Longitudinal Wrong Wheel Drive: 1993 Acura Vigor GS

I've got to be careful, because I might be categorized as a nut by this next statement...but...this next car needs to be saved from teenagers and owned by a proper enthusiast who will treat it nicely.  Yeah.  I'm starting to be one of those people who writes: "will only sell to a good home, no drunks, no flippers!" in a craigslist advert...but how many original 5-speed Japanese cars with longitudinal 175 hp SOHC inline-5s are still on the road and haven't been run into the ground by the original owners kids/friends/enemies yet?  Not many.  Find this 1993 Acura Vigor GS offered for $4750 in Gilbert, AZ via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

3-Cyl Suzuki Turbo: 1972 MG Midget

The MG Midget started life on a shared platform with the Austin Healey Sprite...actually it was a bit more than simply shared parts -- the only measurable difference between the two cars was the shape of the badge.  By 1972 the Sprite has been discontinued, but the Midget survived with a low compression engine -- but today's example isn't anything near stock.  Find this 1972 MG Midget custom offered for $8995 in San Gabriel Valley, CA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Auction Watch: 1991 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP 5-Spd

Check out this 1991 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP 5-spd found here on eBay bidding for $5,919 with auction ending Wednesday, located in Bangor, PA.

Celvivor: 1984 Toyota Celica GT Coupe

Hey, Celica I just found on craigslist: the 1980s called, and they want their white basketweave wheels back. I kid, I kid; an excruciatingly period-specific car such as this needs period-correct wheels. The 3rd-generation A60 Celica is boxy to the extreme, and it's rare to find one that looks like it's only a few years old after turning 30. Would this little creampuff be better than a $19k AE86 survivor on a daily basis? Find this 1984 Toyota Celica GT coupe for sale in rural Agoura Hills, CA for $2,900 via craigslist.

M3/4/5: 1997 BMW M3 E36 Sedan

As E30 M3 prices skyrocket to the stratosphere and E34 M5 prices ease upward, the E36 generation BMW M3 continues to be the pariah of the depreciated ///M world.  Never mind that the E36 is faster, better handling, more modern, and cheaper to run than those other M-cars, because buyers/sellers don't seem to care about logic...because logically, this is the M to own.  Find this 1997 BMW M3 E36 Sedan here on eBay for $9,499 buy-it-now located in Berlin, CT.

5k: Syncro de Mayo: 2004 Volkswagen Passat 4Motion 5-Spd

 Kicking our Syncro de Mayo party up a notch, we've got this next 4Motion equipped late model, the perfect low buck daily driver for a cheapskate.  It might not impress the neighbors like buying a new M5, but it'll comfortably seat 5 adults, return decent fuel economy, and it has a 5-speed gearbox putting down turbocharged power to all four wheels.  Sure, it eats through coil packs like a jonesing junky chews Chiclets and the engine cooks its internals like an LA inland empire meth lab, but when things work well, the Audi masquerading as a VW is great.  Find this 2004 Volkswagen Passat 4Motion 5-Spd offered for $3,000 CAD ($2,481 USD)via passatworld.com forums.

5k: Standard Time: 2001 Audi A4, B5 1.8T 5-Spd

It was nice this weekend to sleep an extra hour courtesy of the additional hour shoved down our throats by the US Department of Transportation (yes, the US D.O.T. is in charge of standardizing time zones since the Uniform Time Act of 1966).  As we transition back into Standard Time, we'd like to take this opportunity to recognize a few cars that are deplorable with a torque convertor equipped slushbox, but delightful with a standard gearbox.  First up is the B5 generation Audi A4, a fun affordable luxury sedan with a standard gearbox and a dreadful deathtrap with the slushbox.  Here is a nice 2001 Audi A4 offered for $5,980 or make-offer on eBay, located in Paterson, NJ with 8 days to go.

5k: 5-Speed Conversion: 1995 Jaguar XJR

 With the 1994 release of the Jaguar XJR (X306) performance sedan, the world was introduced to a supercharged V8 version of Jaguar's bread and butter luxury sedan.  The only problem with the XJR since its introduction has been the lack of manual transmission option, a problem that was solved in this next feature.  Find this 1995 Jaguar XJR with 5-speed swap offered for $7,500 in Raleigh, NC via craigslist.  Tip from Tinyfrogs.

