5k Vintage: 1962 Mercury Comet S-22

The Mercury Comet was originally conceived as an addition to Ford's 'Edsel' brand. By 1960 when it was released, that brand was gone and it was sold in Ford's Mercury dealers.  This 1962 Comet is the desirable S-22 edition and will need some restoration - but is priced at $2000 'green federal fake notes' or '80 real silver dollars' and located in Apple Valley, CA.

 

10k: 1988 Pontiac Fiero

Pontiac introduced its mid-engined Fiero in 1984 - complete with manual steering, skinny tires, parts bin suspension (from Chevette & Citation) and powered by an anemic 2.4liter inline 4 nicknamed the "Iron Duke".  It wasn't until 1988 that the Fiero recieved a proper suspension setup and this low mile 88 Fiero coupe located in Silo, OK for $7500 would be quick little runner for the money.

 

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5k: 1989 Merkur XR4Ti

Don't want to wait for Ford to put a turbocharged 4 cylinder into a 'sporty' 2+2 coupe with manual trans and rear wheel drive?  Buy an 80s classic -- Merkur XR4Ti, like this 1989 model located north of Los Angeles, CA (found via craigslist).

10k Zombie Proof: 1997 Ford E350 Armored Van

The daily turismo is typically full of sports cars with manual transmissions for the sporting gentleman who commutes on Mulholland Drive...but what if his commute is on Hollywood Blvd and what if it is post-zombie apocalypse.  Today's 1997 Ford E350 Armored van is offered for sale on ebay for $13500 starting bid with no reserve and would easily keep a brain safe from razor sharp teeth.

5k: 1995 Mazda MX-5 Miata

It was only a matter of time before a Mazda MX-5 Miata appeared in the daily turismo.  Before all the naysayers start calling it a hair dresser's car and commenting on how slow it is - try driving a Z06 fast on the street and see how quickly you get into 'take me to jail speeds' - try the same in a Miata and you will find a car with excellent balance and enough torque to have fun (but not X1/9 slow!).  With so many Miatas to chose from, we almost picked a turbo side pipe equipped model, or this 2nd generation low mile example (also sold by some lowlife car flipper who will probably tell you its 'a solid car' with having only driven it home from an auction yard-- stay away from car flippers!)- but finally found this clean 85k mile 1995 Miata located in Littleton, CO for $5500 asking via craigslist.

5k: Chevy Astrovan with V8

In the 2nd edition of cheapskate V8 swap sunday - I would like to present another car that probably was conceived after a few too many beers.  This uspecified model year Chevy Astrovan with V8 swap is offered for $3700 via craigslist in St Louis, MO.

5k: 82 Jaguar XJS w/V8

Welcome to cheapskate swapped V8 sunday at dailyturismo.  Our first offering is a 1982 Jaguar XJS located in Chippewa, Wisconsoda...(ok, I made that last part up, but does it really matter where it is - lets just say the great northern state of Dakoconsodaho) for a bargain price of $2300 via craigslist.

5k: Fiberfab Aztec 7

We at the dailyturismo tend to shun any kit cars that resemble true vintage production cars.  Its not for some absurd respect for Carrol Shelby's final wishes - but it is because we believe that if you want a car that looks like a Shelby Cobra or Porsche 550 - you should buy one, not cobble up some fiberglass equivalent of a 4 wheel Harley Davidson in your garage.  However - if your dreams of building your own car include style more reminiscent of Battlestar Galactica instead of Bertone...we are 100% with you.  With that in mind, we are pleased to present this 1973 VW Chassis based 1982 Fiberfab Aztec 7 found on ebay with an asking price of $7400.

10k: 1991 BMW M5

No - not another damn BMW....ok, fine, you try and find another manufacturer who made sporty, clutch equipped, rear wheel drive cars with questionable reliability in mid 90s and I will post them...in the meantime, expect to see some entries from Bavaria!  This 1991 BMW M5 is located in Winnipeg, MB, Canada and is currently on ebay at a reserve not met price of $7500.

The E34 M5 was the last of the 'hand-built' BMWs- which can be either a good thing "this BMW was hand built by a handwerksmeister instead of soulless machine" or a bad thing "this BMW was hand built by a drunk Bavarian paid minimum wage instead of state of the art computerized robots that don't make mistakes". 

The 3.6 liter S38B36 inline 6 engine uses individual throttle bodies to produce 307 horsepower and 266 ft-lbs of torque.  To achieve and package this power in 1991 required the use of some complex parts.  This complexity does not come cheap - and plan on 38 hours for a head gasket replacement from your local BMW dealer at $100/hr for labor alone.  Plan on replacing the caramelized plastic coolant tank soon if you don't love your mechanic - these are known weak-spots in 90s BMWs of all models.

