Yes, if you put them in. Way back in the 50’s, my brother put a Cadillac V-8 in an old Farmall Regular tractor. He could thrown dirt a long ways with a plow behind that thing, and with no muffler, you could hear him plowing half a mile away. It used a lot of gas, though. I need to ask him next time I see him, but by memory it seems that had so much power, he could raise the front wheels if he dumped the clutch.
So, I cannot even imagine no one has put a hemi in one. Some things are just too obvious.
…owners who live within 3 blocks of me and they’re perfectly happy with their vehicles.
I am glad to hear it, but don’t you see what’s wrong with these so-called surveys? They are not a random sample of owners. They are filled out by people who happen to be interested enough to go online and write something about it. For all we know they could be filled out by people who don’t even own the car but have a conflict of interest. They are anything but scientific. They are kind of like those internet news polls that always include the following disclaimer: “This is not a scientific poll.”
Find an old Volkswagon bug. You will probably need to rebuild much of it, but they are relatively easy to work on, parts are still available and inexpensive, and driving is a blast. Upgrade parts are easily available and inexpensive, increasing driving fun. Reliable? Legendary! Alternate bodies are available and pretty simple to install. Plus, a restored bug will appreciate instead of depreciate. You will also find all sorts of enthusiasts and contacts crawling out of the woodwork. And a bug is better than a baby or a puppy for making new friends! Watch how many people see a bug and smile!
LOL, that is a stretch. I do like bugs (especially convertibles) but I sure wouldn’t call it a sports car. I think lots of folks say “sports car” when they really mean “sporty.”
A friend bought a Miata around the time they first came out he also bought a supercharger kit. It would go on and off in about an hour and made the car a beast rubber in the first four gears, and would pass the emmissions tests in Cleveland. I would own one today but at 6 foot won’t fit in car.
If you want a fast sports car, the older Mustangs may be your best bet, anything with a V8 from about 82 on up is pretty quick, easy to work on and parts are available, gas mileage is not too bad, depending on how fast you go. If you would rather have handling instead of horsepower, go with the Miata. Either way, do not get a rusty car, that is the hardest thing to fix.
Though still new and going against conventional wisdom…I’m going to say a used Pontiac Solstice…has to be made from GM parts bin and I saw a 2006 for $17K. They don’t seem to hold their value well (for good reason ?)so wait another year or two, but I’d definitely take it over anything from Great Britain. It’s definitly an attractive car IMO and much more roomy than a Miata…at 6’2",I got in one but couldn’t get out; very easily.
Bravo, sir, bravo! My first experience in mechanical masochism was a '73 MG Midget, Blaze Orange, bought new for just at $2K. Managed to actually satisfy my early 20’s libido in that car (yes, IN that car!) many times! Even with my 6’3" frame. Went on to a used 1969 MGB-GT, used 68 MGB-GT, then finally a new '80 MGB. Last of the breed, alas. I learned how engines work on those cars, and, as you pointed out, if you can work on a lawnmower you can work on an MG. Even the late model ones.
My daughter owns the '80 MGB now, as a project car. (Her boyfriend is a mechanic.)
Car and Driver and Road and Track both said it was difficult to define a sports car, but they came to the conclusion that it had two seats and was fun to drive.
Any car that forces you to spend more time looking under the hood than looking through the windshield has to be fun to drive, or you wouldn’t put up with it. And, for their time, the MGs were definitely fun to drive!
(Present car is a VW Passat. Goes like the hammers of Hell, comfortable, and corners like it’s on rails. The 1.8 liter engine is smaller than the engine in my MGB, but cranks out 170 HP (listed) 190 HP actual with the turbo. VW reportedly had to downgrade the HP listing in the 1.8 Liter turbo because it wouldn’t look good for the 4 cyl to have the same horsepower as the 6!)
Well, my X1/9 was pretty easy to work on. The engine sits right there where you can reach everything. That was for routine repairs. I understand since everything was so little and light, it made some major repairs easier. Parts weren’t bad, though it was often mail order and internet. Reliable, ah…
I think anything older is easier to work on. You could get to things in both FIAT spider or the Alfa Deutto I owned. Much less plumbing. And tuning dual Webber carbs is easier and cheaper for me then dealing with computerized fuel injection that you need special equipment to test.
