By Brian on Wednesday, January 07, 2009 2:15:03 AM

When taking on any major form of automotive project whether it be a motor swap, classic restoration, or even just a major repair; one constant remains and that is a lot of parts are going to be needed.  As most people may come to realize lots of parts can equal lots of money, so what is the most cost effective way to get a lot of parts for little cash?  The answer is parts cars.  

When most people take on a big auto project the first thing that comes to mind is the major and large ticket items that are required.  Using an engine swap as an example most people take into account for the main parts needed such as the engine itself, motor mounts, and maybe other pieces like a different radiator etc.  However what we often forget to include in our costs are all the very little parts involved.  Bolts, wires, harness clips, hoses, screws, plugs, the list can go on.  Usually when dealing with a large project the sum of all the little nickel and dime parts can often be equal or greater than the large parts themselves.

A great way to avoid the unwanted experience of getting nickeled and dimed to death is buying a parts car.  Now when most people hear the words "buy a car" the first reaction may be to think of high costs and complications.  However like most things in the world buying the whole package tends to be the more cost effective solution.  Lets say you are looking to upgrade your engine to that of a higher model from the same brand.  Instead of locating just the engine which even complete turnkeys tend to still need a few more parts and are expensive to begin with finding a wrecked car or truck that has an undamaged engine you want may cost the same or even less.  Often times finding a complete car especially if it is not running due to problems unrelated to your parts needs can cost much less or the same as a drive train by itself.  Vehicles with junk or salvage titles are great sources that are always cheap as well.  

The important aspect of a parts car is that all those little hoses,belts,bolts,clips, etc. discussed earlier are most likely going to be all there and in the correct location saving you very important time and money by not having to source them all individually.  Best of all is that there are always going to be others out there looking for the individual parts you didn't need and willing to pay for them.  If you want to go to the trouble of taking the vehicle apart and listing and shipping the individual parts there is a chance you could make your money back and have some profit to boot.  Otherwise simply putting what's left back up for sale or if its totally stripped place it up for scrap.

Always keep in mind that buying a vehicle is one purchase and one trip to make, but buying little parts one at a time requires multiple purchases and valuable time you could be spending getting your project finished. 

By Brian on Sunday, January 04, 2009 7:40:37 PM

      Currently a bill is being sent to propose an economic stimulus package.  Included in this package is a proposal to institute a federal vehicle scrappage program.  After seeing this bill mentioned on the SEMA Action Network website I wanted to take a second to inform our readers of the program and hopefully inspire you to take action against it.

The Federal Scrappage program will quite frankly give tax credits to people who wish to turn in their older vehicles to be scrapped.  The attempted benefits of this program are supposed to be increased infrastructure and more jobs created as well as help drive car sales for American car manufacturers.  I for one strongly disagree with the proposal and believe that this will actually be a backwards step towards making any real progress.  

This is not purely because I have a love of older cars, but a hatred of wasted tax dollars on programs that will not benefit the American people.  Americans rely on the ability to be able to find cheap and affordable transportation and being able to reuse and continue to buy older cars.  As you can see from my website I myself have made it a mission to spread this message and help people realize how much vehicle they can get for their hard earned dollar.   

The "Big Three" are not solely to blame for their own problems as a combination of a crisis in the markets of credit,fuel, and housing have limited the American peoples ability easily buy a new car and be able to afford to make monthly payments and this crisis has also very suddenly changed our tastes and demands in what we expect in a vehicle.  This change in our demands has hit the big three in a time where they do not seem currently capable of adjusting  in time and this has lead to the downward spiral.  

Commercial vehicles are what really drives this country.  Practically every product we have and use is based on its ability to be delivered to us via commercial trucking and equipment.  We need to focus on a restructure of this infrastructure and a promotion of the use of cleaner and more cost effective fueling methods in our commercial vehicles as well as provide government credits and incentives for companies to be able to make these changes.  If our commercial transportation industry can expand and become more efficient then we should see a domino effect in the reduced cost of all of the products and services we use and need everyday.  This can range from food to even home construction costs.  

