Need a boring, over 10 years old RWD Car

[Warhawk]

Hello all,

I'm not sure this'll be the right place for this but here goes.

Something of a fan of sleepers and always fancied a long-term project. I wouldn't say I was an accomplished home mechanic, but perhaps somewhere along the lines of "capable" in some minimal respect.

Have some experience of engine swaps (Saab B204/Vaux conversion) and maintained my own cars for years.

Would quite like to return to the B204 and make some 'orribly powerful but outwardly boring thing just to make me smile. In some fashion bolt an Omega R28 box up to it and then think custom prop and better diff some time later.

Just can't decide on the donor car though and tbh I am out of ideas. Ideally it'd be:

- Not an Omega
- Not a BMW nor Merc
- Not a Transit although COULD be a very small van

Anyone have anything to suggest?

EDIT - title DID say ">10YO" but that got chopped. So I'd say anything older than ten years, but I'd rather not get chopping up any classics.

[Tony1963]

If you go into Autotrader and type in your budget, rwd, age/s of car etc, you’ll see how difficult it’ll be to find something. Almost every ‘hit’ is BMW/Merc/Jag.

[Colin747]

Any particular budget?

What about something like the Rover 75 that they stuck a 5.0 V8 in? Though I guess that's sort of a ready made sleeper in a way. Maybe a Lexus? Something like a GS300 etc.

Wouldn't really be a sleeper but a RX-8 with a B204 would be cool to see!

[A500leroy]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-Hiace-LWB-2-4-Di...

[A500leroy]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-Toyota-Previa-MOTI...

[Warhawk]

Tony1963 said:

If you go into Autotrader and type in your budget, rwd, age/s of car etc, you’ll see how difficult it’ll be to find something. Almost every ‘hit’ is BMW/Merc/Jag.

Well, yes indeed. Thought it'd be worth a go on here just in case there's some miraculous yet featureless automobile I'd just overlooked.

Colin747 said:

Any particular budget?

What about something like the Rover 75 that they stuck a 5.0 V8 in? Though I guess that's sort of a ready made sleeper in a way. Maybe a Lexus? Something like a GS300 etc.

Wouldn't really be a sleeper but a RX-8 with a B204 would be cool to see!

Funnily enough I think I've heard tell of an MX5 with a B234. Rover 75 would be an absolute winner, but that one's rocking horse poop. Lexus idea has legs though...

Budget maybe £2k for the "victim" and I should actually have the engine itself if my 93 doesn't explode prematurely.

A500leroy said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-Toyota-Previa-MOTI...

I like the style, I will ponder these. Although I'm desiring more "car" than, er, "those." Thanks though!

THIS though is BEAUTIFUL*

Edited by Warhawk on Tuesday 29th December 19:14

Edited by Warhawk on Tuesday 29th December 20:11

[finlo]

Lexus is 200/250 or turn something FWD into RWD?

[Warhawk]

finlo said:

Lexus is 200/250 or turn something FWD into RWD?

Ah, yes, well that's the thing... I did wonder at doing RWD conversion, but then more than likely gotta go Q plate, unless I can find something that will fit the transmission where I want it and by some miracle is also strong enough of a frame to cope with north of 500bhp.

Toy with a Reliant Scimitar on and off too, but that looks a bit too beefy really.

[Stuart Fordyce]

Volvo 740, preferably estate. Driven by old blokes or painter and decorators? Volvo even did a turbo version themselves...

Ford Scorpio? Really ugly though.

[mike9009]

Warhawk said:

finlo said:

Lexus is 200/250 or turn something FWD into RWD?

Ah, yes, well that's the thing... I did wonder at doing RWD conversion, but then more than likely gotta go Q plate, unless I can find something that will fit the transmission where I want it and by some miracle is also strong enough of a frame to cope with north of 500bhp.

Toy with a Reliant Scimitar on and off too, but that looks a bit too beefy really.

Could a standard Rover 75 be easily converted to RWD?? Not sure how much was changed in the factory V8??

[ZX10R NIN]

GS300 bolt a Turbo on it & you have a great sleeper

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lexus-GS300-SE-with-Nav...

