recommend me a beater
 

sorry if this is in the wrong section.

I love my 2002 BMW X5 3.0 but it's a maintenance hog. There is no end in sight for repairs needed, I put more into it than its worth. My evap in the ac just went too...

So here's the story. I'm 20 years old, In my last year of college Fall-14, I work in IT. And need another car (non-bmw) sorry. no "God's chariot e30"

so far I'm considering the following options...

cars under 10k from dealer auctions (clean title)...

-Toyota solara, tacoma-(if I get lucky),
-lexus es300, is300, sc300, sc400
-infinity g35
-Honda accord coupe

looking more for a 2 door and I live in New England . Planning to use the car for up to 3 years. I take good care of all my cars.
Which car would you add to the list
or tips, suggestions, what to stay away from.

From previous experience, I will never buy a Volvo, Saab or Audi.
Back to BMW when I am more Financially stable.

You're asking the wrong crowd. Most of us on here use our X5's as daily drivers. A beater is a car that gets you to and from work with minimal worries and would maybe have accessories. The fact that you ruled out an E30 already shot down my input as my E30 has been the most reliable car I've ever owned.

Get a Civic and be prepared to be bored within 16 minutes of it.

honda accord sounds more bulletproof then the rest of your list... definetely not a bimmer, but it is a transportation, and parts should be relatively cheap, along with a huge fan base that has big forums... i never had a honda but it seems to be a reliable student beater, as requested... and should not be too expensive either to buy, maintain and feed

+2 for the Honda Accord. I would still have a PPI checkout by a good Honda Indie, (every town on the planet has one, imo).

Slap on a set of dedicated snows for the winter, change the oil/filter and drive the sumbitch.

I would not consider the Lexi or Infinity, and do you really need/want a Tacoma truck?
GL, mD

My son drove and loved his Accord coupe, before he left for the Air Force and came home with an E39... Boring, but reliable... that's a Honda...

Hyundai or Kia. You can get a later model car with less mileage and maybe time left on the factory warranty.

On the H or K, only the 5yr/50K deal is transferrable. The '100k mile powertrain' portion is not.

We love the CEO's '10 H Tucson; her previous '03 Honda CR-V was the worst car I have owned in 50 yrs of cars...I would still pitch the H Accord to the OP.
GL, mD

^Accord sounds good. And you all spell "Infiniti" wrong :nana2:

my spell check liked the way I spelt it. ;)

Mazda 6, whatever year $10k gets you. Can usually get one newer and less miles than an Accord at any given price point. Reliable, almost bulletproof actually. Less boring, more engaging for the driver than the Accord. Good luck.

Is it possible to find the European accord for that much money? the 9acura TSX in america)

you don't really think you can find a TSX for this much money, do you?

Артём, теперь за 3 копейки ты хочешь целый духовой оркестр??? :nanana:

you probably will not understand the joke, but if you ask your parents, or better yet, your grandparents (I hope thay are OK and doing well), they might be able to explain this saying... lol...

without any jokes, a 2004 TSX can easily be had for 10G... a 2005 for 10G might be a little stretch but still doable... from a dealer...
from a private person, you might get 2005, or even a 2006 model... and if you are super lucky - 2007...

but don't listen to me, do a research...:thumbup:

If you truly need a beater, get an 89-90 Corolla. 5speed, manual windows, no other creature comforts other than AC and power steering. nothing to break, parts a plenty, easy to work on.

The rust is going to eat something.

So let it eat the Accord.

thank you everyone for the help.
-no mazda 6...

so now my list is Honda Accord or Acura TL - TSX
or I find a sick beater 89-90 corolla...

any input on them Acura's?

"But Satan, Acuras are Very Nice!"

http://img2-1.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic...en-Irwin_l.jpg


TSX 6-speed all the way, shift action is great, Honda reliability, you won't be disappointed.

I would get the Acura(s) More options and features than Accord.
I used to have a 94 Legend Coupe 6-sp.

acura over honda?!

TSX or newer TL or accord coupe v6 ?

