The Next Car (And Cursing at the Current One)

"Notchback88" (notchback88)
02/10/2020 at 13:54 • Filed to: Pontiac GTO, LS2, Mustang, focus st, Fiero, Saving, Cash Rules Everything Around Me (C.R.E.A.M.), Car Buying, daily driver

Hey all! I’m going to try to be a semi-regular contributor as I go through a few different things. I’m limited with what I can do at work, though, so there won’t be a lot of pictures at the moment.

Currently I drive a 2013 Focus ST as my daily, and have a 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT as a project car. The Fiero GT was a dream car for a while (had an 88 coupe 4cyl as my first care circa ‘01,) but now it’s more of a maintenance sink. I’ll be posting my adventures of rebuilding the control arms this weekend.

Sadly, I have to sell the Fiero in the next month or so. Mrs Notchback is getting a take-home car, and we’ve only got so much garage space. I’m sure I’ll find another Fiero enthusiast to sell it to, as I plan on pricing it to sell quickly.

The upshot to this, based on budget over the next year anyway, is I get to buy a new car. The Focus ST is at 130k, and I’m not looking forward to having to media blast the valves (yay Direct Injection) once that becomes necessary. And, in general, I’m just tired of the engine. It’s quick but rather uninspiring. This is probably due to my previous daily being a 2010 Mustang GT Premium that I traded in for the ST - a decision that I still regret to this day.

So, in theory anyway, this time next year or next summer I should have about 20-25k cash saved up. That was the other caveat - she doesn’t want another payment and I can respect that. It does limit my options in what I’m looking for.

My requirements as of now:

Manual Transmission

V8 (Preferably more power than my ‘10 Mustang, which had the last 4.6 Modular with 310hp)

Coupe (Or smaller sedan)

Reliable enough to be a daily (so no used and abused M3s)

LSD

Nice to haves:

Bluetooth for audio

Back-up camera

Minimal mods

Heated Seats

I realize this doesn’t give me a lot of options. I’d prefer not to get an older/slower Mustang than what I had already. I could also be convinced to get a Nissan 370 Sport.

Lately I’ve been eyeing 05 and 06 GTOs that had the LS2 with 400hp/400ft lbs. I can find relatively unmolested manuals under 70k miles for around $16,000-18,000, which would leave cash left over for an Android Auto capable headunit, back-up camera, and KW V3 coilovers (stock rear springs tend to sag on GTOs anyway.)

Anything obvious I’m missing? Should I just suck it up and wait another year and by a lightly used S550 GT Premium?

Thanks all, and I’m looking forward to whining about the Fiero at you this weekend.

DISCUSSION (17)

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Notchback88
02/10/2020 at 14:10

BMW M3s are surprisingly affordable, but are slightly above your price range if you’re aiming for sub 25 k. Maybe you can find one with some miles on it for a good price?

Just a word of warning, get used to this sight when you see the car is listed on a website as a “Manual”:

Kinja'd!!!

jimz > Notchback88
02/10/2020 at 14:22

The Focus ST is at 130k, and I’m not looking forward to having to media blast the valves (yay Direct Injection) once that becomes neces sary.

is it really “necessary?” IIRC Ford put in much better oil mist separation in the PCV systems on those engines compared to- say- the notorious early VWAG GDI engines. Some build-up is unavoidable but an Ecoboost shouldn’t get caked up that badly.

This is probably due to my previous daily being a 2010 Mustang GT Premium that I traded in for the ST - a decision that I s till regret to this day.

man, have we had some different experiences. I had a 2010 GT Premium, and as far as performance goes it was a big disappointment. I’d gladly have taken a FoST over it.

What axle ratio did your GT have?

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Notchback88
02/10/2020 at 14:28

You can get an S550 GT below $25k now, though. If you wait another year, early C7's will likely creep into that budget as well.

RutRut > Notchback88
02/10/2020 at 14:28

Recently switched from ‘17 STI to ‘12 Camaro SS and have been extremely happy. Depending on how willing you are to give up practicality you could also go C5z or C6 in that price range, awful lot of performance per dollar.

Notchback88 > jimz
02/10/2020 at 14:40

What axle ratio did your GT have?

I want to say it was a 3.33 or 3.73. By the time I was done with the car, it had Corsa X-Pipe and exhaust, BBK Shorty-Equal Length Tuned headers, Airaid intake and a Bama 91 tune.

man, have we had some different experiences. I had a 2010 GT Premium, and as far as performance goes it was a big disappointment. I’d gladly have taken a FoST over it.

The Focus might turn better, but it’s definitely not as fast. More importantly (at least for me,) it lacks the fun and drama that my loud V8 came with.

I’ve only known a couple that have had it done in my local ST/RS group, but a lot prevent the issue with a oil separator setup that I haven’t put in. I hope you’re right!