IS200 a wealth of options engine wise V8/Turbo/2JZ

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-Lexus-IS-200-2-0-S...

IS250

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-Lexus-IS-250-Sport...

[PositronicRay]

Black Cab

[Warhawk]

Stuart Fordyce said:

Volvo 740, preferably estate. Driven by old blokes or painter and decorators? Volvo even did a turbo version themselves...

Ford Scorpio? Really ugly though.

I did ponder a Volvo yes. Very good candidate but they're all getting a bit old now, and giving off the vibe that I shouldn't really be chopping them up. HOWEVER I could soothe the old conscience by interfering as little as possible. 240 I had in mind once.

Hehe, the Scorpio is a very good idea yes. I never found them "ugly" but I recall the period of 90s cars (when we went post-jelly mould shapes) and just finding them "aggresively bland" as most cars of the sort were.

mike9009 said:

Could a standard Rover 75 be easily converted to RWD?? Not sure how much was changed in the factory V8??

Now that I don't know and it'd be interesting to find out there. Thanks. That fits the bill 100%.

ZX10R NIN said:

GS300 bolt a Turbo on it & you have a great sleeper

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lexus-GS300-SE-with-Nav...

IS200 a wealth of options engine wise V8/Turbo/2JZ

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-Lexus-IS-200-2-0-S...

IS250

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-Lexus-IS-250-Sport...

These Lexuses are very strong contenders indeed. Cheers.

PositronicRay said:

Black Cab

Ooh that'd be cheeky. I like the idea. Goodness I would need some suspension work though I dread to think how it'd feel wallowing around with 500bhp in it.

Well this is actually going brilliant, thanks everyone for those.

Wonder if I could convert AWD to RWD. So long as it had a central rear diff I don't see there'd be a HUGE issue. He says... lol

[culpz]

finlo said:

Lexus is 200/250 or turn something FWD into RWD?

These, all day. I'd go with the IS200, as they're supposed to be a little bit more dynamic but plentiful and cheaper. Sport version will get you an LSD. IS300's are rare and come with the 2JZ engine but are tip-tronic only.

They're crap on fuel and slow but should be typically reliable, as most Lexus' are.

[ZX10R NIN]

IS250 with a V8 swap

https://www.lextreme.com/forums/index.php?threads/...

Or an LS swap kit for the IS250:

https://performance-supercar.com/collections/front...

[Warhawk]

Thanks both. It's only really the car and rear diff I fancy, that's all it's worth to me, so long as it looks bland!

B204 engine, homemade loom (sucker for punishment,) likely Saab dash, R28 box, sleeve up a prop and get one made, then whatever beefing of whatever diff I deem necessary. And then welding and more welding and some welding.

Volvo might be easier in the end as less modern faff-ery to go wrong. Then again, Lexus probably less of the "rusted to f--k" about it.

There's some gold in here though fellas thanks lots and lots.

Edited by Warhawk on Wednesday 30th December 14:49

[PositronicRay]

If you want 4wd, how about.




Or how about a bike engined Suzuki Jimmy?

Edited by PositronicRay on Wednesday 30th December 15:38

[aka_kerrly]

Warhawk said:

Then again, Lexus probably less of the "rusted to f--k" about it.
]

I was going to suggest a Lexus IS200, there are SO many options available an a Saab 2.3T one would definitely be something a bit different. The Sport models come with a LSD as standard, later 2002> cars have a lower final drive ratio to. Don't over pay for a Sport though when you are planning on ripping it all to part , a LSD can be bought easy enough second hand or new aftermarket ones so buy the best condition shell in a decent colour an job done.

What I would say about the IS200 is to check the rear sills/bottom of the rear arches and around the jacking point, it seems to be the only place they can potentially rot badly. Also check the front chassis legs to for any evidence of water ingress into the plated areas/joins.

There have been 3 IS200s in my family, my brother currently has an Toyota Altezza RS200 & my dad still has my last IS200, it's due it's MOT in a few weeks and depending on how it gets on I am half tempted to buy my dad a newer car and have the IS back to put a Lexus 1UZ V8 engine with a manual swap..