Conquer Club

OK so this isn't for the comedy - I'm writing a murder mystery game, and I need a good word for an old car.
You know how some people buy beat-up cars and soup them up and then sell 'em?
SO waht would you call the old car?
A Jalopy? A clunker? A wreck? An old crock? or what?

First thing that came to mind, even before reading your list, was jalopy.

Bollocks.

Serbia wrote:First thing that came to mind, even before reading your list, was jalopy.

Bollocks.

That was also the first think I thought of. I also call them a POS.

clunkers.

obama has a program called "cash for clunkers" so the term should be well-known

i've only heard the term "jalopy" once.

hoopty

Phatscotty wrote:hoopty

That's a new one to me. It has a nice sound though.

If it's no good, a lemon. Clunker works, too. Jalopy is a little older (lemon is, too). Hoopty's newer slang. =)

Lemon I like. The character is an older character, so probably wouldn't use "hoopty", even though I like the sound of it.

I'm gonna use it though.
"Ooh, hoopty car ya got there!"
My contemporaries will probably think it's a compliment.

-deleted-

How about just straight ol' "beater". Jalopy is also good. Not sure what your target demographic is, so not sure if "hoopty" applies. Although if it's a HUGE a$$ beater in the ghetto, then yes, it would be good.

EDIT:

The game is running in the local library as a part of the centenary celebrations - (incidentally we're doing it cheap as it's a fundraiser) - I'm guessing that the customers will be mainly library users, and thus not gangstas.

Lemon is pretty international. Never heard of Hoopty or Jalopy myself so I presume if you want an American specific example id use one of those over a lemon.

I thought hoopty was not a reference to an old car (rather it was a reference to a tricked-out car - i.e. one with a lot of modifications).

I would use jalopy.

Jalopy and lemon both labels for cars still being driven,
but are basically crap.

A car can be a lemon even when it is brand new off the lot,
simply because it everything isn't working as advertised.

I've certainly heard it used like that.

A lemon is typically anything that didn't function properly right from the start. In the US some states even have "Lemon Laws" to guarantee new cars work as advertised or are replaced to the satisfaction of the buyer.

A person with a crappy ride might also say "I'm driving that heap."

Best go with 'jalopy'.

jonesthecurl wrote:I've certainly heard it used like that.

There are many, many billboards in southern New Jersey advertising law firms who deal with lemon law. It seems to be an epedimic in the garden state.

No car guys here huh?

Beater.

Amended: I just read EBconquerer's post. ~highfive~

thegreekdog wrote:There are many, many billboards in southern New Jersey advertising law firms who deal with lemon law. It seems to be an epidemic in the garden state.

Is this related to the resale of flood cars written off as total loses after Hurricane Sandy? They could be labelled Mudderfuckers or swamp buggies. Many years ago I actually owned a VW bug convertible that turned out to be a flood car and aside from the floor rusting out in the back, was never a problem.

oVo wrote: Many years ago I actually owned a VW bug convertible that turned out to be a flood car and aside from the floor rusting out in the back, was never a problem.

how is this not a problem?