what to do with my 1988 323 hatch?

[thumpr]

can't make a decision.

we are proud owners of a 1988 323 hatchback, 4-speed stick. 160,000 miles. runs pretty good, but... we're getting rid of it and can't figure out how.

needs new tires.
prolly needs new clutch.
and new engine. oil was not a priority for the driver.
plus, at one point, the steering shaft broke off the chassis; that's welded.

in other words, we've beaten the living carp out of it. it still handles well and the brakes work and the chassis is in good shape. but to make it safe will cost more than the book value of the car.

what should we do with it?

a) junk it
b) fix it up and sell it ("sure! i'll donate $1000!")
c) sell it as a fixer-upper
d) let it rot on the street another 2 months, then decide

whatcha think

 

[Gbourdon]

1) Take it to a demo derby or a dirt track and end its life there.

Don't know if that is common in San Fran but up in Cow Hampshire that's what half the people do in their spare time.

 

[2words]

park in on a real busy steet and let it get hit and get insurance money, it happend to a friend of mine with a old van. paid like 500 for it drove it forever, got hit and said totalled for 8 or 900 then he got the check!!! insurance said they were gonna come get it he said no im gonna fix it and just drives it around with a dent in it .....

 

[AZDriftR]

nevermind i thought maybe it was a GTX...anyways...ya i would just blow it to HIGH HELL!!! just ghost ride it down those insane hills u have in SF...but if u do..make a video

 

[ChopstickHero]

blow it up like those guys by over revving the s*** out of it .... where's that old 2nd gen RX7 video?

 

[thumpr]

hmm. a, b, c, d,
e) http://www.sixfoot6.com/omni/

 

[Natey]

BPT swap!! (rockon)

 

[thumpr]

evil scientist on left shoulder agrees. accountant on right shoulder says, "new transmission, new suspension. cheaper to just buy a GTX"

[edit] "and... 4WD!"

evil scientist agrees.

 

[Mazdaspeedgirl]

keep it. spend a bit of money and make it an autocross beater.

 

[funnylittlman]

Use trees to stop the vehicle instead of your brakes

 

[thumpr]

yeah i think the autocross idea might be it - especially since carroll smith's drive to win just scolded me for even thinking about driving practice without a stick - 'course he seems to scold everybody about everything - i guess he's earned it

and maybe someday - mazdaspeed stickers - j/k - does replacing the shocks count as a mod? (i mean, if the old ones have turned into pogo sticks)

 

[thumpr]

and the answer is:

a) junk it

the clutch reached paradise today - engine timing is real bad, all kinds of things are ready to quit - so, i found it a good home with a dismantler who can make the time/energy investment necessary to return the car to the soil.

thanks to all contestants, sorry no parting gifts

 

[Tonys3]

Take it to a destruction derby

 

[Pretzellogic]

Nuts. I was hoping you'd fix it up with junkyard parts and sell it.

Call me a romantic, but I hate to see cars die.

 

[thumpr]

i know, i know. it was a hard thing to do. but. it was a scary thing how the steering shaft broke off the first time. even though that got repaired we decided not to let anyone tempt fate.