• From: Bloomington, IN
  • Registered: 2009-08-14
  • Posts: 1,525

Re: Best Lemons Cars

MurileeMartin wrote:

Camaros and FWD Celicas tend to blow up early and often.

Aaaw crap, what?  What blows up on celica's?  That's it, I'm bringing a ride on lawn mower.

Bloomington, IN
We'll bring Beer!  Motorsports
Team Fiery Death! #0 2009 Lamest Day(65th), 2010 American Irony(24th), 2010 Detroit Bull(4th),2012 Capitol Offense (8th) 2012 American Irony (11 th), 2013 Capitol Offense (3rd) 2013 Chubba Chedder (4th, Judge Choice!) Now sadly part of a scrap pile. 
Toothless Racing Deadbeats #110 2011 Summit Point (61st) Currently being rebuilt into the new car!
  • JThw8
  • JThw8
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Re: Best Lemons Cars

davisriley wrote:
MurileeMartin wrote:

Camaros and FWD Celicas tend to blow up early and often.

Aaaw crap, what?  What blows up on celica's?  That's it, I'm bringing a ride on lawn mower.

Yeah a statment like that almost makes me happy we;re gonna bring the Wartburg instead of the Celica.

http://wartburg.misfittoysracing.com
OTTER: "I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part."
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28 Reply by SharkBait (edited by SharkBait 2009-09-03 11:17 AM)

  • From: Lost Angeles
  • Registered: 2009-04-30
  • Posts: 188

Re: Best Lemons Cars

Spank wrote:

If not, I'm gonna bring THIS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_7J_a2y6IA

Gives a whole new meaning to limited slip rear end!

As an added bonus, it will clear debris from the track. And, you'll save on tires too! Getting rear-ended might be an issue though!

The Sharks
Home of the E28 Turbo Tuner Fish and the Hammered Head 944 Turbo

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  • From: Tampa, Fl
  • Registered: 2009-05-29
  • Posts: 259

Re: Best Lemons Cars

Solracer

I would love to bing out a Classic mini or A Citroen DS 21 to an event to see what it can do. However even a $500 car would have potential to be restored. AKA be a nice car.  And with the amount of contact that still takes place.  The trading paint and rubbing. I wouldnt want to trash the car.  I have 2 BMW 2002s that are somehat rusty and under $500. but to me there worth more to restor than to get smashed up.

Now a Pinto, Gremlin or Pacer.. may be an option..

EuroTrash E30 - Lemons South 08 (cooling probs) 24th /CMP  Spring 09 (fuel tank damage) one day on track 69th /Lemons South 09 (Hit by an Escort) 27th
MSR Tx, 10 2oth, no issues other than rain. /CHump Homestead Miami 10- 2nd place.
  • From: Land Of Subarus, Colorado
  • Registered: 2009-04-30
  • Posts: 9,416

Re: Best Lemons Cars

CaptainRat wrote:
pgeorgeson wrote:

I have reviewed the forums and completed a search, but I don't find a thread discussing what people think are the best cars to create a Lemons racer out of.  Therefore, to all you experienced guys (and gals), what are the top 5 cars you would recommend to a newbie for a Lemons build, and why?

To answer your question, and these are in no particular order:

1.  Crown Vic / Caprice - like Murilee said, cheap, reliable and fun
2.  Toyota Corolla FX16 - there are a couple of these in Lemons and they are always at the top of the pack
3.  Mustang - can be had for cheap, run well and parts are readily available
4.  Mitsubishi anything - their motors are indestructible
5.  Neon - dime a dozen and their run pretty well

This of course is just my humble opinion.  Commence firing Lemon's racers!

The Caprice is a lot faster than the Crown Vic, but not as reliable. As for Mitsubishis, they have not generally distinguished themselves as solid Lemons cars.

Kind of a mixed bag with Mustangs. The 4-cylinder ones mostly do better than the V8s.

Neons have done pretty well, as have Escorts.

