Craigslist Crapshoot

The World’s Worst Car Is For Sale On Craigslist
Welcome to Craigslist Crapshoot, our weekly search for the most bizarre, awesome, and/or terrible vehicles that the online classifieds has to offer. 
Uber and Lyft are pretty much putting the traditional taxi business out of business. They are the boldest examples of the new “Gig-Economy” that let’s people work when they want to, and businesses not have to pay their workers for silly things like down-time, coffee breaks, or benefits. We need to get in on this, right? To do so, last week we went looking for cars costing $10,500 or less that might make an excellent investment for our new Uber career. We’ll see the most Uber-iffic in a sec, but first this week’s quest.
You know, when you’re on the other side of that Uber app getting around can get pretty expensive, especially when they’re charging what they call Surge Pricing which is probably whenever you’re really needing to get somewhere. As long as that somewhere isn’t home from the bar it might be better just to drive yourself, and in that case what we want this week is the biggest bang for your buck that $5,000 will buy. What do you think would be the most rapid transit you could buy for that five grand? For those outside of the U.S. please do the appropriate exchange rate for your own local currency.
As always, we want your finds to go down in infamy and not in the site’s spam filter. Since we’ve changed commenting systems, you may need to update your commenter account. Make sure you have a Disqus account – they’re free and easy to get – and then comment away.

Got that? Good, Now, let’s get a ride.


They say all’s fair in love and war, but what’s a fair fare for a car or truck to pick up fares? That’s what we wanted to know last week, with a cap of $10,500 to buy a potential business investment, an Uber car.
My investigation into the Uber lifestyle is pretty meager, and as a number of you pointed out the company requires cars that are 10 years old or newer. That however fits the find made by Sjalabais which was this 2007 Volga 31105 that I think would make the most intriguing—and frightening owing to all the rust— Uber ride.
Thanks to you all, and congrats to Sjalabais on the new business venture.
Продажа подержанного автомобиля ГАЗ 31105 Волга (GAZ 31105) 2007 г.в. с фото, цена руб. 69,000, г. Санкт-Петербург
 

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62 responses to “Craigslist Crapshoot”

  1. JayP Avatar
    JayP

    2000 Chevrolet K3500 1 ton long bed dually 4×4 – $4300 (Carrollton)454ci
    http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/cto/5602574236.html
    http://images.craigslist.org/00Y0Y_9W0PN0XfXp9_600x450.jpg

    1. Wayne Moyer Avatar
      Wayne Moyer

      How can it be bang for the buck if it doesn’t have a gun rack?

      1. JayP Avatar
        JayP

        This is Texas.
        Gun racks are everywhere.

  2. Kiefmo Avatar
    Kiefmo

    It’s unlikely you’ll be able to go quicker or faster than a used ‘busa for less than $5k. Of course, you’re far, far more likely to meet your maker on a $5k ‘busa than anything else in that price range.
    https://images.craigslist.org/00202_EPYPgH1NYq_600x450.jpg
    https://kansascity.craigslist.org/mcy/5571053445.html

  3. GTXcellent Avatar
    GTXcellent

    I know I don’t have the ‘cojones’ to see how fast it’ll go
    http://images.craigslist.org/00g0g_5unXbCvA06J_600x450.jpg
    https://bemidji.craigslist.org/boa/5601029106.html

  4. Wayne Moyer Avatar
    Wayne Moyer

    This is going to be very specific. But $5000 will get you a six cylinder four door from the fifties or early sixties. In addition to this they are usually in good shape as well. So you can get yourself a decent runner, like this one, for $5000.
    http://reading.craigslist.org/cto/5570227110.html

    1. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      Very well presented and a great deal. How did this pass through the Craigslist inspection?

      1. Wayne Moyer Avatar
        Wayne Moyer

        I’m not sure what you mean by the Craigslist inspection but the pictures of this particular one look good. Of course I am usually looking at Studebaker Commanders in the same price range when I do this kind of search.
        Also under the whole bang for the buck thing. I paid $2300 for a running ’74 Spitfire and have put, about, $2500 into it since then. A running Spitfire runs $5000 or so. So finding one for less than half that and then being able to make it the way I want makes it a good buy as well. You could do this for almost any make and model.
        https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1374253beb8a2a7d13226f33dfc61712986e085b83789e7b345cce550726b45a.jpg

        1. Sjalabais Avatar
          Sjalabais

          I’m referring to the plague that are dark, blurry photos, ALL CAPITAL text and lack of relevant information that is so common on Craigslist – a joke, really. This classified was sharp.
          Do you get Commanders in this price range? Are you waiting to pull the trigger or just window shopping? The Spitfire sounds like an excellent deal, but does it really require permanent fiddling?

