Help Me Decide Which Car to Get Oppo.

"Vince-The Roadside Mechanic" (vincent-becker)
05/25/2014 at 19:16 • Filed to: None

\Well Oppo I don't know which car to get. So, I will turn to you for your vast knowlage and wisdom.
CAR #1 1967 AMC RAMBLER. Well Oppo my vision with this one is to preserve it and keep it running. It has the inline 6 with a 3 on the tree. and the guy who is selling it says "It starts every time but has two half bad lifters that just squeak but don't effect the running of it. It comes with a brand new clutch that isn't installed due to a lack of time." He wants $1800.

CAR#2 1996 CHEVY S10.

Well Oppo my vision with this one is to turn it into and autocrossing/daily driving truck. I would give it new exhaust, cold air intake, sway bars, coil overs, and paint the body cladding flat grey. It has a 2.2 inline 4 with a 5 speed manual and it is RWD.

DISCUSSION (38)

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
05/25/2014 at 19:20

I like the Rambler a lot more, but if you're planning on using what you choose as a DD then the S10 probably makes more sense. Although I would like to see you buy the Rambler just so you can get that grenade shifter out of the thing.

JGrabowMSt > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
05/25/2014 at 19:20

Not even a question, get the Rambler. I would think about beefing it up and autocrossing it though. Small, light, nothing complicated, best of all, different.

That S10 is just too many shades of ygly to me. I hate that body style, it just ruins the whole thing for me.

Brian Silvestro > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
05/25/2014 at 19:20

944.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
05/25/2014 at 19:21

I will DD it but I don't want a cookie cutter car.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > JGrabowMSt
05/25/2014 at 19:22

Thank you for your input.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Brian Silvestro
05/25/2014 at 19:23

Please only cars 1&2 no write in options please.

ptak appreciates old racecars > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
05/25/2014 at 19:23

Kinja'd!!!

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
05/25/2014 at 19:24

Then Rambler, much cooler looking and you're not likely to pass a similar one too often.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > ptak appreciates old racecars
05/25/2014 at 19:24

Hahaha.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
05/25/2014 at 19:25

Thanks.

Brian Silvestro > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
05/25/2014 at 19:27

#1 I GUESS

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Brian Silvestro
05/25/2014 at 19:28

Is there a reason why Sir Silvestro the 944/Miata/fiST whore?

Brian Silvestro > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
05/25/2014 at 19:32

#2 is quite ugly and boring. #1 is neither of those.

catkam623 misses his 944 > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
05/25/2014 at 19:32

The ramblers gorgeous I'd say get it but it will be harder as a dd

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > catkam623 misses his 944
05/25/2014 at 19:34

I am leaning towards the AMC.

His Stigness > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
05/25/2014 at 19:43

I didnt know the S10 was only a 4 cylinder, if that's the case, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DO NOT BUY IT!!!!

That four cylinder is so underpowered and slow I thought something was wrong when I drove it, and that was with a brand new head that my shop had just installed.

The idea of autocrossing an S10 is noble, but buy a Ranger instead! It will be faster, more comfortable (if the seats aren't broken, a common problem), the brake and accelerator pedals don't suck dick, and it's just better.

As for the rambler, don't buy a project as your first car. You may have time now to devote to it, but in a few years you won't.

Jedidiah > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
05/25/2014 at 19:45

The Rambler is cool, but I'd try and talk him down to 1200 or less. You can get an equivalent straight-6, 4-door box around here (East TN) for sub-$1000 in similar condition.

If these are your only choices, I'd definately pick the rambler.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > His Stigness
05/25/2014 at 19:45

So I will take that as get the rambler. Thank you Stiggy.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Jedidiah
05/25/2014 at 19:46

I am trying to get it for $1200 that way I have some money to put into it.

RotaryLover > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
05/25/2014 at 20:17

Forget the Miata. Get the Rambler!!!!

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
05/25/2014 at 20:19

Another rambler vote.

BJohnson11 > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
05/25/2014 at 20:27

How mechanically inclined are you/do you have another vehicle to depend on? From experience, while I love old American muscle, a bulk majority of it will give you headaches and unless you're good at working on cars yourself, diagnosing issues, and paying for hard to find parts (especially on an AMC), I'd say having the Rambler as your sole DD would be awful. Cool car, but if you have to rely on it, at some point, you'll be stranded. And those lifters would need to be addressed ASAP, because squeak leads to seized leads to misfiring on those cylinders.

catkam623 misses his 944 > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
05/25/2014 at 21:08

yes make the bad decision you'll like and enjoy so much better that's what I did and I enjoy that much more.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > RotaryLover
05/25/2014 at 21:16

Haha I am victorious, I will.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > BJohnson11
05/25/2014 at 21:18

I am very mechanically inclined, it will be my only vehicle, and thanks for the advice on the lifters.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > catkam623 misses his 944
05/25/2014 at 21:21

What is your bad decision?

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > BJohnson11
05/25/2014 at 21:30

Also do you know if it mechanical or hydraulic lifters?

BJohnson11 > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
05/25/2014 at 21:38

Old inline 6 probably has hydraulic lifters. Most American engines later than the 50's had hydraulic lifters. But I wouldn't take that to the bank.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > BJohnson11
05/25/2014 at 21:57

Thanks I will order them from autozone the day I buy it.

catkam623 misses his 944 > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
05/26/2014 at 13:56

my porsche 944 that's taking monies.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > catkam623 misses his 944
05/26/2014 at 14:31

I think mine is worse.

catkam623 misses his 944 > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
05/26/2014 at 14:53

For your sake and sanity I hope it isn't but good luck and go get that car.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > catkam623 misses his 944
05/26/2014 at 14:59

Will do I am going to call him this week.

His Stigness > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
05/26/2014 at 20:56

Basically, yeah.

Do you have the tools and the money to take on a "project?"

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > His Stigness
05/26/2014 at 21:00

Money not tools, but my uncle was a mechanic and he says I have access to his $10000 of tools.

His Stigness > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
05/27/2014 at 01:28

only ten grand in tools, I think I have like 20 grand, and I've only been at it for two years, but I'm willing to invest unlike most techs.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > His Stigness
05/27/2014 at 07:33

He sold a lot of his tools.

His Stigness > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
05/27/2014 at 11:53

probably all of the specialty tools that have one use. That's the reason most master mechanics have huge tool boxes, they need to store those one use tools that take up a lot of space.