Crap. Help me a bit?

J-MoNeY · Post by **J-MoNeY** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 5:37 am

Here's the problem. Currently I'm carless. I've sold every legacy I have every owned in hope of finding that "cherry" one. I am starting to think that this isn't going to happen.

I love the turbo legacys, but, A) They are getting old, B) Hard to mod effectively, C) Require a lot of money to reach the potential I want from it. However, there is theis SICK 94 5MT SS in my town at a dealership, but the douchebag want's $6,400 for it. I'm going down there to haggel with him and perhaps get that price down to a reasonable 4ish grand.

I've had a 89 GT stang before and liked it also. The power is nice. The sound is amazing, but I really don't like buying 8 spark plugs.

Finally, I could always just go with an 02-03 WRX. Sooo hoott. I'd ejaculate in my pantaloons for a PSM Wagon. However they are out of my price range being a college student with limited income. Not to mention higher insurance on a newer car.

Now to put these choices into context. I'm moving to AZ for roughly 2 years to finish my BA. We all know that there's no snow there, but the problem is that I don't know where I'll be in 5 or more years.

In your opinion, what would you do from these three choices, or if you have any other ones add them!

206er · Post by **206er** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 6:16 am

if you were staying here I'd say go with the SS, but who needs AWD in arizona. stangs handle like piss unless you dump a ton of dough in em. maybe try something new, like an E30 BMW? I'm looking pretty closely as one for my next vehicle. fast, great looks, handling and very reliable. plus, then you are not paying V8 gas bills.

555BCTurbo · Post by **555BCTurbo** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 7:32 am

Datsun 510

douglas vincent · Post by **douglas vincent** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 7:36 am

How much do you want to spend?
How much work are you willing to do to the engine and engine management?
How much power do you want?

I ask this because there are SO MANY MORE non turbo legacies out there that are in incredible condition.

If you could get a cherry one of those, and then pull the motor, swap in turbo pistons with new rings, rebuilt heads, new clutch and new/ modified exhaust, you would be set!

The damn stock NA ECU has no problems with 10 or less psi of boost, so you would run fine.

J-MoNeY · Post by **J-MoNeY** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 9:14 pm

I don't want to spend more then 15k.
I'll do what I need to.
I want roughly 250hp to the wheels up here.

I was thinking of maybe a manual N/A wagon. The only issue with that is I hate the interior and the way they look. They are so, grandmaish without a hood scoop.

AWD_addict · Post by **AWD_addict** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 10:39 pm

The grandma factor would make the turbo your secret if you did a swap.
And you can always put a scoop on or get a turbo hood if you really like it.

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:07 pm

You can get a WRX for under 15k.

professor · Post by **professor** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:42 pm

Mint '95 M3 + conforti cold air intake + shark chip = 275 hp

$10,000

and you'll eat WRX's all day long, and it'll last twice as long

rallysam · Post by **rallysam** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:54 pm

I think you can go faster in an SS for less then the price of a used WRX, but not a LOT less money.

On the other hand, if you don't to deal with hassle, then you know a 12 year old car isn't for you. I think my SS spends more time in BAC5.2's shop than in front of my house.

snowboarded · Post by **snowboarded** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 7:09 pm

At the chance of getting ousted, I still say Audi 1.8t quattros are decent vehicles that you can make pretty fast relatively cheap. Just a chip will make it more than fast enough. just my 2 cents.

LaureltheQueen · Post by **LaureltheQueen** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 8:26 pm

E30 gets my vote. E36 if it's not an M is fairly inexpensive too.

555BCTurbo · Post by **555BCTurbo** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 11:11 pm

You can pick up an E36 M3 for ~15,000

BMW's are finicky though...I have worked on a few, and parts are $$$ and they are a BITCH to work on...