          1. Wayne Moyer Avatar
            Wayne Moyer

            I’m just window shopping at this point. I want to add a long range cruiser to the fleet since the Spitfire is strictly a short range car until i get the overdrive in it.
            Before I bought the Spitfire there were a couple cars on the short list. One was the Studebaker and the other was a C3 Corvette. Somehow I think I could talk my wife in a Stude if the right one comes along.

    2. CruisinTime Avatar
      CruisinTime

      What a sweet old Cruiser.

  5. Andrew_theS2kBore Avatar
    Andrew_theS2kBore

    This is guaranteed to make a really big bang almost immediately after purchase.
    http://images.craigslist.org/01515_e8W4Tehf3x3_600x450.jpg
    http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/cto/5520947393.html

    1. Andrew_theS2kBore Avatar
      Andrew_theS2kBore

      And now for the serious answer. Having owned one, it’s impossible to beat for Miata money unless you want a track toy.
      http://images.craigslist.org/00C0C_dPUh8nlIXoF_600x450.jpg
      http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/cto/5579846897.html

      1. smalleyxb122 Avatar
        smalleyxb122

        That 240 might kick its ass on the track, but for the same price, that Sky makes the Nissan look like crap (as if it needed help).

  6. engineerd Avatar
    engineerd

    He said biggest bang for the buck. Only 73,000 miles!*
    http://images.craigslist.org/01212_ff5PoJwKARt_600x450.jpg
    http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/5557290744.html
    *Unverified. Might be 173,000 or 573,000.

    1. JayP Avatar
      JayP

      On CL yesterday I stumbled on a 2007 Crown Vic with 30k miles… $5k.
      Couldn’t find it today. Cash only…

  7. smalleyxb122 Avatar
    smalleyxb122

    $5k feels like a good deal on a Wrangler with 108k miles, the 4.0, and a stick shift.
    http://images.craigslist.org/00z0z_dJ8t3UuKWs1_600x450.jpg
    http://toledo.craigslist.org/cto/5595467447.html

    1. Kiefmo Avatar
      Kiefmo

      Rust.
      Also, note that the “4WD works great”, but nowhere does the seller state that it “runs great”.

    1. Vairship Avatar
      Vairship

      Does “drift-proven” mean the same as “pre-crashed”?

        1. CraigSu Avatar
          CraigSu

          Best to seat the kids front to back in that one. That’s a lot of rear overhang. I think I’d want a couple of extra mirrors just to keep an eye on the rear end swing.

          1. engineerd Avatar
            engineerd

            I was just thinking the same thing. I wonder at what point they go ahead and actually lengthen the wheelbase?

  8. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    Too many choices! It’s a smidgen over budget, but who pays full price anyway? Here’s a gorgeous 1961 Rambler Classic:
    http://m.finn.no/car/used/ad.html?finnkode=75910111
    https://finncdn.global.ssl.fastly.net/dynamic/960w/2016/5/vertical-3/15/1/759/101/11_175049333.jpg
    https://finncdn.global.ssl.fastly.net/dynamic/960w/2016/5/vertical-3/15/1/759/101/11_1629627671.jpg
    All you need is a hat.
    I still haven’t managed to close the browser tab showing this, a 3600$ load of great style, entertainment and road dominance. Probably a lot of room for haggling here, but the car is said to have gone through tech inspection with flying colours and it’s just to drive it home.
    http://m.finn.no/car/used/ad.html?finnkode=75316071
    https://finncdn.global.ssl.fastly.net/dynamic/960w/2016/5/vertical-3/03/1/753/160/71_1036686716.jpg

    1. Alff Avatar
      Alff

      Your photos make me want to emigrate. My wife still has family in Norway but I can’t get her to come around to my way of thinking.

    2. CruisinTime Avatar
      CruisinTime

      Can you translate Kroner to us dollars? How much is the Rambler?

      1. CraigSu Avatar
        CraigSu

        49,500 NOK is $5944.71 as of this writing. If you ever need further exchange rates check out xe.com.

