The Official Cars Discount / Thrift & DIY Questions and Bragging Thread.

[Randomore]

That's funny that you mention that. I was just reading a list of the 10 worst cars of this century (i.e. 2000 and up).

Here is the list:


10. Jaguar X-Type
9. Chevy Aveo
8. Jeep Compass
7. Chrysler Sebring
6. Lexus HS 250h
5. Chevy HHR
4. Hummer H2
3. Smart For Two
2. Ford Excursion
1. Pontiac Aztek

I agree with some of those but totally disagree about the Ford Excursion. Yes, it was a monster. Yes, it got 12 mpg on the highway downhill with a tailwind. But, if you want a big ole SUV to pull a horse trailer or some other massive thing, the Excursion is your vehicle of choice. AND the ones equipped with the diesel engine are fantastic!

Here is a totally unscientific and very limited in scope list of the 11 BEST cars I have owned (based on reliability, longevity, performance, etc). Making the top 11 is pretty good, I have had at least 37 cars. I had to do 11 because I couldn't eliminate one of them.


11. 1987 Honda Civic (high school car, beat the hell out of it and it kept running)
10. 1990 Oldsmobile 88 (awesome boring car that was pretty big and got 32 MPG
9. 1993 Cadillac Sedan Deville (old Man luxo cruiser)
8. 2001 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer 4WD (unstoppable in snow, hauled everything, towed everything)
7. 1984 Olds 88 Royale (boring but reliable for years 270,000 miles)
6. 1984 Mercedes 300D (475,000 miles seriously)
5. 1971 Mercedes 250 (my first Mercedes, got it in college)
4. 1985 Oldsmobile 98 Regency (ran and ran and ran never had a problem with it)
3. 1981 Oldsmobile 98 Regency (started with a spoon, an unbeatable boat, even when I crashed into a fire hydrant)
2. 1990 Mercedes 300D 2.5 (the one I wished I had back 325,000 miles, pretty fast for a diesel, and 35 mpg and SO CLEAN)
1. 2000 BMW 740iL (in my opinion, one of the best cars ever made my daily driver with 220,000 miles and still get compliments)

Interesting list. As I'm a younger guy with only 7 cars owned, my top 3 car are:

1. A 2007 Toyota Corolla S. Bought new and ran it for 185,000 with just normal maintenance. Gave the car to my baby brother and he's up to 260,000 with just normal maintenance, car won't break. lol
2. 2001 Acura Integra. High School car that took abuse and road trips until I sold it for more than I bought it for.
3. 2013 Hyundai Elantra. Current daily driver, boring as hell but super reliable, thinking of replacing soon.

Worst car I've own:

2014 Hyundai Genesis coupe. Nothing particularly wrong with the car but...Wife wanted it as her daily driver so we bought it. For the money, I think we could have done a lot better so it makes the list.

I'm curious what makes everyone else's list consists of.

 

[whiteslashasian]

Best car owned - 1989 Nissan 240sx 5sp m/t during high school. It didn't have the optional HICAS rear wheel steering or the HUD (cars are using way fancier versions of BOTH again) and it wasn't very quick in a straight line, but boy did it own the curves with taut yet predictable handling. Always dreamt of ricing it up with an RB26DET engine, Z32 brakes and LSD, etc.

Worst car owned - 2001 Ford Taurus. It was a slow car that couldn't handle for its life. Styling was super bland. Audio system and interior were garbage. Got terrible mileage both city and highway. The only pluses were reliability, passenger and trunk space; thing was freaking huge and actually could legally fit 3 adults up front due to the flip up center console with a seat belt. Worked for college to haul friends to and from parties.

 

[fox15]

My top 2 best and worst:

1. 1986 Toyota Corolla gts coupe. Not real quick going straight, but man it was fun once the real axle started trying to outrun the front.

2. 2002 subaru legacy (current). Great when it rains or snows, I've put this thing everywhere including off road and it just keeps wanting more.


Worst:

1. 1988 Dodge Daytona. Gutless engine and an automatic transmission. I was the second owner, the first having crashed it into a snow bank and thoroughly trashed the interior (first owner was a woman and she got makeup all over everything inside this car)

2. 1992 Pontiac Grand prix. It was mediocre and plastic and everything wrong with an automobile

 

[Thrift Vader]

Any update?

I have recently been lusting after some old Cadillacs.



Here's a bunch more pics in the ebay listing:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cadillac-De...0831d4f0:g:4T0AAOSwYHxWLXU8&item=111806633200

Big Black wheels.............. Gangsta......

