Forum's been a bit dead lately. So let's talk about something. I have my new bike, and it's quite reliable. So while I had said to some I was done with cars for a bit, I always seem to end up reading through posts on the GRM board, TurboBricks, and the like. I was going to buy a truck/van to be able to move the bike around. I'm not sure if this is something I want to do. But lets lay out some options.
79' Chevy van, 305 V8, local, 400 bucks. Might be wise just to buy it in general, it can tow, haul, and I can pick up little school girls. But...it's light blue, and it's a van.
1990 Volvo 240, 4 door, N/A, 5 spd. It can tow a bike, just needs some encouragement, black interior(that's important), and looks pretty cool. And it can handle and scoot with the right talking to.
________ Other small car here, Miata, AW11, S13, RWD something or other.
I have the Chevy, but it sucks, why? FWD is not for me, just can't do it anymore. Cool, neat car, but no FWD anymore. So I'm in this unique position, one that I had wanted for a long time, I have a reliable bike, that is faster than any car I've ever had, but I'm left wanting a car to jump into and head to the Gap. It's always more fun with other people, and some of the most important people I know don't ride, so taking the motorcycle isn't an option.
I told myself I would never "build" a car without another mode of transport, well, here I am, smack dab in the middle of that situation, and now I can't decide what I want to do. I am also wanting to go back to school, maybe, I just don't know if it's in the cards for me, I am thinking of taking a welding class to get the Certificates and just calling it a day. I honestly need to start making some real money, but I'm not about to put on a stupid tie and talk to 'The Bobs'. So solution? Get paid to design and weld fantastic things together. But that's not the issue here. Tell me folks, what do you think? Play it safe, get the van, and lead the stalker lifestyle. Or build that car I always wanted, but could never do because of time/transportation constraints....
Discuss.
Steve
P.S. Dear CFTC board, wake the hell up.
P.S.S. Also, to add to the list of cars up there, I have also considered the SN95 Mustang(the one after the fox bodies), I will explain why if someone asks, but there are a lot of reasons.
well i would say a aw11 or a na miata, but one must decide between what type of balance you would want, as for towing, i am also looking to get rid of the bug, and replace it and the scooter with a old 240 volvo, cause they are crazy reliable and cheap to fix if something goes wrong. i'm all for going to the gap, but the sebring event in aug. is kinda messing that up for me right now. if that is something that we all want to do sometime, lets plan it out cause i'm for it and i know vann would be too
__________________
"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague desire for something salty..."
I say build the Chevy how you were planning on it. FWD isnt that bad. Make it the sleeper it should be and take it to the dragon. Or if you must have rwd then I guess the mustang since you've never had one. I say we make a new rule that says you cant have the same car twice.
Yeah, FWD isn't too terrible, I know. And the little thing screams potential, but aftermarket is little to none. Convince me to keep it, I really don't want to go through buying and selling anything else, it's a pain in the arse, I just need some motivation. But as far as the mustang, I have had one, long time ago, first real car in fact. 94 3.8, 5 spd. Man, if I knew then what I know now...MSnS, turbo, I mean, the suspension options are insane. What other car can I go out and buy a full tubular front K member with double wishbones and coilovers on both sides? And it just bolts on! Oh the possibilities. But the bike, I'll get some better pictures, I actually intend on painting the rear plastics this week, since it's quite ugly at the moment.
My concern really is will the Chevy be a failure when it's 'done.' There is little to no documented modifications or racing history for these cars. Whats to say the suspension geometry doesn't suck the big one and it will never handle well? I know conformity sort of sucks, but I would hate to dump money into something that just..well..sucks. And I'm not sure if the reliabiltiy will ever be there, hard part wise. The tranny is wicked small, the engine is unknown to me, so who knows. Lets look at it from this point.
Chevy, and say, a Volvo 240. Same price initially, and one has a fair amount more aftermarket than the other, in this case the Volvo. The Chevy came from a very bad time in the 80's where the electronics sucked, and the vacuum hoses looked like spaghetti, consider MSnS just to get it running right. Volvo is retarded simple, and if you can't work on it, put down the wrench, and parts are plentiful and cheap. Interior quality, just ask the housemates, the Chevy is pretty much what you would expect for a 1987 Chevrolet economy car, did I mention I turn on my headlights with a ballpoint pen? Volvo interior? Please, the Swedes know what's up. And, the biggest thing for me, of all, the chevy is small, while this is sometimes a good thing, that means it cannot tow, anything, at all. The Volvo can tow at least 3500 lbs. Another car if need be. And it can still be fun to drive, my 740, although a beast, was a hoot, for some reason everything just worked right.
Let me say this, if I had another car, like say, a nice plush automatic, cd player shod, a/c equipped car. And someone offered me a Spectrum for the price I paid for this one, I would take it, gut it, fab some coilovers, double up some sways, tune it up, and drive the living hell out of it. But, fact is, my other ride(the bike), is the most in your face experience you can have piloting something with an engine in it. And frankly, if it's raining, or if I'm going on a trip, I want to be in relative comfort, with working speakers and a nice interior, and a little less road noise than a washing machine. I just don't ever see the Chevy giving me that. Undeniably cool, but just not what I need right now I don't think.
And then there is the van, this is an amazing option, cheap, easy to fix, parts are basically all one dollar at NAPA, and an absolute model of versatiliy. Locked up space, it can tow, I can carry bikes IN it. All that, but the car guy in me says, "What are you thinking?" Not to mention it has a 305 V8 in it, which is awesome, since I can tow a house, but gas mileage? None, since I'm moving a 4000lb cinder block down the road. Next summer, I intend to go out across the country, spending some time with my dad in CO, and eventually making it to the US MotoGP in Monterey, at Seca. And the bike, whatever it may be at the time, is coming with. And I love the idea of me boosting across the countryside in a Turbo Volvo, I'm not sure if I like the idea of towing a trailer, with a car, that far, it is afterall, across the country. But my bike locked up in a van, with all my gear, stands, tires, tools, and me jamming on some Skynard hauling ass across Texas. Now that sounds like fun.
So lots of good and bads, but I intend to go look at a van tomorrow, and take some measurements of the bike, all that. I'm not giving up on other options, but I'm just trying to think sensible, for once, and it sucks.
I still say gut the Chevy and build it. Do all the free mods and see how it goes. Then if it still sucks throw it in the trash can and buy the Volvo. But if it shows potential, then buy some neons, yellow stripes, plenty of stickers and grossly negative offset wheels and go to sleep.
I still say gut the Chevy and build it. Do all the free mods and see how it goes. Then if it still sucks throw it in the trash can and buy the Volvo. But if it shows potential, then buy some neons, yellow stripes, plenty of stickers and grossly negative offset wheels and go to sleep.
Hahahahaha, I may just do it now. That almost sounds like fun.
EMO4life
