A rabbit is a nice learner car. Gas that is. But what Ive learned from these guys is take your time, look for something that you think you can constantly upgrade over time as you learn. Look around onhere and youll see some Volvo 240 builds. I like the idea of them, you can learn on NA and as you progress as a driver you can upgrade the suspension and motor.

I rushed in and bought a built mk1. the rear beams bend like crazy, front end doesnt hold up that well. But, Im gonna get my fun out of it while i find a car im comfortable with that can progress as i do.

it was chad who mentioned the one in duluth.

as far as the fuel tank, you could probably clean it out. although there is this terrible place that i came from called vwvortex.com. there are more mk2 vw on there then you can imagine. parts are readily available and very cheap. if you cant find a cheap tank on there then it doesn't exist. im on my second mk2 and they are easy to work on and very common(at least over here in the northeast).

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bp944
Okay, so my question now is about the MKII GTI for sale on specialstage.com. I probably could run with it for a year or two until I out grow it. What is the major disadvantage of FWD other than its not quite as fun? The "gunk" he says that was in the fuel tank, what would it take to clean out a tank? Would I have to replace the tank? If so, would it be practical to install a fuel cell? I would have to remove the lines and filters but that's not too big a deal.

Not a problem.

The MK2 tank is plastic so no rust to worry about. Drop the tank and pull the access hole and flush it out with plenty of whatever.... Wipe dry, reinstall... Forget a fuel cell--waste of $$$

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____________________________________________________________-

One. Class -- 2WD

www.quantumrallysport.com

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Quantum-Rally-Sport/281129179600?ref=nf

I did look at the XR4TI. My first reaction to that car is that I've never heard of Merkur. I'm not totally up to date on what popular rally cars are but I would consider myself a massive car nut. There were only 42,000 brought to the US which seems like options for replacement parts would be very limited. I could be totally wrong.

I asked about the VW's because they're close and available. $2,000 for a car nearly ready to rally seems like a good idea to me. LSD, cammed, coil overs, caged, etc. He has a spare parts car that I can strip and there's a few mk2's in the junk yards around here. What are these chronic and expensive "variables" that are being brought up. The issue with rust?

I will say that if the car checks out, $2k is a steal. You can buy a lot of replacement CV joints before you catch up to the price tag of the Merkur. Just means you'll be doing a lot more maintenance.

That said, I crewed for Tim in that Merkur at his last event, solid car.

I thought the same thing about Merkurs, but they are basically Fords so plenty of parts.

Tim.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/21/2012 04:25PM by TronDD.

Parts availability on the Merkur is not great unless you have huge stash like John. I am building two Merkurs at work.

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Robert.

"You are way too normal to be on Rally Anarchy." Eddie Fiorelli.

Jeff at merkur parts midwest has had everything I have ever needed. Engine stuff is all available being same as turbo mustang and thunderturd.

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Grant Hughes

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TronDD
For a VW, I wouldn't go older than a Mk3. Lots of cheap ones around. Had their rust issues, too but a southern car should be fine. If you wanted a diesel for some reason, a Mk3 TDI would be about double that rabbit but I'd still recomend going with a gasser and if you wanted a diesel later, find an east coast car with a crap body for cheap and swap the motor into your mint southern shell. Even then, new OE Mk3 parts are almost gone, but should be plenty of used stuff in junkyards and there are a lot of aftermarket parts still available.

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TronDD
Depends on the gunk in the tank. If rust, you might need to replace the tank. You might be able to get away with coating the inside, too. POR-15 makes a product, for example.

Um...it's odd that a guy who's making VW recommendations doesn't know that a Mk2's tank is plastic.

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Self-righteous douche canoe

I know the Mk3's is plastic...and since, as I said, I wouldn't go older than that, I wouldn't know.

Tim.

Glad you didn't take that the wrong way - I'm just messin' with ya.

