Finally! Time for a New Car: budget as been increased to $12k-16k!

[skip0110]

Oh man! I love Marauder's so much! The only panther car I would get over a P71! If it were up to me I'd de badge the Marauder though and paint the rims black. Here's a lil inpsiration!
<awesome pictures>

Any more info on that car (article, website, etc.) that I could read?

I looks sweet, and very clean. The rear tires look awesome!

 

[Azuremen]

With that expanded budget I would recommend an MR2 spyder or a Lexus IS300 if you did some hunting around.

Or am MkI Mr2, which I have two of. One is track setup with suspension and an engine swap (JDM 20V) and an absolute blast to drive. Though its a bit of work to set it up

 

[1X83Z]

1. Lincoln LS V8



5. Mercury Marauder



240. Ford Crown Victoria
241. Lincoln LS V6

 

[usedHONDA]

You can get this or something like this or even this

All for street cred.


The 0-60:

First one: 5.1
Second: 4.9
The Third: 8.3

 

[skip0110]

You can get this or something like this or even this

All for street cred.


The 0-60:

First one: 5.1
Second: 4.9
The Third: 8.3

By the time the first hits 60 it will have some sort of electrical problem, by the time the 2nd hits 60 JCE will either be dating his cousin or running from the cops, and by the time the 3rd hits 60 it will be on fire (or JCE will never get it 60 because he can't fit inside that tiny thing).

 

[Tornado]

You can get this or something like this or even this

All for street cred.


The 0-60:

First one: 5.1
Second: 4.9
The Third: 8.3

Whaaaaaaat!?!?!





Wait, I'll get to the Fiero in a second.
Did you just suggest an Esprit?!?! Do you have any idea how expensive it is to run an Esprit? If you find one from any era that costs less than $50,000, it is going to require $10,000 every single year to keep running. I hope JCE makes six figures. Oh my god, that's rich. Good times.
The third one is a Fiero. And if you need to know why suggesting someone should buy a Fiero is a good way to get shot you should look up "Fiero Cooling System," "Fiero Engine Fires" or "Fiero Suspension Problems"

 

[JCE]

With that expanded budget I would recommend an MR2 spyder or a Lexus IS300 if you did some hunting around.

Or am MkI Mr2, which I have two of. One is track setup with suspension and an engine swap (JDM 20V) and an absolute blast to drive. Though its a bit of work to set it up

Sorry like I said, those are my final choices. They were based on several factors, most of which were; year and insurance. The IS300 has a symbol rating of 25 or 26...which puts it at over $300 per month...JUST FOR INSURANCE. And the MR2 is out of the question on grounds that I hate the 3rd generation with a passion.

1. Lincoln LS V8



5. Mercury Marauder



240. Ford Crown Victoria
241. Lincoln LS V6

For one the Lincoln LS V6 never entered my mind...ever. It is slow and pointless. Secondly The LX Sport Vic with $2,000 will look just like the Marauder and with an additional $3,000-3,500 will easily have more power. Granted the Marauder has the better engine...but I'm more inclined to care about price at this point. Read at the end of my post for more info (if you care).

You can get this or something like this or even this

All for street cred.


The 0-60:

First one: 5.1
Second: 4.9
The Third: 8.3

1. Not on my list, and way beyond my year limitations. Couldn't hope to get financing much less cheap insurance.
2. Sorry, insurance is too high...and I already have a Camaro project car so I don't need another f-body.
3. No thanks, will cost too much money to drop the SBC 350 in it, much less everything else like; year, insurance, financing, etc.

By the time the first hits 60 it will have some sort of electrical problem, by the time the 2nd hits 60 JCE will either be dating his cousin or running from the cops, and by the time the 3rd hits 60 it will be on fire (or JCE will never get it 60 because he can't fit inside that tiny thing).

Great post, +rep.

=============================

Ok, after talking with my insurance agent today here's the skinny. The Lincoln LS V8 has a symbol rating of 18 so its out of the equasion right there. My goal is to get something CHEAPER or THE SAME as my Focus (symbol rating of 13). The Marauder has a rating of 14--which I would accept so long as my monthly car payments do not exceed $350 per month. The Crown Vic Sport on the other hand has a fantastic symbol rating of 10...that's right TEN. So that is what I'm more inclined to go with. The Vic sport is easily $5k cheaper than the Marauder so it will most likely get the nod--cheaper monthly payments along with cheaper insurance is just too good to resist. As of right now, today, I'm in the market for a Marauder (black only) or Vic sport (black, white, or dark grey only). Time for me to start a dealer search. 👍

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, dispite what I've posted I do appreciate the suggestions. 👍

 

[1X83Z]

If you get a Victoria, make it

1. Very quick
2. Stock-looking

Otherwise it's the worst purchase ever.

 

[YSSMAN]

The Crown Vic sports can look pretty mean stock, there are a few modified ones here in Grand Rapids that are pretty awesome. A guy down the street has one, black on black/chrome three-piece wheels, tinted windows, and a Flowmaster exhaust. I can't recall what he threw under the hood, but it certainly isn't stock.

