Fun DD for 5k

Does $200 buy said Accord? Where are you located?

I found this at work today.

http://dandwautosales.fourstatesauto.com/index.php?content=feature&vehicle_id=15923

83 accord for 1975. that ought to leave enough over to put a killer suspension on it, or if not theres a last gen prelude for 5k just down the road from it less than 2 miles.

You know, as a tech i've driven a LOT of cars and i dont actually find a 7th gen v6 Accord to be middle of the road, in spite of being a family sedan. It's really too bad they didnt offer the manual with the sedan..

penultimeta wrote: Hi all, After many years of reliable service I fear my trusty '02 Accord is soon for the boneyard. So, before I'm left stranded for weeks without transportation, I figure I should begin looking at replacement vehicles. While said Accord was as trustworthy as your can get, it's a bit boring to drive. I've not participated in any motorsports yet, but think that when time and money permits, I might do so in the future. Requirements: Reliable for DD duty Cheap(ish) consumables Decent gas mileage (i'm not talking 40+, but also not 10) Enjoyable to drive Capable of a autocross event every now and then Comfortable (enough) for extended 1-2 hour highway cruises The obvious answers are "the" answers: Miata, P71, XJ? Any other thoughts or things I might be missing?

If you are thinking Miata I always like to put MR2 in next to it.

You could probably find a Mazda 3 in your price range. Also an SVT Focus or a Focus hatch and money leftover for the SVT suspension kit are in it as well.

I don't own one anymore but I still talk up the Jeep XJ. You can get the pick of the litter for 5K. Get the automatic trans unless you plan on changing the gear ratios. These things are a bit thirsty but they are as reliable as gravity, not slow (not fast either but still fun), and tough as nails. I wish I still had mine. I do like my new Rubicon though

I was a bit confused by the XJ thrown into the original request/mix. They're fun in their own right (I had 2 TJ's and have a WJ now as a DD), but they're definitely thirsty, and not exactly built for autocross (yes, I know some people will argue this with that challenge XJ, but for the most part). An XJ couldn't be further from a Miata. It will ,however, run forever, just so long as the rust doesn't get to it.

Autocross...probably not. Rallycross...now an XJ might be fairly impressive at that.

I like both 5spd and auto on XJ, what are you basing your auto preference on?

I prefer the automatic XJ as well. It's faster, and it's an exceptionally good automatic trans.

poopshovel wrote: Does $200 buy said Accord? Where are you located?

M'berkeleyer beat me to it.

I WANT that motor/intake manifold. You can have the rest.

I was going to get angry at the OP for dumping another Accord to the curb, but hey, more good parts for me at the salvage yard! Also, sounds like you need to find a new mechanic. You probably have $500 in total parts/labor that needs to be done, and I'm betting you can find nearly all of them for 1/5 that price at a pick-n-pull. Stop putting that E36 M3 off and take care of your car. The Accord is a VERY good platform. It may be chunky, but the suspension is arguably superior to even the mighty Civic and Integras from 88-01. I picked up my '97 5-speed LX coupe for $1500(it's VERY clean and runs perfect), and have maybe $400 into maintenance/upgrades-mostly the exhaust that's new from the cat-back. Junkyards are my best friend when parts searching. Zero problems with it. 192K miles.

I'd stay the hell away from an EP3 Civic. Suspension=E36 M3. They're god berkeleying ugly, too. At least get an RSX if you're going to force the worst Honda suspension ever designed upon yourself.

Buy another Accord. This time, a 98-02 5-speed coupe that's up to date on maintenance. Add shocks/springs, decent wheels/tires, and a rear sway bar. Enjoy.

XJ was thrown in as an off handed jab at "the answers". I guess that was lost over the internet. I've never heard of the Accord being a good platform to build off of. But after doing some research, sigh, you guys are right. Fix that E36M3, beef up the fun parts, and move on. Oh well. Thanks for entertaining my boredom.

I prefer the automatic XJ as well. It's faster, and it's an exceptionally good automatic trans.

I agree it's an exceptionally good auto trans but where are you getting this faster thing? I've driven both and they're NOT faster, even with the advantage of shorter rear end gears. My best local car friend ran his bone stock ax15/3.07s/2wd cherokee to 16.0 @ 85 on his first ever dragstrip visit and im pretty sure there was more in it. Are there a bunch of people in stock automatic cherokees out there running 15s that i dont know about?

