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  • Oct. 14, 2011 9:44 a.m. jrflying New Reader

    89 MX6 GT

    84 300zx turbo

    88 shelby daytona

    91 supra turbo

    Ok sorry for so many choices. I'm looking at these as a fun daily driver/airport car. One of them could be a start to a lemons car. What are some things I need to be looking for on these cars? What seems to be the best deal? What are common issues? How expensive are parts? Which one would you buy?

    Thanks all

  • Oct. 14, 2011 9:50 a.m. jrflying New Reader

    I also found some boxy turbo volvos for around the same price

  • 92CelicaHalfTrac

    Oct. 14, 2011 9:54 a.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

    I would say they all look like pretty decent deals. The MX6 and the 300zx seem to require the least work.

    I'm biased towards the MX6, they last forever, comfy, handle decently, good mpg, can be made fast for peanuts, and parts are cheap.

    However... because i already have one, i'd be snatching up the 300zx.

  • garaithon

    Oct. 14, 2011 9:54 a.m. garaithon New Reader

    The mx6 seems like the best deal from the ads above. It runs and drives and they are tough.

    The Daytona seems a little high for having problems but maybe worth a look if its not to rusty. "Boost issues" are probly vaccum line issues.

  • ProDarwin

    Oct. 14, 2011 9:58 a.m. ProDarwin Dork

    Remember, for lemons Z=Zero

  • 93EXCivic

    Oct. 14, 2011 9:59 a.m. 93EXCivic SuperDork

    IMHO I think the MX6 is the best deal. I would try to talk to the Supra down to below a $1000. I wouldn't bother with the 300ZX. They handle ok but they aren't even close to the Supra (I have driven both).

    We ran a Supra at the Challenge (basically stock except 3" exhaust, K&N air filter, manual boost controller and Kumho DOT slicks) and finished 19th out of 42 in the autocross. The Supras are built like tanks and I mean that in a good way. They are very well built cars and will eat up the miles so easily. Being well built also equals heavy but the carry that weight very well. The only problems we ever had were in the vacuum system before the Challenge (the BOV died and we had a small leak causing some weird boost issues). Parts for it are fairly cheap and lots of power can be made without too much work.

  • Oct. 14, 2011 10:03 a.m. mndsm SuperDork

    Throw another vote for the mx6. The F2T is bulletproof as i've ever seen in an engine (Mine has 209k on it, and you'd be hard pressed to tell me it wasn't new... it still pulls REALLY hard for a 23 year old car) Additionally as 93celica said, it can be made fast for peanuts. Strap a holset, some 440's a cheap Ebay intercooler and some tuning to it, and it will be happy ALL DAY. It's ridiculous what these things can do. I bought mine on an impulse, and I haven't regretted it for a second.

  • 92CelicaHalfTrac

    Oct. 14, 2011 10:05 a.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

    One of us. ONE OF US.

  • Oct. 14, 2011 10:08 a.m. mndsm SuperDork

    MX6 Mafia represent!

  • Travis_K

    Oct. 14, 2011 10:27 a.m. Travis_K SuperDork

    Most unrebult forged crank dodge 2.2s need rod bearings. Idk why, but most I have seen for sale were knocking. I'd go for the mx6 if you wanted to keep it more stock, the shelby z if you wanted to modify it.

  • Oct. 14, 2011 10:54 a.m. jrflying New Reader

    So what should I look for or pay attention to when looking and test driving the mx6 and supra?

  • 92CelicaHalfTrac

    Oct. 14, 2011 11:07 a.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

    Doubt you'll be able to test drive the supra. It's got at least one bad ring, and it says they opened the motor up. Doubt they put it back together with a bad bottom end like that.

    As for the MX6, just check for rust and leaks. If it idles a little strange, don't worry about it. Nine times out of ten, it's just a vacuum or boost leak. Check the oil, make sure it's not milky, make sure it doesn't overheat. Check the turbo, see if it's good. (If it's not, it'll probably smoke, but if you can check for shaft play before you drive it, do so.)

