I've got this idea... and the wife may even let me live

"tetsu_no_usagi" (tetsunousagi) 05/17/2014 at 23:18 • Filed to: None

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I've got this idea on how to get almost everything I want from the automotive world, and at the same time take care of my automotive needs. Come on, we all have wants and needs, and they're rarely the same thing.

First off, what is my family's auto needs? Easy - I have to get to work some 40 miles away every day and back, at a reasonable expenditure of gas and comfort in all the weather that the middle of the country can throw my way; and my wife has to get my aged mother around and our daughter to school and back. We meet these needs now with a Honda Fit for my daily (it's a fun car and gets 34mpg on average, plus has an amazing amount of interior space), and a Honda Odyssey for the wife's daily, plus anything else we need (family outings, hauling big things, and long-range family roadtrips). Also in the driveway is a battered, high-mileage 1990 Toyota Corolla that I am (slowly) building into a CrapCan racer, but haven't done much with quite yet.

Now, the wants - I want to get into ChumpCar/24 Hours of LeMons; I want a motorcycle; I need a winter beater to supplement the daily; I want to get into rally/autocross; and I have this idea for a project car that I really want to dig into. It's not much, but it's enough to keep me out of trouble (idle hands and playgrounds to evil beings and all that), and attainable in my meager spare time. And hopefully, as you'll see, my budget as well.

I know, I know, 4 wheels good, 2 wheels bad, but I've long wanted a motorcycle. If I lived closer to work, I'd probably just pedal bike it, but at roughly 40 miles, one way, that ain't gonna work. I don't need much on my daily commute, and if I can get there on a fun conveyance that gets even better gas mileage than I'm already getting, so much the better. I'm quite fond of Honda's new !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! for its good looks and performance, good reviews and above all, its relative low price. However, I can see the writing on the wall, the gas engine is going away, possibly in my lifetime, to be replaced by hydrogen, electric, cellulose-based biodiesel, or a combination thereof, so the CBR500 is just a stepping stone on the road to something else. I'm betting that electric is going to rate high, considering the other two aren't really a going concern currently, but the only electric vehicles out there currently that can come close to handling my daily commute are the $80 large Tesla S (and I can't afford a gas burner at half that cost, so...) or some of the higher end electric motos. Or at least, the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! can handle the trip out (39 miles isn't so far, but it is mostly highway, which drains batteries mighty quick), and be charged off a simple 110 wall plug in time to get me home. The CBR500 (either the naked F or the tourer X, I can't decide right now) to get me used to riding 2 wheels daily without the stress of worrying about electric range, and then the upgrade to the electric when I'm ready (and can afford it). What's keeping me from buying one now? Finances. Read on, this is part of the plan.

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Now, while the Fit takes care of my daily commuter needs quite handily, and will start me along the path of AutoX'ing later this summer, it has one major weakness - inclement weather. Such a large weakness it has for slippery road conditions or accumulation that this is almost a need more than it is a want. I've talked about this in the recent past - !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . I've been pondering the question since that time, and come to rest on the Isuzu Amigo as my preferred beater of choice - the first gen Amigos look almost as good as the VehiCROSS, most come with manuals, and are hardy, tough little buggers. And better than the VehiCROSSes (VehiCROSSi?), they can be had for cheap, like !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , that's even dropped in price recently. My budget is meager, but we managed to to buy outright, between trade-in and tax return money, the wife's minivan, so I'm saving money there by not having a monthly car loan to pay. This is a want that is within my grasp.

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The project car - this is Jalopnik, so the answer to the unasked question is Miata. If you want to get into autocross, even rallycross if you're willing to take off some of the lower body bits, or even if you just want a cool car to drive around that gets good gas mileage and handles like a dream, the answer is Miata. But I am not going to stop there. You've heard of the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , right? And you've heard of the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , right? Yep, I want to stuff a Chevy LS3 E-ROD and a Magnum T56 6-speed into a ladder framed go-kart and go hooning it - track days, autocross events, and even just on nice days when I want to go for a drive. Impossible, you say? Nope, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! (though with a carbureted Ford 8 cylinder), and even !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . The choice bit of this is that until I start on the heavy lifting (and the cool thing is that whether I start at the v8 end or the kit car end, either way I go is still tons of fun and worth it), I can get the base car for cheap, and when it's not being wrenched on, it can stand in for the daily commuter (more on that in a sec) when the weather's not freezing. The correct formula is to look for a first gen with a manual to get the cheapest car possible, but only to look for 1995s or later, as they came the limited slip differential standard. I've got three up for sale on CL within an easy drive under $2,500, that's almost within my current budget. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , for driving in the rain and stuff.

