"tylinol" (tylinol1975)
10/16/2014 at 13:27 • Filed to: None
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"tylinol" (tylinol1975)
10/16/2014 at 13:27 • Filed to: None | 1
| 18 |
There have been a few "Best Car" lists here, and most of them have offered some pretty sound advice on all of the wonderful cars you can get for less than the price of a new Camry, or how to take advantage of the abysmal depreciation of certain supercars. However some of us prefer to - or perhaps have no choice but to - feed off the grimy basin of the automotive marketplace. This lower strata is composed of cars that are an errant ball joint or dead fuel pump away from being sent to the scrapyard, or being parted out to restorers of more promising examples. Mechanical soundness and structural integrity are the only aspects carefully scrutinized; paint and interior are described only as present or missing.
But these driveable parts cars offer a huge selection of cool, fun, and unique options for those of us with the ability and inclination to turn a wrench every once in a while.
I'll start off with one of my favorite choices: almost any pre-1990 Mercedes. One of my close friends has collected a driving example of every 1972 Mercedes model (minus the Grosser) on a total investment of less than $3,000. The cheapest, an $800 220D, drove 200 miles on purchase day and has been his daily driver ever since. To prove I'm not making things up, I'll submit another car - this imposing 1972 280SE 4.5 that apparently runs and drives. Clean off that tree sap, vacuum the interior, and you'll have a car that looks and feels ten times as expensive as it was.
Nibby
> tylinol
10/16/2014 at 13:30 |
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One of my favorite cars for under $1,500?!
RMudkips
> tylinol
10/16/2014 at 13:36 |
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How's the maintenance on those pre-1990 Benzes? I see them around my around and they look like great DDs, but I remember that old saying, "The most expensive Benz is a cheap Benz".
SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
> tylinol
10/16/2014 at 13:39 |
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Picked my AW11 up for a grand. I put significantly more into it since then, but it didn't need any work to be a daily driver. I'm just turning it into racecar.
Chris Clarke
> tylinol
10/16/2014 at 13:41 |
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Paid $800 for mine. Found it in a field a drove it home.
KirkyV
> tylinol
10/16/2014 at 13:42 |
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There's a surprising amount of choice, but if it were my money - and I weren't such a hatch nut - this is what I'd buy: the Peugeot 406 Coupe. They're reliable; comfortable; fun to drive, and cheap to run. Oh, and they were styled by Pininfarina.
So, for less than the price of a decent ten-year-old Focus, you can gaze upon your very own French-Italian coupé, every morning. And then you can drive it to work.
...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/adv…
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SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
> RMudkips
10/16/2014 at 13:45 |
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Those pre 1990 Benzes are solid as shit as far as the engines and trannies go, and entirely unkillable with a diesel. They aren't as complicated as new MBs, but don't expect the amenities to work consistently. I guess that the accuracy of that statement depends on what you're willing to live with. If you can live with broken power windows or radio or other "optional" items, it will be fine. If you can't, then yes, it will be very expensive.
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tylinol
> RMudkips
10/16/2014 at 13:46 |
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You know, I thought the same thing when he bought his first R107 - a $900 350SL. It came with a bad fuel pump, some rotted fuel line, and a misadjusted Bowden cable. About $300 got it on the road, and it has driven reliably ever since with only minor preventative maintenance. The 220D has been a legend - 100 miles a day for close to two years suffering only a bad thermostat and failed alternator, neither of which were any more expensive than a "regular" car. His 280SE has just recently been made roadworthy after a decade-long slumber caused by a bad distributor cap, but after just basic fluid changes it is as smooth and comfortable as a brand new car.
I thought he might just be lucky, but another friend of mine purchased a $700 450SL that he drove 200 miles home and has only needed some exhaust work. since.
Milky
> tylinol
10/16/2014 at 13:49 |
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Well it technically wasn't "Under $1,500" because it was $1,500, but still it was a ton of fun.
Jonee
> tylinol
10/16/2014 at 13:50 |
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I once spent $500 on a near mint AMC Spirit with 40,000 miles on it. Jeep engine, 4-speed. It was indestructible and not terrible to drive. I put 20K miles on it then gave it to friend who was in dire straits and he put another uneventful 20K on it and then sold it to an AMC guy for 1500 bucks. So, there you go.
MultiplaOrgasms
> RMudkips
10/16/2014 at 13:52 |
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Well, pre 1990 Benzes tend to have better built quality than modern ones and usually are more reliable as well, however the older it is, the more expensive the parts are. Then again intermediates and Diesels are simple enough that most people could work on them easily.
WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
> tylinol
10/16/2014 at 13:56 |
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First-gen Mazda Millenia.
http://altoona.craigslist.org/cto/4691796272… here's one for $1,000, it's a '99 S, with the supercharged 2.3L Miller Cycle V6. This particular one has an engine miss, but it could be simple, and it's got relatively low mileage. I had one just like this, that I paid more for a '98 with over 200k miles, and it ran like a tank. They are loaded with some pretty good amenities, like dual power leather seats, Bose radio, front seat heat, and sunroof, digital climate control, and the car is an absolute blast to drive, to boot. 2.3L is small for a V6, but it has over 200hp and tq, which isn't bad for a car from the 90s. Maybe not a Miata, but definitely a Mazda that is still a blast to drive, and rides pretty smooth, with some sportiness to it as well. It's kind of a cheap luxury sports sedan. Gas mileage isn't amazing, but you won't really care. Yes, I am biased because I owned one, but it is, out of owning at least 10 cars in my life, and driving half a dozen more, my favorite out of all of them.
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RMudkips
> SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
10/16/2014 at 13:56 |
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Thanks! So as long as I got a heater and a radio I'll be fine. Hope they have roll-up windows.
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tylinol
> Jonee
10/16/2014 at 13:58 |
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I've always loved AMC; my family briefly had a $1500 AMX back in the days when such a thing was possible.
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tylinol
> RMudkips
10/16/2014 at 14:01 |
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Don't worry about old Benz heat. At full blast it makes you wonder how it doesn't melt the vents. I remember driving with the top down in the snow. We were wearing T-shirts and still sweating.
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RMudkips
> tylinol
10/16/2014 at 14:07 |
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Perfect for where I'm from!
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tylinol
> Milky
10/16/2014 at 14:19 |
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An SC300/400 is high on my "hit list"!
Audi-os, Amigos!
> Chris Clarke
10/16/2014 at 14:25 |
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I <3 Your Avant, too.
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Chris Clarke
> Audi-os, Amigos!
10/16/2014 at 14:31 |
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Gracious.