I need to buy a beater...are there any used car dealerships in the bay area? I tried looking on craigslist, but it's hard to see what is real, and what's a scam...

Looking for something cheap, something I can throw around and beat up a bit...any ideas?

 

oh dude i would stay away from craigslist. are you looking for a truck or a car. carmax is a good start.

 

What's cheap to one person may not be cheap to another. What is your budget like?

 

i think craigslist is fine...i bought and sold cars off there before and had no problem. you just need to do your homework.

 

so where should I go?

maybe something around $2-3G's?

 

yea I don't know what to do my homework on...

 

I'm assuming you want your beater to be reliable- I'd look for a 1993 Toyota Camry- that thing will run past 200,000 miles without a problem, and should fall into your price range. With Craigslist, 90% of the postings are real, and it's quite obvious from the seller's first response that it might be a scam.

 

Toyota AE86

 

Just be careful when you buy a car on Craigslist. I've heard people have been mugged when they go pick up the used car.
I would get a civic or miata as a beater

 

that's the exact car that I'm looking for!

 

Me too... Group buy!

This should help get you started: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/search/c...00&query=camry

 

Man, oh man, do I have the beater for you.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/car/209473322.html

 

I'm pickin' up my Datsun 280Z series 1 this sunday! Sporty beaters FTW!

Alex, you should first list a few of the cars u wanna hunt for first; you must have some sort of preference I assume. Then surf craigslist for some ads and the local newspapers never hurt either. Like previous responses here, it's true, the sellers first response is quite obvious if it is a scam. If you are not allowed to go see the car right now then and there, then it's a scam; the money order/sending out cash deal is a tell-tale sign of course. But just keep your eyes peeled, all in all! Good luck!

 

i bought a coupla cars off ebay, if the guy has a good rating and you do your homeowrk, you can find plenty of cars for around 2-3k in good shape

b

 

yea I wanted to get a datsun, but I already got a 2 seater...I need something the OPPOSITE of the Z...so that's why I wanted a camry. Quiet, simple, not mod friendly (won't waste my money on it), 4 door, roomy, big trunk, etc etc...

 

Get a used CRV or a van, roomy, yet economical. My beater is an 89 Mazda MPV with 110k miles.

 

a van is a bit much... a sedan is fine with me...

 

Get the camry and put the volks (GTS) on...

 

I would have said my truck, but you want a 4 door, roomy and a trunk. Well it does qualify as a beater.. haha... We have a 91 camry for you... as long as you want to go straight its fine.. if you want to reverse.. then you have a problem.. who needs to reverse anyway? hahaha