beagley
|
| posted on 28/2/12 at 03:18 PM |
|
|
Poll - First time project choice......
Trying to decide on a first car project. Been a petrol head for a while now and have been lurking here and other forums for a few years now and
finally feel competent enough to start a project. Ultimately I want to do a locost, but I feel that there are a lot of skills I need to perfect
before I try something of that level. With that said I would like to find a "fun" car to work on. Preferably working when I buy it and
slowly/methodically upgrade and replace parts to continue my education. Here are my choices.....
- 86-91 Mazda RX-7 - My reasons for this are because it is different. I love rotaries and I know that they are finicky engines, but they were
light, cheap, and great little cars. Plus there is a race shop about 2 km from my house to help out as well as www.rx7club.com
- 79-85 Datsun 240z - Gorgeous car. Should be able to find more people willing to work on it because its not a rotary, but theres the chance that
it will be 30 years old.... so.....
- 91-96 Honda Prelude - Cheap and plentiful, but the only problem I see is finding one that hasn't been riced out a'la Fast and
Furious
- 83-88 Nissan 300zx - More expensive than the others, but still a cool car to work on (I think)
- 91-03 Mazda MX-5 - Again, plenty of cheap cars to start from, tons of help, tons of parts, previously mentioned mazda race shop down the road and
MUCH easier to find
Poll away!!
I'm not scared!!! I'm just marking my territory.
|
|
|
|
|
Snuggs
|
| posted on 28/2/12 at 03:44 PM |
|
|
None of the above but voted "79-85 Datsun 240z" so I can see how others are voting.
My choice would be a nice TR6 convertible. 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.topcashback.co.uk/ref/snuggstcb
Spider pig, spider pig, does whatever a spider pig does.
I doubt therefore I may be.
Luposlipophobia : Fear of being chased by wolves around a freshly waxed kitchen floor, while wearing only socks on your feet.
My mind not only wanders, sometimes it leaves completely!
http://www.venganza.org
http://www.jesusandmo.net/
http://www.snuggs.co.uk
|
|
|
dhutch
|
| posted on 28/2/12 at 03:45 PM |
|
|
I voted for the Datsun, but it really depends on what you want it for. I was going to get an MX5 before I decided tyo go down the 7-type and latterly
on buying an old westfeild rather than building something like a mk indy or mnr.
Daniel
|
|
|
mark chandler
|
| posted on 28/2/12 at 03:49 PM |
|
|
MX5, its a very simple well thought out car under the skin, get a MK1, much nicer IMHO
|
|
|
big_wasa
|
| posted on 28/2/12 at 05:17 PM |
|
|
Go for the locost, it will teach you loads.
|
|
|
franky
|
| posted on 28/2/12 at 06:03 PM |
|
|
Enough said
Apart from the fact a 240z is 69-73 so 40 years old
 
[Edited on 28/2/12 by franky]
|
|
|
beagley
|
| posted on 28/2/12 at 06:13 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by franky[Edited on 28/2/12 by franky]
Funny, I saw one of these coming back from lunch today...... think its a sign? If anything it seems there is a strong pull toward the MX-5 and with
good reason.
I'm not scared!!! I'm just marking my territory.
|
|
|
beagley
|
| posted on 28/2/12 at 06:25 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by big_wasa
Go for the locost, it will teach you loads.
That might be an option...... if I had the space to do it and the extra $$$ to buy the "rest" of the tools I would need. I have some
spare time and money, just nowhere to build. SWMBO's house burned to the ground when she was in high school, literally lost everything, so she
is adamant that I have a shop that won't catch the house on fire (read detached). REALLY hard to argue against that.
My fear with the locost is that it is such a large scale, long term project that I may putter out since I've never done something of that
magnitude. Welding, electrics, scratch suspension setup...... My thought was to start with something like whats listed in the above poll to
essentially get my feet wet before jumping in head first. That way if it turns out that I don't really want to build a car from scratch/kit I
can just dump the cheap car and move on.
Am I over-thinking this?
I'm not scared!!! I'm just marking my territory.
|
|
|
beagley
|
| posted on 28/2/12 at 06:29 PM |
|
|
All you people voting for the Datsun......
This is what I'm contemplating.
I'm not scared!!! I'm just marking my territory.
|
|
|
franky
|
| posted on 28/2/12 at 06:36 PM |
|
|
so you're looking at a 280z/zx not a 240z?
|
|
|
beagley
|
| posted on 28/2/12 at 06:44 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by franky
so you're looking at a 280z/zx not a 240z?
I guess I did put "240" in the poll...... the Datsun was a late comer as I was thinking about different project cars. Wanted something
small and fun to drive.
I'm not scared!!! I'm just marking my territory.
|
|
|
theduck
|
| posted on 28/2/12 at 06:49 PM |
|
|
Buy an unfinished kit like I did that's practically complete parts wise and with fiddly bits done. I picked mine up for a song! You will need to
be careful what you buy if you intend to iva but if you buy a kit still being made that won't be an issue.
To give you an idea on costs my car will be purchased and completed for under £2k without an iva. Would need another £500ish spending to get through
iva plus test fee.
|
|
|
franky
|
| posted on 28/2/12 at 06:54 PM |
|
|
mx5 will be a popular choice.
