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I'm only 6'1 and the miata is not comfortable, NA/NB at least. I'd look for something else personally, even though they're fun. I only had to own 3 of them to figure that out.  Cruising my local craigslist, there's tons of mustangs, fieros, 924s, BMWs and British roadsters available for <$5k with a manual trans. Even a mazdaspeed 6 and a couple RX8s (blown engines,  ). Out of all that, I'm not sure I'd recommend any of them, but there's tons of options. I'd pick up an MR2 turbo though if it were me.
Suburban Dad fucked around with this message at 20:17 on Jul 16, 2018 |
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Jul 16, 2018 20:12
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Larrymer posted:I'm only 6'1 and the miata is not comfortable, NA/NB at least. I'd look for something else personally, even though they're fun. I only had to own 3 of them to figure that out. On the flipside I am also 6'1" and fitted in an NB (the supposed 'small' Miata/MX5) perfectly, it was like it was made to fit me and me alone. It was nicely snug like I was properly sat in the car.
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Jul 16, 2018 20:24
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Olympic Mathlete posted:it was like it was made to fit me and me alone. DRR... DRR...
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Jul 16, 2018 20:28
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Vital Signs posted:Just edited. Is height going to be an issue? Typical sports car or worse? Put a manual in the Crown Vic as your first project.
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Jul 16, 2018 20:40
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Larrymer posted:I'm only 6'1 and the miata is not comfortable, NA/NB at least. I'd look for something else personally, even though they're fun. I only had to own 3 of them to figure that out. As cool as MR2 Turbos are I don't think a mid engine car is gonna be easy to work on. Miatas are fun but small. I am way to wide to drive one on the regular or it might have been my new daily driver. Instead I bought a CRX Si. I just wish the CRX was RWD.
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Jul 16, 2018 21:31
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Olympic Mathlete posted:On the flipside I am also 6'1" and fitted in an NB (the supposed 'small' Miata/MX5) perfectly, it was like it was made to fit me and me alone. It was nicely snug like I was properly sat in the car. Ditto. The seats murdered my back but I fit wonderfully in my NA. I chalk that up to my lovely back.
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Jul 16, 2018 21:37
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Loanarn posted:I just wish the CRX was RWD. You know what you need to do.
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Jul 16, 2018 23:24
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Olympic Mathlete posted:On the flipside I am also 6'1" and fitted in an NB (the supposed 'small' Miata/MX5) perfectly, it was like it was made to fit me and me alone. It was nicely snug like I was properly sat in the car. I'm all torso. While sitting in there my head would touch the top if it was up, and with the top down I'd have to look out the roof to see traffic lights even with the visors removed. I always felt like the seats sucked in the early miatas, like you sit on top of them and not down in them. Gotta cut the foam out to make them a little better but even less comfortable.
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Jul 17, 2018 02:07
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Vital Signs posted:Can you find cheap NCs though? 2005 is venturing out of my 5k or less goal I would think. Most of the Miatas I've seen for a couple grand are 90s. NA/NBs command better pricing. I've seen a lot of NCs for cheap of late, the ND has hammered the pricing. Hell I got mine out of FL several years ago for several thousand below average because there was a glut of them on the market. It was on average cheaper than final year NBs. NC1s (06-08) can be found for decent prices. Even on a $5K Miata it would be worth it to shop nationwide. Come join us in the Miata thread!
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Jul 17, 2018 02:34
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I fit pretty well in my Mustang back in the day... And I'm all torso 6' 2".... but everyone has a Mustang. Can you get early 2000s Mustang GTs under 5k? I can't buy a V6 if the GT is looking at me. I guess maybe the idea is to get something more popular so parts are cheap, and down the line I can make it unique via kits, paint, and wheel choices. I've been browsing 2005 Miatas and falling in love... You're all bastards for doing this to my tall self. I'm also not so sure I wanna do a transmission swap at this stage, as I want to start slow. But holy poo poo these cars are so cheap for what you're getting. Are things like Probes or Fieros just not a good idea? They have a poor image, but I don't know how justified it is. They are certainly cheap. Edit: BRB going to sit in a Miata.
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Jul 17, 2018 02:36
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Nobody should ever buy a V6 Mustang so stick with a GT if that's what you end up in. I know several people who have picked up SN-95 Mustangs in inoperable condition for under $2K and have repaired them for pennies.
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Jul 17, 2018 02:38
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Vital Signs posted:I fit pretty well in my Mustang back in the day... And I'm all torso 6' 2".... but everyone has a Mustang. Can you get early 2000s Mustang GTs under 5k? I can't buy a V6 if the GT is looking at me. I guess maybe the idea is to get something more popular so parts are cheap, and down the line I can make it unique via kits, paint, and wheel choices. MR2’s look small but fit big people
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Jul 17, 2018 02:53
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SquirrelGrip posted:MR2’s look small but fit big people Rhyno posted:Nobody should ever buy a V6 Mustang so stick with a GT if that's what you end up in. I know several people who have picked up SN-95 Mustangs in inoperable condition for under $2K and have repaired them for pennies.
