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Well, the Jetta is a lot nicer than a "cheap beater". Really nice, actually. I've always admired the styling.
A true cheap beater would be the old '94 Ford Escort:
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http://www.cargurus.com/images/2007/...pic-55477.jpeg )
I used one for the last couple of years that went for $550 off the back lot. It did 31 mpg inner city and 35-40 highway. It's rated 38 highway, just about king of the popcans.
Ugly, not something I would like to drive to the academy either. For one thing the Rescue class might mistakenly use it to practice the "jaws of life". Now that's a beater.
But where I work, there is apparently pride in driving cars that have barely escaped being burned in an alley somewhere. It's temporarily sitting in a pasture now. I hit a rock while out hunting with it and took out a rear strut. Hunted all day for $12 in gas and it's so low slung, I don't think the wheels turned all the time. Pretty good mileage for skidding partway and it still runs like a top except for the limp.
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