round 2
 

Well my first thread on this topic got hijacked and the point of the thread was lost, so lets try again, this time on topic please. I need a beater/project car for college, looking to spend 1500-2000 on it. Would prefer something sporty that could be modified in the future. This is to avoid dings/scratches on the 350z while it sits in storage near campus. So far my list is:

88-91 CRX
88-95 Civic hatch
1st gen Eagle Talon/Mitsu Eclipse/Plymouth Laser
s12/13 240sx
mazda mx3

ideas? suggestions?

i am always biased towards the 240, but that is a lot more work than getting the crx or hb. hmm...that is quite a dilemna between those two cars if it were me.

make me understand: do u want a beater hot rod ? because i see no point in that

get a Toyota AE86 Sprinter Trueno....

I say 92-95 civic SI: kinda quick, cheap, good gas mileage, abundant parts available incase something breaks.

Get '90 Accord.

i second that motion, bad ass car that almost no one knows anything about :yes: :yes: :yes:

either a 5th gen hatch or the 240.

yeah... wouldn't it be better to save up what you can for the Z instead of putting a little here and there for a beater car?

Get the CRX. Si models are fun and quick with minor mods.

get a van.... man there is nothing cooler than a old mexican painters truck.. and you can take all the seats out and put a matres or somethin.....

yeah, heres the thing: im not technically supposed to mod the 350z because it was a gift. Im not supposed to make it faster or look different. I put on the earthing kit anyways, and the stereo/tint is all ok with the 'rents. Basically they paid for the car so I'm going to do my best to live up to my end of the bargain.

as for turning the beater into a hot rod, I don't know, guess I have an insatiable appetite for going faster, and don't really plan to mod the Z for speed until warranty runs out and I buy it from the 'rents (4 years or so). So in the meantime I want to turn a beater fast to cure my appetite. Truth is, once I get a fast beater, I'll probably buy another beater so my now fast one won't get dinged/dented. I feel like I have a sickness:pukey :o :pukey .

yeah i know what you are saying. prolly just keep the z as is and don't worry about it in the future and get an early 90's crx, light, stilish and lots of pottential, but then again when you will finish with that you will be pissed about the door dings at school, so i really don't know what to say

yeah true, this sucks... I want to drive something at least decently fast but in doing so don't want it dinged... oh well, guess I'll take that risk... after all parts (door panels) are a lot cheaper for a crx than a 350z...

Like Spazzy said, I would try to go for the '86 or '87 Toyota Corolla GT-S. It's Twin Overhead Cam and has a Limited Slip Differential. If not that, I would try to go for the beater Talon.

-Ducky

It all depends on your taste. I like the 240 due to its rear wheel drive. But, if the choices are narrowed down between a 240 and a 95 HB, I will definitely go with the HB. It is so easy to swap a B-series engine in those cars. I was thinking of buying this $200 86 CRX from my friend. The only problem is, to drop a B engine on it takes a lot of freaking wiring. You can also get an older turbo Supra.......

I would vote for the rex or the 1g dsm. Rexes are cheap to begin with and have decent potential if you want to spend the money to go fast. 1g DSMs will cost you more up front, but with a stock turboed block, not only are they pretty fast to begin with, but it doesn't take a whole lot to make them go faster.

My vote: I would pick up a 1g dsm. Decent speed, good potential without a massive investment.

If you want something cheap and easy.....go with the crx or civic...the are parts every where.

i 3rd the AE86 rolla

I wouldn't go with a 1g DSM, or at least a talon. Way to many reliability issues.