Corolla SR5

[nousablenames133]

Do you guys think I should buy a $400 1985 Corolla SR5 Liftback? mechanically it seems decent; it's got 180k mi. on the engine. paint is down to the primer in most spots. i figure it's a good car to try the roll on paint job with. and yea it's not a gt-s. apparently i have to swap the rear differential carrier, half of the drive shaft, and rear axle to get an aftermarket lsd in there and rear disc brakes in. i'm pondering different engine swaps. the 20v is alot more work than i expected so i might get even more creative. there was a shop that put a s2000 f22 in a 86 on bmi's american touge.

[Grendel]

If it's not rusted out, $400 is a good deal for any car that runs halfway decent. I'd pick it up...

[BustedS13]

if it's not too rusty, i'd pick it up, try out the rustoleum paint job, and then resell it for a couple grand, since they're in such high demand.

[FRpilot]

i thought the dash wiring or some other wire harness for sr5 and gts was completely different than gts. but 400 is cheap enough that i'd consider if it runs.

['90RPS13]

Here's the true question. A local around here has a 1986-7? AE86 Hatch GTS for sale. Its not really for sale, but for sale to me. $500 cash. manual, NO RUST, starts and runs like a gem. What do they sell for to Corolla owners?

[nousablenames133]

Wow, $500 for a running manual gts hatch, my biggest concern is the fact that it's a sr5. i'd jump on that gts.

[NervGS]

Haha.

If a 20v is alot more work than you expected, the Honda swap will destroy you. If you want an shop to do it, it'll cost in upwards of $8K+.

I'm preping to get my current 20v out, and replace everything in there (planning a standalone and proper waterlines) including the engine. That's if I don't set the car on fire first.

Also, they're money pits. I'm on my 2nd one (technically third if you count my FX GTS).

-glenn

[Phlip]

$400 sounds about fair for an SR5 as described, I sold mine for $600 in 2001 after I bought my S14, I would have taken $400, but the guy wanted my the sounds as well, so I upped the price.


... if I'd have only waited a short while longer, I could have sold it to some kid on the interweb for more, but I was pleased, since it'd only cost me $500 initially and served me well for a year and a half

[chmercer]

corollas are pretty shitty cars

buy it if you want a daily beater

do not put a DIME into performance mods on that car or you are a fool

[azndoc]

Yeah for that cheap I would pick it up just to have it for a rainy day when someone is desperate enough to pay you more for it. Just don't dump money into it.

[nousablenames133]

I wouldn't actually do a f22 swap, no way i could afford that. i'm curious as to why you guys don't think its worth any performance mods. what do you guys do with your cars?

[chmercer]

umm

its a corolla

[azndoc]

Dude it's a SR5. Their cheap for a reason.

But it's your money, spend it as you wish.

[BustedS13]

also... it's a corolla.

[nousablenames133]

yea, the ae86 corolla has a lightweight balanced chassi with the fr layout.

[BustedS13]

know what else is a well balanced fr? we're on a forum devoted to it.... and doesn't the 'rolla have a solid rear axle?

buy it, paint it to look like the one in initial d, sell it for like ten times what you paid for it, spend the profit on the s13 you presumably have.

[nousablenames133]

I have an s14 zenki. true the 240sx has the independent rear suspension as opposed to the 86's solid axle. if i decide to keep the 86, im debating which car to make the daily driver and which to make the "race car."

[aa87]

Haha, my friends dumbass paid 1500 for a non-running sr5, i slapped him after that decision.

[TurDz]

I had a friend who sold an AE86 which burns oil for $6500. Stock engine, lots of suspension mods, but still. He just waited it out eventually got someone to bite.

[ManoNegra]

Brother had a GTS, fun little runt. Kinda like a Chihuahua - a lot of bark and balls but didn't impress anyone. If you're hoping for a fast car you'll be quickly disappointed.

[nousablenames133]

by no means am i expecting the sr5 to be anything near a fast car. i don't think my s14 zenki is a fast car. i've driven fast cars (10 second 1/4 mile 72 nova) i'm looking for something to have fun with in the corners

[ManoNegra]

I'd think about a Miata if I were in your position. Newer, less 'drifter' tax on them, modable, lots of after market support. Swap in an SR and it'd kill.

[Phlip]

corollas are pretty shitty cars

buy it if you want a daily beater

do not put a DIME into performance mods on that car or you are a fool

This might possibly be the last thing you say that I agree with...
I only had mine BECAUSE I got it so cheap, and it was good enough on gas and low-key enough for what I was using it for at the time.


If I knew then what I know now, I would have kept it as a beater, but it was just taking up space in my driveway, as I had just gotten my S14 and I still had my 78 Monte Carlo at the time as well, I didn't sell it for almost a year after that.
I should have sold the Monte Carlo first, the jackass I sold IT to wrecked it three days after he bought it, but the title was signed and notarized, so fuck him.

[Grendel]

corollas are pretty shitty cars

buy it if you want a daily beater

do not put a DIME into performance mods on that car or you are a fool

daily beater/off road disposable junker :)

When I was like 12, my friend had an older cousin with a beat ass Z car, no idea what year. He would take us for rides on my buddies property in that beast, it was such a piece of shit that they would thrash the hell out of it and not care at all.

Buy the corolla, do the same :p

[ms!3]

why all this hate on hachis? id love to have one. all motor 20v's sound amazing.

[ayuaddict]

i wouldnt mind having one, wouldnt be my first choice, but neither is the cressida i drive (far from it).

the GTS for $500 is a good deal. jump on it.

[infinitexsound]

swoop and flip it!