The Ohio Random Thread... aka We Should Probably Be Working
- Thread starter THE Phen
- Start date
Fiji Mazda3
Member
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- 2014 Ford Focus ST
Has anyone's car been affected by the airbag recall? My wife's CRV wasn't suppose to be in it initially but this morning My CarFax app alerts me that hers has been recalled. Doing some research, it looks like it could take months before we get it replaced and that they're calling for the airbags to be disabled until fixed. Reason I ask is because there is a handful of Mazdas they were recalled too. Anyone get their bag replaced yet?
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Fiji Mazda3
Member
- :
- 2014 Ford Focus ST
You can check the VIN on safecar.gov.
I checked out Honda and it says it's being recalled if it was registered in a number of southern states, but our car has always been in Ohio. Yet they're still recalling it. Head scratcher....
I checked out Honda and it says it's being recalled if it was registered in a number of southern states, but our car has always been in Ohio. Yet they're still recalling it. Head scratcher....
so i was bored the other day and on ebay, made a joke that if Amber doesn't start parking in the garage I'm going to put a car in the garage. So I put in a random super low bid on 3rd gen Camaro IROC-Z and somehow almost won.
Got me thinking, what makes a decent cheap auto-x/track day car?
With that being it's only purpose (and getting there and home of course), what would you look for?
with cheap being the first criteria would RWD truly matter?
My first thoughts after initial price are:
1. Known dependability for drive train
2. availability & price of replacement parts
3. Tire prices (smaller wheel usually means cheaper rubber)
4. condition of vehicle - Mechanical then Cosmetic
5. Manual vs. Auto - given how cheap I was thinking (sub $4k) availability may be limited. Plus with auto it would be easier to convince Amber to give it a try.
6. FWD vs. RWD vs. AWD
While I know Miata is usually the answer, 3rd and 4th gen F-bodys can be had for cheap right now. Plus they have a back seat.
Got me thinking, what makes a decent cheap auto-x/track day car?
With that being it's only purpose (and getting there and home of course), what would you look for?
with cheap being the first criteria would RWD truly matter?
My first thoughts after initial price are:
1. Known dependability for drive train
2. availability & price of replacement parts
3. Tire prices (smaller wheel usually means cheaper rubber)
4. condition of vehicle - Mechanical then Cosmetic
5. Manual vs. Auto - given how cheap I was thinking (sub $4k) availability may be limited. Plus with auto it would be easier to convince Amber to give it a try.
6. FWD vs. RWD vs. AWD
While I know Miata is usually the answer, 3rd and 4th gen F-bodys can be had for cheap right now. Plus they have a back seat.
Definitely manual unless it is paddle shift and actually stays in a gear rather than jumping back and forth. Really depends on what class you want to be in. If I had a dedicated track car though it would most likely be RWD or AWD, unless it was some crazy FWD build that had a motor that could take the abuse.
Side note: LAST DAY OF F*&^ing COLLEGE CLASSES FOR EVER!
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The answer is always Miata but a FC RX-7 or a mustang would also be good choices. I would buy a mustang over a camero because of the weight and size of the car. Toyota MR2 would be something interesting to look into as well.
Woot!
Dedicated track car maybe isn't the best term...How about dedicated fun car? The idea isn't to be super serious, just something to beat on. Maybe get Amber involved as well. This is the kinda of thing I have in mind http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mazda-MX-6-...f432889d6&item=271709669846&pt=US_Cars_Trucks
Cheap car, I'm gonna say probably cheap parts too. Go Auto-x, track days, or just our for fun run and can take kids too. Although the more I think about it, If the family goes we'd probably take 2 cars anyway except the for fun run part.
Going over the 6 things I listed I would say Miata is the answer, so I should have added a back seat requirement. I could see an FC being a choice but I'm just not sure about the engine. At this point most FC's in the sub $4k price range would probably need the engine rebuilt or "was just rebuilt" and it's a crap shoot.
also, for the Camaro vs. Mustang, the Mustangs became the fatties in the 94ish style change. Plus I had a '99 and my brother had a '98 and those were disappointments w/ the 4.6L v8.
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princess peach
Member
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- '92 Miata, '06 MS6
Miata is our best answer, after that maybe a civic hatch. Will still be fun, somewhat competitive and practical.
For a cheap track/fun car with low cost to operate you will want something light. Weight on a track car increases the cost of tire, brakes, bearings, gas (yes even that adds up when getting less than 7 mpg for several hours a day), etc. You will want to pick something common because cheap parts follow volume. From what I've seen at the track Hondas, Neons, and miatas seem to be the low cost disposable toys people bring out. A Camaro would obviously be more fun on the straights at a track, but with a 4K budget, you won't have much left to do anything to the car and will have probably double the operating costs of the small cars. Most important thing, buy an already built car with a cage. They sell for a small percentage of the build cost because of the small resale market for them. Usually a caged track car will sell for less than a comparable street car (depending on what other goodies are added to it, of course. Track cars can also be insanely expensive with the best seat, fuel system, suspension, etc.).
Well, it appears I will be in a Miata for some races next year. No Mo Money Racing is a block from my house and always have 6 or 7 Miata race cars of different kinds in the shop. I had them do a front wheel bearing on my wife's Mazda 6s last week and talked to the owner for a couple hours about his rental programs. I'll probably wind up doing Chump Car racing at first because two hours of straight racing per stint seems pretty fun. His chump cars are Spec Miatas with a bunch of lightening. http://nomomoneyracing.com/Chumpcar_Rentals_2.php Trying to talk my wife into letting me do the 24 hour race at Homestead Miami that ends at midnight New Year's Eve, but its not going well.
For the Chevelle, my plan now is to buy an already built 4th Gen Camaro/Trans Am and race that, then when my son is old enough we can build the Chevelle together using the drivetrain out of the 4th Gen. In the meantime, the Chevelle is going back to daily driver duty.
For the Chevelle, my plan now is to buy an already built 4th Gen Camaro/Trans Am and race that, then when my son is old enough we can build the Chevelle together using the drivetrain out of the 4th Gen. In the meantime, the Chevelle is going back to daily driver duty.
That sounds awesome Bill. Good Luck!
Nate...is that your Christmas card this year....showing off the new ride?
It was the first image when I googled mazda christmas card. No new ride for me, in fact I didn't get anything car related this year.
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