I decided that the TR-8s I mentioned recently were out of my price
range (Yes, I know I'm going to regret this one of these days).
Anyway, my brother's mechanic has recommended a friend's 1976 TR-7
(hard top, carburetor, new brakes, mediocre interior - $1100). The
owner is an auto mechanics instructor at a local community college so I
feel pretty comfortable about buying it.
First question - My brother's mechanic prefers TR-6s. I noticed, while
glancing through the national autocross results, that no one seems to
race TR-7s. Is someone trying to tell me something? How does a TR-6
compare to a TR-7 given the following criteria (in order of
importance):
1) Handling on twisty mountain roads.
2) Acceleration.
3) Which car provides the better platform for #4.
4) Cost of improving the car - new tires, exhaust, suspension, ect.
5) Reliability, will be primary means of daily transportation (22 mile
round trip). I do have an old beat up Citation for backup.
6) Cost of normal maintenance.
7) Will not be raced.
Keep in mind that all work will be done by a mechanic, I have no desire
to work on my own car, at least not in the near future. I'm willing to
spend serveral thousand over the next couple of years, but I'd like to
start out cheap ($2-3,000 max.).
Second question - Is there a book/article(s) that covers the basics of
street legal modifications and lists the order they should be done
in? I'm not looking for 'how to', I just want to know what to do.
I've gotten the impression from reading the list that the first two
things I should do is buy new tires and change the exhaust. Then
what? My brother's mechanic mentioned putting a Weber carb. on the
TR-7 for $400.
Or should I just buy a used Toyota MR2? Please, no flames on this last
question. I just want to buy the best inexpensive real sports car that
I can. In other words, putting nostalgia and romance aside would I be
better off spending $5-6000 up front for an '85 MR2 or spending $1-2000
on a British car and fixing it up? Am I wrong to limit myself to TR-6s
and 7s?
Thanks,
Philip Robar, MTS
Windows, SQE
Sun Microsystems, MS 14-40, 2550 Garcia Ave., Mt. View, CA. 94043
Phone: (415) 336-1423
Email:
philr@eng.sun.com (internet with domain name server)
philr%eng@sun.com (internet w/o domain name server)
...!{ucbvax,decwrl,decvax,seismo,hplabs}!sun!knecht.eng!philr (UUCP
with direct routing)
knecht.eng!philr@sun.com (UUCP with smart mailer?)
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