Top Gear Challenge Game

OK, you are a Top Gear presenter. You have a $3,000 budget to go to your local Craigslist and buy a car (no wagons, no SUVs, no trucks...sedan, coupe, hatch or convertible only) for a grueling drive across some unknown land. Might be all highway, but its Top Gear, so it probably won't be. You will also have the opportunity to spend some $$$ on fixing it up and customizing it halfway through the event.  Go.

https://allentown.craigslist.org/cto/d/coopersburg-1980-datsun-210-wagon-5spd/7047900021.html

I'll limp it to the halfway point and then via TV magic it becomes Datsaniti when we customize it.

I'll go with this Plymouth Fury

https://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/d/newark-1973-plymouth-fury-ll/7050675092.html

Then it will be customized into an approximation of the Bluesmobile at the halfway point. 

https://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/d/kansas-city-1979-gmc-caballero/7050421883.html

I don't see how this could possibly be the wrong answer.

Because turbocharged sportscar.

https://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/cto/d/warren-mercury-capri-xr2/7049543351.html

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/medicine-hat/1963-corvair/1472457864

Air cooled!

I'd REALLY like to go with this:

https://delaware.craigslist.org/cto/d/newark-1953-buick-special/7038267247.html - but it has enough mechanical issues that I'm not sure I could get it reliable for the additional $500 in the budget.  For the 50% conversion I think it just needs some giant Diamond steelies and nerf bars for the stocker look.

I'd PROBABLY go with this:

https://delaware.craigslist.org/cto/d/newark-2005-bmw-325xi/7048863851.html - great all-rounder, Xi so it will hopefully get itself out of the inevitable trouble.  Does not inspire creativity in the customizing department.  Probably I'd go with either a lifted, all-terrain look, or a lowered, Touring Car look, depending on what I suspected the second half of the trip would be like.

THIS is actually just a really clean-looking, solid car for $2900, so I'm posting it here in case anybody is interested:

https://delaware.craigslist.org/cto/d/dover-2003-infinity-g35/7049633260.html

As a wild card, I MIGHT go with this:

https://delaware.craigslist.org/cto/d/seaford-2004-lincoln-towncar-signature/7041243640.html - This would also be a comfortable way to soak up the miles, and would probably even handle some rough stuff (if the suspension didn't totally roll over and die).  For the halfway conversion my first instinct is to go full lowrider, with little thousand-spoke gold-plated Daytons and some nice metalflake airbrush panel work.  But it would probably benefit from the all-terrain treatment as well.  This also seems like an astonishing amount of car for the money.

In reply to EvanB :

Before looking at the responses I found this exact car and was just about to post it. So instead I'll go with:

https://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/d/columbus-1986-chevrolet-beauville/7035490219.html

6.2 detroit diesel equipped Chevy G20 van. I can picture a lot of shenanigans with this one.

In reply to dculberson :

Unfortunately:

pinchvalve said:

You have a $3,000 budget to go to your local Craigslist and buy a car (no wagons, no SUVs, no trucks...sedan, coupe, hatch or convertible only

$2500 Mercedes 350SDL

 From the ad: " There is some oil migrating into the coolant but apparently it has been that way for at least the last 5 years with no change.... He had bought a new head gasket and timing chain but the oil migration problem has never gotten worse and the engine runs perfectly so why bother fixing."

This Town Car Limo with just 42k miles probably makes for better TV though

Duke said:

I'd REALLY like to go with this:

https://delaware.craigslist.org/cto/d/newark-1953-buick-special/7038267247.html - but it has enough mechanical issues that I'm not sure I could get it reliable for the additional $500 in the budget.  For the 50% conversion I think it just needs some giant Diamond steelies and nerf bars for the stocker look.

Are we just supposed to ignore the MR2 getting shag carpet flares in the background?

In reply to STM317 :

I assumed that was actually spray foam that was going to get inexpertly shaved down and glassed over.

pinchvalve said:

OK, you are a Top Gear presenter. You have a $3,000 budget to go to your local Craigslist and buy a car (no wagons, no SUVs, no trucks...sedan, coupe, hatch or convertible only) for a grueling drive across some unknown land. Might be all highway, but its Top Gear, so it probably won't be. You will also have the opportunity to spend some $$$ on fixing it up and customizing it halfway through the event.  Go.

Fun game, but we need to do it for real: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/would-a-fly-and-drive-rally-be-awesome/156556/page1/

Out of today's CL, I'd pick this: https://tulsa.craigslist.org/cto/d/owasso-2003-lexus-gs300/7049438649.html

The Volvo 240DL that I'd love needs too much work to be ready: https://tulsa.craigslist.org/cto/d/tulsa-1986-volvo-240dl/7041610127.html

Duke said:

In reply to dculberson :

Unfotrunately:

pinchvalve said:

You have a $3,000 budget to go to your local Craigslist and buy a car (no wagons, no SUVs, no trucks...sedan, coupe, hatch or convertible only

 

Oops!

In reply to Duke :

Upon closer inspection, I think you're right. The tarp made it look like it had been folded under the wheel arch at first glance.

My fast answer is a Charger of some sort. 

https://lexington.craigslist.org/cto/d/berea-2003-lincoln-ls/7042669089.html

This would be a good choice.  Slightly interesting to drive and watch compared with the horrifically dull collection of cars that are usual in this price locally.

https://lexington.craigslist.org/cto/d/lexington-2007-volvo-60-25t-low-mileage/7039371029.html

Bad title but crazy low mileage.  This could be a legitimately good car!

Since Evan snagged the Fury here are a couple others:

1973 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme - $2200 (Columbus)

1966 Pontiac LeMans - $3000 (Barbourville)

2002 Lexus sc 430 - $2700 (Columbus)

1986 Mercedes 420SEL - $1000 (Columbus)

I'm assuming the value of a good runner of one of these is about $2000

Two more:

1978 Lincoln Town Coupe - $1250 (Bowling Green)

1974 Chrysler Newport - $3000 (Bowling Green)

I think I have been watching too much Roadkill.

$1500 Lada.



https://www.hasznaltauto.hu/szemelyauto/lada/1200/lada_1200_s_21013-14651518

 

That little guy there should take just about anything you could throw at it

If we're going to customize it half way through, then I foresee a fiat twin cam, spoke wheels, and lowering springs in this baby's future.

1990 CRX SI.. kinda custy.. but has a B16..

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ram/cto/d/saint-paul-1990-crx-si/7034850352.html

Mini Cooper:

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/cto/d/delano-07-mini-cooper/7034199369.html

or

1st gen rx7

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/cto/d/minneapolis-1982-mazda-rx7-great/7043277508.html

or if I enjoy punishment

I'd get this race track limo and lie about the purchase price.

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/cto/d/salisbury-limousine/7045701291.html

This with some fresh tires and a jump start.

The answer is Corolla. You can do anything to them.