  • Oct. 14, 2011 11:14 a.m. mndsm SuperDork

    The one other thing, check the trunk out. It has 3 plugs in it from the factory that dry up and fall out, letting water get in. They're in the spare tire well, and on either side next to the fender. Other than that, game on. Also, if the trans feels notchy from 1-2, don't worry about it. Apparently they do that. Mine actually had a fresh rebuild, and it's still like that.

  • pinchvalve

    Oct. 14, 2011 11:33 a.m. pinchvalve SuperDork

    I'd go with the Miata.

  • sethmeister4

    Oct. 14, 2011 11:39 a.m. sethmeister4 New Reader

    Wow, that's a sweet group of cars available around you! Don't know much about the MX6, but everything I hear about them is good...plus they look plain jane so you have a pretty good sleeper too. After that, I say Supra, then 300ZX.

  • Oct. 14, 2011 12:13 p.m. JamesMcD Reader

    MX6! Mine has 275k on it. It still runs good but the rest of the car is tired so it's sorta in mothballs. We need more and more and more 1st gen MX-6 people on this board. I've never heard of anyone regretting the ownership of a 1st-gen MX6.

  • 92CelicaHalfTrac

    Oct. 14, 2011 12:15 p.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

    ^This man speaks troof.

    I probably have the worst one out of our group, and i still don't regret it.

  • Oct. 14, 2011 12:20 p.m. JamesMcD Reader

    Also, 88-89 is the best year range for these. And black on grey is a nice color combo. (The interior is not maroon or blue, as it could be.) 90-92 cars had the damnedable motor-mouse seatbelts, less-cool wheels, and less-ritzy interior fabric. You could make a really nice car out of that one for small money..There is great value-per-dollar in these cars.

  • 4cylndrfury

    Oct. 14, 2011 12:21 p.m. 4cylndrfury SuperDork

    lol...damn, the 80s/90s steel in Houston looks light years better than the same vintage here in Saltburg, USA. I haz a jealous

  • 92CelicaHalfTrac

    Oct. 14, 2011 12:24 p.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

    JamesMcD wrote:

    Also, 88-89 is the best year range for these. And black on grey is a nice color combo. (The interior is not maroon or blue, as it could be.) 90-92 cars had the damnedable motor-mouse seatbelts, less-cool wheels, and less-ritzy interior fabric. You could make a really nice car out of that one for small money..There is great value-per-dollar in these cars.

    88-89 also had leather wrapped steering wheel. 90-92 had garbage foam/plastic stuff that loses it's grip on the wheel. I can grab my wheel at the top and twist it like a bike throttle. It's gross.

  • Oct. 14, 2011 1:54 p.m. JamesMcD Reader

    You have a grey interior right? I think I have a minty grey steering wheel if you want it. I have to check my parent's house where it may have been left in the attic.

  • 92CelicaHalfTrac

    Oct. 14, 2011 1:59 p.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

    Yep, i have grey. I'm not real worried about it, to be honest. I have a spare nice black MX3 wheel i can put on. I'm not a huge fan of the grey in the first place.

    But if you happen to run across it, i'd be interested in seeing what it looks like!

  • Vigo

    Oct. 14, 2011 5:03 p.m. Vigo Dork

    Houston, eh?

    Im in SA and will probably be joining this 1st gen mx6 mafia in the near future as well..

    As a turbo dodge enthusiast for many years, i would say that daytona is probably a good deal, but i agree that if you are looking for less of a project (i.e. not looking to double the power) the mx6 seems like the way to go.

    If you wanted to make massive power i would recommend the daytona on the basis that its transmission and axles are extremely strong (along with having a 400+whp bottom end from the factory). I dont think anyone has ever broken one of those transmissions with power and people have put 500 lb ft through them.

    The daytona also has the bonus of having extremely good local parts, repair, and tuning (including dyno) support in the form of FWD Performance in nearby Spring, Tx (which is basically north houston from where im sitting) and also me in SA. There are a handful of mopars running around in Houston with parts i gave them.

    Im still recommending the mx6 for a mildly-upgraded DD, though.

 
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