What Was Your Best Beater Bargain?

Have you ever owned a car you hated so much you’d drive anything just to get rid of it? After being stuck with a Cadillac Catera that I hated from the moment I bought it, I decided I’d rather drive a beater car than suffer at the wheel of this Euro-Caddy wannabe. I came upon a deal I just couldn’t pass up–it may not be pretty but it sure is functional.

We all need cheap transportation at some point in our lives, and my wife and I had been looking ever since we called it quits with our Catera. Between transmission problems and leaky head gaskets, the Cadillac had too many issues to justify pouring any more money into it, so I set about looking for a cheap and reliable ride. Within a month I’d settled on this 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP with 90K on the motor and 140K on the body. The fact that it had suffered a deer encounter didn’t bother me, because the real selling point was the supercharged V6 sitting under the hood. All 240 hp for only 800 bucks! Now I’ve been a Ford guy my entire life, but I have to admit that despite the GTP’s ugly-as-sin exterior, I was in love from the first time I drove it. I can’t imagine a better deal!

How about you–ever gotten an awesome bargain on a total beater?