6k: His and Hers: Dodge Spirit R/T and Daytona Iroc R/T

Wedding season is overspending season. We're obligated to lavish the young couple with matching "bride and groom" keepsakes of sentimental value simply because the registry says so. Not even in rural Sullivan, MO would you find a bridal registry including two matching turbocharged Dodges old enough to legally toast the happy couple with Walmart champagne. However, these two Dodges, listed separately but sold by the same seller, are tempting for the creative gifter. It's the thought that counts. Find this 1991 Dodge Spirit R/T and this 1992 Dodge Daytona Iroc R/T for sale in Sullivan, MO for $2,500 and $3,500, respectively, via craigslist. 

4k: Honda's Other Hot Hatch: 2004 Honda Civic Si

While you weren't looking, the last Honda Civic hatchback sold in America has become the best economy performance bargain on the market. From its 2002 introduction until now, you, along with the automotive media and buying public, wrote it off for its insulated driving experience and honey-I-shrunk-the-minivan looks. Even though it was designed to address the previous EM1 Civic Si's shortcomings: too loud, too peaky, too darty, and as a coupe, too impractical. The car market is indeed a moving target. If your goals have shifted from "How can I outrun Brody's Eclipse GSX from a 60 roll" to "What car won't make me the laughing stock of water cooler conversations?" and you're not quite to "Will this impress Debra at our 30-year high school reunion?", then the EP3 is your moving target's new bullseye. Find this 2004 EP3 Honda Civic Si for sale in Dover, NJ for $3,800 via craigslist. 

5k: Cleanse Diet: 1967 Datsun 1600

Most people drive around with more car than they need. After years of driving, this excess becomes less and less jarring, until you find yourself in a two-ton AWD fortress with dual-pane glass and enough alphanumeric safety aids to stump whole legions of claims attorneys. Here to purge you of your coddling is a race-tight Fairlady. Non-masochists need not apply. Find this 1967 Datsun 1600/SPL311/Fairlady road-legal racer for sale in Brunswick, OH for $5,000 via craigslist. 

5k: SHOcase of the Dakotas: 1987 Mercury Sable wagon, SHO swap

One of the more unfortunate tendencies of human beings is to reduce a culture to stereotypes and rash generalizations. For example, the Dakotas are not merely Fargo jokes and wide open spaces, but an exercise in pragmatism. As in, inexpensive land, low taxes, low unemployment, low crime (except for that fellow with the woodchopper) and a low chance of getting heat stroke. Like a 220-horsepower family wagon, it does the job right without begging for attention, which is a polite way of saying it has all the sex appeal of a Cosby sweater. Find this 1987 Mercy Sable wagon with SHO swap for sale in Rapid City, SD for $4,500 via craigslist.

7k: Something's Screwy: 1986 Mini Supercharged

The Morris Mini is the golden retriever of cars, instantly recognized and adored by the masses for its playful demeanor. Its introduction in 1958 was a precursor to the British invasion. Over the following decades, the unapologetically British runabout has had its identity seeped into the public view like Earl Grey tea on tooth enamel. In America, its diminutive size and largely untreated sheet metal left it vulnerable to to rust and Roadmasters alike, and the ones that haven't been flattened or decayed wind up over-restored to a price tag no Mini should bear. This one is still guilty on several counts of rust (they all are), but should have enough grunt to escape the current breed of American road predators. And it's cheaper than any of those P-cars in the background. Find this supercharged 1986 Mini for sale in Raleigh, NC for $6,500 via craigslist. 

5k: Nordic Nomenclature: 2001 Saab 9-3 Viggen five-door

General Motors' top strategy during its mismanagement of Saab was parlaying the company's jet history into a vague aeronautic brand association. It doesn't add up: a logo that features a mythical winged beast (not showing its wings), and a home country with an air force 1.5% the size of America's (according to Global Firepower, a website that feels the way an army surplus store smells). This is especially true for the Viggen, so named for Saab's 37 Viggen "Thunderbolt" fighter jet. But whether it's named after a thunderbolt or a deadbolt, the 9-3 Viggen came with an upgraded engine and suspension and was one of the dearly departed company's most special offerings. Find this 2001 Saab 9-3 Viggen for sale in Yarmouth, ME for $5,000 via craigslist.

4k: Spaghetti Western: 1974 Fiat 124 Sport Coupe

The Fiat 124 Sport Coupe pilfered most of the sedan's components and the Spider's five-speed manual transmission in the sedan-inspired three-box design. It had a more menacing aura than the doe-eyed Spider, yet offered more versatility and similar performance. This CC-generation 124 has shed its I-beam bumpers but retained the hardy 1.8-liter engine. Lest there be any doubt to its national origins of the rustic (that's an emotional trigger word for Fiat owners because for a minute there it sounds like you're saying rust) Italian countryside, it comes with the color palette of an Italian cafe. Find this 1974 Fiat 124 Sport Coupe for sale in Houston, TX for $3,950 via craigslist.

5k Flash: 1978 Triumph Spitfire, 39k miles

After completing just 39,000 miles, this carotene-hued ankle-biter is listed by the owner's parents. They say he wanted his ownership to be as reliable as possible. You've got to hand it to him for finding the least expensive route of British sports car ownership: not driving it. It's also possible that after parking it in the garage one day, its existence merely slipped his mind. This is an experience many of us have with Idaho. Find this 1978 Triumph Spitfire in Boise, ID for $4,500 via craigslist.

