Buying a cheap "mess around" car...maybe

[Trashed675]

So lately i've been thinking about getting a second car just to, for lack of a better term, just **** around with. Something that will prohibit the modding bug and never really turn into a money pit. It must also take my abuse and ask for more.

Purchase price should be less then $1,000. Car must be simple, easy/cheap to repair.

This isn't a joke, i'm being totally serious when i say this....ready.......





....here goes...



....




A Geo Metro.

Bone stock the 1 liter base model weighs about 1800lbs, I've been planning on doing a complete strip of EVERYTHING, door/hood/fenders/interior/carpet/AC.

All that would be on the inside of the car would be 1, maybe 2, seat(s), gear leaver, hand brake, steering wheel, pedals, home made roll cage, and a used tablet/smartphone running torque for my dials. No dashboard or anything.

I'm guessing once everything is all stripped out it will be a rolling death trap of about 1500lbs. At that weight it will certainly be quicker then before, but will still only 55hp so i'm not worried about "accidentally" breaking the speed limit.

The thought behind this idea was cheap carefree fun. Yes it will be ugly, yes it will still be slow, but i've always wanted something to just beat on, and i feel guilty being too harsh on the FRS.

What does everyone think?


Inspiration VIA James May from the Africa special below.

[jimmillion]

I say do it, if you have the space!

but do your research before buying and make sure the junkyards around you have enough in stock to keep it alive if need be.

IF we're talking the Africa Special tho, my vote would be to buy an OLIVER instead haha.

[BRZranger]

I was thinking Miata, cheap as possible (~2k) in running condition for no-guilt tracking and drifting. Cheap for parts, repair and it's RWD!

[bakerr6]

Pontiac fiero. You can buy the car for under a grand and all of the mods won't break the bank unless you do an engine swap like an lax etc.

[dem00n]

I'd get a car that has/had some performance capability, whether its straight line only or corners.

Lately I've been seeing some 3 series going on for about 1k, they need some work but you can pick up a pretty good one.
Tons of 70's-90's muscle cars with V6 engine always go for 1k, they are beat to hell but you can have a good platform for them, also the engine can take some turbo boost most of the time...
You could buy a 80's Merc for dirt cheap as well, theres also a few obscure cars from the 50's/60's that you can pick up for around 1k, but they tend to need full overhaul...


A Geo Metro is an absolutely horrible car, there is nothing you can do that will make that car better. You won't be able to beat on it, because there's no power at all. When i drove one, i thought it be fun but too, it wasn't funny it was really sad.

Think of it as a really bad kei car.

[SloS14]

My vote is for Miata. No need to get rid of the hood (its aluminum). You can pick up a 1.6 for cheap.

[Calum]

Why not just get a 4-wheeler. Where would you ever use the car you're describing?

[n8dog11914]

+1 for the Miata or perhaps an old 3 series Bimmer. Nissan 240 is a possibility but those always end in engine swaps.

[Trashed675]

Trust me, i'd much rather have a miata but there are a few problems with that.

1) The cheapest i have been able to find any around me was $2500 for one with a blown motor.

2) It has the potential to be a fun car worthy of being a money pit (I don't want to be tempted)

240's have the same problems, my brother is in the process of an LS1 swap in his S14.

3 series are generally too heavy unless i go for something like an 80's 320i, but those are tough to find. Plus i'd be tempted to look for the 3.2 swap.

As far as a "where would i use this vehicle". My family owns a garbage company that has a large open lot that is available for my after hours enjoyment

[Turbowned]

Might I recommend cooler cars for the <$1k range?

E30 BMW.

AW11 MR2.

Both are cheap as dirt to keep up. The BMW is RWD and you can have fun kicking the ass end around corners and doing donuts with. The MR2 is mid-engine RWD and feels like driving a go-kart. Either one is a winning choice. Ask someone who's owned one (or two, or three, or eight...)!

Also, they both don't look half bad when they're all ratty:



Or gutted out and prepped for racing:

[oops86]

One type of car not mentioned here would be an 80's G-Body, Chevy Monte Carlo or El Camino, Buick Regal, Oldsmobile Cutlass, or Pontiac Grand Prix. You can still find them for relatively cheap and they're easy to build up.

[muffinman]

I like the looks of that parking lot. If it has relatively smooth pavement, why not get a shifter cart?

[Trashed675]

Originally Posted by muffinman

I like the looks of that parking lot. If it has relatively smooth pavement, why not get a shifter cart?

Google earth is playing some trickery lol. It's really not very smooth and quite a bit of gravel.

Monte Carlo and such is WAAAY heavier then I'm looking for. Plus finding a running one for under 1000 would be tricky, same story with an mr2/240sx.

I did briefly own an 81 BMW 320. The trouble with that and most of the other suggestions, is I'd be tempted to put money into them because they could potentially be nice cars.

Something I hadn't thought of until just today. My girlfriend wants to learn to drive stick, and I'd feel a lot better if she toasted a geo clutch rather then an frs clutch.

[n2oinferno]

Get a Geo Metro they said.
It'll have no potential they said.