rooted in expensive versus affordable. These days, you can still expect to pay tens of thousands of dollars for a vehicle that’s at least ten years old.
Unless, of course, you go the beater car route instead. Cast cosmetics aside and you’ll find an entire world of cheap, affordable cars that promise reliability while simultaneously lacking aesthetic appeal. But how do you know if a beater car is right for you?
What Is a Beater Car?
Jalopy. Hooptie. Bucket of bolts. Rustbucket. Clunker.
Whatever your term of endearment might be, a beater car is a cheap car with a run-down appearance but reliable bones. Although they’re referred to as beater cars, there are also plenty of SUV, truck, and van beaters out there. These vehicles might have some dents and dings or chipped paint jobs, all the while staying mechanically intact.
Beater cars are not to be confused with your average, run-of-the-mill used vehicle. These cars are typically on the older side and have often racked up plenty of miles. They’re also not to be confused with that rusty car rotting in your Uncle Jim’s backyard, surrounded by a sea of overgrown weeds. Beater cars actually run and drive and have life left in them.
What Are the Benefits To Buying a Beater Car?
If you’re looking to get into car shows or impress your friends with your sweet ride, a beater car should be removed from your radar immediately. But there are some benefits to these bad boys when you set aesthetics aside — namely, affordability. These vehicles are exponentially less, well, expensive.
Plus, if reliability matters to you, you can find a beater ride with a solid drivetrain and the promise of plenty of miles ahead. And even if you don’t get ten years out of your hooptie, you’re not going to be in the hole for tens of thousands of dollars.
How To Find a Good Beater Car
Let’s get this out of the way: If you have someone in your circle who is an expert at finding reliable beater cars, feel free to lean on them. We’re talking about someone who knows the ins and outs of the local salvage yard and has their own lengthy list of like-minded connections to parse.
But if you don’t know a junkyard aficionado, there are other ways to secure a good clunker. Searching online is a safe place to start, and Facebook Marketplace often has an abundance of reliable rides to check out. Just remember to do your due diligence and run a VIN check using a site like Carfax to make sure the seller isn’t hiding any major damage to the vehicle. Checking the classifieds is also a good resource, along with local magazines geared toward selling vehicles.
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When Should You Consider Getting a Beater Car?
If all you’re after is a “from A-to-B” vehicle, don’t rule out a beater car. These vehicles are ideal for folks who drive a lot and don’t want to put wear and tear on their nicer, newer ride. Go for something that gets good gas mileage and has a reputation rooted in a long lifespan.
Maybe you simply can’t afford something nicer right now and you just need something cheap that isn’t going to be a total waste of money. At the end of the day, if an affordable and reliable ride is at the top of your priority list and you’re willing to sacrifice aesthetics, a beater car might be right for you.
Related: 11 Affordable Used Cars Most Buyers Overlook
What Are Some of the Best Beater Cars You Can Buy?
Automotive search engine iSeeCars.com compiled a list of the 15 most reliable beater cars out there, based on how long-lasting they are. Here are the vehicles that came out on top:
- Toyota Land Cruiser (18.2% reach over 200,000 miles)
- Toyota Sequoia (14.2% reach over 200,000 miles)
- Chevrolet Suburban (6.6% reach over 200,000 miles)
- GMC Yukon XL (5.2% reach over 200,000 miles)
- Toyota 4Runner (4.6% reach over 200,000 miles)
- Ford Expedition (4.5% reach over 200,000 miles)
- Chevrolet Tahoe (4.4% reach over 200,000 miles)
- Toyota Tundra (4% reach over 200,000 miles)
- Toyota Avalon (3.9% reach over 200,000 miles)
- Toyota Prius (3.9% reach over 200,000 miles)
- Toyota Highlander Hybrid (3.8% reach over 200,000 miles)
- GMC Yukon (3.7% reach over 200,000 miles)
- Honda Ridgeline (3.7% reach over 200,000 miles)
- Honda Odyssey (3.2% reach over 200,000 miles)
- Toyota Sienna (3.2% reach over 200,000 miles)
