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.

38k Miles, Fridge White: 1990 Toyota Camry LE

The second generation (V20) Toyota Camry was built from 1986 through 1992 is massive quantities and used as a basic transportation device for millions of people.  It wasn't an exciting car by any stretch of the imagination, but it did turn many domestic car purchasers into future Toyota buyers with its quiet commitment to reliability and non-fussiness.  Most have hundreds of thousands of miles or have been recycled into tuna cans, but this next example has a shockingly low 38k miles on the odo and looks amazing for its age. Find this 1990 Toyota Camry LE offered for $6,500 in Long Beach, CA via craigslist.

Don't Call It A Turdcel: 1989 Toyota Tercel

What could be better than driving a high mile version of a classic Japanese coupe with a manual gearbox and some sweet 80s style?  Yeah...getting that same car with low miles and in mint condition for peanuts. Find this 1989 Toyota Tercel offered for $5700 in South San Francisco, CA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Monsieur Fiero: 1986 Pontiac Fiero GT

Michel Lotito, better known by his stage name Monsieur Mangetout (Mr Eat-Everything) was a French entertainer who was known for eating strange things like a bicycle, a television set, a pair of skis, a shopping cart...and my personal favorite, a Cessna 150 airplane. Eating strange objects isn't the life for everyone, but for a select few, it is probably exhilarating...sorta like owning/driving a mint condition Pontiac Fiero GT.  Find this 1986 Pontiac Fiero GT offered for $12,500 CAD  ($9,604 USD at time of printing) in Vancouver, BC via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Brown Time Capsule: 1969 Mercedes-Benz 250 4-Spd

The W114/115 chassis is the rugged 60s/70s era Mercedes-Benz E-class predecessor that is frequently a great deal for a cool classic.  The W114 is often overshadowed by the fancier front end and stacked headlamps of the W108/109 chassis, but some prefer the clean and simple lines of the smaller sibling in the Benz family.  For whatever reason, the W114 occupies one of those weird niches in the classic car world - it's old enough to be gazed upon fondly through the tint of nostalgia, yet not particularly revered among Euro car guys with cash...but today's example is something special.  Find this 1969 Mercedes-Benz 250 4-Spd offered for $12,500 near Phoenix, AZ via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Room For A King: 1993 Mercedes-Benz 400E W124

The W124 generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class lasted for a remarkable 10 years of production...but even more remarkable is the number of years the cars last after leaving the factory.  Bruno Sacco's design was understated and not flashy when released in 1984, and the mechanical bits reflected this simple approach to elegance.  The E-Class did not use a hydropneumatic self leveling suspension like the S-Class or a Citroen and instead used a simple multi-link setup with coil springs -- a decision that means cheaper repair bills and more uptime for the guy who owns it 20 years later.  Find this 1993 Mercedes-Benz 400E W124 offered for $15,500 in Medford, CA via craigslist.