What do you drive?

[Sangetsu]

Originally Posted by Atakicat

I noticed a serious lack of Automobile threads, and it got me wondering.. With JF gathering people from all over the world, What do you drive? Or if you don't, or can't drive, What would you like to drive?

As for me, I have a 1998 Chevy pickup that I use for a daily driver, and This 1987 Pontiac Fiero GT that I'm restoring. (Old pic, It's all torn down now)

Lose the garbage V6 that came in your Fiero and get the Cadillac Northstar kit. It goes in with surprisingly little effort, and you'll end up with something put you in the high 12's at the track, and get you better gas mileage to boot. Scrapyards have lots of Northstars nowadays, so getting one in decent shape shouldn't be that tough.

[Sangetsu]

Originally Posted by IamKira

I'm sorry, but rly???...besides the amc pacer, most Chevy's and all Chrysler's that is the most horrid car ever made...

If u really wanted a good car, it's be this...

Ae86 for life!
I'm also in the market for an Aw11.


nice pika-helmet chinabean
and even more props on the car...
I'm guessing n/a? ...

The AE86 is a fun car, a real blast to drive, but it's a kid's car. It's a platform to learn about how how to make a real car. Forget the Civics and Integras, the old Corolla had spot-on balance and handling (I've had 2), the only drawback was the uber-underpowered 1.6 twin-cam engine. If I were learning to road race on a closed course (where you should learn), the Corolla is impossible to beat for the price.

However, once you learn how things work, and get together a little driving skill, you're going to find the Corolla's limits very quick. I sold my Corolla and picked up an '86 Ford SVO Mustang. It did everything the Corolla could do, and much more. The 2.3 I/C Turbo engine dead stock make about twice the horsepower that the Corolla did, while keeping the light weight of a 4 cylinder engine. Adding the bullet-proof T5 trans (with it's big clutch), you had a car that could be thrashed and not hurt. Having room to mount 17" wheels and tires was also nice, the 13" and 14" options popular on the Corolla severely limit it's handling capability (not that the 1.6 is going to push them all that hard).

The SVO was a killer car, but it's collector value started increasing quite a bit, and I didn't want to beat on it too much. I sold it and bought a zero-option '88 LX coupe with the 5.0 and 5 speed. I didn't mod the engine very much, I spent my time and money on the body and suspension. I put in a chome-moly roll cage, a tubular K-frame, and Steeda A-arms and suspension arms. I used to run this car at Homestead, and used it to get my racing license.

A buddy of mine had been pestering me for a couple years to sell the Mustang to him, so I let it go, and I began riding a Yamaha R1. The bike was fun, but I was not as good at handling a bike as I was at driving a car, so I ended up with the '06 GTO. I ran it in the stock class, which was cheap, as I only had to buy a set of weekend tires and wheels.

I'm shopping for another car here in Japan, I'm not yet sure what I'm going to buy.

[ozkai]

Subaru UImpreza 2008.

As they say, their is no compormise for performance.

Sangetsu, eat ya heart out

[Sinestra]

This is what my whip i love it for now. next year im buying a Ralliart

[johanna17]

Originally Posted by godwine

Oooh.. damn.. i love those thing.. that and the Eurovan...

haha you mean my baby <3
XD
its kool its a camper one has everything..

[Quailboy]

But in all seriousness, I'd like a 08 Civic.

[spicytuna]

Originally Posted by IamKira

I'm sorry, but rly???...besides the amc pacer, most Chevy's and all Chrysler's that is the most horrid car ever made...

I'm not a huge fan of GM but I make an exception for the Corvette. It's got a great heritage and you won't find a better performing sports car for the money.

If I wasn't planning on moving to Japan for a while, I'd probably be driving a 6th generation Z06 right now.

[IamKira]

Originally Posted by spicytuna

I'm not a huge fan of GM but I make an exception for the Corvette. It's got a great heritage and you won't find a better performing sports car for the money.

If I wasn't planning on moving to Japan for a while, I'd probably be driving a 6th generation Z06 right now.

well yeah, obviously they threw out a good car here and there...
and to be honest the ZR1 does it for me.... just not my checkbook

"The AE86 is a fun car, a real blast to drive, but it's a kid's car."
It may be a kids car to begin with, but a turbo 20b rotary swap will fix that in a heartbeat... (of course there will be some major mods needed with a swap like that I'm not denying that it would take some major major work), but I adore that car and am willing to put in the loooong hours. Once I find a decent one I might try this out.

[godwine]

Originally Posted by IamKira

well yeah, obviously they threw out a good car here and there...
and to be honest the ZR1 does it for me.... just not my checkbook

"The AE86 is a fun car, a real blast to drive, but it's a kid's car."
It may be a kids car to begin with, but a turbo 20b rotary swap will fix that in a heartbeat... (of course there will be some major mods needed with a swap like that I'm not denying that it would take some major major work), but I adore that car and am willing to put in the loooong hours. Once I find a decent one I might try this out.

With the amount of work involved in doing such a swap, athe fund you will need to keep the vehicle balance, you might as well go with something that will give you the performance without so much work. You can easily get a late model 300ZX TT and do some basic mod on it... Even a late model BMW Z3 or Z4 with a super charger won't cost as much...

[Atakicat]

Originally Posted by Sangetsu

Lose the garbage V6 that came in your Fiero and get the Cadillac Northstar kit. It goes in with surprisingly little effort, and you'll end up with something put you in the high 12's at the track, and get you better gas mileage to boot. Scrapyards have lots of Northstars nowadays, so getting one in decent shape shouldn't be that tough.

Oh yes.. That anemic lil 2.8L was the first thing I pulled out. And you're right, The Northstar is a great engine. It looks just incredible in there too (Actually weighs 6lbs less then the 2.8 v6). It is kind of a bear to get it to fit, so I'm trying to decide between that, or a 3800 Supercharged from a Grand Prix GTP.

Originally Posted by Godwine

but I've seen a couple of Cavalier with Toyota badging in Japan. Some suggest that its based on a current model Levin chassis (Need confirmation)

I did alot of research on this back in 97-98 when I was racing a base model Cavalier.. I was really surprised at First, but turns out it's just a rebadged chevy with right hand drive.. But the Toyota emblems and the huge TRD decal I put on mine sure pissed off alot of the domestic guys around here.