need advice on a second car (runabout and hillclimb)

[blutura]

i'm thinking about buying a second car as a runabout, but having only ever owned falcons, i'm unsure as to whats likely to last and what not.

basically, i've got a '96 EL Futura, and I'm looking for something small, preferably 4 cylinder, that will be really reliable, won't use much fuel, and won't need any work to keep it on the road. oh, and the budget is under $5000, preferably closer to 3k than 5.

most people seem to be directing me towards a late 80's corolla, and for good reason, they really are a reliable little thing, but heres the problem, not only do i want a reliable little runabout, i also want something that i can occasionally use for hillclimbs or some other form of grass roots motorsport, as i'm interested in doing some sort of motorsport this year.

am i asking too much? is there anything wrong with racing old 'rollys?

after a quick scan of carsales.com.au and carpoint, it seems that for under $5k, i'm limited to late 80's corollas, lancers,lasers and MR2s, or late 70's RX7's and RX3s.

Seems to me that the corollas, lancers and lasers are less likely to have been thrashed than the others, but the RX7 and MR2s will be better for racing, particularly the MR2 as it is mid-engined.

i'm wary of buying an old RX7 because I've heard a lot of bad storys about old rotaries.

any advice on the matter is greatly appreciated.

[Jet-Star]

Asking too much I recon, pick one or the other man, a Runabout/A-B car or a hill climbing machine. If anything though I'd say go with a lancer.

[Rev28K]

Toyota MR2 Mk1s are a blast. I drove a supercharged one for a few days and had a ball.

The Twin Cam Rollas could take a beating – the problem is that most of them have. I was competing in sprints against one years ago and it took all kinds of abuse year after year from 2 drivers and kept on going. The problem is that was back in the 90s when the Corolla was under 10 years old. The longer SECA models were a bit more taily than the hatch back model from memory. The Hatches eventually died out with the GTi model from memory.

Maybe an old Alfa Sud or 33. No matter what you get you will have a ball in motorsport and learn heaps. Of course as you develop a car more and more for spints/hillclimbs/etc it becomes less comfortable/economical for the road.

Your budget may be a bit tight but I would also consider:

Honda CRX (mk1 – strut front suspension (import with the 1.5 or the 1.6 twin cam), or mk2 – wishbones all around and 1.6 twin cam (or import vetc)). I would avoid the targa Mk3 just because the car wasn’t a step forward (power up, weight up and they look ugly). I had a local Mk 2 as a daily driver/sprint car for years and had a ball with it. They are very good sprint cars (for a fwd) and have a lot of upgradable components from later models. Mine always went up to the top of the field if it rained and was usually pretty competitive against other cars (beat a few WRX and V8s). In the Group E production car racing they would be up with the Falcons/Commodores and occasionally the Supras back in the 80’s. Really nice cars – if you can get one that hasn’t been thrashed to bits it will serve you well. You’ve got no idea how good they are unless you take it on a track.

Nissan 180SX – cheap, RWD and with a lot of upgradable bits.

[73gscoupe]

how about a 2 litre escort? Theyre a good little car with plenty of performance options available for both the motor and handling upgrades. other option is 1600 equiped, depends on class you want to run in.

you also have better resale options with the escort than with a 80's rolla.

[blutura]

only thing with the escort is that the age is really starting to get up there. I mean, when did they stop making them, 70's? thats 30+ years.

i'm after something that can be driven normally for 300+ days of the year and raced maybe a dozen times. If it was the other way around then the esky would be a great choice. I just don't know how it would go as a runabout. Plus i don't think my wife would be too interested in a car that old, and she's gonna be driving it a bit of the time.

How about lancer GSRs? they go alright don't they? only trouble is the GSR models have most likely suffered more thrashings then the stockos.

How many kms do you think is too many on cars of this age? 150000, 200000, 300000?

[Dodge]

mini with a toyota starlet turbo engine transplant

[RScort]

You can't go wrong with either a mk1 or mk2 Ford Escort.

[73gscoupe]

The other one that springs to mind is an AE86 Sprinter with the 4AGE motor. 1600 cc twin cam fuel injected, its a superb motor with great power and fuel economy. It will fit nicely into a 1600 cc NA class motorsport.

Expect to pay a bit for a sprinter as they are a keenly sought after cult car.

[TURBOTAXI]

Buy a corrolla with a clapped out motor but rego and everything else (under two grand) buy one of the 4AG family (supercharged or the high reving one?) bring the two together for a car that meets your needs.

[blutura]

the other question i have is regarding insurance...

i'm guessing i'd have some problems getting cheap comprehensive insurance on ANY car that i plan on racing, let alone a turbo model, considering i'm 21.

but i guess it wouldnt be a big deal to just have 3rd party fire + theft on a car this cheap hey.

