Cheap Car Challenge: $1000

"FromCanadaWithLove" (fromcanadawithlove)
03/16/2016 at 21:23 • Filed to: CHEAP CAR CHALLENGE, $1000

Just like the Top Gear America Special, you have $1000 to buy a car to drive across the country. What would you get?

Rules:

1. The listing must be $1000 or less, but it doesn’t matter where you find it. If you’re looking at a Canadian car, let’s still say it’s $1000, to keep the number nice.

2. It can be anywhere. Ebay, Autotrader, Craigslist, Kijiji, etc.

3. Reliability doesn’t matter (you’ve got a big production crew, after all), but the car should be running (no engineless projects).

Assuming it runs (the ad says nothing), I’d take this sweet Jag XJS.

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DISCUSSION (54)

scoob > FromCanadaWithLove
03/16/2016 at 21:27

This V8 swapped M3 for just $1!

Slant6 > FromCanadaWithLove
03/16/2016 at 21:28

http://greensboro.craigslist.org/cto/5429137372…

I would pay $600. Trust me, I can get any old slant 6 to run. And it will stay running.

-this space for rent- > FromCanadaWithLove
03/16/2016 at 21:30

2000 Town car

Boom: http://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/5490449882…

Matt Nichelson > scoob
03/16/2016 at 21:32

Oh Jesus that wing!

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > FromCanadaWithLove
03/16/2016 at 21:33

It needs a head gasket, but for 250 bucks I could do it myself. I mean what kind of car do you want drive across the county in.

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/cto/549454…

JR1 > FromCanadaWithLove
03/16/2016 at 21:37

Are you insane?! That won't go across the country

Steve in Manhattan > FromCanadaWithLove
03/16/2016 at 21:38

5 bucks for this BMW Chrysler? Just let me know where to pick it up!

https://newyork.craigslist.org/brx/cto/546184…

Steve in Manhattan > scoob
03/16/2016 at 21:40

Dude - this is 30 minutes from me ... I’ll totally drive it around the block and give you the fo shizzle! How bad could it be?

Steve in Manhattan > Slant6
03/16/2016 at 21:41

Mom had an Aspen with that engine ... it is difficult to kill them. Like, really fucking difficult.

not for canada - australian in disguise > FromCanadaWithLove
03/16/2016 at 21:41

Safe and boring.

Kinja'd!!!

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/…

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
03/16/2016 at 21:42

That’s going to be a pain in the ass. Transverse V8's have to suck to work on.

Matt Nichelson > FromCanadaWithLove
03/16/2016 at 21:42

1993 Deville. Ride in comfort. Maybe.

https://hattiesburg.craigslist.org/cto/5489659035…

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > FromCanadaWithLove
03/16/2016 at 21:42

This 1979 Ford Bronco with a 351w. The tires have less then 1000kms on them.

Kinja'd!!!

JR1 > FromCanadaWithLove
03/16/2016 at 21:44

http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/5483674356…

It's a mustang. Seems appropriate for a cross country road trip

interstate366, now In The Industry > FromCanadaWithLove
03/16/2016 at 21:45

Because I’m a masochist

http://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/5485127825…

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > scoob
03/16/2016 at 21:46

That makes all the down force brooooooo.

JR1 > FromCanadaWithLove
03/16/2016 at 21:46

http://zanesville.craigslist.org/cto/5421525532…

Or this equally interesting mustang

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > FromCanadaWithLove
03/16/2016 at 21:49

On good faith that it did run when it was parked: http://columbia.craigslist.org/cto/5492614355…

Kinja'd!!!

Jack Does Cars > FromCanadaWithLove
03/16/2016 at 21:50

Few things are more reliable than an old Benz: http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/5494042725…

gmctavish needs more space > FromCanadaWithLove
03/16/2016 at 21:51

Kinja'd!!!

http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/bnc/cto/547255…

Aw yiss

FromCanadaWithLove > interstate366, now In The Industry
03/16/2016 at 21:51

There’s no way that has only 81k miles.

LongbowMkII > FromCanadaWithLove
03/16/2016 at 21:52

Nah, the production crew would just give you a ‘95 Corolla for when your jag invariably breaks down.

