Smaller cars with power?

[Kryton]

well im looking around for a cheap work hack that has to be in manual form (its half the fun) and no, this isnt a wanted ad either.

80s cars are fine, infact in the right price range but what to choose?
im thinking decent fun power for a small to mid size car should be around about or more than 100fwkw.
the celica fit this bill, cheap, manual, 103kw but it was Front wheel drive (ok i guess).
the cressida also fit the bill, may not so much the price range AND they dont come in manual. (pity-142kw)
the old meteor we had was fun, not as much power and front wheel drive, but still fun.
telstars have been considered - see above.

what else is out there that fits the bill, usually are (or are easy to come by) for less than $1000?

[Mongoose]

late 70's - early 80's corolla's, cheap as chips and are just about unkilliable
EDIT: to solve the lack of power, buy one for about $500 (cant be hard) then spend the other $500 giving it more power

[Walkinshaw]

Originally Posted by davway

for less than $1000?

Good luck......

I'd be looking for a centura or cortina

[16wantsI6]

capri turbos, tx3's or tx5's there turbo fours and cheap as chips!

[Kryton]

Originally Posted by Walkinshaw

Good luck......

I'd be looking for a centura or cortina

youd be surprised at what i can find for less than $1000 if i really want it.
the Meteor, we bought for $150.
it needed $8 worth of repairs to pass a RWC.
panels were straight with no rust, interior was immaculate, and engine/driveline was also in GC.

[XR Martin]

TX5 Turbos or even rarer is the Mazda Equivalent (or failing that the MX6)

[Kryton]

seems 80s BMWs might hold the answer.
some good power figures from some of the 3 and 5 series.

[XR Martin]

Here ya go

http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars...ot=0&Make=FORD

[DDXR6T]

Old KC-KE TX3's are going fairly cheap. Seen some around 1k! Turbo ones are getting cheaper too ... saw one for 2500 a few months back.

[schnoods]

An old Starion or Cordia (roger may give you a few tips).

A mate picked up a Factory Turbo Sigma last week for $1200. Bargain!

[Yellow_Festiva]

The old Hyundai "S" coupe apparently had a 84kw 1.5l???

Old swift Gti? 1.3l, 73kw?

[sleekism]

Originally Posted by Mongoose

late 70's - early 80's corolla's, cheap as chips and are just about unkilliable
EDIT: to solve the lack of power, buy one for about $500 (cant be hard) then spend the other $500 giving it more power

Corollas are VERY easy to kill the pieces of junk.

I would go Mazda323/Laser

[Casablanca]

i reckon go a r31 skyline plenty of power and cheap to buy

[Unco]

if you want something with the power you quoted AND that will handle, stick with the st162 celica... and you'll find one for that price if you look hard enough.

i owned one for seven years. their weak points are CV joints and front hub bearings. i went through a few of them. put some good shocks in it and the thing will handle like a dream.

[MRJUCY]

TX3s take an absolute hiding & keep on going & are pretty fun little handlers.

[Kryton]

Originally Posted by Unco

if you want something with the power you quoted AND that will handle, stick with the st162 celica... and you'll find one for that price if you look hard enough.

i owned one for seven years. their weak points are CV joints and front hub bearings. i went through a few of them. put some good shocks in it and the thing will handle like a dream.

well thats funny you mention the ST162's......thats what i was looking at originally but i thought the sale had fallen through so i started this thread to find something to take its place.
the car checked out so the sale is back on after all. :

ill keep you in mind if i need some help with it.

[mcflux]

AE92-powered Corollas (late 80s 20 valve twin cam jobbies) have 100fwkw

Or look up "PAE goes drifting" on youtube, there's a few clips of a beige early 80s RWD corolla having fun.

[steve.zissou]

I would have to agree with casablanca - r31 skyline.
light powerful straight 6cyl manual - get a silhouette and you get shorter dif and LSD (lots of fun with cheap 205's). Unbustable, but when they do (like if you drive through a brick fence) break they are cheap and heaps of wrecks to scrounge from. and easy to get more power if you want.
less than 9l/100 if your nice on the loud peddle.

[Fev]

go for a R31 skyline sillouette(sp?) they still look pretty good and mean with a little lowering and a nice set of rims.. throw a sports catback on there and it would be great fun and wont feel like driving somthing your grandma would like..

mayeb throw in some better speakers too

[TZENU]

AE86 (sprinter) anyone?? small, manual and real wheel drive = FUN! and cheap to boot

[Kryton]

there must be some other ugly little beasts out there that have been overlooked throughout the years.........

[DivHunter]

Lada Niva

[BlackLS]

AE82 or AE92 with the injected 16v twin-cam engine. 100fwkw, popular aftermarket. 20v supercharged from an MR2 - a straight drop-in.

Its the only thing that is cheap, reliable and relatively fast.

My personal advise is to keep away from cheap 80s turbos.

[SeXC]

toyota corona late 70's early 80's. have had 3. picked them all up for less than 400, rwd bucket. Only 2 ways to kill them. Roll it, drive it home, put a brick on the accelerator put a running hose down the carb, or tack weld a turbo to the exhaust, plumb it in and take it to the drags. you really cant go wrong.

[THORNSPAWN]

I have a manual 2.2L 88 mazda 626 wagon and a near complete factory turbo setup you can have for $1000 only missing turbo less than $100 of eBay. Sleeper and a half!!!

[Kryton]

Originally Posted by THORNSPAWN

I have a manual 2.2L 88 mazda 626 wagon and a near complete factory turbo setup you can have for $1000 only missing turbo less than $100 of eBay. Sleeper and a half!!!

Thanks but the Celica has been bought so thatll do me for now.
should have it Thursday next week.

[Psi-Pop]

Mk2 Ford Escort 2 litre, you wont find a 2 door for under 1k but possibly a 4 door, okay a bit down on power and maybe getting a bit too old but a great fun car. Power can me made in a few ways and at least your in a RWD and you will be looking out the side windows more so than the front.

**Not at all biased**

[Falc'man]

BMW 318is (E30)... I've seen first hand how hard they pull.

[Ruger]

bmw 3 series im biased though

e21 (up to 1982ish) 323i
depending on budget and e30 325i (86-91) 323i is also a good option but dont handle as good as a 318is and arent much more powerfull (5kw iirc)

I have a 1990 318is and its awesome fun to drive. They only ever made them in coupe form with a manual box. its getting difficult to find a manual 2 door 6 cyl model let alone one in good condition for a reasonable price.

[XR Martin]

I drove a mates E30 323 years ago and it was slow, but it was probably one of the best sounding 6s ive ever heard. I dont know what was done to the exhaust but I could listen to that all day.