Lots of people are looking for "beater" cars these days. These cars may not have a smooth ride or many features, but they do have the lowest per-mile cost of ownership and they're great for students, debt assassins, and those who need a car but don't want to pay for a newer one. BeaterReview gives the lowdown on 40+ of these cars, from the 3-valve 93-2000 Geo Metro to the 76-86 Mercedes W123 series.
Yes, very few of these cars are exciting; not many of us scour Craigslist for reasonably priced Toyota Tercels or Oldsmobile Cutlass Cieras, but there are a few interesting diamonds-in-the-rough here as well such as the Jaguar XJ6 or the aforementioned Mercedes W123 series. The reviews are written entertainingly and give you a snapshot of the car, any big problems, and what to look out for when you're test driving that model.
The only drawback to the site is that is rarely updated. Yes, there were two reviews within the past month, but previous to that there was a sixteen-month dry spell. Let them know there are lots of people eager to drive Jeep Grand Wagoneers and Mazda Miatas out there and hopefully they'll begin produce regularly again. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to driving my 2006 Scion xB until it acquires beater status in another 14 years.
Starting in January 2007, money was transferred from various financial organizations, including the Lebanese Canadian Bank, to the United states for the purchase of used cars. The approximately 30 individual buyers of these cars had "little or no property or assets" according to the complaint. Once purchased, the cars were then allegedly shipped to Africa (primarily the small Western African nation of Benin) and then re-sold.
Another drug trafficking organization, which is led by Maroun Saade, is also involved in the transportation and distribution of large quantities of narcotics in West Africa. Saade is a member of the Free Patriotic Movement, a Lebanese Christian organization closely allied with Hizballah, and has provided extensive services to Hizballah members engaged in narcotics trafficking and bulk cash smuggling in West Africa. On February 14, 2011, Saade was charged in the Southern District of New York with participating in an international drug conspiracy in West Africa and conspiring to aid the Taliban. Saade is a close associate of Salhab, who relied on Saade to pay bribes to release money couriers arrested for smuggling cash through West Africa.
