Do you drive a beater?
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Bold as love
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 233
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Do you drive a beater?
My car has given me a lot of grief ever since I bought it.
But i love the thing to death and am still amazed at how awesome and sexy it is even still after over a year of ownership.
So despite some little voices in my head, i've decided on keeping her till the wheels fall off.
Problem is, i want to keep her in good shape, and so want to drive her less.
Right now she is my daily driver and i rack up about 300km on an average week, maybe 200km on a good week, 400km if im busy.
So it's a lot of k's. I'm already at 50, 000km and want to start reducing the general wear and tear and delay the inevitable 60,000km service rort.
At my driving rate i won't last much more than half a year before i hit 60,000km.
Plus my car just seems to attract all manner of **** like hail, rear-enders while parked on my street, getting keyed etc.
So i thought i'd get a beater to drive for most of the k's, to park wantonly at Westfields and on side streets without fear of getting side-swiped.
I'd be looking at spending under $2k on the car with 3rd party insurance.
Petrol would go down, it could hail buckets and i could dance to the beat of the stones making dents in the bonnet.
What do you guys think?
Waste of money? Only problem i have is paying my premium on the 8 and not really driving it as often.
But i love the thing to death and am still amazed at how awesome and sexy it is even still after over a year of ownership.
So despite some little voices in my head, i've decided on keeping her till the wheels fall off.
Problem is, i want to keep her in good shape, and so want to drive her less.
Right now she is my daily driver and i rack up about 300km on an average week, maybe 200km on a good week, 400km if im busy.
So it's a lot of k's. I'm already at 50, 000km and want to start reducing the general wear and tear and delay the inevitable 60,000km service rort.
At my driving rate i won't last much more than half a year before i hit 60,000km.
Plus my car just seems to attract all manner of **** like hail, rear-enders while parked on my street, getting keyed etc.
So i thought i'd get a beater to drive for most of the k's, to park wantonly at Westfields and on side streets without fear of getting side-swiped.
I'd be looking at spending under $2k on the car with 3rd party insurance.
Petrol would go down, it could hail buckets and i could dance to the beat of the stones making dents in the bonnet.
What do you guys think?
Waste of money? Only problem i have is paying my premium on the 8 and not really driving it as often.
Registered
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 301
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From: Brighton, Victoria
The issue here is that we all enjoy driving our 8s.
I have a similar problem to you. I have done 40,000 kms in 2.5 years.
I am going to enjoy every minute of driving her to her grave, then I'm going to buy a new one.
Why limit your driving pleaseure to weekends only?
I have a similar problem to you. I have done 40,000 kms in 2.5 years.
I am going to enjoy every minute of driving her to her grave, then I'm going to buy a new one.
Why limit your driving pleaseure to weekends only?
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Cromax does a lot more k's then you Mogley, and if I hear 1 more time how his car is exactly same age as mine and mines only just clocked over 55k and his is closing in on 100k I think someone is gonna get hurt :P
Car is a car, you enjoy it now, unless you have money to throw then I'd say buy a beater, but otherwise nah. Unless you can borrow a parents car, thats what I do.. well when i was living at home it was easier i would just take mums car everyday and drive my 8 2-3 days a week.. now I have to drive her everyday lol
Car is a car, you enjoy it now, unless you have money to throw then I'd say buy a beater, but otherwise nah. Unless you can borrow a parents car, thats what I do.. well when i was living at home it was easier i would just take mums car everyday and drive my 8 2-3 days a week.. now I have to drive her everyday lol
Thread Starter
Bold as love
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 233
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Yeah i think economically i'm not sure if i can afford another car ATM with the promise of saved fuel and servicing costs later down the road.
I just hate sitting idle in traffic, 1st gear, 2nd gear, N, 1st gear, N, 1st, 2nd, N...
I enjoy driving her though, just not through traffic.
I'm looking into trying to fix up the centre console to be like the US one with room for a sat nav.
Kind of like Kunz's computer in there. Should ask him how he did it. Need more in-car entertainment for peak hour...
I just hate sitting idle in traffic, 1st gear, 2nd gear, N, 1st gear, N, 1st, 2nd, N...
