Mid Week Match-Up: Find A Cheap SUV For M

Welcome back to another episode of DT's favorite game of musical thrones...known better as "Mid Week Match-Up" which is a strange name for a game on Friday, but we aren't here to talk about that. We are here to talk about DT's friend, who for the sake of anonymity will be called M.  M isn't a secret agent, but he does need a car that has a few special needs.  First it must be cheap...like $4,000ish out the door.  Next, it needs to be newish and safe -- since this will be the car that M's wife will get her US driver's license and learn to drive...so it does need to be automatic and at least 4 seats. Let's recap-- $4k, auto, safe, newish, oh...and located in SoCal, near Long Beach if possible...and it needs to be something that doesn't trigger the insurance agents to see green (new driver...so no Land Rovers or Lexus LS430s).

Mid Week Match-Up: Find a Vert for Stan...the other Stan.

You know how I love to help DT readers.  Right? Okay, maybe not help as much as ridicule, marginalize, and bully...but it's basically the same thing if you really get to the core.  If you weren't bullied as a 1st grader, you'd probably still suck your thumb and wear really short jean shorts (the kind that would make Magnum PI cringe)...yeah, Bobby who lived on Fisk Lane and rode a red Schwinn with a banana seat...I'm talking to you.  Anyway, today's mid week match-up (think of it like ABC's Bachelorette except somebody will probably die in a fiery crash at the end) is for Stan..the other Stan...who needs a slushbox because his left foot is messed up.  I think Stan should get this 2007 Audi A4 Convertible here on eBay bidding for $3,050 reserve-not-met located in Cave Creek, AZ with 6 days to go.

Mid Week Match-Up: Movie Car

Mid Week Match-Up time!!  I probably started to appreciate fine cinema around the same time as I found my love of cars...which is likely a typical experience.  Thankfully, the world of cinema is infused with the sweet scent of gasoline and you can get faked version of movie cars for less than the cost of the real thing.  What movie car would you buy or build? No budget, no limits!

Mid Week Match-Up: EuroTrash For Dan

This week's Mid-Week Match-Up is for friend of DT Dan E who tell us that he will be in Europe on an extended vacation/sabbatical for 9 weeks with his small family (wife + kid). In his words: plan is to buy a sweet ride to explore in.  I have a friend we are staying with in Switzerland who will buy the car before we arrive and sell it after we leave.  Great opportunity to drive something fun I can't or wouldn't get over here.  I've always wanted a high HP manual wagon and the 450hp Audi RS4 Avant is at the top of the list.  But, I've been scouring the internet and there are some potential concerns with the Audi 4.2L V8.  Apparently, the timing chain guides and tensioners can wear out above 75k miles and they are cleverly located on the back of the engine so it has to come out for the $$$ repair.  There are also lots of references to need for costly regular cleaning out of carbon deposits in the intake system. Seems like a potentially risky option for reliability and resale value.  Anyone know anything about these engines?  Another option I'm considering is a BMW 335i or 545i wagon.  Lots less HP but could still be fun.  I haven't had time to research these yet.  What else should we be considering?   At our price (<$20k), cars would likely have about 100k miles on them.    Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Mid Week Match-Up: Air Cooled Budget

I had the good fortune to attend the 2018 Luftgekühlt show this past weekend at Ganahl Lumber in sunny Torrance, CA. Luftgekühlt is a pop-up car show that invites something like 500 of the best air cooled Porsche machines from around SoCal, and co-founder (LeMans winning driver) Patrick Long shared his thoughts on the event with DT (video in the works) and he mentioned that people can get into an aircooled Porsche (like a 914) for less than $10k...which sounds good to me.  Anyway, for this week's Mid Week Match-Up, help us find the best cheap aircooled P-Mobiles Porsches.

Mid Week Match-Up: El Cheap Oddball For Me!

So, I've got a new (to me!) car that needs various pieces of work -- needs new/re-upholstered seats, fix some oil leaks, fix botched paint repair, install flamethrower (it is a BMW, so I'll also remove the turn signal wiring for weight reduction) -- and I'll need something to drive occasionally for the next few months while this thing is on jack stands in my driveway or at some sketchy low-cost specialist who only works when the moon is full and his wallet is getting empty....which means this week's Mid Week Match-Up is for DT E-i-C Vince -- find me a $1000-$2500 daily driver with a manual gearbox, back seat, and make it weird because I only need it for a few months.

Mid Week Match-Up: A Barge For Dave

I know it is late Wednesday evening...but that doesn't mean there isn't time for a quick Mid Week Match-Up...because the week is half over and the matching isn't done yet!   This next request is for a guy who, for the sake of anonymity, we will call Dave.  Dave needs a car to replace his rusting Buick Roadmonster Estate Wagon...which is the proper 260 horsepower almost-an-LT1 equipped model, but it has seen better days.  Dave is thinking about a 7-series BMW from the late 90s/early 00s, so we'll start with that...but you guys get to suggest some other terrible awesome rides.

Mid Week Match-Up: Pi Day Special

Happy Pi Day to all math nerds out on the web. That's affirmative, today is Pi Day -- 3.14 -- a nicely rounded version of the irrational number that was closely approximated with polygons by the Greek mathematician Archimedes around 250 BC. We are going to celebrate Pi Day with a special edition of the Mid Week Match-Up...where we look for the best car for a nerd.