So if you haven't already contact your local representative and how they feel on this matter and lets do what we can to defend our old vehicles not just for their history, but for their role in providing inexpensive transportation for the American public. 

By Brian on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 2:05:40 PM

If your searching for a cheap performance car under $1000 dollars its hard to over look the DSM mitsubishi eclipse.  For those not in the know DSM stands for Diamond Star Motors.  Although this profile is for the Eclipse (1990-1994) the Eagle Talon and Plymouth Laser were part of the Diamond Star trio and are basically the exact same car with a few different aesthetic touches.  These cars are starting to consistently fall into the sub-$1000 dollar price range and have for many years been offering enthusiasts a lot of bang for their buck.  These DSM's are available in several models, but for this profile we will only be focusing on the Turbo cars. (because turbos are fun!)

All-Star Profile Mitsubishi Eclipse (1990-1994):

In 1990 the DSM trio stormed our shores with a car that offered a ton of performance for the money.  The Mitsubishi Eclipse was a sports coupe with aggressive styling (love it or hate it) that offered not only the option of a turbocharged four cylinder engine known as the 4G63 but also the ability to combine this with pavement gripping all-wheel drive.  The GS-T being the front-wheel drive only turbo version and the GSX offered the all-wheel drive.  In the early 90's before America was used to getting the latest in all-wheel drive rally inspired vehicles like the EVO and WRX the Eclipse really stood on its own in what it could offer.

The 4G63 engine which is still used today in a much more updated Mitsubishi EVO offered 180-195hp and quickly became a tuner favorite.  The 4G63 is just one of those engines with an uncanny ability to absorb quite a bit of abuse and fork over a lot of extra horsepower with relatively little upgrades.  Simply turning up the boost on these engines (with supporting fuel and ignition upgrades of course) is such an easy way to make giant killing power.  For those who want it all the after market offers basically every upgrade under the sun for these cars and usually your budget is the only limiting factor. 

Now when it comes to finding your DSM especially one for under $1000 dollars, the choice must be made carefully with several factors in mind.  First off these cars are still desirable, but their age is making them become much cheaper.  Unfortunately its no real secret that these cars are fun and offer lots of power, which in turn means that you're going to have some tough luck finding a clean one that hasn't been beaten on.  In fact like most popular tuner cars the modifications done by the previous owner can be a plus or a huge minus. 

The 4G63 engine is capable of taking quite a bit of boost and abuse but in general when you combine big turbo power and all-wheel drive in a 15+ year old car it shouldn't shock you too much if a few things break.  Not to say these cars can't be reliable in fact there are still lots modified and stock examples still running trouble free everywhere, but do not expect one of these to run like a new Camry.  Do your research and take the time to find a good example, although most that are under $1000 dollars may still be pretty rough these cars can be great starting points for a tuner project and can still offer a lot of performance and stack up quite well even against the newer cars on the road. 

Got an Idea for an All-Star? Use the Contact Us module to send it to us! Comments are welcome!

 

By Brian on Friday, October 03, 2008 6:08:31 PM

The elements of the winter season are typically something most people would rather not have their vehicle exposed to.  By picking up a cheap ride for under $1000 Dollars not only can you keep your other vehicle or vehicles looking good, but you can also have a vehicle that is much easier to drive in the cold snow.

One of the most damaging things about driving in the winter is what we use to make the roads safe, and that would be the salt.  Road salt is one of the most common causes of rust and corrosion in the under carriage of vehicles especially older models.  The salt combined with the moisture on the road is tough to keep off of your paint and suspension and if you live in a client that gets frequent snow its a hazard that can be tough to avoid. 

Another major hazard to you and your vehicle in the winter season; is of course the other vehicles on the road.  Icy roads and other poor driving conditions can put even the most cautious driver at risk of getting banged up by other cars, so is that something you want that brand new car or freshly restored classic to be exposed too? Of course not.

