Automobiles

[cody.wms]

I need to reread this thread. E30 sold tonight and cruiser will be ready to list in a couple of days (don't expect it will take long to move it). We need:

manual tranny
room for 4 of us
manual tranny
doesn't need to be fast - just fun
manual tranny
japanese
older than ~2005

You can import an e30 wagon in a couple years, but that's not Japanese...

Beyond that, maybe an older WRX, if you can find one that hasn't been run into the ground.

[Honus]

I need to reread this thread. E30 sold tonight and cruiser will be ready to list in a couple of days (don't expect it will take long to move it). We need:

manual tranny
room for 4 of us
manual tranny
doesn't need to be fast - just fun
manual tranny
japanese
older than ~2005

Acura TSX or if you can go for a 2005 model a Legacy GT

[jitahs]

A Miata is on the what-if-I-sold-my-practical-car-and-got-something-kinda-insane list. Tops on that list is MGB GT. Preferably with a stupid V8 in it, or one that looks like this:


British Car Day 010 by Cody Wms, on Flickr

I think of the Miata as the modern, less cranky version of these. I've purposely not looked too much into Miata's, cause I don't really want to start down that road, you know?

Proper.

Having hauled 3 dh bikes on the back of an early one defining the term "wind steer", I'm the wrong person to ask about what a proper vehicle is but am firmly in the camp that everyone needs a light, simple, manual two-seater just to make the world a better place.

You might not know Miata owners used to flip up their unlighted headlights upon seeing each other; I can't imagine that happening now. Anyway enough old folks home reminiscing.

[ChristianSLC]

I need to reread this thread. E30 sold tonight and cruiser will be ready to list in a couple of days (don't expect it will take long to move it). We need:

manual tranny
room for 4 of us
manual tranny
doesn't need to be fast - just fun
manual tranny
japanese
older than ~2005

4-door version of the '99-'01 Impreza 2.5 RS

[Too Tall]

How about a Mercedes Diesel Wagon? I've been skimming advertisements for one since our Volvo Wagon is starting to get some miles. You can steal them.

[quickag]

Evo VIII. All those things AND fast.

I need to reread this thread. E30 sold tonight and cruiser will be ready to list in a couple of days (don't expect it will take long to move it). We need:

manual tranny
room for 4 of us
manual tranny
doesn't need to be fast - just fun
manual tranny
japanese
older than ~2005

[rmplum]

4-door version of the '99-'01 Impreza 2.5 RS

I'd try to find a 2002-2007 WRX (if your kids aren't in rear-facing seats - which are too big for these cars) or the Evo. I owned a 1998 2.5RS (came with the gold-a-licious wheels!)
gold all4 1024X768.jpg

Big obnoxious lights:
outside.jpg
STi suspension and brakes:
FR WRX brake and STi Strut 1024x768.jpg
big garish wing:
side view.jpg
real seats:
PA180009.jpg

and while it was fun at the time, they are REALLY soft out of the box (although anything you find now will be due for new dampers) and the body structure got a lot stiffer in 2002+. The WRX cars (and the Evo) are far more evolved than the 1st gen US Imprezas unless you breathe on the HEAVILY. I got mine to handle pretty well, but it still felt ancient compared to the stock WRX - and I never got around to an engine swap.

[ChristianSLC]

Well, yeah, there are better platforms to start out with if you're going to go that extreme with a car, but you don't really need to, to have fun driving. My Miata handled and seemed to perform better, but got less fun to drive as I continued doing things to it. If I could roll back the clock, I would have stopped at nice shocks and good tires.

[cody.wms]

How about a Mercedes Diesel Wagon? I've been skimming advertisements for one since our Volvo Wagon is starting to get some miles. You can steal them.

I also covet one of these:

From here: Mercedes-Benz : 300-Series 300 TD 300TD in Mercedes-Benz | eBay Motors

My dad's had 289K on the odometer, but the odometer was broken. It was likely somehwere around 350K. I think my mom's had around 200K on it. Spent all of my youth in them, and still love that sound. It's up there with the sound of an air cooled VW or a BMW small six churning along.