 

[skip0110]

Cram it full of propane powered Triton V10.

http://www.samotorsports.com/vehicles.html

 

[///M-Spec]

"PUREVIL"

That's the best vanity plate I've seen in a long time. Suits the car pretty well too, though it would be better on a cammed out black Charger ('69 or '07, either will do).

By the time the first hits 60 it will have some sort of electrical problem, by the time the 2nd hits 60 JCE will either be dating his cousin or running from the cops, and by the time the 3rd hits 60 it will be on fire (or JCE will never get it 60 because he can't fit inside that tiny thing).

:chortles mightily:


M

 

[usedHONDA]

Did you just suggest an Esprit?!?! Do you have any idea how expensive it is to run an Esprit?

There's a red Esprit in a used car lot going for $17,000 near me. Works like any other supercar. I test drove it. Fun.

Wait, I'll get to the Fiero in a second.

The most expensive Fiero on eBay right now is going for $7,000 and that bidder is my brother, Wally. The owner reset the bidding and posted a smaller amount of pictures.


You can get something more reliable like this or something as eye catching as this

 

[Jim Prower]

Chevrolet Cosworth Vega.

110hp, EFI, DOHC in a fairly compact, lightweight, package. It's a rarity, and an enjoyable little bugger. Kinda like an american Hachiroku, only far less famous. Oh, and it was built in 1975-1976, so it's become a collector car. that means the value appreciates with time, provided you don't run it into the ground.

It's very much like one of those older Nissans you suggested. Rust is a problem with Vegas, watch out for it. (though, suprisingly, most of the Cossies still exist, with only a few major rust problems. did they do something different?)

The star of the show is the Coswoth Twin Cam engine. The EFI system seems to work well on these, but I'm pretty sure a popular alternative setup involves two Webers. It's probably a bit more reliable: I'd be wary of early EFI systems. Probably also improves horsepower by leaps and bounds, too, given restricted intakes of the day. My father knew a guy who must've had at LEAST 240 hp in his...it was scary-fast!

I'd reccommend you look at that one as an alternative to your older Nissan/Datsuns. The price: usually under Ten Grand.

 

[skip0110]

The engine was called Dura-Bilt so you just know it must have been reliable.

Why would he look at a 1976 Vega when the other options (Crown Vic, Marauder) are about two and a half decades younger?

 

[TopHat]

Chevrolet Cosworth Vega.

110hp, EFI, DOHC in a fairly compact, lightweight, package. It's a rarity, and an enjoyable little bugger. Kinda like an american Hachiroku, only far less famous. Oh, and it was built in 1975-1976, so it's become a collector car. that means the value appreciates with time, provided you don't run it into the ground.

It's very much like one of those older Nissans you suggested. Rust is a problem with Vegas, watch out for it. (though, suprisingly, most of the Cossies still exist, with only a few major rust problems. did they do something different?)

The star of the show is the Coswoth Twin Cam engine. The EFI system seems to work well on these, but I'm pretty sure a popular alternative setup involves two Webers. It's probably a bit more reliable: I'd be wary of early EFI systems. Probably also improves horsepower by leaps and bounds, too, given restricted intakes of the day. My father knew a guy who must've had at LEAST 240 hp in his...it was scary-fast!

I'd reccommend you look at that one as an alternative to your older Nissan/Datsuns. The price: usually under Ten Grand.

And then his insurance kills him for driving a car with an engine producing more aluminum dust than an aluminum plant. After that, he can replace the front end for the third time. ( The front end of the Vega fell off in testing)

 

[1X83Z]

The only thing worse than the three cars JCE has narrowed it down to have been the suggestions since them! A 110-horsepower, 30-year-old Chevrolet; a 20-year-old Lotus, a Fiero, and after he specificially stated insurance prices were a limiting factor, a WRX and an S2000. You people!

 

[Tornado]

There's a red Esprit in a used car lot going for $17,000 near me. Works like any other supercar. I test drove it. Fun.

Yes, I'm sure it is a fun car. But unless JCE wants to live in the car (and based on the interior room I wouldn't suggest doing so) and sell his chances of owning a house he probably can't afford it.

The most expensive Fiero on eBay right now is going for $7,000 and that bidder is my brother, Wally. The owner reset the bidding and posted a smaller amount of pictures.

And it probably isn't worth half that, even if it was the best Fiero in the world.

The only thing worse than the three cars JCE has narrowed it down to have been the suggestions since them! A 110-horsepower, 30-year-old Chevrolet

I'd really love to know why you hate older cars so much.

 

[1X83Z]

I'd really love to know why you hate older cars so much.

I hate most older (pre-1981) cars because they're so inferior to newer cars it's comical. However, I hate this car because it's crappy, not because it's old. 110 horsepower? Come ON.

I hate older cars in the "guess the taillight" thread because I don't know any of them (since you people insist on posting pictures of cars made by brands that died in the late 1940s and were only sold in New Zealand to begin with). And I hate older cars as suggestions in my thread because I don't know of any that will be as reliable as newer cars that I can afford, given that reliability is my among my top concerns.

