I need you guys to help me make a decision. I have some extra money and i am torn between buying a old 240sx to use as a beater or hotshot headers and a water methanol injection kit for the maxima. How many of you have a beater? Also do you all feel that a beater is worth having if you have a boosted car or would it be a waste of money?



Moderators please do not move because this question is directed at people with FI

A beater is worth having...

i bought a beater 280z to turn into my weekend racer powered by a VH45DE and a beater mazda rotary truck to turn into a hauler for the max and the Z powered by a turbo 2 engine and tranny.

i'd say they're worth it because you can make them a lot of fun.

i wish i had a beater.

I bought a beater pickup truck...2 wheel drive, 5spd, 60K miles...its definetly worth having for those days that I dont feel like starting my car to run and uptown for something. Im also a volunteer firefighter so starting my truck and quickly goin up to the firehouse is better with the truck than my car

-matt

A second car/beater is definitely worth having. I plan on getting a mid 90's Tahoe by November. It won't be a beater though. It will be the hauler(to shows and meets) and primary driver. I think of it as just another maintenance cost. Although, you don't have snow and salt to deal w/ so that changes things a bit. I haven't driven mine in the winter for the past two years.

yea i guess i need to get another car to drive everyday. This highway driving is killing my paint plus i am still in college so finding a good spot to park my car can be frustrating at times. I just want to get those new toys for the max

+1 for the beater

i cant tell you how many times i could have used one

Chris does the 240sx still have the KA24DE or some swap in it? How much do they want? Auto or 5 speed? I would consider a maxima for your "beater" too. Both cars are tempting to mod though.

I agree with most when I say its worth having a beater. You'll always have a backup car incase anything goes aria. Also, it gives you the flexability of being able to put your project car down for an extended length of time while putting some new "toy" on it, etc.

The maxima is my beater.....think you can guess the other one

You should definitely, get the 240 beater! I have 1990 plymouth laser (same as an eclipse has 2.0 motor cost 1200). I store my max in the winter, and it really keeps it much better condition.

well for you with the 5th gen i think a beater would be a good way to go. but if u get a 240 for a beater ur boound to begin to mod it. rwd and stick might make u leave the max for good.

I highly doubt i will leave the max The 240sx is a auto, but a sr20det front clip can be had for around $3,000

Having an auto beater isn't the best idea. If it blows it takes a lot more to fix and most can't do it themselves. If an MT gets messed there are lots of little quirks that can get it to work still. For example, a buddy of mine has a bunch of VW's. On the beater the linkage is such that it won't go into reverse. So he has simply determined that to go into reverse he has to pop the hood and push the linkage where it meets the tranny into the correct position. Hey its ghetto but its a beater. And its not that bad. He has gotten used to not having reverse readily available and rarely gets into situations in which he needs it. Also, the idea of a beater is to save money and the auto sucks away a bunch more gas money.