Lightweight dynamo with decent aftermarket? On par with Miata/Civic

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

They're GAINING?  crap.  They were always like double what a 325i was, if you could even find one.  And that was before the fronts started to rust off of them.

slowbird said:

In reply to ProDarwin :

Sure, but the Focus is actually good. And has decent aftermarket. 

Its no better than a Mazda 3, a Sentra SE-R, Neon, etc.

Really, the FWD Econobox that is better than all the rest is the one he has specifically crossed off his list.  The rest are all very comparable once modified in the autox world.

If you want a FWD with a Torsen, a B15 Sentra is becoming the easiest way to get one on a budget.  

The reason we GRMers call the Miata 'The Answer' is because of new members and this exact same thread every so often.

I still like these threads, and welcome to the madhouse!

Knurled. said:

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

They're GAINING?  crap.  They were always like double what a 325i was, if you could even find one.  And that was before the fronts started to rust off of them.

Huh. I felt like I got a good deal on mine a few years ago but I think there were a couple others for cheaper in the general area I could have looked at but they were way crustier. Maybe that was an anomaly.

Anyway, a 2 or 4 door 318i would work just as well. A bit heavier maybe but with “better” rear suspension.

You can't get a decent SVT Focus for $3,500. At least not in my area. You can probably get a '05 Focus ST c the MZR/Duratec 2.3 tho, which is a good option.

First gen Infiniti g20t is the one that fits your requirements that's not a Honda. Vlsd, dwb front, sr20ve swap. Prelude or Integra gsr are easier and more common. 

A recent thread regarding the Celica gts in ax. The posts by Andythomas are really informative. https://www.newcelica.org/#/topics/400253?page=1

BlueInGreen - Jon said:

Knurled. said:

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

They're GAINING?  crap.  They were always like double what a 325i was, if you could even find one.  And that was before the fronts started to rust off of them.

Huh. I felt like I got a good deal on mine a few years ago but I think there were a couple others for cheaper in the general area I could have looked at but they were way crustier. Maybe that was an anomaly.

Anyway, a 2 or 4 door 318i would work just as well. A bit heavier maybe but with “better” rear suspension.

IDK, I see 318ti's around here in good shape for under $2k all the time. This being a fairly well-to-do area, people actually kept them in decent shape and aren't trying to eke every penny out of an old BMW. They're just considered econo-cars around here, really. 

I'd still choose an early Boxster if I wanted something "like a Miata" even though it doesn't fit all those seemingly arbitrary requirements. Sure better than half the things mentioned in here. 

In reply to irish44j :

Yeah, when I went to Summit Point to pick up the engine for my PR car, the guy (maybe his friend) had a ti out back, that they picked up for like $1000.  Granted, it had no engine and it was fairly well trashed, but when I see someone willing to let go of a ti around here they want stupid money.  And every one I have seen in person had at least one front sway bar mount falling off because the chassis rail was just gone, even on the nice looking ones.  (Chassis flex must crack the paint there, which invites rust right where salt spray from other traffic will get to it)

If I were smart, I'd sell the RX-7 and my project cars and go down by you and pick up one of those cheap tis.  They really are fun little cars.

3 pages into a thread about lightweight sports cars, and we've had suggestions of Ford Rangers, Infiniti G20s, and non-SVT Foci, but nobody has said RX8?

Knurled. said:

In reply to irish44j :

Yeah, when I went to Summit Point to pick up the engine for my PR car, the guy (maybe his friend) had a ti out back, that they picked up for like $1000.  Granted, it had no engine and it was fairly well trashed, but when I see someone willing to let go of a ti around here they want stupid money.  And every one I have seen in person had at least one front sway bar mount falling off because the chassis rail was just gone, even on the nice looking ones.  (Chassis flex must crack the paint there, which invites rust right where salt spray from other traffic will get to it)

 

If I were smart, I'd sell the RX-7 and my project cars and go down by you and pick up one of those cheap tis.  They really are fun little cars.

That's because you guys love your road salt.. I'd never buy any car from Ohio lol......and it's too bad since there are a couple on Marketplace out there that would be a good deal if not for "frame needs to be patched" and other similar comments..

The G20 has always intrigued me, especially since I've always liked their styling and the aftermarket support is pretty good with the sr20.