Swampo

My $650 1982 Honda Accord

Wont get much more bang for buck than that!

The paintwork on it looks really good, credit to its owners!

Saw a Subaru Legacy GT go for 1500 on TradeMe week just past. But turbo/auto. I'd go for something >1500cc auto and Japanese like a Micra or Alto if looking for a daily on long cross-city commutes, manual doesn't like peak hour traffic.

Maybe a Celica or Integra could be a fun manual daily, depends though if you need space/back seats.  

Just thought this pic looked really badass when I saw it (not for the Nissan engine in a BMW). 

Thoughts?

(Found from http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38853 company named Touge Factory, USA I believe)

1000 bucks for that?! If you were really determined you could build your own just a simple frame with some kind of tarpaulin or old yacht sail etc strapped down to it.. then use the rest of the cash for important mods

I see an elderly lady driving a bright yellow Morris Minor round my way. 

The paint reminded me of horsehair mixed stuff they used on houses years ago. Really nice and tidy example though and sounded great.

Makes sense... Renault are in a partnership with Nissan of some sort IIRC. 

Thats probably more of an issue with the other guy than colour of car.

problem is bruv there's many of these other guys... seeing a car at night that is no taller than 1.3m... dark... and fairly old lights... 

easier to crash into than your run of the mill SUV.

wouldn't surprise me.

I've heard of a guy who replaced vin plates and other parts of stolen cars with written off cars a few years ago and then re-sold these stolen cars posturing as legit.

If it's true then I would rather not support that illegal activity. 

Zebra - first yard I'll visit will be yours mate. 

Very nice, are Stacked an import company? 

Also I recommend fitting some reflective stuff on to your wheels or something to make yourself a bit more noticeable, not for decoration but I know of someone who almost got t-boned in an AW11 because his one (midnight blue also) was hard to see by the other guy.

$800? Blimey, you know somebody who knows somebody? I think if that was listed on trade me it'd be gone fairly quickly. Good luck and it'll all be worth it in the end.

Interesting... seems they're not too bad, I just suppose if something goes wrong then it will be more expensive for parts and labour... cheers guyz

I have never been to a wreckers, but plan on going when I get a OS project... 

but thanks this thread has prepared me for stepping into the yard 

Like a slave ready to battle the lions in the Coliseum.

I'm just wondering who has driven a French OS car or a new Citroen or Renault?

They are pretty popular in other parts of the world, but here they have a reputation for being bad, right?

Closest I've got to a Frenchy was when my parents test drove a new 2001 Peugeot 206, they ended up going with the Toyota Echo though...

I've always considered them unreliable and inferior to Japanese cars in most ways, but it's a classic case of someone who's never owned one or driven one having an opinion..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TMgIkx40tI

According to Harry of Harry's Garage, 6:50 mark he says certain components of the v12 are dead easy to fix!

When I mentioned muscle, I was talking about fuel economy. American muscle is way too unattainable for me. I'm only comparing fuel economy and running costs, Valiant chargers as one of my favourite cars were on my mind when I wrote that - 265cu in is not too far off 4.2l jags iirc. Of course that's a 6 cylinder though. 

Safer as in safer bet. I wouldn't buy a German performance car if I had the money anyway (unless it was a Porsche) simply because of the higher costs of aftermarket parts and maintenance parts, I prefer things like rx-7s and gt-rs but that's another discussion!

I'll definitely keep my eye out for a Triumph then. Definitely no burn outs, wouldn't want to get an expensive paint job done only to have it wrecked by a hoon session gone wrong.

I know this seems probably near-undoable/uneconomical but has anyone tried to make the XJ6 "reliable" like ditch the Lucas prince of darkness equipment and swapped in a reliable transmission and engine etc? 

Hmm. I love the Jag, but given its reliability issues it may not be worth the trade off for its timeless looks. I only just started working on cars, and of course, I'd be silly to get something like a series 1 xj6 with limited experience. With more learning and experience then I may tackle such a project. 

Scene tax I assume is price hikes due to popularity such as the drift scene and associated cars?

Only way I will know if I can really commit to an XJS or other old British sedan is by going along to car shows and getting intimate with the car. It's a decision that has to be made with the heart not the head as it must have similar fuel economy as a muscle car which I'd rather have, and there are safer and more reliable luxury car options out there, but as mentioned if the interior is like-new and the ride is very good then it may be enough inspiration. 

Looking very dapper there sir.

