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    1. #1
      Join Date
      Nov 2006
      Location
      Washington, MO
      Posts
      2,363

      Ideas for a compact 80's Gas Saver/Driver?

      I'm in the market for a cheap little gas saver, but wanted to look for something somewhat fun to drive. Back in the day I had a 91 Suzuki Swift GT, but those are rare and fetch a price.

      Any other idea's? I'd like it to be a late 80's very early 90's car. Budget is $1500-2000.





    2. #2
      Join Date
      Jul 2009
      Posts
      83
      Are you looking for FWD, RWD or AWD? For a FWD that can be quite fun to drive, and is not the typical Honda or Toyota, I recommend any of the Mopar 2.2 or 2.5 Turbo cars. My preference is for the Charger body. Shelby did the GLH and GLHS based off this engine platform.

      AWD I have a preference for the 80's Audi 4000 (or 90) Quattro, though there are the Subies you can scoop up as well.
      "I can drive any forking thing around"
      Build Log http://banditcutlass.wordpress.com/

    3. #3
      Join Date
      Jan 2008
      Location
      Long Beach, Ca
      Posts
      1,564
      Country Flag: United States
      The '89 Honda CRX was rated at 59mpg highway. They handle well, and with some slight mods can be pretty peppy too!
      Jon Rasmussen
      Ex Team OLJ.
      '72 Nova

    4. #4
      Join Date
      Jun 2005
      Location
      Greenwood, SC
      Posts
      2,314
      i'm dd'ing a mid-90s saab 900 right now. The best heat I've ever experienced in my life, power windows, power locks, cruise, heated seats, 6 disc cd changer, and 33 mpg for 1100 bucks.

      Plus it's been AWESOME in the snow this year.


    5. #5
      Join Date
      Nov 2006
      Location
      Washington, MO
      Posts
      2,363
      I'm leaning toward a FWD hatch back... some great idea's so far.

      These seem fun..


      Something about them screams high maintenance though...

    6. #6
      Join Date
      May 2008
      Location
      South Jersey
      Posts
      263
      Country Flag: United States
      Back when I was 19-20 I had a '89 Beretta with the v6 and 5 speed, it was a assload of fun and I beat the hell out of it and never had any problems in the 2 years I had it

      Nick

      '67 Chevelle 350/th350..... soon to be all aluminum 5.3
      '73 Chevelle 4.8/th350

    7. #7
      Join Date
      Jul 2009
      Posts
      83
      That is actually the Dodge Daytona, same platform I was talking about. They are actually fairly basic rigs compared to some of the imports especially. They have either a 2.2/2.5 NA motor, 2.2/2.5 Turbo motor or a V6 in the later models. Some of the Shelby cars came with some parts that could be difficult to get these days, however there were tons of these cars built and you can rarely hit a scrap yard without finding a a few.
      "I can drive any forking thing around"
      Build Log http://banditcutlass.wordpress.com/

    8. #8
      Join Date
      Nov 2006
      Location
      Washington, MO
      Posts
      2,363
      Beretta's are dirt cheap... They dont look half bad.

      Which engine?
      2.3 L Quad-4
      2.8 L V6
      3.1 L LH0 V6
      3.1L "3100 SFI" V6

    9. #9
      Join Date
      May 2008
      Location
      South Jersey
      Posts
      263
      Country Flag: United States
      The Quad-4s are great little motors, mine was a 2.8 though
      Nick

      '67 Chevelle 350/th350..... soon to be all aluminum 5.3
      '73 Chevelle 4.8/th350

    10. #10
      Join Date
      Apr 2001
      Location
      The City of Fountains
      Posts
      15,971
      Country Flag: United States
      Quote Originally Posted by Nessumsar View Post
      The '89 Honda CRX was rated at 59mpg highway. They handle well, and with some slight mods can be pretty peppy too!
      Another vote for a CRX. I believe you want the HF model, which had the most fuel economy.

      Andrew
      1970 GTO Version 3.0
      1967 Cougar build
      GM High-Tech Performance feature
      My YouTube Channel Please Subscribe!
      Instagram @projectgattago
      Dr. EFI
      I deliver what EFI promises.
      Remote Holley EFI tuning.
      Please get in touch if I can be of service.

