Ian F
MegaDork
10/17/18 9:18 p.m.
Floating Doc said:
Ian F said:
Were I looking for a car specifically for autocross, I would focus on cars built and already sorted for a given class, unless there are other driving factors.
Advice I wish I could have followed, just didn't know enough when I bought my NB. I am happy with it, but I could have saved a lot of money.
I didn't follow it when I bought my E30, but I also didn't know any better. Part of why I disliked that car so much.
I didn't follow it a second time with my R53, but at least in that case I knew it going in so it doesn't bother me as much.
The thing about being competitive in autocross (or racing in general) is you can't really have any emotional attachment to the car. The car simply needs to be a tool towards the goal of competing. Pick a car that best suites your needs and budget. Whether it's a car you actually "like" has to be somewhat secondary.
STM317
SuperDork
10/18/18 3:33 a.m.
The fact that you put janky rad mounts and bent rims into the "good" category tells me that your standards are definitely not too high.
I'd say buy the best muscle car/truck that you can in your budget. Put some loud exhaust on it or whatever makes you smile and just enjoy it. It's going to be really tough to find solid, well modified, semi-decent autocross vehicles for sub $3k, but you can probably find decent stock-ish vehicles in that price bracket though, and modify as you want over time. Muscle cars/trucks would be CAM eligible, which puts way fewer restrictions on what you (or a previous owner) can modify. So you can make it what you want, and still have some place to play autocross when the desire strikes.
If it was in good shape, he’d be asking $5k. In your budget, I don’t think you’re going to find a clean EF, swapped or not, based on my DAILY search.
The wiring for the swap shouldn’t have been terribly complicated (MPFI & OBD0 conversion if the engine is newer than 91) & should be pretty easy to clean up.
In reply to poopshovel again :
You have a point there. Ef civics are not getting any cheaper and rust free by the day.
This car just didn't have the feel I wanted.
Ian F said:
Floating Doc said:
Ian F said:
Were I looking for a car specifically for autocross, I would focus on cars built and already sorted for a given class, unless there are other driving factors.
Advice I wish I could have followed, just didn't know enough when I bought my NB. I am happy with it, but I could have saved a lot of money.
I didn't follow it when I bought my E30, but I also didn't know any better. Part of why I disliked that car so much.
I didn't follow it a second time with my R53, but at least in that case I knew it going in so it doesn't bother me as much.
The thing about being competitive in autocross (or racing in general) is you can't really have any emotional attachment to the car. The car simply needs to be a tool towards the goal of competing. Pick a car that best suites your needs and budget. Whether it's a car you actually "like" has to be somewhat secondary.
If you REALLY have to be at the pointy end of the grid, just study what the fast cars at the Solo Nationals are, and buy the fastest one in your budget.
But one also does need to think about what is "fun" when it comes to autocrossing or racing in general. Is it winning, is it the driving, is it the challenge of making your car fast, etc? If it's only about winning, and you get a car you don't like- and for some reason struggle with driving it fast- then what?
So many people come and go in this hobby, to different degrees- these are important questions to ask yourself, IMHO.
In reply to Fueled by Caffeine :
Werd. If you can swing a bit more, Chris Dorsey’s old EP car was for sale a while back on FB. I think the owner was asking $6k. Helluva bargain for a nationally competitive car.
How about an '81 wagon with a bad engine?
https://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/d/1981-honda-civic-wagon/6725256272.html
"1981 Honda Civic Wagon, auto, virtually no rust. 150,000 miles. Been sitting for 10 yrs. engine is bad. Needs restoration. This is a hard to find classic. 2000.00, texting works best."
Or if you're itching for something actually running, here's an '86 hatch
https://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/d/1986-honda-civic-crx-dx/6717144800.html
"All Original and un-molested except for maintenance items. DX model, carbureted, no air conditioning or stereo from the factory. 5 speed manual Transmision, 1.5 liter four. I have put in a lot of time/money since I have purchased the car doing all scheduled maintenance/service work to be sure the motor and transmission are ready to go for a very long time wether you want this as a collector car or just a great every day driver"
P3PPY
Reader
10/18/18 9:46 a.m.
In reply to FuzzWuzzy :
Fuzzy, are you from the KC area then?
this is a bad idea.. but.. so right..
Lowered suspension.
Magnaflow exhaust.
some braces..
https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/cto/d/mustang-gt-for-sale/6728074969.html
I don't like moosetangs but the parts are cheap and I want to teach my kids about wrenching..
ohhh Jordan is very close to me... that SVT focus is interesting....
going to look at moosetang tonight..
I make bad life choices.
Cotton
PowerDork
10/22/18 2:30 p.m.
In reply to Fueled by Caffeine :
That Mustang will be a lot of fun. I bought a lightly wrecked 2000 GT cheap and it’s been a blast.
My standards are too high.
1994 mustang..
The good:
1. Eibach sway bars
2. Eibach springs
3. short throw shifter
4. newer tires
The bad:
1. The giant piece of backside torque box hanging down off the car... seriously.. The car said no rust.. (it had some minor surface stuff).. and this ONE GIANT HOLE IN A STRUCTURAL PART OF THE CAR..
don't think I want that rust.. Gotta be a fly and drive I can do somewhere with less rust.
My wife drives a 03 GT. Honestly not my favorite car.
Go look at a G35. Really. I despise Nissans. I really like this car.
Fueled by Caffeine said:
My standards are too high.
No, owner's expectations or evaluation of their vehicle are too high.
Cotton
PowerDork
10/22/18 11:28 p.m.
Fly and drive is a good option, but don’t rule out shipping. I’ve shipped quite a bit in the past and some of the estimates will surprise you, especially if they’re on popular routes.
I've got a really stupid s10 v8 and a J swapped civic to go look at.. Also noticed that EF civic guy dropped his price to $2000.. His.. Firm price deal wasn't working out for him.. huh.. who'd of thunk it.
After that. I'm suspending the search. Will save some more cash and do a deal on on something else.. Still want Svrex's GTI.. need to save some cash for transport.
