Non Toyota Project Car

[Mr Revhead]

hell even i would own an s2000

[Blackrazor]

Yes, well you always were a bit lax with your loyalties there Warwick

Even if i wasnt anti-Honda, everytime i see an S2000 all i see in my head is some Asian crimelord guy with a NOS button smirking as he drags off a VW Jetta.

[Snoozin]

Fair enough, IMO the S2000 would suit your bill quite nicely. Beautifully balanced chassis, amazing engine, great build quality, rarer than an RX8, and a vast range of performance odds and ends.

They also look fapping cool with a hardtop on them.

[Mr Revhead]

fapping

interesting word

[Silvertop]

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.

The same has been said of the RX8. Comes down to personal taste. As this thread is about YOU getting a car then that's a fair comment to make lol.

Considered an MRS? If aesthics are important in making your decision im guessing you have considered it and put it in with the other stuff in the afterbirth bucket?

[Mr Revhead]

iv seen some seriously cool looking MR-Ss.
but youd have to rebadge it

the 2zzge celica is very very cool too

[Silvertop]

I've seen* some seriously cool performing MRSs, yet to find a nice looking one (IMO).


*Online

[Snoozin]

Straight out of the "silly suggestions" folder comes this one:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 473829.htm
Lotus Esprit S2

[RunningRich]

How old is too old? How about a 1988-1992 Alfa Romeo 75. Before people laugh, these have the gearbox at the rear too and 148 bhp (Italian stallions, not Japanese ponies) from a 2.0 litre engine with VVT.

Excellant rear wheel drive and easy to do engine transplants (due to clutch and gearbox at rear). Engine bay is huge, happily fitting a I4, V6 or small I6.

4 cylinders are btter balanced while the 3.0 V6 is among the best V6's you can buy.

This would be a project different from everyone else and you can pick tidy cars up for $1500.

This engine is known to produce over 500 bhp once turbocharged. This model was Alfa's alternative to the M3 in European before everyone packed up their bags and went home after BMW "cheated" (it was a streach of the truth to call the M3 a production car).

Another option is an Alfa GTV6. Same chassis.

[Snoozin]

GTV6 was the first one that crossed my mind when I saw the ask for suggestions..... they're beginning to appreciate in value now too.

[RomanV]

Blackrazor, it's a pity you're so caught up with the 'image' that you expect your future vehicle to portray... You're really excluding yourself from some great performing cars. It's your choice to make though obviously, but I wouldnt exclude a car just because of the badge on it.

PS. Regarding earlier comments. an NA gen 5 SW20 in standard trim is 1220kgs, give or take. Too heavy for my liking, especially for how much power it makes (or doesnt, more to the point) but meh. An RX8 or S2000, isnt much better in standard trim. New cars with safety features that add weight FTL

EDIT:

Damn, that RX8 is heavier than I thought.

1374kgs with M/T

250hp @8500rpm
159ftlbs @ 5500rpm

Apparently a lot of the weight of the RX8 is in the doors, for obvious reasons, which are an integral structural part of the car. Stupid pillarless design. Oh well, it was never meant to be a dedicated sports car I suppose.

FD RX7 > all.

[Alex B]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Cars/Toyota/auction-65784109.htm

Gen V MR2 is win. Rare (less than 1000 apprently) and you get what your current mr2 has in terms of go cartness, and then some. Also a gen IV turbo on there for about 15 too.

[Blackrazor]

You're really excluding yourself from some great performing cars. It's your choice to make though obviously, but I wouldnt exclude a car just because of the badge on it.

I know, but i am a small-minded petty individual

I have a mate who has a GTV6 so i cant really do the copy thing. Nice car tho.

How hard, in the long term, is it to tub an RX8?

[RomanV]

Gen V MR2 is win. Rare (less than 1000 apprently)

There were at least 3-4000 made.... the less than 1000 thing is just a perpetuating internet rumour, probably started by people with gen 5s selling their cars.

Apart from rarity, and coolness, the NA gen 5 doesnt have a whole lot going for it IMO. It's based on a chassis designed in the 80s, I'd rather have an S2K out of the two for sure, more modern design, more highly strung and awesome engine.
Australian 'Bathurst' edition SW20s are probably faster than japanese Gen 5 SW20s in real terms, despite only having a gen 3 3SGE.
The lack of aircon/PS/PW/other useless and weight adding options more than makes up for the 20HP less.

also, technically it would have less 'go-cartyness' than a Gen 1, which weighs a bit less.
(For example, mine is 1025ish kgs with a few things pulled out- 20% less than a gen 5)

[Snoozin]

You're really excluding yourself from some great performing cars. It's your choice to make though obviously, but I wouldnt exclude a car just because of the badge on it.

I know, but i am a small-minded petty individual

I have a mate who has a GTV6 so i cant really do the copy thing. Nice car tho.

How hard, in the long term, is it to tub an RX8?

You want to go drag racing

[Mr Revhead]

volvo 240 turbo!

[Ako]

I was about to say - when you say "project car" what exactly is the project?

If you're looking at tubbing something, well... How "easy" it is to tub it won't be a concern. You can fit big rubber back there without tubs. And more to the point - to get to the point where it needs that treatment entails a fairly large cash injection anyway.

So no jap cars unless theyre unique (and an MR2 will never be a unique, collectors item in my eyes), no american cars, and if its euro it has to be half decent pretty much?

I'm thinking FD rx7, 240Z, KPG10 GT-R (I love those things).. Hell, could go on for ages.

RX8 - people need to learn not to just go off numbers for how they perform. Needs to be driven to be understood - just like old euros in a way I guess.

[Blackrazor]

Er, LOL! When i typed 'tub' i meant to type 'turb' I was enquiring how hard it would be to add a turbocharger to said Renesis-based engined vehicle

[Ako]

See what happens when you try and abbreviate words which just shouldn't be

Renesis - high comp engine, but still quite do-able. Rotormaster in aus do a bolt on kit with a T28 of some sort, makes 350hp ish on low boost and keeps all the goodness the renesis has to offer in the first place.

Turbo RX8 = car porn

[Emperor]

They will only be rare untill they are cheep to import

They're cheap as chips to import