Only a fool would assume that a white interior on a 20 year old car could be pristine and the fool would be wrong, this surgical white interior shows stains that any other color would hide.  The dash is covered in the photo graphs - either to hide or prevent further cracks on the dash. 

The suspension on this Bimmer has been heavily worked over - including Koni coilovers with spherical shock mounts - likely to make it handle less like the Bismark and more like a U-Boat....but be aware you may lose some fillings if need to drive through places with bad roads and crumbling infrastructure -- like Baghdad or Detroit. 

Bottom line: Does this boat belong in your sub pen or would you put it adrift?

See another BMW ready to rob its owner of hard earned cash?  Send us a link: dailyturismo@gmail.com

5k: 1981 Volvo 242

There's something to be said for a simple, solid, rear-wheel drive, 4-cylinder, manual trans car. Plenty of room to wrench under the hood, with no fussy transaxle to get in your way. Economical as a daily driver yet entertaining in the occasional autocross, parking lot slalom, or rainy-day dorifto on public streets during your morning commute. This 1981 Volvo 242 is resplendent in its original shade of Artesia Beige with complimentary "poo brown" interior - offered for $1900 in Santa Monica, CA via craigslist.

10k: 1992 BMW 850i

The BMW e31 platform was launched in 1989 as a high end successor to the e21 6-series.  For the price of a few options on a brand new BMW you can own a used V12 equipped 850i like this 1992 model located in Long Beach, CA for $9999 asking (via craigslist).

The 850 was a stunning car when introduced in 1989 and today still looks the part of a supercar. This car is equipped with 18inch wheels from an e39 M5 and the original red paint looks nice (although the seller does say there are some minor imperfections).

The M50B70 5 liter V12 originally produced 295 horsepower and 330 ft-lbs of torque and is mated to a 5-spd automatic transmission (some cars were equipped with a 6 spd manual!).  The V12 was a technological tour-de-force in 1989, using an "alusil" engine block and drive by wire throttles controlled by twin ECUs.

Pop-up headlights surround the 'shark-nose' front end on the BMW - a menacing sight in your rear view mirror - or a common sight at BMW mechanics shops...850s are not particularly know for reliability...unless you compare them to similar era V12 Jaguars or Maseratis, in which case they are fantastic!

This car is also equipped with aftermarket Brembo brakes and claims that the car is setup to "CSi" specifications which conjures up images of Bruckheimer directed crime scenes, but the seller includes conflicting information about coil-over Bilsteins at all 4 corners...

Bottom line: Does this BMW run on all 12 cylinders or would you rather have two E36 M3s?

Have a suggestion or interesting car for sale?  email us:   dailyturismo@gmail.com

5k Vintage: 1965 Ford Falcon 2dr Wagon

The dailyturismo really loves wagons.  Its like a pickup truck for people with normal sized glands. What is better than a standard run-of-the-mill 4 door wagon is a 2 door wagon.  This 1965 Ford Falcon 2door wagon can be found in Ranch Cucamonga, CA via craigslist at an asking price of $5500.

The Ford Faclon shares a 'platform' with Mustangs & Cougars but is the only one to have a wagon variety (unless you own a really nice welder and have fantastic fabrication skills).  Falcons came in 2/4 door wagon varieties - but the cool one to get is definitely the 2 door.

This one currently has an original inline 6 engine with 170 cubic inches of displacement pushing out 101 gross horsepower.  It could also have a smaller 144 cubic inch inline 6 'thriftpower' making 85 horsepower.  Either way, the 'new' front springs need to be properly compressed with the addition of a 302 cubic inch V8 - conveniently included with the sale!  I bet new engine and trans could be loaded into the back and a buyer could take everything home easily.

California black plates indicate that the car has been in California for its entire life or the owner purchased a set via the DMV YOM program. 

This car is just an engine swap and a paint job away from being a good dailyturismo...but is $5500 too much to ask for a project?

Got a better Falcon Wagon?  Pics of your cute cousin?  Email us here:  dailyturismo@gmail.com

5k: 1993 Toyota MR2 Turbo

When the second generation Toyota MR2 was launched in 1989 - it offered Ferrari looks with Fiat pricing.  Mid-engine Runabout 2seater was thankfully shortened to MR2 to reduce the cost of badges on the car and the 'mister 2' is known as '2' to his friends.  This 1993 MR2 is one of the sought after turbocharged models and is located in La Mirada, CA (via craigslist) - at an asking price of $5500.