The Yellow car is still waiting to clear. - some BS about it having to pass with winter tires on. luckily a Tire shop is handling it. even if they are slow about it. the waiting is excruciating.

Oh, I know, just the first thing I think of when I see one. They're awesome cruise around town cars. A ton of presence.

It was the SC430, and, to be fair, that car is horrific. Probably the worst >50k cars I've ever driven. Handles like a hovercraft and has one of the laziest autoboxes I've ever used. Also, the interior looks so mid 90s even disregarding the fact they had cassette decks until 2010 haha

there is one that gets around my hood that has the goods. they suck from the factory. but have potential. although why would anyone? when a 350Z is soo much better for so much less.

My top 2 best and worst:

1. 1986 Toyota Corolla gts coupe. Not real quick going straight, but man it was fun once the real axle started trying to outrun the front.

2. 2002 subaru legacy (current). Great when it rains or snows, I've put this thing everywhere including off road and it just keeps wanting more.


Worst:

1. 1988 Dodge Daytona. Gutless engine and an automatic transmission. I was the second owner, the first having crashed it into a snow bank and thoroughly trashed the interior (first owner was a woman and she got makeup all over everything inside this car)

2. 1992 Pontiac Grand prix. It was mediocre and plastic and everything wrong with an automobile

Recent best:
1. 2001Subaru Legacy GTB E-tune2 Wagon. - in any season, it hauls ass. and does everything a family car should do. better than almost any other car could.
2. 1999 Subaru Impreza STI Version6 - how could i not?

a sleeping monster. with a reputation to surpass.

3. 1988 Toyota Corolla. twin cam 5spd. - fun, quick, easy to fix,and drive to work car.

Recent Worst:
1. 1999 Toyota Altezza (lexus IS200) - even with the better engine and fantastic handling? it was unbearably slow.
2. 1997 Nissan Skyline R33 GTS25T - i know what you are thinking......

but yeah. as much fun as they are? heavy doors prone to cracking at the hinges, the "Skyline Tax" on parts, and the famous Nissan Ability to rust faster than any other performance car means i will most likely not buy another one. over valued. sounded nice though.

 

[fox15]

I think if I was gonna spring for the Lexus sc anything it would be the 90s variant sc300 (soarer) and make a Ueno D-1 clone minus the wing.

For those who I suspect may not keep up with d1gp:

minus the wing and goofy stickers

 

[Nobleprofessor]

I think if I was gonna spring for the Lexus sc anything it would be the 90s variant sc300 (soarer) and make a Ueno D-1 clone minus the wing.

For those who I suspect may not keep up with d1gp: minus the wing and goofy stickers

This morning I pulled into a parking lot and an old man was getting out of a PERFECT LS400. It was the last generation before they switched to the LS430, so I think that means it was from 1997-2000. I really wanted to talk to him, but he was rushing into Walgreens. It was a perfect car. I have wanted one for a long time.

 

[Cj52racers]

I still think they're probably one of the top value for money cars on the market. Such excellent cars.

 

[Thrift Vader]

I think if I was gonna spring for the Lexus sc anything it would be the 90s variant sc300 (soarer) and make a Ueno D-1 clone minus the wing.

For those who I suspect may not keep up with d1gp: minus the wing and goofy stickers

That car is hawt! SC300's /Soarer's are beautiful cars. think of them as a Supra for half the money, with double the comfort. they are dirt cheap at auctions here too. i will ask my buddy today what he can score one for. perhaps a half cut is in your future. also, a B4/GTB is well under 1.5k at auction. i have never shipped a car. but it would be fun to try.

 

[fox15]



That car is hawt!  SC300's /Soarer's are beautiful cars. think of them as a Supra for half the money, with double the comfort. they are dirt cheap at auctions here too. i will ask my buddy today what he can score one for. perhaps a half cut is in your future. also, a B4/GTB is well under 1.5k at auction.  i have never shipped a car. but it would be fun to try.

Hopefully something will come of this new job I'm in the running for and I'll have the money to maybe do something with my be chassis

 

[Thrift Vader]

Hopefully something will come of this new job I'm in the running for and I'll have the money to maybe do something with my be chassis

Trust me, for a BE5? i got you.

anyway, to keep things moving on. here is an update on project Mellow Yellow. it failed the "Shaken" tests. so here are the reasons and the remedies.

