Art of the Steal: How I Find Unicorns for Dubiously Cheap Prices

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
09/29/2020 at 12:21 • Filed to: marketplace, Unicorn, volkswagen, Craigslist

Through my wacky motoring adventures, one of the biggest questions I get asked is how I find all these awesome cars and motorcycles for such deceptively low prices? Indeed, I’ve on more than one occasion found Volkswagen TDIs for under a thousand dollars, a pretty minty Audi TT for just a lick over a grand, and even a top trim !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! for less than the price of a good set of tires. There’s even a $900 Harley-Davidson in there somewhere. So, what’s my secret?

(Author note: This was originally written and published at !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Out Motorsports empowers LGBTQ+ and allied automotive and motorsports enthusiasts to show up as their full, authentic selves in every automotive endeavor they pursue and share their stories across all walks of the automotive spectrum. Check us out!)

My day job largely consists of sitting at a computer all day with lots of downtime. This allows me to keep a window open to Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist at all times – so I can snipe up great deals before most others. This is only a little nugget to my madness as most of the vehicles that will show up will usually be outside of my arbitrary price limit. The magic happens when I begin my search.

Starting The Search

My search query often begins with something simple, like “TDI” or “4Motion”. Marketplace and Craigslist respond by showing me fairly priced candidates within my chosen range (up to 250 miles). Ah, but I’m not looking for merely fairly priced vehicles. I’m looking to scratch the bottom of the barrel for hidden gems. I adjust my search parameters to a scary low price range.

This method of vehicle buying is kinda exciting. At the very bottom you’ll find lots of cars with three tires in the junkyard and motorcycles that will never be road legal again. You’ll likely see common, repeated issues with high-mileage neglected examples of the vehicles you love. In the case of VWs, I saw an endless sea of mid 2000s VAG with dead automatic transmissions, no brakes, and broken timing belts.

In between dead transmission after dead transmission, you may find a car or bike described as “dead,” even if the problem is far less serious. When I bought my Mk1 Audi TT Quattro, the seller listed the car as “ran when parked and not starting,” thus requiring a tow. Well, if the car ran when parked and it’s only been parked for a few months, chances are the reason the car is “dead” is just a bad starter. And since my TT is manual, a bump start is all the car needs to run down the road. I arrived at the seller’s house, negotiated a very low price, then as he expected me to call for a tow I popped the clutch out of his driveway and drove away. Indeed, he believed this car to be dead, only worth parts because of a dead starter.

Another Cheap Find – Two Passat TDI Wagons

In another instance, I found a rust-free Volkswagen Passat TDI Wagon, with the awesome BHW engine! This particular seller felt the car had a dead high pressure fuel pump. He claimed the Passat went into limp mode above 2,000 RPM, and the dealership replaced everything but the fuel pump. It drove just good enough to be a daily for me, so I took the chance and bought it. When I got home, the problem became pretty obvious. A rubber charge pipe connected to the intercooler was sliced open and prevented the car from getting anything resembling boost. The pipe looked like it had been involved in a slasher film.

Indeed, while the car had a new turbo, new N75, and new vacuum pipes, nobody bothered to check the charge pipe. A friend fitted a new charge pipe and the immediate effect was essentially a brand new car. I regretfully sold this car during the spring for a Mercedes-Benz W123 hero car !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . But like lightning in a bottle I found another equally absurdly cheap BHW. This one black with GTI wheels and an even better body than my last BHW!

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I actively hunt for cars like these. I love cars that have issues that seem huge and terminal, but are 30 minutes and $30 from being brought back to roadworthy. Motorcycles are even easier. One of my favorite motorcycle buys was a Genuine Stella that hasn’t run in 5 years. It only needed a carb clean and a new battery.

If I’m looking for a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! I may accept more serious issues. That’s usually because a Gambler car doesn’t stay in my fleet for too long. Granted, finding vehicles like this is not easy. When you scrape the bottom of the barrel, most vehicles are going to be as crappy as their price would suggest. You need to have an eye for vehicles that are definitely not dead, but owned by someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing. Or maybe you’ll even find an owner that just wants the vehicle gone. You can find them for these prices, but they tend to go fast when you do.

Not All That Glitters is Gold – Some Misses

Now, not every vehicle is a winner. Every once in a while I make a bet on a vehicle and it turns out to be a loser. One of these vehicles was a 90s !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . This was a bike that offered GSX-R power in a standard frame. Indeed, it too needed just a carb clean to get going. However, after its revival it blew fifth gear and needed a new transmission.

A couple years ago I also had a thing for Chinese scooters. While they were easy and fun to revive, they always found fun other ways to leave me stranded someplace. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! I pulled out of a field, ignored ALL THE RUST, then removed its doors, windows, and backseat. Ultimately, rust won the battle with that car as the fuel tank was more of a colander and the rear subframe appeared to have been holding on with hopes and dreams. In my girlfriend’s attempt to replicate my success she’s brought home a Nissan Maxima. That poor Nissan was so broken it shouldn’t have even survived the three-hour drive home. In fact, it was so broken that every wheel was missing nuts and it tried to kill me on the drive home.

Finding a Unicorn Project Car

There’s one more car that’s a testament to my car-finding abilities. I recently brought home a Volkswagen Passat W8 4Motion with a manual transmission from Michigan for $800. If you don’t know what a Passat W8 is, take a listen to this soundtrack:

Amusingly enough, I brought it home thinking I’d make it into a Gambler car. But I quickly learned that I stumbled upon something really special. It won’t be killed. In fact, I’m going to restore it! It will need a new sunroof and a coil pack. Fixing this car will be a part of a build series I’m launching. A hero car like this needs to be restored and brought back from the brink!

