8 grand to spend - 505Turbeaux style

"505Turbeaux" (505turbeaux)
03/10/2014 at 11:22 • Filed to: None

So it looks like we are selling a few things, most of all our '03 Turbo S Beetle 6sp with low miles. And we will be in Sweden/Germany this summer for a few weeks. What do we pack up and bring back with us? Requirements, 4WD/AWD, standard trans, hatchback/wagon/SUV, and not sold in the States (production date before summer of 89) so it doesn't depreciate. Golf !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! or !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! (that is a bad idea I know). Any other cars that I should be looking into in this niche? Oddball little 4x4 trucks or cars? My girlfriend wants a unique 4x4 and we looked into a Ramcharger, Wagoneer, FJ60, Bronco and she wants something different and not so big. She has to drive one day a week so it will be garaged/maintained well, and with the rest of the fleet if it is down for parts for a while no big deal.

DISCUSSION (61)

Party-vi > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 11:28

That Land Cruiser would be sweet, but the Bimmer would definitely have some resale for the fanboys over here.

505Turbeaux > Party-vi
03/10/2014 at 11:30

yeah I am thinking the e30 would be the easiest on parts too, it is mechanically the same as the coupe/sedan ix's. Golf is pretty close to gen1 quattros though too. VW fanboys would love that too. I would make the stretch for that TDI swapped one if not for that mural on it

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 11:30

I know you asked for something else.. but I just have to say this; I'm a VAG fan to the bone.. but if you find an Alfa 33 AWD... well... BUY IT. A friend of mine had one, and it was AWESOME (until it fell apart that is, but that was because he didn't have the moneys or the knowlegde to take care of it).

505Turbeaux > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh
03/10/2014 at 11:32

yeah I know. Till the wheels fall off, literally. That would be the toughest one on parts. Alfa only ever brought over the Sud for boxer motors.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 11:32

You need to think of the 33 AWD as an Italian Subaru Loyale... in which case its practically the PERFECT Maine car, just cooler ;)

CAR_IS_MI > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 11:33

What if it is something that 'was' sold in the us but not this particular variant?

Kinja'd!!!

Late 80's Toyota Hilux Surf Diesel...

Was sold as the 4 runner state side but never had the diesel...

CAR_IS_MI > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 11:35

If not my other idea, then why not a Blizzard?

Kinja'd!!!

Small super capable 4x4.

505Turbeaux > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/10/2014 at 11:36

good call. Just harder to find parts for!

Party-vi > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 11:36

Who's got more money - VW fans or BMW fans?

CAR_IS_MI > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 11:37

P.P.S. If you do bring back an E30 wagon I may or may not harass you until you sell it to me...

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 11:37

Ahh.. You guys never had the regular 33 either? In that case I'd get the Golf.

505Turbeaux > CAR_IS_MI
03/10/2014 at 11:37

I will look around at them. Gen 1 4runners go for pretty big money around here. Friend of mine has a pickup from this generation with a factory diesel in it, probably the same one. I had a BJ60 diesel I loved with the 3.5l 3b in it. Unstoppable

505Turbeaux > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh
03/10/2014 at 11:38

yeah never had the 33 at all. Or I would have owned one :)

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 11:38

Interestingly, Cars++ rates the Alfa 33 Sportwagon 4x4 as having better reliability than the same vintage Subaru Leone 4x4 wagon...

505Turbeaux > Party-vi
03/10/2014 at 11:39

truth be told, about even :)

http://jalopnik.com/5815611/this-i…

duurtlang > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 11:41

Good luck with the E30 Touring 325ix from 1988 or 89. There aren't that many, and believe me I know . Accidentally I did find one for sale today. It even looks OK. One minor issue though: 507k km (315k miles). There are more, obviously, but not many. Mk2 Golf Countries are very rare as well, as is everything Japanese from the 80s. Excluding Toyota Starlets and maybe Nissan Micras.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

505Turbeaux > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/10/2014 at 11:41

wait what?

Actually I know they are pretty reliable rigs. the Leone I had was a champ. 4wd turbo wagon. I used to use it to put my boat in the Long Island Sound. Till the back axle fell off it due to rust

Party-vi > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 11:42

I just thought of that, and the fact that BMW parts are expensive so our bank accounts are always empty. Hmm.