By getting a car for under $1000 bucks most people can easily afford to be able to have a second vehicle to last for just a few months of sleet and snow.  Best of all is that $1000 Dollar Autos tend to maintain their value as is so getting your money back out of it once the snow melts in most cases is not at all difficult. 

A couple quick tips for good winter beaters:

• Of course get a car with a good working heater!
• make sure that things like signals, lights, windshield wipers, windows, and locks are all in good working order.(things often over looked on cheap vehicles)
• Front-wheel drive is great, All-wheel drive is better, but Rear-wheel drive is just fine to although typically not as much grip in the snow
• make sure the fluids like oil and anti-freeze are in good order and properly filled.
• Tires, Tires, Tires these four pieces of rubber are the most important thing to safe and easy driving in the winter.  There are lots of great tires that are even specifically designed for snow and ice.  If this is only going to be a winter vehicle these types of tires would be a great investment and can make all the difference.

Photo by Vagabondish.com

By Brian on Sunday, September 28, 2008 8:39:54 PM

Some people shopping for a vehicle for less than $1000 bucks aren't always looking for just a car.  This profile is for those who are looking for an off-road vehicle they can buy on the cheap.

Profile: Ford Bronco II

The Bronco II debuted in 1984 and was one of the first vehicles offered to the public that gave the type of capabilities that larger truck and SUV's had in a much smaller size.  The bronco II was based on the Ranger chassis and is completely identical in many ways.  Engine choices varied between a 2.8 liter V6 and a 2.9 liter fuel-injected V6.  Neither of which offered a huge amount of power, but torque tends to be more important in a smaller truck like this.  The Bronco II was available in 2 wheel and 4 wheel drive versions, this could be engaged manually or in the XLT Eddie Bauer editions the 4-wheel drive was electronic.  A particular note is that the front axle on four wheel drive models was actually a semi-independent type as opposed to a full solid axle like the full-size Bronco.  Bronco II's also came with lockable front hubs and an available auto or 5spd. manual transmission.

Now this wouldn't be a proper profile if we didn't discuss the reputation of the Bronco II.  This truck caught a ton of bad press for being prone to flipping over.  Now for those of you reading who might fear this I would suggest to take a step back and use some common sense.  This is an SUV with a high center of gravity so its no real surprise that yes a roll over could be a possibility.  After personally owning one I never felt that it really had any tendency to roll hard, but I think its obvious that if you push a vehicle like this beyond its handling limits just like any other SUV a roll over could happen. 

Now that we got that out of the way lets talk about what makes this truck an All-Star.  First off the price, Bronco II's and their Ranger counterparts can be found all day long for under $1000 bucks.  These trucks are cheap, simple to work on, and plentiful in available replacement parts.  As far as off-road capability these small trucks have quite a bit of potential and the aftermarket upgrades are there to help turn these things into mud-slinging beasts.  If you plan on buying one things to look out for are electronics (80's ford switches and ignition modules tend to go out from time to time, but are always a cheap fix)  and keep in mind that most of the bronco II's had recalls for problem cylinder heads that caused coolant leaks.

Overall I believe that these vehicles can provide a lot of reliable fun,  and as long as you keep an eye out for the known problems anyone can easily get a lot of bang for their buck with an old Bronco II.

 

Photos by therangerstation.com and jamesduff.com

By Brian on Friday, September 26, 2008 6:46:51 PM

Today's gas prices are a constant worry for people of all walks of life.  If you haven't noticed a lot of people are looking for alternate modes of transportation, and often times the choice comes in the form of a two wheel scooter.  Now not to discriminate, but as a car enthusiast and a motorcycle enthusiast the mere thought of riding a scooter puts a real chill up my spine.  Scooters can be fun, but lets face it they tend to be slow and very basic transportation.  Much like buying a Segway it may seem like a great idea and a lot of fun, but do you really want to be seen on one all the time?  This opinion of mine changed completely when a friend showed me a photo of not just any scooter, but a Honda Ruckus(and it was modified to boot). I never thought I would enthusiastically use the words "scooter" and "cool" in the same sentence.