Well the Acura's interior and features (more luxury) would make me choose those 2 over an accord coupe v6. Honda interiors are plain, boring, and put you to sleep. The Acuras should be a step above, I would hope.

Not to mention I associate accord coupes (I don't care if its a V6) with women.

Btw with what you are looking at, this has turned into a "recommend me a daily" thread, as I don't consider those cars beaters. I'm still wondering why guys on the forum consider a 10 year old base level (i.e. not 4.6 or 4.8is) E53 to be made into a garage queen, or a "weekend car", these are meant to be driven.


Want my honest opinion? Fix the X5 up as best as you can, drive it daily in the winter and on bad weather days. You want to park the X5 most nice days in the spring/summer/fall? Take 5k, buy yourself a used Suzuki SV650 or Gladius, get your MC endorsement, and spend the difference or a few bucks more for armored gear and a good full face.

Will give you 1,000 times more enjoyment than dailying an Acura and garaging a 6 cylinder E53, and will cost about half the price of what you were looking to spend.

I like the TL better than TSX (European Accord)

this is the european accord. I was in ukraine last week. '
http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMG_2759.jpg

cop cars in ukraine will keep up- http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMG_2760.jpg

yea, its not a garage queen just it makes me nervous of serious break downs waiting to happen.
and motorcycle?! planning on R6 next year... but keeping the 3.0 x5 is pointless. I want it sold for 10k -worth 12k kbb perfect. im already 12 into it after repairs done. and not to mention rear suspension has not been touched and same with cooling... and ac evaporator went.. whats next.

I don't think it will sell for 10k to be honest, Cisc0 tried selling his X recently and I don't think he could even get 10k. Are you selling the X and then buying the Accord/TSX or are you looking for additional purchase of vehicle to keep the X parked and thus from breaking further?

And if you're serious about 2 wheels next year, the R6 is a terrible first bike if you've never ridden before. Usable power on the street is not wringing out each gear to 12,000 rpm, sure you will look cool going stoplight to stoplight in a straight line but if you want my opinion, start on a midsize twin like the SV650 (it looks like a sportbike if you want the look) so you can really learn how to handle the 'cycle and the torque will keep you grinning for a couple years.


Nothing worse than a new rider on a 600 who barely knows throttle control but yet rides a bike with the twitchiest throttle, and stiff arms the bars because he is so leaned over and doesn't know the essence of handling a motorcycle is in gripping the tank. I had a few buddies when I had my 650 who rode Gixxers, R6's, and one had a Ninja 600. Sure in a straight line above 50 mph they would pull on me, but they couldn't hold a line for shit in the corners.


Only giving friendly advice as I did the whole "I want a supersport 600 for my first bike" phase, but once I learned the dynamics of being a better rider, I swallowed my ego for one of the "less popular" bikes, and learned riding so much easier and competently than if I started on a supersport. Good luck Alex.

That's the new one.

The 2003 Honda Accord there is this one.
http://images-2.drive.com.au/2012/01..._729-420x0.jpg
and the TSX here
http://image.automobilemag.com/f/aut..._side_view.jpg

I'm in the same boat. I bought 4.8iS for my wife as a DD. I must be crazy :bustingup Should I make it a garage queen? If I do, I would have to make my 2 Z32 the "Living Room Queens" then :rofl:

Infiniti. I keep my G35x as the standby car. AWD for the winter, good handling and power. The coupe even more so. Ton of parts and support and it is reliable.

Definitely! Back when I lived in my condo before I got married, bought my house and had a 2 car garage, I actually used to wheel my SV1000 up a Rhino Ramp to get over my curb, went up my walkway to my front door and used to park it in the living room and up on the rear stand for the winter (and plugged in the battery tender inside as well)

My old bikes never slept so good back in those winters!

thanks for the info, If i do not sell for 10k than I keep it, no money for another car.

I'm not sure about the SV650.. but I will need your bike experience help next year.

thank you

that's awesome!

Anytime man, you can always pick my brain about 2 wheeled demon machines :) I ride a bitchin cruiser now, but have had just under 5 years on sportbikes.

The 'beater' hunt has surely broadened in scope...

