Seeking Input for Cheap Commuter Rig

Post whatever here.

Moderator: TJDave

User avatar
SPR
Peak Putters Member
Peak Putters Member
Posts: 2343
Joined: Thu Mar 15, 2007 6:31 am
Location: Tri-Cities

Seeking Input for Cheap Commuter Rig

Postby SPR » Mon Feb 20, 2017 6:40 pm

I'm in the market for a cheap and easy to work on "get around town" rig... a very simple rig under $2K. The Geo Metro or a small 2 wheel drive pickup (e.g., dodge D50) comes to mind; however, there may be more modern rigs that are better. Any other ideas?
I don't Text (at least not very well), I eat Blackberrys, and I only Twitter after sex...

User avatar
oddball
Peak Putters Member
Peak Putters Member
Posts: 517
Joined: Thu Apr 05, 2007 7:05 pm
Location: Pasco

Re: Seeking Input for Cheap Commuter Rig

Postby oddball » Fri Feb 24, 2017 6:35 am

A Jeep Cj5; CJ-7, Flatty or an old school Bronco. It'll cost much >2K and not much for creature comforts but the cool factor will far out way the negatives making it a no brainer. Just my cool honest opinion.

User avatar
Lurch
Peak Putters Member
Peak Putters Member
Posts: 2363
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2007 7:10 am
Location: Pasco

Re: Seeking Input for Cheap Commuter Rig

Postby Lurch » Fri Feb 24, 2017 12:16 pm

I drove my little yellow bronco to work today. So much more fun then my focus was. Still has some bugs to work out.
You can follow me.... but it's gonna hurt ;)

User avatar
TJDave
Peak Putters VP
Peak Putters VP
Posts: 2806
Joined: Sat Jan 12, 2008 11:47 am
Location: East Richland

Re: Seeking Input for Cheap Commuter Rig

Postby TJDave » Fri Feb 24, 2017 3:41 pm

My little 4 cyl Altima has been a great cheap car to rack up the miles out to the site. No problems in 3 years, very smooth comfy car, and I only fill up once a week. 40 minute drive each way. Paid a little more than 2K though.
Not nearly as fun or manly as the Jeep or F250. I do drive them out now and then if I need a testosterone boost. :D
2018 JLU Rubicon
Tow bar mount
Trailer hitch

Wrench
Peak Putters Member
Peak Putters Member
Posts: 1237
Joined: Sat May 30, 2009 7:23 am
Location: in a van down by the river

Re: Seeking Input for Cheap Commuter Rig

Postby Wrench » Fri Feb 24, 2017 6:33 pm

We bought our little Kia Spectra for about $6k several years back. We've put about 100k miles on it so far with no major issues, just a timing belt, alternator, and oil changes. Not your $2k dollar range, but sure got a lot for what we put into it.
Paul
'84 XJ, '19JL

User avatar
SPR
Peak Putters Member
Peak Putters Member
Posts: 2343
Joined: Thu Mar 15, 2007 6:31 am
Location: Tri-Cities

Re: Seeking Input for Cheap Commuter Rig

Postby SPR » Fri Feb 24, 2017 8:38 pm

Thanks guys. The Altima and spectra look like good options
I don't Text (at least not very well), I eat Blackberrys, and I only Twitter after sex...

pascoscout
Posts: 97
Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2013 5:38 pm
Location: Pasco WA

Re: Seeking Input for Cheap Commuter Rig

Postby pascoscout » Fri Feb 24, 2017 9:48 pm

I had an early 90's VW jetta for several years. Picked it up for under $1000. Got great gas mileage and was fun to drive. Easy to work on and parts were pretty cheap. Only really had one issue with it in that time which was the Hall Sender (basically distributor) failed. Under $150 and 20 minutes worth of work was all it took. If you go that route shop for one built in Germany. The ones made in Mexico seem to have more issues.

User avatar
SPR
Peak Putters Member
Peak Putters Member
Posts: 2343
Joined: Thu Mar 15, 2007 6:31 am
Location: Tri-Cities

Re: Seeking Input for Cheap Commuter Rig

Postby SPR » Sat Feb 25, 2017 8:23 am

Good to know about the Jetta. I would have thought replacement parts would be expensive.... guess not.
I don't Text (at least not very well), I eat Blackberrys, and I only Twitter after sex...

User avatar
Jafo
Posts: 636
Joined: Sun May 27, 2007 5:34 pm
Location: Tri-shitties, Wa

Re: Seeking Input for Cheap Commuter Rig

Postby Jafo » Sat Feb 25, 2017 10:16 am

I have a 2004 or 5 dodge neon svt that has newer tires on it. If you don't mind a little work, it needs a tranny. But I will let it go way cheap.
2018 JLU-R work in progress.


WRWP360

pascoscout
Posts: 97
Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2013 5:38 pm
Location: Pasco WA

Re: Seeking Input for Cheap Commuter Rig

Postby pascoscout » Sat Feb 25, 2017 8:42 pm

The OEM parts are spendy but Autozone had everything I needed for reasonable prices.

User avatar
tobyw
Posts: 1879
Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2007 10:00 am
Location: Under the hood...

Re: Seeking Input for Cheap Commuter Rig

Postby tobyw » Sun Feb 26, 2017 8:18 am

XJ Cherokee. Millions of them out there, parts are literally everywhere, reasonably economical, good cargo space, and you can put some decent tires on it and wheel anytime you feel like it. Plus you could literally have a fleet of them for your $2k budget. Different color for every day of the week 8)
Yep, I've wheeled one of those, too...
Image

warrpath4x4
Posts: 205
Joined: Sat Aug 30, 2008 9:52 pm
Location: Prosser, WA

Re: Seeking Input for Cheap Commuter Rig

Postby warrpath4x4 » Mon Feb 27, 2017 11:14 am

my wife bought a 2009 dodge caliber brand new (not even close to your price), we have driven it all over the place back and forth to Wyoming several times and south Dakota, we have even loaded it and taken it camping. it gets 28MPG on the hwy, its my daily right now between Prosser and Yakima every day, all we have had to replace on it is the struts, rack and pinion and general maintenance, I would have to go look but I think it has about 150,000 miles.

you can find them for sale now for about $2,500+


Return to “General BS Area”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 14 guests