Jalopnik
We're all about helping out our fellow Jalop, and Mad_Science has more than proven his bona fides yesterday as a worthy commenter. When not getting all verklempt over abandoned racers, Mad has to commute about 60 miles round-trip on Southern California freeways and, as we all know, gas isn't getting any cheaper. Says Mad:
I'm looking for input from my fellow Jalopniks on the best "alternative" commuter car. The obvious choice would be either a bike or something like an old CRX or Civic Hatch, which can be entertaining in their own right, but I'm looking to get a little more creative. Electrics, bio-diesel/veg oil (but what car?), bike-powered kit cars are all on the table. It's gotta be reasonably reliable and cheap, like under $15k and preferably under $10k, with the goal of minimizing $/mile while keeping me out of a soulless Prius. I've got tools, skills, space and (some) time to make it work, but I need some ideas.
So what do you think? Should he go all-out ecomodder? Anyone know who bought Daryl Hannah's biodiesel camino? We're partial to the OM617 so why not pick up a diesel 300TD wagon on the cheap for a veggie oil conversion? He's got at least $10K for this project, meaning that some of you can envision products that leave $9,500 for parts. Let the project car hell begin!
Comments
TD wagon. Then you can be like Dan in Real Life, but without a sh*tty movie following you around all the time.
And waste veg conversion, of course. Just don't get run over on your 0-80mph attempts.
ummm, the girl in the picture?
[randominactivity.com] A Sinclair C5
FreeMan begs forgivness - it's Friday and I just had a Hot Pocket for lunch. The "Girl in the picture" would be one Daryl Hannah.
FreeMan will return to his cube and hide now, but still stands by his recommendation.
ash you´re quick today..
QOTD should be How to drive the girl to your home?
I think you have to go old school Civic for this one...
Stay away from the bike because people drive way too shitty out here, and a bike is just too dangerous on these freeways.
Chevette with an turbo 2 liter Ecotec swap (clickypoppy)
I think you nailed it with a '86-'88 Civic hatch. I rocked the streets of Trenton NJ in an Si model during my college years, but the non-si gets 40mpg+ vs. <35mpg and maintains the everyday civility and most of the proto-MINI S verve.
Some intrepid ebay/craigslisting and $2500 should buy a perfect one, use the leftover money on a business class ticket to Frankfurt and entrace fee for the BMW Z4 Coupe Nurburgring course. Done.
Here you go: [losangeles.craigslist.org]
No, no, don't bother to thank me, I give because I care. See you out there!
I'm interested in the details of your route...mostly freeway? Also, what's your parking situation on each end?
BTW - I have a '86 CRX Si now as a nice weather toy. The hatch's extra versatility with back seats and smoother ride would be preferably for a DD.
[s180.photobucket.com]
Can you convert this to biodiesel?
Take the bus!
@graverobber- Same great taste, new low price!: Good except for the typo in his ad.
"5 speed zippy stick shift."
I believe he meant:
"5 speed ziptie stick shift."
Just don't want M_S to get caught out on that one...
Seems like I saw a Nissan Figaro on eBay a while back. That'd be way cooler than an old Civic.
@tenbase: That Chevette is something else. Serious bidness.
@Red AuerБЯд╒╒: Meh, I average about 40 miles a day on the 5 on my bike. Lane-splitting, FTW!
Honda Civic GX CNG <--- compressed natural gas... fill up at home.
Personally, I am looking into converting a DeLorean to CNG... (it will have to do until they invent Mr. Fusion)
How about a nice classic Datsun?
It's pretty eco-friendly seeing as it's lacking an evil, vicious planet-terrorizing engine. Gets good gas mileage too.
If you've got the skill, space and time why not camino a diesel 300TD wagon?
@BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ: Comentar é mais divertimento que trabalhar, verdade?
@DWMILLER:
Only losers & FBI Agents take the bus in SoCal.
If there are any SoCal losers in here, than I am not sorry to offend you...
If you happen to be an FBI Agent, those photos on my hard drive are for research purposes only.
3 words for you my Mad Scientific friend. Rabbit. Diesel. Pickup.
@DannyBN: I'm... I'm... I... just don't know.
Astounded? Impressed? Scared? Scarred! Confused? Amazed? Baffled? Angry? Excited?
I... I just don't know what to make of that. I can envision Odd Job driving while Auric Goldfinger sits in side wrapped in the finest... luxury... mid-80's GM craptacular plastic. My mind's imploding.
[losangeles.craigslist.org]
It's not very creative, but a first generation Miata makes a fun and economical commuter. They are cheap to buy and maintain and are a lot of fun even when you aren't driving back and forth to work. In the four years I owned my '92 I got over 31 mpg. Not bad. I wish I still had it.
