Golf v. Starlet: A Theoretical Question

I love the looks of MK2 golfs, but a Focus is going to be a better platform. That said how about a FX16 Corolla? Sort of the combo of the two and still 80s-tastic.

4cylndrfury wrote: Just for fun, Im gonna leave this here Hyabusa powered, TRD bodykit clad Starlet project at MotoIQ. I love that site almost as much as this one

Now that's a Starlet I'd choose over a Golf..

GTwannaB wrote: I love the looks of MK2 golfs, but a Focus is going to be a better platform. That said how about a FX16 Corolla? Sort of the combo of the two and still 80s-tastic.

Why? It looses to the Golf in the style department, and looses to the Starlet in the RWD category. Sure it already comes with a 4a, but really?

Cool Starlet Grand Cup Video, from the motoiq link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q_0o3O5ZU4&feature=player_embedded#!

A 13B can be made pretty quiet but there's a lot of muffling work involved. The stock manifold helps but due to pulse 'mixing' kills HP. A header helps but makes noise. So you run a header, a pair of Racing Beat straight through presilencers and a good quality turbo muffler to get the noise level down without completely strangling it and just as important get that 'metallic' tone under control. That's what people generally dislike most, that metallic tone.

Exhaust tone is a very personal thing. I LOVED the rasp my M50 had when cold, meant business. Seems most people hate it.

Think I may go roadtrip to see the Starlet this weekend. If the guy hasn't totally B.S.ed me, I may be in business by next week. The 13B is out of a Turbo II, single turbo, 185hp, 183ftlbs, five speed attached. Pending possible relocation to CA this year, the 13B would get shoehorned in sometime in the next year or so.

I showed SWMBO the figures regarding fuel savings per year and one way or another, I WILL be getting a new daily in the near future. $1200 a year in fuel savings is apparently worth having another vehicle. For the record, she suggested I could keep the truck as a project if I wanted. We both really like it, but with it would have to enter the queue pretty far down (like 3 or 4 years down). Not sure its worth hanging on to, but I've got plenty of time to consider my options.

Long story short, going with the Starlet unless its a hunk-o-junk, then will be getting a Golf. Thanks for all the responses, you've been most helpful.

I approve.

mr2peak wrote: Exhaust tone is a very personal thing. I LOVED the rasp my M50 had when cold, meant business. Seems most people hate it.

BMWs all seem to have that metallic rasp.. I like it too. The one the E46 M3 has is spine tingly

I hate to be a wet blanket but have you looked into smog checks against a TII powered Starlet in California? Also, what kind of fuel economy are you figuring on with a TII powered Starlet?

That's my concern. I haven't looked at TII's specifically, but I know they're ungodly strict about emissions. Not that my truck would pass... I DID look at the Racing Beat presilencers suggested by Curmudgeon about 4 posts back, and they are NOT road legal in CA.

I'm not figuring on stellar fuel economy with a TII Starlet, but the wife doesn't need to know that.

So long as its better than 10mpg and doesn't require lots and lots of expensive maintenance, I'll be money ahead. What kind of fuel economy COULD I expect from a rotary?

In the meantime, I would enjoy it in stock trim. If CA is in the cards, I'll store the 13B for a rainy day and make sure it'll pass smog in stock trim (which I'll have to do with everything else anyway). If not, well...

I guess if you're working with a car engine that's newer than the Starion (yes) then this shouldn't be impossible, but you're going to have to make sure everything is pretty close to perfect with the emissions hardware as well as sensors on the engine. So it'd be legal but not easy.

I hope a rotary nut shows up here now and tells you all about smogging a TII in CA.

mr2peak wrote: Why? It looses to the Golf in the style department

I think you missed your last optometry appointment.

JohnInKansas wrote: Think I may go roadtrip to see the Starlet this weekend. If the guy hasn't totally B.S.ed me, I may be in business by next week. The 13B is out of a Turbo II, single turbo, 185hp, 183ftlbs, five speed attached. Pending possible relocation to CA this year, the 13B would get shoehorned in sometime in the next year or so.