And for the Oppo-specific part of the story, we’re about to do it again. The $900 Harley is about to be traded for a 65 passenger International 3800 school bus with a DT466 engine!

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DISCUSSION (17)

Just Jeepin' > Mercedes Streeter
09/29/2020 at 12:26

I arrived at the seller’s house, negotiated a very low price, then as he expected me to call for a tow I popped the clutch out of his driveway and drove away.

You could have at least had the decency to get it towed around the corner! That’s just cruel.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Mercedes Streeter
09/29/2020 at 12:33

Hey, Great Post! Thanks!

Any tips on a Master-Craigslist Search Engine that can search a wider region? I used to use CrazedList, until they shut it down, so now get by on SearchAllJunk... but the hits are often pretty out of date.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Mercedes Streeter
09/29/2020 at 12:37

My first car was a 1973 Datsun 240Z that went through starters like every three months Y ou bet I was well versed in bump starting, I had it honed to a fine art.

PS9 > Mercedes Streeter
09/29/2020 at 12:41

Step 1) Search for VWs

Step 2) Filter for V10s, W8s or diesels

Step 3) Filter for manuals

Step 4) Acquire extremely cheap powerful manual unicorn

....

Step 5) shortly after step 4, tow to a mechanic and cry while helping send his kids to yale

Just Jeepin' > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
09/29/2020 at 12:44

Autotempest does the trick, awkwardly.

Mercedes Streeter > Just Jeepin'
09/29/2020 at 12:54

His facial reaction was that of surprise, disappointment, and a maybe a little anger. He knew nothing about manuals (and neither did his wife, the actual owner and driver of the car) and they assumed that the car wasn’t starting due to a seized engine . I was able to move the engine by hand so they were wrong.

I thought about pushing it out of his sight, but his driveway had a perfect slope for the clutch pop. lol

Once I got it home I discovered one of the leads on the starter had corroded and broken. Apparently they originally parked it because of a persistent check engine light. I pulled the codes and only saw one for an O2 sensor.

Mercedes Streeter > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
09/29/2020 at 12:55

Thanks!

I wish!!! I’ve had little luck using those “search all craigslist” engines as their results are always seemingly long out of date.

Mercedes Streeter > PS9
09/29/2020 at 12:57

Step 6) Because lessons haven’t been learned, the mechanic has purchased a yacht based on you alone.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Mercedes Streeter
09/29/2020 at 14:25

Up until CL started charging $5 to list a car, I had good luck with AutoTempest.

MM54 > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
09/29/2020 at 15:12

I’ve watched my friend bump start his ‘62 austin-healey in a flat parking lot himself , he’s got it down to a science.

Dest > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
09/29/2020 at 15:21

searchtempest?

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Mercedes Streeter
09/29/2020 at 15:36

“ And for the Oppo-specific part of the story, we’re about to do it again. The $900 Harley is about to be traded for a 65 passenger International 3800 school bus with a DT466 engine!”

Not to sound mean...but are YOU going to be driving the bus? Please take no offense, as I mean no offense to you whatsoever! :)

...my point is just that I know that licensing in the US allows people to drive large vehicles like that on a regular license, and in some provinces here in Canada, it’s similar...but a 65-passenger bus is a LOT different from driving a pickup truck or SUV. I know I wouldn’t trust myself to drive one, even if it is legal for me to to do so! Way too big for me to drive safely without some form of training...the fact there are untrained people driving bus-sized motorhomes around WHILE also towing cars scares me...

Also, bus fuel costs may kill you, lol...

That all being said, what’s the plan for the bus? Are you going to be doing a #buslyfe build or?

InsanezX2 > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
09/29/2020 at 16:00

I’m wondering about the bus as well. I’m thinking lop the body off behind the driver’s seat, add a fold down ramp on the side, and have room to haul a swarm of S marts and maybe a few bikes.

Mercedes Streeter > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
09/29/2020 at 17:11

No offense taken! I’m a huge proponent of not driving things far beyond your abilities. RVs are a menace as inexperienced people pilot them down highways at 70+ mph.

I will be! I have quite a bit experience and am very comfortable driving stupidly large vehicles. Ironic that my fav cars are the exact opposite, I know. lol

Weight classes in my state are a little weird. Unless the vehicle you’re driving is a rental or an RV, you’re limited to just 16,000 pounds. So in order to legally pilot a big bus you’d either need a Class C or Class B CDL or register the bus as an RV. This one already has an RV title, which is critical.

That said, I’ll still be upgrading my license anyway because it’s nice to be able to drive around giant things if you need to.

The model we’re getting should return about 13 on the highway. It’s essentially the same bus a friend has, but conventional rather than cabover.

My plan for it is mobile motorcycle garage, camper, and tow vehicle. :)

Mercedes Streeter > InsanezX2
09/29/2020 at 17:14

HA! That would be a sight to see...massive flatbed toy hauler.

We’re not actually going to remove any of the body if we can. The rear end will be a garage for motorcycles while the rest will be living space. We’ll then tow our rally car to whatever event we’re headed.

A long time fear of mine is that I’d break my car during a rally and be stranded wherever I am. With a camper this isn’t a problem.

Just Jeepin' > MM54
09/29/2020 at 17:44

It helps to have something smaller. I’ve tried my LJ on a shallow slope with no success.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Mercedes Streeter
09/29/2020 at 19:50

Getting your license upgraded will be quite the adventure, haha! No Aging Wheels-style flatbed bus/RV mods? :P