sanyarcosean
sanyarcosean New Reader
6/5/08 5:00 p.m.

Ok...

$3000 to $4000 total budget...

Rear wheel drive, autocross, track day, drive to work once a month giggle car... AND not a Miata. I have one.

Thoughts??

mrhappy
mrhappy New Reader
6/5/08 5:06 p.m.

e30 or Mr2

VitaminJ
VitaminJ New Reader
6/5/08 5:28 p.m.

I build a Locust based on a Miata.

Travis_K
Travis_K New Reader
6/5/08 5:29 p.m.

Alfa Milano or GTV6

JFX001
JFX001 HalfDork
6/5/08 5:32 p.m.

Most bang for the buck????

Fox body Mustang.

geomiata
geomiata New Reader
6/5/08 5:58 p.m.

hm i would have to say a obc, cause i think theres a law saying you can only drive it once a month. might even be a law of physics.

patgizz
patgizz Dork
6/5/08 6:11 p.m.

84-87 corvette.

P71
P71 New Reader
6/5/08 9:10 p.m.

2nd Gen (FC) RX-7, maybe even a Turbo one at that.

Ridiculously nice 1st Gen RX-7 (SA/FB), maybe even a 13B-powered GSL-SE.

Late C3 Corvette (says 74ish to 82). 350/4-Speed and plastic bumpers. It'd be a project though.

LT1 Camaro/Firebird (93-97) with a 6-Speed (it'd be a project also though you may get a good one at $4K).

Xceler8x
Xceler8x Reader
6/5/08 9:24 p.m.

Just go Miata. You'll get a newer car that is a track appliance.

Fluids, tires, and track time. That's all you'd have to worry about.

If you want some hairy chested manly-ness...I'd go Corvette.

P71
P71 New Reader
6/5/08 11:28 p.m.

He has a Miata! Don't you read?

Luke
Luke HalfDork
6/5/08 11:31 p.m.

If you have the time, buy one of those sub $1k AW11s with a BHG, and swap in a 20v 4AGE.

neon4891
neon4891 HalfDork
6/6/08 12:12 a.m.
P71 wrote: He has a Miata! Don't you read?

and whats wrong with having a second one

curtis73
curtis73 New Reader
6/6/08 12:16 a.m.

E30 first.

F-body GM last. Limp noodles unless you beef them up pretty seriously.

Fox bodies are pretty cheap and easy to upgrade, and much stiffer than GM F-bodies. It kinda becomes a wash considering the smaller 5.0 displacement and T5 tranny versus the GM's 5.7 and T56, but I would much rather drive the stiffer chassis with less power since both have more than adequate power for their weight in an autocross setting.

C4 vettes are a great idea, but it seems like you don't get much for your money.

P71
P71 New Reader
6/6/08 12:26 a.m.

Ford fox-chassis, STIFF? Haha! I laugh in your general direction! That chassis is the most UN-stiff made in the last 30 years!

Not only is the f-body stiffer, it's also LOADS faster! (Stock 87-93 5.0 GT does barely 14's, stock 4.6's MUCH slower, stock LT1 is 13.8's and 13.2's are available for "base" LS1 cars, the Ram Air/LS6 headed ones do 12's, STOCK!!!)

I had a fox Mustang (85 5.0 GT hatch) and an f-body (95 V6'er) at the same time. The fox was lower mileage, nicer car, with no rust and a solid roof. The f-body was creeping up on 300,000 miles and was a T-top car. The 'Stang had cowl shake so bad it nearly cracked the windshield! The Camaro was stiff as a board.

Sorry, but even as a multiple fox owner (85 GT Stang, 83, 84, 87, and 88 TBird's, 88 Cougar, 86 Granada, you get the picture...) I'd take the f-body any day.

Oh, I had 3rd Gen's too (88 V6 and an 87 Z28), even they were better then the fox (but not by much!).

Wowak
Wowak Dork
6/6/08 1:10 a.m.

Another Miata and a turbo or a V8 swap.

Xceler8x
Xceler8x Reader
6/6/08 8:08 a.m.
P71 wrote: He has a Miata! Don't you read?

Read what?

He asked what car to buy on the GRM forum! The instant response is Miata. Right?!

John Brown
John Brown SuperDork
6/6/08 8:29 a.m.

But he has followed that advice already!

Sean I have one suggestion:

Keep your mind open to aborted V8 swap Rangers and S10s.

nickel_dime
nickel_dime HalfDork
6/6/08 8:40 a.m.

Datsun 510

aussiesmg
aussiesmg HalfDork
6/6/08 8:47 a.m.

http://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=761609

say no more

Xceler8x
Xceler8x Reader
6/6/08 12:40 p.m.

Turbo T-bird. They're stupid cheap and you can learn about turbo's on one. Then laugh like hell at this monstrosity burning up ridiculously cheap tires that you bought at Pep Boys.

Bubba Drift Part Deux.

..oh wait..track days...

SVO 'Stang? If you can find a rough one and deal with the primadonna's hassling you about sullying such a fine motor car.

John Brown
John Brown SuperDork
6/6/08 12:56 p.m.

He used to own a Turbo Cougar that he loved...

Anger Anger Anger!

ProDarwin
ProDarwin Dork
6/6/08 6:35 p.m.

240 + coilovers

MadScientistMatt
MadScientistMatt HalfDork
6/9/08 9:15 a.m.

I happen to be selling a C4 Corvette in your price range. :)

Other than that, an E30 BMW or 240SX comes to mind.

jrw1621
jrw1621 New Reader
6/9/08 10:10 a.m.

If it is going to truely be a "light use" vehicle you really might want to consider a V8. With rising gas prices you might be able to "steal" something. I bet many Camaros and Mustangs are just sitting still with no one even calling about them.

What I do know is that former "cheapies" are getting hard to afford/justify.

If you do look at "cheapies" I highly recommend an early MR2.

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