Largely, I’ve had the thing for 5 years/100k miles and I’m getting tired of it. Longest I’ve had a DD.

Notchback88 > RutRut
02/10/2020 at 14:42

I tend to be a bit shy of the Camaros, largely because of terrible visibility and a really small trunk.

Also, and not logical at all, but I have an aunt whose had several Camaros (3 now, I think?) - all 4cyl/V6, and I just do not want to have her blowing up my facebook with “we’re Camaro buddies! Look, you bought one because of me!” etc etc.

They’re still on my list, and I’d like to drive one, but it’d have to blow me away.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Notchback88
02/10/2020 at 14:45

I too know the woes of having an ‘88 Fiero GT project. I got mine for free last summer, and it’s such a mess that I decided to get a different project car for the short term to get myself back into the swing of fixing up cars. I look forward to seeing your control arm rebuild process, and good luck with the sale.

jimz > Notchback88
02/10/2020 at 14:48

my experience even got me on the FP a few years ago:

https://jalopnik.com/your-worst-stories-of-cars-that-let-you-down-1778673184

RutRut > Notchback88
02/10/2020 at 15:14

It’s got some quirks for sure. The trunk is massive, but the opening is tiny. I have two air tanks currently in mine and still plenty of room. The visibility does suck.

BeaterGT > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
02/10/2020 at 16:04

Not sure if I see them dropping that much. Either way, you don’t want a C7 that’s made it into the 20s.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > BeaterGT
02/10/2020 at 17:44

They are already in the high $20k range now, the C8 completely shredded the values of the C7, since GM was selling off new ones in the $40's.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Notchback88
02/11/2020 at 03:55

i’m biased, get a Monaro/GTO

3 Jeeps and a Mazda wants a Fiata > jimz
02/11/2020 at 03:57

If you had a non track pack car then yeah its a disappointment, but if you opted for the track pack those 3.73's and the sticky summer tires make a huge difference .

Notchback88 > pip bip - choose Corrour
02/11/2020 at 09:11

Have one/had one in the past?

I’d been keen on them as a college student at the time, but they were definitely out of my grasp back then. (I was driving my 88 Fiero coupe, and then an ‘03 9C1 cop Impala. Broke student woes...)

Notchback88 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
02/11/2020 at 09:35

Looking around there are a few E90 M3s that hover around $25k and 80k miles. I’m just wary of that V8; I know the rod bearings can be a serious issue and I’d have to have a spare $5-10k for an engine rebuild/swap.

Same reason I’m not seriously looking at an RX-8.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Notchback88
02/11/2020 at 09:52

It is a valid concern to an extent, but at the same time, I would be wary of an older GTO or mustang’s interior being full of squeaks and rattles. Plus the M3 probably outhandles them all and makes a unique noise.

Also I'd make an offer on the fiero, but my own Fiero project takes up my second car slot.

Notchback88 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
02/11/2020 at 10:14

That’s a good point about the rattles, my 13 FoST already has more than I’d like.

Some cursory searching also shows that DIY rod bearing is possible, though it’s a minimum 12 hour job (and for me, likely longer) and it’d be on my back; but it’s a $2500 ish job with a mechanic as a preventative, which isn’t horrible. https://www.eurompire.com/bmw-tech-corner-s65-connecting-rod-bearing-failure/ lists a new engine as $25k and goddamn.

I’m loath to sell it, but I just won’t have the room without parking a car outside - something Mrs Notchback is not a fan of. I bought it for $ 3k at 35k miles, and got a good 50k out of it without much issue until the last 10k. Already replaced all the coolant rubber, two new calipers, redid brakes at about 60k, and Rodney Dickman master and slave cylinders.

I’ll go into greater detail when I write on it this weekend but it has the remaining issues:

AC doesn’t blow cold anymore, needs a R 134a changeover

Valve seals - blows a bit of smoke every time I start it. Being a Fiero, this means dropping the motor.

There’s a draw somewhere...likely the shitty aftermarket alarm that the PO installed. I’ve pulled fuses for it, but haven’t removed it yet.

Coolant keeps getting blown out of the reserve tank. Could just be the water pump, could be a head gasket. Need to do a compression check. (And fuck if the back bank of plugs isn’t a giant pain in the ass to get to.)

Steering rack passenger bushing: I’ve got the Rodney Dickman bushing, but still need to get the rack off, old bushing off, and drill/rivet the new bushing on. That’s going to get done as soon as I get the passenger control arms off and poly put in.

I’m probably gonna steal this word-for-word for my post lol.

I could probably sell it easy for $1500, $2000-3000 would be pushing it with the paint being oxidized. I do have a ton of spare, rare parts though. (Such as a spoiler, and 3 emergency brake cables.)