Oh my God! To say that I'm flattered with the responses is an understatement!
Will take the time to respond to each and every one of you guys today
Thank you all for the amazing ideas!
captdownshift (Forum Supporter) said:
I actually can budget 5K more, and as much as I love this, I'd would like to keep the fun car in a RWD layout... want to try my hand at some oversteering & car control fun
In reply to BigEgyptian :
Are you looking for something that others will maintain or would you consider working on a basic British Small car?
Those primitive early British cars are extremely easy to get parts for, plenty reliable as a fun car. Plus likely to teach you car handling to a degree you'll never achieve with a more modern car.
a MG is cheap, simple, reliable, and fun.
Then your daily driver can be the family car.
BigEgyptian said:Oh my God! To say that I'm flattered with the responses is an understatement!
Will take the time to respond to each and every one of you guys today
Thank you all for the amazing ideas!
Getting this crowd to vicariously car-shop isn't a big imposition... I'm sure we'd all love to hear your thoughts on everybody's suggestions, but you shouldn't feel obliged. We'll probably keep subjecting you to more suggestions either way... 
racerdave600 said:What about a CTS-V wagon?
You haven't tried pricing one on the used market lately, have you?
I want one, but they sure arent depriciating!
My buddies dad had a MB C320? Or 230? Supercharged 4cyl. It was a fun car. Would have to pull abs fuse for any oversteer shenanigans I'd imagine. Idk about 3 in the back though.
How stuck on manual are you? Crown Vics can be alot of fun, and have a ton of room.
Get a wrx and do rwd conversion?
In reply to John Welsh :
I keep coming back to this as well; yes, it'll probably end up being a sports sedan (E39 is one of my favorites... and if it has an LS swap, even better!).
I'm pretty sure my wife will not be ok with lap belts only, I wouldn't want to compromise on safety as well.
I figured if I'm going that route, I'll have to buy & retrofit a 3-point seatbelt kit.
John Welsh said:Sport sedan is probably the answer. Cadillac ATS comes in manual and might be the right ticket. Infiniti G35/G37 sedan too.
As an example, to accommodate the folding top, a E46 BMW offers 3 belts in the rear seat of sedans and coupes but only 2 belts in the convertibles.
One issue with the pre-73 stuff is the back seats will be lap belt only. Are you (mom) okay with that for the kids?
For me, my '90 Infiniti Q45 had rear shoulder belts for the outboard rear seats and a lap belt only for the middle seat. More modern stuff like '00 and newer started to add a shoulder belt to the rear middle.
I keep coming back to this as well; yes, it'll probably end up being a sports sedan (E39 is one of my favorites... and if it has an LS swap, even better!).
I'm pretty sure my wife will not be ok with lap belts only, I wouldn't want to compromise on safety as well.
I figured if I'm going that route, I'll have to buy & retrofit a 3-point seatbelt kit.
Jesse Ransom said:BigEgyptian said:Oh my God! To say that I'm flattered with the responses is an understatement!
Will take the time to respond to each and every one of you guys today
Thank you all for the amazing ideas!
Getting this crowd to vicariously car-shop isn't a big imposition... I'm sure we'd all love to hear your thoughts on everybody's suggestions, but you shouldn't feel obliged. We'll probably keep subjecting you to more suggestions either way...
Keep them coming!
frenchyd said:In reply to BigEgyptian :
Are you looking for something that others will maintain or would you consider working on a basic British Small car?
Those primitive early British cars are extremely easy to get parts for, plenty reliable as a fun car. Plus likely to teach you car handling to a degree you'll never achieve with a more modern car.
a MG is cheap, simple, reliable, and fun.
Then your daily driver can be the family car.
I know what you mean, but at a minimum, it has to seat 3, so I can take the boys.
In writing the original description, I knew that it was a long shot. I just figured I'd pick everyone's brains, in case there was something out there I was totally missing
Ok guys,
I get it. Family cruiser + fun car won't work due to physical (and population) limitations; there's just too many of us, and we're simply too tall to fit together. Our trusty van will have to continue to serve as our family hauler :)
I'm willing to compromise on family cruiser.
This leaves:
- Manual transmission
- Seating for 3
- Nice for date night
- Occassional trackday/autocross
Nice to haves:
- Convertible
- Classic (Pre 73)
Emphasis on fun to drive with good handling & steering response.
Is it too easy now?
In reply to BigEgyptian :
Again what do you bring to the table? Do you have any skills? Can you change oil ? Adjust valves? Rebuild an engine? ( not trying to offend just get a sense of your skills if any ).
My go to would be a JaguarXJS. Convertible. Want a simple reliable one get the 6 cylinder. It's almost as fast as the V12
Kids think classic cars are cool.
Sounds like you need a big old station wagon (bonus if it has a rear facing seat in back) for fun family cruising times, plus a zippy track capable convertible to scratch your driving itch.
Bonus: a big wagon can tow the track car! Or...
frenchyd said:In reply to BigEgyptian :
Again what do you bring to the table? Do you have any skills? Can you change oil ? Adjust valves? Rebuild an engine? ( not trying to offend just get a sense of your skills if any ).
My go to would be a JaguarXJS. Convertible. Want a simple reliable one get the 6 cylinder. It's almost as fast as the V12
I'm sorry, missed your question...
