P71 wrote: You might find an 04 GTO at the price (which in my suggestion for ultimate win).
there was one on clist here for under 10k
P71 wrote: You might find an 04 GTO at the price (which in my suggestion for ultimate win).
there was one on clist here for under 10k
dyintorace wrote: Z3? http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/cto/1333895920.html
Those seem to be getting proper cheap. At the last Daytona Turkey Run, someone was offering a Z3M - 10k and take it away.
Mind you, I was tempted to ask if he (a) had a pink slip for it and (b) the DMV had anything to do with that pink slip 
914Driver wrote: MR2.
Ooh, that's an idea. I had forgotten about them - they seem to have as much room inside as a C4 Corvette, maybe more.
Not too sure I'd want an '80s car as a daily driver - just feels to me like with what I'd have to pay for a very clean low mileage one it would be a shame to put one into commuter duty.
About the S-type: Nonrebuildable engine? YIKES! Sounds like I had better stay away from those.
The 300ZX is one I'd consider, but how easy is routine maintenance? The engine looks like it's a much tighter fit than you'd ever expect a 3.0 liter motor in a big car to be. I've seen big block V8 / little British car engine swaps that had more room in the engine compartment.
A P71 with a stick shift swap (or a whole Cobra drivetrain?) does have its appeal, but sounds like too much project.
MadScientistMatt wrote:914Driver wrote: MR2.Ooh, that's an idea. I had forgotten about them - they seem to have as much room inside as a C4 Corvette, maybe more. Not too sure I'd want an '80s car as a daily driver - just feels to me like with what I'd have to pay for a very clean low mileage one it would be a shame to put one into commuter duty.
Haven't priced them in a while, but won't 8k get you a decent 2nd gen MR2? Thus it wouldn't have to be an 80s car after all.
dyintorace wrote: Z3? http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/cto/1333895920.html
I had one of those for a couple of years. It's slightly larger than the Miata. You really notice this in the width of the interior. The trunk isn't any bigger though, and might actually be smaller than the Miata's when the Miata's spare is removed or unfastened and shoved forward. It's a lot more refined, but there are a lot of parts on that car to make it do what it does (oil level sensors, two camshaft position sensors, two sets of VANOS cams).
Drive one. Get an M.
MadScientistMatt wrote:914Driver wrote: MR2.Ooh, that's an idea. I had forgotten about them - they seem to have as much room inside as a C4 Corvette, maybe more.
You'd be surprised how much room there is in an MR2 of any generation. A Miata, I put on like a glove. An MR2, I can get into like an ordinary car - including the AW11 (Mk1, first generation, whatever you want to call the 85-89 models). I haven't been in a 2nd gen in a long time, but I had no problem fitting inside one with a helmet on.
You can also look at nostalgic Toyotas - basically everything they made before the '80s was RWD. $8k would handily pick up an immaculate Corona, Celica, or Corolla.
Volvo 740. 5.0 swap isn't terribly difficult
An AE86 is a fun, fun, fun car, but I think it is best thought of as being like a Miata with a real roof and quite a bit more interior space, or a slightly more modern alternative to a LBC with better engineering and EFI. They are more fun to drive briskly than most anything this side of a Lotus Seven (or similar) but can't hold a candle to the refinement and comfort of a newer BMW, Lexus, or even something like a GTO or Volvo 7-series/9-series. The nice thing about a Corolla is that it is juuuust big enough to actually use (you can fit a small people in the back for short trips and you can haul stuff in the trunk or hatch.)
In summary, an older Corolla (or some other old Toyotas) or first-gen RX-7 can be fun and offer a surprisingly fast car through the twisties, but won't be very refined compared to most newer cars, and are slow in a straight line by modern standards.
White_and_Nerdy wrote: You'd be surprised how much room there is in an MR2 of any generation. A Miata, I put on like a glove. An MR2, I can get into like an ordinary car - including the AW11 (Mk1, first generation, whatever you want to call the 85-89 models). I haven't been in a 2nd gen in a long time, but I had no problem fitting inside one with a helmet on.
I've driven a Mk1, and sat behind the wheel of a Mk2. The Mk1 isn't bad, but I was really impressed with how much room there was inside the Mk2. And $8,000 ought to be enough to get about the most pristine Mk2 that I can find.
I sold my N/A MK2 MR2 for $3000 earlier this year. It was in pretty fantastic condition short of some aged paint. $8000 will probably net you a close-to-perfect turbo car.
The driver's position is pretty much perfect and has a really sizable interior. The only thing with the N/A engine is it's low redline. It sort of falls on it's face really early on. The low end torque was nice, though, compared to my Miata. I've never driven a turbo version so I can't comment on that.
