What's your Grassroots GT car?

I thought "GT" meant "Grand Touring"... something that drives sporty, but is comfortable for long distance cruising in comfort. When did it start meaning "2door"?

If you mean "Gran Turismo", that sorta implies a high speed express for two. A big sedan (like an M5) can do the job as well, but there has to be some panache instead of just brutal efficiency (like an M5).

Like a Caprice on airride? lol

4 door m3 would fit the bill with this "Grand Touring" ideal...

There's a whole lotta cars in this thread that don't even come close to being grassroots OR Gran Turismo.

Come on over to my place for a ride in a 5 spd SVX. THEN you may begin to understand.

Sorry, I can't agree with pretty much any American metal or VW's on this one. Trim level just isn't close. And since when can a Ferrari be considered grassroots?

friedgreencorrado wrote:

slantvaliant wrote:

friedgreencorrado wrote: I still recall a Chevrolet "Vega GT" called such a thing just because it had split seats and a console up the middle.

IIRC, all Vegas had bucket seats and consoles. The GT had a gauge package, "styled" wheels and better tires, some suspension tweaking, and the Holley/Weber 2-barrel carb. My Kammback - not a GT - had been retrofitted with a GT dash, which I really liked. Once I added a Starfire GT steering wheel, the driver's office really wasn't bad.

Those things actually handled pretty good for their time, didn't they? I'd still like one of the Cosworths..but only if someone would build it for me. Not exactly Grassroots, eh?

George Walton's Cosworth handles surprisingly well, even with budget Sumitomos and KYB silvers. It body rolls like an ocean liner in a cross sea but sticks well in spite of that. If he will ever let me do suspension and sway bar bushings I bet it will handle MUCH better.

SVreX wrote: Sorry, I can't agree with pretty much any American metal or VW's on this one. Trim level just isn't close.

No American metal or VW's, yet you include a Subaru?

SVreX wrote: Sorry, I can't agree with pretty much any American metal or VW's on this one. Trim level just isn't close. And since when can a Ferrari be considered grassroots?

When it's a grassroots Ferrari. It's a measure of relativity, not an absolute one.

SVreX wrote: There's a whole lotta cars in this thread that don't even come close to being grassroots OR Gran Turismo. Come on over to my place for a ride in a 5 spd SVX. THEN you may begin to understand. Sorry, I can't agree with pretty much any American metal or VW's on this one. Trim level just isn't close. And since when can a Ferrari be considered grassroots?

What did you swap the 5-speed out of? I didn't know there WAS a manual that mated to the back of the old Scooby flat-6.

ReverendDexter wrote: What did you swap the 5-speed out of? I didn't know there WAS a manual that mated to the back of the old Scooby flat-6.

A 5/6 speed from any Legacy, Impreza or Forrester will bolt right up to the engine. A little fab work is needed for the pedal box and trans crossmember. Manual SVX's have become very common. I've been to meets where the manual's have outnumbered the auto's...

Maserati coupes seem to depreciate a lot. Those are a GT that when slightly used become some folk's definition of "Grassroots". Next on my list is the Jaguar XK8. Either in coupe or convertible form it exudes sex appeal and they are getting closer and closer to dirt cheap on the second hand market. I really wouldn't mind having one of those, make mine a drop top in dark metallic blue, please.

Aside from that, anything you could use to comfortably gobble up some miles at a good clip and in high style would do the job. An old BMW 6 series would work. As would a 928. Any Mercedes 2 door would do, including the first gen CLK. Doesn't even have to be a V8 or AMG, even. The Cadillac XLR will be on the reasonable GT list in a few more years when they come out with a new model. I can't wait.

SVreX wrote: There's a whole lotta cars in this thread that don't even come close to being grassroots OR Gran Turismo. Come on over to my place for a ride in a 5 spd SVX. THEN you may begin to understand. Sorry, I can't agree with pretty much any American metal or VW's on this one. Trim level just isn't close.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Corrado

Hey, it's got power windows..and some of `em got leather..

And IMO, a Camaro or Mustang has better trim than a Cavalier or Escort..and some of those late real T-Birds were pretty swank, by Amurrican Iron standards..

SVreX wrote: And since when can a Ferrari be considered grassroots?

oldsaw picked the right one..from what I've seen, the GT/4 costs less than even an early "Magnum P.I." 308. I don't know how you'd feed it tho, unless you're a professional Ferrari mechanic..

C'mon, man..get in the spirit! The SVX gets dissed as well, but that's a GT, isn't it? Big honkin' motor up front, lil' bitty seats & trunk in back?

