Reach

OK, I'm young, and love my new Acura, but for some reason I've still got the car bug.

I'm now musing the idea of a project car. Something fast and fun without any bells and whistles (roof optional, heh.). I scan DC craigslist from time to time and I see old (80s) Porches and Corvettes that are still in serviceable condition for <$5k.

If I were to buy a Go-Fast project car, I'd want to spend under $5k on it, and prolly invest another $5k into repairs and upgrades for it. I'd be a total DIY because I'm just getting into cars and I want to learn.

Who's got any suggestions? Fire away.

65 Fury Convert

Triumph TR6

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

Haha...dyno session and seeing all those modded cars at Altered Atmosphere got your itch going.

I would recommend a mid 90's Civic hatch. Good solid platform, lightweight, easy to mod, easy to find parts for, and lots of information available. Great car to learn on and you can drop a B-series motor into it as a way of getting solid performance out of it.

subinf

old or new car? import or domestic? if you dont care too much about the body style/condition you can make an old domestic fast as hell for a few grand.

Reach

I said Porsche CG, not Civic

Truth is I've always wanted a vette. I'm not a car guy and I have no plans to extensively mod my Acura, I want something with good ole fashioned horsepower. No computers to screw things up either, something where I can really get behind the mechanics of it.

Reach

^^ CG... let me just put it this way.... I'd love to smoke that old white dude and his fancy Z350 with something I put a total of <10k into, including purchase. Exterior can look like shit for all I care.

Import, Domestic, makes no diff to me (mostly). Keep throwing out ideas.

subinf

80's...early 90's (gotta have the 5.0) mustangs are easy to make fast and are nearly bullet proof. tons of parts, very easy to work on...

Reach

Nice subinf... that's along the lines of what I need to thing about.

hrm... http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/car/135238669.html

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

Hey, gotta start somewhere. Civics are good cars to learn on because they have a lot of support and parts.

If you're looking more along the lines of a Porsche, the 914 has very similar support out there as well.

subinf

^-that works. if you arent a fan of that body style (as some arent) ford stuffed that 5L into the next body style before going to the 4.6 L

subinf

can the ugly duckling pull on a Z?

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

Try a few of these...

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/car/136014623.html
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/car/135993218.html
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/car/135891739.html
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/car/135828712.html
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/car/135780332.html

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

With a Carrera motor swap, easily. My guidance counselor back in high school started out on a 916 (6 cylinder engine in a 914 chassis) that was capable of 5 sec 0-60 runs.

Reach

Actually I kinda liked it.

OK, that's an hour of work time wasted on looking at Mustangs. I gotta google up some Vettes and Porches from home, but finish work first.

That's what they get for leaving me all alone today. I'm the only one in my department in the office, ugh.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/car/135639575.html

That's one of the Mustangs that subinf was talking about.

RaviNJCLs

iTrader: (4)

I've always liked a 65 Mustang.

Minch00

Reach

^^That's the 94 mustang?? What is that?

Minch00

That's an early 90s Toyota MR2 Turbo

Reach

pfft not like i know. I grew up idolizing beemerz and benzos and now I've learned my lesson after owning one. as i look around vettes seem to be pretty expensive, even in the heavily used / old catefory, very interesting that Porsches are more readily available and cheaper imo.

subinf

i used to want a vette but they are bank. i love old mustangs, but they are a money pit (or at least mine is) the 914 wouldnt be my first choice but from what it seems there is still a fairly big interest in them

Minch00

Seems like you still want a car with a certain "brand whoring" to it, seeing as how you're interested in Vettes or Porsches, look into the MR2. Be unique.

Reach

Yeah, I'm a snob in my own right (aren't we all) but I'm not a brand whore. I certainly will look into the MR2. Let my lack of branching out speak to my lack of expertise in this area, hence asking for help

Thanks... I'd really love more suggestions, even off / way-off the beaten path of what we've been talking about. But... something that could be reasonable purchased in a major metropolitan area and I could learn to work on. Those are basically my conditions.

Bdog

I would get this and then a SR20DET engine swap. Keep it clean and no matter how many miles you get on it you should get most of your money out of it down the road.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...en&cardist=120

Stapler

i'm deffinately partial, as i've had a few myself, But 1973 or earlier bmw 2002 (NON TII if you want to stay in that price range).

Basically the only old bmw you can get and maintain fairly cheaply, It is really the only one that has a big parts supply. I got a 73 bavaria last year and finding anything is like puling teeth.

Also if you want to do the go fast stuff, a 1988 m3 engine is a nice fit, so is the late 80's 6 cylender m20. 5 speed conversion would go with either of those. Everything about the car is well documented.

Crazy Bimmer

BMW E30

http://www.euroteknik.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18886

jz-97-c7

i've been thinking of a getting a miata for a build up...if you're into autox then one should be at the top of the list

ilitig8

Go-fast... straight line of curves?

At that price point I would forget the P-car, parts are plentiful but not cheap.

My choice would probably be a 5.0 Mustang, tons of cheap parts.

ilitig8

If it wasn't for the fact the "seller" has a lot of posts I am always wary of the signed tiltle "but I have not titled it yet" song and dance. I have heard a lot of people getting burned this way. A (dumb) cousin (in-law) paid cash for his dream project in the driveway in a nice neighborhood. Turned out it was a 2 halves make one good car kinda car and the front half was a stolen car. The police went back and it appears the guy just had him meet at "his" house but "he" didn't belong to the house, never found the guy.

