Non Toyota Project Car

[JustinSpiderholden]

imo got the bmw, classic car awsome potetnial and your not buy rich mans vw , not a fan at all of that sereis of porsche, yet the older e30 bmws looks awsome have a great motor and wicked chassie

how about 190e cosworth?

those porsches jsut remind me to much of sereis 4/5 rx7

then again what would i know im dumping a 3sgte in to a ae85

[gmacrae]

beemers have been done to death, and their engines suck.

944/968 is the pick of that bunch, I've been plotting something along those lines. Dont buy a turbo one tho, you're paying twice the price for the badge and a fuct old turbo, chuck some low comp forgies and a 57mm(ish) turbo in there and you're set for quick spooling 500hp. (maybe t3 gt3040)

Or stick a 1/2jz in there, Or a cammed up 1uz for that matter, the tricky bit would be the prop shaft setup - they run the shaft straight out of the engine to the transaxle down the back, brilliant weight distribution. This might be the reason to stick with the alloy 1uz.

Good luck, but ffs dont buy a beemer

[solberg Fan]

Im pretty much in love with the e30 M3 so that gets my vote. But im sure they worth more than your 25k budget.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Cars/BMW/auction-64473473.htm

I know its not the 'best' example given the high kms etc, but $20k will net you a nice one easy if you look around

As SnoozinEuro said you wont be able to regester it and thats why there so cheep. You Should be able to import one thats 20 yrs old and then regester it.... But im unsure of over seas costs as well as shipping etc. So im petty sure that takes the M3 off the list unfortunatly

[MikeMan]

Do you like turbos?

How much horsepower do you want?

If the answer to the second question is > 300 BHP then go for the 944, try and get a 2.7L if you can. Add a roller bearing turbo and decent ECU and 350-400HP is not hard to acheive.

If you want one of the best handling cars around get a 968 Clubsport, can keep up with a well driven Ferrari 355 on a slightly twisty road.

[andrew]

Sorry can't help with info on those cars other than to give my opinion - I'd take the 968 (which if I'm not mistaken was the successor to the 944), the others are too old and I'm allergic to rust and 80's build quality.

You shouldn't have any trouble locating a "M series" beemer in NZ though, they appear to make up > 50% of the BMW population.

What do a 300hp MR2 and a 500hp Supra have in common?.....they both run 12s

lol ^ best sig ever

[Blackrazor]

OK, different tack. Since none of the above are getting an overly large confidence vote, can i have some suggestions for a car that meets the following criteria :

• Rear Wheel Drive : This is non-negotiable. I prefer RWD to 4WD, and the only thing that should be front wheel drive is a kids trike.

• Exotic/Not-So-Common : I'd prefer to run something that isnt being driven round by every robber and his dog.

• Compact : I already own a Soarer so i have no need or want for another larger car, and my MR2 is awesome to drive, so ideally i want a car that mirrors that 'big go-cart' feel i've gotten used to.

• Affordable : Absolute max budget for the car itself is $25k.

• Powerful : 150kw at absolute minimum

Any suggestions welcome, any and all car brands accepted so long as it aint a Mazda, Mitsi or Honda

[Snoozin]

E36 M3's represent fantastic value at the moment IMO:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 487280.htm

134km, NZ new, service history, what more could you want for $23k!

Quite a nice 944, looks stunning on the Fuchs!

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 162442.htm

Late model 944 Turbo, $21k

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 970841.htm

There are a few 968's in your price bracket, all with the Tiptronic gearboxes

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 196425.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 295196.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 159772.htm

Then you have the usual S15 Spec R's and so on, which I'm guessing don't appeal.

[Blackrazor]

OK, at risk of being given the e-smackdown, what do people think of RX8 S-Specs? I've never been a rotary fan but apparently these are different, and its pretty much exactly what i want in every other regard... its quick, light, rear wheel drive, reasonably rare, and by the time i have the money for one it will be within my budget.

[Mr Revhead]

different how? still thirsty!!

similar weight and power to an sw20

[mr pad]

$&#$% yes ^^^^

How could you get bored driving one of those...

[Alex B]

They will only be rare untill they are cheep to import

[sergei]

slow.

[Silvertop]

what do people think of RX8 S-Specs?

I like but will never own. I'd take a 350Z though.

[Blackrazor]

similar weight and power to an sw20

Turbo or NA MR2?

I'd take a 350Z though.

350Z's... As much as i think they are great cars funtionally, i think they are slightly uglier than a bucket of afterbirth, and could never bring myself to own one.

[Jebus]

Yeh. love RX-8's. sure theyre the same specs as an SW20... on paper, but not in real world. Spoken like somebody who hasnt been in a Renesis powered vehicle. Not the worlds fastest, but the engine feels beautiful, happily revs off the tacho, handle awesomely 50/50 weight dist.. Would take one over all of the other cars youve suggested.

250HP @ 8500 with a 9000rpm redline, 6 speed manual. Awesome

Edit: A few places make bolt on supercharges etc too, real sweet base.

[Mr Revhead]

late beams one i think
1300kg and 212ish hp according to google

[Snoozin]

Thumbs up for the RX8.

You wouldn't consider an S2000 at all?

[Blackrazor]

You wouldn't consider an S2000 at all?

The pigs will be found flying over a field of icicles in the hottest pit of Hell before i own any Honda that doesnt have 'NSX' as its model suffix.

[Mr Revhead]

s2000 > rx8

[Blackrazor]

I wouldnt give two hoots if S2000 > Ferrari F50. Its still a Honda, and i will be proud to engrave on my gravestone that I never owned one.