Okay, so there's a TON of misinformation out there regarding motorswaps in CA.

IF you do this, at the very least get the VIN from the donor car, and try to grab ALL of the emissions equipment.

When you get to California, before touching the car, locate your local smog ref. They're usually attached to community colleges. Tell them what you're wanting to do and see what they're going to want to make it legal.

A word of caution, there are a TON of cheap rotaries on CL out here because they fail the emissions check.

If you can, try to get the car registered to a more rural county; CA has (at least) two different smog check schedules, and it depends on what county the car is reg'd in. There's biannual inspection counties, and transfer-of-title-only counties. You want the latter, as then you'll only have to deal with emissions when you bring the car into the state, if you should ever try to sell it, or if you get a jackass highway patrolman that sends you to ref (and yes, they can do that if they suspect the car's been modified).

mr2peak wrote:

GTwannaB wrote: I love the looks of MK2 golfs, but a Focus is going to be a better platform. That said how about a FX16 Corolla? Sort of the combo of the two and still 80s-tastic.

Why? It looses to the Golf in the style department, and looses to the Starlet in the RWD category. Sure it already comes with a 4a, but really?

Going off of his "Whatever I settled on would have to be much more economical (30+mpg would be nice), daily-driver reliable" - daily driver reliable would probably be an easier life with the FX16 than with the VW.

Regarding the Starlet, if you realistically expect to move to CA, plan on selling any motor swapped car before you get here. If it cannot pass inspection the car will be almost worthless.

Starlets are awesome! As for parts, Toyotas are like legos.

Dunno everything about the whole CA smog inspection. I do know that they are sticklers for having the correct catalytic converter and also the ECU. Also it seems Cali requires an EGR valve. On a rotary, the passage is part of the center iron so it could be a pretty big deal if the TII motor is not so equipped. As suggested, you really need to get hold of a native Californian to find out the straight scoop. Or you might also get hold of Mazdatrix http://www.mazdatrix.com/ ,they are out of Signal Hill CA and specialize in rotaries.

Gas mileage: my 12A's would get 21-22 on the highway, 15-16 around town but I tend to keep my big toe in the air intake a lot. My 13B's have all been offroad only so no way for me to say for sure. but I have heard lots of 17 around town/24 highway numbers kicked around. And that's toting around the rather heavy 2nd gen body.

1985 RX-7 GSL-SE 19-20 MPG at 85-95 mph on long trips. 16-18 MPG around town. I use full throttle quite often.

It sounds like the car you want is a 88-92 626 5-door:

Yeah, a 626 with a turbo would just about do it.

Having owned a Starlet, I'm not sure if two large dogs will fit, even with the rear seatback down. Or, they might fit but won't be able to move around.

Also, the final drive ratio is really tall (< 3 to 1) so it's definitely a "momentum" car. Having said that, the car would do 26 mpg in the city and 38 mpg at 80 mph on the highway. Top speed was an indicated 93 mph which can be reached in any of the top three gears.

ReverendDexter wrote:

mr2peak wrote: Why? It looses to the Golf in the style department

I think you missed your last optometry appointment.

20/15 vision over here, the Golf is a much better looking car and it's design will, without a doubt, outlast the FX16. Look at how many people modify the Golf as a show car, there is a reason. I used to own an MR2, don't mistake this as hate for the FX16

Weeelll...

Went and looked at the Starlet this weekend, and decided it was too much project for me at this point in time. It REALLY wanted to follow me home, but would have required a good deal of effort to get it roadworthy. Carb'ed 1.5L wouldn't idle at less than 1/2 choke, Flinstone-style floorboards, interior (as expected) was crap, bondo on the roof (thin layer all over), rust holes through the roof at the edge of the rain gutters. Offered $1000 for the car sans extra TurboII/transmission, no go.

Anybody need an interesting Challenge car? Seller had pulled the craigslist ad as of Saturday AM, I can provide contact info.

Thanks for all the input.

what about a 318ti. Hatchback, rear wheel drive, comfortable, good on gas, easy to get parts for....