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  • From: Toronto, Ontario
  • Registered: 2009-05-03
  • Posts: 1,114

Re: Best Lemons Cars

Any 12-cylinder Jag saloon, especially with fuel injection and Lucas Opus ignition....

Jim "Endo" Anderton
30 years of racing and still not Brambilla.....
  • From: Frisco, Texas
  • Registered: 2009-05-02
  • Posts: 1,430

Re: Best Lemons Cars

MurileeMartin wrote:

Camaros and FWD Celicas tend to blow up early and often.

Hey! I represent that... actually ours was a bit of an odd one.. I've had LOTS of Toyota's, and they are really reliable generally. The camry motored ones are not my top pic though, so the older ones are actually better (e.g. 88 or earlier GT-S preferred)

"Don't mess with Lexas!" LS400. We survived another one! See website link for build details.
Maker of the "unofficial Lemons fish!" - If you ask nice, I'll likely give you one at the track.

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  • From: Tampa, Fl
  • Registered: 2009-05-29
  • Posts: 259

Re: Best Lemons Cars

jimeditorial wrote:

Any 12-cylinder Jag saloon, especially with fuel injection and Lucas Opus ignition....

Yea when a heavy big american v8 car is not hard enough on tires and brake..  Grab a Jag..  it is alot cooler.  but  Lucas....  RUN AWAY..

EuroTrash E30 - Lemons South 08 (cooling probs) 24th /CMP  Spring 09 (fuel tank damage) one day on track 69th /Lemons South 09 (Hit by an Escort) 27th
MSR Tx, 10 2oth, no issues other than rain. /CHump Homestead Miami 10- 2nd place.
  • From: Frisco, Texas
  • Registered: 2009-05-02
  • Posts: 1,430

Re: Best Lemons Cars

RobL wrote:

Personally, I don't like the larger cars.  They go through tires and gas faster than smaller cars.  You also have to worry about the brakes. 

FX16 vs. Impala - this is why I like smaller cars http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MkXRSu6X2I

Well and this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5iP3IIAw4U (I had 3" to one side and less than an inch to the other - and yes, I will continue to milk this video forever)

Dunno Rob, that Impalla was keeping the ole' Fx at bay pretty handily until they got hit trying to go too many wide! See you at CMP shortly if you are goin.... Or MR2 didn't get done on time, so we are back the the battered and torn old Celica (on of the ones Murliee referenced as the blowing up FWD kind)....

"Don't mess with Lexas!" LS400. We survived another one! See website link for build details.
Maker of the "unofficial Lemons fish!" - If you ask nice, I'll likely give you one at the track.

Spinnetti's Website

  • From: Frisco, Texas
  • Registered: 2009-05-02
  • Posts: 1,430

Re: Best Lemons Cars

davisriley wrote:
MurileeMartin wrote:

Camaros and FWD Celicas tend to blow up early and often.

Aaaw crap, what?  What blows up on celica's?  That's it, I'm bringing a ride on lawn mower.

the sludge filled camry motors... How'd you do a 94' so cheap? back date to the yamaha GT-S motor if you can!

"Don't mess with Lexas!" LS400. We survived another one! See website link for build details.
Maker of the "unofficial Lemons fish!" - If you ask nice, I'll likely give you one at the track.

Spinnetti's Website

  • trekkor
  • trekkor
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  • From: Napa, Ca
  • Registered: 2009-08-26
  • Posts: 2,124

Re: Best Lemons Cars

Neons have done pretty well, as have Escorts.

That's what we want to hear!


KT

TH 2009- 40th ~ SP 2010- 13th Class Bad win!! TH 2010- 17th ~TH 2010- 16th  SP 2011- 20th ~ RF 2011- 13th Least Horrible Yank Tank ~ TH 2011- 79th
SP 2011- 105th ~ SP 2012- 119th ~ SP 2013- 139th ~ BW 2013- 17th
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37 Reply by RobL (edited by RobL 2009-09-03 06:55 PM)

  • RobL
  • RobL
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  • From: Philly area
  • Registered: 2009-04-30
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Re: Best Lemons Cars

Spinnetti wrote:
RobL wrote:

Personally, I don't like the larger cars.  They go through tires and gas faster than smaller cars.  You also have to worry about the brakes. 

