The problem with the 1uz, primarily the early ones... They are slow as piss, most under 200whp
The problem with the 1uz, primarily the early ones... They are slow as piss, most under 200whp
In reply to chiodos:
So that might be better for this project. Kind of like how with the Miata you get more opportunities to really wring out the engine. I was thinking that a slower older V8 might be better than a newer faster one, at least for the enjoyment of making crazy sounds on the way home from work without going too fast.
My 4runner has the 2uz engine in it and so far I haven't been super impressed with the sound. I tried replacing the resonator with some sort of Magnaflow and it wasn't so great. It currently has a cheap-o Gibson cat-back exhaust on it. Once we get settled in our house I'm going to replace the muffler on that with a straight piece of pipe and see what happens. Should be cheap and easy to return to normal.
Maybe the 2uz doesn't sound so hot since it's a truck motor?
In reply to Trackmouse:
Just driving around is fun to see all the old cars that would have been rusted out heaps back east. The first week here I had crazy dreams about 13b rotaries and brap brap noises. Dailying a 20 year old example might be a little rough - but I could see eventually trading the Miata for one. Same goes for the 240z although I've seen a good number of them out here. That's another bucketlist car.
Right now the V8 Lexus options look and sound great. I'm really liking the idea of manual LS400. It could be a nice project to start and maybe add an ITB setup down the road if it isn't too difficult. There is something appealing about their shape. I must be getting old...
The Abarth's would be great too. Just not crazy about having a car payment again.
Subaru 2.5RS? G35 Coupe/Sedan?
So I finally got out and test drove a few cars - an E36 M3 (automatic), an E36 328i (manual), and a SVT Focus. Not exactly recommended cars on this thread, but ones that generally get good reviews here. All three cars were found at the local Buy Here Pay Here dealerships and may not have been the best representations of their species. But, I just don't have the heart to do test drives of real people's cars until the choice gets more dialed in.
After driving Japanese cars all my life both E36's felt odd to drive. The windshield wiper toggle went the wrong direction, it took me about 5 minutes to figure that one out. Also, the gas pedal took about twice the effort to push down compared to just about anything else I've driven. You really had to mash on it to get going. The clutch and shifter on the 328i didn't feel right either. They reminded me a lot of a friend's 1995 Audi S4 that also felt like a significant departure from how I defined the driving experience. What's up with the tiny side mirrors on these cars? I couldn't see anything out of them. Maybe German cars aren't for me...
The SVT Focus was another high mileage example, something over 160k. I haven't driven a FWD car in almost 10 years and I forgot what it was like. Not so great as it turns out. Visibility out the back wasn't stellar and it didn't make very fun noises.
Moving forward, I still need to try a Mustang, a G35/350z, and see about finding a 2.5RS among others. Thanks to you guys every time my wife and I go anywhere she points out the PT Cruisers (I keep seeing them everywhere!!!) and says that I need to get one.
You're near tectonics tuning, you want a VR6 Corrado with shriek cams and tectonics tuning exhaust. Either that or a VR6 gti.
Or just put ITBs and megasquirt on the miata and get a hardtop.
beans wrote: I vote for the SN95. The modulars sound great, but a 5.0 based car has endless aftermarket opportunities and is a much easier car to modify power wise when the time comes.
As a current 5.0 owner, I'd go the opposite route. I'd look for a 99-up 4.6 GT
The power level ceiling is lower on the 5.0 versus the 4.6 (stock engine block-wise) and there are plenty of aftermarket parts for the 4.6, though I agree the 5.0 has more. If he isn't going crazy with the modifications (built motor, aftermarket head castings) the 99-up GT will run faster with Bolt ons than a 94-95
But if at all possible, go 4 valve. It's been a while since I'd last checked, but the 99 Cobras were falling to pretty cheap prices
Going to bump my old thread (if that's ok) with an update.
Once again, thanks everyone for the great advice! I just picked up a 1995 GTI VR6 for a bit over challenge money. I probably overpaid. It has 110,000 miles and a rebuilt title. The paint isn't in the best shape, but the worst is on the hood and roof. First off is going to be maintenance. It might need the timing chain done and maybe a new clutch. Either the rear main seal is leaking or the oil pan is.
Hopefully that picture shows up. Also on the agenda is an exhaust. My poor wife has been forced to hear VR6 exhaust videos on youtube the past few weeks and is probably sick of it. Right now I'm wading through posts on VWVortex trying to figure out what to get. The current frontrunner looks to be a 2.5 inch exhaust with Magnaflow and one resonator.
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