$2,500 Challenge Results
We recently ran the $2,500 Challenge, the latest installment in our series of used-car classifieds treasure hunts. And, for the record, the Car Lust community totally outdid itself with this challenge. The vehicles this time around weren't quite as spectacular as the results of the $25K Challenge--no surprise given the more restricted budget--but they were significantly more hilarious.
As you may recall, there was a personal aspect to this challenge--I was in the market for a car in that price range and was living out my own $2,500 Challenge. And, as it turns out, so was fellow Car Luster David Colborne. We have both made our purchases and will be writing up our real-world experiences in the next week.
But, for now, here are a few of my favorites from a group of selections so stellar that I don't even have space to call out suggestions that hit on my usual favorites, cars like the Saab SPG, Peugeot 405 Mi16 and Merkur XR4Ti.
Christie Brinkley Award/Best in Class
This challenge's overall winner is this sultry Euro-spec BMW 635CSi submitted by Shawn. It is also the winner of this challenge's Christie Brinkley Award, honoring a 1980s style icon that has aged gracefully.
Just look at that 6-series--it is long, lean, and beautifully sculpted. Its performance should stand up nicely as well. Assuming that it has been cared for, its turbine-like BMW six and sport suspension should provide both ample power and responsiveness to go with its style.
This 635CSi is a smooth, classy coupe with power and panache; it might cost a little more to maintain than a 1990s Toyota Corolla, but I know which car I'd rather spend my $2,500 on.
Truth in Advertising Award
Big Chris found me an actual short bus. Uh, thanks, Chris.
Of course, short buses have a certain, well, connotation in popular culture. I'll just say that anybody who would purchase this vehicle and fix it up for private use would receive and deserve that connotation as well. It would probably be much more deserved than the actual connotation.
So, is it bad that I'm running through the possibilities here? Paint it bright glossy yellow, lower it, and give it some rims ... nah.
Nice Try Award
This absolutely has to go to ...m..., who made an awesome stab at his own dream $2,500 Challenge with this bold gambit. I'm not sure I would have risked a 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle for the pittance he was asking (>2003 Aston Martin Vanquish + $2,761 in cash), but so far nobody seems to be taking advantage of his generous offer.
Shabby Chic Award
This fantastic 1974 AMC Hornet comes courtesy of Tommy's Dad, who generated both a quantity and quality of brilliant suggestions.
I came close to honoring the AMC Matador and Eagle that he proposed (there were actually two Eagle suggestions, both of which were seriously tempting); but I think this Hornet deserves some sort of mention.
You want shabby chic? This Hornet is composed of a heady mix of shabbiness and counterculture style. I love the white vinyl top. I love the horribly faded paint in the color of smashed caterpillar. I love the wheels. I love the eye-searingly green interior. Most of all, I love the seller's exhortation that "all she needs is some one with the money and love to finish the cosmetic restoration and turn her into a beautiful show car."
I'm chuckling about that, but I can't deny that this car makes my checkbook hand twitch a little.
Grand Theft Auto Award
Cookie the Dog's Owner submitted this 1990 Honda CRX that was on sale for the surreally low figure of $400. That's four hundred dollars for a relatively rare second-generation CRX that appears to be in pretty decent original condition. I know people who have paid more than that for a pair of shoes.
It's such a great price that I can't fully wrap my mind around it. If this car runs at all, it should be worth three times that amount. Unless this car is highly radioactive or rigged to explode, it's radically underpriced.
A fun little roller skate that gets great mileage and costs virtually nothing? Yes, please.
Family Vacation Award
Family road trips promise a great deal of entertainment and adventure--anything could happen. Unfortunately, as depicted in the highly factual National Lampoon Family Vacation films, family road trips instead often deliver misery and misfortune in super-sized proportions.
Unfortunately, I think this 1973 Dodge Motorhome, as recommended by David Colborne, hits both points. This motorhome could serve as a party pad, a rolling military headquarters, or an Arctic expedition vehicle. In short, it could serve as the home base for innumerable adventures.
Like a Hollywood family road trip, though, I see this adventure going horribly wrong. The reality of this motorhome is probably more ine line with a meth lab or a serial killer's hideout. I could it breaking down every few miles and being all moldy throughout. The smartest move would be to scavenge the muscle car 440 engine and ignore the siren call of adventure promised by this beast.
Tilting at Windmills Award
There's really nothing I can add regarding Radar's suggestion of this lifted Subaru GL that isn't conveyed by the photo. As today's youth would say, this Subaru is composed entirely of epic win.* I like this even better than the Geo Metro with the tow hitch.