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Jul 17, 2018 02:57
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SquirrelGrip posted:MR2’s look small but fit big people My dad and I are both 6' 2" and 200+lbs (Him muscular, me fat) and we drove from Wisconsin to the Florida keys and back in an AW11 MR2. It wasn't even all that tough.
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Jul 17, 2018 02:58
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Vital Signs posted:Are they fairly easy to work on and find parts? One was a fuel pump, another a starter solenoid or a relay. Very cheap and easy stuff but the previous owners couldn't be bothered.
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Jul 17, 2018 03:01
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SquirrelGrip posted:MR2’s look small but fit big people True. My first car was a red AW11 and I was 6'3 200+ at 15. I fit easily and drove the gently caress out of it. Frunk = more leg room. Also, MR2 is always the answer if you can loving find one.
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Jul 17, 2018 03:12
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Vital Signs posted:Are they fairly easy to work on and find parts? parts should be fine, just remember you dont pull the engine out, you lift the car off it and things become easy if i had to rank them AW11 - 4age or gze power, spaceship styles, handles nicer than the sw20 SW20 - turbo 2lt, engine was used in wrc and jgtc, most likely to eat you, looks like a japanese ferrari ZZ30 - "best track day car", no turbo model from factory, can parts bin your way to swapping same engine/box lotus uses
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Jul 17, 2018 03:20
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 The AZ-1 hype is absolutely real and it's awesome Don't get an AW11 get one of these instead!
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Jul 17, 2018 03:20
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There are very few MR2's on the internet right now, and even fewer under 5k. I may be able to snag an 80's MR2 for a couple grand if I'm right place/right time. Miata has a bit more, but they are right on the edge of 5k, and may be better for an 5-10k budget (I am looking at the 2006 model). If I went with the previous gen, it would be easy to do sub 5k, but I am certain I would not fit by the sounds of it. Mustangs are very available and very cheap. I can have a running/drivable GT for 2-3k. The big thing about the MR2 or Miata is that they are Japanese cars, and I've always been a fan of the build/part quality of Japanese cars.SquirrelGrip posted:parts should be fine, just remember you dont pull the engine out, you lift the car off it and things become easy KakerMix posted:
Vital Signs fucked around with this message at 03:29 on Jul 17, 2018 |
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Jul 17, 2018 03:23
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Vital Signs posted:I'm not a fan of the ZZ30 style, but the AW11 and SW30 are both pretty awesome. yeah the mrs requires a lot to get the same kind of feeling as the other two, but easily the nicest to drive fast. even with big power added i have an sw20 because i like they look and jdm dohc turbo is like crack to me 
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Jul 17, 2018 03:35
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SquirrelGrip posted:yeah the mrs requires a lot to get the same kind of feeling as the other two, but easily the nicest to drive fast. even with big power added I see the thread point about Mustangs: https://www.ebay.com/itm/183328733273?vectorid=229466&lgeo=1&item=183328733273&rmvSB=true Vital Signs fucked around with this message at 03:50 on Jul 17, 2018 |
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Jul 17, 2018 03:40
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Rhyno posted:Nobody should ever buy a V6 Mustang so stick with a GT if that's what you end up in. I know several people who have picked up SN-95 Mustangs in inoperable condition for under $2K and have repaired them for pennies. I would be cool with a 2011+ V6 (305hp Duratec 37) but I think that's outside the scope of the original question.
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Jul 17, 2018 04:09
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Charles posted:I would be cool with a 2011+ V6 (305hp Duratec 37) but I think that's outside the scope of the original question. I have a feeling I'm going to window shop for months, and hopefully something just falls into my lap that I cannot pass up. Another question I have. What are some "must have tools" for a garage when doing a project? I have a tool stack with basics like wrenches, socket set, so on. I also have a crawler, jack stands, and a solid jack. Thoughts on a "project car starter kit" would be great. I can probably pick those out much easier than the car.
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Jul 17, 2018 05:13
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Vital Signs posted:I like this kind of look a lot too. It's similar to my Eagle Talon that I had. My Talon didn't give me too many issues. I think I did on brake job a few times, coil pack/wires/plugs, and maybe one other small repair. So, I don't really have too much experience working on it or buying parts. It does seem like there are a good chunk of Eclipses or Talons out there in my price range, but I'm not sure how easy they are to work on. I also think if this is what I'm going for, I should just spend the little extra and get an MR2. They look so much nicer. Most turbo DSMs (eclipse, talon, laser) have been beaten to death by this point. I'm surprised you got away with as few repairs as you did. I had one for a few years and only drove it about 25k miles and I was doing poo poo to it all the time.
