Movig to the states - Recommend me something for $5000
Discussion
So, quick bit of fun, but it does have a purpose.
I'm moving over to the states in January and my boss (who is also moving) and I have decided to have a bit of a Top Gear style challenge for when we get there.
What's the most awesome thing I can get for $5000??
What defines awesome? Well... its got to be a V8 hasn't it.. and that's about all for requirements!
2 seaters up to massive SUVs... but it must be 'awesome'!
I'm struggling to find anything cool here guys.... help me out!
(I will be in Los Angeles BTW)
I'm moving over to the states in January and my boss (who is also moving) and I have decided to have a bit of a Top Gear style challenge for when we get there.
What's the most awesome thing I can get for $5000??
What defines awesome? Well... its got to be a V8 hasn't it.. and that's about all for requirements!
2 seaters up to massive SUVs... but it must be 'awesome'!
I'm struggling to find anything cool here guys.... help me out!
(I will be in Los Angeles BTW)
Watch me get laughed at...
But I'd find a 94-96 Cadillac Fleetwood. These are ridiculous cars but not the way you'd think. They have the same basic small block V8 as the Corvette (LT1) so yes, they can smoke their rear tires. They're the last body-on-frame huge American luxury cars.
Using the cruise control and keeping at 75 or less will also see 25mpg on the highway. That's US MPG (Our gallons are 3.8L).
They usually last for around 300k miles.
The ride on the highway is akin to that of a Rolls Royce, interior room is comparable. The AC, if properly working, will freeze you out even driving across death valley in the summer.
Cheap to fix, easy to work on, parts availability excellent, etc.. Last one I had cost me $120 plus shipping for front brake pads and both rotors.
Not something to go blasting around the twisty canyon roads in, but taken for what they are they're great fun.
But I'd find a 94-96 Cadillac Fleetwood. These are ridiculous cars but not the way you'd think. They have the same basic small block V8 as the Corvette (LT1) so yes, they can smoke their rear tires. They're the last body-on-frame huge American luxury cars.
Using the cruise control and keeping at 75 or less will also see 25mpg on the highway. That's US MPG (Our gallons are 3.8L).
They usually last for around 300k miles.
The ride on the highway is akin to that of a Rolls Royce, interior room is comparable. The AC, if properly working, will freeze you out even driving across death valley in the summer.
Cheap to fix, easy to work on, parts availability excellent, etc.. Last one I had cost me $120 plus shipping for front brake pads and both rotors.
Not something to go blasting around the twisty canyon roads in, but taken for what they are they're great fun.
Something like this.. a bit cheap but it needed a transmission.
Good news is a trans shop would charge $1,000-1,500 to remove and overhaul the trans.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cadillac-Fleetwood-...
Good news is a trans shop would charge $1,000-1,500 to remove and overhaul the trans.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cadillac-Fleetwood-...
I ran one of these for a while in the UK in the mid eighties. 1979 Ford Bronco with. Cleveland 351 CID V8 . 4 speed auto , very fond memories of the experience , I fitted Konis which made a vast difference. Indestructible yes, , frugal.....course not !
Whatever you choose have fun !
P.S , the one I had was blue body with white cab , will you find one for $5 thousand though ?
Edited by mikial on Wednesday 25th September 02:40
ReaperCushions said:
Love the Fleetwood, will look into those (maybe one with a decent transmission 
Not sure on the bronco.... bit 'runaway murderer' for my liking
Any more for any more!?
Runaway murderer , love it Not sure on the bronco.... bit 'runaway murderer' for my liking
Any more for any more!?
Haven't heard or read " any more for any more " for ages, a fella from Tipperary I worked with used to say that a lot, along with " would you throw a saddle on that ? "
A lot of it depends on how you're going to be using the car? I've always had a thing that, were I to live in a foreign country I'd drive stuff that I couldn't back home. When I was in the UK I had a 530d and a Lotus Carlton.
Are you looking for something to eat up miles on the interstate? Go off roading? Haul stuff? Sports car?
Are you looking for something to eat up miles on the interstate? Go off roading? Haul stuff? Sports car?
Captain Cadillac said:
A lot of it depends on how you're going to be using the car? I've always had a thing that, were I to live in a foreign country I'd drive stuff that I couldn't back home. When I was in the UK I had a 530d and a Lotus Carlton.
Are you looking for something to eat up miles on the interstate? Go off roading? Haul stuff? Sports car?
Interesting question, I don't have any criteria really other than being usable on US roads. I'm living in Orange County which does have its fair share of twisties as well as slogging up and down the interstate.Are you looking for something to eat up miles on the interstate? Go off roading? Haul stuff? Sports car?
I don't have any format criteria, but I imagine I will do 10k miles a year.
Agree with your point though, something I can't get (or very difficult) in the UK would be good. I'm really looking at American cars rather than Jap or Euro.
LT1 Fleetwood, 90s ford thunderbird (one of the few cheap, quick, RWD yank cars with a manual option), 3rd or 4th gen firebird...
You might find a mercury marauder for that much? Would be leggy.
I would be careful with old body on frame trucks and SUVs - they're cool but the ride can be a bit agricultural.
You might find a mercury marauder for that much? Would be leggy.
I would be careful with old body on frame trucks and SUVs - they're cool but the ride can be a bit agricultural.
Older corvette (C3 or C4). This provides you with a lot of options... The late C3s and early C4s won't have a lot of power from the factory, but they handle pretty good. In some places (for instance around military bases) LT1 powered C4s can be had for $5k or less. Many negative things have been said about the corvette, but I've never met somebody who had owned one and didn't like it.
Edit:
It's a bit of a drive (4 hours if I remember), but Fort Irwin isn't too far from LA. The reason I mentioned military bases is that soldiers will get transfered to places like hawaii, germany, and alaska and will only be able to bring 1 vehicle (on the military's money) and the rest have to be sold or put into storage. The 1 is almost always a family car.
Edit:
It's a bit of a drive (4 hours if I remember), but Fort Irwin isn't too far from LA. The reason I mentioned military bases is that soldiers will get transfered to places like hawaii, germany, and alaska and will only be able to bring 1 vehicle (on the military's money) and the rest have to be sold or put into storage. The 1 is almost always a family car.
Edited by dblack1 on Monday 21st October 23:24
I relocated to the States back in January 1999 (had to come back to UK in 2003 after a massive spinal injury) and I found that my initial estimation on what I would need to spend on a vehicle was sorely shortsighted! I spent some time trawling the used car ads and looking at vehicles of a similar budget to yours, possibly a little more but just came to the conclusion that many owners do not care for their cars like us Brits do. Plus the weather has a severe effect on the paintwork if you live in any hot climates (I moved to Nevada), as we all know Americans can't paint cars for the life of 'em lol.
I ended up putting down a deposit and leasing a Chevy Suburban which was an awesome vehicle (especially after I performance tuned it,...well I did live about 15 mins from Summit Racing haha).
You may just want to think about leasing, it's the norm in the USA and you will get a much more reliable vehicle which you will need as just about everything is driving distance, unless you are living in NYC or another major city.
All the best with the relocation
I ended up putting down a deposit and leasing a Chevy Suburban which was an awesome vehicle (especially after I performance tuned it,...well I did live about 15 mins from Summit Racing haha).
You may just want to think about leasing, it's the norm in the USA and you will get a much more reliable vehicle which you will need as just about everything is driving distance, unless you are living in NYC or another major city.
All the best with the relocation
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