Help me find a cheap/fun/interesting (think Roadkill-esque) DD/beater

We moved to St Augustine FL region in early May, and I've suddenly realised that the new school year begins in about 3 weeks or so. My wife will need our car a couple days a week (I worked from home in my prior job so we just had the one car), we're also buying a house right now and it'll be a while before I can get my hoped-for project car imported. Thus the need for a second vehicle sooner rather than later.

So I need to find a cheap DD that doesn't suck - "something with character" is probably the best way to describe it. My wife suggested the brilliant analogy of "something that wouldn't be out of place on Roadkill". She loves the show too So that obviously rules out soul-less Hyundai's and Corollas and such. Pickups or vans are not necessarily excluded from consideration. As an example, I did spy this Ford Falcon on Craigslist in the Orlando region.

I'd like it to be cheap (preferably under $2k, maybe $3k MAX) and within a 2-hour radius of St Augustine. Anyone have any suggestions that fit the bill?

*Edit: Bonus points if it would look totally out of place running in an autocross, I wouldn't hesitate to take an old Falcon through the cones

I find that interesting stuff always pops up if I set price limit between ~1300 and (insert budget max here) and just cruise pages. You'll see something that'll send you on a kick and you'll eventually find something exciting. 2 minute edit: http://staugustine.craigslist.org/cto/5136999155.html Needs carb cleaned/rebuilt, but it's a 4 door maverick and looks closer to rust free than above..

I'd build a rally style LS400.

http://staugustine.craigslist.org/cto/5117548550.html $1800 1 owner vw rabbit diesel

I have a nice 850 T5 in Jacksonville that I will make you a deal on. Its not really roadkillesque but it is a great car. It is fast, and has been dealer maintained since day one. Everything works, cold air etc... It also has a brand new set of Goodyear eagles one it.

...notice the battery in the engine picture, seriously who buys a battery from the dealer for a 17 year old car.

http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/ctd/5129109426.html

For a GRM'er I can do $1900.00

In reply to pimpm3:

Those seats are all-day comfortable.

Option 1: https://staugustine.craigslist.org/cto/5126849937.html

Option 2: https://staugustine.craigslist.org/cto/5117548550.html

Option 3: https://staugustine.craigslist.org/cto/5100641043.html

http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/cto/5133165351.html Jacksonville Volvo turbo wagon (1991) http://staugustine.craigslist.org/cto/5106470346.html Mercury Grand Marquis (1985) http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/cto/5140527020.html Dodge Shadow (1994) http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/cto/5126628724.html Dodge Stealth (1991) Got an extra long driveway? http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/cto/5078497956.html Buick Electra (1976)

All I got for now. Didn't check the Orlando CL. Those are just the ones that could possibly pique my interest so maybe they'll catch yours..

Going by how small old St Aug roads are, I'd get that rabbit. If you're going to Flaggler you'd clean house with all the art chicks.

Coldsnap wrote: Going by how small old St Aug roads are, I'd get that rabbit. If you're going to Flaggler you'd clean house with all the art chicks.

His wife might be less then pleased with him cleaning up on the "art chicks"

ah, minor detail I missed.

Pimpm3's Volvo looks like a seriously good deal.

The Volvo and the Diesel Rabbit both look like screaming deals.

Some ones I found:

Shadow drop-top: http://staugustine.craigslist.org/cto/5144888795.html

No pics, but it's an old Toyota 4x4, so how bad can it be as a beater truck? http://staugustine.craigslist.org/cto/5130634550.html

Mercury Grand Marquis wagon: http://staugustine.craigslist.org/cto/5126849937.html

MadScientistMatt wrote: Some ones I found: ... Mercury Grand Marquis wagon: http://staugustine.craigslist.org/cto/5126849937.html

Double post on the Mercury. That means that it has officially moved to GRM favorite! Go get it, slap in an AL radiator, some tail lights, and roll on in style(?)

if you want "Roadkillesque", just do what they did: get a major car manufacturer to sponsor you and give you things like Hellcat engines and what not..

too bad the rallycross 142 is long gone. my vote is expand the search range and find a Volvo Amazon or 142

bump up for budget and become a GRM hero

vintage volvo goodness or clearinghouse part 2

PimpM3s Volvo looks to be the most plug and play practical car,and has working AC, so that's out .

The Rabbit diesel has definite GRM cool factor, looks very clean, and is probably the best garage-mate for the soon-to-arrive BMW.

So clearly, the DIY rally kit is the best way to go in this situation...

Wow - thanks for all the input! You guys are awesome! I had a good giggle at some of these

I did get a pic of the Toyota pick-up - it looks very rough. I'm hoping to check out pimpm3's Volvo tomorrow - I'll keep you posted! It would be a hoot (for a few days anyway) to float around in a big ol' luxo-barge, but I think that'd get tiresome pretty soon. That Rabbit would also be great, but the Volvo seems a bit more comfortable at this stage.

novaderrik wrote: if you want "Roadkillesque", just do what they did: get a major car manufacturer to sponsor you and give you things like Hellcat engines and what not..

Not famous enough (well, around here anyway ) to get sponsorship sadly - that's why I have to work...

captdownshift wrote: too bad the rallycross 142 is long gone. my vote is expand the search range and find a Volvo Amazon or 142

I miss the reference to the rallycross 142... Care to enlighten me?

I'd go volvo.. it has a turbo.. It is some IPD parts and some mods away from........

Awww Hell 50+ HP BOOOOST http://www.ipdusa.com/products/7758/115120-engine-ecu-flash-tune-upgrade-for-motronic-4-turbo-models-1994-1998

Hell its pretty fast as is. Its practically challenge ready

Go to CL, set to search 68-80 and under $3000.

captdownshift wrote: bump up for budget and become a GRM hero vintage volvo goodness or clearinghouse part 2

How did I miss the Audi, its pretty sweet but is the last thing I need right now.

Those Volvos have been for sale for over 2 years, i have been tempted to go look at them but if they were decent they would have been gone along time ago.

Search corvette...price less than $4000...expand area... this search pulls in C3s...C4s...and anything with an LT1

Woah I should not have done that... http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/cto/5137875976.html

http://daytona.craigslist.org/cto/5144121026.html

http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/cto/5053074177.html