Mid Week Match-Up: Car For A 16 Year Old Kid

Anyone who has kids has either encountered this issue or will sometime in the future -- what do you let your kid drive for a first car?  This week's Mid Week Match-Up request comes from Dee who asks DT's help in finding a first driver for her soon-to-be 16 year old son.  His grandpa wants him to start with a 60s Beetle (like a man!) and his dad is also a car guy (had a really nice late model STI for years) but Dee isn't quite sure she is willing to let her precious cargo drive something that was designed for 1930s life expectancy or is murderously fast.  Budget is flexible, but nothing new or that would spoil the kid. What do you guys suggest?

Mid Week Match-Up: A Grand Tourer

Sorry Matt LeBlanc, but the current BBC Top Gear show is just unwatchable and the Grand Tour (starring those three nincompoops from the old Top Gear) is seriously good telly.  For this week's Mid Week Match-Up, I'd like to challenge our readers to find a car for Jeremy Clarkson, James May, or Richard Hammond.

Mid Week Match-Up; An 88 Impulse For Dad

Today's Mid Week Match-Up comes as a request from Bri, who writes: Hello! Christmas is coming up and I would like to purchase a 1988 isuzu impulse for my dad. When he was a kid he had to give up this car to get money for his family, he cried. I would like to know where one of these cars would be available and the price. 

Mid Week Match-Up: Fun in The Sun

As winter starts to rear its ugly head most of this great country (USA...USA), the concept of a convertible might be the last thing on your mind, but it is actually the best time to buy a convertible if you want the best price.  Find something interesting/fun with a removable top for less than $5k.

Mid Week Match-Up: Fun Car For Evan

Welcome back to DT's Mid Week Match-Up, the contest where the contestants don't even get a cheap name badge.  Today's request comes from Evan who writes:

The issue: my wife needs a car. We sold her Saturn Vue a few months ago, good riddance. As a recent breast cancer survivor about to celebrate her 50th birthday she wants something that doesn’t scream “mommy car” like our 2012 Sienna and isn’t as…old as my 1989 Saab 900T convertible.

Her qualifications: small, fun, looks good.

Early Week Match-Up: Car for J

Mixing things up this Monday morning, we've got an Early Week Match-Up for you this morning, bought to you buy Kaibeezy.  His conversation follows:

J > I need help. Gotta buy a car. Want one [my 15-yr-old daughter] will want to ride in.

K > Ugh - cars suck - what's wrong with your van? [ Did I say "cars suck"? What I meant was: For people who are not car people and would never do any work themselves, not even changing a wiper blade or checking the oil, buying used cars can seem treacherous and frustrating. So they ask their "car guy" friend, who gives them great advice, which they completely ignore, but now having a bit of confidence go buy something they "love", which has just emerged from warranty but still seems new enough that the seller thinks it's "worth something" and the buyer thinks it's "pretty new", so that when an $800 ECU blows out six weeks later, they come back to you, pissed off because you told them to buy a good used car. Those cars suck. ]

Mid Week Match-Up: Winter Ride

It is Wednesday, which means time for DT's favorite hump day game -- also known as Mid Week Match-Up.  As the leaves fall from trees (not out here in California, we don't really have seasons...but I visited the great state of PA the other day and autumn was gorgeous!) we need to prepare for WINTER...so, it is time to pick your favorite winter vehicles.  GO!

Mid Week Match-Up: Just Okay

Today is 10-4, so it is the universal day for things that are okay. Mostly okay,,,or just okay...but today for the Mid Week Match Up, I'd like you find cars that are okay. Not great, not extraordinary, but certainly not crappy.  Find something that is simply okay.  Like this 2012 Honda Ridgeline here on eBay bidding for $9200 in Dearborn, MI.

Mid Week Match-Up: Mad Max Today

We've all seen the original Road Warrior, a timeless piece of cinema that deserves a place in your collection sandwiched between Citizen Kane and The Godfather, but what if the movie was filmed today in the badlands of New Mexico and Max couldn't get the last of the Interceptor V8s...what would he drive?

Mid Week Match-Up: Victims Wanted

Do you need a car, but don't know what to get? Do you want a bunch of random people on the internet to help? It must be your lucky day, because subjects are needed for this week's Mid Week Match-Up. Just send an e-mail to tips@dailyturismo.com with your automotive needs -- budget/size/location, we'll do the rest.

Mid Week Match-Up: Something for E-i-C Vince

Today's Mid Week Match-Up comes from the heart.  Seriously.  It is for me...Vince...your humble Editor-in-Chief and Chief-Scribe. I've recently sold my 2004 Subaru STI and I need something to drive on a semi-daily basis.  I've still got the 94 Roadmaster for kid/lumber/cruising (and 69 Fastback Mustang for classic car duties) but I am looking for something with room for 5 and a manual gearbox. Budget less than $10k please.

Mid Week Match-Up: A Rag Top for Jerry

Today's Mid Week Match-Up comes as a request from Jerry who is looking for a convertible: So, my bought when new, 1993 Nissan 240sx convertible (in red, no less) which I've only driven in the winter 3 years since I bought it, and put 289,000 kms on in those years, was recently hit in the rear while I was stopped behind a truck, and of course we were hit hard enough to put lots of tension in the seatbelts, so are slightly the worst for wear, and the car was pushed into/under the rear bumper of the truck in front, so damage front and rear.