Perfect Two-Car (Fantasy) Garage: Audience Partcipation

"ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)" (adabofoppo)
08/13/2018 at 14:05 • Filed to: Ask Oppo, Fantasy Garage

Story-time Oppo!

I’m bored with my GTI. It is a fantastic car. It’s comfortable, especially on longer distance drives. It’s well built-shocking, I know for a VW- but I have had relatively few issues with it over nearly 3 years and 21.5K miles. And it’s fun. Well, only on the rare chance I get to drive it the way it should be. And I honestly feel like the GTI is too fast most of the time. I can’t drive it in anger without worrying about breaking speed limits. Otherwise, I feel like I am perpetually stuck driving this fantastic car in slow-ass traffic, surrounded by idiots too engaged with their phones and face-holes to bother paying attention while driving their equally as horrid road-appliances.

I want something different from my time spent driving. Petrolicious has me jealous and yearning for something classy, classic, and above all tasteful to drive. Something so overwhelmingly interesting that regardless of what my drive is like, I am going to relish the chance to sit behind the wheel and operate those controls. I want a slow-car-fast type of vehicle. One where I can drive it in anger almost ALL the time without much worry about breaking laws or endangering everyone else on the road.

Question is: What on earth do I look for? My budget is zero ‘Murica (Fuck yeah!) Bucks. I’m not really that serious about selling my GTI, but I’d like to have a plan should I find the right combo to get. I don’t have the time, skill, or motivation to wrench myself anymore. So anything I’d get would need to be easy and inexpensive to fix. I recognize that ‘entertaining’ or ‘characterful’ cars very often mean unreliable. So having a reliable, if a bit boring back-up vehicle is a requirement.

So, if you have basically no money, but could afford payments on a new GTI, what two cars would you get that would give you a solid, reliable all-weather car to drive when you need to preserve your Petrolicious-level classic car?

DISCUSSION (34)

bob and john > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/13/2018 at 14:23

none. Id get a APR stage 1 tune on the GTI and make more time to take it to a track or autoX or just to fun roads.

The worlds most fun car is STILL going to suck in traffic.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > bob and john
08/13/2018 at 14:26

I don’t want the GTI to be any faster. It’s already too fast to drive with any anger on public roads. I want a car that I can drive at 8/10ths ALL the time without much worry that I’m breaking laws or endangering others.

I’ve edited my OP to reflect these points.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > bob and john
08/13/2018 at 14:31

Also, this is a “Fantasy Garage” type post where you can respond what options you’d choose for the given requirements.

djmt1 > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/13/2018 at 14:35

An old Jag to romp about in:

Kinja'd!!!

and a Honda Accord Tourer when I actually need to go anywhere.

Kinja'd!!!

I have no idea how this would translate Stateside especially since these two together probably cost less than your deposit.

Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/13/2018 at 14:36

I’m sort of in a similar boat, in that I really enjoy my current daily normal car, but can see wanting something more... let’s say interesting ... down the road. I also don’t have money.

I will just keep my car and have started looking at nice, low mileage C4 Corvettes if that helps you at all? (probably not)

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > djmt1
08/13/2018 at 14:40

Classy and practical. Perfect.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast
08/13/2018 at 14:41

No, but you still get a star for participating.

bob and john > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/13/2018 at 14:45

Keep GTI, get a small CC bike (CBR300, Ninja 300/400)

you want fun at slow? small bikes are the way to do it.

AestheticsInMotion > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/13/2018 at 14:47

Cheap, fun, reliable, piece of cake to work on, can be driven at 10/10ths without going to jail... You’ve basically just described an older Miata.

MR2 is less cheap and more difficult to work on, but a bit more interesting

Nom De Plume > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/13/2018 at 14:47

I expect laughter and boos here.