The MR2 wasn't just about Ferrari looks - it also had a mid-engine rear-wheel drive configuration that lead to Ferrari handling - strange from the manufacturer of sensible economy sedans and whose only other mid-engine offering was a supercharged all-wheel-drive mini van. 

Pop the hood...err...trunk...eh...middle decklid...and you will find a transverse mounted 3S-GTE 2.0 liter turbocharged and intercooled inline 4 mated to a 5 speed manual transmission.  The seller of this car indicates that this car is bone stock (should be 201 horsepower and 142 ft-lbs of torque) and that is a good thing because many of these rockets have had their rice "fried" and can be made to produce twice the OEM horsepower figures - a recipe for speed tickets and blown trannys.

Inside the car shows typical wear and tear for a car with 170k miles on it - and a suspicious looking boost gauge (wise man says: only cars with extra boost need boost gauges). 

The photos show some signs of wear/fading on the paint - typical for a mid 90s Japanese car clear coat that hasn't been waxed or covered for its entire life.  Original wheels and the factory limited slip differential add to this car's appeal.

Does this mister have the mustard?

See another car that needs to be featured?  Email us here:  dailyturismo@gmail.com

15k: 2006 Chrysler 300 SRT8

When mobsters need a car they always look for something 4-door, large trunk, black on black, big engine, slushbox auto (easier to shoot at other mobsters when driving if your not trying to shift) - and this 2006 Chrysler 300 SRT8 fits the bill.  Its even already been stolen (probably by mobsters) and recovered by the police and is now offered for $15900 in Huntington Valley, PA via ebay.

15k: 2002 Ford Focus SVT w/ V8

Open the hood on most economy cars and you will find a 4 cylinder engine transverse mounted and mated to the front wheels.  This 2002 Ford Focus SVT located in Los Angeles, CA and found on ebay is offered with a V8 and rear wheel drive for $15000 buy-it-now price on ebay.

15k: 2005 Subaru STi

Do you like turbochargers and all-wheel drive, but need a useful back seat and are on a budget?  Unless you drive a Mazdaspeed 6 like the other adults - you will probably look at a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo or this 2005 Subaru STi.  Located on the NASIOC (North American Subaru Impreza Ogglers & Complainers) forum website and physically located in an unspecified city in the peach-pie state of Georgia - this "Aspen White" STi is said to be relatively stock and is offered for $16500.

The GD-chassis Subaru Impreza STi first appeared state-side in 2004 model year - and continued unchanged in 2005 except for hub/wheel bolt pattern changes and a cosmetic fender flare in the rear.  The rear wing blocks most of the view from behind (but what would you look at anyway - you so fast in this car, you be passin everybody!) and the front hood scoop (with integrate cooling mist sprayer) could swallow a large bird of prey.

The EJ257 turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 2.5 liter flat 4 engine (unique to the STi Imprezas in the early cars) produces 300 horsepower and 300 ft-lbs of torque.  This power is put to the pavement via a 6 spd manual transmission and a sophisticated all wheel drive system with front and rear limited slip differentials and a variable locking center differential.

Inside - the driver is treated to some of the nicest (and durable) cloth covered Recaro seats available and a standard plasticy Japanese interior.  This particular example has all kinds of wires running past the gas pedal and some huge gauges that I think the seller says will stay with the him...but its probably negotiable.  Its a good thing that the interior is comfortable because an STi is not always nice to is driver - punishing him with an extremely rigid suspension and a combination of oversteer-understeer-oversteer on turn in - mid corner - exit corner respectively.  Driving an STi in an autocross environment has been described to dailyturismo as "a bit like riding a Rhinocerous" by a national autocross podium finisher.

Subaru's from this era suffer from notoriously poor paint quality - especially on the plastic 747 wing and eagle scoop, but this one looks to be in good shape for 91k miles.  STi owners change transmission fluids as often as others change engine oil - mostly to remedy and cause various transmission and shifting issues - but this one comes with a recent tranny fluid change - so you can probably repurpose that fluid in your riding mower when you change it out for BrandX30 to try to fix the mystery grinds in 5th gear.

Will this car meet the needs of a 35 year old who still acts 15? Yes!  Will it the engine blow up? Maybe...Will the transmission dump its contents onto the ground when you try a 7000 rpm clutch drop at the drag strip...definitely.

Got a car for sale?  Or see something that is a daily turismo? email us:  dailyturismo@gmail.com