You have $10k for a project car, what do you buy?
 

I currently drive around in a leased solara that belongs to my pops when I am in need of some wheels. BUT, I have had some money invested for a while and I am kinda thinking I might want to use some of it for a cheap little project car that can double as a errand runner/girl carrier/maybe a litte auto x or solo. I wouldn't object to spending about 12-15k canadian so about $10 US I figure.

Anyway, I saw an E30 M3 a couple days ago and remembered how much I loved that car when I was a kid. That's what started this whole car thing...again :D. A freind of mines dad had an EVO III, he would drive me home in it all the time, good memories. I have searched around the internet and a few dealers and I can't seem to find one anywhere.

I was wondering what else you might suggest. I was thinking Rx-7, 944, Supra, audi quattro, ....I don't know, let me know.

My only request is RWD or AWD please.
I would like to have the ability to put a rack on top for skiis, mountain bikes etc, that's why I didnt just go for the 240z or 2000gt etc.

ok....you want room for skis and room inside as well, and youre thinking RX-7? or a 944? Make up your mind man....you want a sports coup or a grocery getter? Low-buck performance or an 89 subaru legacy wagon?

Haha, my mistake. I don't want to put them in, rather on top. I have seen roof racks on both the 7 and 944. Never seen them for the 240z, they could exist though.

This is what I'm currently looking for: Volvo p1800

http://volvo1800pictures.com/b_noc_P..._id_1067_1.jpg

Except I'm looking for a '71 model fuel injection, 4 wheel disc brakes, and 130 hp engine


And as for a bikerack/ski rack why not get a hitch and attach one of the hitch-mounted racks. I know they make them for bikes, maybe for skis too.

MR2 turbo, 1st gen. DSM TSi or GSX and you'd have a lot left over for mods (get this one if you want to make something very fast for very cheap). If you're serious about autox and don't want to use your RX-8 get the MR2 or maybe even a 968, don't bother with a 944. If you want it more for skiiing and such an older Impreza 2.5RS, they do pretty well in STS in autox as well as rallyx which is loads of fun. The Subaru and the DSM are loads of fun just romping around in the snow as well.

Any Supra you get for 10k isn't worth having. The 944, Audi, and RX-7 will be nothing but cash sinks, not cheap to repair and or they like to break often.

Personally I've been on the lookout for an MR2 for a couple years, the right one is tough to find but they are awesome on an autox course and just fun little cars all around. The main drawback is the midengine setup can be a bitch to work on.

I would get a late 90's Mustang GT. Lots of them around plus you will have money left over for aftermarket mods which there are tons of.

Yeah--944s and RX7s are fun to mod--the RX7 can possibly be bullet proof if its N/A but for bang for the buck go with an 94/95 GT Mustang.

1st Gen miata with a trailer? :)

Thanks for the suggestions!
-Mr2. totally skipped my mind, that's a good idea, looking for some right now. Anyone know about the reliability of the turbo's?
-Mustang GT. I'm not to crazy about this one. I have driven mid-late 90's mustangs many times and I just don't have doing anything but mashing the throttle.
-Miata. I'll give it a look, it's kinda small for my tastes, but if it drives like everyone says it could win me over.

That's where the low initial cost of the car comes into play; plenty of suspension & engine parts available for the Mustang.

Buy a B13 Sentra SE-R. Cheap thrills, and it's not thirsty.

Didn't see the RWD or AWD condition. Who cares? B13 all the way! :D

That's true. I'll have to get me reading googles on. Time to browse some forums. :D

haha, I can't do it man, it's not natural :p

MR2 sounds like a really good option, or an FC Turbo RX-7 wouldn't be a bad idea either. They're both cheap, so you would have cash left over. Skip the 944, the FC is a better car, and the 968 may be a bit too expensive if you want to have money left over to play with.

How about a nice yellow 75 280z.... you'd have $7500 let to go to counseling for buying a 30 year old datsun ;-)

definitely the 1st gen DSM. you can find one for about $1500 running and drop $8000 into it and have a nice little beast! AWD too!!! but set some money aside for the tranny!

Well since your looking at 10 grand, why not pick up a Turbo II RX-7 and dump the engine in it for a new one from www.mazdatrix.com or any other supplier. If the engine it's got is good, then by all means keep it.

I'd restore the car if need be, and do suspension mods and be done with it.

94-95 Miata - These have the 1.8 (as opposed to previous years with the 1.6) and are pre-OBDII. The car will be like $5k-6k then add an FMII turbo kit. The engine has a cast iron block and can handle plenty of boost reliably.

240SX - I would just leave the KA24DE and get a turbo kit. It's a lot cheaper/easier than trying to install an SR20DET, plus the KA is also iron block so it can still make decent power.

89-91 RX-7 Turbo - Don't listen to Ike, he doesn't know jack shit about rotaries or RX-7s. For $10k you can have a very solid TII.

how about a 91 maita and drop the 5.0 in it. make yourself a monster miata!!!

Thanks again for all the suggestions. I found one E30 M3 I am going to take a look at next week. I also found a FD Rx-7 with 60,000 miles on it for 18000 canadian, i might look at that. I also found a 91 mr2 turbo with 35000 miles on it, seems low, but I'll take a look.

There are tons of miata's and older 7's too! I haven't seen too many unmodded DSM's though.

It's tough to find unmodded DSMs sometimes, but they're out there, I see what appears to be a stock one every couple months. If that MR2 is a MT and a good price, assuming there is nothing major wrong with it I'd jump all over it. The E30 M3 is a great car I've drive them on a track quite a bit, but again they will be very expensive to repair and they just don't have the potential for as cheap as the DSM or MR2 does.

M477, yeah I have no clue what I'm talking about, everyone knows 15+ year old turbo rotaries are the model for reliability :rolleyes:

Well, honestly, you really don't. I'm not claiming that FCs never have any problems -- any 10+ year old used turbo car is not going to be perfect -- but trying to claim that DSMs have some huge advantage over FCs in terms of reliability is just plain ignorant.

I think you need spend some time talking to FC owners and mechanics. In other words, get some actual knowlege on the subject before you try to make claims about what "everybody knows." You might just realize that the difference between the FD and the FC is more than just one letter.

See my sig!!!

~ Matt

P.S. I think a 323 GTX would be a fun project car. Put in a roll cage, some rally lights, and go rip up some fire trails!

Ahhhh yes, the 323 GTX...how could I have forgotten?!?!?

Too bad the Mazdaspeed Protege and 3 are not what the GTX once was...

good luck finding one though...