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Now, the Toyota - I got it in a deal with my sister-in-law, and it really is a can of crap. It's over 20 years old, she (and my father-in-law) never took care of it, and it has damn near been driven into the ground. And I want to strip it, cage it, and race it in ChumpCar/24HoL. Why? Oh, you know, the usual inherited familial brain damage. I call it the Gutless Wonder, and plan to paint it up in the livery of !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! (yes, from !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ) just to see if anyone gets the reference, and to dress like zombies for 24HoL. Even with the cheap used tires I got last weekend, it's just not in a real reliable state at the moment, which is sad because I can't currently use it as a backup car and a viable replacement for my daily. I'm working on it, fixing leaks, replacing tires, and generally replacing all of the neglected bits I find all over the car. Oh yes, even after I get it prepped for CC/24HoL, I plan on licensing it and driving it as needed, with the cage, race seat, and 5-point harness, see who notices. Why am I so worried about backups for my daily commuter - the motorcycle to get better gas mileage in nice weather, the winter beater for snow and ice, and the project car and racer to double as dailies when the winter beater is too much and the moto is not enough? To finance the majority of the above, I think I want to sell my Fit.

Don't get me wrong, I love my little blue beast. She is surprisingly quick, delightfully nimble, and spacious to the point of incredulity. And I could definitely use her !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , but selling her gets me one thing to make all the rest happen - money. I can get a 4x4 winter beater for around a grand, a project Miata to get started for under 3 grand, and a down payment on a bike and riding gear for the rest of the money that selling the Fit off would bring. There are some downsides to all of this - I'd be swapping a 6 year old car that has shown very little need for anything but routine maintenance for vehicles that are upwards of 2 decades old of unknown provenance and reliability, but having multiple options means no matter what, I'm getting to work. Admittedly, my hobbies are important to me, but if my employers can't count on me showing up every day, than I'm not useful to them, and deserve to be fired. Plus, since I'm looking to buying two used cars and one new motorcycle (and motorcycle dealers who are willing to take a car for trade-in value are few and far between), I'm going to have to sell this beast myself, and that's a project and a world of pain and suffering all on its own. The upside is that I'm getting all of the things covered that I need - daily commuting - as well as getting all the things that I want. Plus extra parking space in the driveway/garage, 'cause I'm going to need it if I add all these other vehicles to the fleet.

XJDano > tetsu_no_usagi 05/17/2014 at 23:52

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what is that avatar thing? Rabbit riding a wave?

I too want to get into the crap can racing stuff, but funds keep me from it.

I am sort of in your situation also, but everything I have is paid off and doesn't run( except DDs )

Reliable DD - metro & good enough in snow with some decent tires

Wife DD - 05 Equinox

4wd - jeep Cherokee with tons of money thrown into it before I got married, with brake issues

2 wheels - '01 R1 was my brothers but on loan until his fiance comes around, if she ever does. With clutch issues

project cars - 2 '84 VW GTI Rabbits both engine issues. One is not even at my house.

I have achieved the things, but finding time to tinker and get them running is totally different. The jeep just needs some time & reregistered, bike needs a manual, and then diagnosis of situation. Projects, well that I don't even think about.

Motorcycles are fun and actually take a lot of concentration along with defensive riding to be safe. I would ride mine but in the construction industry you need you own tools, so that's out.

The other thing you need to think about is if you are going to insure all of these things, all the time.

How long till the fit is paid off?

tetsu_no_usagi > XJDano 05/18/2014 at 12:10

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"what is that avatar thing? Rabbit riding a wave?"