1. Blow off valve is direct to atmosphere.


the remedy? according to my buddy is: just put a cap where the hose is............

like so..


now it makes a constant hissing noise i don't like. but he assures me it will pass then we can make things right with the world again. - so. not. happy.
and? the small clip for holding the brake hose on the driver's side was missing. (ARE YOU ******* SERIOUS??????!!!!!!!) i had planned a full brake line refresh in the near future, but for now? - 2 Zip ties. = soooooooo JDM.

oh, and the ****** guages the preious owner had installed? the oil temp sender was leaking....... that **** is in the trash now. as i got a "Defi" Link module. accurate gauges are coming. as is an oil cooler.


so, this pic. without the ****** gauges in the center. the STI sticker gone from the cluster, and a new factory fresh gear knob with red stitching in the middle.

lastly? there was a noise from the rear end, assuming it was the duct taped bumper.


but the rear arches will be rolled, to fit the rims, the diff oil will be changed, and a new bumper fitted. (with a new set of factory clips) also looking at wheel bearings on all four corners.
well, here is how it looks as of yesterday:

Plenty of work left to do. i am now 2k in the hole. and honestly? i can see a lot more money getting thrown at it in the near future.
as i have a score to settle, with my old employer. who owns several European performance cars. (Ferrari,Porsche,Lotus) i plan for this car to eat his.
good stuff coming soon.

 

[Cj52racers]

That interior is still so impressive after how it looked when you first grabbed it.

 

[Thrift Vader]

Thanks!

It's due to the cleaner i use for cleaning my boots and shirt collars. - Vaccuming also.

will be so glad to get those sub-par gauges out. and the STI Gear knob was actually cheaper than an aftermarket one. a win is a win.
you can see in the pic above that the steering wheel is looking quite old. well, a factory replacement for just the outer rim is so cheap that it will happen. (Later)


Post your projects guys!

or what you are shopping for.

 

[Sleeves345]

Post your projects guys!

or what you are shopping for.

No projects yet. Just bought a house so all my spare money is going into fixes for all the mistakes the PO made. But once I get all settled in and can get back to thrifting, the proceeds are headed toward my project car fund again.

Initially trying to get into a cheap rwd platform just to get my feet wet. I intend to find something priced low that needs TLC and bring it back to its former glory with a little sweat equity. Further down the road, I hope to keep trading up to nicer cars. I'm not picky on what I get; it'll depend on whats on craigslist when I start searching. But right now the short list is:

1. NA Miata
2. Z31
3. Mk2 or 3 Supra
4. Mk1 or Mk2 Mr2
5. FC RX7
6. S30
7.???
8. Older 3-series (don't really care for BMW, but I've seen some nice ones and wouldn't say no to a good one)

These all seem to be within my (low) price range, while still having a lot of community and desirability. Potential for a price bounce too, once they hit antique status. Maybe just wishful thinking, but in my eyes these are all future classics. Some already are highly desirable, especially the S30, NA, and MR2, and I figure prices for clean ones will go up as more and more fall victim to abuse, rust, stance, track duty, etc. The others I've seen getting more and more attention from tuners/drifters, so I kind of want to get in before the drift tax hits.

Also on my list are the MR-S and RX8. They're coming down in price in my area, but I'm afraid they'll only become even more worthless as time goes on. By the time I'm ready to sell, I'm afraid I'd have to give them away. Thoughts?

Also considering an LS400, XJ6, or old Mercedes but I'll probably wait until I have kids, then trade in my fun car for something everyone can enjoy.

 

[Cj52racers]

Out of that list, I would have to recommend an early 90s MR2. Excellent examples can be found for reasonable prices. I learned manual in a turbo MR2 and I loved that thing. Quick, rails handling, and light. Just watch that mid engine lift off oversteer, haha, it can be treacherous. I also think that these will appreciate in the future as there aren't really any capable (non porsche) mid engine cars being made anymore.

I think the window on supras is closing. It is nearly impossible to find good examples for non astronomical prices. The cheap ones have generally been beat to ****.

RX8s are dangerous I think. Those things are prone to grenading and it can be an expensive ordeal. One option is buying a roller and dropping something else in though. You can find excellent engineless RX8s for sub 4.

And everyone knows my affinity for the ls400

 

[Sleeves345]

That list isn't in order of most to least want. MR2 is definitely in the top 3.
I should probably mention that I'm not afraid of a car that's a little on the shittier side. I have a basic welder that'll do the job for patching small amounts of rust. I've got most tools a car will require short of air tools or special stuff that I can rent. I've done some wrenching here and there. A project car will be a learning experience for sure, but that's kind of the goal anyway.

The rotary is what draws me to and scares me away from the RX_ cars. A rotary is on my bucket list of cars to own, but I'm well aware of the cost associated with those engines. I hear mixed reports from rotary guys though. Some people swear up and down that regular short-interval oil changes keep the seals happy, so I dunno.

I'll definitely be posting here once I find "the one!"