Help me pick my next car...

[Grendel]

Here is what I want...

Fast, Nimble Rear Wheel Drive car that will look good, and be pretty modable...

Here are the two cars I am thinking of...

1) Early model Datsun 240 Z with engine swap. Either a Small Block Chevy V8, or rebuilt 280zx Turbo motor (big turbo, intercooler, new injectors, etc)

2) Any year Mazda Miata with turbo. Don't know much about these cars, but I have started getting interested in them lately. I don't know how easy it would be to work on it.

Pros/Cons as I see them...

240Z
Pros: Classic, Beautiful, Can be extremely fast with right engine, Good cornering, Almost any engine can be stuffed in one
Cons: Not much aftermarket (MSA & Arizona Z Car are only companies I can find), Rust Prone, Hard to find good condition Z for cheap

Miata
Pros: Lightweight (not sure how light), Good cornerning stock, Decent Looking stock, Great Aftermarket (flyin miata has anything...), 5.0 V8's can be stuffed in em.
Cons: Don't know much about them, Convertable (dont like that), Pop Up Headlights (cheesy)


So... which should I go for? Any other suggestions?

[s7v7n]

How much are you willing to spend. I don't mean to be biased, but I like Mustangs. They are an awesome RWD car, IMO and can be modded (if you want, since there is so much aftermarket for them) to go faster tahn either one of these, for little more or the same price $$$.


But hey, it's up to you man!


:bandit:

[TrvlynAlec]

"Miata
Pros: Lightweight (not sure how light), Good cornerning stock, Decent Looking stock, Great Aftermarket (flyin miata has anything...), 5.0 V8's can be stuffed in em."

Can you really fit a 5.0 in a little miata?

[94svt5.0]

I would go for a mustang but, since it was not an option and I know were that goes, I would recomend the miata. The newer models do not have the pop up lights, guess it depends on how much you want to spend. I have driven a 97 miata several times, my cousins car, it handled well and felt pretty solid. Turbocharge a 5.0 and stick it in there....

[TerminalVelocity]

it you can do what cobra boy said, I say hell yah, that thing would be faster than a fat man eating a polish sausage!

[Grendel]

I think I wanna spend about 5k to start... I'll spend more on mods later, but I don't want to pay more than 5k for the car...

I was also thinking of looking for a good condition 240sx and do an sr20 swap, or buy a low mileage 280zx turbo and start moding that (280zx's are one of my favorites)

I would have added those two to the poll, but I completely forgot :P

-Grendel

[Bryan8412]

Trust me on this on:

Buy a miata.
Find a wrecked Mazda tribute
Steal the engine
Put headers on it
Maybe supercharge it

this tribute has a very sporty V6, and on my mom's automatic version (yes they have a stick available), that thing gets up damn fast for the size of the vehicle and the engine, plus the whole point is to have a SUV raised by a sports car if you've seen the dumb commercial. Plus it would be lighter weight than the 5.0, and less work to swap.

good luck

[LjasonL]

Originally posted by Grendel
was also thinking of looking for a good condition 240sx and do an sr20 swap

hell yeah. thats the way id go, err thats the way i am going.

[Tor]

i'd go with the Miata, if you dont like the pop-up headlights i dont think the newer ones have those.

I also heard that the 5.0 swap is a total waste. And the Miata would probably be a bit cheaper? im not sure.. oh well have fun whatever you do.

[Polygon]

Personally I would go with the Fairlady Z.

[Grendel]

Originally posted by Polygon
Personally I would go with the Fairlady Z.

Thats what i'm kinda leaning towards... I found a guy who wants to swap a 240 w/ header, recaro seats, and new rubber (whatever that means) for a Z w/ fuel injection...

I offered my Z, he said he had another offer, so I offered my Z w/cash

*prays*

-Grendel

[NB8CT]

Well Im biased, but I say miata. You can get a projector headlight kit and get rid of the pop up lights (www.miata.org).
The V8 swap isnt worthless, but its just a bit too much $$. As far as power goes, I just installed my turbo and it feels fast as hell with only the wastegate setting. (its basiclly a Flyin Miata kit but I kinda made it all custom)
If you really want power, go get a FE3 out of a KIA Sportage, it fits right in all you have to do it fab a new oil pan (the FE3's is a too low for the miata.) You can turbo that thing w/ stock internals no problem,a guy in texas has hit 390hp with a t3/404e at about 26psi, yes on stock interals.....
And you can get a '94-'97 car for less than 5K

[Cbass]

Originally posted by TerminalVelocity
it you can do what cobra boy said, I say hell yah, that thing would be faster than a fat man eating a polish sausage!

If you can do it? Easier than Courtenay Love on ecstasy... The 5.0 motor has a MAF SEFI setup, and is very responsive to hot cams and turbocharging. I think the block is good for about 800hp reliably... You would need a set of forged pistons($1500), forged rods($750), and a forged crank($1200). You go for a forged 347 kit, and save money, and get more cubes...

As for the turbos, a set of Garrett T3s will be enough for around 600 hp... Thats a lot of power for a 2200lb Miata. Realistically speaking, you can get a 5.0 HO making 225hp, put about 8-10 lbs of boost through it, and be making 350+hp. That is more than enough grunt to move a Miata...

So whaddya think, more appealing than a garage full of SnapOns and Ingersoll Rand airtools?

[lloyd_nickens]

Or you can drop in an engine from an rx7 and t-charge the living daylights out of it.

[Cbass]

Yeah, but the 5.0 are cheaper, easier to find, and the parts are available over the counter at any parts store, period.

Also, they weigh about 400 lbs, so they are pretty light as far as V8s go...