I just thought the giant back seat to do shit in and very nice appearance meant that it'd be worth consideration.

Shucks. 

Would you recommend a Morris/Wolseley/Vauxhall Viva instead as a more reliable platform?

Apologies for bringing this thread back but would love an older automatic 4 door, XJ6 is one of my faves budget-wise (well initial purchase not maintenance and running costs)

What work would need to be done to make it a reliable car?

My grandparents had a Cortina either mk3 or 4, can't remember but it was banana yellow with brown vinyl interior. Haven't been able to find accurate paint codes/interior codes etc or flyers that dealers usually have about new car options but since brown interior was usually a 70s thing I'd assume it was a mk3. 

After that had a light blue Honda sedan I think a 88-92 Civic. All square and built like a tank lol.

Parents had a blue non-turbo Honda City when I was very young, then a brown Accord which was very undesirable. 

Mum had a Celica and Skoda a long time ago lol

+1 for the Airport install. 

I want to do the same thing, but I'd recommend doing a "stealth" install of an aux input to a headunit if yours doesn't have it. IIRC airport in the MCM video needs to be connected to headunit via auxillary. Auxillary inputs can be retrofitted into older head units, which I think looks better in OS rides than modern technology. 

Nice Prince!!!

What: '91 Toyota MR2 SW20, 3s-ge 5spd manual

Why: Had been without a car for a while and wanted to re-learn manual (gave up as a teenager, went automatic), needed something RWD and under my budget of 3k. Was considering many, including a written off S14 Silvia (most likely over budget), a red MX-5 (rotary swaps?), and even Integras and Preludes which are obviously FWD. 

I think I got a good one as there are not many problems with it except a non-working passenger window button and antenna does not go up. Hasn't been driven hard and seemingly well taken care of by a past owner of 14 years (anecdotal, of course). Paintwork isn't the best. 

When: 3 months ago. I've replaced battery (Century > SCA all day), wipers (need to re-do as I've learnt SCA ones are trash), cleaned air filter and practiced my detailing skills on it lol

How: Trade Me, pouring rain made the inspection difficult, and I couldn't drive manual neither could my friend so yeah wouldn't recommend that.

What's Next: Need 16s or 17s, chunky five spokes Ferrari 348/308 style with possibly Potenzas, service myself, correct wheel bearing/diff noise from rear tyre, old rear tyres for hooning, touch up paint, colour match black side stripes, upgrade suspension and maybe lower a bit, new brake kit possibly EBC, upgrade exhaust and new air filter. I do want to get a low mileage gen3 Caldina 3s-gte swap one day too but don't want to swap in gear box and find that the gear ratios aren't as fun to go through as what I've currently got. LSD required for that too. As I get more money I probably will get a cheap auto to drive to/from work as I'm not a fan of stop-starting in Auckland traffic. Won't sink too much money into this car as I know what it is and what it isn't.

Just wondering guys, only ever driven NA, and manual generally is better than auto NA. Haven't taken off the training wheels yet G

Performance-wise, who wins?

Say if there's two identical cars of the same make and model, both turbocharged

But one is automatic and the other is manual, running the same boost,

And drivers of course are near similar in skill,

Which would you bet your money on?

My car sits uncovered, so the morning water evaporates and leaves rain spots on my paintwork. effs me off, especially after I give my car a clean the afternoon before. So if you garage, and park under cover during winter you're already one step ahead of the rest of us.

I changed my wipers and keep my windscreen sweet. Also top up windscreen solution. Rain X is good but if you are too cheap to get that then try polishing your windscreen with a buffer. Water should bead off, however I'm too cheap to get a DA polisher and applying by hand does nothing. I also tried applying shaving cream to windows to prevent fogging up but cant be buggered doing that regularly; can't reach all areas of my windscreen from the drivers seat. 

But word of warning - steer clear of SCA and other cheap wiper blades. My SCA ones are crap and drag, don't last long either. I also used pliers to fix em in place but that's attracted surface rust to where the pliers pulled the blade holders and pushed em back in place.

I plan on taking these classes too, not only just panelbeating (would prefer to learn the old school style) but also welding and general automotive work. 

I know local schools in my area do night classes or adult education courses, aorere college and onehunga high in particular.

Will definitely practice on things like scrap metal/spare parts first. Toyed with the idea of getting an old beater that shared components with my daily driver, like a Celica, but based on the advice of my mr2 owning forum mates, it'd be a waste of dosh. Mighty Car Mods however suggests otherwise.