I sort of like RB's philosophy of spend a few thou, and drive the current X; why park that car for 'winter' in New England? If it is that tenuous or fragile in the OP's mind, I would off the sumbitch this weekend and slide into a Honda, et al true beater, or something the OP prefers. A highly used and in this case costly X, is either drive it or toss it, imo.

As for scoots, I've been riding for 50 years, and currently have 3 various rides, fwiw.
I agree on passing on the R6, unless the OP has learned to and likes to scuff knee pucks, and run revs to the redline. If the OP is a novice, fuggettaboutit!

Good luck on the car(s) decsion...
BR, Ol'UncleMotor

I can ride a bike!!! bicycle, that is!!! lol... only in a straight line, making turns is hard and scary... lol...

Thanks errrybody...
I'm crazy about speed, it hard to stay by the speed limit with my m54.
I drove bikes, but not crotchrockets. I might sign up for motorcycle class and learn some more before picking up a bike. Everyone has different views on bikes. Some tell me Gixers are the perfect starter bike others say the newer cbr600s, I just always liked the R6, the new one even has traction control. :O like who needs that!? Well Bike research will start soon. I just want something fast and that wont kill me on turns, and I dont mind leaning on turns like youre supposed.

Ah, 'speed'...it is a human condition to embrace and enjoy the sensation.

A good local MSF course is worth taking, imo. I reload on one every few years; have taken about a dozen over the course of my riding time, though they weren't offered way back in the old days. Wish they had been. It may seem like taking 'driver education' again, but I learn something every time I do the MSF course, or at least brush up on skills...

ake: I wasn't dissing the R6, as I really like any brand/model of two wheels with an engine under my fanny. But, "I just want something fast and that wont kill me on turns"...is a vague and hopeful tick list for m'cycle shopping, imo.

Going 'fast' on nearly any motorcycle is relative, but most bikes will walk most cars up to the scoot's top speed. And, riding curvy roads/carving corners is exhilirating, but tiring over time due to the focus & narrow attnetion, that must be paid.

Sometimes a smooth, 'easy corner' half day ride is more enjoyable than an hour of carving corners. Maybe I am just getting old(er), and am fully aware of my expiration date getting closer, but I too often see riders here in our Mtns that thought they were much better than they are, that have gone down or high sided on some of our fabulous two lane blacktops.

NEway, no lecture, but long winded. When you go sled shopping, I am sure there will be a few of us with 'opinions', :D
GL, mD

well put mD and Alex definitely listen to one of the wisest on our boards, as I believe ol' uncle motor is in his 60s and still lives to tell the tale after 30+ years of riding! If you want to live that long on a bike, don't listen to your buddies who say Gixxers and R6's are perfect starter bikes.

Secondly, Traction control and ABS is not going to stop you from crashing and killing yourself (or from getting hit by another car), its a safety net, but learning how to ride a machine that has some room for error and actually learning how to control said machine without the use of electronic aids will keep you alive for years to come. ABS is nice, but just because the brakes won't lock up on you doesn't mean that you will have the muscle memory and reaction instincts to be able to control the bike at the extreme braking necessary to engage ABS (you most likely will be doing a stoppie almost).

My SV650 was 25 hp down from an R6, hardly a "beginners bike" like a Ninja 250/300, but I had more torque lb. ft than a CBR/Gixxer/Ninja. Horsepower pulls you away at top end rpm's like a rocket, torque is what snaps your head back and makes you do wheelies, you decide which is more important to you.


And food for thought, although I never started on one, if you're looking for speed, a Ninja 300/250 will still outrun most standard cars 0-60, it may not have the top end speed to do over 100, but most any bike, even the smallest and cheapest is going to accelerate faster than a car.

Please take your MSF, please gear up completely with armored gear (you only get one set of skin, its better to sweat than bleed), and please don't ever say again that "you want something that is fast but won't kill you on turns", IT IS NOT THE MOTORCYCLE RESPONSIBLE FOR KILLING THE MAN, IT IS ALL IN THE TWIST OF YOUR WRIST AND YOUR RIDING PROFICIENCY. RIDE LIKE A HOTHEAD WHEN YOU ARE A BEGINNER, AND YOU RUN THE CHANCE OF GETTING KILLED. IN THE FIRST 2 YEARS OF RIDING IS WHEN 90% OF RIDERS GET IN DANGEROUS ACCIDENTS.

