Need suggestion in picking a car

[greenwar]

I am looking to pick up a car for a rallyx, autox, ice driving. I don't get competitive in any of these events, it's purely for fun. I found that torturing my 08 WRX in rallyx, ice driving was too heart breaking for me. Also, I don't have a WRX any more ....

So Here is what I am looking for in a beater which will serve my motor sports needs:

- RWD - so I can slide sideways when there is snow in the ground
- light
- relatively easy to work on - so I can take on repairs myself
- cheap parts

My number one choice is a 1985 - 2000 v6, v8 Mustang whichever can be found under $3000. Other choices that I have thought about are:

- FB, FC RX7 (owned an FB and an RX8 before)
- 300ZX (I am worried about it's reliability and parts availability)
- Fiero (go figure)
- v6 powered Camaro
- AWD Subaru

If I go FWD at all, I will be looking for

- SER Sentra
- MK2 Golf GTI

Finally, if I get impatient, I am thinking garden variety economy car with 5spd such as Neon, Shadow, Sundance, Sentra etc.

I have thought of Miatas, but convertible isn't going to do it for me.

What do you guys think about my choices? Also can you suggest anything else? I would like to keep my budget to $2000 but perhaps $3000 for the right car.

[Jesda]

If you luck out, you can find a Miata with a hard top, or just buy a Miata and add a hard top.


I like Mustangs. I had a girly V6 version with a manual for eight months and enjoyed the hell out of it. Everyone complains about the shifter location, but it works for me. I have a Hank Hill body (long torso, midget legs). F-body and Mustang have the grunt, but they don't have that little bit of Mazda magic in the steering and suspension.

Have you considered a Mazdaspeed Protege?

[greenwar]

Actually didn't think about a Mazdaspeed protege.

@Jesda: I remember your stang thread. I longed for a cheap Mustang ever since I read that thread ... My naive brain keeps thinking that a solid axle car will handle
the abuse of rallyx much better.

[ADDirishboy]

MS Protege is a fantastic car. Very fun to drive.

I'm gonna have to go with the Miata on this one though. Meets all of your requirements, and are great for autox.

[Zydeco]

why not get an older wrx?

[greenwar]

Older WRX and Miata sounds good. Miata falls in my budget but WRX does not.

I used to own a 1990 NA Miata. Loved everything about it .. for some reason I don't want another one of those.

BTW, my NA had quite a bit of cowl shake. On rough pavement cowl shake will be more noticeable. May be a butterfly
chassis brace will fix that.

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

A roll bar and frog braces fixed my cowl shake. Next mod I'm doing is some home-spun frame rail braces.
Just remember...the answer to everything is Miata.
Need a track car? Miata.
Need a supercar? Miata with an ls1.
Need a commuter car? Miata with a hardtop.
Need to carry more than two people? Two miatas.
Need to move into a new apartment? Three miatas.
You get the gist.
Also if you go the FWD route another car to look at are the FX-16 GT-S's. Kinda like a front wheel drive hachi roku. They are rising in value though but they are still dirt cheap.

[Jesda]

All a man needs is one of these:


And one of these:

[Dittoz7]

Meh, 240 or Impreza.

Most Mustang owners just talk about going straight, NOS, gears ect...

[anti_flag_army]

I gotta say, your choices are all over the place, and i think you need to rethink some reasoning behind a few of the cars you have listed, you mention and fb or fc, then go on to say you are worried about a z31 because of the reliability? (I have owned an FC and loved it, no rotary hate here)

Your number one choice is any mustang in a 15 year span? and you even consider the v6? Not trying to flame here, im just saying that you asked for help on deciding on a new car and you literally cover any car from the late 80's to mid 90's.

If you go by your own criteria there then you should rule out the stang, camaro, z31 in the "light" category

When reading what you were looking for, before even seeing what cars you mentioned i thought you were just bating people into suggesting the 240sx, its kind of obvious that its pretty much spot on what you are looking for.

[BusyBadger]

All a man needs is one of these:


And one of these:

Agreed, except I went with the Nissan's interpretations.

[Red coupe]

350z is Nissan interpretation of a miata?

It is like opposite in almost every way.

[greenwar]

First of all, this is what I call constructive criticism. You look through things... very good quality to possess.

I gotta say, your choices are all over the place, and i think you need to rethink some reasoning behind a few of the cars you have listed, you mention and fb or fc, then go on to say you are worried about a z31 because of the reliability? (I have owned an FC and loved it, no rotary hate here)

So why do I say z31 is less reliable than a FB, FC? I owned bunch of early 90s nissan. All of them had issues with fuel injectors. Also I believe the v6 in z31 has a timing belt. I did a timing belt job once, it's a tough job. No timing belt in rotary and it's a far simpler motor. So my naive brain says rotary is more reliable/easy to maintain.

Your number one choice is any mustang in a 15 year span? and you even consider the v6? Not trying to flame here, im just saying that you asked for help on deciding on a new car and you literally cover any car from the late 80's to mid 90's.

Why stang is number 1? I like the idea of a solid axle for it's ability to take abuse. Also stang parts are going to be cheap and I wouldn't have to special order it (as I will have to for z31, rotary etc.) Granted I will not be competitive and most likely will fall in a class where other cars are much better for that event.