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Jul 17, 2018 13:29
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KakerMix posted:The AZ-1 hype is absolutely real and it's awesome I would love an AZ-1, but if I don’t fit in a miata, I won’t fit in an AZ-1. Of all the tiny cars out there, the aw11 has the most headroom. The T3Tuning seat mount gives me enough room for my head with a helmet on and I’m almost 6’3”.
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Jul 17, 2018 13:44
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TWSS posted:I would love an AZ-1, but if I don’t fit in a miata, I won’t fit in an AZ-1. Of all the tiny cars out there, the aw11 has the most headroom. The T3Tuning seat mount gives me enough room for my head with a helmet on and I’m almost 6’3”.
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Jul 17, 2018 16:02
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EvilBeard posted:My C5 is going to need tires soon. It comes factory with Goodyear F1 GS EMT 275/40R18 in the back. Since they're about $350 each, I've kicked around getting Continentals, but since Corvettes have no spare, I'm hesitant to not get the run flats. I went with Nitto NT05 on my C5 Z06. Not a lot of options in OE size. Absolutely transformed the car.
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Jul 17, 2018 16:26
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Larrymer posted:Most turbo DSMs (eclipse, talon, laser) have been beaten to death by this point. I'm surprised you got away with as few repairs as you did. I had one for a few years and only drove it about 25k miles and I was doing poo poo to it all the time. Yeah, keep in mind that a DSM is a turbo sports car. They're perfectly reliable,... IF YOU DO THE MAINTENANCE. They've gone through at least two or three cycles of dipshit kids that don't do maintenance, so you'll have to play catch-up unless you get an example from an actual enthusiast.
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Jul 17, 2018 20:42
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Vital Signs posted:MR2's keep sounding better and better. I think I'm more partial to the SW20, but I doubt I'll find one for 5k or less. I've read online the SW20 is okay for taller people as well. It is. I drove a few thinking about picking one up a few years back and I still had plenty of head room. They'd been beaten to loving death though.
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Jul 18, 2018 02:28
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i hit my head in the 86 sometimes but never in the mr2
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Jul 18, 2018 03:32
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https://nmi.craigslist.org/cto/d/1986-mazda-rx-7-series-iv/6641752113.html Oh no this is like 15 minutes away...
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Jul 18, 2018 03:34
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Might as well treat that as comes with no wheels and a bad engine.
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Jul 18, 2018 03:41
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Ya the wheels are horrible. I think I just need to focus my window shopping on strictly MR2's.
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Jul 18, 2018 03:46
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I posted this car here about 10 years ago, but I cleaned it up and did ceramic coating last week so I'm posting it again. 
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Jul 18, 2018 05:06
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TheGoatTrick posted:I posted this car here about 10 years ago, but I cleaned it up and did ceramic coating last week so I'm posting it again.
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Jul 18, 2018 05:49
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TheGoatTrick posted:I posted this car here about 10 years ago, but I cleaned it up and did ceramic coating last week so I'm posting it again. How much did the coating run you if you don't mind me asking? My cars a bit smaller than yours and I just started looking into it, but mine's so swirled up I'd need a serious detail; still temping though cause I put a ton of miles on it Car looks mint! Aged very well.
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Jul 18, 2018 16:27
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um excuse me posted:Might as well treat that as comes with no wheels and a bad engine. Wheels are terrible, but 115K on a non-turbo rotary is fine. My '90 had 225K on it when I sold it, running fine. You know this diagram?:  The solution is don't put boost in. edit: You also don't get quite as much fun out, either, but...
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Jul 18, 2018 20:19
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My brother had an 89 GXL. Shat its apex seals at 110k. YMMV
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Jul 18, 2018 21:02
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So, as this will be my first "project car," what sort of repairs should I stay away from to avoid getting in over my head. I'm now looking across the entire country, and there are MR2's out there for 1kish and they need work (obviously). I just want to know what issues are a giant red flag that I should avoid at all costs. Should I avoid something this cheap because of the amount of work it will probably have? I'm very comfortable with bolt on stuff and swapping out various parts (hoses, lines, and such), but I'm worried that if I go this cheap I'll run into engine or transmission problems, and I'm not sure I'm going to have the ability or tools needed to have to do these right out of the gate. Am I better off setting a higher starting point for my buy price?
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Jul 19, 2018 01:38
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thechalkoutline posted:How much did the coating run you if you don't mind me asking? There's a bunch more info in the detailing thread; I went into detail about coating my other car here: https://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3474488&userid=29684#post474020997 https://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3474488&userid=29684#post479176308
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Jul 19, 2018 02:02
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