Home » What Cars Are You Drooling Over Right Now On Craigslist Or Facebook Marketplace?

What Cars Are You Drooling Over Right Now On Craigslist Or Facebook Marketplace?

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Scott
Scott
1 year ago

Oy. Craigslist in LA. It’s almost all I’ve been doing for the past couple of weeks…

I’m still looking for a deal on an early 2014-16 BMW i3 w/some life still left in the batteries (like David has, but preferably w/o the gas range extender) but I usually just skim the net once a week and don’t check LA Craigslist (which is probably foolish on my part, but on-brand for me lately). There are some around for just under $10K, but either the batteries seem worn or no one at the dealership will actually reply to my email asking for a Bat Kapa Max figure, which can give a general estimate of overall current battery health. The BKM can only be obtained from a hidden/locked screen or via diagnostics, which only BMW dealers have. Technically, the batteries in these early i3 cars are still under warranty in CA, but there’s zero guarantee that a dealership will honor it/cover any particular i3, so there’s an element of risk: I could buy a $10K i3 w/only 40-50 miles of range showing on a full charge, and it would still be possible that BMW won’t replace the tired battery pack, so I’d be left w/a 40-50 mile car and a $10K hole in my bank account. 🙁

The 2017-18 i3 came with a bigger 94Ah battery pack (vs 60 Ah in the earlier i3) but those tend to sell for at least $14-15K these days. To spend that much on an early EV with significantly-less-than-new batteries seems iffy for me right now. My risk tolerance seems to be decreasing with age I think.

After selling my ’00 Golf TDI that I owned for 22 years to a couple of nice Hungarian fellows via LA Craigslist last week, I was about to drive 8 hours north to buy a 1980 diesel Mercedes 300 (a SD) but a snafu the night before using my credit card to secure a one-way rental to get up there put the kibosh on that plan. I’d taken the cash out of the bank, printed out directions (I’m one of those no-cell-phone weirdos) and everything. Afterwards, I didn’t feel as bad about the “missed opportunity” as expected, which I assume is my subconscious telling me that avoiding the malfunctioning vacuum and HVAC systems on a 43-year-old Benz was probably a good idea.

And finally, a couple days ago I sent a lowball offer of $3K to a CL seller w/a ’93 Toyota short cab/long bed pickup with 173Kmiles and a busted snoot. One of the front corners is pretty well smushed, so at a minimum it’d need a fender, bumper, headlight, and maybe the hood is salvageable. Body and paint only… it didn’t seem like it’d be structural. Despite the miles, the truck looks straight, modest, clean, and it’s a charming shade of medium blue. He wants “4,800. firm” so I didn’t expect a reply, but gave it a try anyway.

It’s not like I actually need another car: I’ve got a NA Miata and my daily is big, old first-gen Volvo XC90. But I do want an affordable small EV and/or a little truck, so I keep my eyes open.

ColoradoFX4
ColoradoFX4
1 year ago
Wiz827
Wiz827
1 year ago

This wild stretched 2+2 Triumph TR6:
https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/ctd/d/chevy-chase-1970-triumph-tr-22-custom/7640940265.html

One of a kind? Definitely wouldn’t be easy getting replacement parts for the top…

Idle Sentiments
Idle Sentiments
1 year ago

There’s a hot debate raging in my mind over a Honda Fit or a Toyota Vibe/Pontiac Matrix for my next daily.
Any suggestions?

Idle Sentiments
Idle Sentiments
1 year ago

If I could find a well kept Camry wagon or first gen RAV4 in my ridiculously low price range I’d be all over it.
(keeps searching)

Ford_Timelord
Ford_Timelord
1 year ago

Corolla Alltrac wagon. its a RAV4 underneath with the centre diff lock included!

Ford_Timelord
Ford_Timelord
1 year ago

They are good choices also consider Suzuki SX4

Theotherotter
Theotherotter
1 year ago

I recently bought a car that I found on a west coast CL – a BMW E12 that I just road-tripped up the PCH from the Bay Area to Bellingham and then home to Chicago via Glacier National Park – so I’d been spending a fair bit of time on west coast CL. It disappeared within the last few days, but the one I’d been drooling over was the Citroen CX GTi that was on Portland CL. If it had shown up earlier, I might have gone for it.

Laurence Rogers
Laurence Rogers
1 year ago

Ever since I wrote last week’s MMM guest-post ( https://www.theautopian.com/holdens-vans-and-peugeots-oh-my-mercedes-marketplace-madness-straya-edition/ ) I’ve been looking at pannos again.

