looking for RWD
 

I am wanting to get a RWD car, but I am not sure of what all is out there that is RWD. I am looking to get an older used model, say at least 5 years old or more. Something not too expensive, say under 10 thousand. The first car that comes to mind would be a miata, lightweight and with a supercharger it can move. Anyone have any suggestions to what I should look at? Thanks

It sounds as though you want a smaller sports car, which in RWD, does limit your options somewhat. You do have the option of finding a used RX7 or Supra, as well as the Nissan 300zx and the 240sx. If you want to go older, you can look for Datsun 510's, older Z's, first and 2nd gen RX7's, etc. The late 70's corvettes and the c4's are also an option for less than 10k. If you're not looking for a sports car however, then a lot of windows open.

Edit: There are also things like 3rd gen Firebirds, Camaros, etc, but I am assuming that you're not really in the sedan/v8 market.

10grand would get you a really nice TII RX-7. a badass little car if ever there was one. You could easily get a 1st gen mr2 w/supercharger on it for that. Not too great in a straight line, but killer in the corners. Also easily get a 2nd gen mr2 (one of, if not the, sexiest cars ever imo) N/A for that, and possibly find a nice condition turbo depending on prices in your area. Not exactly lightweight, but a 300zx is a neat car as well.

300zxs are by far the coolest damn cars in existence. I love them to death. It's my dream car. I would turn down a brand new Corvette for a Fairlady Z Twin Turbo. I'd paint it a brilliant yellow and get hardcore carbonblack 19s on it. *drool*

What do you want to do with it? If you want to autocross, the miata is your car. It's KING of the autocross track in its class. It even beats the CRX, which was king for years.

If you like straight line, the MRII turbo (2nd gen) is excellent. It's got great acceleration, and it looks pretty damn good too.

If you ONLY like straight line acceleration, and you like pissing off sports car owners, look at the typhoon. It's an AWD Jimmy, essentially, but it does 0-60 in 5 seconds.

RWD cars I own/have owned:

'93 Mercury Cougar: Mine had the underpowered and very unreliable 3.8 V6. Excellent car otherwise, and the light engine (its only good attribute) combined with the excellent suspension made it handle superbly, especially for being a 3500 pound car that looks like it was made for Grandma to drive to church. It was very well balanced too, I enjoyed drifting it around corners in rain.

'88 Ford Thunderbird: Weird car. Basically a combination of Mustang and Lincoln chassis parts, with a turbo 4-banger and manual tranny. Has tons of little electrical/engine sensor glitches but the basic drivetrain is bulletproof. It sticks to the road quite well, but it feels squirrely and doesn't give much feedback, so it's not much fun on twisty back roads. The manual is nice, and the car will really move once the turbo spools up (which doesn't take long).

'93 Lincoln Mark VIII: Just had this one for a week so I don't have as much experience with it yet. It's on the same platform as the Cougar so it drives similarly, but doesn't feel quite as tossable because of the DOHC V8 weighing down the nose. It is very smooth and refined, and can really haul ass especially past 30 mph or so.

Yeah, you could say I'm a fan of the big 2-door Fords. :)

I've also driven my dad's '80 Triumph TR7 convertible quite a bit. It's VERY unique and fun to drive--it feels like a go-kart. It's highly underpowered by today's standards though, but that is commonly remedied by dropping in a GM 3.8 V6. There was also a V8 version (the TR8) but those are quite hard to come by.

I think everyone is really forgetting the F-Bodies.

A 93+ Camaro or firebird w/ the LT1, or a 98+ w/ the LS1 can haul an amazing amount of balls.

The 5.7l v8 is no joke. Don't overlook these cars.

Heh me and my roomate are gonna build a miata with a ford 351W in it :)

and up to its drag-limited 194mph :D

yeah i wouldnt rule out the 240sx, because you can find one for a fairly low price, and if you were to swap in an sr20det from the japanese silvia, that would be a fucking fast 240, just an idea nobody else has posted........

LOL I was going to say RX7, Supra and Nissian 240sx, but you beat me to it!:lol:

OK, I have done alot of looking at the 240SX and yeah the engine replacement would be the way to go.

Also I think I am more interested in the imports only. Not sure I like anything domestic, they usually are either ugly or too big. Also something old-school would be fun too like the datsun 510. that looks like a fun car. The biggest drawback of the miata is that it is only a 2 seater. I do need the little backseats like the 240sx has, I have two kids and even though they would rarely be in this car, if I had to I would like to be able to.

So, so far i would have to say that the 240sx is the weapon of choice, but I know there has to be other RWD cars out there.

Also I don't think that I would really have the time to autocross, and all the roads here in Tulsa are stright, so straightline is important but not all, I wouldn't want that miata with a v8, good christ that thing woud be a bitch in the corners.

You could get a Datsun 280ZX 2+2. doesn't look quite as nice as teh 2 seater, but still a fun little car. Swab in your Small Block of choice and your good to go for incredible straight line power as well as decent handling. Or you could just put in the turbo 280 motor ... dont know if the 2+2 was ever offered with the turbo though.

A gen II MR-2 would probably fit your needs nicely. The turbo version has 200 bhp in a 2800ish lb car. Boost upgrade is easy to do, and could net you a good amount of more ponies. Plus, its mid-engined, something you dont find every day, and as I believe someone mentioned, it is a damn sexy car.

Firebirds and Camaro's are sedans?????

No there not!


Another car I forgot about would be a Buick Grand National, they got a Turbo V6:D

I got the drive one some time back....very powerful car!

Sorry for the misunderstanding, by sedan/v8 market I was suggesting sedans OR cars with V8's in general. As an owner of a Firebird, I certainly consider it a coup, although the insurance company loves to call it a "sports car" :rolleyes:

1st Gen Mazada MX-5 Miata - Real easy to add lots of HP, however is a little femine

86 Corrola GT-S/GT-Apex - Have become very popular lately, but overall very good car.

Any Datsun/Nissian Z - I would go with the 280z, because I really like them. However the 300zx is a better car, with much better reilibilty, Avoid the 300zx turbo

1979-1981 Toyota Celica Supra - RWD I-6, all around good fun.

Mazda RX-7 - Look at the milliage, enigines tend to die at about 130,000. These are a lot of fun to drive.

I haven't heard much about the RX-7 engines dying at 130k, but after around 80k you need to rebuild the apex seals, which does require an engine rebuild. If you're capable of doing it yourself, its not that big of a deal - as rotary engines are much much simplier than piston engines.

However, if you take it to a mechanic, you're gonna pay.

it only cost more because its a rare engine....more auto companies should use the rotary engines!

If you do the maintenance and take care of the engine properly, the apex seals should last you a good 120k miles or more. If they died at 80, someones not taking too god of care of it probably.

And do the apex seals yourself. Dont take it to a shop. To many shops aren't trained properly in pistons engines, yet alone a rotary. Its so hard to find someone whos competant to work on them for you, id say its a better deal learning how to, and then doing it yourself.

If your into the larger cars, a camaro/firebird or an older vette would definately be a nice car as well.

Miata or 240sx. Has anyone mentioned a 944?

does anyone know if the early 90 late 80s Supra turbo is different then the non-turbo supra? Same car just no turbo?

Well, I'm no Supra expert, but I am pretty sure the turbo model has a turbo (obviously), rear spoiler, and a sportier suspension than its N/A counterpart. I believe the inline 6 is the 7M-GE in both models....(well, 7M-GTE in the turbo, but same shit)....

I would still spring for the turbo model:p

well the idea would be to get a cheaper one that has no turbo and buy the JDM turbo motor for it.

That depends on what costs more....!