I'm looking to buy a fix-up car

[Thanatopsis]

My friend and I want to buy an old beater that we can fix up over the summer. We'll be on a limited budget, so no $10,000 "great used cars" here. I'm looking for something in the range of 0-$1500.

You ask, "What are you looking for in this car?"
Well, my friends, that answer is simple.

• It must be inexpensive to buy and relatively cheap to fix up

• It should be more of a sports car - i.e., no Honda Civics or other family cars

I've thought of a Nissan 300zx, an old Supra, or maybe a Pontiac Fiero. Are these cars good / suck? Any other suggestions? Foreign or domestic, as long as its cheap it doesn't really matter.

 

[GMNorris]

you're not going to find a 300zx for less than 1500 bucks...or an old supra for that matter, unless maybe they're salvaged.

but if you like the 300zx, look into a 1971-1982 Datsun Z. be it 240z, 260z, 280z, or 280zx, they're all pure sports cars, VERY affordable, Very abundant, which means parts are cheap and easy to find. if you're not looking for something stellar, but that still looks nice and has quality pickup, and great handling, look into one of these. It's my dream fix up car, maybe you'll fall in love with it too.

 

[Bignate603]

Um, you won't get a Supra for that price unless it's been beaten enough it doesn't run anymore. You'd have more of a chance buying an older american car that sports a huge engine. Parts would be cheap and it would get you accleration, though handling wouldn't be as good as newer import.

 

[Sachmho]

For those depressing the supra idea, my friend just got an 88 supra w/ just minor engine work needed for 600 bux... minor engine work as in VERY minor. My point: It definately can be done

 

[Thanatopsis]

<< For those depressing the supra idea, my friend just got an 88 supra w/ just minor engine work needed for 600 bux... minor engine work as in VERY minor. My point: It definately can be done >>



That is kinda what we're looking for. Having the car running is a plus, but not necessary - just minor engine work we can tinker around with, and maybe learn something about the car.

 

[toph99]

look for a 1980's Mustang. parts are everywhere, should be pretty cheap to fix/maintain, but the V8 isn't friendly on gas

i know a few people here have them, ask around and they should be able to give you better info

 

[Brutuskend]

Get a old VW (Bug or Karman Ghia or Type 3) Parts are cheap and they are very easy to work on.
If you can find a convertable Bug or Ghia they can be worth A LOT of money once they are fixed up!

 

[GMNorris]

Get a old VW (Bug or Karman Ghia or Type 3)

But then you have to deal with the 0-60 time of 30 seconds. And I'm not exaggerating. Bug's are NOT sports cars, I don't care how loud the lawnmower motor is.

 

[punkrawket]

i say get original.....

find like an old Mercedes or BMW sporty 2dr
or like an old muscle car... (i.e. 70s mustang, firebird, camaro)

 

[Brutuskend]

Well I have about 3 grand into my VW motor, and believe me, if it was in something as light as a Ghia it would give most 4 banger sports cars a run for thier money!

When I was working as a VW Mech. I put a similar motor in a bug, and it was FAST!

Plus I just restored a 72 Bug Vert. (stock motor) and up here (In Oregon) I had buyers @$10,000. In Cal. $15,000 to $20,000 is normal.

 

[Viperoni]

An older american car (read camaro, TA, firebird, etc) would be super cheap to fix up and drop a ton of power into.

 

[GMNorris]

I had a cherry f*cking 1967 Mustang Fastback with a 351, a 4 speed Hurst shifter, competition clutch, about 300 horses to the wheels, and GOBS of torque. Cost me about 6-7 grand for the car and upkeep and whatnot. My favorite car that I've owned to date, by FAR. That was until God found it necessary to take it away from me by sending a dumb b!tch in daddy's civic to total it. Ugh. I loved that car. And it would spank just about anything on the road...especially VW bugs.