BMW. No VW fanboi wants a Golf that high off the ground :P

505Turbeaux > Party-vi
03/10/2014 at 11:46

yeah it would be like the odd Quantum coupe I see once in a while. Rare as all hell, always priced at $10k, but who wants it. I did well on the last VW I brought over. 85 Passat CL diesel wagon, 38K original km. Sold to a rich guy in town who let his friend drive it into the ground. doubled my investment though

Kinja'd!!!

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 11:48

yup, that happens with Loyale/Leone Subies... (and the previous gen GLs too) :/

They both have fairly middling reliability ratings according to continental Eruope owner reporting, but the 33 does just squeak out the Leone.

Party-vi > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 11:48

Now that looks like a sweet ride.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 11:49

I feel like you're looking to the wrong continent for a weird small 4x4....

Kinja'd!!!

505Turbeaux > Party-vi
03/10/2014 at 11:51

slow as all hell. 55mpg all the live long day though. I need to take a pic of it next time I see it around town. So beat, dented, smoking from getting beat on. Conversely I brought this over, 25K km on it and the guy who bought it is a contractor and works out of it, but keeps it SUPER clean

Kinja'd!!!

MB 406D

505Turbeaux > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
03/10/2014 at 11:52

I love em, she hates em. I almost went for an eagle wagon this winter. Got shut down!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 11:53

O COME ON

505Turbeaux > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
03/10/2014 at 11:54

lol one of the few times. she would drive a ramcharger, but not an Eagle

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 11:56

umm WUT?

I kno you reviewed ramcharger, and bronco. did you look at full size blazer's? did you look at bronco 2's for the small option (and weirdness for sure).

Original small broncos that cost a fortune? lol

505Turbeaux > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
03/10/2014 at 11:57

man trying to find a II these days that isnt rusted or smoking is a chore. I had one briefly. It was a beast off road. Pretty much anything on this shore is only going to be worth what I paid for it ever, possibly less

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 12:00

damn dude, there was one for sale out here like a month or so ago that was a complete rebuild, it looked GREAT.

and was only going for about 5-7k. I just searched CL for you and I don't see it anymore.

What about a S10 Blazer V8 conversion? those are badass.

505Turbeaux > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
03/10/2014 at 12:01

too bad a dime a dozen up here in maine. If I got an s10/15 it would be a typhoon :)

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 12:03

I've seen this in person, it's right down the street form my house. It's just as clean in person.

http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/435694…

...just saying...

505Turbeaux > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
03/10/2014 at 12:06

5 grand. Hmmmm. NP but I will have to see if I can sell her on something like that. I like bone stock cars typically

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 12:08

Oh I know, I normally have the opinion of buying an engine swapped car is like taking on someones mess, but this thing is CLEAN. I stopped in and saw it in person, I love the slight cowl induction and how he added "350" logos to it.

Nice detail on it.

505Turbeaux > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
03/10/2014 at 12:09

oh totally. Right up my alley for sure. It does look clean as anything

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 12:13

Yep.

Well I think I've done my "throw a wrench in people's plans to buy a foreign car" technique quite well.

Have fun with that lol. (now the doubt will always be there!!!!)

duurtlang > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 12:20

Given your name, get this ! It's a sedan, but you could get an additional (FWD) wagon as a donor body for very little money.

edit: too new. These cars are way too rare :(

505Turbeaux > duurtlang
03/10/2014 at 12:24

I think I just died and went to heaven. They didnt make to many of those for sure. wow

duurtlang > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 12:26

I could find two on that site (a 90 and a 92) so they're too new. They were introduced in 89 though. There might be more in France.

The same drive train was available in the Citroën BX. That, with AWD, is rare as hens teeth too.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 12:27

You know what my option would be :) the boxer AWD Alfa of course...

Other options though. What about a Lada Niva? Awful cars, but awful enough to be utterly charming. They do have some good points too :)

164 Q4? Delta 4WD?

Ooh, go nuts and get a Jensen FF :)

505Turbeaux > duurtlang
03/10/2014 at 12:28

the Mi16 was brought in through 92 to the states. I bet I could sneak it I think. BX GTi AWD is totally a weird one too

505Turbeaux > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
03/10/2014 at 12:29

Panda 4x4 was on my mind. Not much different functionally from a Lada

505Turbeaux > CAR_IS_MI
03/10/2014 at 12:29

is that smaller than the 70 series?

CAR_IS_MI > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 13:04

I think it might be but cant say for sure.

505Turbeaux > CAR_IS_MI
03/10/2014 at 13:08

3 times the turbo says the graphics! :)

duurtlang > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 13:23

You could even get a BX GTi AWD wagon ! When talking about unicorns, that's a clear example.

