New car?, want more performance or Looks? Come here and ask!

[chimpzrl]

I need a band-aid car. My Escort is fried and I need another ludicrously cheap car to get me by until I can save enough money and find a Taurus SHO.

So, what sort of US car--preferably 4-door and manual--can I get for a couple of hundred dollars. I basically need some ideas of what to look for.

[steelsnake00]

So, what sort of US car--preferably 4-door and manual--can I get for a couple of hundred dollars. I basically need some ideas of what to look for.

No point actively hunting on that kind of budget. Just buy something that works, and be happy with it.

[BAMF]

2001-02 Ford Expedition Triton V8:

ok, I want to get some mud tires put on this baby (I know thats far fetched but, I love in Hawaii so its VERY popular to go off-road and have the biggest set of tires and Truck. So I've got some competition ) I'm not looking for the BIGGEST tires on the market but maybe a decent size.

I also want to tighten the suspension because this mammoth loves to bounce around and scares me sometimes, and with those mud tires it gonna be a problem. Or maybe it is the springs.... idk.

I may even want to boost up the HP about 50-100hp

Price Range: ~$2,000 for tires & ~$2,000 on extra parts




But if the price range is to little, any ideas on a used truck w/ mud tires......... Or this idea is was out of the question.........


~Harmen


P.S. I'm going to look around for some parts, but feel free to help me choose parts


Thanks

[TS-X]

Every day i am closer and closer to the day ill become a man! Ill buy my own ride with my own money. And i was thinking of used RX8. Most likely that will be in 2 years or so, car will be cca 4-5 years old, and should be around 10 000€. Or even less since there is this so called new RX8 (redesign)
http://images.worldcarfans.com/articles ... 002.1L.jpg

that should lower the price even more. Now i am buying it mostly coz of the looks, but everywhere around people say its quite good for driving too. I know all the stats, infos, this that, but so far i heavent drove any. So, does anyone has any exp. with that car that should be important for me before i go for it?

[boganbusman]

Even if you end up buying one, which I somehow doubt, just bear in mind that it's a high-maintenance car. Parts are expensive, apex seals will wear, and lots of petrol will be consumed. From all reports it's great to drive, but Wankels = fail.

If you have plenty of cash, then go for it. If not, just keep dreaming . . .

[TS-X]

Well, money shouldnt be a problem. So, i still hope ill get one. And a Veilside kit for it

[Koenigsegg_Rox]

Hopefully I'll be able to afford the R31 soon, but I also want to save for a few simple performance parts to give it a bit of extra kick, and a good set of mags. What and where should I be looking for?

[TS-X]

For start try Japan. I dont know how many R31s (i hope thats skyline) are there in the rest of the world

[Koenigsegg_Rox]

It's a 1988 R31 Skyline GXE, one of the first. Good for a first car, clean, but I want it to look a bit better, so that's why I want the rims, but I'd rather just stick to Australian suppliers cause it'll be easier and/or cheaper. Which is what I want considering it's my first car, I'm still at school and I only have a part-time job at the moment. Considering simple performance parts such as a new exhaust system, but I want parts that don't really cost too much, I need to think realistically in this situation. At the moment I'm going to be paying a grand AU to get the Skyline off my dad, and I have an average weekly pay of about $100.

[Zero260]

@ TS-X: Two years? Lol, your taste in cars will probably change in two years. It's fun to dream though. Buying an Evo IX when I graduate is my motivation to do well in college... But that's 2.5+ years for me, who knows what I'll be into by then. Also, that redesigned RX-8 is sexy.

@ Koenigsegg_Rox: Weren't you bragging about already owning a R31 on some other thread?

EDIT: Ah, never mind, I see you're buying it off your dad. But I still think I remember you saying "I OWN one."

[Koenigsegg_Rox]

Yes, but times change, my dad suddenly decided I pay for it but it's no biggie, it's still a better car than what my older sister has...

So technically at the moment my dad owns it because he paid the 3-and-a-half to buy it originally and the rego is in his name, but that will change in a few weeks when I earn the money.

[boganbusman]

Here is some good advice:

Don't start thinking about any mods. First of all, get the car into good mechanical condition. Fix everything that needs to be fixed, get the car running nice and clean it up good. Replace brakes, shockers, bushes, ball joints, boots, filters, plugs, and everything else.

Then, and only then, should you start to think about extra performance. R31s are already pretty powerful for a novice driver, so you should make sure the car is safe and reliable before you attempt any upgrades. Get mags if you want, but do it last, and don't put on cheap tyres because you ran out of money.

I've already seen my fair share of R31/VL sh*tboxes, so don't dissapoint me by building another one

Edit: And don't, DON'T for the love of god, put a huge sticker on the rear windscreen
Edit2: just out of curiosity, what does your older sister drive?

[Koenigsegg_Rox]

Here is some good advice:

Don't start thinking about any mods. First of all, get the car into good mechanical condition. Fix everything that needs to be fixed, get the car running nice and clean it up good. Replace brakes, shockers, bushes, ball joints, boots, filters, plugs, and everything else.

It's already in great condition. The original owner was a lady, and kept it running smooth, serviced and clean the whole time she owned it. I'll make sure I have done the essential checks, though.