I enjoy driving her though, just not through traffic.
I'm looking into trying to fix up the centre console to be like the US one with room for a sat nav.
Kind of like Kunz's computer in there. Should ask him how he did it. Need more in-car entertainment for peak hour...
Buzz Buzz Buzz
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,931
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne, Victoria
Yeah i think economically i'm not sure if i can afford another car ATM with the promise of saved fuel and servicing costs later down the road.
I just hate sitting idle in traffic, 1st gear, 2nd gear, N, 1st gear, N, 1st, 2nd, N...
I enjoy driving her though, just not through traffic.
I'm looking into trying to fix up the centre console to be like the US one with room for a sat nav.
Kind of like Kunz's computer in there. Should ask him how he did it. Need more in-car entertainment for peak hour...
I just hate sitting idle in traffic, 1st gear, 2nd gear, N, 1st gear, N, 1st, 2nd, N...
I enjoy driving her though, just not through traffic.
I'm looking into trying to fix up the centre console to be like the US one with room for a sat nav.
Kind of like Kunz's computer in there. Should ask him how he did it. Need more in-car entertainment for peak hour...
I've noticed that putting it in neutral and coasting uses more petrol than keeping it in gear in most cases. That said, I'm not too worried about petrol economy, but with the type travel I do I'm usually hovering around about 12L/100km depending on traffic conditions and stuff.
Rotary noob
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 524
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne, VIC, AU
I did 10k a year and I thought no one can beat me 
Registered
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Canberra
Did just under 10,000 k's last year, and yes it is my daily driver. Averaging 13.5 L/100k, so it doesn't get treated with kid gloves
After three years and approx 35,000 k's, still in love with it.
Other car is Golf GTI under lease so it does tend to get all the longer trips (gotta keep the K's up)
After three years and approx 35,000 k's, still in love with it.Other car is Golf GTI under lease so it does tend to get all the longer trips (gotta keep the K's up)
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Posts: n/a
lol Nice one Dave, totally agree. I just try not to drive mine everyday as the exhaust and suspension giving me friggin grief! I been suffering from tremendous headaches lately and getting into my car just doesnt help. I drive her to work but then knick my mums car throughout the day. I know I know.. should change everything. Ive actually changed my brake pads back to stock. The squeeling of the project mus was getting to me, especially since I dont see myself going on the track anyday soon I didnt see point keeping them on. So that is 1 less noise. Suspension is next to be fixed.. during holidays I'm going to have to con some of the boys to raise my car and soften them for me a bit 
Exhaust is ok most times but I think my headaches just make me find it a lot more annoying.
In another note, for a while now my cars rear ends been doing drifties and making all kinds of weird noises. After Andrew changed my brake pads over we noticed my wheel nuts were not on tight at all.. could twist them open. Now no one has touched my car since my last service in September...... since the brake change and andrew putting on the nuts properly i havent heard any noises.. and yesterday my car spent it at mazda whilst they checked over everything because i got paranoid. and nothing is wrong with my car... lol
Exhaust is ok most times but I think my headaches just make me find it a lot more annoying.In another note, for a while now my cars rear ends been doing drifties and making all kinds of weird noises. After Andrew changed my brake pads over we noticed my wheel nuts were not on tight at all.. could twist them open. Now no one has touched my car since my last service in September...... since the brake change and andrew putting on the nuts properly i havent heard any noises.. and yesterday my car spent it at mazda whilst they checked over everything because i got paranoid. and nothing is wrong with my car... lol
MyZoomer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
From: Sydney Australia
A month shy of 4 years old and 106K on the clock. It drives as hard and strong as it ever has. I think the secret to long life is to not stress the drive train i.e: get it rolling before you plant your foot. And change your oil/filter on a regular basis.
Cheers... Otto
Cheers... Otto
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 778
Likes: 0
From: Brisbane Australia
At present, I'm doing 15k a year, which means the 6 monthly services are only 7.5k apart. Oil and filters are therefore changed before the specified interval. Cross fingers, it's running like the day I bought it.
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