Which would you choose?

[grahamc]

After reading this thread:-
http://www.driftworks.com/forum/dri...ift-cars-what-car-would-you-ideally-have.html

I figured I would post my dilemma (I say dilemma, but its a problem I love having ) and see what everyones thoughts were. In the next few months, I will have to decide which car to stick with.

2002 350z Fairlady VS 1968 Ford Escort MK1 2 door

First the 350z....
Currently running BC coilovers, Akebona big brakes (from a 370z), a cobra exhaust and 18" wheels.

The downside (IMO) of this car is the weight, the standard engine is very limited in tuning terms unless you go for FI (and dont really want to go FI honestly as for the price, I would have to seriously consider a v8 conversion as well). Could probably get close to 300bhp, but doubt it will go over that. The diff in this Jap import is not very good at all.

Now the Escort....
Interesting prospect, its a rolling project car and has had some bad repair work done to the shell, but I figured a nice solid cage would stop me worrying too much about that. Engine is not complete, so would be ideal for a dropout and replace Rest of the car is standard, but will need a fair bit of work.

End goal
Fun car, for drifting, track, whatever I fancy.... wont be kept in immaculate condition, as I expect scraps and bumps.

Which car would you choose?
Why?
What additional mods would you do (engine choice for the escort)?

 

[LarZ]

After reading this thread:-
http://www.driftworks.com/forum/dri...ift-cars-what-car-would-you-ideally-have.html

I figured I would post my dilemma (I say dilemma, but its a problem I love having ) and see what everyones thoughts were. In the next few months, I will have to decide which car to stick with.

2002 350z Fairlady VS 1968 Ford Escort MK1 2 door

First the 350z....
Currently running BC coilovers, Akebona big brakes (from a 370z), a cobra exhaust and 18" wheels.

The downside (IMO) of this car is the weight, the standard engine is very limited in tuning terms unless you go for FI (and dont really want to go FI honestly as for the price, I would have to seriously consider a v8 conversion as well). Could probably get close to 300bhp, but doubt it will go over that. The diff in this Jap import is not very good at all.

Now the Escort....
Interesting prospect, its a rolling project car and has had some bad repair work done to the shell, but I figured a nice solid cage would stop me worrying too much about that. Engine is not complete, so would be ideal for a dropout and replace Rest of the car is standard, but will need a fair bit of work.

Which car would you choose?
Why?
What additional mods would you do (engine choice for the escort)?

350 all the way... If you need to ask this question then I don't know if you're prepared for the commitment that a project mk1 escort requires

 

[grahamc]

350 all the way... If you need to ask this question then I don't know if you're prepared for the commitment that a project mk1 escort requires

when is anyone ever ready for a mk1 project?

Im just torn.... I love the idea of both. The 350z with FI or V8 would be fun! The lightweight escort would be entertaining as well...

 

[Cades]

I'd stick with the 350 over a project car any day. Why would you need more power from it though? I think they're about 280bhp from factory. What V8 would you use?

 

[grahamc]

I'd stick with the 350 over a project car any day. Why would you need more power from it though? I think they're about 280bhp from factory. What V8 would you use?

the v8 is something for the future.... ls3

 

[Stavros]

If you want a 'project' the 350 could fuck right off and I'd do a Mk1 Escort any day if I had one.

If you want a car to not stress about, and fuck the engine conversion ideas right off as they're always 50 times the ballache you expect, just keep the 350.

 

[grahamc]

If you want a 'project' the 350 could fuck right off and I'd do a Mk1 Escort any day if I had one.

If you want a car to not stress about, and fuck the engine conversion ideas right off as they're always 50 times the ballache you expect, just keep the 350.

I think that is what it really comes down to.... will have to see what I can get for the escort in its current state and see if it can fund the 350z parts, should be able to.

 

[spaniel]

Fuck that. Sell the 350 and use the cash for the escort

 

[gaz_moose]

depends on what your skillset is.

 

[grahamc]

Fuck that. Sell the 350 and use the cash for the escort

depends on what your skillset is.

Mine.... is nothing, but fortunately my day job pays well and I am going to be doing the importing as a business. The white was always going to be mine and the blue one was just in case for spares and because it was a lot cheaper to ship 2

 

[Munkul]

as the general feeling is.

Project car - mk1 escort EVERY DAY

fun/drift car - 350z

 

[grahamc]

as the general feeling is.