Mk2's are still pretty plentiful in the junkyards out here, although with noticeably fewer than there were a couple of years ago. Mk3's are hitting their peak in j/y availability, and I expect them to be holding steady in that regard for about another five years. But then this is the southwest, where stuff lasts longer.

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Self-righteous douche canoe

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TronDD
I will say that if the car checks out, $2k is a steal. You can buy a lot of replacement CV joints before you catch up to the price tag of the Merkur.

And don't think of the entry fees pissed away in the sand, or the travel expense, the time off from work, the motels that are flusher right down the shitter when you break the splined part of the CV off 3 miles into the first SS, like ol curmudgeon John has seen that very thing happened to NUMEROUS friends, again and again.

Just means you'll be doing a lot more maintenance, just to recover the car, or maybe get home 3 hours away, it's FUN! and Adventures.

That said, I crewed for Tim in that Merkur at his last event, solid car.

I thought the same thing about Merkurs, but they are basically Fords so plenty of parts.

Tim.

Elucidated that a little for ya.

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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.

JV, right on with the focus. Really just thinking of a FWD car that can be plentiful in JY's and be had for not too much with an ok motor.

Truth is, what drove me away from the Talon/Eclipse was the basicaly FWD platform. Can't do anything without pulling all driveline apart. Ratios. etc.

RWD=the way to go for service. Possible exception of NA subaru like a 2.5rs. There is someone out there that pushes that.

Merkur. I'm excited to have mine running. The car is obviously running to the end of its course wrt junk yard parts. Guys sending them to the crusher. How much longer on panels and stuff? Hopefully when I get back from HI I'll be able to pick up a spare shell.

Theoretically, the car (xr4ti) should be awesome with it's heritage (sierra). That car in the classifieds should be snatched up. I'm in way more than that at this point.

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john vanlandingham
And don't think of the entry fees pissed away in the sand, or the travel expense, the time off from work, the motels that are flusher right down the shitter


when you break the splined part of the CV off 3 miles into the first SS, like ol curmudgeon John has seen that very thing happened to NUMEROUS friends, again and again.

Ah, fair enough on the extra expense of an event cut short. Definitely needs to be considered as well.

How many have broken beyond repair (tossing a new axle in is fairly quick) out of how many that have raced over the decades?

Tim.

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john vanlandingham
And don't think of the entry fees pissed away in the sand, or the travel expense, the time off from work, the motels that are flusher right down the shitter


when you break the splined part of the CV off 3 miles into the first SS, like ol curmudgeon John has seen that very thing happened to NUMEROUS friends, again and again.

Well realistically we all have all our moolah in one big sock so it s one budget; an expense here is an expense out of the whole.
Damn I've been having trouble not be philosophic...
Ok


No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.
_{John Donne}

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Ah, fair enough on the extra expense of an event cut short. Definitely needs to be considered as well.

How many have broken beyond repair (tossing a new axle in is fairly quick) out of how many that have raced over the decades?

Odd question casue all it takes is once for a person and that event is over.
Over the decades I've seen Golves of my friends and competitiors its a constant problem. Out here we've had the 2 Hartmann brothers, Derek Bottles and Tom Buress and those guys were FREQUENTLY breaking the spline part off, or blowing up the ball cage or the ball inner deal...I can't say 1 out of 3 or 4 events but tooo often..
They were all about the same speed---or we did approximate similar overall results-- as I was and I used the CVs that came in my 130,000 mile old '69 Saab for literally years and years, never had a single failure...so that kinda jumps out as a glaring chronic problem.
and the main thing is there is no sure solid solution since '86..

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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.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/22/2012 02:14PM by john vanlandingham.

Plling on, this info is all gold, listen thou noob to what thishere hive mind says. I wish this site were around when I started, I'da started out in the right car in the right class for my sorry tax bracket...

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Jay Woodward
Snohomish, WA
'90 Mazdog Frankenprotege
Chronologically, 46...