Carson wrote: I sold my N/A MK2 MR2 for $3000 earlier this year. It was in pretty fantastic condition short of some aged paint. $8000 will probably net you a close-to-perfect turbo car. The driver's position is pretty much perfect and has a really sizable interior. The only thing with the N/A engine is it's low redline. It sort of falls on it's face really early on. The low end torque was nice, though, compared to my Miata. I've never driven a turbo version so I can't comment on that.
The N/A is lifted directly from the 4-cylinder Camry (5S-FE).
...or you can swap in the Camry DOHC V6: YouTube - V6 MR2
Apparently the V6 from the Solara is good for 275hp N/A. I looked into the details back when I had mine, the DIY swap was about $3800 for everything.
I don't know if that's the same engine as the good Rev. is referring to, I'm not too Toyota engine savvy
I have owned my SC300 5spd for 5 years, at one point I sold it and bought it back shortly after. Needless to say I love my car! As far as IS300 vs SC300 goes I looked at both before buying my SC.
My main complaint with the IS300 is the interior feels like that of a FWD car, this may sound strange but it made a huge difference to me. Besides that you can fit a lot more tire under an SC than you can under an IS, the bottom ends are weaker on the VVTI 2jz found in the IS than the 2jz in the earlier SCs. Also with SC's you have the option of buying an OBD-I car, which will make your life a lot easier if you do decide to do any sort of extreme modifications. There are a ton of engine swaps you can do in either car, but any of them will be cheaper and easier to do to an SC. If you have any questions feel free to PM me.
Other ideas for cars...as P71 pointed out you could look into an 04 GTO. I have seen 1-2 in your price range for sale recently. I am a huge corvette fan so I don't think you could go wrong with a C4. Another option, although not "unusual" is a 95-98 240sx.
BoxheadTim wrote:P71 wrote: I've driven the AE86 and it honestly feels like a 1st Gen RX-7 with an anemic 4-cylinder. You're better off in the much cheaper and IMO much better looking RX-7.Of course you could always drop in the later silvertop or blacktop engines (provided you can get them in the US as an import engine from Japan). They add a useful 20-40bhp...
That was kind of my point. With $8K in purchase price, you are likely to get one that already has the 20 valve motor, or a turbo, or a supercharger. That's a hefty price tag in the worlds of AE86's. To give you an idea, this clean restored, 20valve swapped, fan-boy Initial D car is for sale now for only $8500 asking price.
I LOVE HachiRoku as much if not more than ANY other car out there...theres something iconic about it that resonates from my youth as I first began to become interested in cars. As much as I like that Trueno above, I much prefer the origin labs body kit to stock:
lose the lousy wheels, paint it white, keep the CF hood...sekC
$8,000 would get me a BMW 635csi with an extra set of M wheels, an upgraded Alpine with nice components, and be on the way to a LSx swap.
I went throught this same thought process and ended up getting a A6 2.7T Quattro with a 6 speed manual. I love the ride, the power on the highway, all wheel drive, and rowing my own gears. I try to buy parts online and install them myself to keep the cost low. But luckily I have a good VAG/Euro mechanic in town that treats me well if anything difficult pops up. (Oh I live in Wisconsin and the AWD ultimately beat out my lust for RWD)
RossD wrote: I went throught this same thought process and ended up getting a A6 2.7T Quattro with a 6 speed manual. I love the ride, the power on the highway, all wheel drive, and rowing my own gears. I try to buy parts online and install them myself to keep the cost low. But luckily I have a good VAG/Euro mechanic in town that treats me well if anything difficult pops up. (Oh I live in Wisconsin and the AWD ultimately beat out my lust for RWD)
How long have you had it and what has broken?
John Brown wrote: $8,000 would get me a BMW 635csi with an extra set of M wheels, an upgraded Alpine with nice components, and be on the way to a LSx swap.
Throwing Stars look tremendous on the E24!
docwyte wrote: Mercedes 190 2.3-16v. Cosworth engine, german dtm race car roots. Slowly turning into a collectible, you won't lose money on it when you resell it...
+1 if you can find one. I can't believe someone suggested the Stealth. Run away. It is a POS. I am going to put my vote in on a Buick Grand National. I love that car a lot.
Do not touch the 3000GT/Stealth, they were a warranty nightmare for ChryCo & they're not getting any better with age.
I'm not sure how much Grand National you could get for $8k, maybe a bastardized Regal with a T-Type drivetrain would be alright for this much though.
There was a Grand National for sale in my town for $4000. It was painted metallic beige in the '80s but it had under a 100k miles.
You're a Chrysler guy- how 'bout something different like a Spirit R/T? You could get a pretty much completely restored one in the price range you are looking. 12 second Lotus built turbo'ed muscle car clothed as an unassuming grocery getter, with plenty of leg room- priceless!
Or maybe something a bit more classic?
How 'bout that Hemi powered Volvo Wagon that was in the classifieds for a while?
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