Reliable, ah…
I’d put them all in the sports car category, if you are considering old Lotus, Triump, etc. Or Miatas for that matter.
Hard to work on? Maybe. I couldn’t tell you. It never needs work. Most reliable car I ever owned. Indeed, I still own the one I bought in 1992. Driven hard. Sometimes put away wet, but always maintained.
Routine maintenance wasn’t especially expensive. Needed a clutch at 82k courtesy of a ham footed driver who should have known better. That’s all I can talk about. This probably doesn’t count, but I did have to replace the speakers a few years ago. Parts were a monumental $300, and my daughter installed them for me. In an afternoon. At home. Eveything else is still working.
Cheap parts? That’s relative. Above clutch replaced was less than $2k at the dealer. Ferrari wanted more than that to replace a cracked passenger side view mirror (only the glass mind you, but they only sold a complete assembly) on my 456. Maybe a Miata has cheaper parts, but does anyone get 80+k out of their clutch?
anything with a V8 from about 82 on up is pretty quick, easy to work on and parts are available
If you can find one that’s NOT in a junkyard. My brother owned a 79, then a 84, then a 91 Mustang…They were JUNK from day one. The 84…I was really impressed the car made it to 60k miles. Well not really considering all the money he put into it to get it that far. It was a good thing the Mustangs were NOT his daily commuter.
Well, from my user name you might have guessed that I’m a little biased, but for good reason. We’ve owned a '91 Mazda Miata for seven years, put about 60k on it during that time (we’re at 134k now). It’s been a wonderful, reliable car. The only problem it ever gave me was a coil connection once - that’s it. We’ve replaced the timing belt at 120k, some brake pads, trans and diff fluids - the usual stuff. We belong to the local Miata club (Buckeye Miata Club of central Ohio), and they’re a great bunch of enthusiasts who thoroughly enjoy their cars, whether it’s for weekend road trips, autocrosses, etc. Hope this helps.
MGB, 1967-1980. Replace the points with a Pertronix and the alternator with a Bosch from a Ford Fiesta. Parts are cheap, the cars are inexpensive, and if you take care of it they go UP in value. Visit http://www.mgbexperience.com and read up.
Easy to Work On Car - Isn’t that like an oxymoron or something.
I’ve worked on a number of cars over the years and though some are tougher to deal with than others, the word easy has never come up. All car repairs are a beatch no matter how easy they seem when you read the manual or some gearhead tells you it will be a no brainer. Unless you do it everyday, and have done that particualr job on that particualr car before, expect many a surprize that will cost you a lot more time than you will have initially believed was needed. As far as easy to work on sports cars, isn’t that even worse as they are usually big engines in very small spaces. That alone makes every thing you do 10 times more a pain in the butt.
I just bought a Brunton Stalker (not yet delivered). Go to BruntonAuto.Com. It’s the ultimate sports car except instead of a highly tuned, high reving, four banger, it has a loafing 3.8 Buick V6. Couldn’t be much easier to work on, almost every part is made in the USA. Go down to Bradenton and drive one, you will fall in love!
As someone mentioned, the Toyota Celica would appear to fit your definition. I’d narrow that down a little and specify the 6th generation Celica (1994-1999). As they are older, they are generally pretty inexpensive to pick up, as well as uncomplicated under the hood; as they are not that old, the parts are still readily available from dealers; and, as they are Toyotas, they are extremely reliable. They ride as if on rails and even the less-than-optimally powered 5sfe engine still has plenty of get up and go. Plus, they are available in a drop-top, and even in a coupe or hatchback, they are just plain gorgeous. My '97 GT convertible (showing my bias, here) has been a joy to own and drive. If you were to seriously consider getting one, I would advise trying to find one with a 3sgte engine swap for that added bit of zing.
Believe it or not a Porsche 911 78-83 or the SC years as they are known. I had a Miata for many year and got sick of the lack of HPs. I now have a 83SC and I love it. Have done a few very good mods to improve her; sort sift kit, MSD ignition, exhuast mods, put her on a diet and got her even more lean that she already was and Bada Bing I am in sports care heaven on a budget too. There are a lot of salvaged and after market parts avail. and great great tech. forums, clubs, etc… And IMO nothing beats a air cooled 911 joy-to-drive factor. Life is short so have fun!