You can import an e30 wagon in a couple years, but that's not Japanese...
Beyond that, maybe an older WRX, if you can find one that hasn't been run into the ground.
Printable View
Proper.
Having hauled 3 dh bikes on the back of an early one defining the term "wind steer", I'm the wrong person to ask about what a proper vehicle is but am firmly in the camp that everyone needs a light, simple, manual two-seater just to make the world a better place.
You might not know Miata owners used to flip up their unlighted headlights upon seeing each other; I can't imagine that happening now. Anyway enough old folks home reminiscing.
4-door version of the '99-'01 Impreza 2.5 RS
How about a Mercedes Diesel Wagon? I've been skimming advertisements for one since our Volvo Wagon is starting to get some miles. You can steal them.
I'd try to find a 2002-2007 WRX (if your kids aren't in rear-facing seats - which are too big for these cars) or the Evo. I owned a 1998 2.5RS (came with the gold-a-licious wheels!)
Attachment 44458
Big obnoxious lights:
Attachment 44453
STi suspension and brakes:
Attachment 44454
big garish wing:
Attachment 44455
real seats:
Attachment 44456
and while it was fun at the time, they are REALLY soft out of the box (although anything you find now will be due for new dampers) and the body structure got a lot stiffer in 2002+. The WRX cars (and the Evo) are far more evolved than the 1st gen US Imprezas unless you breathe on the HEAVILY. I got mine to handle pretty well, but it still felt ancient compared to the stock WRX - and I never got around to an engine swap.
Well, yeah, there are better platforms to start out with if you're going to go that extreme with a car, but you don't really need to, to have fun driving. My Miata handled and seemed to perform better, but got less fun to drive as I continued doing things to it. If I could roll back the clock, I would have stopped at nice shocks and good tires.
I also covet one of these: http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/a...verwagon/1.jpg
From here: Mercedes-Benz : 300-Series 300 TD 300TD in Mercedes-Benz | eBay Motors
My dad's had 289K on the odometer, but the odometer was broken. It was likely somehwere around 350K. I think my mom's had around 200K on it. Spent all of my youth in them, and still love that sound. It's up there with the sound of an air cooled VW or a BMW small six churning along.
I'm pretty easy when it comes to cars.
This Seinfeld web show looks promising. Cool cars, fast talk, hot coffee.
Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee
p.s. How many freaking swimming events are there? How much water do they have over there?
Ha! I wonder what working on one of those costs now. I'm assuming it's worse than the e30s.
Any reason for 05 and earlier? And I'd be very leery of a used WRX, too. Esp. if it has some miles on it. Even if it looks stock, it might have had a bunch of crap done to it that was later reversed. I have a neighbor that did exactly this.
Legacy GT wagon. Manual transmission is hens teeth though. Shop owner I know had one in 05-06 with an aftermarket exhaust and some suspension work.
4-Runner with a 5 speed? In that case though you may as well keep the FJ62.
I might be able to live with this. I do not think it is for sale.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/221119...vrolet-caprice
Even though the 2005 Legacy GT wagons w/manual are EXTREMELY rare, there are turbo/manual wagons from that era that were produced after 2005 - but they are Outbacks.
The bonus to finding one of these (I'm pretty sure they were made in small numbers even through 2009 MY as I worked with a service rep who had one) is that they will have AUX inputs into the non-DIN head unit. The radios and HVAC controls are all integrated on 2005-2009 Leg/Obks, so this can be a big deal. This is in addition to the small improvements that are made for each new model year.
Those 2005 Legacies only had AM/FM/CD radios.
I'll see if I can send you some info. on my good pal Jim who stuffed a 7.0 into a 3 series BMW. He, obviously, is a former BMW factory mech. JJMSTANG has seen him at the drags, it can go.
Baseball, Cal Ripken, Boxers, Calamine lotion....gotta focus.
Jason if budget is important I've scored more 4K volvo wagons for my family than you can shake a stick at. You can get them from owners who religiously maintained them and will apologize for worn seats with 100,000 miles which is barely broken in for a Volvo Wagon. If you get a later V series and have some spare cash they chip real real nice and are very tolerant of some extra boost. Wagons handle great BTW.
I would also recommend a Volvo wagon over a Legacy GT of same year. The LGT is the heaviest of all Subarus which shares the same wheel bearings and suspension as the smaller Impreza. The 5 speed manual is made of glass and overtaxed in moving a family-filled wagon. The turbos had/have oiling problems due to a small screen filter on the variable cam timing system and are prone to failure. Owners run the oil low on a very frequent basis and engine failure isn't uncommon.
