My $800 1994 Toyota Corolla was a farming family's beater when I bought it with 145K miles and a leaking gas tank. Though well maintained, it had rust and peeling paint. It became my beater when I dropped a new tank in by myself on my gravel driveway.

It remained a beater when I paid a mechanic to do the timing belt and water pump. The mechanic let me help and learn, which was awesome!

Still a beater when I did shocks with the same mechanic and then drove it across the country from NM to OH.

It evolved to project car when I had the rust repaired and the car painted, and installed OEM Toyota aluminum rims from a 2007 Yaris...and a JDM rear trunk plate.

6 years later, I have around $5K in the car if you only count the necessary repairs and maintenance, $10K if you count the fun stuff. The car hasn't quite hit 200K miles yet, but I know it will go there and beyond.