I can do basic maintenance with no problem (changing fluids, brakes...etc). Changing suspension components, sure. Most bolt-ons, I'm fine doing.
When it comes to anything to do with engine internals, I'd rather trust someone more mechanically capable than I am
I've always loved the XJS (those buttresses are awesome), but it always struck me as a Grant Tourer, not a sports car.
Is there an edition I'm missing? Or, are you talking going through the suspension to tune it for handling?
You left RWD off your updated list, so... MINI Clubman S
My vote is an e46 M3 convertible. Incredibly capable, sounds amazing and still looks gorgeous.
In reply to BigEgyptian :
Think of it more as a big Miata. ( Yes there are convertibles ) Especially the 6 cylinder which is hundreds of pounds lighter and nearly as fast as its V12 brother.
A few also had 5 speed manual transmission.
Like most cars, track work requires a stiffer suspension but those parts are in hundreds of junkyards. The early ones had bigger sway bars and stiffer suspension because of the added weight of the V12. Later in production they dropped the rear sway bar then brought it back. But there are plenty of sizes to dial in the handling exactly the way you want it.
The power steering is a little numb. But it's a GM power steering pump so it's an easy and simple change to make. Or you can buy an adjustable regulator from Rob Beere Racing. Then dial in your own steering assist preference.
Rob Beere is your go to source for racing stuff. While the EFI will respond well to a visit to AJ6 racing ( also in England where these are still actively raced).
The V12 is special because of that wonderful engine but it intimidates most owners. So many were junked because of simple issues made worse by ignorant mechanics. But properly maintained that engine will outlast you, your son, and a grandson before needing rebuilding.
dyintorace said:My vote is an e46 M3 convertible. Incredibly capable, sounds amazing and still looks gorgeous.
I couldn't agree more... I still like this car so much!
Had it on my desktop for a long time, and still like it today
frenchyd said:In reply to BigEgyptian :
Think of it more as a big Miata. ( Yes there are convertibles ) Especially the 6 cylinder which is hundreds of pounds lighter and nearly as fast as its V12 brother.
A few also had 5 speed manual transmission.
Like most cars, track work requires a stiffer suspension but those parts are in hundreds of junkyards. The early ones had bigger sway bars and stiffer suspension because of the added weight of the V12. Later in production they dropped the rear sway bar then brought it back. But there are plenty of sizes to dial in the handling exactly the way you want it.
The power steering is a little numb. But it's a GM power steering pump so it's an easy and simple change to make. Or you can buy an adjustable regulator from Rob Beere Racing. Then dial in your own steering assist preference.
Rob Beere is your go to source for racing stuff. While the EFI will respond well to a visit to AJ6 racing ( also in England where these are still actively raced).
The V12 is special because of that wonderful engine but it intimidates most owners. So many were junked because of simple issues made worse by ignorant mechanics. But properly maintained that engine will outlast you, your son, and a grandson before needing rebuilding.
XJS rabbit hole, here I come!
In reply to BigEgyptian :
Please keep me informed. I realize I don't have a lot of experience with street cars, my expertise is all race cars or race car donors. However those all have provided me with plenty of experience tearing them apart so I might be able to help you with stuff.
Use the following bits of advice very carefully. I'm a racer and stock is never sufficient to my purposes.
First if you want a 5 speed manual you will have to buy it from England. Yes it will be right hand drive so just buy the parts from a breaker ( that's what junk yards are called in England. ) Get the whole assembly. Trans, flywheel, shifter clutch pedal assembly. ( you might even get the whole clutch and brake pedal assembly because the brake master cylinder may be different from the automatic), You might also grab the ECM too because I believe it's different with a manual than an automatic.
Only a tiny handful came here to the US and I'm sure the price of those is unreasonably high.
The next thing to consider is buying a cheap XJR 6 cylinder. ( about 1999 is the last of those). The XJR has a better brake system and the supercharged engine.
Shop Craigslist & Facebook. But also shop the salvage yards like Car-parts and salvage centers like IAAI & Co-parts. A budget of $1000 should get you one.
That has the Supercharged engine which makes 322 net horsepower. They didn't come that way from the factory but they can fit in.
Now that would be an insanely fast car. Faster than the V12.
In reply to frenchyd :
Just found this:
https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/jaguar/xjs/2414649.html
Now THAT, is tempting :)
I'll need to do a lot of reading about this one... always loved those XJSs, especially the pre-facelift ones with the smaller tail lights.
Need to look at the from the angle of a sports car, not the luxury tourer I've always seen them as.
In reply to BigEgyptian :
I couldn't find the exact one you were referring to. Please describe it to me so I can read it over and try to understand what appeals to you.
frenchyd said:In reply to BigEgyptian :
I couldn't find the exact one you were referring to. Please describe it to me so I can read it over and try to understand what appeals to you.
Found a 5-speed XJS, 1985, on Hemmings, asking $6,450:
Hemmings Link
You were saying earlier they're very rare, so I was surprised I found one on my first search in Hemmings, that's all :)
It needs quite a bit of work, for sure, but was just pleasantly surprised to find it so quickly
thashane said:You left RWD off your updated list, so... MINI Clubman S
Cooper S (R52) has always been high on my list.
Kids are growing up way too fast for me to get one now... have to get it as a 2-seater only at this point, which is not a priority.
The Clubman never got me excited, for some reason.
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