A 240z is the same weight with more power, awesome residuals(going up in value) and IMO about 1000000 times better looking. Plenty of scope for
tinkering too.
|
|
|
Nickp
|
| posted on 28/2/12 at 07:10 PM |
|
|
Just voted for the RX7. Had an FC TurboII. Great car, would still have it now if it wasn't so rotten 
|
|
|
steve m
|
| posted on 28/2/12 at 07:29 PM |
|
|
The 280z is nothing like a 240z, and imho the 280z is an ugly americanised monster, the 240, as i voted, is still a beutifull piece of artwork
|
|
|
Fred W B
|
| posted on 28/2/12 at 07:31 PM |
|
|
Although you haven't got it in your poll, if you ultimate goal is to scratch build a locost, I would strongly favor buying a complete 7 to tidy
up, rebuild or modify.
Why learn on something that is different to what you want to do?. Also, and no disrespect, if your project goes wrong or never gets finished you will
have reduced the value of one of the "classics" you mention, while a 7 will always be worth at least the sum of its parts.
Cheers
Fred W B
You can do it quickly. You can do it cheap. You can do it right. – Pick any two.
|
|
|
Marcus
|
| posted on 28/2/12 at 07:33 PM |
|
|
Wot Steve said
But I'd go for the MX5, for the simple reason that you won't need to find a donor when you finally come to build the Locost.
Use the Haynes plans and fit all the MX5 bits in it. In the meantime learn about rear wheel drive with the 5.
Marcus
Because kits are for girls!!
|
|
|
Volvorsport
|
| posted on 28/2/12 at 07:47 PM |
|
|
lots of volvos over there too.....
www.dbsmotorsport.co.uk
getting dirty under a bus
|
|
|
steve m
|
| posted on 28/2/12 at 07:55 PM |
|
|
That need crushing !
|
|
|
ReMan
|
| posted on 28/2/12 at 07:55 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by Snuggs
None of the above but voted "79-85 Datsun 240z" so I can see how others are voting.
You could always click "View Results"
www.plusnine.co.uk
|
|
|
Ninehigh
|
| posted on 28/2/12 at 08:24 PM |
|
|
I voted MX5 because it'll be easiest to do logistically, I mean no scouring for parts or the car itself.
However if you're just using it to learn I'd pick up anything at a reasonable price. I still have an eye on a early 70's Morris
round the corner from me.
|
|
|
beagley
|
| posted on 28/2/12 at 09:28 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by Ninehigh
I voted MX5 because it'll be easiest to do logistically, I mean no scouring for parts or the car itself.
However if you're just using it to learn I'd pick up anything at a reasonable price. I still have an eye on a early 70's Morris
round the corner from me.
It appears that the MX-5 makes the most "logical" sense. They aren't too bad cost wise around my area, found a few I'm
interested in for around 1300 gbp so thats not too bad. Maybe SWMBO won't object to such a "cute" car either..... now..... to get
her interested in driving it fast.
Thanks for the advice all, much appreciated.
Andy
I'm not scared!!! I'm just marking my territory.
|
|
|
Steve Hignett
|
| posted on 28/2/12 at 09:38 PM |
|
|
I'm about to Vote RX7, because I've always adored them - there's also a race workshop 1 mile away from where I live too!
However, my 2nd choice would be very close to the RX7 and that's to get an MX5 and then turbo it... (search for my recent post  )
ETA - PS - I def would NOT do the Datsun, I had to work on one for virtually of the summer of 1992 as an apprentice, and it was a piece of turd, and
then we had to look at two other "good examples" to source bits from and they were absolute dog's too!
[Edited on 28/2/12 by Steve Hignett]
|
|
|
beagley
|
| posted on 28/2/12 at 09:42 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by Steve Hignett
I'm about to Vote RX7, because I've always adored them - there's also a race workshop 1 mile away from where I live too!
However, my 2nd choice would be very close to the RX7 and that's to get an MX5 and then turbo it... (search for my recent post )
ETA - PS - I def would NOT do the Datsun, I had to work on one for virtually of the summer of 1992 as an apprentice, and it was a piece of turd, and
then we had to look at two other "good examples" to source bits from and they were absolute dog's too!
[Edited on 28/2/12 by Steve Hignett]
There's no question forced induction is in my future. I read Corky Bell's book Supercharged! and have almost re-read it again just
looking back through it. Loved that book, very informative. Now I have to read his Turbocharged! book to decide on the best path for me to go.
I'm not scared!!! I'm just marking my territory.
|
|
|
franky
|
| posted on 28/2/12 at 09:56 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by Steve Hignett
I'm about to Vote RX7, because I've always adored them - there's also a race workshop 1 mile away from where I live too!
However, my 2nd choice would be very close to the RX7 and that's to get an MX5 and then turbo it... (search for my recent post )
ETA - PS - I def would NOT do the Datsun, I had to work on one for virtually of the summer of 1992 as an apprentice, and it was a piece of turd, and
then we had to look at two other "good examples" to source bits from and they were absolute dog's too!
[Edited on 28/2/12 by Steve Hignett]
You forget that he lives in the states, plenty of dry state/rust free cars there
Just like rusty mx5's here!
|
|
|
