Rally Dreams: 2005 Subaru Forester XT

The Subaru Forester was launched in 2007 as Subaru's first entry into the (then small, now large) segment known as the crossover SUV, but the Forester was a long way away from being an AMC Eagle. A few years later Subaru put a slightly detuned version of their 2.5 liter turbo motor from the legendary Impreza WRX STI and called this new model the Forester XT.  Today, as cheap used cars, they offer an interesting combination of off roadiness, boosted all-wheel-drive fun, and manual gearboxes that'll challenge all takers for a few grand. Find this 2005 Subaru Forester XT offered for $5000 in Atlanta, GA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

100 Pony's Per Hole: 2015 Ford Mustang EcoBoost

The 6th generation of the Ford Mustang was released for the 2015 model year with a new aggressive body style (it looks so much wider than the previous gen, but it was only 1.5 inches wider and 1.4 inches lower) and an independent rear end for the first time for the original pony car.  Ford also re-introduced a turbo 4-cylinder version known as the EcoBoost...but it is about as Eco as a Porsche Taycan is turbo...but the little 2.3 liter 4-cylinder engine in the Mustang was rated at 310 horsepower and can be tuned up to 400 horsepower (such as the car in this example).  Find this 2015 Ford Mustang EcoBoost offered for $13,900 in Vail, AZ via craigslist.

Turbo Flatty: 1983 Mitsubishi Starion

The Mitsubishi Starion/Dodge Conquest/Plymouth Conquest/Chrysler Conquest was a line of 4 cars built in the 80s by Mitsubishi in Japan - rebadged for Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler to confuse everyone.  It was the Japanese version of a pony car and combined a turbocharged front engine, manual trans, rear wheel drive and limited slip differentials for classic fun.  Contrary to popular belief the name Starion was not an Engrish mispronunciation of Stallion, but it is a contraction of the words Star of Arion -- which was a mythical horse.  It would be easy to compare a nice version of the Starion to a Mustang, Camaro, Porsche 944 or RX7 and it is certainly a less common alternative to the other common 2+2s you see around on the road. Find this 1983 Mitsubishi Starion offered for $5500 in Rochester, NY WA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Ice Blue Survivor: 1979 Saab 900 Turbo

How hard can it be to import a vehicle from Latvia?  Ignoring the current Coronavirus induced global shipping issues, I have to think that getting a car from Latvia imported into the USA and legal to drive on the street might be difficult for even the most seasoned car importer. But this next Saab Turbo is sooooooooo much nicer than the average Saab story that you find driving around on the mean streets of anytown USA.  And this car reminds me so much of the Draken 99 EMS that I want to ignore all of the warning signs and buy it.  Find this 1979 Saab 900 Turbo here on eBay bidding for $8600 in Latvia with a few hours to go.

Social Distance Car: 1989 Lotus Esprit Turbo S3

Before I pass on to the great junkyard in the sky, I want to own a supercar.  Not a "supercar" like a Honda Civic with a turbocharger and giant fart can exhaust, or a Fauxrari kit car that rides on Fiero suspension, but a legitimate supercar. Something that looks amazing, goes fast, turns heads, snaps necks, and costs a bunch of money to maintain. Ferraris and Lamborghinis are silly expensive but if you want the looks of a supercar and the budget of a classic British car...look for a Lotus. Find this 1989 Lotus Esprit Turbo S3 offered for $19995 in Plano, TX via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Forgotten Fiberglass: 1988 Reliant Scimitar SS1 Turbo

The Reliant Scimitar name was used for British built sports cars starting way back in 1964...and it continued in some fashion through 1990..but the true story is twisted like a Victorian novel.  It started with a coupe that used the Reliant Sabre platform with Daimler SP250ish styling and then morphed into a shooting brake that continued the tradition of using a fiberglass body on a steel chassis with Ford V6 power and some parts bin interior...but by 1988 I haven't the foggiest idea of what this thing was made from...so I'll leave it up to you guys to figure out what we're looking at here: Find this 1988 Reliant Scimitar SS1 Turbo offered for $14,500 in Las Cruces, NM via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Grounded To The Ground: 2005 Subaru Legacy GT

This next car comes as tip from Jeff who writes: Nice long roof for the money! It does need a bit of work, but doesn't seem huge for the right person.  I like it because I like Subie wagons, but I think this one is too grounded to the ground for me...and the color is odd..but it is a wrap that could probably be removed exposing the original blue paint..which probably has flaking clearcoat and lots of scratches.  Maybe leave the wrap. Find this 2005 Subaru Legacy GT offered for $5400 in Ft Collins, CO via craigslist.

Z32 5-Speed: 1991 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo

The 300ZX was a 2 door sports car from Nissan during the great Japanese sports car boom of the 1990s and featured a host of technology in a Isao Sono & Toshio Yamashita designed body.  In recent years the 300ZX's competitors (Supra, NSX, 993 etc) have gone through their depreciation curves and the good original ones are commanding prices well above original MSRP, but for some reason the 300ZX (and Mitsu's 3000GT/Dodge Stealth) have cheap for years...but I think that might be changing as cars from the 90s become classics...which is strange and makes me feel old. Find this 1991 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo offered for $15,000 in Reno, NV via craigslist. Tip from Jeff.