I'm sorry for the long winded and opinionated response, at 27 years old I have seen 4 acquiantances (some who I used to ride with) go down due to having what I call a "motorcycle ego" and plain bad decision making on the road, and they have all been buried as a result. In all of the situations I know, it was never a problem with having "too fast" of a motorcycle, it was all due to poor decision making in extreme survival situations, and a lack of respect for riding within the skills you have. I am gearing up to be an MSF instructor as we speak (Its a long training course to be accepted but I am in the application/interview stage) because if I can help young guys and girls from having these silly "beginning rider" mentalities I hope I can help save some lives out there. Feel free to pick my brain by PM anytime you wish, I'm sorry for diverting the thread attention.

And before you ride/take the MSF, make sure to pick up 3 books which for 30 bucks I'm sure will save your life, "Twist of the Wrist Part 2" by Keith Code (if you don't know his name his instructions WILL save your life), "Total Control" by Lee Parks, and "Proficient Motorcycling" by David Hough.



And by the way, as my last lesson will tell you, of the 4 deaths I've experienced over my years of riding, I did not tell you about the 5 survivals I have seen from friends and acquiantances which have gone down. The ones that lived, rode with a full face, armored (shoulder, back, and elbow CE protection) leather of textile riding jacket, riding boots, and sturdy gloves. The ones that died, rode in T-shirts, except for one (however, a jacket is not going to save you from veering off the road and hitting a telephone pole at 110 mph), and one actually survived his crash, but his injuries were so severe due to lack of riding gear, he died 4 weeks later in the hospital.


Riding is a very serious topic for me and I hope you take it as seriously as myself and mD do. It's a blessing to go out for a ride and come home alive and without injury, and you can only do that with proficient skill, respect for the road and other drivers, and a lack of an ego.

:saad:dudes, AK is a russian (or, of the russian mentality), and there is no russian out there who does not like fast speeds - it was in their blood when they were sledding on the icy roads of the mother russia, and riding horses... russians are the ones who came up with the russian roulette, die but prove the point, they have the saying that dying in view of a cheering crowd is fun!!! (на миру и смерть красна)...

I sure hope he gets the point and stays safe:thumbup:...

I had a fellow co-worker, a US Navy SeaBee (CB), who went through Iraq, Afganistan, Haiti, Uruguay, Somalia, Thailand, was with me in Panama, came out of those adventures without a scratch and died on a motorcycle going down on I-95 in DC area... nice kid, we talked a lot about his little kids, his plans to be posted to Italy for his next assignment... his passing really broke my heart...:( :saad::(

I'd probably voice an opinion of somebody who has no idea what a motorcycle riding is, but i always think that those guys on the fast bikes are suicidal...

RB: thanks for the props...
66 in a few weeks, if I make it.
Being riding since I was 15, ~50+ yrs.

Doesn't mean much, as I could go off to Valhalla tomorrow, astride a scoot.

Term: I knew ake was from Russia, and I sort of understand the 'let's haul azz' stuff. Hellsbells, I did some crazy driving/riding in my Ute. Still do, on occasion, but only when there is no around to hurt, but me. And, the haulazz stuff these days is considerably milder probably. When I was younger, I used to think I was a great driver/rider; now I know I am just OK, and that anything can happen on the road.
GL, mD

wow this has almost become a motorcycle thread. :)
yes term is right, i have russian blood, But When I own something... I take care of it and
I lose that haulazz mentality, I'd rather keep my bike in one piece.

thank you everyone for the info. I will take the course, read the books, buy the right bike, and ride without regrets.

I personally known a kid, buys a R6, goes crazy doing tricks like standing on top of the bike at high speeds. Well 2 months later he dies because he couldnt take a turn at 90mph on the back roads.

You cant say all bikes are bad and kill people. The time comes to all of us, sometimes it just happens to be on a bike for some. Not saying it's not the riders fault in this either.