5k: Mid-Engine 4WD: 1991 Toyota Previa

When you start discussing mid-engine all-wheel-drive vehicles, most people think of cars like the Lamborghini Diablo VT or Audi's Quattro equipped R8.  However, Toyota beat them to the mid-engine all-wheel-drive setup with manual transmission (or supercharger) way back in 1990 with the launch of the XR10 series Previa minvan.  Find this 1991 Toyota Previa offered for $3,900 in West Seattle, WA via craigslist.  Tip from Fueltruck.

5k: Whatta Creampuff: 1986 Pontiac Fiero GT

At the time, it seemed like a no-brainer.  Build a lightweight, two seat, plastic body sports car with an assortment of reliable inline-4 and V6 engines from the GM parts bin.  What could possibly go wrong?  For starters, the base engine was the underpowered and unloved Iron Duke, the entire car could catch fire if you ran out of oil, the heads would crack leading to more fire if oil reached the hot catalyst and the suspension was stolen from the Chevette/Citation parts bins.  In short, a lot could go wrong, but it is still the only mass produced American mid-engine car ever built and ultra low mile examples are cheap...and that isn't wrong at all.  Find this 1986 Pontiac Fiero GT offered for $5,900 in Chelsea, AL via craigslist.  Tip from Justin.

1k: Sad Shoeless Man Sells His 1991 Nissan Stanza

Sometimes a picture says a thousand words and other times it asks a thousand questions...this is one of the latter times. This 1991 Nissan Stanza XE is offered for $1,600 in Lancaster, CA via craigslist by a shoeless dude who stares forlornly at his soon to be ex-car.

5k: Classy Sedan: 1988 BMW 535i E28

Quick!  What cost almost $40k when new in 1988, is worth about $4k today and could be used for the distribution of methamphetamines?  If you said a single family residence in Riverside, CA, you would almost be correct, but the answer we were looking for is the E28 BMW 5 Series.  Find this 1988 BMW 535i E28 offered for $4,000 in Springfield, MA via craigslist.  

20k: Unicorn: 1976 Jaguar XJC V12 5-spd

The 2-door XJ-Coupe was released during production of the series 2 Jaguar XJ (1973-1979) with available V12 and inline-6 engines.  The coupe was only sold from the factory with an unfortunate vinyl top and most (if not all) of the V12 models headed to the states were sold with an automatic transmission.  If would indeed be a good day if you found a restored V12 example with a swapped in manual tranmission and a painted roof.  Find this 1976 Jaguar XJC V12 5-spd currently bidding for $12,200 reserve-not-met on ebay with 2 days to go located in Sonoma, CA.

20k: Coffee Brake Update: 1991 Acura NSX

Last week we posted a Coffee Brake question to everyone about a good weekend toy equipped with flappy paddle shifters for a friend of a friend.  A few good tips including something about a woman named Barbara...anyway, the report back from the recipient of this advice was positive, but he is looking at something a bit more expensive and closer to his original request -- which was -- a used and cheaper version of the Nissan GTR.  To find one, you just need to go back to the early 1990s and see who was building supercars in Japan.  Find this 1991 Acura NSX offered for $26,000 in Oakland, CA via craigslist.

10k: Affordable Performance: 1989 Toyota Supra Mk III Turbo

 The Mk III Toyota Supra was a game changing car when it hit the showrooms in 1986.  It offered a staggering level of technology in an affordable sports coupe package.  The Supra featured a turbocharged twin-cam, 4-valve, distributor-less engine that was miles ahead of its competition and only had a minor problem of consistently blowing up head gaskets at 75k mile intervals.  Find this 1989 Toyota Supra Mk III turbo 5-spd, currently bidding on ebay for $9,106 reserve-not-met with less than 2 days to go, located in Chandler, AZ.

1k: Almost A Pony Car: 1989 Ford Probe GT Turbo

Sometimes a car pops up on the DT radar that generates some discussion and dialog between the DT board of trustees, executive directorship, marketing team, various editors emeriti (emeriti ...that is a word I never thought I'd ever have to type..) and the chief of operations.  Wait...you are saying these people are all in my head...no that can't be true...I've met some of them...anyway, the discussion today was focused about this 1989 Ford Probe GT Turbo 5-spd that is offered for $2,000 in Corona, CA via craigslist.