I want RWD for winter

"BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires" (biturbo228) 01/08/2014 at 17:50 • Filed to: Bad ideas

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After watching a lot of videos of people hooning in the snow, I've decided I'd really like RWD for any impending snow. I've got no money at the moment (thankyou January sale on Spitfire bits), but no money is a short step from not much money. And for not much money, you could buy any of these:

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BMW E30 325i Touring

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/08/2014 at 17:51

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And most of them are unlikely to start in cold weather.

area man > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/08/2014 at 17:53

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This is NOT FAIR

StoneCold > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/08/2014 at 17:54

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Does it have to be manual? I had sooooo much fun with my old 740iL last winter:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-BMW-7…

stuttgartobsessed > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/08/2014 at 17:54

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I want all of them... Especially the Rover SD1, E30 Touring, and that 75/Milano (those box flares!!)

area man > area man 01/08/2014 at 17:58

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It's also not fair that I tagged the E30.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > stuttgartobsessed 01/08/2014 at 17:58

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Me too :) Personally, I'd go for the SD1, XJS and the 75.

Probably the SD1 most of all though. Read the description, it's hilarious.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > StoneCold 01/08/2014 at 17:59

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Not necessarily, those things are properly menacing.

I was going for cars less than £1000, but my definition of cheap is pretty damn low. £1500 for a working car is very good going.

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/08/2014 at 17:59

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I can't decide between them.. So I'll make a list. Higher the number, the more likely it'd be that I'd pick that car as a winter beater.

1. Rover SD1 V8, because V8 and not that hard to find parts for it.

2. Alfa 75 3.0l, because? It's an ALFA for F%¤#s sake..

3. BMW E30 325i, why not higher? I like cars that's not all that common.

4. Jaguar XJ12, this only gets fourth because I'd rather have this as a summer vehichle.

5. Jaguar XJS, same reason as the XJ12.

6. Reliant Scimitar, I LOVE that car, there's no way in HELL I'd beat the shit out of that on salty winter roads.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > area man 01/08/2014 at 18:00

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Tell me about it. They're within easy reach, but I'm too broke to pick them up.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 01/08/2014 at 18:00

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The only one I'd be worried about is the SD1 with carbs and no choke.

Yeah, really worried by that in cold weather.

stuttgartobsessed > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/08/2014 at 18:02

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I know there's a few SD-1s in the US. I'd love to have one and confuse the shit out of everyone else. I'd want it to be RHD though.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/08/2014 at 18:03

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The jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaags and the alfa won't like the dampness caused by snow either.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 01/08/2014 at 18:06

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That's not far from how I'd rank them, although the E30 would be lower because I'd rather drive something unusual. The cult of E30 is too big for me :)

The XJS would likely take its place because I've got a sick desire to turn one into a rally car.

I did pick a later SE6 Scimitar so it'd have a galvanised chassis to better cope with the conditions...

If it was a summer car, I'd go SE5a all day long:

505 - morphine not found > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/08/2014 at 18:07

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Even though those are probably as commonplace among winter beaters at your place as they are at mine, i would go with the E30. One reason: relatively easy access to an LSD and other bits you'll probably need to keep it just ticking over enough to hoon in the snow.

The other option could be the Alfa.

Even though i'm all for hooning jags, and one day i will have an XJ for that end, i don't think i need to tell you what it takes to keep one going, and it's auto anyway, which is good, if you want to go somewhere in snow (much better torque modulation) but not as good, if you want to hold protracted slides in it. The long wheelbase doesn't help either. Same reason i wouldn't touch the Rover, though we've all seen Jeremy pull a perfect drift in one at that proving ground may top gear seasons ago in the British Leyland adventure.

So the easiest route would the BMW if you ask me.

CPT Speedbump > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/08/2014 at 18:08

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2 Things your going to need - snow tires, lsd. I've been driving my rwd on summer tires with a open diff, not much hooning, more trying not to die.

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/08/2014 at 18:10

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The only reason the E30 places higher then the Jaguars is because I could not stop worrying about how a jaguar would handle a Norwegian winter.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > 505 - morphine not found 01/08/2014 at 18:14

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Yeah, sensible says BMW but I've never been much of a person for either of those :)

The V12 Jag elicits a pretty heavy hell no from me. It's a kickass car, but if I'm going to be paying through the nose for a V12 Jag it'll be a lightened manual XJS with exhaust cutouts so I can pretend I'm Tom Walkinshaw.

Of the two Jags, I'd get the XJS (which I'm assuming is a 6-cylinder, the seller helpfully doesn't say). Swap a manual in and hoon on :)

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 01/08/2014 at 18:16

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I wouldn't put it past them, although my XJ40 never failed to start in awful weather. I did have to copper-grease up an earth for the ignition, but after that it was steady as a rock.

Can't comment on the Alfa though. Mine's been fine, but there's a couple of decades of development between the 75 and the 156.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 01/08/2014 at 18:17

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Good point. The heaters work on mine alright, but they've never really been taxed all that much.