[Rev28K]

Never underestimate the fun of a cheap car. A friend bought a Nissan Skyline – Aus model, live rear axle, 3.0 litre straight 6 for $500 and had a ball sprinting it.

[jzab]

I picked up a Subaru Leone for $1000 and for a total of under $5000 (I hope) I'm planning on putting WRX running gear through it. I bought it for a run about and to run in autocross and khanacross, with perhaps some bitumen sprints later. I'm running in the local khanacross already. It's a ball!

jzab

[bobski]

Twin Cam Corrolla. I had one for years - great fun, easy enough to maintain (aside from the electrics - but they never gave me any hassles) and you can pick up those 20 valve engines that put out some serious grunt for a 1000 kilo car (even with the standard 1.6 mine went pretty good). Spares are cheap and easy to come by (important if you're going to rally it a bit).

More info on the engines
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_A_engine

Only issue I can mention is to check thoroughly for rust. Pretty much everyone I've seen has rust issues unless its had a good grind, spack and respray at some point.

[stiddy]

Ford Laser TX3 turbo 4WD 5speed, they are getting cheap now

[Rev28K]

Originally Posted by stiddy

Ford Laser TX3 turbo 4WD 5speed, they are getting cheap now

And their gearbox seems to be the weak link.

[chich]

I'll jump on the bandwagon and suggest the twin cam rolla. My mate had one before he upgraded and i must admit i absolutely loved it. Thats why it will be turned into a track car once his brother get off his P's! Being a corolla its reliable and bullet proof - i've been trying to break our csx corolla for the past 5 years and it refuses to die even with a cam belt that hasn't been replaced for 160,000km. You also have the option of fitting almost any corolla engine you can think of.. from the supercharged 4AGZE to the 20 valve. I'm even thinking of getting one in the future for a bit of run on the track.

[bundy bruiser]

all good suggestions but please allow more money/time/effort. Very rarely can one just slip in a hotter motor without mods for safety at least. At you age this will mess with insurance...etc
It takes more than a motor swap in most cases
Just my opinion
Bundy

[stiddy]

Originally Posted by Rev28K

And their gearbox seems to be the weak link.

Depends how you drive it, its like anything really..

go around flat changing, dumping it, being rough, whatever it will wreck any driveline..

[Steffo]

Get an S13 Silvia. Can be picked up for little money these days and they have an excellent chassis.

[LeMans]

Just my opinion. Rear wheel drive is what all real race cars should have

How about a Mitsubishi Starion. They won the Aus rally championship in the 80s... problem for you might be that they are a turbo.

Or a BMW E30 318i. There is actually a race category specifically for them so there are lots of go-fast parts for them.

[stiddy]

Didnt even think of a Starion, great choice.. but you'd be hard pressed trying to find one cheaper than $5000.
Back in the day they were fast, by todays standard they would be about as fast as your average falcon/commodore..

[Rev28K]

Originally Posted by LeMans

Just my opinion. Rear wheel drive is what all real race cars should have .

*cough*,*cough*

A good FWD can still beat a bad RWD. On RE55’s I’m quicker than an F6 around Winton (according to Motor). Having said that I am getting a dedicated track car built up and it is RWD.

The weak link in the TX3 4WD comment was based on a friend modified Mazda version that he sprints.

[OzJavelin]

Early seventies Caddy Eldorado .. 500ci, front-wheel-drive. A great runabout and hillclimb car

[Bucket]

I know this is off topic but i ran Ford Falcon through the Wikipedia and look what i found i dont know if everyone knows about this but damn, is it it good a a crash course in 101 FoMoCo AU

[Redrum]

Mitsubishi Mirage. Mate just bought one for same reasons after doing some research, cost him private sale $5500. Had alloys etc, about 78k, 98 model. 1.8 manual.

[turboute]

You should be able to find a Starlet GT for that (just) they have plenty of options for upgrades later down the track too, I have heard of them getting into the low 14's with the stock turbo. So they can go quick. Add some suspension upgrades and they should handle pretty well too.

Another option where the handling is done, you just need more power would be a 15yr old mx5 - they are coming into the country landed and complied for about 5-6k now.

[hotxy71]

Have you considered the Capri? I used to have a 93 model non turbo. With decent suspension, they handle like a gocart on steroids... but the turbo would have been nice..... Around the right price range too... Parts are easy to find and not overly expensive. Late model non turbos go better than early model turbo versions.
Or there is the 70's capris, but they'll cost you more than $5 k...
Good luck with the search.... huge variety to choose from
Kristian

[blutura]

thanks for your suggestions everyone, please keep them coming.

at the moment i'm looking at a MK1 MR2, N/A 1.6L. Not really quick in a straight line, but great handling and really well built, not to mention a real fuel miser. And when the engine eventually goes, theres plenty of options, factory supercharged mill, 2L engines, and a whole lot more.