So I'm looking at daily drivers. Its a rust free zone so i'm looking at the classics the NE salt destroyed that are still alive and well here.

SO... i've got about 2k to spend (still making payments on the f350 tow rig). I want something that gets alright mileage (25++)

The current list is
Volvo 140's
BMW 2002's
Rabbits
Saab 99's
other?

What do you guys think? I'm leaning towards and test driving a 142s tomorrow :-)

2.2L impreza mid 90s

Quote
DexterVW
So I'm looking at daily drivers. Its a rust free zone so i'm looking at the classics the NE salt destroyed that are still alive and well here.

SO... i've got about 2k to spend (still making payments on the f350 tow rig). I want something that gets alright mileage (25++)

The current list is
Volvo 140's
BMW 2002's
Rabbits
Saab 99's
other?

What do you guys think? I'm leaning towards and test driving a 142s tomorrow :-)

99s have virtually disappeared. The cost of the gearbox repairs became insane. Last one i did was 12 years ago and my cost on parts was over $900.
Grrrrrr.

140s have 14,3 turns lock to lock steering when they're new and tight.
Feels worse when worn.
All were worn 20 years ago.

Rare-bits are rare. Hell MkIIs are rare

2002 are way overrated, have 8.5" discs, 6 turns of slop steering box steering and make less poop than a 99 by 20%

510s are rare.

Even 'classic 900s are rare nowadays, same problem with the cost of gearbox repairs.

96 Saab are around and very easy to keep going. Gearbox repair is easy and can be relatively inexpensive---I just did the bill on a blown ring and pinion and it totaled around $700 all told. The V4 motor is nearly impossible to really kill, all tune up stuff is same as VW Beetle. Shells are strong, brakes are excellent, steering is 2.2 or 2.7 tunes lock to lock and very accurate, a classic which can keep up in modern traffic. The green one that went out to Boston in 93 came back 3 years ago rusted to shit, but the motor gave over 30 mpg @ 75mph up cruise for 5,000 miles on the trip.

And then there's Volvo 240.....

the problem with a 240 is that you'd probably do like Charles Buren of safe Drive: succumb to temptation and venture down some dirt road, and find how nice 50/50 weight feels powering sideways thru corners, then go insane
and tear out the interior and start building it...

Same with Xratties so I'd avoid either a 240 or an Xartty, especially a 240 turbo...


Have you thought of a Geo Metro?

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Quote
A1337STI
2.2L impreza mid 90s

Le-gassy turd-boat.

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

As a DD I personally would not cate if it has many turns lock to lock steering. It is not a rally car.


On your list, my order.

Volvo 140, 145 1st choice, 142 second choice.
Volvo 122
Saab 99.
Early 242 or 245, no later than 77 for me.


Then I would look for a Toyota product.
1st choice would be a Starlet, then a Corolla.

I LOVE my 76 Volvo 245 wagon DD. Turbo powerz, 18-20 mpg, 25 or so on the highway, hauls everything, and is fun at the drift track.

Quote
phlat65
As a DD I personally would not care if it has many turns lock to lock steering. It is not a rally car.

Yeah but 14 or 16 like a 142??? And a half a turn-o-slop in the box and 1/4 turn in the pittman arm?

I've had 2,2 in all my Saabs since maybe 1984 so even the Xratty 2.65 seems a mite slow------just whatcher used to I guess.

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Any fuel injected Honda or Acura. My son bought a 1987 Civic hatch for 1500. New motor (pro rebuild not a crate ZC dohc). It had 4 wheel Integra disc brakes, coil over KYBs, and is a real Si. Needed paint as the clear coat was peeling. Near 40 mpg, very quick and the start of the real pocket rockets back in the day. The Si and the VW GTi really started the small car performance craze we all benefit from today.

Quote
heymagic
Any fuel injected Honda or Acura. My son bought a 1987 Civic hatch for 1500. New motor (pro rebuild not a crate ZC dohc). It had 4 wheel Integra disc brakes, coil over KYBs, and is a real Si. Needed paint as the clear coat was peeling. Near 40 mpg, very quick and the start of the real pocket rockets back in the day. The Si and the VW GTi really started the small car performance craze we all benefit from today.

eerr (cough) um


um

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Well played sir.

I call Bull-chop on the last pic (and a bad 'chop at that).

But I can attest to the 96 - had one back in old Blighty.

Simon
Rallye Driver
USUK Racing



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/08/2011 09:23AM by simoniac.

The minis existed for decades before the 'hot hatch' took off and became commonplace in north america. The mini surely was an inspiration but Gene's right that the GTi (moreso) and the Civic Si really moved the small performance car into popular use.

Oh and about that photoshop job... astoundingly bad... maybe they used to work for Reuters in the middle east.

As for a Daily Driver option. Do you need it to be reliable?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/08/2011 09:35AM by Morison.

I got my 2005 focus for $3000


Capri's two!
http://salem.craigslist.org/cto/2607464338.html

mine is a 74 2.0 pinto looks mean! and looked 10 times as nasty as those two..




Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 10/08/2011 12:25PM by SteelSolutions.

Quote
Morison
The minis existed for decades before the 'hot hatch' took off and became commonplace in north america. The mini surely was an inspiration but Gene's right that the GTi (moreso) and the Civic Si really moved the small performance car into popular use.

Exactly... Plus the Mini was FAR from being anything hot or even associated with performance. I dont care what you think but if you grew up in europe you would know, being seen in a Mini was worst than hitch hiking. The only reason you had a Mini was either because you were broke, or was convenient for parking because you lived in the shit...err I mean historic part of town. If you wanted a hot car, you'd buy a Ford Capri, Fiat 131, Alfa GTV or GTA, Lancia Fulvia, Cortina Lotus, Lotus Europa, Renault Alpine. That being said.... *cough* I had a mini in highschool.... 1275GT

I love the old 5 cyl audi 80's and 90's for dd's. $1000 for one with heated seats, quattro, and fresh timing belt. They don't rust quite as fast as the vw's. and I have personally taken 4 or 5 of them over 300k mi. Great in the snow

Other than that early 90's subaru is tough to beat.

I DD a '02 focus. Fun, stupid cheap, and in 3 years of 2 hrs commute on NY's roughest highways to JFK all Ive had to replace was wear stuff and a alternator wiring harness that is a known issue and was $20 and 20 min of soldering for the new one.

It keeps right up with the other 'hot hatches' of the era but nobody notices them so they are dirt cheap. Mine is the SVT and I get 25 MPG while not being easy on the pedal. Thats my vote.