Yup. My nickname translates to "Iron Rabbit" from Japanese, found that image years ago and have been using it ever since. Long story short, I used to do medieval recreation and bounce around like a rabbit in 60 pounds of armor, and I also like Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo series of graphic novels, so Tetsu_no_Usagi was born.

"How long till the fit is paid off?"

Already paid off, took care of the last of the note before we got the wife's minivan, so I currently own every vehicle outright in my driveway. This is a big upside to my plan, as except for the CBR, I'll be outright buying every vehicle.

Yeah, time is always one of the biggest constraints in any kind of hobby or pursuit of fun. As for insurance, I'm not too worried. Everything except the wife's van and the motorcycle will be on minimum level of insurance, and since the wife and I are such good drivers (no accidents or violations in over a decade for both of us), it's pretty cheap.

XJDano > tetsu_no_usagi 05/18/2014 at 12:26

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my Ex's dad was into that kind of stuff. Was pretty involved with the Wentzville Renaissance Fair, also did some civil eWar reenactments.

Sounds like a pretty solid plan. Although the trecel may not end up being the best crap can to start with and may want to see about any lemons cars already for sale.

I may try to rent a seat for the closest chump race at gateway. I have talked with a buddy that was involved with a team in StL, not sure if that's still going, but racing is damned expensive, even crap can racing. If I get another metro as a daily, then I may convert my current one into a racer.

Be ready for constant maintenance on the older cars, having back ups for back ups is a good idea.

1111111111111111111111 > tetsu_no_usagi 05/18/2014 at 20:49

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I've been thinking exocet too... Price is there. I'm having trouble getting an insurance quote though. Once it's in place on the cheep it's easy to upgrade...

tetsu_no_usagi > XJDano 05/18/2014 at 21:16

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Wentzville, MO? I'm in Columbia myself, maybe I swung rattan at your ex's old man once upon a time.

As for the Gutless Wonder, the Corolla was definitely not my first choice, but it was a family deal, and I'm definitely aware that it's not the best choice. In fact, of local deals I've seen recently, the Honda Civic del Sol I saw at the local wrecker's yard is so much more interesting. Probably break down more as it is the VTEC DOHC engine, but definitely more interesting. But the Gutless Wonder will make it around the track, and it truly is a car that costs less than $500.

I'm hoping to get out to both the Gateway and the Heartland Park ChumpCar races and possibly the Hallet WRL race, as a volunteer flag waver if nothing else. I almost went to the Hastings race up in Nebraska, but had to work that weekend (thanks, Uncle Sam!). If you really want a seat, go to the ChumpCar forums and ask, there's always teams looking. It'll probably be a couple of years before the Gutless Wonder is ready to race, but I may actually get my full suit together this year and get some seat time myself. (ps: cool CrapCan racing events map I made, share it with your friends) Let me know if you find a team or are even going to Gateway or HPT, we'll get together and swap BS stories.

Oh yeah, old cars equals more maintenance needs. But it helps to replace one new'ish car with 4 other vehicles to make sure you make it to work.

tetsu_no_usagi > 1111111111111111111111 05/18/2014 at 21:23

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Don't tell 'em it's a kit car, most states will license it as a Miata still, so tell 'em it's a whatever year Miata. Are you thinking the base, sport, or race kit? To me, with what I want to do, the base isn't enough, but I don't really like the looks of the race kit (if I need that much cage, I need to rethink my driving skills and plans for the day), so the sport kit is what I'm looking at.

1111111111111111111111 > tetsu_no_usagi 05/18/2014 at 21:53

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I'm looking at sport also. The race is a bit much cage for my needs. I'm really waiting for the wind screen option, that would make a world of difference in daily driving. And I'm only 5,9 so in a rollover on flat ground I'm still okay. I found a sweet doner car in Portland, but I'm not quite ready... Also I've been telling agents that I am doing a body kit, but the Vin changes. So that's the deal there. I'm trying to find a quote that will give me a stated value. Otherwise I could be screwed.

1111111111111111111111 > 1111111111111111111111 05/18/2014 at 22:03

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Also the wife here is totally down. As long as she gets to help.