by "Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection" (itsalwayssteve)
Published 01/04/2017 at 12:32
by "Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection" (itsalwayssteve)
Published 01/04/2017 at 12:32
Tags: daily drive a classic
; a fox body is a classic now
; seriously it is
STARS: 2
So my wife and I were discussing automotive options and I’m always a shopper.
We’re looking for a second vehicle for 2-3 days a week. I’ll be in school from 6-8 pm four nights a week starting next week and 6-10 pm starting in March.
The car would mainly be used when she’s not feeling well or appointments would disrupt our schedule. The budget is around $6000 or so. I’ve talked about this before but I guess I’m grooming her toward the idea of an older daily driver. I sent her a link to a Craigslist ad for an old Firebird as a joke. She said:
“So this firebird dream is not dying eh? If you are cool with a car like that, we will certainly think about it.”
That’s definitely not the car for me - but I think I want to get an older car to drive every week. I do, however, have some requirements for this:
Initial purchase price under $6k
Reasonably durable
Cheap Parts
Electronic Ignition (or easy conversion to electronic ignition)
Capable of 20 MPG highway (I have an 18-mile 1 way commute)
Not Embarrasing for my wife to drive (Subjective of course, but she said she’d never be seen in that Firebird
Automatic transmission (for when our arthritic knees/feet act up and we have to wear the boot)
All of this leads me toward something I’ve lusted for, for a while.
So, Fox-body friends...
What do I look for in 2-3 months when I start looking?
"Phatboyphil" (justphil)
01/04/2017 at 12:36, STARS: 2
TBH if she’d be embarrassed in that firebird she probably won’t have better feelings toward the fox.
"My X-type is too a real Jaguar" (TomSlick)
01/04/2017 at 12:36, STARS: 0
Get the latest one you can find in the best shape, then start prowling to self service junkyards for spare parts before you can’t find any.
"Wacko" (wacko--)
01/04/2017 at 12:37, STARS: 3
if your looking for a fox body, don’t forget to get Vanilla Ice’s CD
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
"Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection" (itsalwayssteve)
01/04/2017 at 12:39, STARS: 0
I’d rather find one in that dark gray, or Strawberry red, or black. Race red isn’t my thing.
"BeaterGT" (beatergt)
01/04/2017 at 12:45, STARS: 0
The Firebird is out but the Fox is in? I feel like I’m taking crazy pills!
"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
01/04/2017 at 12:53, STARS: 0
https://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/5919020468.html
Yeah, I know it’s a T56, and slightly over your budget, but an auto may be out there. Interior needs work but I think you might know a guy...
"Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection" (itsalwayssteve)
01/04/2017 at 13:06, STARS: 1
With F-bodies, I much prefer the Formula/TA.
like this one:
https://columbia.craigslist.org/cto/5907865372.html
"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
01/04/2017 at 13:08, STARS: 0
Whatever works for you! I prefer the 4.2 Firebird/TA’s myself but some think they are too ostentatious.
I’d totally look into an LS1 car though. If nothing else, for OBDII and tuning possibilities.
"Stapleface" (patrickgruden)
01/04/2017 at 13:23, STARS: 0
It’s a shame that you need to have an automatic.
There’s a ton of cars I could recommend if it weren’t for that. Ever consider a pickup? That could pull double duty as something to do household chores with.
"ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97)
01/04/2017 at 14:00, STARS: 0
A pre 92 C4 Corvette would be squarely within the criteria. So long as the electronic dash works, the early C4's avoid the LT1/LT4 issues and parts cost, and the autos avoid both the 4+3 bullshit and the no longer existent dual mass flywheel problem of the ZF 6-speed cars. Most of them were autos anyway, so they should be easy to find..
"Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection" (itsalwayssteve)
01/04/2017 at 14:03, STARS: 0
I’m 6'3" and about 300 lbs. A C4 Vette is not something I want to stuff myself into more than once a week.
"ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97)
01/04/2017 at 14:09, STARS: 0
No, a C4 vette would not be comfortable for those dimensions.
"ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97)
01/04/2017 at 14:09, STARS: 0
No, a C4 vette would not be comfortable for those dimensions.
"MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner" (montegoman562)
01/04/2017 at 14:46, STARS: 0
Well, if you want her to not be embarassed, you need the Executive Sports Coupe from FoMoCo, the Mercury Capri (Fox Body edition of course). Price is do-able, automatic do-able, and you should be able to find one swapped to electronic ignition.
"Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection" (itsalwayssteve)
01/04/2017 at 15:03, STARS: 0
I meant electronic ignition as in “not points.”
And my cousin has a 5-speed Capri in his garage right now if I want it.
"MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner" (montegoman562)
01/05/2017 at 12:38, STARS: 0
well it sounds like your problem is solved my friend. Don’t embarass the wife by having her drive around in anything less than an Executive Sports Coupe.