Free tonight only

154 piece craftsman tool set free tonight anywhere within an hour of Jacksonville. I can drop them off by your mailbox if you send me an address. Interesting turn of events, but instead of driving home I'll be flying home and I don't think it is worth checking these in with me. Also come with free cooler with free waters and a portable air pump.

This is not a joke... And maybe I'll share the full story when I get home.

Sounds like an interesting story. You should have plenty of time to tell us on the plane.

What can I say, I come up with some brilliantly dumb ideas and plans.

Also why do people seem to be afraid of getting free stuff out of a guy's trunk at rest stops?

Hmmmm, Gainesville close enough?

If it's not too late- pm sent. White Z3 coupe in the driveway

MrJoshua wrote: Hmmmm, Gainesville close enough?

Pm me an address

In reply to Spitsix:

oh you crazy crazy fool

i think you might be receiving some mail in the near future...

In reply to Ojala:

Damn, now I wish I had wrote it down

to bad you're 12 hrs away

I had a care package in my driveway when I went out at 7 AM. Thanks WillRunifChased. We would all love to hear how you ended up needing to get rid of that stuff.

Needs more 'splanation.

I hope this is the tip of the iceberg on some web of international intrigue or murder mystery and not just a rapey thing at a rest area.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: I hope this is the tip of the iceberg on some web of international intrigue or murder mystery and not just a rapey thing at a rest area.

I'd be fine with a rapey thing at a rest area if the story is entertaining enough.

Wait..... Wut?

You guys rule.

We really need to hear the story behind this.

Or at least a really good story of a fictional rapey at a rest area.

Surprise butt seks?

See references to pictures below.

Ok, so the story behind the madness. Obviously I like bad ideas, check the Fiero Challenge build. I had scheduled a little over a week off recently and decided to take a road trip. First destination Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont obviously not an issue except for that fact that I had too much driving time to think. Insert the bad idea, I'm driving an 05 Corolla I purchased from my sister for a little over the trade in value, I hate this car. Next destination was Florida. Thought to self, “I bet I can list this Corolla on Craigslist in Florida, sell it and buy a decent condition Miata with the proceeds. I have been wanting a nicer Miata than my $2013 challenge car.”

On the way from Maine to Florida, I stopped at my home and picked up the title. Of course I wanted to be prepared for everything so I packed a little on the heavy side. I brought clothes for warm and cold weather because I always drive with the top down unless it is raining. Throw in a spare set of tools and a cooler to keep me hydrated on the road and as always my portable air pump incase I lose tire pressure. I take some pictures of the Corolla on the way and start posting it to Craigslist everywhere along Florida's coast. Getting the best responses from the Pensacola area so I set my GPS on Pensacola.

When I get to Pensacola finally I spend the day being a tourist, while carrying my notepad and taking calls, texts, emails on the Corolla and inquiring about Miatas. I'm pretty excited because I line up a buyer for the Corolla I the late afternoon and after a few calls and texts I have a low mile 96 miata lined up to buy just across the boarder in Alabama, this couldn't have been easier. 4:30 comes around and I have sold the Corolla for my asking price. Lined up to purchase the Miata at 5 pm the next day, so I go about getting a rental Corolla so I can tell my friends at home that I have told my crazy idea to that I'm still driving the Corolla. Guy with the Miata texts me at 9 pm says, “It is a no go, my son now wants the car and I would rather give it to him.” This puts me out of a car except my rental, I'm scrambling to find others to go see.

1. Listed as one owner, service records, higher mileage “M package” no pictures, listed for 3900. Yes, it is a little high but I'm thinking maybe 3000 if it is in great shape. I get there one fender needs work, the door doesn't shut right, 2” of water in the truck, lots of play in the shifter and the seat is all ripped up. What a let down but there is always another one to look at.
2. At this point I go to Tampa because they seem to have a lot of sub $5000 miatas for sale, yes 7 hours later I'm in tampa, in a back alley looking at a miata. This is a 99 listed with the motor rebuilt 6 weeks ago, good shape overal, lots of texts were exchanged, I thought this would be the one. I arrive, no carpet, hesitates when it isn't under full throttle, really poor body work, and just lots of little things wrong with it.
3. Great this one is by the airport for an easy drop off of my rental car. Car runs and drives nice enough, a little disappointed no cruise control for my long journey home. We agree on a price, he says he needs to go pick up the title at his storage unit and write up a bill of sale. At this point I'm starving so I head out to get a burrito and celebrate because the search is finally over. While ordering my burrito I get a call, “I can't find the title, do you still want it?” After a few bad experiences with no title, I said no. :(
4. Listed as high miles BRG 3 owner service records, priced high for a 91 approaching 200k miles. Really nice older gentleman, runs good. Problem it was repainted BRG after being white, the engine bay was white, and there where a few chips showing white. I wanted a good condition Miata not this one.

At this point it is 9pm so I pull into a parking lot trying to decide what to do? I decided I was just going to drive home. Called the rental car company to make them aware of changes to the drop off location. I figured I needed to drive home since I packed too much stuff to hop on an airplane. Around 10pm I and rolling some numbers around in my head I figure its cheaper to just dump what I don't want to take on the plane and fly home. I was really getting tired of driving. That is when I booked my plane ticket, called my sister to arrange pickup at the airport, tried to give away my junk at a rest stop, then decided to post on the forum since I know enough of the people are from the area as I am on the way to Jacksonville from Tampa area.

Cliffs: 1. Don't try a drive sell and buy drive 2. Pack light enough to fly home at all times 3. People on craigslist are hard to deal with in a pinch 4. Don't give me any stupid ideas

Oh, and soon I will need a what car thread. Like now. Needs to have 4 wheels and drive, because they don't make a T-rex with doors and windows. Preferable available around York, PA.

Great story! Thanks for making us smile, sorry for your "challenges".

I saw a lovely Miata with a hard top on here somewhere for $5000. More than you want to spend but it looked very spiffy and it was near York PA.

KyAllroad wrote: Great story! Thanks for making us smile, sorry for your "challenges".

I told one of my good friends, "My plan has failed me, but I have been thoroughly entertained."

Did you ever think of buying something older and rust free in Florida just to get back home and resell for a profit?

Smells like a scam from "a new reader"

plance1 wrote: Smells like a scam from "a new reader"

I'm always thinking of elaborate stories while everyone else is typing away at their computer

plance1 wrote: Smells like a scam from "a new reader"

Doesn't matter was entertained. A story like that will only be seen here and be completely plausible.