cheap fixer upper

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Mar 23, 2004 | 06:03 PM

travis c

Thread Starter

Junior User

Joined: Jul 2003

Posts: 73

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From: oklahoma

cheap fixer upper

i am looking for a cheap car to fix up, not a truck. i am not posting a wanted ad, just looking for some recomendations. i cant do a vw bug, my dad says theyre unsafe. any make and model reccommendations are greatly appreciated.

Mar 23, 2004 | 06:06 PM

MisterCMK

Fleet Owner

Joined: Mar 2003

Posts: 24,724

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From: Blue Hill Township

919-96 ford escort. Try and get a GT, they will take a lickin, and beg for more.

Mar 23, 2004 | 06:09 PM

mikebon08

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Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 1,157

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From: Wichita, KS

You can fix up about anything you want....my brother found an '82 Lincoln Town Car and we're fixing it up as time and money allow. Probably not any normal person's first choice, but it was cheap, driveable without major work, and it's easy to find parts for. If you want something "cooler" and slightly uncommon, try a '70s Cougar or Torino, or a Maverick. In high school I had a '74 Pontiac LeMans, not many of them around either.

Mar 23, 2004 | 06:35 PM

broncobillybob

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Joined: Sep 2003

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From: Auburn/ Opelika

Whats your price range? Late 80s Camaros in decent can be had for under 2 grand these days. Same story w/ the foxbody stangs.

Mar 23, 2004 | 08:15 PM

tediesel

Senior User

Joined: Sep 2001

Posts: 215

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From: Western PA

You can't go wrong with an older (early90s and pre-90s) 5 speed honda. Just make sure it's fuel injected. You can rack up many miles on them and parts are everywhere and cheap. Good mileage too.

Mar 24, 2004 | 07:40 AM

carpe_diem

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Feb 2003

Posts: 1,314

Likes: 35

Full size B bodies by GM. RWD, V8.

9C1 package is a good thing.

Ebay is full of them. So are local auctions.

Mar 24, 2004 | 09:00 AM

ggarrahan

Elder User

Joined: Mar 2003

Posts: 692

Likes: 1

From: Saratoga USA

Why don't you look at a V-8 Mustang, from '87 to the present? They are plentiful, not expensive, have great aftermarket support, and you'll enjoy driving it. They get relatively good mileage, and in general are very reliable. Also, they have some power, even stock. Forget Escorts and Hondas, get a real rear wheel drive piece of American Iron!

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Mar 24, 2004 | 11:56 AM

jpsartre12

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Joined: Nov 2003

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From: Detroit Subs

Re: cheap fixer upper

Quote:

Originally posted by travis c
i am looking for a cheap car to fix up, not a truck. i am not posting a wanted ad, just looking for some recomendations. i cant do a vw bug, my dad says theyre unsafe. any make and model reccommendations are greatly appreciated.

Depends on your definition of "cheap". If you're looking for a $1k vehicle, good luck. I managed to find a dependable (so far) 91 Club Wagon for under $1K though. I needed a winter beater badly and figured I'd try it as a tow vehicle for my Z28 in the spring. Aside from lousy gas mileage for a 302(~11mpg), it's running OK.
I have 3 driving age kids and we've bought a slew of inexpensive cars for them over the past 6 years: a 91 Escort, a 92 Topaz, a 95 Grand Am, a 98Sunfire, a 92 Buick Le Sabre, an 85 Porsche944 and a 94 Z28. The most expensive of the bunch was the 94 Z28 at $6800. All of them turned out to be more dependable than other drivers on the road. The 91 Escort and 92 Buick were both totalled in accidents.

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Mar 24, 2004 | 03:34 PM

1956MarkII

Lead Driver

Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 7,746

Likes: 7

From: Tampa Bay, FL USA

Escorts, Town Car/ Grand Marquis/ Crown Vic, GM A-bodies (Celebrity/ Century/ Ciera), Saturn SL, Caprice, Ranger

Mar 24, 2004 | 04:38 PM

#10

Bargod

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Joined: Aug 2003

Posts: 1,798

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From: Wichita KS.

Quote:

Originally posted by tediesel
You can't go wrong with an older (early90s and pre-90s) 5 speed honda. Just make sure it's fuel injected. You can rack up many miles on them and parts are everywhere and cheap. Good mileage too.

Ha ha, ain't that the truth, I bought an 89 Accord on Sunday, dropped a grand on it, and then got new wheels and tires from a buddy for $100.

Mar 25, 2004 | 05:27 AM

#11

Ford_Six

Hotshot

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 18,488

Likes: 22

From: The Big, Oregon

I have an 82 Subaru that I paid $150 for, and drove home. No rot, pretty dented, but driveable. Subees run forever, unless they smoke. I should have walked away when I could smell the oil smoke. Now, 8 months later, the engine is sitting in my carport with a broken oil ring and massive gouge in one of the cylinder walls. Towards the end, I could start the car, go inside to grab my phone, and by the time I came back out, you couldn't see the car. Or your hand in front of your face. Don't get me wrong, I'd get another one in a heartbeat, but not if it's a smoker.