I'm pretty easy when it comes to cars.

[Jason Musgrave]

I also covet one of these:

Can't afford parts for those Benz's! Also, see requirements 1,3,and 5.

I'm hoping I can find a nice old lady to talk out of her 02-05 Impreza wagon. Scared to death of ending up with a WRX a 22-yr old ragged on.

[rmplum]

Can't afford parts for those Benz's!

I hope I can talk a nice old lady out of her 02-05 WRX Impreza wagon. Scared to death I'll end up with a WRX a 22-yr old ragged on.

This is a good plan. I'd try to find a 2006 or so, as they got better brakes (fixed 4-piston in front) and the 2.5L - unless you hate the triangle grill.

[zeroking]

This Seinfeld web show looks promising. Cool cars, fast talk, hot coffee.

Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee

p.s. How many freaking swimming events are there? How much water do they have over there?

[cody.wms]

Can't afford parts for those Benz's! Also, see requirements 1,3,and 5.

I'm hoping I can find a nice old lady to talk out of her 02-05 Impreza wagon. Scared to death of ending up with a WRX a 22-yr old ragged on.

Ha! I wonder what working on one of those costs now. I'm assuming it's worse than the e30s.

Any reason for 05 and earlier? And I'd be very leery of a used WRX, too. Esp. if it has some miles on it. Even if it looks stock, it might have had a bunch of crap done to it that was later reversed. I have a neighbor that did exactly this.

[Jason Musgrave]

Any reason for 05 and earlier?

$$. Working on a tight budget.

[nahtnoj]

Legacy GT wagon. Manual transmission is hens teeth though. Shop owner I know had one in 05-06 with an aftermarket exhaust and some suspension work.

4-Runner with a 5 speed? In that case though you may as well keep the FJ62.

[maunahaole]

I might be able to live with this. I do not think it is for sale.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/221119...vrolet-caprice

[rmplum]

Even though the 2005 Legacy GT wagons w/manual are EXTREMELY rare, there are turbo/manual wagons from that era that were produced after 2005 - but they are Outbacks.

The bonus to finding one of these (I'm pretty sure they were made in small numbers even through 2009 MY as I worked with a service rep who had one) is that they will have AUX inputs into the non-DIN head unit. The radios and HVAC controls are all integrated on 2005-2009 Leg/Obks, so this can be a big deal. This is in addition to the small improvements that are made for each new model year.

Those 2005 Legacies only had AM/FM/CD radios.

[Too Tall]

I might be able to live with this. I do not think it is for sale.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/221119...vrolet-caprice

Sweet Baby Jebus.

Focus, we must focus. Jason has a family budget. Aheem, but daaaaaaamn that's fine.

[maunahaole]

Sweet Baby Jebus.

Focus, we must focus. Jason has a family budget. Aheem, but daaaaaaamn that's fine.

You, sir, are blessed with the gift of understatement. This car has been an ongoing project. The 7.0 is a more recent development. The owner is a very skilled fabricator.

[Too Tall]

You, sir, are blessed with the gift of understatement. This car has been an ongoing project. The 7.0 is a more recent development. The owner is a very skilled fabricator.

I'll see if I can send you some info. on my good pal Jim who stuffed a 7.0 into a 3 series BMW. He, obviously, is a former BMW factory mech. JJMSTANG has seen him at the drags, it can go.

Baseball, Cal Ripken, Boxers, Calamine lotion....gotta focus.

Jason if budget is important I've scored more 4K volvo wagons for my family than you can shake a stick at. You can get them from owners who religiously maintained them and will apologize for worn seats with 100,000 miles which is barely broken in for a Volvo Wagon. If you get a later V series and have some spare cash they chip real real nice and are very tolerant of some extra boost. Wagons handle great BTW.