FX16 vs. Impala - this is why I like smaller cars http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MkXRSu6X2I

Well and this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5iP3IIAw4U (I had 3" to one side and less than an inch to the other - and yes, I will continue to milk this video forever)

Dunno Rob, that Impalla was keeping the ole' Fx at bay pretty handily until they got hit trying to go too many wide! See you at CMP shortly if you are goin.... Or MR2 didn't get done on time, so we are back the the battered and torn old Celica (on of the ones Murliee referenced as the blowing up FWD kind)....

I would have gotten around them eventually.  All I needed to do was keep filling his mirrors and wait for him to make a mistake - exactly like he did.  The funny thing is that I smelled his brakes fade - he went into the previous couple of corners and his car's smell changed pitch so to speak.  So I backed off. 

I'm not making this trip to CMP.  I'm going to be in Lincoln NE all next week and can't make it back to Philly and then to SC in time.  The MR2 will be in Ohio in October.  You going to be there?

--Rob Leone Schumacher Taxi Service
We won the IOE at Southern Discomfort.
We got screwed at The Real Hoopties of New Jersey  and we took cars down with us.
We got the curse at Capitol Offense but they wouldn't let us destroy the car.

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38 Reply by davisriley (edited by davisriley 2009-09-04 04:30 AM)

  • From: Bloomington, IN
  • Registered: 2009-08-14
  • Posts: 1,525

Re: Best Lemons Cars

Spinnetti wrote:
davisriley wrote:
MurileeMartin wrote:

Camaros and FWD Celicas tend to blow up early and often.

Aaaw crap, what?  What blows up on celica's?  That's it, I'm bringing a ride on lawn mower.

the sludge filled camry motors... How'd you do a 94' so cheap? back date to the yamaha GT-S motor if you can!

Po thought the trans was screwed.  Could only get 2nd gear.  Was a shift retainer.  Had the valve cover off, no sludge to be seen.  So, fingers crossed I guess.

Plus it's been hit more times than the lottery, the interior was an ashtray, it's ugly and the sunroof was smashed.  Other than that, a great car!

Bloomington, IN
We'll bring Beer!  Motorsports
Team Fiery Death! #0 2009 Lamest Day(65th), 2010 American Irony(24th), 2010 Detroit Bull(4th),2012 Capitol Offense (8th) 2012 American Irony (11 th), 2013 Capitol Offense (3rd) 2013 Chubba Chedder (4th, Judge Choice!) Now sadly part of a scrap pile. 
Toothless Racing Deadbeats #110 2011 Summit Point (61st) Currently being rebuilt into the new car!
  • From: Federal Way, WA
  • Registered: 2009-06-11
  • Posts: 333

Re: Best Lemons Cars

bam2002 wrote:

Solracer

I would love to bing out a Classic mini or A Citroen DS 21 to an event to see what it can do. However even a $500 car would have potential to be restored. AKA be a nice car.  And with the amount of contact that still takes place.  The trading paint and rubbing. I wouldnt want to trash the car.  I have 2 BMW 2002s that are somehat rusty and under $500. but to me there worth more to restor than to get smashed up.

Now a Pinto, Gremlin or Pacer.. may be an option..

Well if you're going for something actually *valuable* then I can see your reservations but I bet if you look long and hard enough you can find a Mini or a DS that is so bad no one would want to restore it. A Mini sounds good to me since my friend just got a free running 995cc engine so all we'd need is a serviceable body and we'd be set.

I do like the AMC ideas too, there have been too few of them in Lemons and I've seen quite a few of them for sale locally as of late. My favorite is still the Eagle SX/4 for the pure ridiculousness of the thing.

