dumb car choice poll!

TurboDomestics · 03-20-2006

I need to find another car to drive and modify. And it has to be a year round car. Ive limited it to the following 3, but I just cant decide which one Id want. What does Style have to say??

Which would YOU do if you had the choice??

1) NA Miata (90-97) Most likely base model, and probably the 1.6 liter. And then buy a 1.8 liter rebuild it, and turbo eventually, if I think it would need it.

Pros:

-Light and nimble.
-RWD!
-Sexy convertable

Cons:

-A bit on the spendy side, for a college kid, and I dont want to take out a loan. $5-6k
-Convertable in the winter??

2) S13 DOHC 240sx. Rebuild the KA24DE, and then turbo and lsd. Eventually a nice S15 front end swap.

Pros:

-Good handling.
-RWD!
-Sexy car, with lots of potential.
-Relatively cheap, $2-3k

Cons:

-Hard to find a nice one with a manual tranny.
-Not as easy to get horsepower out of as the DSM, and not as light and nimble as the miata.

3) 1g AWD DSM. Ive tried before, and failed before. I have a shell, but it might be sold. I just blew a motor up, and im still not excatly sure what happened or why.

Pros:

-Easy HP.
-AWD!!

Cons:

-DSM reliability.
-Not that good loooking, but will do.

So what would you do?

**Kracka** · 03-20-2006

The Miata will probably be the most reliable choice for you, they are tough little cars and very fun. Nothing wrong with having a convertible in the winter, just make sure you are comfortable enough inside it for everyday use and can put up with the more than normal road noise. Another reason I recomend not a DSM is because you already did that and its fun to try new things.

TurboDomestics · 03-20-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by S2kracka

The Miata will probably be the most reliable choice for you, they are tough little cars and very fun. Nothing wrong with having a convertible in the winter, just make sure you are comfortable enough inside it for everyday use and can put up with the more than normal road noise.

Did you drive your s2k all winter?

Im a little guy, so I dont think fitment will be an issue. At least I hope not.

thanks for the reply!

**Kracka** · 03-20-2006

I store my S2k for the winters only because I don't want it getting all salty, but I know many people across the midwest and Canada that do daily-drive theirs year-round. Winter is no different than summer except you need different tires and the top can't go down. Snow/ice/cold doesn't hurt the top any, they are designed for the elements just like any other production car; just take care while scraping ice from the rear window as to not knick the top (not a concern in the older Miatas with the plastic rear window anyways).

Emcee gsxtc · 03-20-2006

Meh, your on a dsm board - what should you expect the answer to be? Year round car? in MN? snow? rwd or rwd or AWD? Go Dsm, pick one of our local shops to help you, so you dont blow things up. Then treat it like a Porsche not an old pickup. That means constant maintenance, no zip ties, no JB weld nor mechanics wire. Don't drive it through fields, ditches, or icy parking lots with curbs. BONUS! You already have parts/ cars laying around so there is less initial investment. Just decide on the setup you want with help from the local shop of your choice. Get the required parts, along with all the usual wear parts replaced: headgasket, timing belt, waterpump, and all the other gaskets that get replace with it.

Congratulations! For equal or less than the price of the new car you have a reliable ~300+hp DSM that can cater to your desires all year long.

JiggahMan · 03-20-2006

I say get a DSM but shoot for 400 whp.

Tauni · 03-20-2006

get a 240. ohhhh the snow banks you'll meet!

**LingLing** · 03-20-2006

you have to weigh in the factor of aftermarket. since none of the above cars are near 300+whp.

KA24DE:

Bore × Stroke: 89.0 × 96.0 mm
Max power: 155 hp (115 kW) @ 5600 rpm
Max torque: 160 ft·lbf (217 Nm) @ 4400 rpm
Valve Configuration: DOHC, 16 valves
Compression ratio: 9.2:1

Miata:

The original Miata came with a 1.6 L double overhead cam inline four-cylinder engine, producing 90 kW (120 bhp) and 100 lbft of torque. The engine employs an L-Jetronic fuel injection system and a camshaft angle sensor instead of a distributor.

DSM (1g AWD):

4G63T, Turbocharged 16Valve DOHC, Estimated HP: 195

--------

I'm not sure how the aftermarket scene is for the Miata or the KA24DE. BUT I can imagine that there isn't a whole lot for that engine. I know there's qute a bit more for the SR20DET, but the KA24DE motor is almost obsolete, as the SR20DET is a much stronger and more reliable platform
. If there is, it's probably expensive, like Supra, 350Z, and AE86 parts. Just my .02.... Good luck on your decision though!

AJ · 03-20-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurboDomestics

What does MNSC have to say??

Go ask them and find out.

s1ngletracker · 03-20-2006

well so far, it sounds like you've failed with DSMs. If you're like me, you wont settle for them getting the best of you, and try again

If you're not like me, say screw it, and get something else. I vote for neither miata nor 240. Miata = butt ugly and goofy looking. 240 = ehhh, what you wanna be a drift superstar? My vote is DSM.

eclipseGSX108 · 03-20-2006

dsm...

but if you were to do the 240sx.. do a sr20 rather then rebuild the KA24

miata... um.. get the new turbo charged ones and maybe you'll get somewhere

**LingLing** · 03-20-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by eclipseGSX108

dsm...

miata... um.. get the new turbo charged ones and maybe you'll get somewhere

those turbocharged miatas are pretty quick. like 215 to the crank? plus they weight close to nothing.

**Kracka** · 03-20-2006

The MSM was one of the most fun cars I've ever driven, CVD and I tore it up pretty good in that car. We even took it to the famed Miata-pad. I'm not sure what the used market looks like for them, but about 1 1/2 years ago I saw a dealership closing left-over models out for $19k!

Shrep · 03-20-2006

Hmmm...go 240 now before the prices go up LOL

awd-drifter · 03-20-2006

i have a sr20det motor with a blown piston. I'd personally get the 240 (95+) because i've driven my uncle's sr20 powered 240 and it was pretty fun. Winter shouldnt be that bad, i've driven my dad's tundra (rwd only) and it wasnt all that hard, it was more fun

**scheides** · 03-20-2006

Go DSM and follow Emcee gsxtc's advice. Treat it like a Porsche, not an old truck. This is the main problem with dsm's, people don't give them the maintenance they deserve. Evo3 16g + FMIC + Injectors + AFC/DSMLink on a stock motor & you're set. Treat it nice.

CDeutsch · 03-20-2006

Do a Galant VR4. Ok, I may be biased because I just happen to have one for sale.

If you're driving it in the winter it seems like AWD would be a no brainer. DSM's are reliable if you find the right one and don't go nuts. If you plan on doing major mods on any car you should probably have a backup car or at least a backup plan.