In reply to Duke: Depends on where you are. Late '70s Japanese cars are not completely uncommon out here on the west coast, and parts availability is still pretty good. Not domestic V8 good, but still good.
In reply to Duke: Depends on where you are. Late '70s Japanese cars are not completely uncommon out here on the west coast, and parts availability is still pretty good. Not domestic V8 good, but still good.
CarKid1989 wrote:Travis_K wrote: Keep driving your saturn until you can double your budget then build a TDI swapped MK2 gti. The one in that video that i posted a couple weeks ago gets almost 60 mpg, and handles better than a daily driver really should.The MK2 GTI are getting harder to find clean examples of. Maybe a new TDI though.
MK2 jettas are still everywhere, they would work too. Mk4s dont handle near as well, they can get good mpg though. I dont think I would go any newer than that without more data on the high pressure fuel pump failures, right now its a $10k bill with no warranty coverage.
Early scion XBs are dipping into that price range. Find one with a blown engine and swap the vitz version of the engine with FI. Also a civic wagovan AWD with a turbo b16. A corolla wagon with a 4age pr 4agze. Any gen Celica hatch with an engine swap. SA/FB rx7 with a miata drivetrain swap. A crx with any modernish Honda drivetrain.
Rally stance? Wagon? 30mpg? Cheap?
'90-'99 Legacy Brighton/L wagon, 2.2 5MT. Spend two to three grand on the nicest you can find. Another grand will get you into Delta cams, mild straight pipe, sensibly sized wheels and tires, used STi suspension, and WRX brakes. Should end up around a reliable 160hp, 2900lbs, every bit of 30mpg highway, and enough room in the boot to haul semi-compact livestock.
I really enjoy these as a daily even when stock. Tightening them up on the cheap is even better.
Mid or early 80s corolla, pick up cheap and swap a 20 valve into it.
CarKid1989 wrote: EDIT:- last option would be seek out a super clean saturn, make it mine with some touches and just do another saturn for a DD. then save left over money and put it towards a nicer car once school is done and job is steady and secure
This is a good option. Money isn't easy to come by. Neither is a decent job.
ReverendDexter wrote: In reply to Duke: Depends on where you are. Late '70s Japanese cars are not completely uncommon out here on the west coast, and parts availability is still pretty good. Not domestic V8 good, but still good.
Plus, you avoid the rust issues that will eat them alive anywhere north of the Carolinas.
sanman wrote: Also a civic wagovan AWD with a turbo b16.
This is just below the 510/Corolla wagon for 2 reasons: 1) only 15% of the power goes to the rear wheels, and 2) RUST RUST RUST RUST.
amg_rx7 wrote:CarKid1989 wrote: EDIT:- last option would be seek out a super clean saturn, make it mine with some touches and just do another saturn for a DD. then save left over money and put it towards a nicer car once school is done and job is steady and secureThis is a good option. Money isn't easy to come by. Neither is a decent job.
maybe this is where i just get something mainstream (civic, sentra, golf...etc) and just do some minor stuff to it. Upgrades would be dime a dozen and still get a decent car in the end. Plain jane car with some sprinkles on it...
V8 swapped volvo? checks most boxes...mpg?
V8 rx7? same but how mpg?
frame swap is tempting but again mpg suffers and $$ might go up for decent old sheet metal
BMW 325 is also tempting but with a swap. V8 would be sweet but i guess MPG tanks. maybe a vortec v6 or ecotec 4? hmmm
pres589 wrote: In reply to 92CelicaHalfTrac: I was thinking about a light pressure turbo on whatever engine is already under the hood and then the usual BG chassis swapping. My fear is motorized seat belts, because I hate them, and would not want to deal with them again. Because they are hated.
I just disconnect the power with the belts all the way retracted. Its east to hold it up while climbing into the car. I did this delivering pizzas for many years.