CAR_IS_MI > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 13:23

They wanted to make sure you didn't forget.

505Turbeaux > duurtlang
03/10/2014 at 13:25

http://suchen.mobile.de/auto-inserat/c…

WANT ALL. Too bad the hatch is the only one I can import. But I am going to seriously consider that

duurtlang > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 13:42

Really? Let me know if I can help! I live in the north-eastern part of the Netherlands, about half an hour from the German border. I've been lusting after a BX GTi for a while now. I have driven a few BXs, gas and diesel, before, but never a GTi.

I don't want to scare you and I haven't read much into this at all, but I vaguely recall there being some issues with the durability and parts availability of the RWD part of the AWD setup in these cars. So do look into this first.

505Turbeaux > duurtlang
03/10/2014 at 13:46

yeah I plan on doing some homework on this just to see what is up with parts

duurtlang > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 13:56

Well the rest of the parts are straight forward. It's the exact same engine as the one in the Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9. It's the 8 valve version GTi motor, the 16 valve version is more powerful but was only available in the FWD BX GTi 16v and 405 MI-16 (FWD and AWD) if I'm not mistaken. Other BX-specific parts shouldn't be much trouble to find (in Europe) either. They weren't a few years ago.

505Turbeaux > duurtlang
03/10/2014 at 13:59

I would likely grab a spare engine and put it in the trunk before shipping it over just to be on the safe side. Maybe another complete rear end too

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 14:52

I just noticed.. you'll be in Sweden? Where in Sweden? If you'll end up somewhere close to the Norwegian border we must have a tiny Oppo meet :P

505Turbeaux > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh
03/10/2014 at 14:59

we will be in Uppsala, not too close. 6 hours away from Oslo? The girl we are going to visit has a Porsche 944 though for us to use!

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 15:05

Uppsala is 6 1/2 hours from here, not that far, but further than one would drive for a oppo meet I guess :P Anyhow, you'll be close to Sollentuna then, they used to have quite the car scene. And you'll be close to Stockholm, I guess you'll see some awesome stuff there :)

505Turbeaux > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh
03/10/2014 at 15:07

yeah probably so! I am looking forward to it. My work seems to not want me to go but screw it

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2014 at 16:07

This.

Absolutely this. You need this.

I've always liked the tiny, turbocharged, small-displacement ultra-hot hatch market that the US never entirely got into. No idea about any of these cars in terms of reliability, but they were the first ones that came to mind. Not the right drivetrain as required, but assuming you want the AWD/4WD for snow, I feel like none of these would have an issue in bad conditions.

505Turbeaux > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
03/10/2014 at 16:11

oh man. Yeah it is the one requirement from my lady unfortunately that it be AWD or we would just keep the beetle (which would spank any one of these in a race)

the desire is way strong for all though, damn

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > 505Turbeaux
03/12/2014 at 11:16

I looked for you my county, the Netherlands.

Here are some:

2x country's for 8500 euro , one is a Chrome edition

This one is cheaper, at 2500

This one is at a dealership , 4250

All original, with complete history, 8000 euro

This one just got its inspection, and is a good price at 3250

Did someone say E30 wagon?

Great looking e30 wagon for 4950 euro

Let me know, and I'll keep looking for you!

505Turbeaux > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder
03/12/2014 at 11:19

oh man that one at 3250 looks great. Thanks so much for looking! I was going to sell the Beetle soon and stick the cash in a high yield all summer, but I could pull the trigger earlier on something like that.

SpeedSix > 505Turbeaux
03/17/2014 at 00:06

Just to open up your horizons, if you do not buy something with AWD, consider the Volvo 480 Turbo.

Kinja'd!!!

The Volvo 480 was the only Volvo ever produced with pop-up headlights. It also had a glass hatch (a la 1800ES and C30) and a very 80s interior. Since the Volvo 480 was never offered in North America, it has reasonable desirability here, and the Turbo version is generally more desirable.

Kinja'd!!!

At $8000, you should be able to buy two relatively nice-condition, lowish mileage (less than 100,000 miles) Volvo 480 Turbos. You could reasonably keep one and sell the other (to one of us Opponauts :D) for a profit.

505Turbeaux > SpeedSix
03/17/2014 at 15:58

you know I really really like these and am certainly not opposed. They are dead cheap, even including importation. If n/a rims fit on them I could find a set of steelies with snows for it. I would imagine 850 or v70 FWD rims would match up possibly, even if just the bolt patterns