The Worst Part About Becoming an Enthusiast

"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind) 01/28/2017 at 20:17 • Filed to: Thoughts

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This is an exaggeration, slightly...

There are tons of newer cars you’d never touch because “reliability, expensive parts, looks bad, handles like a shopping cart.” However, park something that could pass for an urban art project on the side of the road for under a couple grand and you’ll consider it. Don’t lie, I can’t be the only one!

There are a lot of people that will never spend a penny for a sculpture, but when given a blank slate they’ll spend a fortune on the tools. I think Oppo confuses everyone because, from what I’ve seen, we seem to be both simultaneously.

XJDano > Wobbles the Mind 01/28/2017 at 20:24

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I am glad I am maxed out of parking spaces for projects. Although I do want to engine swap something.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Wobbles the Mind 01/28/2017 at 20:29

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I’ve always dreamed of having the headlights on the rotted carcasses of two old Hiluxes light up the entrance of my (future) long, winding driveway up a hill towards my beautiful 6 car garage with a house nearby I guess.

Mercedes Streeter > Wobbles the Mind 01/28/2017 at 20:29

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If I had a couple grand just laying around, I’d probably have 4 smarts by now, and a retired U-Haul (preferably a 26' GMC C5500) to keep them all in.

No, I don’t have a problem! :P

Die-Trying > Wobbles the Mind 01/28/2017 at 20:42

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buy the best canvas you can afford.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Wobbles the Mind 01/28/2017 at 20:43

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Trying to figure out what that yellow car is...

Also, I want a FIAT 500 or FIAT 126 front panel on the wall behind my couch in my house when the time comes with wired indicator and headlights as an accent piece!

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > XJDano 01/28/2017 at 20:57

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I could take one of your projects of your hands. >_>

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Wobbles the Mind 01/28/2017 at 20:57

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My cars are a prime example:

My 1993 4.0L Manual RWD Ranger:

Bought it like this:

Currently looks like this:

Its eventually gonna look like this (with a V8 swap):

My 1995 4.0L 4x4 Manual Jeep Cherokee:

It looks like crap but its 3% of the production run with the 6cyl/4x4/manual combo, so its cool.

Also my X-90:

It is in need of a head gasket (I think).

All of these pictured vehicles have a combined purchase price of $4,001. But bring me into a dealer showroom and I want nothing.

XJDano > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/28/2017 at 20:59

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I would just find another project. It’s better this way. As my wife is ok with what I have, sort of.

shop-teacher > Wobbles the Mind 01/28/2017 at 21:10

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Yeah, pretty much.

promoted by the color red > Wobbles the Mind 01/28/2017 at 21:21

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I’m 90% certain my next car is a new Miata, but I can’t help but peek at the local CLs every day for any new Integra GS-Rs or E30/E36s for sale. Don’t get me started on weird Subarus or Volvo turbos.

Mercedes Streeter > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 01/28/2017 at 22:11

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That is the coolest X-90 ever! Is that really a matching plate? I didn’t know you had more than the Ranger!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Wobbles the Mind 01/28/2017 at 22:11

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Got it....pretty sure it’s a Mk.2 FIAT Sport. Not sure of the year, but as it’s got Middle Eastern plates, betting it’s one of the Nasr or AAV-built Egyptian models (which would explain the different hood scoop, different plastic cladding and rear tail-light surrounds [which look like FIAT Ritmo rear bumpers/tails - the Ritmo was very similar car])

The rear window shape is the same....the door handles are the same...the clam-shell shaped hood is almost the same (the front lip of the hood seems a little different), and the rain guttering seems similar-enough. The rear quarter-panels seem incredibly similar as well.

Thoughts?

Wobbles the Mind > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 01/28/2017 at 22:37

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You nailed it, it has to be something near a 1980 Fiat 127 for Cairo.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Mercedes Streeter 01/28/2017 at 22:42

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Well, I didn’t until June of 2016 when the cat (unbeknownst to me) went out on my ranger and it stalled out. I bought the jeep with a blown axle, fixed it and drove that until I got a new cat for my truck. Then recently the X90 kinda fell into my lap, and when it runs again it’ll be my girlfriends daily. I bought it for her as an early Valentine’s Day present

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Wobbles the Mind 01/28/2017 at 22:45

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I think we can call case closed on this mystery that nobody asked for :P

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > Wobbles the Mind 01/28/2017 at 22:49

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I’m 1000km from home in a 21-year old Lada I paid $1000 for, that a little over a week ago didn’t have an engine in it. You were saying?

pip bip - choose Corrour > Wobbles the Mind 01/29/2017 at 05:52

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that poor Fiat just needs a good buffing.

Mercedes Streeter > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 01/29/2017 at 08:49

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Ah! That’s a great Valentine’s Day present!! I hope she likes it. :) Kinda funny how Oppos end up with multiple vehicles. Any plans for the Jeep?

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Mercedes Streeter 01/29/2017 at 14:04

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Oh she loves it, look at this smile:

And I’m trying to sell the jeep. Ive gotten a lot of texts and calls on it, but no one seems to want to come see it

Mercedes Streeter > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 01/29/2017 at 14:08

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She looks great in it!!!! :D

As for the Jeep, maybe you have to wait for Spring to come around when people are looking for offroad projects again?

AuthiCooper1300 > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 01/29/2017 at 16:40

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Yes, but remember the Sport was just a version (the most powerful one) of the Fiat 127.

The plastic cladding was an unfortunate attempt to, yes, maket it look more like a Ritmo. Intriguingly, the Fiat 127 and the Ritmo have exactly the same suspension setup (and “Giacosa” FWD-system drivetrain), inherited from the 128 and which was still around in models for certain markets not so long ago (for example, the first Palio, the Brazilian Fiat Uno, etc)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > AuthiCooper1300 01/29/2017 at 16:48

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Thanks for the info! The 127 seems to have a similar body to the Ritmo as well!

AuthiCooper1300 > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 01/29/2017 at 17:01

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They both lacked a separate boot, yes, but the Ritmo was much larger in all dimensions. Astonishingly though the 127 was born without a rear hatch - that came later.

I heard once a car mechanic bitching about Ritmos because they had a tendency to develop cracks in the engine bay: “exactly the same shit as the 127", he said.

Seat’s first Ibiza had also a Fiat Ritmo platform under the skin, suitably reengineered by Karmann for a completely new style of body (by Giugiaro).

Scouting For Zen > Wobbles the Mind 01/29/2017 at 19:52

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Personally, I think the worst part of becoming an enthusiast is agonizing over the poor vehicular decisions made by those around you.

DESPITE getting asked for your advice.