Solracer's Website

  • From: Toronto, Ontario
  • Registered: 2009-05-03
  • Posts: 1,114

Re: Best Lemons Cars

How about a VW 411? I'm on the lookout for a Chevette Diesel myself......

Jim "Endo" Anderton
30 years of racing and still not Brambilla.....
  • From: Land Of Subarus, Colorado
  • Registered: 2009-04-30
  • Posts: 9,416

Re: Best Lemons Cars

Solracer wrote:

I do like the AMC ideas too, there have been too few of them in Lemons and I've seen quite a few of them for sale locally as of late. My favorite is still the Eagle SX/4 for the pure ridiculousness of the thing.

I can only think of one Lemons AMC so far:
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/jalopnik/2008/12/LTH08-044.jpg

We need more!

Murilee Martin aka Judge Phil on Facebook
Murilee Martin on Twitter
Judge Phil's Lemons posts on Car and Driver
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  • From: Frisco, Texas
  • Registered: 2009-05-02
  • Posts: 1,430

Re: Best Lemons Cars

RobL wrote:
Spinnetti wrote:
RobL wrote:

Personally, I don't like the larger cars.  They go through tires and gas faster than smaller cars.  You also have to worry about the brakes. 

FX16 vs. Impala - this is why I like smaller cars http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MkXRSu6X2I

Well and this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5iP3IIAw4U (I had 3" to one side and less than an inch to the other - and yes, I will continue to milk this video forever)

Dunno Rob, that Impalla was keeping the ole' Fx at bay pretty handily until they got hit trying to go too many wide! See you at CMP shortly if you are goin.... Or MR2 didn't get done on time, so we are back the the battered and torn old Celica (on of the ones Murliee referenced as the blowing up FWD kind)....

I would have gotten around them eventually.  All I needed to do was keep filling his mirrors and wait for him to make a mistake - exactly like he did.  The funny thing is that I smelled his brakes fade - he went into the previous couple of corners and his car's smell changed pitch so to speak.  So I backed off. 

I'm not making this trip to CMP.  I'm going to be in Lincoln NE all next week and can't make it back to Philly and then to SC in time.  The MR2 will be in Ohio in October.  You going to be there?

Bummer on CMP.. Planning on Nelsons.... Bring your mig to my house... LS400 (next Lemons weapon) needs a cage put in it smile

"Don't mess with Lexas!" LS400. We survived another one! See website link for build details.
Maker of the "unofficial Lemons fish!" - If you ask nice, I'll likely give you one at the track.

Spinnetti's Website

  • Spank
  • Utter Madman
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  • From: Escondido, CA
  • Registered: 2009-06-10
  • Posts: 5,864

Re: Best Lemons Cars

bam2002 wrote:

Solracer

I would love to bing out a Classic mini or A Citroen DS 21 to an event to see what it can do. However even a $500 car would have potential to be restored. AKA be a nice car.  And with the amount of contact that still takes place.  The trading paint and rubbing. I wouldnt want to trash the car.  I have 2 BMW 2002s that are somehat rusty and under $500. but to me there worth more to restor than to get smashed up.

Now a Pinto, Gremlin or Pacer.. may be an option..

ANYTHING can be restored... even this "could be". But at what expense?

http://www.hubgarage.com/photos/0164/5662/100_2593_detail.JPG

For a limit of $500 plus safety equipment, it could be back on the road (ok, a racetrack) and enjoyed/cursed by up to 6 behind-the-wheel drivers each Lemons weekend for as long as it holds together. (and hopefully, I can have it done ready for one of the first west coast events of 2010)

Spank's Website

  • From: Tampa, Fl
  • Registered: 2009-05-29
  • Posts: 259

Re: Best Lemons Cars

I have been offered 2 FREE  classic minis.  But they are in the UK.. so shipping them over would be cost prohibitive.  event if Shipping didt factor in to the cost of the car, the investment in the car would be rather high.

I do have a lead on a Euro BMW e21  323 that a tree fell on and took out the back of the roof and the  trunk.  So maybe that would be wothwhile.  RE a non e30 but still a 6 cyl car.