Project car - mk1 escort EVERY DAY

fun/drift car - 350z

Pretty much!! Why cant I have both

Have started to advertise the escort as a rolling project, so will see what the feedback is like on that...

 

[initial_j]

I maybe wrong but arnt mk1 escorts worth an absolute fortune?

you really going to enjoy drifting that knowing if you crash it parts will cost a shit load.

Not to mention everything will have to be fabricated as i doubt you can buy drift parts for a mk1 escort.


If neither fit the bill then surely sell both and buy something that does?

 

[Stavros]

Not to mention everything will have to be fabricated as i doubt you can buy drift parts for a mk1 escort.

Grp4 rally parts are widely available new from lots of places, which will make the car way higher spec than 99% of drift cars.

 

[grahamc]

Still torn..... have gotten some interest in the rolling project, so will see what happens. GRP4 parts would be nice and a cosworth engine

The goal for the car (which ever it is) is a bit of an all-rounder.... track, drift, fun, etc. Its not that neither fit the bill, both do, infact both would fit quite nicely IMO. Its just 2 very different types of cars.

 

[docwra]

Ive got a 350Z and Ive recently been helping a mate look for a Mk1 culminating in taking this out for a test:

That was 200hp @ wheels, dog tooth gearbox with flat shift over 5K, quaife diff, caged, coilovers, disc brakes - basically a fully specced rally car. People were dropping to their knees as I drove past and it was fully awesome

However, dynamically it wasnt a patch on a 350 or any other modern car - the brakes had no servo, the steering was non power so was proper heavy and it was effectively a racecar, you wouldnt want to do more than about 50 miles in it as youd be paralysed and deaf. Great fun, but if you want an all rounder stick with the Zed - 300hp hasnt stopped me drifting mine in 4th (5th in the wet) and while they are heavy they arent ridiculous by anya means, its also a case of spending £0 against spending at least £10K.
I know you could powerr everything and sort everything but it defeats the object of a car like that to start with.

Even with all the trick parts and a Cossie engine your Escort still wouldnt be as capable as a track car or a drift car as the Zed, your wallet would have a big hole in it and you wouldnt want to use it as a road car. It will be infinitely cooler and loved by everyone in the world but if you actually want to drive it and drive it hard then theres only one choice AFAIC.

 

[grahamc]

Ive got a 350Z and Ive recently been helping a mate look for a Mk1 culminating in taking this out for a test:

That was 200hp @ wheels, dog tooth gearbox with flat shift over 5K, quaife diff, caged, coilovers, disc brakes - basically a fully specced rally car. People were dropping to their knees as I drove past and it was fully awesome

However, dynamically it wasnt a patch on a 350 or any other modern car - the brakes had no servo, the steering was non power so was proper heavy and it was effectively a racecar, you wouldnt want to do more than about 50 miles in it as youd be paralysed and deaf. Great fun, but if you want an all rounder stick with the Zed - 300hp hasnt stopped me drifting mine in 4th (5th in the wet) and while they are heavy they arent ridiculous by anya means, its also a case of spending £0 against spending at least £10K.
I know you could powerr everything and sort everything but it defeats the object of a car like that to start with.

Even with all the trick parts and a Cossie engine your Escort still wouldnt be as capable as a track car or a drift car as the Zed, your wallet would have a big hole in it and you wouldnt want to use it as a road car. It will be infinitely cooler and loved by everyone in the world but if you actually want to drive it and drive it hard then theres only one choice AFAIC.

That looks absolutely awesome!!!! I think, in all honesty its more the "dream" of one than actually living with it, tend look past all the negatives.

Some good advice, thank you!

 

[docwra]

Exactly, old cars have old dynamics and while its easy to live with and waft about in a big 70's luxobarge, if youre looking for performance then you need to throw a lot of money at stuff to bring it up to modern standards.

If I were you Id bring the Escort back to relatively standard and rather than trying to race it, just enjoy it for what it is, every one Ive driven you havent been able to get the smile off my face for about a week

 

[grahamc]

Exactly, old cars have old dynamics and while its easy to live with and waft about in a big 70's luxobarge, if youre looking for performance then you need to throw a lot of money at stuff to bring it up to modern standards.

If I were you Id bring the Escort back to relatively standard and rather than trying to race it, just enjoy it for what it is, every one Ive driven you havent been able to get the smile off my face for about a week

I have another one for that I brought 2 cars in, the white one and the blue one. The blue one was for a few spare parts for the white one

 

[colinjy]

Why not do both ? 350 for the short term and ford for long term (10 years or so )