by "Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
Published 09/22/2017 at 15:50
by "Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
Published 09/22/2017 at 15:50
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STARS: 1
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Alright so I just went and checked out two used cars that I am trying to get as a temporary beater for autocross and daily use while my Miata is in the shop. The two cars I looked at were a ‘94 Honda Del Sol and a ‘98 Dodge Neon R/T.
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This car is not stock but its not crazy frankensteined or something either. It just has a d16y8 engine (‘96-’97 Civic EX VTEC YO), a crazy loud ebay exhaust, rear sway bar and control arms, and different head/tail lights with HIDs of course. Its in pretty decent condition, nothing mechanically wrong, interior is pretty okay, AC even works. Driving it was very fun, the power steering is disconnected so idk if that works. But as is it was interesting to say the least, I thought my Miata had heavy steering haha. Shifter was very nice and everything ran smoothly. Only things actually wrong with it are the cheap respray paint (orange peely, some minor overspray) and a OBD1 check engine light that read a flash code 17 which is the speed sensor and thats why the speedo is inop. No inspection needed in NJ though since its a 94!
Anyways, for price he had a set of stock wheels so I would be getting those with the car instead (the aftermarket ones rub quite a lot) for a negotiated total of $1800. If I want this option, I think I would go back and ask for $2k for both sets of wheels so that I could maybe save more by selling them. But my Miata wheels fit the car so I’d probably just use those for now.
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This Neon is owned by a guy who loves these cars and races them. This is the fourth one he owned and was a really cool guy. He had a few pictures of the caged ones he built and some trophies, seemed like he knew what he was doing with these. This one is stock and he replaced most of the suspension and brakes stuff basically. It ran really nice and was actually quite fun to tool around in. It wasnt registered or insured so I didnt take it far, but the guy didnt even come along with me so I feel like it was a good experience. Brakes were a bit squishy but I can probably sort that out easily, new rotors and pads all around, so its probably just got air in the system. It might have just been crappy Chrysler product too though haha. Anyways, interior was nice, dash was fixed. And nothing wrong with it at all. Only concern is it has to pass inspection still but that shouldnt be too difficult, no check engine lights.
The best part about this car is the guy just wants $1000 for it. That is a nice price for a perfectly running car thats in good shape. Tires were kinda flat but held air once we put some in. It had sat for quite a bit, almost a year so its to be expected. It started right up thanks to the new battery though so it was a solid car. This is my first choice right now, but Im still looking through some other stuff.
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I also could probably try and find another Miata easily to use but ideally I want something different while I can anyways. Always nice to try something else. But no matter what, smallish, manual, and fun are probably priorities. But I cant be too picky at this price.
"Arrivederci" (arrividerci)
09/22/2017 at 15:57, STARS: 1
Scoop that little R/T. Guy at my local autocross runs the ACR variant of one of those and that little booger is a lot faster than it has any right to be. Buy it for $1k + wheels/tires + brakes and you’ll be ready to boogie in autox.
"farscythe - makin da cawfee!" (farscythe)
09/22/2017 at 15:57, STARS: 0
hood on the del sol aint sitting right.... looks like it hit something to me
that combined with needing alignment would worrie me
"themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce)
09/22/2017 at 15:58, STARS: 1
Neon.
If you tire of autocross, try rallycross with it. It’ll do pretty good.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/22/2017 at 16:08, STARS: 0
I’m sad I didnt find it sooner. Would have been nice to try ice racing last winter. I will be gone to California though before I try out that though. Maybe I can hold onto it when I visit my parents. And find an excuse to go ice racing while visiting lol.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/22/2017 at 16:11, STARS: 1
Yeah it drove fine but overall those factors make it seem sketchy to me. The guy seemed legit but I dont think he had many details on it either. He had bought for the same reason Im shopping actually, his car was in the shop and he needed something fun. It was also his fourth del sol which was funny. But yeah the front bumper had some fiberglass covering the OEM fog light holes which made it fit weird. But he had the original headlights which werent broken, so I dont think he crashed it. Clean title too but who knows with that crap.
Either way, i dont think it was cheap enough to really entice me. The Neon keeps looking better!
