RossD said:No Miata? How about a MX-5?
Those have heavy iron engines, that is why they don't handle very good.
RossD said:No Miata? How about a MX-5?
Those have heavy iron engines, that is why they don't handle very good.
Peugeot 405 Mi16
Ford Fusion/Mazda6?
I don't get the fascination with SLA or aluminum engines, either. Usually the vehicles that have those suck, in that they aren't cheap cars.
How about Audi A4 and A6 with the three year only AVK 3-liter?
Is this for track, street, mixed? If you want something similar to what you mentioned; light, tossable, cheap, manual, with aftermarket support, have you considered a Fiesta, or Mazda2? They could get you into a car made in this decade. There were b-spec suspension packages. Alternatively, I believe there were people on this forum who put Fiesta ST suspension on a lower trim model. I recently bought a FiST, after previously discounting it without proper consideration and it's shockingly good for what it is. I came out a decade with a RX-8, which if you're not risk adverse, could be an awesome option, as was mentioned earlier.
The Fiesta/Mazda suspension isn't double wishbone and while LSD options are available in the aftermarket, it's not going to be as cheap as buying a factory setup from the wreckers.
I only browsed through but it sounds like nobody's come up with MR2s yet. Struts but decent geometry, for second and third gens at least. Second gen n/a engine is a turd but lots of stuff can be swapped in. Third gen is a floppy convertible but has the engine you're looking for. No diffs but I imagine there's aftermarket options and mid engine means you don't need one until you're making serious power. Pretty sure you can find both easily for approaching if not under your budget goal.
I've got it!!! A totaled Honda S2000 purchased at an insurance auction. Ticks every box.
Damn you guys roasted me while I was sleeping haha
Just looking for a car that weighs under 2700 lbs to be street daily-driven with an autocross run once a month. Need to be a fuel-sipper which is why I'm not looking at your typical RWD cars with 200 hp. Essentially that means it'll likely be a FWD car, where I'd like to have as much weight off the front-end as possible
SLA Civic and a turbo kit.
Oh....Simple then. 7g Celica GT. mid to high 20's in the city. Under 2400 LBs. Won stock national championships when new. Available all day long in the under $4K. Super balanced and a lot of fun to Autox.
Dootz said:Damn you guys roasted me while I was sleeping haha
Just looking for a car that weighs under 2700 lbs to be street daily-driven with an autocross run once a month. Need to be a fuel-sipper which is why I'm not looking at your typical RWD cars with 200 hp. Essentially that means it'll likely be a FWD car, where I'd like to have as much weight off the front-end as possible
You want a Honda but you don't want a "Honda".
In reply to Knurled. :
Pretty much. I will go for an EK if there's nothing else that can compare as a good MPG/ergonomics/fit and finish/manual/analog-feeling car
240sx? SE-R? Mazda Protege?
Miata with Camaro body panels. lol
My MX3...
In reply to nimblemotorsports :
That's HILARIOUS!
Now I want to go the other way with an F body... that's pretty much all unused volume anyway.
So let me suggest a Volvo C30, while not super light or wishbone suspension, they are very fast, 225hp easily bumped to 250 yet good mpg, handle great, comfy and quiet, and have uncommon good looks, I really like driving mine, wish I could keep it, but has to be sold.
Dootz said:Damn you guys roasted me while I was sleeping haha
Just looking for a car that weighs under 2700 lbs to be street daily-driven with an autocross run once a month. Need to be a fuel-sipper which is why I'm not looking at your typical RWD cars with 200 hp. Essentially that means it'll likely be a FWD car, where I'd like to have as much weight off the front-end as possible
How about a zx2?
Light, 2300ish pounds depending on what accessories. Has an after market following, although not as much as miatas, iron block not aluminum, has LSD options and I've got 40mpg out of mine.
It's a 7ish second 0-60 car stock that can get 40mpg and costs about a grand. I think that's about as close as you are getting
Dootz said:Damn you guys roasted me while I was sleeping haha
Just looking for a car that weighs under 2700 lbs to be street daily-driven with an autocross run once a month. Need to be a fuel-sipper... ...it'll likely be a FWD car, where I'd like to have as much weight off the front-end as possible
So, I'll post for bobzilla...
https://chattanooga.craigslist.org/cto/d/chattanooga-2011-kia-forte-sx-koup/6990416008.html
you can find his previous build here:
otherwise, mfactory makes diffs for first/second gen Fit
nimblemotorsports said:So let me suggest a Volvo C30, while not super light or wishbone suspension, they are very fast, 225hp easily bumped to 250 yet good mpg, handle great, comfy and quiet, and have uncommon good looks, I really like driving mine, wish I could keep it, but has to be sold.
Where do you find a running, driving, non-totaled C30 for under $3500.
Those things have silly enthusiast markup because more people want them used than bought them new. It took a while for people to realize that it's a Mazdaspeed3 for grownups, and they don't rust like Mazda 3s. (This isn't a clever analogy - the C30/S40/V50 was built on the same chassis as the Mazda3 and second generation that we didn't get Ford Focus, but since they were built in Sweden and not Hiroshima, they used better steel and much better corrosion protection)
Honda Fit
And if you want to go rwd, $3500 probably would get you a pretty nice 4cyl E36.
I had a 318ti with a limited slip. It was fun and would do around 30mpg. Nicer to drive around than an old Civic too.
Yep. First gen forte sx. All but the double wishbone. Tune makes it drive fantasmic, car is willing to rotate. Fits a lot of tire etc.
BlueInGreen - Jon said:And if you want to go rwd, $3500 probably would get you a pretty nice 4cyl E36.
I had a 318ti with a limited slip. It was fun and would do around 30mpg. Nicer to drive around than an old Civic too.
318tis are gaining in value. The standard Sedans and Coupe's have bottomed out, but the Ti is a cult car and has been rising in value for a few years. I miss mine
yeah I’d consider dropping the suspension and aluminum block requirements. It’s better on paper but doesn’t always transfer to the actual driving.
I’d be checking out ZX2s and Protégés.
mad_machine said:BlueInGreen - Jon said:And if you want to go rwd, $3500 probably would get you a pretty nice 4cyl E36.
I had a 318ti with a limited slip. It was fun and would do around 30mpg. Nicer to drive around than an old Civic too.
318tis are gaining in value. The standard Sedans and Coupe's have bottomed out, but the Ti is a cult car and has been rising in value for a few years. I miss mine
So it’s a great time to buy one!
SVT Focus?
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