@Skydiver: Until the day it becomes "lane splitting- to the death!"
1975 Ford LTD 2 door with landau..
$1000
[losangeles.craigslist.org]
Invest $10K in oil stocks and use the other $4K for gas for the rest of the year..
It will pay for itself many times over.
Full hybrid '85 Tercel wagon with railroad locomotive style drivetrain: Electric motor driving the rear wheels, small water-cooled motorcycle engine powering a truck alternator replacing the Toyota engine/transaxle. Battery pack of surplus NOS laptop NiMH cells. Megasquirt optimization of fuel delivery for single-RPM operation, plus custom-ground camshaft likewise optimized for the same RPM. Solar panels on the roof to supplement alternator power.
Yeah, I've been contemplating such a project for myself.
Geo Metro three cylinder hook to a Suzuki Samurai 5spd in a Locost Seven.
Graymarket Honda BEAT?
How about an original Morris Mini?
Karman Ghia?
Fun/Unique/30+mpg is a tough slot to fill.
Driven politely, an AW11 MR2 does pretty well.
Along the same lines, an AE86 Corolla could work.
A Fiero with a Quad-4 swap is a future project consideration of mine.
Subaru BRAT! It's jalop-worthy, gets good mileage, and is fun(if slow) to drive.
Okay, my vote is a BRAT.
@Red AuerБЯд╒╒: That hurts, man. I take Metrorail four days a week (I know, you said "bus," not "train.") I'm saving about $120 per month on gas. Plus, I get to meet some, er, interesting people as I ride through Watts, Compton, F13 Gang territory, etc. Hey, I've only been mugged once!
@jbarrow: That's exactly what I do on the fifth day.
How about the 640HP electric mini that was featured some time ago? Now there's a classic homebrew project: pick a car you like, ditch the drivetrain and replace with electric motors, a small diesel generator in the trunk, some fancy circuitry and Bob's your uncle.
[www.treehugger.com]
Porsche 914 with an electric conversion and a bunch of optima lead-acid batteries.
I wouldn't go Greasel. That made sense a couple years ago, but today everybody and their dog are in competition for the "free" fuel. [www.biodieselnow.com]
what's with the german pissing video clip up there?
This month's Grassroots Motorsports has a splashy article on Randy Pobst's veggie-oil Jetta TDI - lots of veggie VWs but this one goes around corners, too. Unfortunately at least on the east coast used TDIs are way too 'spensive.
A high compression B16 in a CNG or propane CRX would be pretty damn fun, too.
Keep driving $500 Cutlass Cieras into the ground. They were built with math! ([jalopnik.com]), something I'm sure a man of science, no matter how mad, can appreciate.
Other than that, if you're in Southern California, would a Seven be an option?
@PatFromGundo: even though I like you, I cannot go back on my word... no apology.
Are they going to expand that out to Santa Monica? Home of Orange County's homeless
I know of an original Saab Sonnet for sale by the first and only (lady) owner. Yellow. V4 power with 30 mpg. You know where to reach me.
Okay...Buy This!:
[cgi.ebay.com]
and convert it to BioDiesel....French Car that smells like French Fries.
Unless you want THIS!:
[cgi.ebay.com]
and use it to INVADE France and get all the fuel you want cheap!
@Skydiver: It is a great option, I agree with you.
However, the way people drive out here, I would never consider it.
I AM hoping that someone criples my Altima soon though... Gap Insurance FTW!
[i26.tinypic.com]
I'd go the conventional route. To have fun but sip fuel, I'd sport a second-hand Mini Cooper S. Or a manual non-S depending on which side of the fun/cheap side of the equation you're after.
I wonder if he might find a Grinnall Scorpion III: [www.grinnallcars.com]
@smalleyxb122: "A Fiero with a Quad-4 swap is a future project consideration of mine."
An old friend of mine with a Beretta told me horror stories about the DOHC Quad-4 engine, though they haven't diluted my futile dream of one day getting my hands on an Opel Calibra Turbo AWD. You might want to stick to an ecotec swap, however.
But for Mad_Science, a Fiero of any kind would be an excellent Jalopnik-worty choice, and I bet an Opel diesel I4 engine would bolt right in...
@bzr - Pinko Commie Bastard Edition: plus with that chevvy transmission already in place you could bolt in a bread van 4BT Cummins - you may have to cut the He-man hood though...
@FreeMan: Oddly, if you Google "Fiero trike", several more come up. That one just happens to be the "nicest."
Get a used Honda Insight. Quirky as fuck, less then $12k, and I know a guy who autocrosses one. You can be that guy too.
Also, if it dies, swap in a turbo'd-B-series. Run 10's all day long.