350 Horsepower: 1991 Nissan Sentra SE-R Turbo

The B13 generation Nissan Sentra isn't a particularly memorable car in basic spec, but the factory hod rod SE-R offers an oddly fun package.  The combination of a robust and torquey inline-4, good brakes, light curb weight, and limited slip differential puts the SE-R into the ugly-but-good category of used cars....but you'll never find a stock example that hasn't been thrashed into the ground.  Today's next example has been fitted with a humongous turbocharger...so that's either good or bad depending on how you feel about torque steer or passing state mandated emissions tests.  Find this 1991 Nissan Sentra SE-R Turbo offered for $5500 in South Jersey, NJ via craigslist. Tip from Jeff.

The Jet Set Life: 1987 Citroen CX 25 Prestige

I hate to be the guy who pooh-poohs all the good ideas around here...but buying a 30 year old Citroen is sorta like buying a private jet.  Its not intrinsically a bad idea...its just that the consequences are less than desirable.  Sure, its nice to brag to your friends about your new toy, but maintenance is expensive, constant, and time consuming.  Plus, there is the danger associated with piloting one of these things, maintenance logs, FAA clearance, et cetera...all for something that is gonna spend more time perched on 3 wheels than zooming around taking you to exotic places.  Bottom line, you should only buy this car if it is an emotional impulse buy and you can afford it.  Find this 1987 Citroen CX 25 Prestige offered for $12500 in Palm Beach, FL via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Luxury SVO: 1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe

This next car comes as a tip from Art C who writes: These have to be going up soon... never see them around anymore. This one looks pretty good and priced very reasonably... restore it to factory condition, drive it a bit, then sell it on barret jackson in a coupla years for some profit??  Find this 1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe offered for $5000 in West Haven, CT via craigslist.

Manual Turbo Wagon: 2005 Subaru Forester XT

This next car comes as a tip from Art C who writes: If I had the cash I'd buy it myself. Looks realtively clean, little rust bubbling but should be an easy fix... 4.44 gears, pulls hard to 80+... fun DD that fits a ton of crap, very good in the snow. If compression and leakdown look good, with confirmation of work done this is a great buy! Shoot, I sold my '05 FXT  manual with 155K and a blown cylinder for $3500... They are rare and have a following.  Find this 2005 Subaru Forester XT offered for $4500 in Pawtucket, RI via craigslist.

Guilty Pleasure: 1984 Dodge Daytona Turbo

The Dodge Daytona is a moped in the automotive landscape...one of those vehicles that is fun to ride until your friends find out.  It is also a "dirty secret longing" car...where you might like one, but you don't admit to anyone...but I'm here to yell it loud and proud -- The Daytona Turbo is awesome and you should own one or two or three. Trust me, you'll need the extra cars for parts to keep the "good" one on the road. Find this 1984 Dodge Daytona Turbo offered for $2500 in San Francisco, CA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Turbo Hatch Powaaaaah: 1988 Chevrolet Sprint

I'm feelin' like it is gonna be a good day for posting cheap used hatchbacks from the 80s today...and if the Grandpa's Tercel we just featured seems a bit slow for you...then maybe you'll want a turbocharged manual-gearbox equipped Chevy Sprint...yeah...what a beast. Find this 1988 Chevrolet Sprint offered for $2000 in San Francisco, CA via craigslist. Tip from Matthew.

4 Turbos and a Blower: 1992 Volvo 960 V8 Swap

How did I miss this car?  How did this auction get to "reserve-not-met" without so much as a peep from the pages of Daily Turismo?  Surely you guys, you tippers, bear some of the blame, but I blame myself even more for not keeping my eye on the ball.  The big, quad turbocharged, hairy chested, wheels that don't fit, engine that doesn't fit...ball.  SERIOUSLY, HOW DID I MISS THIS?  Find this 1992 Volvo 960 Custom V8 here on eBay with auction ended at $12,500 reserve-not-met in Orwigsburg, PA.

Slightly Modified: 1993 Toyota MR2 Turbo

I must be getting old...because I find myself turned off by heavily modified sports cars.  Doesn't matter if they are stanced or lifted or just Pepboys bolt-on stick-on pimped...I just feel an overwhelming sense of meh when I see something that was sporty from the factory and is now modified.  It is one thing to shove a V8 into the front of some slow old Volvo, but do you really expect some 20 year old Best Buy employee to make an MR2 better than the guys from the factory?  Seriously?  But, this next Mister Two might just have the guts to get a pass from the grizzled old man inside...and I might just enjoy driving it. Find this 1993 Toyota MR2 offered for $12,480 in Reno, NV via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Pure European Allroader: 1994 Nissan Mistral Type X Turbo

This next car comes as a submission from JB1025 who writes: Kind of an Odd Fellow er Duck here.. Odd is an understatement here, this thing is from another planet, a bearded Spock dimension Nissan Pathfinder if you ask me.  It is a Spanish assembled Nissan that was exported to Japan where it was sold new and has finally made its way to Seattle.  Strange times. Find this 1994 Nissan Mistral Type X Turbo offered for $14000 in Seattle, WA via craigslist.

Boosted D16: 1998 Honda Civic EX Turbo

This next car comes from tipper Jeff who writes: To borrow an analogy, putting this much boost through a SOHC is like eating 6 Taco Bell burritos and trusting a fart... it's only a matter of time. That being said, if it's built right and the seller has the sheet/receipts to prove it, talk about a wicked sleeper.  Find this 1998 Honda Civic EX Turbo offered for $6,200 in St Helens, OR via craigslist.