Bunch of Black 1980/90s Machines on Craigslist - Which Would You Pick?

Let me preface this by saying I'm not certain that I really want to buy any of these... but in a perfect world I'd grab all of them.  Which would you pick?  Why?  

1990 C4 Corvette- I've never owned a Corvette, and I've tried to buy several.  This one has the actual 6-speed rather than the 4+3 nightmare.  

FC RX7 Convertible- I know, there's no reason to get a convertible one, but when I was 17 there was a local one in my price range and my parents didn't allow me to buy it "because convertibles are dangerous."  17 year old me purchased an MR2 instead, which was far less safe, but I've never really gotten over wanting a black FC convertible.   

1983 Starion- Look how CLEAN it is!  This may be my only chance to own a nice(ish) early one of these, but my XR4Ti and Impulse Turbo experience has taught me that 80s turbo cars are not to be trusted.  

MR2 Turbo and Free Trailer- I'd sell the trailer to recoup some of the purchase price, obviously this one's more of a project.  I love these cars, but I've also already owned several of them.  

Z32 300zx TT- Much like the MR2, it needs some work but I've never owned a Z-car.

What are your goals for the cars use?

I think my vote would go for the Z

I like the vette! The Starion sure is clean but it’s a narrow body and I like the wide body. The mr2 seems overpriced given condition but I guess you could recoup some with the trailer if it’s usable. The 300zx is a car I’ve always liked but I think they’re pretty troublesome at this point. Lots of stuff crammed in there. 

I think my vote would go vette. 

In reply to Jaynen :

The goal would be occasional DD and car that I actually like, other than that it's open ended- if the car seems like it wants to be something after I've owned it for a while, maybe it becomes a hillclimb car or some other sort of project.  It has been a while since I bought a car because I actually liked it rather than for racing or because it fits some other set of parameters.

I was trying to make a case for the 300zx and something about swapping in a LSx engine and adapters and what not.

Until I clicked on the C4 link and saw the proper 6 speed that basically bolts to an LSx already and it's price.

C4. Hands down.

Damn. That is one list of awesome.

If it were me, I (think I'd) go starion, because it is the cleanest and most unique. I also like the narrow body, something about the smaller, narrower body talks to me like a true sports car. Fc second because convertible is awesome for fun driving.

Vette is probably fastest, and cheapest to run, mr2 is best looking, z car is hard to argue with. 

I agree with the others that corvette looks to nice to pass up. 

Corvette. Because, Corvette.

I get the Z. They are getting hard to find especially TT versions. 

Corvette is still everywhere and it can wait. 

I'd get another MR2.  Just maybe not that one.  I still see clean ones with bad engines pop up for <$2k that haven't been sitting for 5 years.  

The Starion is tempting because you couldn't have more '80s kitch if He-Man and Lion-O rode into battle against Megatron on top of the semi truck from M.A.S.K. But having owned a C4 Corvette before, if I had the funds to get another one and a good place to keep it, the Corvette would be my choice. Particularly if it has the Z51 sport suspension package.

I would buy the Starion as they are rather rare and that one looks nicer than the last two that came around, the MR2 is way over priced IMO.

Paul

300ZX TT, even though that C4 is really tempting.

RX-7 convertible all day every day.  Amass the proper parts for an F2T swap.

That Z looks like a basket case, pass.

I love MR2s and that one may be a good buy if the chassis and trailer are in good condition, but you've had several so... pass.

The Starion is tempting because it's so cleeeeaan and unique.  You've got to tolerate 80's turbo stuff right along with 80's everything-else-that-goes-wrong-stuff though.  Personally for me it's a soft-pass without the fender flares.  Tempting though.

That leaves the Vette and the RX-7.  They're pretty different, so it would come down to what kind of experience you want daily.  You got a better interior and covertible factor in one and a big engine in the other.  Pick your poison.

FC convert, and replicate my old V8 RX7, but in convertible form.

either the z car or the rx7. if the starion was the wide body style it'd be the only choice.

RossD said:

I was trying to make a case for the 300zx and something about swapping in a LSx engine and adapters and what not.

Until I clicked on the C4 link and saw the proper 6 speed that basically bolts to an LSx already and it's price.

C4. Hands down.

Yeah, that's a steal on the Vette. Probably the cheapest/easiest to maintain too.

I'd say the MR2 turbo, but I think the last thing you need right now is another major project. I'm not a fan of flat-sided Starion, but it looks like a good car for the price. 

In reply to Pete Gossett :

What do you mean, I only need to finish the rally car, work on the tow rig, fix the BMW, split my Buell in half for the valve service... OK maybe I see where you're coming from.

I am a fan of the flat sided Starion, at least in stock form.  If I were going to modify the hell out of it I'd want a widebody to start with.  The RX7, Starion, and Corvette are the ones that are sticking with me right now- all for very different reasons.

Under $4k is a steal for a decent 6-speed C4.   The L98/ZF6 are my favorite C4's, they only made those for a couple of years.   

In reply to SEADave :

The Corvette also seems like it has the most future potential- if I decide it's worth doing something exciting with, add turbos and sticky tires and it becomes a VERY quick car.

Starion, hands down. I haven't ever seen a narrow body and the wide bodies I have seen are in terrible condition. 

After that, MR2 and sell the engine in favor of a 3.5 2gr swap. 

C4 Vette. RX-7 vert will be pretty underwhelming without an engine swap or boost etc. 

C4.

For me, if I were picking only from that group, the C4.  Most potential and probably the cheapest to keep going.