something unique, <$1500, manual fun-ish grocery getter.

I have gotten wifal approval for a car that she can learn stick on, and to beat around town with, so long as it fits the above criteria. I am striking a blank though. I'm not afraid of minor or major repairs, and am quite fond of basketcases, so I know what I'm getting into.

But what I am looking for though is something interesting, something cool, something 'whoa, what the hell is that?'... I was thinking along the lines of older beat-to-poop volvo's or 240zx/944 or something along those lines, but craigslist is giving me the 'go fish' answer locally for anything in the budget.

So, if anyone is bored for a while, post anything in New England that fits the bill I'd like to know about. It's been a long time since I've gone on a road trip or brought home a new pile into the driveway, so I think it's right about time.

In reply to golfduke:

Drive to Central PA tomorrow with $1500 cash and a license plate.

Avoid snowpocablizzargheddon.

Drive home my Alfa 164.

Profit? Doubtful ;-)

1st-gen MR2
2nd-gen MR2 non-turbo
TR7
Plymouth Sapporo
Mk III Supra (super-cheap when they have a BHG)

Civic Hatch?

Good suggestions so far, how about a Subaru XT? It's the most '80s-tastic car ever and is sure to turn heads.

Mid '70s Ford Granada with 3 on the tree.

http://wausau.craigslist.org/cto/3561535410.html

Holy crap, they lowered the price.....

hmmm, that 164 is freaking tempting...

$1500? Best car you can find that fits the most basic requirement. Sounds like "a standard trans" is the one to go on.

Miatas fall into this catagory

SA/FB RX-7 sounds like the answer here!

RossD wrote: Mid '70s Ford Granada with 3 on the tree. http://wausau.craigslist.org/cto/3561535410.html Holy crap, they lowered the price.....

You know what's awful? I should never want one of those. Some combination of general nostalgia and watching Cheers (Granada in the opening credits) actually has me pondering it. And it would only suck, there would be no other result.

EDIT: According to my browser, I've done that search at some point in the past...

85 GS $1K

944S 16V for $1350!!

mad_machine wrote: Miatas fall into this catagory

I've yet to find one that isn't completely lost for that price around here. We are miata hoarders apparently. I actually loooked at 1 2 weeks ago.

ransom wrote:

RossD wrote: Mid '70s Ford Granada with 3 on the tree. http://wausau.craigslist.org/cto/3561535410.html Holy crap, they lowered the price.....

You know what's awful? I should *never* want one of those. Some combination of general nostalgia and watching Cheers (Granada in the opening credits) actually has me pondering it. And it would only suck, there would be no other result. EDIT: According to my browser, I've done that search at some point in the past...

I'm glad I already bought a diamond for my girlfriend otherwise I might have to explain why there is a fourth car in the driveway. She has said she wants to get married, but she also never said she doesn't want a '75 Granada...

golfduke wrote: hmmm, that 164 is freaking tempting...

yeah dude, I think you won this thread when you got that response.

Javelin wrote: SA/FB RX-7 sounds like the answer here!

I wish...

B13 SE-R

Lots of basket cases in that territory.

What about an original Beetle? Maybe baja bug style? Or stock style and do what you want with it. This one looks real tempting.... http://delaware.craigslist.org/cto/3600149266.html

Thought about a bug, but some semblance of a rear seat would be nice.

there are a couple Yugos on Detroit CL right now...

http://nh.craigslist.org/cto/3545599214.html

May be newer and more 90s styled than the rest of the choices but it is a solid choice and can be quite the looker when cleaned up

lnlds wrote: http://nh.craigslist.org/cto/3545599214.html May be newer and more 90s styled than the rest of the choices but it is a solid choice and can be quite the looker when cleaned up

DAT MOTOR.

OP needs to get this and then straight pipe it. It'll turn heads, all right.

ReverendDexter wrote: 1st-gen MR2 2nd-gen MR2 non-turbo

I can get behind that suggestion. While I'm partial to MK1's, you can't seem to swing a dead cat around this area without hitting a MK2 on craigslist.

Same answer I always give: Volvo 122 / Amazon. I see 4 door ones up in New England from time to time on CL and ebay. They don't rust as bad as most cars from that time period, they are simple to work on (parts availability is good) and more fun to drive than they should be.

I daily a '67 4 door I bought for $650. 50 to 60 miles, every day, for the last 3 to 4 months. Yeah, that's like 5000 miles.

2 doors command a bit more change and wagons are usually about twice what a comparable 4 door runs.

2000 Eclipse GT

Didn't say if it was 5sp or auto, but my 93 Talon was a hoot to drive!