EuroTrash E30 - Lemons South 08 (cooling probs) 24th /CMP  Spring 09 (fuel tank damage) one day on track 69th /Lemons South 09 (Hit by an Escort) 27th
MSR Tx, 10 2oth, no issues other than rain. /CHump Homestead Miami 10- 2nd place.

45 Reply by sawinatthewheel (edited by sawinatthewheel 2009-09-04 10:07 AM)

  • Registered: 2009-05-01
  • Posts: 96

Re: Best Lemons Cars

I STILL have a free to any Lemons team a cherry, never been raced, lightly used, beautiful, original condition(?) AMC Spirit.  Can be seen somewhere on Jalopnik...I believe Ms Martin would be happy to see it ...probably 0 bs laps.  I even have a theme for it..'Rust Never Sleeps'...I'll help you load it with a excavator!  Who's brave enough to step up?  It's a California car!

sawinatthewheel...sometimes too much, sometimes not enough...just like life
  • Registered: 2009-09-01
  • Posts: 405

Re: Best Lemons Cars

How about a large - by Japanese standards - Cressida, Maxima, Mazda Comso or RX-4 - how do the "big" Japanese 4 doors fair?  too common, not "clunky" enough?  What say ye all

  • From: Land Of Subarus, Colorado
  • Registered: 2009-04-30
  • Posts: 9,416

Re: Best Lemons Cars

ifb_mole wrote:

How about a large - by Japanese standards - Cressida, Maxima, Mazda Comso or RX-4 - how do the "big" Japanese 4 doors fair?  too common, not "clunky" enough?  What say ye all

I say hell yes! We've had a real shortage of Japanese luxury so far. Never seen a Cressida or Maxima. One apiece Q45 and LS400.

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  • From: San Diego, CA
  • Registered: 2009-08-17
  • Posts: 364

Re: Best Lemons Cars

bam2002 wrote:
jimeditorial wrote:

Any 12-cylinder Jag saloon, especially with fuel injection and Lucas Opus ignition....

Yea when a heavy big american v8 car is not hard enough on tires and brake..  Grab a Jag..  it is alot cooler.  but  Lucas....  RUN AWAY..

Our V12 Jag (with original fuel injection and Lucas electrics) has a 50/50 finish rate so far.

Hmmm... for simplicity maybe you'd want to go with a 1995 Mercedes S600 V-12 with a melted wiring harness, no title, malfunction automated throttle bodies, dead air suspension, erratic traction control and over 30 check engine codes?

Would I try that??? Hmmm... I do hate myself

Pendejo Engineering "Captain" - 1991 Alfa 164
1983 Shaguar XJ-S V-12 "The Two Ton Miata"
1995 Mercedes S600 V-12  - First car ever CLAIMED by JAY!
1980 Maserati Quattroporte - Judge's Choice

magnusracing's Website

  • From: Toronto, Ontario
  • Registered: 2009-05-03
  • Posts: 1,114

Re: Best Lemons Cars

50-50 with a V-12 Lucas Jag is outstanding...my TR-8 can't match it for reliability.

Jim "Endo" Anderton
30 years of racing and still not Brambilla.....

50 Reply by Solracer (edited by Solracer 2009-09-05 12:15 AM)

  • From: Federal Way, WA
  • Registered: 2009-06-11
  • Posts: 333

Re: Best Lemons Cars

jimeditorial wrote:

How about a VW 411? I'm on the lookout for a Chevette Diesel myself......

Like this one? It's even nearby to me and is $850:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/1357139983.html

A couple of others but both going for a lot more than I can ever imagine any Chevette going for ($2200 and $1200):

http://nmi.en.craigslist.org/cto/1337877909.html

http://iowacity.en.craigslist.org/cto/1311447288.html

And one in Canada but also *way* too expensive ($2000):

http://abbotsford.en.craigslist.ca/cto/1324414542.html

Solracer's Website