I wanted one when I sold my R34 Skyline with the idea of travelling around Australia. I already have another project car sitting on the hoist awaiting some parts so I really shouldn’t be looking at yet another car!

This has to be one of the highest-km cars I’ve seen on sale in Australia in some time if it’s accurate, being the old Ford six I’m sure it’s good for another million km:

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/1990-ford-falcon-xf-auto/SSE-AD-15151678

Freelivin2713
Freelivin2713
1 year ago

Looks similar to the mail car on McLeod’s Daughters

Mr Sarcastic
Mr Sarcastic
1 year ago

Buy them transport them sell them.

Jblues
Jblues
1 year ago

This one really gets my gears grinding. Could drive it in parades all summer long.

https://corvallis.craigslist.org/cto/d/albany-1934-plymouth-rumble-seat-coupe/7642466207.html

Jblues
Jblues
1 year ago

Hard to believe but I could have had one of these for less than 10 grand back in the early 2000s.

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/ant/cto/d/frazier-park-1981-delorean/7642326708.html

Brooks Fancher
Brooks Fancher
1 year ago

Not so much a car, but still transportation related.

There is a 1957 Lone Star Meteor speed boat for sale here in Alabama that I would love to have to finish restoring.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/840610151013620/

MATTinMKE
MATTinMKE
1 year ago
Reply to  Brooks Fancher

That boat is super cool!

And very George Barris Batmobile.

S13 Sedan
S13 Sedan
1 year ago

There’s a very solid looking and mostly original 1954 Pontiac Starchief near me that’s quite tempting but it’s just expensive enough to where I wouldn’t feel comfortable impulse buying it. But it does have a straight 8 which might make it all worthwhile

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/967783427594256/

I’ve always been a big fan of 70s custom vans but a few weekends ago, I went to Vanfest in Canada and now I’m convinced that I absolutely need a custom 70s van in my life. There’s this 77 Dodge Tradesman that’s pretty much everything I want in a van but it’s a lot of money too

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1031906801516474/

Last minute edit because I just remembered that I found this last night and it’s probably of interest to most of the staff and readers here. Here’s a 2006 Chevy Aveo that’s converted to some sort of half car, half bayou style fan boat. The seller doesn’t think it will float but it looks like it would work on land

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/776294117509681/

Last edited 1 year ago by S13 Sedan
VanGuy
VanGuy
1 year ago

https://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/d/catonsville-ford-conversion-van-e250/7638228808.html
This conversion van. Way out of my price range (by a factor of >4), but holy crap. Gorgeous, 250, tow package, all the headrests and cosmetically amazing.

Hangover Grenade
Hangover Grenade
1 year ago
Reply to  VanGuy

The skylights and ceiling are so awesome.

VanGuy
VanGuy
1 year ago

I can’t get over it. I’ve been looking to replace my ’97 Econoline I sold in 2019 for a while and none are ever perfect, but for this one, literally the only criticism I can possibly come up with is the 3rd brake light placement, but altogether that’s so minor. Guess I’ll keep dreaming. Maybe 20 years before used conversion E-Transits are in my price range, since these dinosaurs become a worse idea with every passing year…

Idiotking
Idiotking
1 year ago
Reply to  VanGuy

huh, literally in my neighborhood. I’m not a fan of conversion vans, but you do you man!

Gubbin
Gubbin
1 year ago

Have you ever considered an orange Datsun pickup with a bad engine? Well how about TWO? I have the driveway space…

Geo Metro Mike
Geo Metro Mike
1 year ago
Reply to  Gubbin

Two are better than one! Just brought home a 521 and realized I’m going to be broke for a long time, but already checking craigslist for a twin.

Scott
Scott
1 year ago
Reply to  Gubbin

Oh gosh, they’re adorable!

Hangover Grenade
Hangover Grenade
1 year ago

Looking to trade my Mercedes w123 wagon for a baby pink BMW e36. Send help.

StillNotATony
StillNotATony
1 year ago

I want this. I want to make it street legal and drive it around town. Apparently, I have a death wish…

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2466737553497108/?mibextid=dXMIcH

MATTinMKE
MATTinMKE
1 year ago
Reply to  StillNotATony

What could possibly go wrong?!?!?!