Hey Term: can you get a fun job like that?

thanks everyone! Who knew the X5 community has bikers.

fun job wrecking motorbikes??? hmm.. i am sure it is possible...

or, what fun job did you mean?:dunno:

I feel better already Alex, very well thought out response going forward. If you do all you said above, you surely will not end up like your "stunting" friend who decided to go into a turn too hot (and with a T-shirt on too I'm sure) and didn't live to tell the tale afterwards.

Stay away from Hondas unless you are ready to deal with tranny issues, especially the 1998 to I think 2001. The automatic tranny on Hondas and acuras are horrible. But if u do, get a manual.

I'm considering selling my "beater" a 2009 Subaru legacy. Havent made up my mind yet.

My rec is to forget this "speed" thing and go for something that you will enjoy driving at normal speeds. How bout a MINI!

Here is one that is one of 30ish in the States for just above 5k JCW R50 for sale - motoring|underground

Could be a good deal if you can fix it 2007 Mini Cooper S - North American Motoring :: Marketplace

Nice one, but a bit high $ and on the West Coast
FS:: Mellow Yellow/Blk R56 Cooper S 2007 w/JCW Aero Kit - North American Motoring

nahh, not wrecking. I was a wrecker for a year at an auto junkyard. stripping and crushing cars was my first job.. learned a lot back than.

Fun job as in traveling to places like panama. Oh and I want Russian Transit plates to use here in usa. ;)

i got two plates, one for each car, even though they are the same and it looks lame when two cars would be parked togheter... did not get around to slap the front bracket onto the car - too easy of a mod, that i am too lazy to do!!!

i am about to post a new thread in the LOUNGE about my employer... food for thought... :)

yeah, no gear at all...

the bike http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/...73057713_n.jpg
attempt #2
http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/...30512116_n.jpg
http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/...62823144_n.jpg
RIP
http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/...36613877_o.jpg


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Motorcycle crash on Southwick Street in Agawam takes life of 21-year-old Chicopee resident Aleksey Zhuk | masslive.com

drove a 07 legacy spec-b did not like, feels like an electric car that tries to be fast. Not my thing.

thanks for honda help, I see motors and tranys of the cars for cheap on craigslist all the time.

Very sad Alex, I'm sorry about your friend. To lose a life over something that is preventable in my opinion, he may have been banged up bad but in my opinion if he geared up he may have lived through that crash (probably not if he hit a telephone pole though). The trauma to your skin alone can kill you, going down in a T-shirt against pavement (I also notice his tennis sneakers) basically is like running a belt sander over your entire body. Sure the helmet protects the brain, but what about everything else?

Did he hit the tree/pole or anything, or did he just die of impact injuries? The article said his motorcycle hit a utility pole, not sure if he was still on the motorcycle when it hit the pole or if he had a chance to bail beforehand.

Last fall i bought this:
http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/...D94BB76469.jpg

Mainly because i was in school out of state and noone would know i bought this. And to hopefully make money on it when i needed to sell it.
Which didnt go as planned, i lost about 500+- $ because i had to sell it asap becaus ei was moving schools.

It was fun and way to fast. I opened it up about 3 times.

I didnt have any equipment nor a helmet for a couple weeks.

It was fun but my next bike will be a Ducati, and with all the equipment and not a 35$ amazon helmet thats way too big for my head, seen here:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.n...58743759_n.jpg

Im really liking the Ducati Hypermotorrad:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.n...43597348_n.jpg

These are all the fallen I know:

Jeremy Barcik Killed In Tragic Motorcycle Accident: October 20, 2006 | News | TransWorld RIDE bmx

Belvidere man dies from injuries suffered in July motorcycle accident in White Township - UPDATE | lehighvalleylive.com

I can't find the other 2 obituaries now, but actually I just learned that a former riding buddy was involved in a crash 2 months ago and was in critical condition with his girlfriend, I think he lived but I have to check his facebook.

yea, it's sad...
that's what happens when a new rider is over confident.
I mean I love watching Bike stunts, but even I wouldn't attempt some of them even at low speeds.
Motorcycle stunts for a girl -

And he hit the pole while on the bike.