Understand now?

 

[ND4SPD]

Any more info on that car (article, website, etc.) that I could read?

I looks sweet, and very clean. The rear tires look awesome!

I don't know much about the Marauder but I believe the owner is a member of crownvic.net so I'm pretty sure the specs on this beast is there!

 

[Azuremen]

Wait, you hate the MR2 Spyder JCE?

Why, whats not to love about it? Its lightweight, midengined, and well priced. Its not the turbo MkII, but the MkII is not really what the MR2 was meant to be anyhow. So why hate the MkIII?

 

[1X83Z]

Wait, you hate the MR2 Spyder JCE?

Why, whats not to love about it? Its lightweight, midengined, and well priced. Its not the turbo MkII, but the MkII is not really what the MR2 was meant to be anyhow. So why hate the MkIII?

Because it's slow? And for women?

 

[JCE]

Wait, you hate the MR2 Spyder JCE?

Why, whats not to love about it? Its lightweight, midengined, and well priced. Its not the turbo MkII, but the MkII is not really what the MR2 was meant to be anyhow. So why hate the MkIII?

1st gen = awsome fun
2nd gen = more awsome fun while looking better
3rd gen = the ugliest thing on the roadster planet

 

[Leonidae]

how about AMC Gremlin X 5.0 V8? it can easily take 400ci+ engine in it, comes with manual or automatic, light, nimble, and no-one will ever believe that it's fast, unless they've seen them doing their thing on drag strips.

 

[Pupik]

Let's get back to reality here...

At $15-16k, you might approach the territory of an IS 300/3-series; a 2001-2002 model could fit the bill. That's not too old, not too problematic, but likely with 50-70k miles on them, so clutches might be an issue, unless you're taking the automatic route.

 

[TopHat]

Let's get back to reality here...

At $15-16k, you might approach the territory of an IS 300/3-series; a 2001-2002 model could fit the bill. That's not too old, not too problematic, but likely with 50-70k miles on them, so clutches might be an issue, unless you're taking the automatic route.

INSURANCE.

Not gonna happen, get a slightly more pesestrian car, (CROWN VIC LX SPORT) that will make you stealthy-sporty.

 

[Azuremen]

1st gen = awsome fun
2nd gen = more awsome fun while looking better
3rd gen = the ugliest thing on the roadster planet

I'll disagree with the first two there. The MkI is more fun because its lighter, and thus can be tossed around more. I'm an MR2 enthuasist, and the MKII is my least favorite. But yes, it looks damn good.

About the looks of the MR-S, I like them, but thats just me. I can't really argue if you think they look good or not.

And Doug, they are not slow. 0-60 in 6.9 is pretty decent, and considering the engine that is in there making only 135ish HP, they can become insane with some work. And they handle by far the best out of the MR2's, being the lightest and newest. Hell, my MkI with crap pulled from it still weighs more.

 

[ND4SPD]

Wait, does it have to be a rwd car? If you don't get the Marauder, I suggest the 97 and up Buick Regal GS's. They truly are sleepers, 240hp and 280lb ft. of torque thanks to a supercharged 3.8L V6. May not be the most exciting to look at but it'll run to 60mph in 6.5s and do the 1/4mile in the mid 14's. I heard with justy normal GM bolt on parts you can easily put them in the low 13's and high 12's and still drive it home. Its got so much torque its been compared to a smallblock V8 at when taking off from a stop. Its got the reputation of being an old person's car, so I'm pretty sure insurance is gonna be pretty decent. Honestly, who doesn' like a good sleeper?


Damn, I just noticed you specificaly wanted rwd if it was gonna be American. Give this one a chance though!

 

[Takumi Fujiwara]

What I don't get is why you'd buy a non-Interceptor Crown-vic. For your budget, you could find one with everything that's legal to have still in it, too.

Here's another suggestion, though, and it's surprisingly not all that bad to insure, much lower insurance group than the S2K or WRX, an LT1 C4 'Vette. Great in a straight line or around a corner, sexy looking, and the LT1 is pretty much bulletproof.

 

[ND4SPD]

What I don't get is why you'd buy a non-Interceptor Crown-vic. For your budget, you could find one with everything that's legal to have still in it, too.

Here's another suggestion, though, and it's surprisingly not all that bad to insure, much lower insurance group than the S2K or WRX, an LT1 C4 'Vette. Great in a straight line or around a corner, sexy looking, and the LT1 is pretty much bulletproof.

Well, to me and JCE, the image of a P71 crown vic is just badass. Plus they have many plusses over the stock civilian models. Such as a heavy duty suspension, a little more HP(thanks to the Marauder type airboxes that come in the 2002+ P71's) They're also a lot cheaper than a used civilian Crown Vic.

 

[Tornado]

Well, to me and JCE, the image of a P71 crown vic is just badass. Plus they have many plusses over the stock civilian models. Such as a heavy duty suspension, a little more HP(thanks to the Marauder type airboxes that come in the 2002+ P71's) They're also a lot cheaper than a used civilian Crown Vic.

Not to mention usually far better maintained despite higher mileage.