Offerings From Mr. Craig...

"Taylor Martin" (tjmartin) 11/02/2020 at 12:46 • Filed to: None

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I flew home yesterday (from Florida to Maryland) and surprised my best pal for a visit on his birthday. It was a very good night, and I ate a very big (and VERY expensive) steak.

Now I’m chilling in my dad’s spare bedroom, I could do schoolwork or other productive things, but I’m on vacation, there’s no way that’s going to happen. So, while I wait for something to do today, I’m browsing through Craigslist

The theme of the day is Manuals for learning stick that are also cool/unique/odd/different. I’d like to own one someday, but that requires a reliable, stable income (I could buy the cars on this list right now... the issue is funding them for long periods of time).

Let’s begin with this little guy:

It’s a funky little Honda Del Sol. I like the edges and shape of this one, it’s not as round as other Del Sols out there. Also, I’d never seen one on Craiglist (and for only a grand, in running condition, kind of tempting).

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I’ve got some Zoidberg bait (he’s the one who likes Tercels, right?):

A newer Tercel sedan. I’d always seen it in wagon form (which I obviously like better, because I’m a wagon guy). Still, a simple little manual sedan for a grand is kind of what I’d be looking for as a beater to mess up stick on. Though with 229,000 miles on the odo, there’s bound to be something wrong with it... or something to go wrong very soon.

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And speaking of simple sedans:

Kia Sephia (emojis included). It’s plain, it’s unexciting, but it runs. Not much to say about this one other than I don’t know much about the Sephia (or early Kia’s in general).

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Expanded my search up to Georgia and WOW! What a diamond in the rough!

Okay... maybe less of a diamond and more of a rusty piece of copper, but it’s still really lucrative. According to the owner, it ran well when parked six years ago. Granted, that probably means it ran as well as a Yugo could... but it ran! And the engine still wants to get going. But that’s not all. For 650 dollars you actually get TWO Yugos! What a deal/steal! The white one is for parts, the red one is for fixing. Sounds like it just needs carburetor and the gas tank cleaned out. Would be a fairly cheap project, and you’d own a Yugo... how tempting.

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Here’s an odd ad that makes the pessimist in me scream bloody murder.

All the photos look like they were taken through a glass window, blurry and full of glare, and it says the key was lost. Now, maybe the key was truly lost... or maybe it was stolen and thrown on here to make it someone else’s problem. It’s a matter of if they have the title or not... which isn’t stated in the ad... but it’s still a Saab, and a really new one too.

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One last car for the road:

It’s a simple, subtle, practical Ford Focus. Of all the cars on this list, this one is probably the one I’d get to learn stick on because... well... it’s a wagon. The sedans are all fine and good, the Del So, certainly looks great, and the Yugo would be a real learning experience, but this one is simple yet interesting simply because it’s not like every other sedan on the road... or maybe I have too much of a hard on for big trunks and flat folding seats...

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Tune in next time when I browse Craigslist for fun trucks (unique enough where they’re not someone’s first choice) that’ll actually tow those two Yugos, as well as any other project car that one would impulsive buy!

Take care folks!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Taylor Martin 11/02/2020 at 12:53

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I’d still del sol.

Just Jeepin' > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 11/02/2020 at 12:56

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Miss mine so much.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > Taylor Martin 11/02/2020 at 12:57

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229k on the Tercel means it's just been broken in. As long as you somehow avoid rust like the plague it is and it's been somewhat taken care of in the slightest, it should be fine. I'd go with that or the Del Sol, another reliable and fun small car that if solid for the most part would last you well enough and be entertaining while not being hard on your wallet. I'd personally stay away from the rest, but you're talking to the 17 year old who owns two 20+ year old BMWs and isn't dead...yet

Taylor Martin > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 11/02/2020 at 13:10

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For only a grand (and a plane ticket/drive to Florida) it can be yours!

Taylor Martin > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 11/02/2020 at 13:15

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Well, the Tercel is a Florida car (at least it’s being sold in Florida) , so that helps with rust. I didn’t realize Tercels were total cockroaches, pretty unkillable so long as they were taken care up, which makes it even more tempting.

I don’t know a lot about the Del Sol, but I like it more than your typical Miata or S2000 because you don’t see them as much. If it’s as good as people on here say it is (which I’m sure it is) it’d make it another tempting investment.

Two old BMWs?!? That’s impressive and darring... or impulsive and dumb depending on who you ask haha.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Taylor Martin 11/02/2020 at 14:11

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Haha, I had been looking at that Yugo ad too. It’s not exactly close to me but still not a terrible drive. Of course the real problem would be getting it home.

Now for a total beater how about this Kia Sorento. . . with a stick?!?! For only a grand and seemingly only a new hood needed that’s not terrible.

https://nwga.craigslist.org/cto/d/canton-2006-kia-sorento/7220002917.html

I’ve also been puzzling over this LHD Daihatsu Hijet. Where was this thing sold originally to be LHD?

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/d/alpharetta-1984-daihatsu-hi-jet-4x2/7218031590.html

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Taylor Martin 11/02/2020 at 14:21

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That gen actually was not available with the wagon, only the first gen in either FWD or 4WD flavors. The Coupe you have shown is a 3rd gen and is far more dependable than the 3AC that came in those old wagons. Consider also the Toyota Paseo, which is largely a reskinned Tercel that’s supposed to look sporty.

