New South Member with a few Q's, Hello!! (Please Read!)

[jimjam19927]

Hi Driftworks!!,

Bit about me
My names James, I'm 20 and from Portsmouth. I'm an apprentice studying broadcast engineering so when I'm not in Winchester for work I'm up in Birmingham studying my foundation degree. This high amount of travelling comes in handy for part collecting

Car history
Shitty black 206 starter car which was badly modded to my embarrasment,
Silver 206 quicksilver which I loved, had it on gaz coilovers with loads of nice 180 parts and a nice audiophile set up.
Current car is a mini one convertible in spice orange with black R113 JCW wheels and a cream leather interior. This is my baby and my main goal of this is learning detailling.

Drift talk
I want to get back into the car mod scene as I miss it sooo much. After countless drift taxis I've decided I want in! I've been lurking around the project threads to get an idea of good base cars to start on and I must take my hat off to Daze, Luca24 and Hudson! Fantastic reads and I love Daze's ratty project which turned out not so ratty. I noticed the FAQ bit so I'm gonna read through that first as I need an insight in engine tuning and suspension work etc.

Questions (Starting base? Recommendations?)
So yeah I'll read through the FAQ's which will help but obv I need to think of what car to buy. I want is as a project car not a daily so I can strip it all out and have some fun. I liked the "used" look so Hudson's ratty project just did it for me. Plus being a bit skint as an apprentice this will be a budget toy as I've never tried drifting myself or owned a rear wheel drive.
-So what car would be a good starter as I am on an higher apprenticeship budget so wont want to blow the bank on a R33 skyline or something so maybe an mx5 or 200sx?
-Any additional reading material that would be good for me to read apart from whats in the FAQ's?
-How do people keep their project cars? do you just declare them sorn and insure and tax when nessesary? Being 20 insurance might be hard for a turbo'd petrol so any pointers on this?
-Any more basic info would be great thanks

Hopefully I'll be shreadding rubber and burning smoke soon,
Thanks in advance guys!

 

[Daze]

Hey man, thanks for the kind comments. I think the ratty project you are referring to is mine rather than Hudson's, and Hudson has always had super clean cars, unlike my s13 which started out looking like a POS!

I always recommend s13's has a starter car, but since owning my s14, they are just as good, if not a better, starter car to begin with. They are not the cheapest, but they're decent. UK s13's come with CA engines from factory (unless swapped) and often CA engines don't last long. s14's come with SR20's which are decent, well looked after will last ages.

Search through the forum's intro threads as there are about 500,000 other intro threads with very similar questions to yours Also go check SXOC if you are serious about getting an s-body.

My "project" car is my only car. I am lucky enough to work from home so don't need it for the daily drive to work. Mine is kept in my garage and insured/tax/MOT all the time. I drive it myself to drift days with as many tyres/wheels as I can fit inside. Often a mate or 2 come with me with larger cars to fit more stuff in though!

More basic info - watch loads of incar drifting vids, read a lot, research, then buy. And practice a lot and most of all - have fun

Hope to see you around soon man, you're only down the road from me!

 

[jimjam19927]

Hey man, thanks for the kind comments. I think the ratty project you are referring to is mine rather than Hudson's, and Hudson has always had super clean cars, unlike my s13 which started out looking like a POS!

I always recommend s13's has a starter car, but since owning my s14, they are just as good, if not a better, starter car to begin with. They are not the cheapest, but they're decent. UK s13's come with CA engines from factory (unless swapped) and often CA engines don't last long. s14's come with SR20's which are decent, well looked after will last ages.

Search through the forum's intro threads as there are about 500,000 other intro threads with very similar questions to yours Also go check SXOC if you are serious about getting an s-body.

My "project" car is my only car. I am lucky enough to work from home so don't need it for the daily drive to work. Mine is kept in my garage and insured/tax/MOT all the time. I drive it myself to drift days with as many tyres/wheels as I can fit inside. Often a mate or 2 come with me with larger cars to fit more stuff in though!

More basic info - watch loads of incar drifting vids, read a lot, research, then buy. And practice a lot and most of all - have fun

Hope to see you around soon man, you're only down the road from me!

God I'm going to have to start learning all these engine names! Always been an admirer of the Jap scene just never in it. Thats so lucky you can use it as a daily! So wished I'd taken this route before getting my car on finance but I work for a urm how shall I put it "big corporate" company so my 206 got looked down upon hence the upgrade. No-one appreciated a 3.5" stainless system or my two JL subs

I'll have a look at these s13's and focus on an import then. Havent got too much saved up atm but I'm sure I can have a nose around the cars at the Fast Show this weekend. Might try get a drift car from here as it will hopefully be tuned and modded properly and looked after. People seem pretty sound on here rather then big air head Ive got the best car and I know it all kinda people like some forums... 206info cough cough.

 

[Daze]

Really depends on how you want to go about doing it or who you buy from. There are some sheds on here mate, and some somewhat dodgy people as well, so I wouldn't go quite as "happy larry" buying the first car you see!

Yeah, UK s13's (200sx) comes with CA18DET engines unless already swapped
Jap import s13's (180sx) comes with SR20DET engine
UK/Jap s14's all come with SR20DET

Some people argue there isn't anything wrong with the CA engine, but there is no argument in saying they are defiantly less reliable than an SR overall.

All depends though, you could always start with a cheap CA-powered uk s13, see how you get on, start buying other mods (coilovers, seat, harness, diff), skid it until the CA dies (could take months, could take days), then once that happens you'll be in the same situation as what my old s13 project was in - either sell it and take all the good bits off or put an SR in it...