Also, i know it was outside the OP's interest but it's GRM and we throw XJ content into damn near everything.. And frankly, most of the people who claim to not like them have ALSO not taken FTD at the challenge autocross.

beans wrote: I'd stay the hell away from an EP3 Civic. Suspension=E36 M3. They're god berkeleying ugly, too. At least get an RSX if you're going to force the worst Honda suspension ever designed upon yourself.

Not to say that I think they are good looking or that I want one, but I used to see one of those civics show up at autocross events in my area and run in HS. I am sure it was mostly the driver, but it was seconds faster than the pack of spec STS 89-91 civics that would show up too, and many other cars that you wouldn't expect.

Carro Atrezzi wrote: Autocross...probably not. Rallycross...now an XJ might be fairly impressive at that.

my buddies commanche was a blast at rallyX

Travis_K wrote:

beans wrote: I'd stay the hell away from an EP3 Civic. Suspension=E36 M3. They're god berkeleying ugly, too. At least get an RSX if you're going to force the worst Honda suspension ever designed upon yourself.

Not to say that I think they are good looking or that I want one, but I used to see one of those civics show up at autocross events in my area and run in HS. I am sure it was mostly the driver, but it was seconds faster than the pack of spec STS 89-91 civics that would show up too, and many other cars that you wouldn't expect.

HS=hoosiers. You can do a LOT of damage on hoosiers. Probably had a MASSIVE rear bar on it to get the suspension back there to not move. The rear suspension on that platform is absolutely crap comparitively to other Honda platforms. When it compresses, it binds almost immediately. Realtime switched to the TSX from the RSX(mainly) because the geometry is horrid, and Realtime basically kept no components from the stock rear suspension on the RSX.

Like I said to the OP, keep the Accord, it's a great platform that doesn't get a lot of attention/support, but there's things out there you can do to it for pretty cheap that will make it a very fun, well handling, and entertaining car.

yes, I know some people will argue this with that challenge XJ, but for the most part

It's not JUST the challenge jeep. There are a cadre of cherokees and comanches doing actual road racing and winning at it, i get updates about them on my facebook all the time.

I think the accord is a decent platform too, but i think the 7g accord is a way decent-er platform because it came with 240hp in basically the same weight with no reliability compromises. Granted, it's relatively easy to make 240hp with either engine of the 6g accord, but the OP sounds like a guy who doesn't want to or can't put those setups together, otherwise he wouldnt be so concerned about the stuff that's wrong with the car he already has.

Vigo wrote:

I prefer the automatic XJ as well. It's faster, and it's an exceptionally good automatic trans.

I agree it's an exceptionally good auto trans but where are you getting this faster thing? I've driven both and they're NOT faster, even with the advantage of shorter rear end gears. My best local car friend ran his bone stock ax15/3.07s/2wd cherokee to 16.0 @ 85 on his first ever dragstrip visit and im pretty sure there was more in it. Are there a bunch of people in stock automatic cherokees out there running 15s that i dont know about? Also, i know it was outside the OP's interest but it's GRM and we throw XJ content into damn near everything.. And frankly, most of the people who claim to not like them have ALSO not taken FTD at the challenge autocross.

Subjective, i suppose... i haven't run my Cherokee at the strip, and i really have no interest in doing so.

I've driven both. The auto feels much ballsy-er to me. I feel like it might break into the 15s, but that's just pure speculation based on a butt dyno, which nobody should trust, and will never be backed up with hard data, so....

In reply to Swank Force One:

I agree, its subjective......depends on the gear ratios as well.

Needs more CB7 Accord in this thread.

In reply to Swank Force One:

That's it... come to the dark side....

In reply to Vigo:

7th gen Accord V6's are like 400+lbs heavier than my 5th gen coupe, although they're still very quick cars. 6th gen Sedans are only about 100lbs heavier than my coupe. 6th Gen V6 coupes tack an extra 100-150lbs ontop of that, mainly due to options. My pick would be a 6th gen I4 LX coupe, but an LX V6 coupe would be a good starter for a V6 powered car.

I've been tossing around the idea of a V6 swap into my car. Problem is, I already have a spare F22 block sitting in my garage. Weight would only go up about 100lbs. J35 sounds diiiiiiiiirty though.

http://www.hondasociety.com/board/showthread.php?t=151638

I've always liked CB7s. Would love to build a 2dr version.

I think the one with the cage you posted is H22 centri-S/C powered.

And the other one is a turbo F22 making lots of powahz.

found it!

http://www.cb7tuner.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=190356