F3 is a good bike, very quick but older so not as touchy as the 600s of today.

Ducati, really? I'm assuming you're buying used, if you think the X5 is a maintenance hog just imagine what an older Ducati would be! Don't get me wrong I'd love to own a classic 998S, or a first model 848 (the newer ones are more reliable), but you definitely gotta pay to play with Ducati. Make sure the seller has a stack of maintenance receipts, and be prepared to have fun with that dry clutch on a first bike.

Im ready for that, but im definitley not buying it in the near future. I need to sort out the 930 first.

Sasha, how about an E21 like i had? simple, good, reliable, sporty.

I have a euro plate. Need to mount it in the front. How complicated is it move the us plate holder and mount the euro and do both plates?

and nice, I want to hear the stories of your employer.. will be looking for it in the lounge.

yeah, i wish I could find one! in the north they are either rusted or overpriced. :/
and good luck on the 930. Post some pics when you detail or do work on it. Cant wait to see it! I would buy a Porsche myself.

Well at that point no amount of gear is going to ensure you live especially at that speed, the point is to not go into a turn too hot, bail mid-corner, and veer off the road into potentially a pole or other off-road obstacles.

Like I said if you read Keith Code's "Twist of the Wrist 2" he explains that a natural Survival Reaction (SR's as he calls them) when faced with panic in a corner, most likely from going in too hot, is to chop the throttle closed (standing the bike up) and once you do that the bike stands up and you veer off the road. The instinct you must teach yourself is to keep your throttle steady, and lean the bike further into the turn, even if you have to drag knee, and keep your eyes up into the turn to see it through.

The problem is most riders don't trust the machine enough to stay calm and lean the motorcycle further mid-corner if they go in too hot, but it can be the difference between life and death. Steady throttle, not backing off. The truth is most supersports will have you dragging a knee at extreme lean angle and still get through a turn at high speed, but most are scared of asking the bike for more lean and they end up fixating their eyes off the road instead of at the end of the turn, and the bike goes where your eyes are fixated, ALWAYS.

Take your friend for example, had he had the werewithal to fixate his eyes toward the end of the turn knowing he was too hot, and leaned his motorcycle as far as it could go, he would have done one of two things.

1) Gotten through the turn (without seeing it I couldn't tell you at his speed if he would have, remember, steady throttle not increasing or decreasing so if he leaned further with throttle neutral his speed would have decreased by the end of the curve)
2) Hit extreme lean angle for the speed he was going and lowsided the bike and slid off the road.

Now on option number 2, is where proper gear comes in. Even on a higher speed lowside, geared up, just sliding off the road and not hitting obstacles, 99% he would have lived. Much better than staying on the bike and smacking the telephone pole. And this brings up an even better question, a telephone pole is only about a foot or two in width, probably the smallest target on the side of the road to hit, so how did he hit it?

Target Fixation. Our eyes naturally divert themselves to danger but you have to re-teach your eyes to stay fixated on the safest route (another SR 'survival reaction' Keith Code talks about, I told you you need to read his book!)

Your friend may have been great for Youtube and highway stunting, but true lack of riding proficiency is ultimately what cost him his life.

It needs money. And im poor, and want too many other things..
Detail supplies...($$$$$$$$$$$)
Tires....(930)
Russian License plates (80$)....
Rebuild engine due to headstud (mainly just the time is what i need to find)
New watch....

i have a regular legacy, not a turbo charged. And as a man who've driven a few beaters in my days, its the best one with the lease amount of issues. Even the so called reliable hondas gave me hell. but GL to whatever you chose.

new watch??? what, a Rolex at $25K? slap a plastic piece of crap for $10, and voila! a new watch!!! ;)

check with pnoyako85, Mike - he has both...

on pre-facelift X5 the bumper had a slit cut out in the bumper, where the guiding tab would slide and tell you about the center of the bumper.. on the facelift bumpers i did not see that hole/tab combination...

i did post the time and date for the special documentary on the military channel about the US special forces abroad, in the Lounge forum :thumbup:

