"RacecaR" (RacecaR)
12/27/2013 at 09:39 • Filed to: Car Project
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"RacecaR" (RacecaR)
12/27/2013 at 09:39 • Filed to: Car Project | 0
| 18 |
Toy car. Project car. Weekend car.
Call it what you will, I will hopefully be picking up another in the spring/summer of 2014 once my garage is clear of the current project sitting in there (a '98 Mitsubishi Mirage shell).
I have been building and editing a list in my head for most of this year as to what to look for. Let me share this list with you and my criteria. Feel free to add any car I may have missed, or belittle me for my current list. If you have experience with any of these, please share your pros/cons.
EDIT: Wanted to add a quick list of my project car history. They have all been Mitsubishi's. A few 1g DSMs, the rest were Mirages. Two 3g Mirage hatches. One 1.6 NA (rare), one 4g63t swapped. One 4g sedan. 4 or 5 5g sedans.
My criteria:
1) Looking to spend at most, about $3,000 (can probably go a little over if the right car comes along, maybe up to about $3,500).
2) Should be AWD or RWD. No more FWD for me.
3) Manual transmission please. Not necessarily a deal breaker, but would really like a manual transmission.
4) Should have a decent amount of power from the factory, or good power to weight ratio. Not looking for a beast of a car. Which takes me to...
5) Not looking for a powerhouse. Just looking for something fun to drive. I may hit the drag strip. I may hit an autocross. May hit a rallycross. May even hit a track day. Or may not do any of those things. But mostly something I can take out on nice days/nights and have fun on some curvy roads or playing with others on an empty bypass. Or when the off chance comes up and I get to go out with my wife, take the "fun" car.
6) I don't need a project as much as a driver. I am okay with working on cars, but get discouraged and lose interest quick when MAJOR things come up. I can handle most work, but not going to pull another engine. That seems to be my achilles heal. I pull the engine, and that ends my project. :-/
7) Some aftermarket support is good. I'm not looking to build a beast of car, but modifying my car is a plus. Suspension, exhaust, engine, stuff like that. After being in the Mitsubishi Mirage game for years, I know what it is like to own a car that has very little aftermarket support in the US. It is not that much fun.
8) No real preference of turbo or NA. I love the feel of a turboed engine, but also love the sound and thought of getting power out of an NA power plant.
Now, on to my list. As you read through this list, please realize I am a fan of each car. That is why I need outside "influence".
1) Mazda Miata:
People who know me have told me I would probably get bored with its "lack of power". But the thought of owning a little roadster is exciting to me.
2) 240SX:
Call me a fan boy, but I have loved these things since about '99 when I bought my first Mirage. Looked at a gold one, but did not get it for some reason and picked up a Mirage instead. Not looking to turn it into a drift missile.
3) Galant VR-4:
I am a big Mitsubishi fan, and I have wanted a GVR4 for the longest time. I know at this point, it is going to be hard to find one in my price range that is not coming along with its share of issues. But AWD, turboed, rally heritage, "rare"...COME ON!
4) 1st or 2nd gen AWD DSM:
Don't care which gen it is, if it is fairly clean, and runs well, I'm in!
5) 1st Gen Toyota Celica:
Old school Japanese iron. What else is there to say?
6) 3rd Gen Mirage/Colt hatch (swapped or 1.6t):
This is the only one that breaks my rules. It is FWD, but I don't care. If it has a 4g63t or a 4g61t, I'll be happy. AWD swap can come later.
7) Lexus SC300:
Again, not going to turn it into a drift missile. I just love the looks, and the possible performance of the car.
8) 2nd gen Toyota MR2:
Would like a turbo one, but probably can't afford one.
I think that is about it. Oh course, whatever I pick will need to pass the wife test. If she does not like it, I'll have a harder time buying it.
So let's hear your thoughts!
EDIT #2: Added an SC300. I knew I was forgetting one.
EDIT #3: Added 2nd gen MR2. Just not sure they are in my price range.
Nibby
> RacecaR
12/27/2013 at 09:42 |
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Camry.
GROUNDED TO THE GROUND
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RacecaR
> Nibby
12/27/2013 at 09:43 |
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Sorry, that's my daily. But it is a '96, with a cat back exhaust and an open air intake on it. HAHAHA!
