Another "What car to buy?" topic, 5000 USD summer car edition

luokyio

Merc Maniac
Joined
Apr 18, 2005
Messages
1,666
Location
Savonlinna, Finland
Car(s)
CLS, CL, Scorpio
Hello people,

In August I finally understood I was too fat, and decided to lose weight. So to maintain my motivation, I did a promise I would not buy cars before I am back to healthy weight. And that is quite a promise for me. I always have a car fever, and I haven't had a proper summer car in a while. To be honest I've got bored to the Scorpios at the moment, so they pretty much are just stored away for now. I want something else too.

Now, four months later and 20 kg lighter I am close to being able to move forward with the plan. I have searched for cars 24/7 during this whole time, but am still struggling to decide what I even want. Depending on a day I'm between options

A) some cheap convertible (Escort, Sebring/Stratus, MX5 etc.), because I've never had a soft top. Also my kids like all convertibles they see in the summer and ask why don't we have one? I haven't been able to give them a good answer to that.
B) Old Mercedes W123/114/5, because, well, look at my title.
C) Japanese auctions for a first time ever to import some CL500/E55/S500/similar. All this auction scene sounds exciting. Also cars in Japan tend to have so little miles in the odo and no rust, that there is actually some money to be made after importing and driving for a while myself with it, and later selling it on.
D) Import a Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis 2003 -> from the US. Crown Victoria has always been one of my dream cars, but apparently it is easier to find a neat example under a Mercury badge.
E) Import a 70s land yacht while they may be at reasonable prices before prices go up in the US too like they've already gone here. Or am I too late already?
F) None of the above

So pretty much all is open at the moment. I was hoping someone could point some awesome car in the USA to me that I cannot live without. As it may be clear from the list, I have no idea what I want from the car.

Some points to narrow the list down even a bit:

- Not going to be a daily driver, just a summer car
- I have no time or skills for major repairs, so it should be a ready-to-go example after a basic service and possible minor repairs
- a six-seater would be nice, but not necessary mandatory
- V8 is always awesome, but not mandatory
- No tuning, all original is the only way to go
- The weirder the better
- Budget could be around 5000 USD including only the purchase price in the US. Not strict if absolutely needed.
- Location near some port that ships to Europe to keep the costs down.

Help me people. Thank you :cool:

PS. no promises any advices you give me will be followed, not even the good ones
 
Did the LeBaron convertible ever come with a front bench seat? I feel like that would be just your kind of car.
 
https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5896869485.html

Does that door look difficult to fix on this Roadmaster?

Hard to tell from the picture if it is just the door itself (i.e., someone opened the door into something) or if it got hit and the damage involves the door jamb and rocker.

00k0k_hP7z8sIHrsb_1200x900.jpg


You don't want that one anyway as that's still a TBI-equipped L05 engined car instead of the following year's LT1. The LT1 makes a gigantic difference in how the car drives and is arguably more reliable.
 
Three Miatas? :lol:
Good point, that would add up to the budget (maybe), six seats, and a convertible. Even 12 cylinders. :lol:

Thundercougarfalconbird!

Yes please.

Did the LeBaron convertible ever come with a front bench seat? I feel like that would be just your kind of car.

Cannot recall seeing any with a bench, but if they do have such, that would be awesome. The 90's LeBarons we have in relatively high numbers in the country already, so importing one does not make sense. Good cabrios go for less than 4000 ?, not so good for under 2000 ?.

Wow, you hate him that much?

:mrgreen:

https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5896869485.html

Does that door look difficult to fix on this Roadmaster?

Uuh, a long-roof with fold-down seats would be pretty awesome mixture of DD capabilities and summercarness. Some slight easily repairable, but price-dropping faults might be actually something to think about, since customs (10 %) and VAT (24 %) are calculated from purchase price + shipping cost...

Hard to tell from the picture if it is just the door itself (i.e., someone opened the door into something) or if it got hit and the damage involves the door jamb and rocker.

00k0k_hP7z8sIHrsb_1200x900.jpg


You don't want that one anyway as that's still a TBI-equipped L05 engined car instead of the following year's LT1. The LT1 makes a gigantic difference in how the car drives and is arguably more reliable.

LT1 within the budget would be awesome, they ask 15 000 ? for them here... Dunno if any is sold at that price though.


Sounds weirdly cheap? Quite far from the coast, so mainland shipping cost might be quite high... However with a price like that a 1000 USD extra shipping is not bad. This is the best so far, easily.


A bit too Suomi-spec to be imported. 4-banger from another side of the globe, nah, I'll pass...
 
Pretty nice, what can be seen on the terrible pictures. What does "No air" mean? No AC or no air suspension?

Engine swap is a turn-off :|

Pretty perfect, although price climbs too high for me...

At the moment the most intriguing would be full-size wagon with a third row from the 1970s... I believe in few years they don't exist anymore in reasonable price range so this would be the time to snatch one for my slowly expanding collection.
 
Sometimes, you can get fuel injected models like mine for reasonable pricing.
 
Toyota Cressida? One from states will be fully loaded. Or S600 from Japan.
1968-1974 Ford Van bus version off course, short nose and so pretty.
1970-Ford-E200-Econoline-Van.jpg

Remember that Finn-Us has one place in Texas, so anything near it will be easy and cheap to import.
 
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I don't think there are too many gear.fi guys who can fit inside a Honda S600.
 
Sounds weirdly cheap? Quite far from the coast, so mainland shipping cost might be quite high... However with a price like that a 1000 USD extra shipping is not bad. This is the best so far, easily.

It does seem a little cheap, but it is a smog era long roof. Not the most desirable vehicle. If you get serious, I could contact them and get more photos. Possibly even go look at it, Des Moines isn't too far from me.


A bit too Suomi-spec to be imported. 4-banger from another side of the globe, nah, I'll pass...

Pinto powered Mustang. One of my favorite models.
 
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