 

[911paramedic]

I agree with Viperoni thats the only way to go. Stay away from all the newer engines, they are too involved. A good old fashioned v8 that you can fix and get parts for cheap. It will cost a bit more in gas, buy you will be able to fix it yourself.

 

[Zenmervolt]

<< Get a old VW (Bug or Karman Ghia or Type 3) Parts are cheap and they are very easy to work on.
If you can find a convertable Bug or Ghia they can be worth A LOT of money once they are fixed up! >>

We have a winner. As an added bonus, there is almost nothing you can to to an old VW that will make it stop running. My project is a 1976 VW-Porsche 914 (Porsche engineered chassis, mildly tweaked VW engine) and it has blown a spark plug out of the #2 cylinder because the previous owner had only hand-tightened the plugs. Still ran. The 25 year old Bosch FI went wierd and cut fuel to two cylinders (so the car was only running on two cylinders). Still ran. One thing to look out for though, older VW's tend to have some rust problems (in my lucky case, only the floorpan and the firewall), so look the cars over closely and be willing to spend a bit more to get one that's non-rusted since rust is quite expensive to fix. One nice thing that I have discovered, older air-cooled VW's tend to attract girls, who think the cars are "cute". I'd reccommend a 914, but they tend to be more expensive to fix, and the FI is a royal pain. VW's, however, are carbbed, eliminating the FI problems.

ZV

 

[911paramedic]

You are not supposed to tighten spark plugs much more than that, you will really hate it when one breaks off after you tighten it too much.

Good choice with the VW engine for repair concerns though. My first vehicle, in '81, was an older VW van. That thing would break down and all you needed to fix it was a crescent (open end adjustable for you navy techs LMAO) wrench and some coathanger wire. Damn that thing was fun...

 

[GMNorris]

One nice thing that I have discovered, older air-cooled VW's tend to attract girls, who think the cars are "cute".

Girls are attracted to it because it's a b!tch car.

To each his own, but you wouldn't catch me dead driving one...call it the man in me.

 

[BlackOmen]

Hmm, you're not going to find much in the way of a decent sports car for that budget. Beggars can't be choosers. These are some cars that myself and friends have purchased in that range and had running very well after some maintenance (milage is at time of purchase):
1987 Ford Mustang GT (5.0L V8, 5spd, 160k and rust, now has a supercharger and self done rust repair)
1988 Honda Accord (2.0L 4cyl, 5pd, 136k, engine flooded profusely, got new carb and other miscellaneous maintenence)
1980 Honda Prelude (1.8L, 5spd, 220k, needed new exhaust [everything but manifold], new cv joints, wheel bearings)
1984 Ford LTD (200ci straight 6, c4 trans, unknown milage [150k when the odometer stopped], by the time we were done the engine would break the tires loose easily, rebuilt trans, rust repair, working odometer).

Don't let rust intimidate you. Learning to do body work can be very valuable. I can't do it myself, but my friends have saved lots of cash my learning. I'd recommend anything 1970 to 1990 with a fairly large engine, which will make parts will be easier to find.

 

[iamshady]

<< That was until God found it necessary to take it away from me by sending a dumb b!tch in daddy's civic to total it. >>

Ouch man, I know what you mean

 

[Dark4ng3l]

What? cant you get a brand new ferrari with 1500 U$ bux?

 

[thedarkwolf]

You can pick up turbo dodges anywhere for under $1500.


http://www.thedodgegarage.com/index.html
should give you some ideas

Check out the daytona he got for $500.

 

[Brutuskend]

Well I got a 81 Plymouth Sapporo 2.6 MCA Jet for a stick of 128 PC 100.
Power disks, power rack and pinion, tilt wheel, 5 speed.

Runs like a raped ape.

For those unfamiliar with this car, it kinda looks like the Mustang of the same year.

It also has rear wheel drive, and I've seen people put big block V-8's in them!

Plus it's the only one I've seen it town. (and most cops and others have NO clue as the WHAT the HELL it is!!)

Sapporo