* I am not really sure that today's youth would say this.
--Chris H.
Steaming Pile on November 18, 2009 at 06:33 AM
That camper has Coen brothers parody of Quentin Tarantino all over it.
Dave7 on November 18, 2009 at 06:42 AM
Nice selection. $2500 has got to be the sweet spot for a cool, older but still decent enough car. I've bought several in that area including Rx-7s, a Triumph Spitfire, etc.
That Car Guy on November 18, 2009 at 08:03 AM
Congratulations, Shawn!
Cookie the Dog's Owner on November 18, 2009 at 12:30 PM
It just occurred to me--that Dodge Magnum XE sitting on West Market in Akron is only $1,950. Chris, I'll be happy to pick you up at the airport and drive you over to it. . . .
John B on November 18, 2009 at 01:57 PM
Okay, is it just me, but why doesn't EVERYBODY want a short bus?
Looks to be a very practical vehicle...not much fun to drive perhaps, but great for shopping or taking relatives on a trip.
As a kid riding in yellow busses (no, not short ones) I thought the smaller variety would be a fun ride, even if you don't plan on dating Kate G.
David Colborne on November 18, 2009 at 08:15 PM
I'd take the short bus if it was a diesel. Think about it for a sec - all the utility of a minivan, plus the utility of a fully loaded van, plus the utility of yet another minivan, and you can actually drive it with a Class C license! Laugh at the soccer moms as they sweat how to haul the entire team in their Lincoln Navigators! Scoff at your fellow coworkers as they attempt to discern the perfect ride share pattern with their piddly five-seaters! Worried that the kids might make a mess of whatever you drive? Well, an all metal interior cleans up mighty nicely!
I'm not sure if the Subaru is, in fact, "composed of epic win", but I think we can safely say that our Gen Y understudies might declare that it is "full of win" or something similar. Either way, I can haz raised 'Bu?
jjd241 on November 19, 2009 at 02:55 PM
Fill it full of hippies and "go on tour"!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grateful_Dead
kenny on November 19, 2009 at 04:00 PM
I would certainly not mind making a motorhome out of a diesel short bus. there is a guy in my neighborhood doing it right now. total gypsie thing.
he is using lots of used motorhome parts and free stuff off craigslist. cool.
Tommy's Dad on November 20, 2009 at 07:39 PM
I had an absolute blast with this challenge. The Green Hornet was a particular bit of uniquely lovable madness, but my heart was still set on that Eagle Wagon on Ebay- it did end up going for well over $2500 ($3300, I think?), and it looked to be worth every last penny. Although, that winning BMW is one beauty of a car, and a steal at that price if it's in good shape and been well-maintained.
I'm actually still in the market myself for a car to replace the Forester when its lease ends in April. I test drove a Saab 900 Turbo and found it to be interesting, quirky in some good and not so good ways, and (that specific car) utterly perilous in that it had all sorts of body and interior damage, and not a single bit of maintenance history or records. I test drove an 87 CRX that was in excellent condition and totally stock, and was impressed with the ride and handling, but the stick was all sorts of loose and having to fold my body like an origami crane to fit under the steering wheel and get out again was just painful. Plus, and this will get me some Boos I'm sure, honestly it just did nothing to interest or inspire me. I know CRX's are great cars, wonderful handling and fuel efficient and all, and where I live they're all but impossible to find without some stupid fartcan muffler or lowered to a 10th of an inch from the ground. But for all that, I couldn't help but end our test drive feeling cold and utterly un-lusting for that car.
...So, the search continues, but luckily with so much time between now and then, I've got plenty of time to find something that isn't a mess or that doesn't leave me uninspired and disinterested. Right now I'm looking for a good light pickup truck, either a late 80s/early 90s Nissan, Toyota, or Ford Ranger, or maybe something less practical but more fun, like an older BMW or even some other Honda that doesn't require me to reorganize my body's geometry to get into it. Or if someone would just post another good condition Eagle wagon in my area...
Shawn on December 17, 2009 at 05:51 PM
The 635CSi winner of the Challenge STILL has not sold. New price: $1800. I refuse to go look at it because I know I'd bring it home and there's just no room to put it.
Nike Air Yeezy on April 16, 2010 at 06:05 PM
It is so cool , stimulate and challenge,admire you.
tomm on June 17, 2010 at 09:37 AM
That 1980's 6 series screams 'yuppies, Moonlighting, and Seagream's Golden Wine Coolers'