Buying a used one is a roll of the dice unless you have big rebuild plans.
In my opinion the GC8 Impreza is a little small for a family car. (especially a coupe)
Another solid car is a BMW E34 wagon. Those can be had for 10k or a little more. I just found some E39 Wagons on ebay for 10k buy it now. Those are often overlooked. Another thing to check into is parts cost. I've owned most of the cars that people are talking about on this thread. BMW/Mercedes parts are often less expensive than Subaru parts. They are surely less expensive than Mitsubishi Evo parts. The BMW and Merc engines are widely used and for long product runs which makes the availability good and the cost low on replacement.
This thread caused me to waste a couple hours at work today.
Don't really regret it.
3yr olds approve.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8299/7...1e6934d2_z.jpg
"bring blue race car back home da da"
Can't say no to that.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8305/7...6d49388d_z.jpg
Slightly off topic, but extremely enjoyable.
I have a customer who just got a new 458 Sypder. He stopped by after hours the other day while I was there to chat for a bit. As we were both leaving, I ask him how the new car is and with a response of great he tosses me the keys and says let go for a ride. And hour later and about a half tank less, my smile lasts for a day.
F'in awesome! It would make the angriest person smile.
That is a super cool story. There are two types of dudes in this world ones who will throw you the keys and ones who will tell you to get your grubby hands off their ride. I'm sure this is something you'll always remember. Super awesome of the owner to do this two giant thumbs up!
F'in awesome!
Saw this earlier in the week, and it was a good reality check on my semi-sane idea of running a classic car as an only car:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec4gG...layer_embedded
Those guys are great. Very much agree with their take on it. When I rebuilt my 51 chevy pickup it was never babied and immed. got a class IV hitch and was my only vehicle for 9 years. Queen would loan me her volvo wagon when I took road trips. I changed it to 12V and solid state ignition, otherwise it is bone stock.
Car shows are stupid.
also, i am desperately trying to stop myself from buying this:
http://images.craigslist.org/5L95G55...7d32141977.jpg
Volvos don't wear out, you get tired of owning them.
I think I've come to the same realization when it comes to classic cars. I'd love to think that they are the _exact_ same thing as a modern machine, but they just aren't unless you are really prepared to replace/refurb everything.
I keep looking at MGB GTs and fantasize about using that as my only, since I'm not driving much at the moment. Not much at all in the city, really. The problem is that when I drive, it's long distance. Going from DC to TN is NBD in the Subaru, but might be a big deal in an MG unless I was really confident in it. And with where I'm at space wise (one assigned parking spot, no garage) and with a very new Subaru, it don't know if it makes sense right now.
I keep toying with the idea of selling the Sub, buying one of those $4K volvos, then getting an MG, but realize I might be going from one care-free car to two piles of trouble. There are other options, like having just an MG, using Zipcar for short trips if need be, and possibly renting a car for the one holiday pilgrimage I need to make to TN, but I'm not sure what that rental would cost at a peak time like Christmas (likely need to drive due to my dogs).
I can't really tell if selling my nice newish car for a classic is an insane idea or not. Thoughts from the Salon?
Unless you have a spot to keep one of the old cars stashed on a set of jack stands, keep the one good new car and wait on the old ones. Old cars have stuff that tends to fail at inopportune times and sometimes you need to wait for parts, and by wait I mean wait for shipping or wait until you can find the one thing that you may need to drop out of the used market somewhere.
An MG of any kind just sounds like an exercise in masochism.
PS - rental car companies are notorious for charging excessive cleaning fees for cars with a lot of dog hair/smell in them. Keep that thought in your calculation.
my take is that daily driving a classic car is only really feasible if you do a full restoration, and know the car inside and out. by full restoration, i mean full. having another car to drive, even if its the spouse/girlfriends car is invaluable when the inevitable break down occurs, to go get parts, etc. an obscure older car like the volvo or worse, MG is going to be tough to get parts quick, for sure. without a garage to keep some spare parts on hand, and do work when it comes up, it's probably a crazy idea, yes.
Went out mountain biking last evening. Chick at the trailhead was rocking a gorgeous manual 245 wagon. Had a hard time not asking her if she would sell it...
If that's a runner or easily made a runner, very tempting....Could be a fun toy.