This is a job for the box Impala.
Ford Tempo. Because no one will care if it gets ruined along the way. (I'll care, but you get what I mean.)
https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/d/greensburg-1993-ford-tempo/7047651084.html
I almost echoed the Mercury Capri post from page 1, but this one's an auto and not a turbo model, sadly.
https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/d/pittsburgh-1992-mercury-capri/7050456116.html
I did my usual search on CL. Click on manual transmission and add a low maximum price.
I got this.
$2500. Original owner.
Twin Cam Saturn Coupe - pretty much unkillable. Unfortunately, that means you'll inevitably end up with Clarkson in your vehicle when he kills his own unreliable and overly complicated choice.
You may want it to die, but it won't . . .
Also: With the $1,250 of your budget you didn't spend, you can pretty much fix anything that might break on the car 7 times over.
Slim pickin's around me right now.
Bagged and swapped 83 Rabbit. Offroad you can pop some air in the bags for ground clearance.
77 Caddy Deville. Because DUH
85 Mercedes 300SD. Because Merc turbodiesel in a tank.
In reply to pinchvalve :
No, this is just a plot to get me to search craigslist for more cheap cars that i'll likely buy.
I found a better one ...
Chevette powered Triumph Spitfire in flat black. I actually kind of want to buy it ...
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/calgary/1972-triumph-spitfire/1480924383
Volvo XC70... Nicer to drive than it ought to be, sleekly shaped, great in rain, mud, and snow, you can sleep in the back and has **THE** comfiest seats I’ve ever sat in. Part of me wants to buy one again just to see what happens if you upsize the turbo, and run a tune to turn the turbo up to 11...
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/454434388803303/
2002 Lexus LS430. Busted lock cylinder. Gonzalo says $1200.
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