I did think about just turboing it when I get a new daily though. But that idea was kicked to the curb pretty quickly.
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Nibby
> RacecaR
12/27/2013 at 09:47 |
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Wait what? My joke totally backfired. xD
John Norris (AngryDrifter)
> RacecaR
12/27/2013 at 09:51 |
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2) 240SX
Endless options here for you to modify for performance and looks.
Dubblewhopper
> RacecaR
12/27/2013 at 09:53 |
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1970 to a 1978 S30 Z. They only built 70,000 each year, and they are going up in price. And OEM parts are getting harder to find.
Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
> RacecaR
12/27/2013 at 09:57 |
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That AMC Eagle I posted.
Team6.1
> RacecaR
12/27/2013 at 10:09 |
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On that list, I would vote 240SX. Yes the pricing may be a tad inflated because of the drift scene, but it also has A. Shitload of aftermarket parts and B. Forums where people have done everything from engine and tranny swaps to interior rebuilds etc.
Not on the list but another option, Datsun 510 or 240/260/280z. Older cars so the major mechanical issues may be more prevelant. Not super powered but certainly posses the power/weight ratio. Perfect autox or rally car. Not the greatest track or drag cars without power upgrades. But should be super fun to cruise around in
johnr240z
> Dubblewhopper
12/27/2013 at 10:10 |
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I agree but finding one under 3 grand would be a challenge.
davedave1111
> RacecaR
12/27/2013 at 10:21 |
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How about a Locost or similar? Not to build from scratch, if you're not after a major project, I guess. Although if you do build one from scratch you could use all the Mitsubishi stuff you're already familiar with, or pick parts with upgrade potential.
04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches.
> RacecaR
12/27/2013 at 10:55 |
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E30?
If I was looking for coolness, classy, and semi-project car all in one package that'd definitely be in my top five.
Tons of support, for both major and minor work projects. Easy to find fairly cheap. And RWD.
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RacecaR
> 04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches.
12/27/2013 at 10:56 |
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I have thought about those, just was not sure. I will keep it in mind, thanks!
And I forgot to mention, my list is in no certain order.
BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
> RacecaR
12/27/2013 at 11:51 |
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Early Z32 300ZX. Even in N/A trim they had 200+ hp, RWD, and stick available.
TyFc3s-A car hating millennial
> RacecaR
12/27/2013 at 12:19 |
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heres a car which fits almost none of your qualifications
Because X1/9 is always the answer. (once miatas have already been brought up)
But if you're really stuck in your ways, then the Fc Rx7 is for you, its almost like a miata just with more power and the capabilites of making a lot more power, as unlike any of the other rotary powered cars the 3 rotor will really just bolt in to this one, but of course the 2 rotor is capable of making way more than any one would ever need anyway.. and believe it or not, they are not unreliable motors at all.. and they're very cheap to fix.
And if your in the new jersey area by any chance, i have one for sale for $2800
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RacecaR
> TyFc3s-A car hating millennial
12/27/2013 at 12:40 |
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If I was ready to buy, I'd probably consider your FC. Love those cars. The only reason I do not think about them is because I figure they are probably out of my price range.
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TyFc3s-A car hating millennial
> RacecaR
12/27/2013 at 12:46 |
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some good turbo 2s might be, but the Fcs are all very cheap, you should have no problem finding one, and when ur ready to buy one let me know, this Fc isnt advertised yet, so it might still be around, and i work at a shop that works on them, and buys and sells them (as a secondary function which is why we havent moved this car yet, its not our main concern) so there could be more.. Like us on facebook, we're JPR imports.. sorry if i sound too much like a pushy salesman, im just letting you know haha
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RacecaR
> TyFc3s-A car hating millennial
12/27/2013 at 12:49 |
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Thanks for the info. I'm sure I will put something up on here once I am ready to actually start buying.
Right now I'm just trying to get ideas, info on what I have listed.
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TyFc3s-A car hating millennial
> RacecaR
12/27/2013 at 12:54 |
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alright then.. also dont totally shrug off the X1/9... or the Mr2 if you wanna be all safe.. lol
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RacecaR
> TyFc3s-A car hating millennial
12/27/2013 at 14:28 |
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Seems like I found an older Fiat locally a few months back. Just looking around and saw it. So it is not totally out of the question.