Grassroots Motorsports

Register Log in to GRM
- Community

Birthdays
Recently on the Classic Motorsports forums

Subscribe get a full year for only $23.95 Sample Free Test Drive—no strings attached

Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Help me chose a car

Nov. 10, 2011 9:33 p.m. 93EXCivic SuperDork

Ok so I basically have two choices I am looking at for my autocross car for next season. A '76 TR7 and a '87 Yugo.

TR7
Pros: It is a proper sports car with RWD
It is a Triumph (and I <3 British cars)
It is actually fairly rust free.
It has a 5-speed

Cons: It is a Triumph (ie electrical problems).
It doesn't have a title (so I will have to go thru the abandoned vehicle title process)
It isn't as close to running like it needs a motor swap and any other work that I know will pop up from sitting for at least 3 years.

Yugo Pros: Yugos are cool
I like that little Fiat motor
Only reason it isn't on the road is the guy was pulling the A/C and decided he would do the belts at the same time and hadn't gotten them yet.

Cons: FWD
Parts availability?

What does GRM think?
Nov. 10, 2011 9:38 p.m. LainfordExpress Reader

So I can't help but notice the obvious omission of "walking" from your list. You really should include it, because of the three it is the most likely to get you from Point A to Point B.

In all seriousness, go for the Triumph. It will cost you your scalp coverage, but it may be rewarding for up to fifteen minutes at a time.
Nov. 10, 2011 10:08 p.m. 93EXCivic SuperDork

Basically I guess it comes down to if the extra work of getting a title and fixing the extra things that will be wrong make it worth the RWD and the feel of a TR7 especially when I have a Spitfire to be working on anyway.
Nov. 11, 2011 8:51 a.m. corytate HalfDork

http://www.btinternet.com/~jon.wolfe/gallery/lemansTR7_1.jpg
Nov. 11, 2011 9:17 a.m. VonSmallhausen Reader

I thing the above is all you need to know But I vote TR7 cause they are still light little british sports cars, plus have a soft spot for them
Nov. 11, 2011 9:45 a.m. ransom Dork

You know for a fact that you can't just drop another engine in the TR7. You have to go find a good 4 liter Rover V8. I guess that gives you something to do while waiting for the title...

Seriously, the TR7 wins, but I'd still might lean towards the Yugo unless you've got a lot more spare time than I do, and enough cash to keep both projects moving...
Nov. 11, 2011 9:48 a.m. 1988RedT2 SuperDork

Clearly, this is a no-brainer, so I am eminently well-qualified to offer my opinion: TR-7!
Nov. 11, 2011 10:05 a.m. 93EXCivic SuperDork

ransom wrote:

Seriously, the TR7 wins, but I'd still might lean towards the Yugo unless you've got a lot more spare time than I do, and enough cash to keep both projects moving...

That is my exact problem. I like the TR7 more but it is going to require more time and more money then the Yugo. I would rather spend the extra time on my Spitfire since either of these car is going to get sold after the Spitfire is done. But the Spitfire is a long way off in terms of getting finished (hopefully by the end of next year) so finishing that before the start of the racing season is not an option. And having talked to a number of people about an abandoned vehicle title (which I would have to do for the TR7) it can take from 6 weeks to 6 months and 6 months is too long.
Nov. 11, 2011 10:11 a.m. MG_Bryan Reader

Are you getting any spares with the TR? Is the buy in lower than the Yugo? Based on what you've said, I'm kind of thinking the Yugo makes more sense. I'd still get the Triumph though
Nov. 11, 2011 10:15 a.m. 93EXCivic SuperDork

MG_Bryan wrote:

Are you getting any spares with the TR? Is the buy in lower than the Yugo? Based on what you've said, I'm kind of thinking the Yugo makes more sense. I'd still get the Triumph though

I am getting the spare drivetrain from another car but maybe the whole other car (not sure on that yet). The TR7 is cheaper but by the time I added the cost of getting a title it would be the same price.
Nov. 11, 2011 10:24 a.m. oldtin Dork

I've had a fleet of LBCs - as much as I like them, I'm oddly attracted to yugos/fiats

edited for hotlink weirdness
Nov. 11, 2011 10:26 a.m. pinchvalve SuperDork

You know the old saying: "The build quality on a Yugo is so bad, it almost makes a Triumph look good."
Nov. 11, 2011 10:40 a.m. Ian F SuperDork

93EXCivic wrote:

Ok so I basically have two choices I am looking at for my autocross car for next season. A '76 TR7 and a '87 Yugo.

What does GRM think?

IMHO... neither of the above. Run your DD in auto-x (or see if you can co-drive) and put your time and money into the Spitfire.

...says the guy with way too many projects and toy cars to keep tabs on... hence why the E30 will be for sale.
Nov. 11, 2011 10:47 a.m. 93EXCivic SuperDork

Well the car is also serving two other purposes. One is to provide a backup car (probably neither is ideal) and the other is to have a car to take to the $2012 Challenge in case we don't get our Challenge car done.

I do have a lot of time on my hands. I work 7-4. Then I get home and have nothing to do. Then most weekends I either go visit my girlfriend or work on cars.
Nov. 11, 2011 11:52 a.m. LainfordExpress Reader

The "pros" for the Yugo seem... lackluster.

The TR7 is the winner because it'll feel special when it's done. I had a friend in high school that had one and it was pretty cool.
Nov. 11, 2011 12:11 p.m. nocones HalfDork

I would imagine you could buy a Miata for the price of the TR7 + what it takes to make it right + tittle process..

I'm just saying..
Nov. 11, 2011 12:32 p.m. 93EXCivic SuperDork

nocones wrote:

I would imagine you could buy a Miata for the price of the TR7 + what it takes to make it right + tittle process..

I'm just saying..

I could but I don't really care for Miatas. If I was going to do another common car, I would go with another Civic but I like odd.
Nov. 11, 2011 1:23 p.m. nocones HalfDork

I hear that but you need easy cheap and no work while building the spit. And good resale for when the spit is done.
1. Biy miata. 2. Fix small things and race while building spit. 3. Sell for profit when spit done
Nov. 11, 2011 1:31 p.m. EvanB SuperDork

Get the Yugo, TR7s are ugly.
Nov. 11, 2011 10:29 p.m. Vigo Dork

If you prioritize your existing spitfire project more highly than the tr7, i see NO reason to get the tr7. To me it is obvious you should get the yugo, put very little into it, enjoy it, and spend the rest of your resources on the spitfire project you consider important.
Nov. 11, 2011 10:35 p.m. MG_Bryan Reader

Vigo wrote:

If you prioritize your existing spitfire project more highly than the tr7, i see NO reason to get the tr7. To me it is obvious you should get the yugo, put very little into it, enjoy it, and spend the rest of your resources on the spitfire project you consider important.

Beware this logic stuff. I"ve heard stories of it leading to good decisions.
Nov. 11, 2011 11:20 p.m. Travis_K SuperDork

Neither, there are tons of better cars on craigslist everyday. Can you find not too rusty Fiat 124 spiders there? In california they usually arent too terrible and are almost always cheap. I could have bought a sort of running (it was a garage find, but it would start)1974 with no rust but minor accident damage for like $450.

You'll need to log in to post.