Well, we’ve reached the end of the first full week of 2025. And that means it’s time for a four-way shootout, but this time, we’re going to take a look at my favorites, not yours. Yes, that means you have to see that rusty Focus again. And the motorhome, too.
I didn’t expect the vote to go in favor of that Nissan motorhome yesterday, but what surprised me was how passionate its supporters were in defending it. Talk about a love-it-or-hate-it vehicle. That little Fiat is way cool as well, and a good value, but it’s not an uncommon sight – except in yellow with a five-speed stick.
I can’t fault anyone for voting Fiat, but I had to go with the camper. It’s just too interesting to pass up, and if the seller is being honest about the condition, it’s a good deal if you want a small RV, too. Besides, I can’t say no to any 720, and not just because I used to own one. It’s also the inspiration for the best/worst RC monster truck of the 1980s: the Marui Big Bear. One of these years I’ll find the right one of those to add to my collection. Maybe I’ll even convert it to an RV.
All right; we’ll keep this simple. No games, no scenarios; just a simple four-way shootout. We’ll recap my choices for the week, and then you can tell me which one I was most right about.
1979 Mercedes-Benz 450SL – $3,900
I’m terrible with slang and vernacular terms, and it’s not just because I’m in my fifties – I was hopeless with slang terms in the ’80s, too. So I am only peripherally aware of the term “baller,” but as far as I know, someone who drives this car is aspiring to be seen as one. I also am given to understand that this car falls short of such aspirations by quite a lot.
It’s not that it’s that bad of a car, or in that bad of condition. But it has had some questionable modifications, and it is in desperate need of a paint job. If you’re willing to undo a few things and do a few others, however, you could end up with a pretty cool classic German car for not much money.
2005 Ford Focus ZXW SE – $1,600
Let’s be clear: I’m not suggesting that anyone would probably want this car for any purpose other than just a cheap way to get around in shitty weather. But for that purpose, it’s ideal. It’s already ugly, it’s dirt-cheap, and it should get through nearly all but the nastiest snow.
Then again, it’s a small station wagon, and those are always handy. Yeah, it has almost 300,000 miles on the clock, but apart from the rust, it doesn’t look it. And if it has been maintained mechanically, it should have some life left in it. With new car payments now hitting four figures in a lot of cases, a little runabout for less than two grand starts to look appealing, even if it isn’t very appealing-looking.
1996 Nissan Pathfinder SE – $4,900
At the other end of the condition spectrum, we have this strikingly clean Pathfinder. You don’t hear the term “cream puff” used to describe really clean used cars much anymore, but if ever it applied to a car, it’s this one. It’s shiny, well-kept inside, low miles for its age, and just looks like it has been really well taken care of.
Now, it’s important to point out that this car is being sold by a dealership, and it was obviously detailed prior to being photographed. I don’t know how much Armor-All they used on the inside, but a good guess would be “all of it.” Still, it’s obviously not rusty or beat-up, the interior hasn’t been trashed by kids or dogs, and as long as the timing belt is up to date, it should be just fine mechanically.
1984 Nissan-Datsun 720 Motorhome – $2,800
It seems to me, after featuring a few of these things, that you’re either an RV person or you’re not, and if you’re not, there’s nothing that will convince you to even consider one of these. So I’m not going to try. Instead, to the RV people, I say this: Have you seen the prices they’re asking for Dolphins or Chinooks these days? It’s getting ridiculous. Yeah, they’re cool, but there’s also a hefty amount of “Toyota tax” in that price.
This little Nissan is, in my opinion, a better truck anyway. Having owned both a NAPS-Z-powered Nissan and a 22R-powered Toyota, I’ll take the Nissan every time. No, it’s not going to be fast, but the acceleration shouldn’t be awful; Nissan likes to put really deep axle gears in its trucks, and I doubt this weighs all that much more than a normal pickup with a fiberglass cap on it. It’s not that big of a camper.
I think I already know which one is going to win, but I’ll let you all decide. And I’ll see you back here next week, with some new choices. Have a good weekend!
(Image credits: sellers)
Hey Mark,
Comparisons like this needs a blank check option. People like me vote on check-book vs passion. My own Money?: Pathfinder. Write a blank check and let me take home what ever? The SL Merc.
I think if you did this with our community, the results would be WAY less obvious and more entertaining.
ALSO Pathfinder + Vinyl wrap with Black Mesa Logo = Coolest fucking VG vehicle.
As I voted “Focus”, I realized I might be reaching pathological levels of pragmatism. But truly, nothing here spoke to me like a Milwaukee winter beater WAGON for 80¢/cc.
While my brains said “Pathfinder”, as it is the obvious choice, my heart (and finger) went with the SL – that Merc deserves a second chance at a normal life.
Seriously, the Pathfinder is the right choice here, it even seems predictable but at the same time kind of boring, and that’s how I feel about that particular SUV despite being manual and 4×4. Had it been a similar vintage Hardbody 4×4, though…
On the other hand, the Benz could use some help, but if it’s mechanically and structurally sound you’re already half way there. The Nardi steering wheel and Ronal alloys are a big bonus here as well.
Wheel polishing, an interior detail, a period correct stereo and a re-spray would take this one to the next level. That’s my pick today
I voted for the Pathfinder. But that is with my own money.
You give me a “Here you go, pick one one me,” Then its the R107, for the things you said. I had a chance to get an Air Force Serviceman import 280SL with a 5-speed. Closing that door was like shutting a bank vault. I recommend everyone at least open and close a door on an 70s-80s door Merc: its transcending.
