Premium Vintage: 1999 Porsche Boxster

I hate paying premium price for anything...which is why I spend a large part of my day obsessing over used cars, scouring the web for cars that have depreciated into the basement and can be purchased with your coronavirus stimulus check.  However...there is something captivating about time capsule cars -- those which appear to have avoided the inevitable decay for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. This next car is old enough to legally drink in all 50 states but only has 33k miles on the odo and is offered for a "premium" price, but not an insane one.  Does the clean condition merit the premium price? Find this 1999 Porsche Boxster offered for $13999 in Palos Verdes, CA via craigslist.

OG Minivan: 1989 Dodge Grand Caravan SE

The daddy of the modern minivan was built on a modified version of Chrysler's K-Car platform with which it shared engines and much running gear, but the backbone was something that Lee Iacocca and Hal Sperlich called the T-115 platform...which was just a beefy version of the K-car. The Chrysler minivan was billed as an alternative to the station wagon and many years later we know that it completely replaced the wagon (and is now being superceded by the 3-row SUV...but that is a story for another time) and today's example is shockingly well preserved. Find this 1989 Dodge Grand Caravan SE offered for $5500 via facebrockyates massageplace. Originally found on Jalopnik.

Diesel Camping Saloon: 1992 Toyota Coaster Motorhome

This next car comes as a tip from JB1025 who writes: Pretty Cool motor-home.  Yes, yes, it is -- and I've seen a bunch of cool motor homes in the past few years including that Toyota Townace pop-out, and a Clark Cortez (or two) and that BMW diesel powered Vixen...but this next car is a sweet medium sized right-hand-drive creampuff with a turbodiesel inline-6 out of a Land Crusher.  Find this 1992 Toyota Coaster Motorhome offered for $24,000 near Seattle, WA via craigslist.

Don't Call Me Chevelle- 1978 Chevy Malibu Classic

The new for 1978 Malibu took the Chevelle's place in the Chevy line up.  The A-body Malibu went through similar downsizing and weight loss program that the Impala went through.  It would not be a stretch to think of the square jawed Malibu as the American Volvo 240.  Today's Malibu is particularly noteworthy because it has a measly 22,000 miles on the odometer.  It is pretty shocking to find a forty year old non collector car in this mint of condition.  Find this 1978 Chevy Malibu Classic for sale in Albany, NY for $3,495 via craigslist.

The Last Poncho Vee: 1978 Pontiac Bonneville Brougham

The sixth generation Pontiac Bonneville might be just another hunk of junk from the malaise era, but today's example deserves a second look.  Why?  Check out that odometer reading.  Find this 1978 Pontiac Bonneville Brougham here on eBay bidding for $5,900 in Adena, OH with 5 days to go.

Astonishingly Nice: 1977 Executive Chief Motorhome

When you see a motorhome from the late 1970s, you always assume that the interior is a festering cesspit of moldy shag carpet and unspeakable detritus.  If the seller describes it as "mint" you assume it is the color and not the state of being free from excessive bacteria...however, this next thing is the exception that proves the rule.  Find this 1977 Executive Chief Motorhome offered for $12,000 near Denver, CO.  Tip from Mike.

Young At Heart: 1990 Mazda Miata MX5

Maybe you were too young to afford a Miata when they were first released.  Perhaps you had the first-gen model long ago and want to relive the experience.  It could be that you are a collector who thinks the original might go up in value and you want a great specimen.  Here is your chance to back to 1990 and make it happen.  Find this 1990 Mazda Miata MX5 in Bellevue, NE for $9,500 via craigslist.

Low Mile Creampuff: 1988 Mazda RX-7 Convertible

The second generation Mazda RX-7 was known as the FC and over 270,000 examples were built in Japan from 1985-1991 for worldwide consumption.  The FC was, of course, powered by a Wankel rotary engine and featured the athletic reflexes matched by few cars in the 1980s. If you can live the eccentricities of the odd spinning thing under the hood, these cars are sublime to drive.  Find this 1988 Mazda RX-7 Convertible offered for $7,500 in Findlay, OH. Tip from Jeff.