BTW...if you puke a motor in an M3...you are lookin' at $10 grand...

dzx · Post by **dzx** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 2:59 am

Pick up a 3000gt, you can find them for under 15k. The vr4 is awd and has about 250whp i would imagine and girls love them.

professor · Post by **professor** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 3:55 am

>>>BMW's are finicky though...I have worked on a few, and parts are $$$ and they are a BITCH to work on...

>>>BTW...if you puke a motor in an M3...you are lookin' at $10 grand

as a lifetime BMW owner, I disagree. They (pre-96) are fairly easy to work on being rwd, easy engine access, and I've found most non-major parts reasonable, less than jap parts often

yep the engine'll cost you, but I've never broken one

buy my E30 its about to go up for sale

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 4:02 am

If you lunch an M3 motor it's time for a swap! The few BMWs (mostly E30s) I've worked on seem decent enough for German cars as far as serviceability and they seem very well built (then again Mercedes of that vintage were the same way). We all know my feelings for VW/Audi, though, especially the 1.8T!

I was thinking of going for an E36 M3 for around $15k myself, but too many douche bags own them and I'm not prepared for the parts prices regardless of what I'm making and then this is NE with its associated weather. It's okay, I'm really impressed with my new M3 (*ahem* Mazda3, that is). Damn, the interior's better than the new STS a guy I work with has!

Anyway, once again I'm going on about myself. $15k into an old Legacy should get you pretty damn far. A nice tranny should fit in that budget.

Steve

555BCTurbo · Post by **555BCTurbo** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 7:27 am

I'm a former Mercedes Owner...and a BMW can't hold a candle to Mercedes for longevity...or ease of repairs...

I had to put a headgasket in an M50 Motor last year, it was a complete bitch, and it was in a 1992 525i, so I don't really agree with the pre-96 thing...

Very fun cars though...the torque of my friend's 535i is nuts!!

206er · Post by **206er** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 8:35 am

dzx wrote:Pick up a 3000gt, you can find them for under 15k. The vr4 is awd and has about 250whp i would imagine and girls love them.

they are also 3800lbs, have problems out the ass and are super hard to work on.
my friends dad used to have one, the throttle stuck on him at about 3/4 throttle going 80 or so on the freeway. he panicked and shut the motor off, which grenaded it.
how about an XR4Ti? pretty sweet cars, can be pretty fast for cheap. unique as hell, but thats also their downfall.
what about a different subaru like an RX or impreza?

snowboarded · Post by **snowboarded** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 2:41 pm

Yea, a 99 2.5RS woulkd be a good choice.

LaureltheQueen · Post by **LaureltheQueen** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 8:01 pm

A friend of mine has a 95 E36 M3(the only one worth getting) and it's very easy to work on.

555BCTurbo · Post by **555BCTurbo** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 4:56 am

+1 to the XR4Ti...250hp for $50

Yukonart · Post by **Yukonart** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 6:41 pm

LaureltheQueen wrote:A friend of mine has a 95 E36 M3(the only one worth getting) and it's very easy to work on.

All except for the rear dogbone bolts. . .

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 7:00 pm

professor wrote:Mint '95 M3 + conforti cold air intake + shark chip = 275 hp

$10,000

and you'll eat WRX's all day long, and it'll last twice as long

I've never driven a more overrated car than the E36 M3.

I test drove one back-to-back with an EVO, and a Miata. It was cool, and fun, don't get me wrong, but horribly overrated. It just felt numb in every aspect. Plus, it was slow. WRX's are slow too though.

The only really refining characteristic I found, was it was controllable in an on-throttle slide. Still behind the EVO, but a notch above the Miata in that aspect. The EVO wasn't stock though. It may have been 'trade-in stock', but it still had a puck clutch and a made a few noises the stock ones don't make.

The transmission felt OK, and didn't bark at flat-shifting it like I expected.

I'd give it an "ok" rating overall, and a "ok+2" for a rear-driver. The EVO killed it though.

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Crap. Help me a bit?

Crap. Help me a bit?