Hocrest wrote:

ReverendDexter wrote: What did you swap the 5-speed out of? I didn't know there WAS a manual that mated to the back of the old Scooby flat-6.

A 5/6 speed from any Legacy, Impreza or Forrester will bolt right up to the engine. A little fab work is needed for the pedal box and trans crossmember. Manual SVX's have become very common. I've been to meets where the manual's have outnumbered the auto's...

Yep, what he said!

2005/2006 G35 coupe. I had the 6 spd sedan, loved it, but the coupe with the sport package is pretty sexy/fast/comfortable etc. IMO of course. These can be had for under 20 g's

I'm going with an XKR, or I would if I was in the market and brave enough. You can pick them up in the teen's. Long, low, stylish and fast. A real continent eater.

My 8 year old would love it too, especial as ever since Top Gear reviewed the Jag last season when ever she see one she goes "Look dad, there's a ..(slight pause)..Jaaag" :)

Keith wrote: I'm planning to make the LS1-powered MGB GT into, well, into a GT. Lots of heat and sound insulation, and with the T56 transmission it'll cruise at around 2000 rpm at 75 mph. The suspension's going to be based on what I learned with the rally car, enough travel to make it comfortable without sacrificing performance. Exotic(ish) looks, lots of performance - should be a good option. As 924guy said, some assembly required.

I saw on your build page that car was originally aqua. Over here in the Colonies that's a 1 year only color (1972), my next to last B roadster was that color. Rare, to say the least.

My car's a '72, so it might be the same case here as well. Unfortunately, it's been red then black since it's been aqua, and both my wife and I prefer the black. So unfortunately for the purists, it won't be aqua when we're done. As if that's going to be the biggest sin...

Anyone want to buy some lever arm shocks?

Anyhow...I've always felt the 1995-96 240SX in a dark color had a real Jaguar shape to it. There's a green that looks really good. One of those, debadged for mystery and with the right wheels and stance, would make a good sexy GT. They're sleek without having to look overtly JDM. Too bad about the drift tax with those.

Hmmm, does my pickem up truck qualify?

I'm glad this topic came up, I'm looking for a GTish car for my next daily.

Keith wrote: My car's a '72, so it might be the same case here as well. Unfortunately, it's been red then black since it's been aqua, and both my wife and I prefer the black. So unfortunately for the purists, it won't be aqua when we're done. As if that's going to be the biggest sin...

Have you thought about Black Tulip? Like the Heidemann built Miata swapped car?

Keith wrote: Anyone want to buy some lever arm shocks?

Not just no but HELL no.

Keith wrote: Anyhow...I've always felt the 1995-96 240SX in a dark color had a real Jaguar shape to it. There's a green that looks really good. One of those, debadged for mystery and with the right wheels and stance, would make a good sexy GT. They're sleek without having to look overtly JDM. Too bad about the drift tax with those.

I agree, that was the best looking 240 of them all.

I have three cars: an MGB, a Miata and a Ford Mini-van.

I guess the mini-van is my GT

Both of my daughters have nice touring cars; one has a Ford-based Jaguar X-type and one has a SAAB 9-3. Both cars are manual five-speeds. I like the SAAB a little better but the Jag is 4WD so it would be great if you were touring The Alps in the Winter (or, in my case, the Poconos).

aeronca65t wrote: I like the SAAB a little better but the Jag is 4WD so it would be great if you were touring The Alps in the Winter (or, in my case, the Poconos).

You ever driven that SAAB in snow? If its anything like my 9-5, I'd bet that it would be just as good as almost anything AWD

mtn wrote: You ever driven that SAAB in snow? If its anything like my 9-5, I'd bet that it would be just as good as almost anything AWD

Yes. SAABs are great in bad weather, especially at speed.

But the SAAB replaced a WRX. and it's not quite as good as the Subie going up the steep hill to our house on a snowy day (it has a sharp turn) . The Jag cruises right up it.

I started out with a 93B over 40 years ago.

Just had to ask. I've driven an AWD Escape in the snow, a RWD 3/4 ton pickemup, a BMW, and the SAAB. The SAAB was far and away the best in the snow

Bobzilla wrote: I thought "GT" meant "Grand Touring"... something that drives sporty, but is comfortable for long distance cruising in comfort. When did it start meaning "2door"?

I guess I'm just old-fashioned, Bob...all these words used to mean something! "GT", "Sedan", "Coupe", "Cabriolet", etc...