There's only one way to find out I suppose...

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/08/2014 at 18:19

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Heaters? I'm a viking bro :P I'm more worried about rust.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > CPT Speedbump 01/08/2014 at 18:19

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Very good point.

I know you can certainly get LSDs for everything except the Scimitar, and that's only because I don't know what diff they used.

My gut instinct says it's a Capri rear end. If it is, then you can get one for that as well.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 01/08/2014 at 18:23

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Ah. I wouldn't be overly confident about that.

Although, saying that, the E30 doesn't have a galvanised chassis (only the convertibles did), and the judging by the number of rusty E30s I've seen, the rust-proofing isn't much better than the XJ40.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > stuttgartobsessed 01/08/2014 at 18:26

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Yeah they didn't do so well in the States. The formula was pretty much perfect, but they bolted them together so haphazardly they ruined their reputation very early on.

Most of the duff ones will either have been fixed or died by now. That's my logic anyway :)

Swap in one of the bigger Rover V8s and go surprise some muscle car owners :)

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/08/2014 at 18:28

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The thing is, I don't CARE if an E30 ends up in a pile of rust ;)

CPT Speedbump > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/08/2014 at 18:28

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Indeed, and not sure, I'm driving a Z33, so parts for me are easy to find..expensive, but easy to find.

stuttgartobsessed > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/08/2014 at 18:30

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I fully approve! And yes, I am in complete accordance with your logic. If it had shoddy build quality originally, it must have been fixed by now so it should be totally fine!

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > CPT Speedbump 01/08/2014 at 18:31

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Oh cool. I rather like those retro Japanese sports cars (doesn't everyone here?).

It is a Nissan Z yes?

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 01/08/2014 at 18:34

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Ah bingo.

That was the best thing about the dirt cheap E36 I bought. I just didn't (and still don't) care about the thing.

Shame I crashed it really. I've got all the bits to fix it apart from a front wing, but I keep getting new things to do. I suppose that's the best way into winter hoonage for me...

CPT Speedbump > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/08/2014 at 18:37

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Yes, and it's not retro (yet) it's name is from the older Z's of course, but mines a 06'. However, I have thought about getting a older one (maybe a 240 Z) and maybe pulling out my 06' engine and transmission and dropping them into a older model. A older lighter model :) orrrr... dropping a big v8 in this one..hmmm....

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > CPT Speedbump 01/08/2014 at 18:42

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Ah gotcha. I'm not as au fait as I should be with Z cars.

Still sweet though. One of my friends was looking at those for his next car but the insurance premiums are through the roof for young guys on popular sports cars over here, especially ones with bigger engines.

CPT Speedbump > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/08/2014 at 18:44

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Yeah, its pretty pricey for me (i'm 22) but cheaper then my last cars insurance, cus my last car was brand new, and a lease.

gmctavish needs more space > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/08/2014 at 18:51

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:O Where do you live where you can get all of that awesomeness, let alone for not much money?

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/08/2014 at 18:57

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I got one of these (though mine is a wagon). I can't wait for it to snow around here instead of just being cold as crap so I can take it snow hooning. It's basically a 4-door Supra!

anonsagainstanonymous > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/08/2014 at 19:08

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In my experience, something longish and sluggishish. Lighter, nimbler cars like the E30 tend to be a bit skittish.

Oh wait you're British!! Vauxhall Omega/carlton V6/TiD. MMmmmmmmmm. Perfect for beginners, at least. Very very stable sideways. At least if you're a beginner.

TwoFortified > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/08/2014 at 19:10

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I like the Jag, personally.

Also, don't let these nay-sayers warn you off of cars due to unavailability of an LSD. Any garage monkey worth his salt can make you a poor-man's two-way with an open diff at his feet, a welding torch in one hand, and 60 of America's finest dollars in the other. Sure, your rear wheels chatter around turns. Sure, rich folk will assume you hate rear tires. Worked out ok for me though.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > anonsagainstanonymous 01/08/2014 at 19:12

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I didn't even think of those. A Sierra would be a great bet as well, or a Scorpio if you can stand the sheer ugliness of the things :)

Any of those RWD jellymold cars would do the trick.

anonsagainstanonymous > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/08/2014 at 19:37

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I've driven an Omega V6 for many winters and it is the nicest, most forgiving sledgehammer you can wield. At least for the kind of timid low-speed sidewaysing I like.

Agrajag > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/08/2014 at 22:30

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Jag V12 because v12. If you have owned a v12 vehicle in the past then I'd go with the Alfa or BMW.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Agrajag 01/09/2014 at 05:22

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Good point. I do love a V12 Jag.

Saying that, they are maintenance heavy. I'd much prefer an XJ40 with the 6-cylinder and get a lightened XJS V12 with exhaust cutouts so I can pretend to be Tom Walkinshaw.