If you go by your own criteria there then you should rule out the stang, camaro, z31 in the "light" category

I agrees! Camaro, Z31 out.

When reading what you were looking for, before even seeing what cars you mentioned i thought you were just bating people into suggesting the 240sx, its kind of obvious that its pretty much spot on what you are looking for.

240sx is hard to find in my part of the country. I was checking bay area, plenty of miatas and 240sx and rotaries there that are in decent shape. May be I will have to start shopping out of state ....

[greenwar]

A roll bar and frog braces fixed my cowl shake. Next mod I'm doing is some home-spun frame rail braces.
Just remember...the answer to everything is Miata.
Need a track car? Miata.
Need a supercar? Miata with an ls1.
Need a commuter car? Miata with a hardtop.
Need to carry more than two people? Two miatas.
Need to move into a new apartment? Three miatas.
You get the gist.
Also if you go the FWD route another car to look at are the FX-16 GT-S's. Kinda like a front wheel drive hachi roku. They are rising in value though but they are still dirt cheap.

Now this is funny. Good stuff. I found a FX-16 here locally. Dude wants too much dough for it. I am from Asia originally. These stuff were everywhere back home ...

[BusyBadger]

350z is Nissan interpretation of a miata?

It is like opposite in almost every way.

Yeah, I suppose Nissan does have a rather extensive lineup of rear wheel drive two-seaters. I should have made a different choice.

[greenwar]

After growing some brains and taking in your input I narrowed my search down a bit:

- 1.8 Miata with an HT (a sc would be ideal)
- FC RX7 possibly twin turbo


Drove a 626 GT this morning and I miss having a turbo'ed car .....

[numbnuts240]

- FC RX7 possibly twin turbo

i thought you said "reliable".

[Speedy7_7]

After growing some brains and taking in your input I narrowed my search down a bit:

- 1.8 Miata with an HT (a sc would be ideal)
- FC RX7 possibly twin turbo


Drove a 626 GT this morning and I miss having a turbo'ed car .....

Well, I guess trying to find a custom made twin turbo FC would make sense.

You do know they didn't make a twin turbo FC right? RIGHT?

And you do know that Turbo 2 RX7s are very hard to find right?

And you do know that you need some car knowledge to work on them right?

If your afraid of a timing belt, I don't think rebuilding a rotary is an option for you either.

You also know that a Miata will be hell on an rally cross track, right?

Just go with the V6 Mustang, it is slow enough that you won't kill yourself. Just don't try turning.

[AZ89two4Tsx]

Rotaries aren't going to be the most reliable thing on the planet.

A 240 would be decent as parts are dirt cheap and they're easy as cake to work on. The KA is more or less bulletproof, especially compared to a rotary.

Have you thought of an old E30 or something? Those are cool/reliable/easy to work on. They're relatively cheap too.

[Speedy7_7]

Rotaries aren't going to be the most reliable thing on the planet.

A 240 would be decent as parts are dirt cheap and they're easy as cake to work on. The KA is more or less bulletproof, especially compared to a rotary.

Have you thought of an old E30 or something? Those are cool/reliable/easy to work on. They're relatively cheap too.

^ Listen to this man, he will guide you, do not ignore him.


Although I slightly disagree with the E30, I doubt the OP's mechanical ability, and BMWs can be a pain in the A$$

[greenwar]

Well, I guess trying to find a custom made twin turbo FC would make sense.

You do know they didn't make a twin turbo FC right? RIGHT?

And you do know that Turbo 2 RX7s are very hard to find right?

Ah, that makes sense why there are no info on twin turbo FC. I saw turbo II and assumed it meant twin turbo. And, hard to find, of course it is.

And you do know that you need some car knowledge to work on them right?

And you assume I have no knowledge of cars?

If your afraid of a timing belt, I don't think rebuilding a rotary is an option for you either.

Didn't say afraid, said I would like to avoid the hassle. I owned two rotaries already. I know how they work
and how to take care of them.

You also know that a Miata will be hell on an rally cross track, right?

Yes.

Just go with the V6 Mustang, it is slow enough that you won't kill yourself. Just don't try turning.

I will just ignore this and laugh at you for writing this.

[Dittoz7]

[confused9]

240sx-easy fixes, reliable, fun.

[89ni$$an]

A roll bar and frog braces fixed my cowl shake. Next mod I'm doing is some home-spun frame rail braces.
Just remember...the answer to everything is Miata.
Need a track car? Miata.
Need a supercar? Miata with an ls1.
Need a commuter car? Miata with a hardtop.
Need to carry more than two people? Two miatas.
Need to move into a new apartment? Three miatas.
You get the gist.
Also if you go the FWD route another car to look at are the FX-16 GT-S's. Kinda like a front wheel drive hachi roku. They are rising in value though but they are still dirt cheap.

i actually laughed pretty f*** hard

[hitbychance]

240sx-easy fixes, reliable, fun.

search hard, find one, buy it

[Mr1der]

the stock MS Protege can be a great little autox car. Still competitive in it's class.

I say an old 80's Crown Vic though, because I want something like driving a couch.