Thread 28566143

I keep going around in circles on what my next project should be. I just sold my e36. The only negative against the 944 is that I kind of want a 60s pony car or muscle car with a V8 --probably a mercury cougar or Pontiac firebird or le mans. Maybe one of those ugly early 70s mustangs. But if you don't care about how many cylinders it has, I keep coming back to a 944. Maybe an aw11, crx, z31, or 280zx but this one always comes out on top when I compare them head to head. If I didn't already have the e36, id say maybe an e30 would be good also, but since I already did, I come back to this because I don't want another bmw.

But what about a Jaguar xjs or even xj12?

How should I waste my money? let's say the budget is 10k. I can go a little over if it's a particularly good specimen.

944s are really good handling and look great but the stock 2.5 engine is kinda ass

Find a 3.0 944 or honestly a Ls1 swapped one

>>28566158
What do you think about the 944 turbos? Or is the extra horsepower not worth the trouble?

>>28566201
Main problem with turbos is they run a lot more expensive than the base. A lot of the parts are proprietary as well, especially suspension, which I learned the hard way. Honestly for just a fun fixer-upper, I'd stick with a normal 944. They're tons of fun in their own right as long as you have somewhere you can drive to take advantage of the handling. If you're handy with a wrench, pretty much every possible engine swap has been done to this thing as well. There's kits for Nissan, Jaguar, Rover, and VW engines out there. Plus the LS like the other anon mentioned. Personally I drove a VW 5 cyl swap, and that was my absolute favorite, tons of power under your foot, and handling didn't suffer at all like it does with a boxer or V8.

>t. never actually owned or driven either one. here's your grain of salt
I was looking into these last year and just decided against buying either one. Now I'm going to say something extremely brave and controversial: what about an older BRZ/86/FRS? FR layout, factory LSD, huge aftermarket, 30 years younger, and can be swapped or tuned to be whatever you want it to be. While I'm not sure about the other cars you mentioned, I know these can be found around the $10-15k range. That's what I'd consider "peak shitbox performance"

>>28566226
They are ugly and gay though. I don't want something modern. I might daily that to get to work but it isn't a cool car whatsoever even if you gave me a brand new one for free. Really completely defeats the entire purpose of having a project car.

Raped by Corvette

>>28566201
The turbos are great, especially with bolts ons. The dogshit engine issue is fixed. Problem then becomes working on it because pretty much any service you need to do is not for beginners.

>>28566212
agree but if you have the money a turbo is awesome and will always appreciate in value t. 951 owner

For me, it would be either a 924 or 944 with a vr6 swap

start doing THIS

>>28566143 (OP)
E30 and E92 are better
Also, LOL @ 4cylinderlet "porsche"

>>28566330
I think this is probably true in every way except for cringe. When I see a Corvette I just think middle crisis. It's trying to hard to be cool. The 944 is at least somewhat subtle or tasteful.

>>28566470
I already addressed this in the op. I know reading is hard bro you'll get it one day.

>>28566518
Mid life crisis*
Look at me everyone I drive a sports car.

>>28566469
Logical conclusion of weight reduction

>>28566466
Honestly that's sounds sick.

>>28566143 (OP)
NARP

>>28566527
It's also harder than you'd expect it to be, as the VR5/VR6 use a different bellhousing bolt pattern than basically every other VW/Audi engine. Most of the I4s, I5s, V6s and V8s from that era bolt right up to a 924 bellhousing, but the VR5/VR6 need an adapter that you can only get from a B5 Passat VR5, or you need to get something CNC'd.

>>28566143 (OP)
I was gonna say evo but 10k is a pretty restrictive price point. Haven't checked prices lately but used boxters are pretty cheap. Seen rsx type s's for 10k before. Celica 7th gens... 300c srt8... q50's... g35's... mr2...

>>28566518
have the sovereignty of spirit to do your own things for your own reasons without fear of false judgement, anon

>>28566143 (OP)
>But what about a Jaguar xjs

Get a 92 or later, after they got Ford components in them. I had a 88 and the Lucas electronics were a constant pain in the ass.

I have started looking into more cars, besides the 944, I'm now also interested in an Alfa Romeo gtv 916, a lotus Excel and a lotus elite.

The latter three are pretty rare but examples have sold in my budget on being a trailer, they come in LHD in a stick in America, under 10k so not impossible to obtain.

944 seems like the unemotional, objectively best choice for the best chance at having something reliable and supportable.

But project cars are not meant to be rational or practical. I think any of these would be fine. I will just have to go see them in person and try driving them to see if I like them.

As awesome as the gtv is, I think I would regret it if I didn't get something with pop-ups. So it's on the bottom of the list even though it's probably the best car.

>>28566143 (OP)
The main problems are:
>Everything is unbelievably overpriced and overcomplicated
>the non-turbos are absolute dogs while still being unbelievably overpriced and overcomplicated
They are not fun to work on and every non-VW part is hard to find and priced like it was made out of solid gold. Don't get me started on the wiring, good fucking luck if something goes weird there, which is not uncommon
An LS swapped one might be awesome and would resolve many of these issues, but then you're doing a heart transplant

Basically you're getting into something that is more expensive than a Corvette that would be faster, a huge pain in the ass to work on compared to a Corvette that's faster, and an absolute money sink compared to a Corvette that would be faster

>>28570118
yea but I don't want a cringey try-hard boomer midlife crisis car.

>>28566525
>conclusion
Should take of the windshield, you don't need all that extra weight

>>28570167
>yea but I don't want a cringey try-hard boomer midlife crisis car.
If you think an ancient Corvette is a try-hard boomer midlife crisis car, you are not only a try-hard boomer but a clearly poor try-hard boomer.

It's not 2013 anymore. Try-hard boomers are driving C8s and the broker ones are driving C7s. Anybody who's driving anything older is doing it because they like it.

>>28570118
nobody will believe me but i actually made this stupid meme in my dorm room with my roommate in like 2011 and it was not supposed to mean much of anything but instead just vague enough to possibly mean something. we made at least 10 but this one kept getting reposted.

it was an edit of another meme of an octopus and an office chair.

>>28570361
>it was an edit of another meme of an octopus and an office chair.
How does an octopus bond burger my sister from an office chair?

>>28566226
I'm not OP but modern cars lack the tactile feedback that makes driving an older car so much fun.