So what is the Ruckus about?  Honda is causing a sensation with this fun and practical vehicle, and its popularity is continuing to grow all over the U.S.  The Ruckus is a very basic almost military like scooter with a metal frame, semi-off road looking tires, and a surprisingly responsive 49cc water-cooled engine.  Plain and simple these things are tuned to be functional, easy to ride (automatic), and highly efficient modes of transportation.  The Ruckus gets insane mileage nearly 100mpg, and that means fill up the almost two gallon tank and go anywhere you want.  The fact that the Ruckus has a 49cc engine means that no insurance or registration is required so once you buy one its pretty much going to pay for itself if you ride enough. 

What's giving the Honda Ruckus such a cult-like following is the fact that there is a large amount of aftermarket support and custom products available.  Everything from exhaust systems to extended swing-arm kits make these things the scooter of choice for those who want to have something unique. 

If Honda was looking to recapture the hit they had in the 60's with the Honda "Dream" then the Ruckus is off to a great start.  If you are looking for a scooter that you can ride with pride the Honda Ruckus is a clearly a great choice.   Just a warning, a lot of others are beginning to realize this too making the scooters nearly impossible to find and in many places they are already sold out and selling for over the retail value of $2000.  The custom parts also aren't to cheap, but hey nobody said being cool was going to be easy.

(Photos by honda-motorcycles.info & forums.fortitude.com)

By Brian on Thursday, September 25, 2008 8:27:45 PM

Looking for a fun car that you can buy for pocket change?  Take a look at the Honda CRX, arguably one of the best light weight hatches to come from Japan. 

Profile: Honda CRX

The Honda CRX came to our shores in 1984 and offered the great package of fun and economy at very low price.  The CRX came in two generations and a couple of different models.  Ones of note would be the HF which was the lightest weight model that also got an insanely good gas mileage, and the Si model which offered the greatest performance and welcome upgrades like fuel-injection.  This little Honda offered a very capable chassis despite having some what less exotic hardware of other models.  Many of the CRX's came stock with a carburetor and in early models used a beam axle type rear suspension.  In later models this was updated to the much better double-wish bone design which allows so many Honda's to be real giant killers on the race track.  

So why is this car worthy of All-Star status?  Well of course "it's a Honda" so that means rock solid reliability, fuel economy, and a good ergonomic design.(You can also stuff a lot of crap in the hatch too)  However that is just what makes the vehicle a good common sense choice to own for the daily grind.   What makes these cars so much fun is the fact that Honda built an extremely light weight car and for those of you not in the know light weight makes for better braking, handling, acceleration, and fuel economy.  Although the stock engine choices can provide adequate power those looking for a whole lot more have a seemingly limitless amount of available upgrades.  In fact some of the best upgrades can be found in doing a motor swap B16, B18, H22, and the list goes on and on.  There are even lots of great upgrades for the stock drive-train and suspension.  When it comes to Honda's you can pretty much build a car to do anything from drag, autocross, trackdays, racing, etc.  the huge level of aftermarket support is a huge testament to the popularity and capability of these cars. 

When shopping for one although I included both generations in this profile I will note that the first generation will be easier to find in the sub-$1000 dollar price range.  These cars can be very sought after especially the Si models, but a good search will have you finding what your looking for.  A lot of examples may already be modified so be careful to do a close inspection and make sure your not winding up with somebody else's failed and beaten on project car.  Of course remember to keep your purposes for the vehicle in mind and remember that Honda parts are still quite cheap so finding a solid body and a nice interior is worth looking for. 

So now that we know a little more about Honda's great hot hatch all you need to do is go find one!

Got a suggestion for an "All-Star"? Send it to us and we could make it the next profile!

