daily driver?
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DevZX
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1995 miata mx-5
1990 miata mx-5
daily driver?
Well at the moment my daily driver ia a beat up 90 tt z32 and i needa get skmething more reliable for a daily before i lose all my money... is a z31 turbo reliable? I have about 3k to spend on a semi fast, reliable, cheap car.. also what about mr2s? I herd they r reliable but are a pita to work on. Thanks guys
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NismoPick
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Re: daily driver?
A reliable used car depends on how well it's been taken care of... Do a detailed look over of the car... then you'll know. 
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BadQ45t
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Re: daily driver?
Not 15-20 year old car is totally reliable...but the Z31 is pretty straightforward depending on the condition you find it in. For sure even an older Z that is very well taken care of will need care and feeding. I am an original owner of a 84' NA (wish it was a turbo but couldn't afford the insurance back then) and I would drive this car across the country without a seconds thought. But I have redone nearly everything other than a total motor tear down.
If you are handy and you can get a decent one 3k could get it into very good working order. For less than 1k you can get a Japanese pull-out motor even. But daily drive and older car, not sure that ever really works as totally reliable.
If you are handy and you can get a decent one 3k could get it into very good working order. For less than 1k you can get a Japanese pull-out motor even. But daily drive and older car, not sure that ever really works as totally reliable.
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evildky
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Re: daily driver?
Z31 is an overlooked bargain, the turbo offers a lot more performance, the n/a can be converted but it's a fairly involved swap and not for the novice, 3k definitely buys a nice one these days.
MR2's the 85-86 was available only as an n/a, horribly slow but great fun to drive, amazing handling car. The 87-89 was available with the supercharger which isn't fast but certainly an improvement. There are ways to add power to both, both are drop dead dependable. shifter is by cable and feels vague, there are brass bushings to improve this but still nothing like a miata (miata has one of the best factory shifters available bar none). Prices on the aw11 MR2's is on the rise, getting harder to find decent cars for $3k but they are still out there. the engine has to come out the bottom which is a pita but once you get used to it it's still easier than working on a z32.
The sw20 MR2 (90-96) was available as a turbo, still dependable, larger engine bay but the engine packaging was horrible and made it even more difficult to service, the engine still drops out the bottom, the turbo has loads of power potential, $3k can buy a drivable turbo car these days. It's a bigger nicer driver than the AW11 and a better daily driver that still handles like a dream.
If you are really retarded you can do the MK1.5 swap, you take the turbo engine (3SGTE) form the SW20 and swap it into the AW11, it's definitely an advanced swap, as the frame horns must be cut out and new ones fabbed and welded in. I did this, I don't recommend it http://502streetscene.net/forum/showthread.php?t=192988
You didn't mention miata but it's a lot of fun for the money. drop dead dependable, easy to work on, loads of resources both replacement and performance, engine swaps turbo's whatever you want it's out there, and just as practical as an mr2. and 3k gets you a nice na (89-97) maybe even a high miles nb (99-05)
MR2's the 85-86 was available only as an n/a, horribly slow but great fun to drive, amazing handling car. The 87-89 was available with the supercharger which isn't fast but certainly an improvement. There are ways to add power to both, both are drop dead dependable. shifter is by cable and feels vague, there are brass bushings to improve this but still nothing like a miata (miata has one of the best factory shifters available bar none). Prices on the aw11 MR2's is on the rise, getting harder to find decent cars for $3k but they are still out there. the engine has to come out the bottom which is a pita but once you get used to it it's still easier than working on a z32.
The sw20 MR2 (90-96) was available as a turbo, still dependable, larger engine bay but the engine packaging was horrible and made it even more difficult to service, the engine still drops out the bottom, the turbo has loads of power potential, $3k can buy a drivable turbo car these days. It's a bigger nicer driver than the AW11 and a better daily driver that still handles like a dream.
If you are really retarded you can do the MK1.5 swap, you take the turbo engine (3SGTE) form the SW20 and swap it into the AW11, it's definitely an advanced swap, as the frame horns must be cut out and new ones fabbed and welded in. I did this, I don't recommend it http://502streetscene.net/forum/showthread.php?t=192988
You didn't mention miata but it's a lot of fun for the money. drop dead dependable, easy to work on, loads of resources both replacement and performance, engine swaps turbo's whatever you want it's out there, and just as practical as an mr2. and 3k gets you a nice na (89-97) maybe even a high miles nb (99-05)