MR2 then corolla. BMW just to hard to fix and expensive. Not that the others are easy, just less hard.
MR2 then corolla. BMW just to hard to fix and expensive. Not that the others are easy, just less hard.
I use my MR2 for regular trips to the store. More room in there than you would imagine!
pinchvalve wrote: I use my MR2 for regular trips to the store. More room in there than you would imagine!
Yep. Me too. I've never been lacking for storage space in my little aw11 either. You can actually fit a week's groceries (for 2 at least) in the rear boot, and still have room in the frunk. I know the OP has already decided, but still add that I looooove my mr2. That car has been the best bang-for-the-buck fun I've ever had in an automobile.
That said, they're all cool choices. The rolla is a bit more rare as well.
MR2.
I'm a bit concerned about this "locker" in the Rolla. What exactly is it? Genuine Toyota part or something else? If it's a Genuine Toyota LSD, then I'd consider that second. I'm not a Baader Meinhoff Wagon guy, so all I know about them is what I read on here that late model ones have evil electrical systems and if you don't like the CEL, black tape is the best solution.
In reply to Luke:
Avoid the Corolla. It has been screwed around with enough that you'll never know how the guy did stuff to be able to fix it.
MR2 would be my choice. Great handling car in a reliable package.
Forget the BMW. When people say "Expensive to fix, but..." stop at the "but." You said you were looking for cheap cars. With those old BMW's the purchase price is just the downpayment. Expect to spend more than that in the first year, and, if it is a daily driver, your boss will tire of hearing why it didn't get you to work on time that morning.
I disagree about e28 parts being expensive. fwiw.
Snoop around on pelican awhile. It's all quite resonable in my opinon. At least when you factor in the idea that when you fix BMW stuff it tends to stay fixed.
I agree with Belteshazzar: I wonder whenever people say "BMW's are expensive to fix" if they've ever owned one. My 325e has been the least expensive car (per km and per year) that I've ever owned. That includes purchase, catching up on deferred maintenance, fuel and insurance.
That's compared to: 2003 Protege, 1998 Neon(s), 1993 Protege....
The other E30's (and even the M3, thus far) compare favourably as well.
The 528e will offer very good fuel mileage, be a joy to work on (if reasonably rust free), and easy to find parts.
All that said, I've always wanted a 1g MR2.... and thats a CLEAN one.
Out of those three I vote MR2
Dr. Hess wrote: MR2. I'm a bit concerned about this "locker" in the Rolla. What exactly is it? Genuine Toyota part or something else?
It's just a welded diff center. Something I'd later replace with a proper LSD. It's also fitted with coil-over struts. However, I've opted to buy it for less, without the coilovers. The 4AGE conversion is literally a "bolt in" affair, so there's no suspect fabrication involved. Otherwise, it's also very clean, rust-free, with a neat (and complete) interior.
The car was built as a 'drifter', but never used as such, because the owner moved on to an AE86 Corolla.
Anyway, at this stage I've only parted with a small deposit. If it turns out to be a dodgy, thrashed-out hack, I can always walk away 
.
njansenv wrote: I agree with Belteshazzar: I wonder whenever people say "BMW's are expensive to fix" if they've ever owned one.
They're not expensive to fix, but they can be expensive not to fix. Not that it's a strike against them, because if you keep them up they drive great pretty much indefnitely.
E28 with proper bumpers is the sex.
Basil Exposition wrote: 2. MR2 would be my choice. Great handling car in a reliable package.
From my experience, they are more reliable with oil in them, and without a plugged radiator. 
Went and looked at the BMW today. Only the guy's wife was home, so I couldn't drive it, but I did see it running. It's a tad scruffy, but totally solid, and the motor seems strong. And what a sound!
It does have a few minor issues. Namely, the drivers seat is shot (no support), needs a windscreen, idle is slightly high, and the shifter is very sloppy (new bushings?). Should be going back for a test-drive on the weekend.
Gearheadotaku wrote: MR2 then corolla. BMW just to hard to fix and expensive. Not that the others are easy, just less hard.
Ever worked on a Mid engined car? I have owned two (two of the best handling too.. a 914 and an X 1/9) and honestly, I have no interest in laying on the trunk of another one while I lean down into the hole behind the window that is the engine cover.
The E28 is not hard or expensive to fix.. unless you leave your repairs to somebody else. I agree that BMWs can be some of the cheapest cars to own. My own Ti is TONS cheaper to fix and repair (not that it has needed it) than my saab.
Luke wrote: Went and looked at the BMW today. Only the guy's wife was home, so I couldn't drive it, but I did see it running. It's a tad scruffy, but totally solid, and the motor seems strong. And what a sound! It does have a few minor issues. Namely, the drivers seat is shot (no support), needs a windscreen, idle is slightly high, and the shifter is very sloppy (new bushings?). Should be going back for a test-drive on the weekend.