Photo From Blog.automotive.com

By Brian on Monday, September 22, 2008 2:20:20 PM

For some people a great car under $1000 dollars is a vehicle that can be fun to drive and serve an economical purpose.  Being a great daily commuter or a winter beater is typically a task that is sought after in a cheap used car.  However for some its all about the drive and the fun factor thats why I'll go ahead and say that the vehicle featured in this profile is for those who are looking for a pure sports car.

Profile: (79-85) Mazda RX-7

In 1979 few people in America had ever driven Mazdas or even knew what the heck a "Rotary" engine was, but that all changed with the debut of the RX-7.  Mazda set out to build a flagship sports car to compete against the Datsun Z series, and the RX-7 is the product of that effort.  What instantly sets the RX-7 apart is the fact that it uses a very unconventional engine known as a "rotary engine".  I won't go into great detail about these engines as that is an article in itself, but to give those not in the know an idea; the rotary is basically an engine that does not use pistons like a conventional engine.  It uses rotors that "rotate" in a housing in a clock like motion.( remember that spirograph when you were a kid? Now you get the idea).  What this allows is a very small and compact design that can provide smooth and high revving power. 

The first generation of RX-7 is composed of the parts one would expect in a sports car.  A small light weight chassis, high revving engine, rear-wheel drive, and in this case a "front-mid engine" placement.  Stock power levels were at about 100hp which provided very respectable speed compared to competition of the time.  There were also 3 models the GS, GSL, and GSL-SE each having better features than the next.  The GSL-SE models can be highly sought after for their fuel injection and 5 lug hubs making aftermarket wheel choices much better than the other models.

Now on to what makes this car an All-Star.  This car was a smash hit for Mazda in the early 80's and although we are only covering the first generation in this profile Mazda produced more advanced and more powerful models all the way up to 1995 in the US.  So these cars can be had all day for less than $1000 dollars and most parts are still easy to find and cheap.  What makes these cars so much fun is that although the early models didn't have a very technologically advanced design (no rack and pinion steering and a live axle rear end), but they provide everything that a sports car should have.  When you sit in one the controls fall to your hands perfectly and even for a 6 + footer like myself the car fits like a glove. Staring at you is a big center mounted tach that the rotary engines just love to push to the limit.  For those that are looking for the pure sports car experience that is offered by makes like MG, Triumph, Alfa Romeo, and Porsche this is a car that can fit the bill.  The cars balance is perfect, but it is prone to a little snap over steer and the 5.5 inch stock wheels don't provide insane amounts of grip, but none of the other great sports cars of the past really did either.  Even the manual steering is a pleasure in these cars as you can really feel the road and the available power is just enough to get you in trouble. 

The rotary gets a real bad wrap from a lot of people, but there is a reason it has such a dedicated and enthusiastic following.  The 12A engine that came in the early models is a very under stressed engine that in my opinion can hold up to the abuse just as good as anything else.  ( if you want some serious horsepower there are several V-8 swap kits available that this chassis can handle with ease)  Now after driving and owning a few of these vehicles I can go ahead and say that if you decide to venture out in the snow in an RX-7 do so at your own risk, and as far as fuel mileage goes the rotary is a little thirsty (expect 20 mpg avg.  even from this small engine)  However gas mileage and winter drive-ability is NOT what this car is all about.  These cars are what gave Mazda the right to preach "zoom-zoom" as they provide a true experience for the driver not just another drive.  Thats why to this day this author still owns one. 

Got your own idea for a Car Under $1000 Dollar All-Star? Send it in to 1000DollarAutos.com!

Photo by japanesenostalgiccar.com

By Brian on Friday, September 19, 2008 3:36:49 PM

This weeks All-Star is yet another econo-box that has everything a great beater vehicle needs; fuel-efficiency, cheap parts, reliability, and of course a fun driving experience.

Profile: Nissan Sentra SE-R (B13 chassis 1991-1994)

The Nissan Sentra SE-R has been around for quite some time and for good reason.  Its a known economy car that has been put together in a package that has the potential for fun.  Now even today there are still new models of Sentra SE-R's, but for this profile we're going to focus on the B13 model which is years 1991 to 1994.  These years combine the simple yet fun to drive chassis with a low power but high potential engine, and best of all they can be found for under a grand.