Joey
pres589 wrote: In reply to 92CelicaHalfTrac: I was thinking about a light pressure turbo on whatever engine is already under the hood and then the usual BG chassis swapping. My fear is motorized seat belts, because I hate them, and would not want to deal with them again. Because they are hated.
Swap to the Canadian manual belts. Usually available on ClubProtege for a reasonable price, and all the mounting points are already there. 
Lightly modded Saturn SW2 5-speed. Manual wagons are rare but they do exist. Unfortunately since Saturn discontinued the SW when the VUE came out the newest one you can get is going to be about as old as your current Saturn, so no real upgrade there except lower mileage.
B13 Sentra SE-R. I loved mine. When I had to cut back to one car when I moved, I would've kept the SE-R instead of a Miata if it wasn't for the SE-R's rust issues. Heresy, I know, but the SE-R is more practical, more stealthy, fun, and faster in a straight line.
The 318ti has been on my list of cool cars ever since it came out. Recently - mostly thanks to this forum - I've seen how much the prices have dropped on used ones. They're high on my list of "my next car," particularly with such an active BMW CCA chapter in this area.
Then again, I've been saying for years that my next car will be a Subaru, but I keep finding something more interesting to pick up.
Like a RT4WD Civic wagon. Mine rocked. All I really wanted out of it was a little more power, and that's easy to get. I also wanted a manual and had an automatic, because that's I got a deal on.
But you already HAVE the answer to your question - Miata. As do I. 
CarKid1989 wrote:amg_rx7 wrote:maybe this is where i just get something mainstream (civic, sentra, golf...etc) and just do some minor stuff to it. Upgrades would be dime a dozen and still get a decent car in the end. Plain jane car with some sprinkles on it...CarKid1989 wrote: EDIT:- last option would be seek out a super clean saturn, make it mine with some touches and just do another saturn for a DD. then save left over money and put it towards a nicer car once school is done and job is steady and secureThis is a good option. Money isn't easy to come by. Neither is a decent job.
I ended up with a $1200 1985 RX7 that I drove for four years during college and 6 months afterwards, until hints were dropped at work that I needed a more "adult car." In your case, just buy the best car you can for the amount of money you have. I got lucky and found a well-cared for, "fun" car. I got 25mpg with spirited driving. It wasn't the best handling, fastest, or largest car in the world, but it was certainly a ton of fun and easy to work on. 80's and 90's sports car ftw.
so far my money is on a late 90's early 2000's saturn wagon. looks like ill have to swap a manual since all i can find is an auto. some 15 or 16 inch wheels and slight lowering. Also would like to swap in different gearing (5th gear) for lower highway RPM.
That combo should be good. Boring but just enough to make a lil smile appear when pushed a bit.
Gotta start collecting parts/ saturns/ engine
That's a lot of effort to put into an appliance, especially while in school. Good luck!
CarKid1989 wrote:mmosbey wrote: Swap a diesel VW engine into a 1st gen RX7 or a Brat.joking? sounds extravagent i like the simple or documented swaps more
My brother has a isuzu diesel powered 2nd gen RX-7. Its slow, but faster them a 1.6L sentra. It gets about 38mpg. We also converted to run on wvo, but getting a constant supply of wvo has been a problem lately.
rotard wrote: That's a lot of effort to put into an appliance, especially while in school. Good luck!
i think my plan sound more complicated then it sounds.
wheels are bolt on when i get around to it.
suspension is a breeze...a saturday afternoon job.
5th gear swap is a saturday affair too. (by the sound of it is stupid simple, the gear cover comes off, swap gears, put cover on. done)
-the manual swap will be the most work but even that should be no problem by the sound of it. plus already had engines out of saturns so somewhat familiar.
Its an appliance but i want something a touch more fun. This is mostly stock but funish. plus should last a 100K miles which is what i need. cheapish car that will last.
Suzuki Swift GTi, pretty much fits every single requirement.
Samurai with a vw diesel swap.
It is impossible to do everything with one car!!
I find that the minimum number is eight!! I am sorry... that is just the way it is!
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