Say I have a budget of about $4.5-$5k. This budget is for everything, including money i have to have for mods, maintenance, gas, but not insurance.

Im going to get a TII, so the question is: buy a project car or go for a nice, mechanically sound TII?

I realize the project car route is cheaper, for example I have figured these costs in my head;

ROUTE #1 (project car)

CAR: about $500 (blown engine, hopefully decent body)
ENGINE: 1,800 (rebuild from FC3S.ORG)
MODS: 2,200 (RB turbo exhaust, greddy FMIC, fuel upgrades)
LABOR: $300? (install of engine, i could do the rest, maybe)

so what am I looking at here? around $4,800? this is a very rough figure also, it doesnt include shipping costs, plus other things i would have to replace on the project car (probably tires, maybe bodywork, and it might need paint). Then again if I didnt go that heavily on the mods it could easily fit my budget.

ROUTE #2 (running mechanically sound TII)

Obviously whether I get a S4 or S5 is important in this route. I could spend less and get a S4, get the S5 rear lights, front lip, etc. But is it really worth it to get a perfectly running TII? The positives is that I don't have to wait for all the work to be done and I can drive her for awhile and put mods on as I go. The downside is that I will have an engine that chances are has been abused and is much weaker than a fresh rebuild. Also, if the engine did end up going, it would be a bummer because I would have to use my MODS $$ to get a new engine.

what route would you guys choose if you could do it all over again?

 

bump

 

a $500 tII will have more problems than just a blown motor. Good luck on finding one that just needs an engine for that price. More than likely there will be several thing missing like drivetrain or interior, and it will probably be wrecked. I would say find a decent one for about $3000.

 

Here's an idea:
Find a good running decent TII for $2500. Buy a rebuilt motor-$1800.
2500+1800=4300.
Sell the running old motor to someone that needs a motor-$800+?.
4300-800=3500. It's some work but you get a nice car with a fresh motor. Still some money for a few mods or freshen up the turbo/injectors/exhaust.

And someone else will be happy to buy the old motor (just make sure you sell it before taking it out. You'd get more for it if they can hear it and drive it).

just an idea....

 

good point, i never thought of doing this

 

Heres a better idea. Thiers alot of mint condition T11s I see for 5k even that have streetport and upgraded everything with S-afc and full custom interior. Better off playing with one of those.

 

Where can you buy a motor for $1800 without using your core?

 

Just going by his price. Didn't think about the core. Although, you'd probably get a better price for the running motor than the core would cost. No shipping on the core that way. Or get the blown turbo motor from the guy that needs yours and reduce the core cost. Depends on how intent you are to save money.