I respect the Focus and its suggested role. but there’s no need for winter beaters here. The RV is tempting as a backup living situation, but I’m not quite ready to concede to life, especially since the rehabbed interior has the aesthetics of an HGTV flip. So either the Benz (I’ve always liked them) or the Pathfinder (for truck-based SUVs of the era, I’ve always liked them too.) In equivalent conditions I’d rather have the SL, but I think around here I can get one in better shape for a net purchase + repair expense that will work out to be less, so as resistant as I am to giving up on the SL, my path leadeth elsewhere-eth.
I’ll continue to disagree with Mark on the R50 being the high-water mark for the Pathfinder name (it isn’t, the R51 is), but having said that, this one is a clear winner here. If it were in the Midwest I’d be making a trip to buy it today for my kid.
true, R51 + VQ35 and 5 spd/4×4 is the high-water mark for these.
Thatnice of a Pathfinder WITH a stick for that reasonable of a price? You really must hate yourself to choose anything else.
I agree that the Focus is a good winter beater, but that one in particular has too much structural rust to be safe. Those rockers are GONE under that cladding. I’m not getting in that car on any road.
I went with the obvious choice, the Pathfinder. I just wish the SL was just a bit better of a starting point
Voted for the Benz because I knew the Pathfinder would run away with the win as the obvious choice.
Plus, the SL is a great starting point to mod in whatever ridiculous over the top way you want. If anyone asks, “Max! WTF were you thinking?!?!” I’d just have to show the before pics and the inquisitor would simply shrug it off. Safarized SL? Send it! Mansory tribute? Go wild! Restore it to original form? Save your money and buy a better example.
The Pathfinder is easily the best choice here
If the truck and price are actually legit (it seems too good to be true in 2025), how can you possibly NOT go with the Pathfinder? The Mercedes is bound to be a horror show, never mind the drug dealer aesthetics., Tiny RVs are useless, and that one makes me want to get a tetanus shot just looking at the pictures. The Focus is probably ready to break in half (and I am DONE with rusty cars, having spent 47 years in Maine). Rust is like an iceberg, what you can see is 10% of what’s there. I bet it looks like the Titanic underneath, and those cars are pretty crap to start with.
The only one I have any desire at all to own is the Benz, so it gets my vote for the second time this week. The Focus would be good if I were in a place that needed a winter beater, but I don’t so it’s a no. The others are just not vehicles that I am into at all but I can see why others would go for it.
Voted for that rusty Focus wagon… again. It’s the updated version of the white 1993 Escort wagon 5 speed I had that rusted itself off the road. Still kinda miss that thing though it’s been replaced with a rusty 2010 Mazda 5
I also voted for that camper because I just finished reading Travels with Charley… again. Hopefully I don’t get banned from Shitbox Showdown for voting twice.
The irrational part of me is drawn to the Benz, with the caveat that it’s too far gone to rescue. Rather than trying to get it back to stock, I’d do my best to clean it up so it doesn’t look completely roached and then lean into the boyracer/”tuner” mods: we’re talking oversized wing, body kit, giant rims, stance, underglow neons, too many subwoofers, you name it. It’s never gonna be as good as it once was, might as well enjoy it ironically.
However, even with imaginary internet money, I can’t bring myself to piss it away – I’m getting myself what looks like the most well-preserved, ready-to-go vehicle of the bunch, and that’s the Pathfinder by a mile.
Pathfnder by a mile – checks all the boxes and has a manual for the win. Great package and a useful, no nonsense SUV. I’d consider this for an actual purchase if I was looking.
I voted for the Pathfinder. I wasn’t a fan of SUVs in the ’90s, but in hindsight, a lot of the more truck-like SUVs of the era were very cool. They look great in a landscape blighted by bland modern indistinguishable CUVs/SUVs. This one looks to be in decent condition, and the manual transmission is a huge plus. This should win in a landslide.
Although, I considered voting for the 720 based on StilNotATony’s logic. I was originally envisioning a flatbed with the cab painted orange, but a flatbed monster truck taking styling cues from the Marui Big Bear would be awesome.
My choices from top to bottom are the Benz, the Pathfinder, the rolling meth lab, and finally the just shoot it already Focus. I can see putting the Pathfinder at the top because it looks great, but I kind of want to save that poor Benz.
I should have picked the Pathfinder. What modern non-GT-R Nissan can you possibly see looking that good in 28 years? It needs to be preserved as an example of when Nissan had their shit together and built cars designed to last well after the warranty had expired.
The Pathfinder strikes me as the best choice: reliable transportation; attractive if non-striking appearance, nice condition, flexible utility, reasonable parts availability, not ancient. Don’t have to do much, if anything, to put it in service immediately. Not particularly fuel friendly, but you rarely get everything you want in a used car.
It was Nissan vs Nissan for me, I believe that generation of pathfinder shared it’s chassis with the pickups of the era and were very capable vehicles. These were the precursor to the Xterra. That price makes me cry for how far we’ve fallen, and I leaned camper because it looks like a solid power-wash would go a long way for it.
I’ve always loved those old Mercedes, but having been exposed to enough of them they always look better then they go. They’re made mostly of horse-hair and old Deutsche Marks and are no where as luxurious as they look like they would be.
I voted for the RV again, and for the same reason: ditch the RV part and homebrew up a cab back wall and a flatbed. Then I’ve got a pretty capable small pickup for practically nothing!
Scruffy Merc for me. Came down to that or the Pathfinder. At the end of the day with a bit of sweat equity I’d be left with a unique care at the bottom of its depreciation curve. The focus is trash and while I respect that little Nissan RV I have no use for it.