The B13 Sentras came with three engine types, a 1.4 liter, a 1.6 liter, and most importantly a 2.0 liter 4 cylinder engine.  For this profile we will only be discussing the SE-R model which came factory with a 140hp 2.0 liter engine known as the SR20DE.  Nissan loves to share engines in other cars and the SR20 for Nissan heads especially in turbo form is a known to be strong, reliable, and easy to tune engine.  Unfortunately for us the B13 Sentra only came in naturally aspirated form, but it still provides plenty of power for a shoe-box beater.  Adding to the fun is an independent suspension, 4-wheel disc brakes, and a manual or automatic transmission.  Nothing fancy by today's standards of performance and tech, but for this price and year its some good stuff for the money.

What truly makes this car an All-Star is the fact that its driving experience is greater than the sum of its parts.  I personally have only a couple of experiences in these cars, but its no surprise that it gets a lot of respect from others.  These cars handle well, but don't be mistaken they are still economy cars.  For those with cheap performance in mind the SR20DE motor and the B13 chassis have a whole world of aftermarket parts and upgrades available.  These cars even have enough of a following in the performance community to have their own racing series known as the SE-R Cup.  Now I'm sure not everybody who reads this has dreams of prompting a front wheel drive shoe-box into a fast but controllable four wheel drift (on a "closed course" mind you), and keeping that in mind the Sentra is still a great car that will give everything that people expect in a cheap economy vehicle.  For those who desire a little more fun in their daily grind or even just want a cheap, but forgiving to drive race car the B13 Sentra SE-R is an excellent choice. 

Got your own suggestion for a Beater All-Star Profile? Send it to us and maybe we'll put your All-Star in the spotlight!

(photo from modernracer.com)

By Brian on Wednesday, September 17, 2008 11:57:02 PM

The used car market is just like any other market; prices go up and down constantly and what is worth something today can be worthless only a few months from now. 

When buying a car for under 1000 dollars or any used vehicle, getting a great deal of course comes by doing research.  A part of that research is determining if the value of a certain type, make, or model is experiencing a period of inflation or deflation.  Now the most important factor in making a used car purchase is deciding what your own needs are and finding a vehicle that can best suit that need. Unfortunately your personal needs may also be shared by many others which means that the vehicle your looking for could be in a period of high demand forcing you to pay higher prices.

An example that we are seeing today of course with rising gas prices is a spike in the used gas savers, especially of the Honda/Toyota/Mazda variety.  Since so many are scrambling to find these cars that are known to be cheap, reliable, and fuel efficient the prices are starting to rise dramatically (which is great if your a seller) and if we wish to find a "great deal" we must approach the situation with caution.  I don't doubt that the prices of fuel and vehicle owner ship won't continue to rise, but rushing out and buying just any old beater with a four cylinder motor is not the way to go. 

Just like with any other car purchase we still need to negotiate a fair price and keep in mind that these types of vehicles are produced in mass quantities each year so if the deal doesn't feel right then move on to the next.  A way to think outside the box in this situation would be to maybe target a vehicle that can suit your needs, but may not be as heavily pursued.  If a Toyota or Nissan four cylinder to use as a daily is your target, because they are small, cheap, and reliable of course people will be out looking or a corolla or sentra.  So ask yourself; have you considered a truck?  We tend not to think of trucks as gas savers, but many of the foreign and domestic small trucks get just as good of gas mileage as any economy car and have rock solid reliability. 

Need Examples?

• Chevy S-10
• 80's & 90's Toyota Pickups
• Mazda B2200
• Nissan Hardbody and other Pickups
• Ford Rangers

Any of these trucks can provide reliability, Fuel Efficiency, and practically the same amenities and drive-ability of most economy cars.  The point is keep in mind what makes economical vehicles so economical and open your eyes to what else might fit your needs.