        1. CruisinTime Avatar
          CruisinTime

          That is a good price for a car like that.

      2. Sjalabais Avatar
        Sjalabais

        ….and adding to CraigSu’s facts I can say that Ramblers tend to be a hard sell. It’s sorted under “other makes” and they often stay online forever. Three years ago, my Honda was posted in the classifieds for 9500$ and I bought it for 6600$ after two months of haggling; the plight of rare cars.
        Tl;dr – Crapshoot rules were broken.

  9. JeffreyDuddles Avatar
    JeffreyDuddles

    My first few choices were some nice looking MGs, but I think this is going to be my final answer: 1965 220 Sedan
    https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/5602335658.html

    1. Vairship Avatar
      Vairship

      I guess I can forgive it that the license plate(s) spell out “BARF”…

  10. Inliner Avatar
    Inliner

    A pretty clean, complete looking 1965 Studebaker Commander for just $2700 CAD (~$2080 USD).
    This is actually pretty tempting for me, as long as it’s not rusted apart, but alas, I don’t have the money for it.
    http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjAwWDgwMA==/z/JygAAOSwdG9XRKzT/$_27.JPG
    http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/hamilton/1965-studebaker-comander-blue-sedan/1167955165?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

    1. dead_elvis, inc. Avatar
      dead_elvis, inc.

      As a committed redblock lover, while these are about the fanciest bricks ever, there’s not really that much GO there. Stuff an 8 cylinder of some sort in there (how about one from a later XC90 if you don’t want an American V8?), change the trunk badge to 782, and I’m in!

      1. Inliner Avatar
        Inliner

        I’d be interested to see how a Rover V8 would do under one of these, though I’d start with a project-i-er one.

  11. mrh1965 Avatar
    mrh1965

    Late to the party but I offer this 94 Mustang GT for $4K with “short shit kit”
    It’s the shit, man. I like it.
    http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/cto/5559308422.html

  12. Cool_Cadillac_Cat Avatar
    Cool_Cadillac_Cat

    I see Ryan had the same idea I did.
    Only have the given amount of allowed money, but you’re gonna need the other half for gear.
    http://easttexas.craigslist.org/mcy/5597611787.html
    These are somewhat terrifying, as the early-to-mid-80s were the motorcycle equivalent of 1967-1972 for muscle cars.
    Whole lotta go, but everything else is marginal, at best.

    1. dead_elvis, inc. Avatar
      dead_elvis, inc.

      Well, if you like your mid-80s Japanese muscle bike with way more “GO!” than “stop & turn”, why not just go for a V-Max? $5000 CDN, so like what, twenny bucks down here?
      http://abbotsford.craigslist.ca/mcy/5597278870.html
      https://images.craigslist.org/01616_lopmuaWVY44_600x450.jpg

      1. Cool_Cadillac_Cat Avatar
        Cool_Cadillac_Cat

        Because I’m both a Honda bike guy and not a fan of the cruiser style.
        Gimme a standard, or now sport-touring, style.

        1. dead_elvis, inc. Avatar
          dead_elvis, inc.

          The Magna, Sabre, and V-Max are nearly equally not my style. I’d much rather my Honda V4 in some sort of VFR/Interceptor guise per my formative motorcycling years. Or STxxxx, for serious long-distance slaying, as per your history!

          1. Cool_Cadillac_Cat Avatar
            Cool_Cadillac_Cat

            I can dig it. Depends on what you grew up around, I figure.
            I really want to totally LD-farkle an ST1300.
            Well, I REALLY want my ST1100 back, but that’s not going to happen.
            Flying V4…FTMFW!!!!!

          2. dead_elvis, inc. Avatar
            dead_elvis, inc.

            8 years & 30-something states with my ZRX1100 make me reluctant to part with it, even though it’s too porky for the day to day stuff, which has been the majority of my riding for quite a while now. But it’s nice to have something road-tested to be fast & comfortable enough to knock out 2000 miles over a 3 day weekend if I feel the need.

  13. Sean McMillan Avatar
    Sean McMillan

    A bit over priced at 3500, but cute nonetheless
    https://images.craigslist.org/00404_ll23K33t1ff_600x450.jpg

  14. Sean McMillan Avatar
    Sean McMillan

    my apologies. I missed the part about rapid transit and got caught up in the under 5k

    1. Sean McMillan Avatar
      Sean McMillan

      a couple of those might still qualify