Pretty easy fixes. The front seat comes out with four bolts; the problem may be finding a good replacement or alternatively getting it rebuilt for a reasonable sum. Windshield is not bonded, so easy to R&R. Idle problems on these cars are usually related to vacuum leaks in the hoses to/from the ICV, but sometimes the ICV gets sticky/dirty (easy to clean) and occasionally the ICM goes bad (separate unit on the early E28s); updated ICMs are available reasonably from BMW. Shifter rebuild is a common BMW job; get a shorter shifter from a Z3 or similar and you'll have a nice upgrade using all factory parts.
MK1 MR2's are not difficult to work on. I, too, have had my share of mid engine cars. I have two now. You want "challenging?" Try doing anything on an Esprit. A laproscopic setup would be handy.
The other thing I know about BMW's is called "The Money Shift." I learned 'bout it in The Mag, and/or on The Board. It sounds like that one is just about due for The Money Shift.
That 'Rolla would be interesting, but the rear end would have to go before you could drive it on the street.
money shift is due to bad engine and trans mounts. Get on the gas, engine rolls to one side, grab the shifter, get ready to downshift, let off the gas for a moment with the clutch in and move the shifter, engine rolls back to centre due to the lack of torque, and you wind up in the wrong gear, clutch back out... and you are way over redline.
Never hear about an older guy doing it.. usually just the kids. Bad mounts also cause the self destructing fan you keep hearing about too.
To me, lincoln locker=no thanks. I wouldnt buy it, becasue you will most likely find out it handles so bad you dont even want to drive it. Im not sure a car someone built to take and destroy at a drifting event would have the quality of work id want as a daily driver. The only one of those id even consider is the bmw.
mad_machine wrote: money shift is due to bad engine and trans mounts. Get on the gas, engine rolls to one side, grab the shifter, get ready to downshift, let off the gas for a moment with the clutch in and move the shifter, engine rolls back to centre due to the lack of torque, and you wind up in the wrong gear, clutch back out... and you are way over redline. Never hear about an older guy doing it.. usually just the kids. Bad mounts also cause the self destructing fan you keep hearing about too.
I had a kid bring me an e36 318is that "just stopped running" (yeah right). timing chain had not failed, but all the valves had kissed their respective pistons. First thing I found as I was pulling the M42; cooling fan in contact with the remains of the shroud. Second thing; motor mounts broken.
money shift
Travis_K wrote: To me, lincoln locker=no thanks. I wouldnt buy it, becasue you will most likely find out it handles so bad you dont even want to drive it. Im not sure a car someone built to take and destroy at a drifting event would have the quality of work id want as a daily driver. The only one of those id even consider is the bmw.
I don't see the locked diff as that big of a deal. Impractical for the street, sure, but very easily replaced with an open diff (these cars are a dime-a-dozen at the wreckers 'round here), or ideally, a LSD. I'll be checking out the 'Rolla in person on the 20th of this month, anyway. However, my confidence stems from from the reasoning that a non-rusty, 25 year-old, FR-layout Toyota, with a fuel-injected 4AGE, might just strike an ideal balance between reliability and fun.
In other news, I'm taking the Bimmer for a spin tomorrow evening.
belteshazzar wrote:mad_machine wrote: money shift is due to bad engine and trans mounts. Get on the gas, engine rolls to one side, grab the shifter, get ready to downshift, let off the gas for a moment with the clutch in and move the shifter, engine rolls back to centre due to the lack of torque, and you wind up in the wrong gear, clutch back out... and you are way over redline. Never hear about an older guy doing it.. usually just the kids. Bad mounts also cause the self destructing fan you keep hearing about too.I had a kid bring me an e36 318is that "just stopped running" (yeah right). timing chain had not failed, but all the valves had kissed their respective pistons. First thing I found as I was pulling the M42; cooling fan in contact with the remains of the shroud. Second thing; motor mounts broken. money shift
It's funny if you read through Bimmerforums, how many people blame BMW for the "self destructing fans" in the e36 and e46. I wonder how many of them have such sloppy engine mounts you could move the whole drivetrain side to side by hand?
MR Deuce. That was one of the coolest cars ive ever owned...
Travis_K wrote: To me, lincoln locker=no thanks. I wouldnt buy it, becasue you will most likely find out it handles so bad you dont even want to drive it. Im not sure a car someone built to take and destroy at a drifting event would have the quality of work id want as a daily driver. The only one of those id even consider is the bmw.
Hell even a real locker is a parts-eater and a gigantic PITA. Ask me how I know.
That said, AW11 MR2 FTMFW!!!!
Yeah, and i think a car built to have a similar life expectancy as a 24 hours of lemons car or a dirt track stock car isnt going to have the same quality of work you would want for a daily driver, although that can probably be determined by looking at it.
belteshazzar wrote: I disagree about e28 parts being expensive. fwiw. Snoop around on pelican awhile. It's all quite resonable in my opinon. At least when you factor in the idea that when you fix BMW stuff it tends to stay fixed.
Truth. Price the same Toyota parts before you go saying BMW is 'spensive.
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