RacinBob > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 11/02/2020 at 18:12

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My concern with the Del Sol how much maintenance did it get . What little I saw didn’t get me real optomistic that it wasn’t a totally oxidized , mechanically deralict, midew spewing car parked in a back lot 1 mile from the Ocean . Rags in the window seals don’t exactly give me great enthusi asm.....

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > Taylor Martin 11/02/2020 at 19:19

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The Del Sol is definitely more fun in my opinion, though this one looks pretty beat. The Tercel looks solid and the more I think about it would be the best one. Besides, any car is fun if you drive it right :)

Also yeah, I got a 1997 740i from my uncle with it’s fair share of problems but it’s been solid for the most part and for a good price . I also picked up a near mint looking one for $900, although the interior is in shambles and it doesn’t run at the moment. The exterior is near perfect though and I’m using it mostly for parts for the ‘97. I’d love to save it but sadly don’t have the money or time for it and had to choose between the two, in which I chose the ‘97 for the gray leather interior in good condition, the BC Racing coils, muffler delete and Magnaflow exhaust, Style 95 rims and the fact that, well, it runs and drives. I daily a 2013 CR-V that I inherited from my driving-less-nowadays dad though so I guess I'm doing fine as far as cars go lol

Taylor Martin > RacinBob 11/02/2020 at 22:35

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I didn’t look too hard at any of these, I just saw “wow, that’s a cool little car I haven’t seen, and for dirt cheap,” but you’re absolutely right, that one has seen better days.

The Tercel grows more and more appealing by the minute, my only concern would be parts since they don’t make em’ like they used to... or maybe they do.

Taylor Martin > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 11/02/2020 at 22:39

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It sounds like you have no shortage of automotive knowledge, patients, and cars. You’re using your BMWs in the same way other people would use those two Yugos: one that runs and drives, and the other for parts. It’s a good system. And it’s like you said: any car is fun to drive if you drive it right!

Taylor Martin > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 11/02/2020 at 22:47

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Those Yugos are tempting, you never know when you’re going to see them for sale again... and for that cheap... how badly I want to make that mistake, but it’s like you said, I have no way to get them anywhere (unless I rent a truck and trailer).

First impression of the Sorento... those are some P H A T tires. Second impression... yeah, that’s about as beater as you can get. Sounds like it got beaten by the dear too, huh? Still, if fixed, could make a fantastic utility hauler for things and people, it’s got the space (surprised it didn’t have a third row of seats).

That Hijet is so cute! It’s got those widdle round headlamps and awwwww. Sadly, it’s much too out of my price range, but it would make a very... interesting work truck.

Not sure I can get over this dashboard though, fitted with fake plastic radio haha.

Taylor Martin > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 11/02/2020 at 22:50

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HA! Gotcha, hook line and sinker.

Regardless, I originally was after the Focus because wagon, but as a car to just learn stick on the Tercel is growing on me. It looks fantastic for 200k miles, and it’s just plain simple.

The Paseo looks like the lovechild of the Toyota Celica and Honda Civic, at least to my untrained eye. Certainly wouldn’t have guessed it was a Tercel underneath.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Taylor Martin 11/02/2020 at 23:28

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That was just about the last time you could get a stick in a large Kia. They still offer it on the base Soul and their other compacts but you could even get the previous gen Optima with a stick. I’ve never seen one in person but every once in a while one comes up for sale.

With a new hood I bet that Kia would be good to go. I don’t understand how they managed to replace a headlight on the side that was struck but the hood doesn’t open. And they even gave it a new windshield. There’s a story there.

It’s rare to find Kei trucks with LHD so I’m surprised they aren’t trying to charge a premium for it.

That radio blanking plate is hilarious. You could buy a VW Jetta without a radio as late as 2011 but they are probably about as scarce as Jeep Wrangler with no AC from the factory. I really love this tidbit. Why would you hate yourself that much?

https://blog.1aauto.com/did-you-know-that-you-can-still-buy-a-new-vw-without-a-radio/

These things are so elusive no good photos of them exist on the internet. I assume most have long since had an aftermarket one installed.

The camper shell they’ve included with it is hilarious. It’s just so so jank. Not even close to weather tight and you can’t flip down the bed sides.

Taylor Martin > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 11/03/2020 at 11:04

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The Hijet would certainly make a one of a kind camper, albeit a very cramped camper haha. I guess it is a little odd that the steering wheel is on the right side (right as in correct, because right is wrong and we all know it haha), but it makes owning the truck all the more convenient for businesses running a very cheap ship, or someone who just wants a tiny truck.

And speaking of cheap, radios... they’re kind of not. If you’re flat broke buying a new car, then a radio is something you can live without (they’ll listen to the 2.0L 4 cylinder purr instead ... meow). I don’t think I can live without a radio in the car, or at least a means to hook up my phone and play music. If I ever get a car with a cassette tape, one of those cassette tape to aux cord things is on my bucket list. I’ll be listening to the most modern tunes through dusty, staticy speakers of the past (Dubstep beats that sound like they’re coming out of a record machine).

I don’t really love or hate the Kia Soul, or Kia’s in general (though I think early 2000s Rios and smaller sedans are super cute), but why of all cars would you get a Soul in stick?