Did you sell your X5? I'm trying to sell mine right now.
detail supplies..? Don't you get those at work?
Tires... look on craigslist everyday. After looking for 6 months I picked up all 4 Michelin for $100
Russian Plates- Just smuggle them, put it in baggage underneath your stuff or on the side, or ship them from Russia.
Rebuild- That sounds fun! Dont know how hard it is working with the engine in the trunk though. Good Luck and take pics and make a write up on the engine rebuild.
new watch? I'll sell you my seiko. I dont like wearing watches as they get heavy for my small wrist.
GL :thumbup:

ok, Will do! thanks

so diplomatic security is what you do and that's why you need an X5 because no other machine is capable of being such an amazing gateway vehicle. Is your X armoured too?

http://www.xoutpost.com/off-topic/lo...-security.html

I see, after reading everything you posted... all I can say is I need to practice enough to trust the machine and become one before I do anything crazy on it.
Have to have the same as I have with my X5. Become one with the machine and it will keep you safe in every turn.

Watch this video, it may be cheesy at parts but Keith Code is a god when it comes to controlling the machine (and yourself):

Twist of the Wrist II - YouTube

Oh and i need insurance for the 930, i feel bad leaving it at the shop while it takes up all that space.

ponyatno, and ukraine is a bit different with the laws. They charge gas tax instead of other fees. Makes more sense if you dont drive that much.

And that's awesome! I want to get a Porsche once i get some money and time on my hands.

Insure it as an antique?

I tried but for classic car insurance you need to have a daily driver besides the car. But since my X is under my moms policy to be cheaper, im listed as a driver and not a "Named insurer" Which is BS and they wont let me have Classic car insurance just because my name isnt on the top part/ address section of the insurance sheet:rant:

Когда я проходил курсы у нас спросили и сразу же ответили
"How dangerous is the motorcycle?
- As dangerous as the person riding it"

russian transit plates can be had rather easy - they are placed on a car that leaves the russian federation (or just came in) for export or whatever, and once the car gets permanent local plates, the transit plates are discarded... that is how i ended up with my russian transit plates...

in costa rica they would not allow me to drive a car until permanent plates were installed onto the car, but they would allow US plates to be placed onto the car, which i used my PA vanity plate with my wife's name on it, and the locals were very intrigued to see letters on a plate, let alone to spell an actual name...lol... their plates are 100% numerical, which is stupid, at one point they will run out of space on the plate...

but, no transit plates in CR...

The new russian transit plates are laminated paper with the region section in yellow. I keep seeing more and more since the cameras just throw them out and wont send you fines

Doing research on what car to get.
I do mostly city driving, still young. 20 years old,
and looking for a fuel efficient car with minimal problems.
comparing the new Honda CRZ with Nissan Versa.
The Crz looks like the better car in terms of performance and overall scores.
What's your take on this?

here are some pictures to start
http://nissentric.com/wp-content/upl...-Honda-CRZ.jpg
http://www.canibeat.com/wp-content/u...honda-cr-z.jpg
http://image.modified.com/f/features...ngine_mods.jpg
http://lavelosterdotcom.files.wordpr...a-crz-dash.jpg
http://smart-list.com/images/IMG_54822.jpg

Honda CR-Z vs Nissan Versa

http://www.sensethecar.com/wp-conten...ck-490x200.png
http://www.nissancolors.info/wp-cont...1.6-Base-1.jpg
http://carspecsinformation.com/wp-co...r-gy59nxjq.jpg
http://file.kelleybluebookimages.com...40x480_kh3.jpg
http://image.motortrend.com/f/roadte...-engine-02.jpg

nissan looks too much like vanilla...

honda looks good... considering a brand new? buy or lease? how many miles a year? how much a months for how long?

The Tiidas interior looks SOOOoooo cheap and ugly

WHy not a diesel Folksvagen

I am a bit confused....

Do you want a beater or just a more efficient/reliable car?

First things first, you have previously mentioned that if you don't sell the X you won't have funds for the next car. So I would guess the first order of business is to make the sale so you know what your actual budget will be. Also, I think that since you are wanting to get close to KBB for your X, it may take a little while to find a buyer, which means you'll most likely have time to find your replacement while the X is on the market.