One Owner: 1986 Acura Integra LS

The original Acura Integra "Teggy" was released for the US market in 1985 as a pop-up headlight equipped hatchback -- both 3-door and 5-door variants were available.  It is a fool's errand to attempt and quantify the number that have been turned into "race cars", but let's just say that the streets of suburbia were littered with lowered examples back in the late 1990s...and then the mostly disappeared.  Sure, you see the odd grandma driven example, but where did all the "10 second" Teggys go?  It matters not, because today we've got a nice one-owner low mile 1986 Acura Integra LS offered for $2,200 in Columbus, OH via craigslist..  Tip from FuelTruck.

Maximum Sunday: 1983 Datsun 810 Maxima

The final entry for Maximum Sunday is a classic rear-drive sedan from the Datsun era.  The first generation Maxima was badged as the Datsun 810, later Datsun Maxima, and finally Nissan Maxima.  This was the only generation of Maxima to be rear-wheel-drive and shared many components with the 910 series Bluebird.  Find this 1983 Datsun Maxima (by Nissan) here on eBay offered for $7,890 with 7 days go, located in Canton, GA.

6k Mile Creampuff: 1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata

If you've been paying attention you might have noticed that DT's own CFlo picked up a 1990 Mazda MX-5 for $600, aka El Cheapacabra.  The thing is pretty rough, but for the price it seems like a real winner to me -- however, somewhere half way across the country a guy picked up a much nicer '90 Miata.  Our buddy Jesse over at Barnfinds.com found a 6000 mile Miata and picked it up for an undisclosed amount of cash, but he feels bad about putting miles and city parking abuse on such a creampuff, so he is passing it on to the next guy.  Find this 1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata bidding for $7,625 here on eBay located in Boise, ID with 2 days to go.

Like new: 1975 Yamaha DT125B

Say you find a 40 year old motorcycle in Idaho with 200 miles on it.  What do you do with it?  Ride it like Yamaha intended and enjoy a new 40 year old enduro?  Put it back in the barn for another 30 years?  Park it in your living room and admire it?  Flip it to the next person on Craigslist with visions of investment returns dancing in their head? Find this 1975 Yamaha DT125B with 500 miles on the clock for sale in Woodinville, WA for $2,600 via craigslist.

Time Capsule: 1982 Mazda RX-7

The 1st generation Mazda RX-7 (SA/FB) was a lightweight sports coupe built in Japan and sold around the world starting in 1978.  The RX-7 eschewed the bobbing pistons of a conventional engine and instead used Felix Wankel's spinning rotary voodoo machine that produces the power of a V6, torque of an inline-4 with the fuel consumption of a V8.  Find this 1982 Mazda RX-7 offered for $9,000 in Sunnyvale, CA via craigslist. Tip from Kaibeezy.

5k: Clean Autobox: 1987 Nissan Maxima Wagon

 Why is it that all the clean, low mile examples of interesting cars offered for a decent price are shifted with an automatic transmission?  Was the driving experience really so terrible that the owner didn't want to drive it anywhere?  Would a manual transmission version have been destroyed by one of their kids?  Whatever the reason, these slushbox equipped machines are minty fresh and seriously tempting.  Find this 1987 Nissan Maxima Wagon offered for $3,000 located in Los Angeles, CA via craigslist. 

15k: Nicest One Around: 1997 BMW M3 E36

 I've often said that BMW's E36 generation M3 offers about the best bang for your buck in a performance sedan, and I'm going to say it again because I enjoy repetition as much as a woodpecker enjoys pecking wood.  It is also important to say this because someday the E36 M3 could go the way of the E30 M3 and soon offer one of the worst bang for your bucks.  If you are going to invest in an E36 M3, get the best one you can find...like this one with less than 50k miles on the clock.  Find this 1997 BMW M3 E36 here on eBay currently bidding for $15,900 reserve-not-met with less than one day to go.

10k: Clean XJ: 2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport

The XJ generation Jeep Cherokee defined a new standard in compact sport utility vehicles.  It was a capable off roader that eschewed body-on-frame roughness for a unibody chassis that gave it relatively good fuel economy and good road manners.  Naturally, every weekend warrior, little league dad, and soccer mom wanted one and even the US postal service got a version with right-hand drive for delivery routes.  Find this 2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport here on eBay currently bidding for $9,301 with 4 days to go, located in Woodbury, NJ.