DailyTurismo

August 3 2021

All Looks, No Go: 2004 Porsche Cayenne

DailyTurismo Late Model Cayenne, Porsche, Volkswagen, VR6 3

Back in 2004 the suburban warriors and middle aged house wives (and house husbands) who jumped on the opportunity to buy the base model of Porsche’s first SUV were probably not familiar with the term VR6. But if you tell a proper car guy, he’s gonna say, Jetta or Golf? Because the VR6 is synonymous with Volkswagen and those Porsche jacket wearing folks didn’t know they’d just purchased something that shared an engine with a Golf. But the jokes on Porsche because the little VR6 is cheaper and easier to maintain over some complicated twin-turbo Porsche and I’d rather fix this thing on the side of the trail than something with a boosted V8. Find this 2004 Porsche Cayenne offered for $18000 in Colorado Springs, CO via eBay.

August 3 2021

Somewhat Mobile Storage Pod: 1972 Mercedes-Benz O309D Omnibus

DailyTurismo Classic Bus, Diesel, Mercedes-Benz, O309D, Omnibus 3

What has….a diesel engine, manual gearbox, UNIMOG off-road chassis, and seating for 22 people? If you said “my dream vehicle,” then this next feature might just make your day. But for the rest of us who don’t have storage for a giant vehicle that leaks as much oil as it burns, this is mostly a curiosity. Find this 1972 Mercedes-Benz O309D Omnibus offered for $12,000 in SF Bay Area, CA via craigslist.

August 2 2021

Twofer: 1985 Peugeot 505 D Turbo Station Wagon

DailyTurismo Modern Classic 505, Diesel, Peugeot, Slow, Turbo Diesel, TurboDiesel 4

When you see a car and think to yourself “wow, I’m glad this comes with a spare car” you should probably stop and think carefully about your purchase. Because, as a rule, cars that come with a spare car are ones where the parts availability is limited to what you can find in the homebrew junkyard in your front yard. However, according to a guy I know who grew up in Africa, the 505 was the last reliable Pug to leave the factories in wherever they were built. I think Jeremy Clarkson might have said the same thing, but he doesn’t have the same street cred as a guy who grew up in Addis Ababa. He probably told me some other things about the diesel powered Peugeot, but I should probably should pay more attention when people tell me things. Find this 1985 Peugeot 505 D Turbo Station Wagon offered for $3900 in Fortuna, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

August 2 2021

Always Bet On Big Block: 1973 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

DailyTurismo Malaise 'Murica, Big Block, Chevrolet, Monte Carlo 3

Back in the early 1970s, a Chevrolet Monte Carlo was an affordable way to get into a big 2-door personal luxury car. It might have not had the style of a Thunderbird or the sporty/upmarket(ish) badge of the Pontiac Grand Prix, but the Monte Carlo was available with a big block and understated styling with overstated gravitational pull. Bigger than Saturn, which is apparently giving a great view of its rings right now. Find this 1973 Chevrolet Monte Carlo offered for $9600 in Shelton, CT via craigslist. Tip from Cory.

August 2 2021

American V8: 1977 Ferrari 400

DailyTurismo Classic 400, Chevy V8, Ferrari, Italian, V8 Swap 9

Hey Luigi, you gotta stop driving that crummy old Ferrari — its gonna cost you an arm and a leg with each overpriced Ferrari oil change and don’t get me started on the cost of a basic valve service that is probably required every 4000 kilometers…whatever a kilometer is. A kilometer is probably just a really expensive mile. Anyway, this next Ferrari has had the crummy Italian motor replaced with a proper Chevy V8, but the Leonardo Fioravanti (from Pininfarina) body is still looking like a proper 80s exotic. Find this 1977 Ferrari 400 offered for $19,500 in San Rafael, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

July 31 2021

Prequel To A Prius? 2006 Nissan 350Z

DailyTurismo Late Model 350Z, Convertible, Japanese, Nissan 6

I knew a guy who purchased a (new or almost new) Nissan 350Z convertible that looked very much like this next car. It had a manual gearbox and a ragtop and he loved that car. Drove the daylights out of it. Until the day he rolled his topless Z somewhere up in the mountains and ended up with a massive headwound (broken collar bones, broken arm, broken everything, released from the hospital still with dirt in his bloodied head because they couldn’t find his insurance card or ID and he didn’t know his name, so they thought he was a deadbeat) and doesn’t remember 24 hours of his life. But here is the kicker, because after he got out of the hospital he took the insurance payout and purchased a Toyota Prius. No joke. I guess what I’m saying is…don’t drive a 350Z and bash your head on a rock, unless you want to drive a Prius. Find this 2006 Nissan 350Z offered for $6,500 in Lake Forest, CA via craigslist.

July 31 2021

Always Bet on Shelby: 1987 Shelby Charger GLHS

DailyTurismo Modern Classic 'Murica, Charger, Dodge, GLHS, Shelby 2

There is nothing subtle about a Shelby Dodge from the 80s with the GLH or GLHS badge. Big bold SHELBY decades adorn every exposed surface and badges declare things like INTERCOOLED. But any tightwad boost junkie will be familiar with the Shelby Charger GLHS for its perky personality, ’80s performance and generally showing expensive cars who is the boss. Malign it for front wheel drive, or love it for the Shelby name; these little GLHS (Omni or Charger) coupes will be worth something someday. Find this 1987 Shelby Charger GLHS offered for $8700 in Laguna Niguel, CA via craiglist. Tip from Rock On!

July 30 2021

Ongoing Running Project: 1989 Mazda 323GTX

DailyTurismo Modern Classic 323, 323GTX, GTX, Japanese, Mazda 4

1980’s were known as the Golden Age of Rally. Fire breathing Group B cars ran rampant throughout the forests in the early part of the decade, and then tragically it was all over. The meek inherited the woods in the form of production-based Group A cars, and a few of them made it to The Land of the Free. Plucky little Mazda took it’s cooking 323 hatchback and turbo-charged it along with outfitting it with AWD and a locking center diff. Shockingly, it wasn’t forbidden fruit in the U.S., and it was sold in showrooms across the U.S. next to it’s tamer siblings. Of course, you know the rest of the story; it didn’t sell, only moving around 1,200 units in the 2 years here. Find this 1989 Mazda 323GTX offered for $6,500 in Orange County, CA via craigslist.

July 30 2021

Perfect If You Like To Walk: 1999 Land Rover Discovery

DailyTurismo Classic British, Discovery, Land Rover 4

The next car isn’t the most reliable thing you could buy…but it just might be the most reliable thing posted on DailyTurismo today, because I’m feeling in the mood for outdoor living. And what could be more outdoors than walking to your destination because your car broke down? Save the planet and get healthy, all you need to do is own unreliable cars! Find this 1999 Land Rover Discovery offered for $6700 in Santa Fe, NM via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

July 29 2021

5-Speeds Face-Off: 2009 Volkswagen Golf or 1994 Mercury Tracer

DailyTurismo Late Model 'Murica, 5-speed, Face-Off, German, Golf, Mercury, Tracer, Volkswagen 4

These next two cars make for an interesting comparison because they are both front-wheel-drive and equipped with a 5-speed manual gearbox, but the similarities end there. In fact, the thing that makes these car even remotely interesting to compare is that they are sold by the same seller in one craigslist advert. Would you prefer this 2009 Volkswagen Golf offered for $4000 or 1994 Mercury Tracer offered for $1200 in Hartford, CT via craigslist. Tip from ME

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