Thought Exercise - E30 M3 Alternative

93EXCivic wrote: What SCCA Stock class is the Peugeot in?

To answer my own question. G Stock.

What are the fast cars in G Stock?

I had a turbo-diesel/manual 405...and I actually find myself missing that car sometimes. It was smooth, torquey, decently quick, and handled damn near as well as the Saab 900 turbo I have now. Massive PITA to work on, though, (but so are most FWD cars with east-west engine layout). I imagine an Mi16 would've been even more fun.

In reply to SlickDizzy:

Good info, I like them both. I like the RWD of the Alfa a lot. The Peugeot seems like it would make my life simpler though.

I haven't seen any examples that look anything like that first 405 Mi16 posted though. That car is gorgeous!

Joshua wrote: In reply to SlickDizzy: The Peugeot seems like it would make my life simpler though.

I never thought I would hear that...

I thought I remember hearing the 405 Mi16 had limited headroom or am I thinking of a different Pug?

93EXCivic wrote: I thought I remember hearing the 405 Mi16 had limited headroom or am I thinking of a different Pug?

I'm 6'2" and I managed to fit into a junkyard example just fine. I remember the 505 having an oddly low ceiling despite being a somewhat large car, maybe that's what you're thinking of?

SlickDizzy wrote:

93EXCivic wrote: I thought I remember hearing the 405 Mi16 had limited headroom or am I thinking of a different Pug?

I'm 6'2" and I managed to fit into a junkyard example just fine. I remember the 505 having an oddly low ceiling despite being a somewhat large car, maybe that's what you're thinking of?

It was the 505 Turbo. I couldn't remember for the life of me.

XR4TI.

BTW, the T9 is not that weak. I've been unkind to mine since 2006, putting 30k semi-abusive miles one it, and it's totally fine. And my car has the usual upgrades, making 250+ hp and 260+ ftlbs.

The 505 with a sunroof has pretty much no headroom, a non sunroof wagon is good though. I didn't think the 405 had much either though.

Travis_K wrote: ...I put about $10,000 into mine, then sold it for $900...

If only Mazda had made a true 4 seater on the Miata platform

SlickDizzy wrote: Everybody really likes to forget that these were sold in the USA for 4 years. They are out there, most seem to be on the east coast/west coast with few in between, and you'd be hard pressed to pay more than $2000 for an immaculate example.

Oh yeah... THAT'S what my CL searches were missing to round out my awful collection. "Peugot."

E36 318ti's routinely show up on CL for <$2500. Seems like alot of potential for the price...

I love my Ti... so I second that motion

Geekspeed wrote: Oops. I should have known better. I was thinking more about non-BMW products. The E30s are getting spendy around here. I have been hard-pressed to find a late E30 325is for less than 5k. How about a turbo Z31 or S13 240SX? I like the Starion in every way except for the boat-anchor motor. I think the fact that I am a child of the 80's has given me nostalgia for cars of that era.

YES.

Just to reiterate the answer already given -- if you absolutely, positively need to be faster than an e30 m3 with 4 seats (or even 4 doors, if you choose) for less than 5 grand, the answer is 94-01 GS-R. I'd even suggest that any number of Hondas from the same era could come close, such as RS Integras, 4th and 5th gen Civic Sis, certain Preludes, or even their non-Honda equivalents - B13 SE-R, for instance. I'd also speculate that SRT-4 Neons are getting close to that price point, although I haven't checked. Regular Neon ACR possibly?

Of course, you can insist it be European and/or RWD and let the kids in Hondas have all the fun.

93EXCivic wrote:

93EXCivic wrote: What SCCA Stock class is the Peugeot in?

To answer my own question. G Stock. What are the fast cars in G Stock?

In our region it's a Mugen Civic Si

I don't think the Mugen should be allowed. I think that would be a factory ST/STX car.

steronz wrote: Just to reiterate the answer already given -- if you absolutely, positively need to be faster than an e30 m3 with 4 seats (or even 4 doors, if you choose) for less than 5 grand, the answer is 94-01 GS-R. I'd even suggest that any number of Hondas from the same era could come close, such as RS Integras, 4th and 5th gen Civic Sis, certain Preludes, or even their non-Honda equivalents - B13 SE-R, for instance. I'd also speculate that SRT-4 Neons are getting close to that price point, although I haven't checked. Regular Neon ACR possibly? Of course, you can insist it be European and/or RWD and let the kids in Hondas have all the annoying cars.

Fixed that for ya.

I got the impression from the OP that he wants something cool and unique (like an e30 M3), but without the hefty price and repair tags. Modded Honda's are not cool or unique.

Even as an Alfa fan, it's hard to argue against the Merkur, since one of those finished 4th in DSP at the solo nationals (didn't it win last year?).

Against a whole bunch of more modern BMW's.

Can't be too bad of a car...

Ben Martinez won DSP in 2009, got 5th in 2010, and 4th in 2011 with his XR4Ti.

Mine, soon to be running in SM

In reply to WhiteLX:

Nice Merkur. I have thought about those a lot, however, I got the impression that they need a lot of work to be quick. I like the black, though. Is the front a Ford Sierra piece? I was also thinking that if I did one of those, I would have to figure out a way to cut out that extra c-pillar. I really like the Euro look with the big, continuous rear quarter glass.

Geekspeed wrote: In reply to z31maniac: Simple: Smog regulations in the Socialist Replublik of Kalifornia. They do not take kindly to cars from out of state that do not have CA emissions systems.

Personally, I wouldn't touch a pre-OBD II car in a smog state. Even for me in PA my '88 325is has been a bitch. If I can't get Classic tags for it I'm not sure what I'll do. Probably end up selling it at a huge loss.

If I lived in CA, it would either be post 96 or pre 75 and forget anything in between. Just too much of a PITA anymore.

I have never been in a Merkur that ran right. The total I've been in is 3 right now. I wish I could catch a ride in a perfectly stock one that ran well to decide if they are worth it or not.

http://www.mlrc.ca/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1256749093

Buy this one, he hasn't advertised it but it is $12k obo now.

If only Mazda had made a true 4 seater on the Miata platform

And if only they were creeping closer and closer to 5k every minute... oh wait.

I like the Starion in every way except for the boat-anchor motor.

Mpi intake (oem or custom), megasquirt, and a new timing set and you're good to go. Just sayin.