An automatic Corolla.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > interstate366, now In The Industry
03/16/2016 at 22:03

Dang, that’s cheap!

motorist > FromCanadaWithLove
03/16/2016 at 22:08

Kinja'd!!!

http://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/5485127825…

Slant6 > Steve in Manhattan
03/16/2016 at 22:09

I try to kill mine a few times Haven’t succeeded yet. Excellent low-speed hoonmobile.

The plan is to boost it until something breaks then V8.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > FromCanadaWithLove
03/16/2016 at 22:11

Probably this, because it’s comfy and I can crash it into shit, and if the ad is to be believed it should work ok (3800 is an exceptionally reliable motor).

http://omaha.craigslist.org/cto/5471000899…

motorist > FromCanadaWithLove
03/16/2016 at 22:13

Kinja'd!!!

http://norfolk.craigslist.org/cto/5468235334…

This will definitely need the production crew to stay running...

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > FromCanadaWithLove
03/16/2016 at 22:19

http://allentown.craigslist.org/cto/5464357325…

Really any Saturn SC2, they’re out there for $1000 all day long.

No reason other than it’s a car that will run forever, shittily but forever.

And it’s validly a $1000 car all day, so you don’t have to get one that has been abused, in perfect condition they’re worth $1500.

Steve in Manhattan > Slant6
03/16/2016 at 22:21

I think the engine that fits is a 318, and there might be a 440 that goes in ... my Mopar memory isn’t as good as it used to be.

S65 > FromCanadaWithLove
03/16/2016 at 22:22

Why Not?

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/cto/548258…

Slant6 > Steve in Manhattan
03/16/2016 at 22:24

Factory in 65' biggest engine the Dart got was the 273, but people do big blocks all the time. I think a 318 would be nice and mild. Not crazy but can make some noise and smoke a little rubber. Also light. 440s are heavy.

interstate366, now In The Industry > BaconSandwich is tasty.
03/16/2016 at 22:28

The only thing stopping me from going to look at it is that I already have two projects and no place to store it. It’s only a half hour drive from me, if even that.

interstate366, now In The Industry > FromCanadaWithLove
03/16/2016 at 22:29

Yeah, 181k seems more likely. It’s only a 20-30 minute drive from me. The only thing stopping me from going to check it out is that I already have two projects and no place to store it.

Steve in Manhattan > Slant6
03/16/2016 at 22:33

My parents went V8 every time ... until that Aspen. The Dodge Coronet was a 318, or maybe a 390? I get confused. All I know is, when I put my foot down, it got out of its own way.

Slant6 > Slant6
03/16/2016 at 22:36

wow that first sentence was messed up

Slant6 > Steve in Manhattan
03/16/2016 at 22:41

I think everything was available in the Coronet, including the slant 6.

I can’t imagine a big body mopar. My a-body Dart was the smallest and it’s huge, longer than my old Saab wagon.

mazda616 > FromCanadaWithLove
03/16/2016 at 22:41

Maxima. This isn't my favorite Maxima generation as far as styling goes, but it seems to be in decent shape if the seller is being honest.

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/549453…

Kinja'd!!!

j250ex > FromCanadaWithLove
03/16/2016 at 22:47

Kinja'd!!!

Because i wanted something “Sporty” btw this was a pain in the ass to track down

http://waco.craigslist.org/cto/5491217601…

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > FromCanadaWithLove
03/16/2016 at 22:48

I found a Volvo 244 turbo on craigslist last week. $900. that's what I'd take

Steve in Manhattan > Slant6
03/16/2016 at 22:55

That car was smaller (by a bit) than dad’s ‘69 Impala ... but the Impala had no A/C. I had to sell it hard in order to drive the Coronet to my prom with my lovely date .... The Impala would have been torture in late May in DC.

Amoore100 > FromCanadaWithLove
03/16/2016 at 22:55

So many choices of Volvo, and I haven’t even left the Bay Area!

‘93 740, 161k mi, $1K Running

Kinja'd!!!

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‘93 960, 260k mi, $800 Needs battery

Kinja'd!!!

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‘97 960, 184k mi, $700 Running

Kinja'd!!!

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‘96 850 Turbo, 169k mi, $850 Running w/ slow coolant leak

Kinja'd!!!

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‘90 740 GLE, 165k mi, $800 Running

Kinja'd!!!

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And the list continues...parts are cheap, cars are easy to work on, and you can always run out and get another. If this weren’t California these would be the perfect winter beaters!