As for the CR-Z vs Versa question, it goes back to my prior question (better car vs. beater/cheap mobile). In my opinion, the CR-Z is a better car is every way except for cheapness to run, longterm maintenance (hybrid batteries etc), and initial cost. I know you mentioned auction results, but just looking on Autotrader (nationwide) there are 3 CR-Zs at or below 10k. One in Kentucky and two wrecked ones. Meanwhile you have your choice of what seems like 85% of all Versa's ever made.

On the Versa, it seems to always be high on the list of "cheapest cars to own" along with the Honda Fit so that would be a good one for saving as much as possible.

Personally, I am skeptical of the CR-Z as I don't feel it is that sporty of a car and is more expensive than a Civic and a lot of good Acuras. I know you've gotten a lot of good suggestions, but here is the top 5 (+1) I'd be looking at if I was given your 10k budget and wanted a somewhat sporty DD in New England (excluding MINIs)

1.) Mazda Speed3 (Cars for Sale: 2007 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 Sport in Naugatuck, CT 06770: Hatchback Details - 351542217 - AutoTrader.com)

2.) Acura RSX (Cars for Sale: 2005 Acura RSX Type-S in Stamford, CT 06901: Hatchback Details - 346982585 - AutoTrader.com)

3.) Toyota Celica (Cars for Sale: 2003 Toyota Celica GT-S in Taunton, MA 02780: Hatchback Details - 349122846 - AutoTrader.com)

4.) Honda Civic SI (Cars for Sale: 2007 Honda Civic Si in Kingston, NH 03848: Coupe Details - 329702742 - AutoTrader.com)

5.) Scion tC (Cars for Sale: 2006 Scion tC in ENGLEWOOD, NJ 07631: Coupe Details - 348094542 - AutoTrader.com)

Honorable Mention Ford Mustang GT (Cars for Sale: 2005 Ford Mustang GT Deluxe in Canisteo, NY 14823: Coupe Details - 349403618 - AutoTrader.com)

Ahhh, I see. Yeah, some gimmicks hidden in there.

именно так!

Between your poll choices I'd go with the CRZ... based on looks first, and also a friend of mine was telling me at Bimmerfest that he was very surprised and enjoyed driving one (when he went for a test drive).

vanilla?
I hate the engine bay.
and only brand new and cheap price.
i test drove honda and its waaaay to small. weird how it shuts off on stops, reminded me of the porsche.

I'm with AeroJammin, above...I have followed this thread, posted a few opins, and still don't quite get the angle: 'beater' or econo car?

Very different type of cars, imo, and having had a few beaters, neither of the poll options are what I would put in the beater range.

Maybe it's just a case of different definitions and terms...

NEway, good luck on what the OP decides on.
BR, mD

I'm sorry for the mix up motordavid and aerojammin.
From wanting a crappy cheap beater, I've also considered buying a crappy cheap new car. The biggest factor being the MPG and overall performance.

From all the research, It looks like Mazda will roll out some promising cars like the 2014 mazda 3. The interior is very similar to the bmw with the navi and controls in the center console.

So for now I've decieded to sell my X5 for 2k under kbb excellent value.. and proceed on getting a real beater off the auction to drive for a bit more and resell when I'm ready for the Mazda 3 if plans don't change.

thank you for all the help in this tough decision.
Purchasing a Bike plans haven't changed yet ;)

I actually wanted both a beater and newer car...most car problems are due to wear on them. The X5 should get sold this week.
The Crz I test drove and really did not like, the idea of car shuts off at stops and turns back on (that laggg) turned me away from the car and the battery replacements.
The honda fit is actually #1 in top resale value. So I will keep an eye out for them on the auctions..
From your list.. speed 3 is nice, but newer is more promising. RSX and Celica, Civic SI will get any young adult pulled over, ricer club. TC is more of a girl's car around here. The mustang is very cheap, my friend has one. The metal is soft and hard to fix frame damage. Was told to stay away from mustangs.