GreenMonster

I've been doing alot of reseach on the 911's... and you gotta spend at least low teens to get into a decent 78-83 SC... High teen/low 20's for a decent G50 Carrera (87-89)... and into the 30's for a 1995 993... Rebuilds on all these engines aren't cheap either... The pre-74 cars are thru the roof pricewise... excellent bargains 5 years ago, not so much now...

Jesal posted an excellent option... the BMW E30... that would be around the 5K price point... I like the E10's myself, but the E30's pack a little more punch, and rust would be less of an issue...

I'd like to have a light rwd toy for the weekends, and one of these days when I get my shit together, I'll have to start looking seriously...

Sarlacc

mmmmm

My dream project...late 60's with the round tail lights...Widebody kit, and totally tracked out....I WILL do this someday.

Water-S

Something off the "beaten path" due to it being discontinued is the a last generation Supra TT. however for a used on you're talking in the 20 grand range.
plenty of mods out there like upgraded turbos and intercoolers.
another option is a Integra Type R. however I'll warn you these are common cars to be "boosted" so your insurance will be high. and the last one built was about 5 years ago. these run about 15 grand for one in decent condition and decent mileage.
another good option is the Nissan 300ZX TT. those things if you upgrade the turbos can be a crazy car.

another option is a WRX. a buddy of mine(it was expensive as hell I know) has a 2001 WRX he got it out of a salvage yard(it took a pretty good lick on the front end) fixed it up drove it for about a year.then had JDM Sti spec engine shipped FROM JAPAN here. pulled the old engine dropped in the JDM motor. that thing is WILD.


my weekend/toy car is: 91 CRX si with a B18C5(Type R motor) in it with tons of mods(MSD box,DC sport headers,cherry bombs,coilovers,sways, CAI,full rollcage, racing seats/harness, short throw shifter, Falken tires, i forget brand of rims(i got a deal on them that's all i remember ), hood clips, custom paint, custom stickers, lightweight flywheel, and Racing clutch)

importtuner

I LOVE my Type R!!! Not the quickest car I've driven, but most definitely the most fun car I've driven! The closest thing to it would probably be an S2k and if I could ever fit into one, that would be my choice! Or if you wanna go extreme; pick up a 3rd gen RX-7 and throw in a LS-x(your choice) motor in it. I can't imagine the thrill one would get in a 2600 lb, RWD, V-8. I'll tell you this though; from driving a vast amount of cars and getting a ride in some fast ones, choose something light weight with great all-motor power and balance, and RWD. Yeah turbocharged cars are fun, but they're not as exhilirating as lightweight N/A cars. There's something about lagless revs and a perfectly matched gearbox. Several cars come in mind: old school porsche's, NSX, ZO6, S2k, miata, several bimmers, etc. Good luck.
-Justin

ilitig8

Holy crap batman, Water-S and Importtuner sure know how to blow a guys budget all to he!!.

But I must admit if you could build a NSX, Z06, V8 Gen 3 RX7, S2K, Supra TT, 300ZX or Teg Type R for 10K, I would be at the head of the list, I'll take one of each!

iTimmy

I want to do something a little different, I want to build a monster miata, one with a fuel injected 5.0(maybe supercharged), 5 speed from a mustang, 9" front loading ford rearend, with quiet flow mufflers. Stock wheels, but beefed up suspension/chassis to withstand 350+hp and slap a gay pride rainbow sticker on it just so EVERYONE thinks its slow... I've been looking for a pre '95 miata with a good body for about 6 months now, I will find one and build it, though it would be over the posters budget and still handle like shit, but fast The monster miata kit alone is $5k, and that doesn't include the engine, trans or car!

Reach

Wow... I love some of the ideas on the foreign cars but some of you guys did seem to forge that 10k is a TOP estimate. I'm talking like $4k into a car and another $6k over the next year or two to build it up.

I gotta say that after looking at some options last night I'm thinking Mustang 5.0 Theres a lot of them that still run that are cheap. AND parts are available and cheap, so you can't beat that for a learner car. I should say, this project will be a LEARNING project for me (n00b) so easy = better. Domestic + lots of parts might be best. There goes Porsche.

I think I need to locate one with good exterior and body condition, and serviceable interior. The engine rebuild / build-up would be my preferred place to piss away my money, not trying to get a rust bucket back to shiny condition cause its already got a good engine. Any more advice on what to look for when I scan potential new dragsters? And yes, when I said go-fast, I meant straight line.

SSMTL01

Nobody has mentioned a DSM either?
Turbo+AWD, cheap and easy to work on as well.

bigman

Get an early 90's Used Vette with the LT1. Drop on some long tube headers, LT4 cam and drivetrain, cat back, intake and a tune. You'd me making over 450 wheel horsepower and running high 11's. My weekend car is my LS1 Trans Am. I'm aiming for high 10's/low11's all motor this summer. Should be fun pulling those front wheels off the ground.

Water-S

Yeah get a early 5.0 Mustang GT pull the motor get a world products "Man Of War" engine with GT40 heads the 'stang will FLY.

Edr0e

1989 Mazda FC RX7
200hp Turbocharged 1.3 Rotary RWD

Rebuild the motor, Refresh the chassis, and mod away ( with flames shooting out your exhaust )!!!! j/k


You could even do that LS swap.