Then, and only then, should you start to think about extra performance. R31s are already pretty powerful for a novice driver, so you should make sure the car is safe and reliable before you attempt any upgrades. Get mags if you want, but do it last, and don't put on cheap tyres because you ran out of money.

Understood, that's a pretty good idea.

I've already seen my fair share of R31/VL sh*tboxes, so don't dissapoint me by building another one

I hope I don't either, but I'll see how I go anyway.

Edit: And don't, DON'T for the love of god, put a huge sticker on the rear windscreen

Now THAT would just be stupid.

Edit2: just out of curiosity, what does your older sister drive?

90's Nissan Pintara, which just needed a good clean up. The sad thing is, the previous owner put a NISMO sticker on the back windscreen, even though the only aftermarket part on it is an air intake held onto the car with a strap with hooks...

Thanks for the advice bogan, I'll definitely take it into consideration.

[viper16]

It's a 1988 R31 Skyline GXE, one of the first. Good for a first car, clean, but I want it to look a bit better, so that's why I want the rims, but I'd rather just stick to Australian suppliers cause it'll be easier and/or cheaper. Which is what I want considering it's my first car, I'm still at school and I only have a part-time job at the moment. Considering simple performance parts such as a new exhaust system, but I want parts that don't really cost too much, I need to think realistically in this situation. At the moment I'm going to be paying a grand AU to get the Skyline off my dad, and I have an average weekly pay of about $100.

When you get the $ swap the stock engine for a RB25DET or RB26DETT and maybe get a set of meshies or old school watanabes

[Koenigsegg_Rox]

Pfft, how much is that going to cost though? Keep in mind I'm only getting $100-150 each week.

[TheStig]

Every day i am closer and closer to the day ill become a man! Ill buy my own ride with my own money. And i was thinking of used RX8. Most likely that will be in 2 years or so, car will be cca 4-5 years old, and should be around 10 000€. Or even less since there is this so called new RX8 (redesign)

I don't know what country you live in but in most european countries the price for a RX8 is alot higher, and I really doubt it will be 10K in 2 years, even with a facelift.
The Cheapest I found was 14.500 (ex import tax (german import)) and it was a base model RX8 with almost 80K driven. but the worst thing was it had all kinds of aftermarket stickers on it, wich in general isn't a good sign, especially when it has a NISMO sticker on it.....
The second one I found here was €20.000 for a Renises HP and it already had 150.000 km on the clock.
I've been looking at the UK sites to see what they would cost there but the cheapest where around 13.000 euro, they where almost all grey imports or had massive miles on them.
So I really doubt atleast 5000 in 2 years for a LHD model.

[viper16]

well here in the US there 15K and up

[Koenigsegg_Rox]

I've only seen one so far in Aus, but they're probably 30 grand plus. Don't bet on getting one for your first car TS-X.

[Grez~Supra_RZ-S]

Replace brakes, shockers, bushes, ball joints, boots, filters, plugs, and everything else.

Good advice. But first, work out where you'd like to go with the car. Afterall, you dont want to be buying OEM parts to restore her, only to start buying aftermarket parts 6 months down the line. Your best performance modification to the car will be learning how to drive it properly. Looking back, I wish Id bought my MX5 first, and then an SX afterwards. Even in 6 months, Ive learned so much from this car compared to my others its unbelievable. So remember, take it steady.

Edit: And don't, DON'T for the love of god, put a huge sticker on the rear windscreen

Heeey, I have a large sticker AND a roll-bar to contend with my rear view.

As for wheels, think about what tyres you want first, and then wheels afterwards. Choose your tyres wisely too, theres no point in buying Toyo R888s if you dont have the skill/opportunity to generate enough heat in them on the road to make them stick. Wheel-wise, Rotas are fantastic weight/strength for the money, despite the negative reaction they get from JDM humpers for being ''knock-offs''. If you want to spend a bit more, Works do some beautiful wheels.

Just take your time. Dont buy a cheaper version of something you really want.

[boganbusman]

Heeey, I have a large sticker AND a roll-bar to contend with my rear view.

Ah, I'm sure it looks fine on yours but you can't possibly imagine the number of wankers around here with banged up Commodores and Skylines. They leave the car in a decrepit state, and spend all their money on monster tachos, subwoofers, pod filters and sh*te wheels.
It's a disgrace I tells ya!

[Grez~Supra_RZ-S]

Hah its OK mate, I know what you mean. Theres plenty creeping round here too, Civics with mismatching coloured bumpers, huge (and frankly crappy) stickers, monster tachos. Its just not cricket.

[TS-X]

Well i have reconsidered again... talked to so some owners of RX-8 and guess what... im not getting RX-8. Its not very reliable, malfunctions all the time etc etc...
Maybe Latest Celica after all.

[Zero260]

That's quite the downgrade..

[TS-X]

Im not all that into performance... i just want it to look good and to be quite rare where i live.

[viper16]

get the GTS celica at all costs its way better. I found a AW11 supercharged for $4400 and a SW20 Turbo for $6000. Are those good deals and will a 6'5 250lb idiot be able to fit in either car