Best Beater - four choices

[broham]

Hi yall,
I have offered my 1979 suzuki GS750, not running since summer but not in terrible shape either, as a trade for potentially any running car.
Here are the offers:

-1987 Ford Tempo
"runs good good tires"

-87' Chrysler Reliant K car
"it's light blue in color that runs fine, got it from an old lady that rarely drove it, under 200,000 km on it"

-1996 Escort LX
"The motor and transmission on these is Mazda.It has most of the nice extras and no rust.The body is not perfect but never smoked in.Runs really good and ready for winter."

-1980 BMW 528i
"Runs great. New rear
brake pads and new rear calipers were over $500 for parts alone within
the last 6 months. Body is a little rough and it needs a heater valve
(or you might be able to jury rig something). Valve is available
through Bimmer Auto Parts for $100"

That is all of the information I have sofar on each car so they will have to be judged based on that until I get more information and see them in person. Although, general advice is also appreciated.
I haven't been able to get a hold of one of the potential traders in a few days so they may not all be available to me and ofcourse, they might decide they don't like the bike.
A list of first and second choices, things to look out for, any reputation belonging to any of these cars would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!!

[psycoticclown]

'87 Ford Tempo:thumbsup:

Only because I drive an '88 Ford Tempo as my winter beater and it is amazing. Just went outside where its -28 and started it on the first crank. Than again, mine only has 130k km and my dad has taken good care of it.

[blueripper6]

BMW! Easy choice... rwd

[Redlyne_mr2]

The escort for sure. The BMW will nickle and dime you to bankruptcy. A beater is something you never want to put money into.

[Wehbeast]

Originally posted by blueripper6
BMW! Easy choice... rwd

:werd: to big bird

[cyrusli]

Originally posted by psycoticclown
'87 Ford Tempo:thumbsup:

Only because I drive an '88 Ford Tempo as my winter beater and it is amazing. Just went outside where its -28 and started it on the first crank. Than again, mine only has 130k km and my dad has taken good care of it.

Tempo ftw. I had a tempo and it sat through the entire summer and last winter without being started nor plugged in, it waas parked on the street. I needed to move the car in september, started on first attempt. It's definitely made as a winter beater.

[TomcoPDR]

Escort

[GiangZilla]

Escort!

[EK 2.0]

Hookers...

errr, I mean Escort...

[buh_buh]

Escort or bmw for fun factor.
But Escort.

[corsvette]

Either the Tempo or the Escort,I give the edge to the Tempo,they are tough little cars!

[brownboi]

Tempo:thumbsup:

[Transp0rt3r]

Escort ftmfw:thumbsup: great car , very low maintainance !

[Ashers]

Escort! I hated mine, but they're great beaters. Always start. Also, BTW, It's a Ford engine and transmission, unless its a 1.8L GT or LX-E, which has a mazda engine.

[toyboy88]

Escort.

[broham]

Hi yall,
Thanks for the responses.
I should have pointed out that the "quotes" are from the car owners and I have yet to see any of the cars so tips on what to look for would be appreciated.

Also sofar The escort owner hasn't returned my email in a few days. but they seemed quite nice so.. fingers crossed.

Thanks

[89s1]

The bmw will kill you on parts if it breaks down. I'd say the escort too.

[Kloubek]

Escort. Some are saying Tempo, but in the end, the Escort is a better built car.

[ianmcc]

There are a million Escorts and Tempos in the yard so finding parts won't be a problem.

[Proboscis]

Originally posted by ianmcc
There are a million Escorts and Tempos in the yard so finding parts won't be a problem.

Other than cosmetic parts. Tempo is the way to go. Fairly recent styling and parts for the drivetrain are cheap.

[03ozwhip]

ive had a topaz as my first car, i bought it for 450 and it ran perfect for 2 years(minus blowing alternators because of my stereo) i also had an 89 Escort GT, i loved that little car and was more fun than the topaz, but both were great cars, but for fun factor, the escort.

[adidas]

Originally posted by broham

-87' Chrysler Reliant K car
"it's light blue in color that runs fine, got it from an old lady that rarely drove it, under 200,000 km on it"


Dad owned one when we first came to canada and it was a decent car, died at around 240ish but never reallly gave us huge problems! always got us from a to b!

[Preslow]

Escort. always starts and drives. millions of parts around too

[toastgremlin]

The Escort is pretty tough and the little BP engine inside it is easy to repair and pretty easy on fuel. As others have said, the parts are pretty cheap.

It'll also be much more fun than the Topaz.

[maxomilll]

Escort.

[broham]

Its actually a tempo. I appreciate all the responses the fella with the escort hasn't written back to me in a few days. Ofcourse some people don't check their email everyday.. but..
is the tempo really a Close second? Even with a 9 year difference in these cars?

[03ozwhip]

tempo-topaz, exact same car.

[jdmSiR]

id go escort

[2EFNFAST]

How about none of the above - do you really want to be one of those morons in their $300 winter beater that's just died in the middle of deerfoot when it's -40*?

[psycoticclown]

^^How about not everybody can afford to buy a Subie or a SUV? Winter beater is called winter BEATER for a reason... its cheap.

[quincyb11]

Original Post Removed. (Please read the Forum Rules and Terms of Use (http://forums.beyond.ca/articles.php?action=data&item=1) before posting again, or risk getting banned).

[SR240SX]

BMW

My buddys 82 328i started better then my 02 pathfinder this morning:werd:

[Gibson]

I think I've seen that Escort on Kijiji...is it the guy that always double posts?

Green, automatic one? If that's it, buy it off the poor bloke, he's been trying to sell it for ages.