"farscythe - makin da cawfee!" (farscythe)
09/22/2017 at 16:15, STARS: 0
neon looks solid to me.. paints fucked but otherwise solid
(at least the pics i can see aint givinng me red flags)
"MonkeePuzzle" (monkeypuzzle)
09/22/2017 at 16:15, STARS: 3
I’d vote Neon. The $1400 price difference would leave a lot fo cash left over for fun. and as this is just a fill in between the miata, I think the del sol would be a waste.
"Takuro Spirit" (takurospirit)
09/22/2017 at 16:15, STARS: 2
Can’t go wrong with a Neon R/T. Fun, light, and simple. Being rust-free (if it actually is) that’s a hell of a deal.
Better than that chopped up Del Slow.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/22/2017 at 16:20, STARS: 1
Yeah there was nothing wrong other than the paint basically. I couldnt even find rust on the bottom of it. I didnt see anything glaring under the hood. Broken dipstick of course (i havent owned a car with a non broken one) but otherwise solid. Interior was even very nice.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/22/2017 at 16:22, STARS: 0
Good point, Id rather spend money on some tires for the Neon and get to play with it for a month. I know that Honda would need some basic stuff and is a bit riceroni. Top down life would be fun and that exhaust is fun. But it would be a dumb choice haha.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/22/2017 at 16:24, STARS: 1
The only rust I could even find was a tiny spot on the rocker. But it didnt feel squishy and seemed to be surface stuff. I know bad rockers from my Miata lol. And besides I wouldnt keep it long enough for it to get worse anyways. Its also a black car with terrible paint so cutting out a chunk of metal and just spray painting is easy enough there. I dont think its an issue though.
It drove quite nicely though. I think Id have plenty of fun with it. Way better than shitty rental cars. And its even got roll down windows which is a super plus!
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
09/22/2017 at 16:26, STARS: 1
Definitely the Neon.
"farscythe - makin da cawfee!" (farscythe)
09/22/2017 at 16:28, STARS: 0
welp.. its cheaper, in a better condition and only a temporary car anyway... i think your set :p
"Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever" (rustanddust)
09/22/2017 at 16:34, STARS: 1
Having owned both a 1993 del Sol Si (lol single cam), and a 1998 Neon R/T, I’d recommend the RT (even if the prices were equal, much more so with the R/T so cheap), if they’re both in similar mechanical shape. That del Sol looks like it’s had a rough life (why are the door jambs painted black on a red car?).
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/22/2017 at 16:46, STARS: 0
my only concern is having no idea if the timing belt was done. At 160k it likely was done earlier. But otherwise its a timebomb! I dont really want to deal with doing one during my short ownership.
"Bytemite" (bytemite)
09/22/2017 at 17:01, STARS: 1
Neither. Both of them covered up their license plates.
They have no idea what they’re doing and covered up their plate because...they do things without thinking or knowing the reason behind it.
The kind of logical, smart people you don’t buy old, used cars from. The same kind of people that would follow a crowd off a cliff.
"Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner" (gavinharter30)
09/22/2017 at 17:09, STARS: 0
Del sol
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
09/22/2017 at 17:11, STARS: 0
I like the Del Sol, just because I like those cars.
"Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction" (rustholes-are-weight-reduction)
09/22/2017 at 17:22, STARS: 0
I’m a sucker for the Del Sol, but if your other car is a miata, might s well get the Neon
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/22/2017 at 17:35, STARS: 0
haha i mean i give most people a pass on that, its a stupid practice but its general craigslist fare. The only things that matter are how the car itself checks out and how cheap it is.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/22/2017 at 17:36, STARS: 0
Its a black car with a crappy red respray. Or rather an okay respray, like a ten footer. But yeah it was a cheap respray for sure.
In general there is less to go wrong with the neon I would think. It seems like im putting in less risk anyways. The car is actually quite nice. My only hiccup is the timing belt. I think I would need to change it right away since it could be a time bomb at that mileage or it was recently done, who knows. The owner certainly doesnt know, he didnt do it.
"Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever" (rustanddust)
09/22/2017 at 17:49, STARS: 0
99% positive it’s an OE red car. Engine bay is red, and the door jambs look like spraybomb (labels are painted over). The exterior has been resprayed, there’s red overspray on weatherstripping.
In any case, I think the Neon is the right one.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/22/2017 at 17:57, STARS: 0
I think its likely the car was red and then sprayed matte black and then sprayed red again. Thats the best idea I can come up with. Yeah, the Neon just makes more sense