Base model late ought’s Mitsubishi Lancer. Funnest not fun rental car I’ve ever had. Got pushed up circle on-ramp by someone test driving a Maser in it. That took me from acceptance at 5/10 to full time 8.5/10. The car has so many flaws and faults you just learn to outdrive it and anticipate others while respecting the rules that govern driving conduct.

Zaxbys > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/13/2018 at 14:48

Petrolicious car: Low miles NA Miata

Reliable all-weather car: ND Miata RF

A certain First Drive might be influencing me right now...

interstate366, now In The Industry > djmt1
08/13/2018 at 14:50

We didn’t get that Accord/TSX in estate form over here (thankfully IMO, as I think the long roof proportions ruin what was a very handsome car), but we did get the next one, which was a much better roof design. They’re holding their value extremely well, though.

Kinja'd!!!

Biggus Dickus (RevsBro) > bob and john
08/13/2018 at 14:52

Most people think s mall CC bikes are slow. Truth really is they haven't seen one truly flogged. There is a reason my friends bone stock (except for tires) R3 is my favorite control riding bike in Novice/C group.

Derpwagon > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/13/2018 at 14:53

MK2 Supra, and whatever wagon floats your boat for daily duty.

The Mk3 is also a fantastic car and can be fantastically reliable. However, winding out 4th has you at hefty ticket territory. I’m not going to call it fast car fast, but it’s at minimum quick car fast. Mind I’m talking about the Turbo model, as I’d not bother with an NA.

MK2 however, is high on my list for ‘take it to dinner on winding roads’ cars. You can drive it enthusiastically without getting into ‘oh shit I’m going to jail’ territory, they’re fantastic looking, and that I6 is as smooth as the best of them. Mild suspension tweaks, a great sounding exhaust, a nice wooden steering wheel and a modern stereo would be my recipe for many, many miles of enjoyment.

Here’s a MK2 I found on the intertubes:

Kinja'd!!!

Here’s my Mk3 for reference:

Kinja'd!!!

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/13/2018 at 15:00

I think my affordable fantasy garage would be a 996.2 911 Carrera and then a WRX wagon. If rear seats are not needed, then sub in a Cayman/Boxster .

What I think you want is something analog, high revving and small; go try an older boxster with the 2.5 or 2.7. About the same hp as your GTI but makes power higher in the rev range. Keep your GTI and play with suspension, tires, etc.

promoted by the color red > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/13/2018 at 15:01

1995 Miata & 2nd-gen 4Runner

I live in SoCal - we’re all going to freak the shit out and crash when the perpetual sunshine is replaced with a brief sprinkle. But for the rest of the time, a Miata is an all-season car.

bob and john > Biggus Dickus (RevsBro)
08/13/2018 at 15:11

I know. but a ‘slow car fast’ is also moron quick pending on the route.
this was me on a CBR250. I am VERY well aware that slow bike is fast is actually pretty quick

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > bob and john
08/13/2018 at 15:14

I will never own or ride a motorbike. Thanks though.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > AestheticsInMotion
08/13/2018 at 15:18

I know. The siren song is strong with the NA. I’d love to have an ND, but can’t live with the lack of space in a daily and can’t afford two new car payments.

gawdzillla > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/13/2018 at 15:21

with the answers to the suggestions other posted

the only car to go with is the miata

or if u can somehow get a stock 240sx for cheap

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
08/13/2018 at 15:23

Already have 235-wide RES-o4s and summer wheels for my GTI. I would give up for the tires do. I’ve wanted to put some VWR/APR springs on it, but I’ll most likely have to roll the fenders to prevent rubbing given my aggressive offset and tire sizing.

And even if I do get the suspension sorted, it is still too fast. I legitimately cannot dive it anywhere around where I li ve without breaking speed limits the moment I put my foot into the carpet.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > gawdzillla
08/13/2018 at 15:24

Thus proving that M.I.A.T.A.

itschrome > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/13/2018 at 15:29

Now’s a good time to find and Save a good condition 2000, 2001, 2004, or 2005 Celica GTS. I mean you like the GTI so I assume FWD isn’t an issue. A GTS with the 6spd from any of those years is total slow car-fast fun!

