Classic (affordable) cars

[cmcpokey]

I don't know how much leeway we're giving 'classic' here. For an affordable older car though, I've always thought of just abandoning practicality and going for a Toyota MR2. They're cheap and great. I'd have to go with 2nd gen though. The 1st gen have quite a following and are supposedly liked more because they're lighter, but they're just too ugly to me. The second gen are elegant.

the MR-2 will always try and kill you though. supposedly (from and MR-2 owner) the first and third gens are a bit safer on the edge, and wont as easily throw you into a spin once you hit a pebble in the road. the second gen, which i also agree is the best looking, will throw you into a spin. very easily.

[digitalcraft]

According to the wiki, Toyota changed the car in 1993 because of driving problems like that, does your friend have an older one?

Honestly the Mk3 MR2 is on my short list of new cars to get, I just didn't think it would count in the 'affordable classics' discussion. :P

[Wouter Melissen]

the MR-2 will always try and kill you though. supposedly (from and MR-2 owner) the first and third gens are a bit safer on the edge, and wont as easily throw you into a spin once you hit a pebble in the road. the second gen, which i also agree is the best looking, will throw you into a spin. very easily.

It's why I sold mine.

[fisetdavid26]

It's why I sold mine.

Pussy.

[Wouter Melissen]

Pussy.

Maybe I should have finetuned the suspension.

[fisetdavid26]

Maybe I should have finetuned the suspension.

Or your driving.

[Quiggs]

Dave, should we declare "no balls" on Wouter?

[digitalcraft]

What is it anyways? Its mid engined, I thought it had pretty good weight balance. Jittery suspension?

[clutch-monkey]

mr-2 couldn't be much worse than an older 911 in terms of snap oversteer.

that said, my cousin did go through a two fences and a shop front in his in the wet, although i ascribe that to his lack of talent

[cmcpokey]

my friend 'had' and gen2 turbo. he lost it in a corner when a deer ran out in front of him. he caught one rear wheel in the gravel on the side of the road, and he spun off into the woods. sailed through a couple of small trees, and if anyone had been in the passenger side, they would not have fared so well. he got out with a few bruises and scratches (mainly from having to climb through the thicket back to the road).

somehow through all of this he like them. he still has the wrecked one, and wants to take the engine and put it in a gen1. since the gen 2 turbo had so much more power than the first. still sounds like suicide to me.

[johnnynumfiv]

Yeah but they break a lot. Trust me I know two people that have them.

Between my father and I we have over 10 mgs. I know their tendencies, but lack of proper maintenance is a huge cause of their problems. The race car has been bulletproof ( knocks on wood) for the past few years of regular competition.

[Falcon500]

According to the wiki, Toyota changed the car in 1993 because of driving problems like that, does your friend have an older one?

Honestly the Mk3 MR2 is on my short list of new cars to get, I just didn't think it would count in the 'affordable classics' discussion. :P

First mistake your trusting wiki....alot of things on there should be taken with a grain of salt.

[TehRacer]

we have been coming each year since 2005, and will be back next year. We might have been at the same 7-eleven gas station, did you see the Mustang with license plate #14?.... I got several shots of Andretti, both in the corkscrew and in turn 11.

Well I guess we have a habit then of being at the same place at the same time and not knowing we were even there. I think I might remember the Mustang but then again I'm not too sure. Would you mind emailing me those pictures you took of him? If its not too much trouble just send them to arashmehdipour@ yahoo.com. Thanks buddy, and hope to see you next year!

[cmcpokey]

we should all get together... have a monterey area UCP shindig.

[Timothy (in VA)]

I might have a chance to sell my car for a reasonably good price. Not that the budget really matters because I'm curious on your opinions too. So i wanna know if you had some extra cash laying around, what kind of car would you buy that would stand out? for instance, and old jaguar or E30. Anything semi rare or just cool looking. Or maybe something with some heritage. It doesn't really matter how much, I'm just curious.

Well, I've already got my "affordable" classic. It's semi-rare these days, is very cool looking (IMO), and it definitely stands out. If those are your criteria and you're not concerned with fuel mileage, I recommend an American personal luxury coupe from the 1970's, something like a Thunderbird or Lincoln Continental. If you can find one, you could get a Chrysler Cordoba and brag about your rich Corinthian leather.

Alternatively, you could live up to your username and try to find a Plymouth Barracuda. I imagine some of the later (the last Barracudas were made in 1974) V-6 powered models might qualify as "affordable."