4k: Adoraboosted: 1991 Geo Metro, Firefly Turbo swap

In April, we took the Maple-leaf wraps off of the Canadian-only Pontiac Firefly, basically a turbocharged Geo Metro. Starting with the 1.0-liter G10 three-cylinder engine, Chevy added an intercooler (the size of a postage-stamp) and a snail (the size of... a snail) for a grand total of 70 horsepower. Today, someone has lifted the Firefly drive train, ECU, and dashboard from the Firefly and stuffed it in a Yankee Geo where it belongs. And it looks so right. Find this 1991 Geo Metro with Firefly Turbo powertrain in Renton, WA for $3,500 via craigslist.

5k: Hold Me Closer, Tinny Datsun: 1969 Datsun 510

At 2,200 pounds and 160 inches long (15 inches shorter than a 2015 Versa), the original 510 was not a substantial car. But it had a substantial impact. Simply constructed, with a stout four-cylinder powering the rear wheels, it offered budget-BMW 2002 fun while maintaining daily usability. Thanks to rust, most have dissolved away like Alka Seltzer in warm water. Surviving examples go under the gavel at high prices, or under the knife for high horsepower. So it's nice to see a healthy version (with the later L20B engine) for cheap. Find this 1969 Datsun 510 coupe two-door sedan for sale in Eugene, OR for $5,400 via craigslist.

4k: Dehydrated Pepperoni: 1984 Nissan 200SX Turbo

Turbocharged variants of Nissan's S12-generation 200SX came a pizza box-sized hood scoop that offsets the slope of the hood to keep your pretzel-crusted abomination warm on cold days. It's also a member of the 5-speed, four-cylinder, two-door, rear-drive club, and isn't as popular with the drift crowd as its successor, the S13 240SX. Rust and negligence are deadly enough for any 1980s Japanese cheapskate, so finding one like this is a treat. Find this 1984 Nissan 200SX Turbo in Greely, CO for $3,500 via craigslist.

4k: Patience is for Chumps: 1998 Ford SVT Contour with Taurus 3.0L

The SVT variant of the Ford Contour offered tight suspension tuning on an already competent chassis to make one of the best-handling front-drive cars Ford ever sold in North America. However, its extra 25 horsepower over the regular V6's 170 happened near redline, and torque remained the same at 165 ft-lb. Impatient, rev-wary owners rarely felt the difference. Luckily, Ford Taurus performance is here to save the day! You'll probably never hear those words in succession again. Find this 1998 Ford SVT Contour with 3.0L Duratec swap in Grand Rapids, MI for $4,000 via craigslist.

4k: The Hard Knock Life: 16k-mile 1986 Isuzu Impulse

Like the titular character in the unreasonably light-hearted musical about the deplorable conditions of the child support system, this Impulse has had a short yet troubled life. Most garage finds need some amount of work before being roadworthy again: fresh rubber, seals, and other items deteriorated from years of neglect. This red headed orphan has gone through all that plus more, plus even more that's now the responsibility of whoever buys it. It's in good enough shape to be released back onto the roads after being locked up for years. Won't someone please think of the children? Find this 16k-mile 1986 Isuzu Impulse in Miami, FL for $3,700 reserve-not-met with three days to go.

3k: SHOulda Been A Wagon: 1992 Ford Taurus Wagon, SHO swap

Few automobiles offer the versatility of loading up all seven seats and outgunning the poky semi-truck while looking like a casserole-carrying preacher's wife. This manual-shifting, 220-horsepower Taurus wagon is the front-drive Roadmaster rival that should have been. With handy upgrades and a price lower than its load floor, it's ready for your cargo and heavy right foot. And lots of casseroles. Find this 1992 Ford Taurus GL Wagon with SHO drivetrain swap in Detroit, MI for $3,000 via craigslist. 

7k: Four-Banger Futurism: 1969 Rover 2000 TC

Have you ever visited Disneyland's "Tomorrowland" or watched Back to the Future or The Jetsons and thought, "Gee, futurism is dandy. How can I drive it?" There's a certain nostalgia in old-school futurism. It's a feeling very strongly invoked by the presence of a Rover P6, a car whose future predictions were that strange blend of avant-garde or just odd for odd's sake – like only including vertical pictures in a craigslist ad. This twin-carburetor 2.0L offered less horsepower than the Buick V8 variant, but could be had as a manual. If only rear-drive, manual-transmission sedans were indeed the norm today. Find this 1969 Rover 2000 TC for sale in New Orleans, LA for $6,500 via craigslist.

7k: As Stock As It Gets: 1990 Eagle Talon TSi AWD

No accidents. No rust. No modifications that can't be removed with minimal effort. Five-digit mileage, exactly two previous owners (both female, interestingly). This 6-bolt, 4G63-powered, all-wheel-drive example is the Talon of your DSM dreams. At about double the going rate of its modified sisters, it's priced similarly to the 26k-mile automatic 1992 Talon we dug up last March. This one comes with a few more miles but something no TSi should have left the factory without: a manual transmission. Find this 1990 Eagle Talon TSi AWD in Hoffman Estates, IL for $6,500 via craigslist.

5k: Agility, À la Carte: S52-powered BMW Z3

Starting in 1998, BMW's M Roadster took the Z3's sporting aesthetics and added commensurate performance thanks to the E36 M3's S52 inline-6. Pitted against the Mercedes-Benz SLK32 AMG, the Roadster was louder, rougher, slower, and, at about $46,000, almost $10,000 cheaper. Prices today are stuck in the $8k-$12k range for Roadsters and a soul-crushingly expensive $22k+ for Coupes/Clownshoes. But if you can put up with the base Z3's styling and just-okay handling, that 240-horsepower, sweet-revving six can be had if you know where to look. Find this S52-powered 1997 BMW Z3 in New Orleans, LA for $4,700 via craigslist.