What cheap car?

I'm looking to build something for autocross, track days and, someday, time trials. I'm wide open about what to get and what class to run. The only requirements is that it be cheap, durable, and I'm more interested in fun than fast (have a daily driven Mazdaspeed3 for that). I'm inclined towards something really light as it'll be fun, easier on parts and more easily built cheap. I'm handy with a wrench, and will want to source as many upgrades from the junkyard as possible (my DSP Datsun 510 was great for that). Something vintage would be neat, as long as parts are reasonably easy to source. The ability to do big, lurid powerslides is also a plus but FWD is OK too. It will need to stay street legal for the forseeable future, as I don't have anything to tow it with. I'd like something that can be competitive in its class, and will probably start in stock or street tire classes, with a plan to build up to street prepared or prepared. Did I say it needs to be cheap? Thank you all for any advice!

not sure about big lurid powerslides... but isn't the answer Miata?

May I suggest a Ford Festiva? It's name means "festive".

Let me give you a preview of the the next 15 postings...

Miata

Miata

Miata

BMW E30

Miata

Miata

E30

P71

P71

Miata

Miata

Fiat X19

Miata

Miata

Miata

Capt Slow wrote: Let me give you a preview of the the next 15 postings... Miata

you forgot, he wants to do "big, lurid powerslides"

so the answer is LS1 miata

I think you nailed it Capt!

My .02:

1st or 2nd gen VW Rabbit/Golf/Jetta, pref. a GTI/GLI

1988-91 Honda Civic, pref. a CRX or Si

I'm toying with the idea of buying one of those myself to try out Rallycross...

2.0dohc wrote:

Capt Slow wrote: Let me give you a preview of the the next 15 postings... Miata

you forgot, he wants to do "big, lurid powerslides" so the answer is LS1 miata

MWAAHAHAHAHA! These suggestions are great, all. Keep'em coming. The V8 Miata sounds like fun, but I'm more interested in balance than power. Looking for a ride that will give me a chance to learn really good car control. I had suspected the answer would be miata. My only concern is that I'm 6'5" and only kinda fit. Not a huge deal, but would make rainy autocrosses claustrophobic.

I was going to get a Mk1 MR2, but I missed my 89 Si so much I'm picking up another one (with more rust) for $500.

Check out the Civics if you can deal with FWD. If not, I think the next 9827493 posts will be "god's chariot" or "miata."

aging S2k? (theyre getting cheap-er)

240sx?

Impreza 2.5 RS?

[hides in fear of reprisal] the answer isnt always Miata [/hides in fear of reprisal]

turbo rotory Miata?

Miatas with old E36 M3ty all-seasons powerslide pretty well.

An Impreza can be a good choise. Common enough for parts and knowlege, yet not as overdone as miatas and civics can be.

Thats just my $.02

You should define what 'cheap' means to you and it will be easier to make recommendations...for some people cheap is $100, for others it's $10k.

2-3k, tops. I'm a hospice social worker. Huge salary. Huge.

Fitting in the Miata is all a matter of how you sit when you drive, whether your height is in your legs or torso (or both), and what the Miata has for a seat. You've apparently driven one and found that you almost fit. If you were to find one with an aftermarket seat or a stock seat with a foamectomy, you might be a whole lot more comfy.

Big lurid powerslides? Cheap? Fox-body Mustang or 3rd-gen Camaro. I'm a Mustang guy myself, though the Camaro does have the advantage of a rear end that's properly located.

No, I don't think either will be competitive in stock class autocrossing, though they both have GOBS of aftermarket that you should be able to take advantage of to make them competitive in a more prepared class.

Hey, I'm shooting for something that's outside of the Trinity, elsewise, yeah, Miata.

AC/beatle you can find them all day long for that price range.. It may not be the fast'est thing but you can through around pretty easy.

Merkur XR4ti

For your size, I'd go with a mid '94-95 Mazda MX6 V6. Seriously!! I know a few guys that have set them up for autox and are doing impressively well with them. They have Mazda/Ford reliability (yeah, not the best, but not bad), nobody respects them so you can pick one up cheaper than a miata and they are well balanced from the factory. They just need suspension tweaks to make them really shine.

I was surprised too when I found out about them, but his results in the Utah region SCCA spoke for themselves.

B18 swapped Civic. Buy one that someone else has already done all of the work on, or find a from Arizona 200,000 mile DX and a wrecked Integra and do it yourself.

ok a first or second gen rx7 aren't bad. another odd ball for fun would be a 87 mazda 626 gt.. Had one years ago and the 2.0 turbo was alot of fun to play with.

One word...

RX-7

(And you thought I was going to say P71)

1st Gen RX-7's can be had CHEAP, the are basically hardtop Miata's, and are great for learning to autocross and junkyard tinkering. They're the perfect older project car. Pick up a 79 or 80, preferably in the Lime Green, Yellow, or Burnt Orange color, and go to town. You can swap in a GSL rear for disc brakes and LSD or go to GSL-SE for modern bolt pattern. When you really start to feel frisky there's the 5-lug FC brake swap. The 12A makes great power for the autocross and is easily modifiable.

Grab one, a set of ST-Class tires (pick your favorite from the latest GRM test), and hit up STS (the old STS2), and have a ball.

I have less then $1500 in mine and finish in the top 3rd of the field overall and can usually beat out all of the Boxter's.

I'd say.. whatever you can find for the least amount of money in the best condition.

SVT Contours pop up in that range from time to time...

I WOULD suggest Celicas, you can find a nice 3rd gen GTS (RWD, LSD) in that price range, and it'll be well balanced, and has the ability to do lurid powerslides as well.

They won't be real easy to find, but they're great cars.

92-96 Escort GT/Mazda Protege/Mercury Tracer LTS. You're looking for a Mazda BG chassis with the 1.8 litre DOHC motor. (Sound like a Miata motor? It should.)

as far as the mx6, just make sure it doesnt have all that four wheel steering crap..