Ideas for Second "Fun Car"

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Ryan_Cunningham

Referencing an old '90s movie?

Wilson Pickett.



I second Matt's concerns.

For San Diego, the roof needs to be an option

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I used to own a 1970 Mustang convertible that belonged to my grandfather. 302, automatic, front disc brakes, pretty average classic Mustang. These cars are by no means a sports car, or even a sporty car. In stock form they drive like an old truck. If you invest probably an easy $15k to fundamentally overhaul the suspension including the geometry, brakes, and convert to rack and pinion steering you might have something that at least handles and steers like a semi-modern car. Even if you buy something with more punch than a standard 302 you’ll be dealing with the “charm” of a carbureted classic. I sold mine to my dad because I concluded I would never get it driving the way I wanted.

Not trying to be overly negative but this doesn’t tie with your original criteria, just go into it with your eyes wide open. $20-$30k gets you a good clean fastback Mustang, so budget more for upgrades to make it a reasonable driver. There are guys who have spent $100k on a full up resto mod muscle car and they still drive like crap compared to any modern sports car. Or for that matter, a modern Mustang which are really great cars.

I guess it depends on his definition of fun. My 69 Coronet convertible was fun, but so is the Cobra replica. Just different kinds of fun.

[911boost]

I have a '66 hardtop, it was my first car. It is a good cruiser, perfectly fits that roll.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I used to own a 1970 Mustang convertible that belonged to my grandfather. 302, automatic, front disc brakes, pretty average classic Mustang. These cars are by no means a sports car, or even a sporty car. In stock form they drive like an old truck. If you invest probably an easy $15k to fundamentally overhaul the suspension including the geometry, brakes, and convert to rack and pinion steering you might have something that at least handles and steers like a semi-modern car. Even if you buy something with more punch than a standard 302 you’ll be dealing with the “charm” of a carbureted classic. I sold mine to my dad because I concluded I would never get it driving the way I wanted.

Not trying to be overly negative but this doesn’t tie with your original criteria, just go into it with your eyes wide open. $20-$30k gets you a good clean fastback Mustang, so budget more for upgrades to make it a reasonable driver. There are guys who have spent $100k on a full up resto mod muscle car and they still drive like crap compared to any modern sports car. Or for that matter, a modern Mustang which are really great cars.

A sad truth...in our memory's eye, all the old collector cars rode on highways and streets paved in gold. Sadly, that's not the case. But that doesn't necessarily remove the fun factor of owning one as long as you can accept the realities of ownership. One of the realities is that a kid in a new Honda Civic can blow the doors off a stock '65-'66
Mustang. But even knowing that, which would you rather own?

That said, there's a '65 ragtop on BAT right now...but it would be a project to bring it up to snuff.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Yeah I agree, they can still be fun. Just a TOTALLY different flavor of fun as compared to where this thread started. And definitely not as well suited for use as a normal car.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Yeah I agree, they can still be fun. Just a TOTALLY different flavor of fun as compared to where this thread started. And definitely not as well suited for use as a normal car.

Again, I agree. But the post I made suggesting a low miles '08-'09 Bullitt 'Stang appears to have been quickly rejected. Looks? Sorta like an early one. Performance? 'Bout the same as a '67 tripower 427 'Vette. Probably the societal stigma thing...no status.

[RWebb]

Mustang Sally is a song - from the '60s

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I would not EVER recommend a GM f-body car to anyone who values their sanity. I owned two in my youth (a Camaro and a Firebird). They both looked cool but were heavy, woefully underpowered (yea they CAN be made fast for $$$) and handled poorly. They had rust, rust and more rust. I think they came from the factory pre-rusted. Panels, frame sections, structural pieces, tie rods, you-name-it. They all rusted. Badly. I wouldn’t waste my time. Build quality is “iffy”.

A 951 can be made fast for relatively short money but they’re finicky. Check the fuel lines and don’t use gas with ethanol in it. It likes to disintegrate the fuel lines from the inside out (ask me how I know). I do have an affinity for the cars.

If I was in the market for a “fun car” I’d consider an S2 cabriolet or a 968. Both very cool looking and timeless - and more reliable than a 951, albeit not as fast (rare-as-hens-teeth 968 turbos excepted).

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Again, I agree. But the post I made suggesting a low miles '08-'09 Bullitt 'Stang appears to have been quickly rejected. Looks? Sorta like an early one. Performance? 'Bout the same as a '67 tripower 427 'Vette. Probably the societal stigma thing...no status.

I don’t disagree, I think a modern Mustang checks the boxes. Personally I’d go with a little newer Performance Pack equipped car with a 5.0 and a six speed. After a little more depreciation I’d instead throw out a used GT350.