Just a thought. I don’t know you enough to make any real recommendations.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > itschrome
08/13/2018 at 15:36

My prior DD was an SVT Focus. I want the driving dynamics of that car, but with the build quality of my GTI.

Or a modern-quality original GTI. FWD is fine.

I just want something I car drive more aggressively without breaking laws. When James reviewed the two-cylinder Fiat Panda on TG, I wanted to move to Europe to get one.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/13/2018 at 15:40

Starting with your solid all-weather car that won’t bore you to tears: it’s a car you will be stuck in traffic in, so needs to be comfortable with good brakes and a/c, etc. and needs to be able to respond quickly to snap decisions to take a gap/etc. and have good visibility. Therefore, no criminally underpowered cars, no super-large or super-small cars, no super-basic cars, and no crossoverish pillboxes. Needs to be crash-safe to an extent, reliable (as-stated), and not expensive to repair.

Accord suggestion is not terrible, but might I suggest pushing up a step to Acura?

The classic/classy is harder, not just because of fewer explicit constraints but waaaay fewer implicit ones as well. So I’m just going to say Studebaker.

itschrome > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/13/2018 at 15:44

oh, then yeah. Celica GTS.. but thats gonna be too close to the GTI in terms of speed.

hmmmm... I mean.. you can import and Old panda... but parts...

domestically available??? hmmm

nothing other than the obvious ones, 80/90's Japanese. Maybe a V6 f-body or older fox body ‘stang..

I wanted to say Datsun 510, but holly jesus have those gotten expensive. no rolling shells for like 8k! jesus some one feed that market segment already!

FR-S twins are too new..

you dont want a miata..

cheap to fix, easy to source parts...

hmmm.....

Have you considered now is a great time to find and Save a good condition 2000, 2001, 2004, or 2005 Celica GTS. I mean you like the GTI so I assume FWD isn’t an issue. A GTS with the 6spd from any of those years is total slow car-fast fun!

wait, that sound familiar...

what about trying to find a E70 Corolla? RWD econo box? probably hard to find..

It’s hard man..

the thing that makes petrolicious sooo good is the fact that the cars are defined by the love and care they recieve from their owners. Any car can be that car, it’s what you make of your car that takes it to that level..

For me That car would be a black on black 2003 Cadillac Seville with low miles that I can just dump love and money into...

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
08/13/2018 at 15:46

Was is the Vigor that had that funky 5-cylinder engine? That’d be fun for a DD.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/13/2018 at 15:50

Yep. I was thinking a slightly more modern Acura, but that one would be a treat.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
08/13/2018 at 15:56

Until literally everything breaks and the repair bill is as long as a CVS receipt.

RPM esq. > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/13/2018 at 16:11

If it was me, for slow-car-fast I’d get an older 3-series (an E30 or an E36 318ti), and for the dependable all-weather vehicle I’d get some sort of reliable Japanese wagon or SUV, like a 3rd- or 4th-gen 4Runner or a Subaru Legacy. That’s, what, $ 15-20k all in, for good examples of each?

Stapleface > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/13/2018 at 16:11

Damn, this is tough.

How much space do you need for the daily? I would say the Honda CR-V is a car that can be slow car fast. You should be able to pick up a used one for a decent price.

As for the other car, I'd suggest something like a convertible J-body (Cavalier or Sunbird). Parts are cheap and they're pretty reliable with basic maintenance.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Stapleface
08/13/2018 at 16:23

J-body convertable?!?

Kinja'd!!!

Stapleface > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/13/2018 at 16:40

It fits your criteria though. I dare you to not have fun driving a convertible. It can't be done.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Stapleface
08/13/2018 at 16:52

You cannot pay me enough to dive a J-body convertible. Garbage cars.

And I want to see what YOU would choose in the same scenario, not what you suggest I get.