      "You were the gun, your voice was the trigger, your bravery was the barrel, your eyes were the bullets." ~ Her

    11. #11
      Join Date
      Jul 2005
      Location
      Bay Area
      Posts
      1,085
      Another one for the CRX. Had some of my best times flying around Cali in that little bucket. Wish I still had it. Or another one.
      Jose (Joe)
      1963 Nova SS Convertible
      1978 Malibu LT1/4L60E
      1978 Malibu Stock
      1983 Malibu Estate Woodie Wagon
      2007 Harley Dyna SB

    12. #12
      Join Date
      Feb 2009
      Location
      MA.
      Posts
      96
      dodge Omni GLH

    13. #13
      Join Date
      Jul 2009
      Posts
      83
      Quote Originally Posted by PROTREE View Post
      dodge Omni GLH
      Technically the GLH was a Shelby but yeah the same platform I was talking about earlier. My father actually had a GLH when it was new and man was that thing a riot to ride around in! I seem to remember they did a race (I think at Laguna Seca) between a GLH and an original GT350 and the GLH had won. It was mostly because of handling and better braking though, acceleration was fairly close between the two cars.
      "I can drive any forking thing around"
      Build Log http://banditcutlass.wordpress.com/

    14. #14
      Join Date
      Oct 2004
      Posts
      2,544
      Country Flag: United States
      How about a Corvair? You got it, drive it!
      Red Forman: "The Mustang's front end is problematic; get yourself a Firebird."

    15. #15
      Join Date
      Mar 2008
      Posts
      952
      Quote Originally Posted by 68Formula View Post
      How about a Corvair.
      they didn't build too many Corvairs in the 80's and early 90's..

    16. #16
      Join Date
      Feb 2002
      Location
      Springfield, MO
      Posts
      4,470
      Country Flag: United States
      I'll never own another Daytona. I bought it for $900 at a deal. 1 yeAr later I had put over $2,200 additional in it......ended up selling it for $700!
      I learned alot on that car......when to quit the bleeding early! Lol.

      My vote would be a Civic or CRX if you can't get a good mid size Buick first.
      Jimmy

      69 Camaro Twin Turbo'd
      58 Nomad 348 Baby Rat

      http://www.fquick.com/shmoov69


    17. #17
      Join Date
      Dec 2004
      Location
      Sarasota, Fl
      Posts
      1,717
      If you are serious about decent mileage, avoid the Daytona and pretty much any turbo car from the '80s. They simply didn't have the tune right enough to get power and mileage. My XR4TI is a good example... I love the car, but the 2.3 turbo motor only gets 17-22mpg, maybe 25 on the highway. That is not good comparatively. There are tons of '80s NA import cars that will pull 25-35mpg no problem... Civic, Corolla, Sentra, etc. If I were looking for something like that, I'd seriously consider a Nissan Sentra SE-R... great handling, good power, good mileage, lots of potential if you decide to get more serious with it.

    18. #18
      Join Date
      Jul 2006
      Location
      Hackettstown, NJ
      Posts
      1,026
      I drove a 87 daytona for a few years . 5 spd turbo. I installed shelby suspension from a wreck. I couldn't kill the car. I seriously tried too. got 30 mpg on highway crusing at 85. dang limiter kicks in a 125 though.

    19. #19
      Join Date
      Jul 2002
      Location
      Mesquite, TX
      Posts
      4,901
      Country Flag: United States
      There's a lot of folks that love the E30 (80s BMW 3-series), even over its successors. Never had one so I can't speak for their quality.

    20. #20
      Join Date
      Apr 2005
      Location
      USA
      Posts
      4,462
      Country Flag: United States
      Go for the CRX .
      Jeff Tate
      U.S.A.
      "The best thing about participating in these events is that you get to hang out with a group of intelligent like minded people who live to achieve things in their lives. You won't find a lazy, mean, or dumb bone in their bodies." Bret Voelkel, RideTech

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