Nick Ginther
Nick Ginther
1 year ago

Not really interested in buying it but I figured I’d post for DT.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/774022877373895/

This is awesome
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1735485036834402/

And speaking of terrible ideas
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/3657954374438382/

Duke of Kent
Duke of Kent
1 year ago
Reply to  Ncbrit

The classiest way to bankrupt yourself

Mark Tucker
Mark Tucker
1 year ago

No “big” cars at the moment, but I am jonesing for a new RC model in the worst way. Never mind that I have several unfinished ones already. I’m fighting the urge, but I’ll probably end up buying something else soon…

Nevermind
Nevermind
1 year ago

Did I know I wanted an old Olds before seeing the ad? No. Do I now? Very much so.
https://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/cto/d/silverdale-1941-oldsmobile/7640495113.html

Sgtyukon
Sgtyukon
1 year ago
Reply to  Nevermind

That IS my father’s Oldsmobile, or one very much like it anyway. Dad loved that car.

Look, a Daewoo!
Look, a Daewoo!
1 year ago

’98 Durango SLT Magnum, stupidly clean, though the miles alarm me.
https://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/cto/d/fort-worth-1998-dodge-durango-v8-59-slt/7642775908.html

Yukonelele
Yukonelele
1 year ago

It’s got the 5.9! $2400 feels like scam pricing to me.

Look, a Daewoo!
Look, a Daewoo!
1 year ago
Reply to  Yukonelele

There is this other example, though lowering the chance of getting mugged is replaced by a 4.7, rather than a 5.9. https://joplin.craigslist.org/cto/d/strafford-2001-dodge-durango-slt/7640612201.html

A. Barth
A. Barth
1 year ago

I normally look for motorcycles, but that CJ-5 is very interesting… And the racing stripe on the postal Jeep is objectively pretty sweet.

I seem to collect vintage old Japanese bikes – even joined a club for it – and if asked would have said I am definitely not a Harley person. However, for the past couple days I’ve been eyeing an early 1970s Sportster that has been sitting for about 15 years. It’s so old that it shifts on the right and brakes on the left. (British bikes were like that up to about 1974-75 but I was not aware H-D ever did that.)

It’s rough but for some reason it is very compelling. Maybe it’s the rear fender from a who-knows-what with the hand-cut clearance for the drive chain. Maybe it’s the very old look with a modern drilled front disc brake. Maybe it’s the really low price. Anyway, I’m sitting here fidgeting over whether to contact the seller.

Doug Kingham
Doug Kingham
1 year ago

I was very tempted to buy a 2001 (ULEZ-exempt!) Cherokee that was listed for only £2,000 not too far from me. It needed a bit of work, but nothing I haven’t done before. This would have required (according to my wife) me to sell the Saab, which would have been at a loss (which is another story). Fortunately, someone else bought it, so the temptation is gone.

Doug Kingham
Doug Kingham
1 year ago
Reply to  David Tracy

Yes, but only some of the “Y” registration models. It’s hit or miss. There’s a website where you can check the license plate to see if it’s exempt or not. This one was. The only reason 2000 models (and earlier) aren’t exempt is because Transport for London doesn’t have the emissions data in their database for pre-2001 cars.

Doug Kingham
Doug Kingham
1 year ago
Reply to  Doug Kingham

But just being newer than 2000 and having a gasoline engine doesn’t always help. Check out this 2004 TJ with the 4.0L and a manual in good shape for only £4,200. This is not exempt from the ULEZ charge, according to TFL: Check your vehicle (tfl.gov.uk).

Last edited 1 year ago by Doug Kingham
Mike Harrell
Mike Harrell
1 year ago

I’m trying to convince myself that it’s perfectly reasonable to commit to the resurrection and maintenance of a one-off student-built thermophotovoltaic system:

https://bellingham.craigslist.org/cto/d/ferndale-1998-viking-29-electric/7632995834.html

I’m also tempted to embrace the notion that simpler is, in fact, better, although I’d need to do something about the seat:

https://calgary.craigslist.org/cto/d/abbotsford-west-1927-ford-model/7628953151.html

Gubbin
Gubbin
1 year ago
Reply to  Mike Harrell

WWU Vehicle Research Institute strikes again! You could get away with swapping in used LEAF modules I’m sure and have a very strange little runabout.

Griznant
Griznant
1 year ago

1950 Studebaker coupe for $3075 on Marketplace.
With 20 cars already it’s getting real hard to find room to put them and the agreement with my wife is they must ALL fit inside.

Sklooner
Sklooner
1 year ago
Reply to  Griznant

Need to do a Fozzie bear tribute car

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