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  • friedgreencorrado

    Aug. 17, 2009 2:05 a.m. friedgreencorrado HalfDork

    Hey, let's have a party thread!

    I mean a real GT, not something that's had the moniker hung on it by the marketing folks..I still recall a Chevrolet "Vega GT" called such a thing just because it had split seats and a console up the middle.

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

    I'm talkin' real-live "fat" sportscars, with miserable back seats, luxury stuff, and enough of a trunk to get one man, one woman (or "partner", if you're convex, rather than concave) and two overnight bags from London, Munich, Barcelona, or Paris to a weekend of hedonism in Monaco as fast as possible.

    Cars like the Ferrari 250 SWB, the Aston Martin DBs, or the Merc SL don't count...they're real GTs, but too expensive.

    I've got two VW Corrado VR6s, and I just picked up a dead Alfa GTV6 to resurrect. And after I'm finished with the Alfa, I'll probably be looking for a 2nd gen Toyota Supra, after DIASISS & Karl La Follette reminded how cool they are.

    After that? Well, my g/f had a 3rd gen Camaro in high school..I'd love to find a nice one of those for her. RobMopar's been talking about Dodge Daytonas. I've noticed a Jag XJS laying around at one of the local Eurocar repair shops...It's been there for awhile, and I can't help but wonder what kind of pocket change it would take for me to free up a little space in their back yard..

    So, if you're interested in a real GT that a "grassroots" guy could afford, what would you be looking for?

  • MitchellC

    Aug. 17, 2009 3:22 a.m. MitchellC HalfDork

    Without getting into the pricing stratosphere, I think the Lexus SC300s and BMW 8-series fit the bill. Both can be had with a manual, if you are good at finding four-leaf clovers.

  • MrJoshua

    Aug. 17, 2009 5:32 a.m. MrJoshua SuperDork

    Porsche 928

  • Hocrest

    Aug. 17, 2009 5:41 a.m. Hocrest New Reader

    SVX

  • aussiesmg

    Aug. 17, 2009 5:45 a.m. aussiesmg Dork

    My personal GT cars are my 4 Triumph Stags, should be one good Stag when done

  • Luke

    Aug. 17, 2009 5:48 a.m. Luke Dork

    GTV6 would be my pick. Or a 928 with a stick.

    There's also the E24 chassis BMW 635. Occasionally you seem them going for cheap.

  • Jay

    Aug. 17, 2009 5:49 a.m. Jay Dork

    Mitsubishi Starion
    Porsche 944
    Mk.II/III Supra
    Mitsubishi 3000GT

    ...or are those too sporty for GTs?

  • 924guy

    Aug. 17, 2009 6:05 a.m. 924guy HalfDork

    assembly required....

  • ddavidv

    Aug. 17, 2009 6:18 a.m. ddavidv UltraDork

    It does have 4 usable seats though. This thing is actually called a GT and I have to say that, other than some anemic acceleration in stock form, it really does live up to the task. Very comfortable cruising at highway speeds, loves to carve corners, stylish (I think) and with the leather seats probably the most luxurious car I've ever owned. Best of all you can buy them at Challenge friendly prices.

  • 11110000

    Aug. 17, 2009 6:40 a.m. 11110000 New Reader

    The 1'st gen Volvo C70 is stupid cheap for what you get. Yeah, it's FWD, but that's not all bad for a GT car. You can get a nice example for less than $5K, add a bigger turbo, exhaust, chip and you can hit a nice round 300HP. Available in both 5spd and auto.

  • 4cylndrfury

    Aug. 17, 2009 6:50 a.m. 4cylndrfury Dork

    I like the Supra mentioned earlier, but I dont want to jump on the bandwagon, so I will say late 80s Monte Carlo/ Cutlass in SS form or late 90s 300ZTT.

    I know, complete pposite ends of the spectrum

  • RossD

    Aug. 17, 2009 7:34 a.m. RossD HalfDork

    My A6 seems to fit the bill but has two too many doors and seats five. How do you order a car with a twin turbo engine and a manual 6 speed without the sport seats?

  • walterj

    Aug. 17, 2009 7:36 a.m. walterj Dork

    • 911, 928, 944, 924... pretty much everything Porsche made with a tin top except the 356, Carrera GT and the SUV.
    • Nissan 240z, 280z, 300z, 200SX
    • Mitsubishi Starion / Dodge Conquest
    • Jaguars of the 80s/90s
    • V8 Ferraris of the 80s, early 90s
    • BMW E24 6 and the 8 series (whatever chassis number that was)
  • Will

    Aug. 17, 2009 7:37 a.m. Will Reader

    Mine is a 94 Thunderbird SC. Tons of torque, 4-wheel double A-arm independent suspension, RWD, 5-speed manual, power everything inside, a big trunk, a decent rear seat and I like the looks. It runs high 12s in the quarter (after a lot of mods, anyway) and autocrosses pretty well for a 3500 pound car.

  • maroon92

    Aug. 17, 2009 7:48 a.m. maroon92 UltraDork

    I was just about to say thunderbird...Ford takes its most comfortable highway cruiser, a Crown Victoria, gives it two doors, and shortens up the wheelbase. brilliant...SuperCoupe is my choice...with a manual.

    I came close to getting one when I was 17, but I was shopping with my parents and the dumbass owner said, "I can take you out in it, you will E36 M3 yourself, you can break the tires loose in 3rd gear." Apparently he didn't want to get rid of that car that day...

  • JFX001

    Aug. 17, 2009 7:52 a.m. JFX001 Dork

    For cheap luxury/touring...I'd go with a Lincoln MkVII / MkVIII LSC.

  • Volksroddin

    Aug. 17, 2009 7:54 a.m. Volksroddin Dork

    4cylndrfury wrote:

    I will say late 80s Monte Carlo/ Cutlass in SS form.

    I know, complete pposite ends of the spectrum

    I alway had a soft spot for them too.

  • slantvaliant

    Aug. 17, 2009 8:41 a.m. slantvaliant Reader

    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.

  • Keith

    Aug. 17, 2009 10:27 a.m. Keith UberDork

    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.

  • rebelgtp

    Aug. 17, 2009 10:38 a.m. rebelgtp Dork

    Volksroddin wrote:

    4cylndrfury wrote:

    I will say late 80s Monte Carlo/ Cutlass in SS form.

    I know, complete pposite ends of the spectrum

    I alway had a soft spot for them too.

    Same here (wonder why? ).

    Buick GNX, GN, or T type

    Olds 442 or H/O

    Chevy Monte Carlo SS.

    Funny thing is only the GNX, 442 and H/O had the 8.5 inch rear that could actually handle any real performance upgrades in power. Though modified Ford 9 inch rears are common for the G body (gotta thank racers for that one). Sorry I'm looking for new rear for my car so its on my mind

  • Woody

    Aug. 17, 2009 10:47 a.m. Woody SuperDork

    BMW M Coupe.

  • oldtin

    Aug. 17, 2009 10:52 a.m. oldtin New Reader

    911 targa & x2 on the mgb gt - going the budget route w/302 power instead of lsx power

  • The_Jed

    Aug. 17, 2009 11:05 a.m. The_Jed Reader

    Hocrest wrote:

    SVX

    Plus STI gearbox,rear diff and turbo. Oh,the possibilities...

  • 81gtv6

    Aug. 17, 2009 11:20 a.m. 81gtv6 Reader

    GTV-6, 6 seriese BMW or an 80's 560 SEC with some AMG goodies on it.

  • wlkelley3

    Aug. 17, 2009 11:38 a.m. wlkelley3 HalfDork

    My car is a real GT.....says so in the name. Opel GT

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