Lemons/ChumpCar choices

JohnByers · **Posted:** Sun Jun 12, 2011 6:40 pm

Thanks to Mike my brother is all ready to start the search for a car. I have read both rulesets and the idea Mike and Bobby had of building a 318ti because of familiarity and having spares already has me worried about a few things in regards to the $500.

1). I read in the Chump ruleset they considered the E36 "total value" more than the $500.
2). I am also wondering that trying to make such a build would be perhaps out of the spirit of the race the sanctioning bodies are trying to create.
3). Would hate to build with all the honest of intentions to be told the car isn't legal.

Thought/advice? Don't want to make the wrong vehicle choice.

FWIW, there are six of us interested in doing this and four are THSCCers that just want to do this for fun. Do something we have never done, get some in car experience, test our problem solving skills and have fun!

Michael Westerfield · **Posted:** Sun Jun 12, 2011 7:07 pm

I wouldn't build any BMW if you want to have a chance at not getting a penalty.

Besides, ask Remchak, they suck anyways.

Jason Tower · **Joined:** Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:31 pm **Posts:** 1173

imho a 318 e30 would be a better choice than a 318ti. a 318 e36 would be better too, although it's probably too expensive and most likely slower than the e30 so why bother.

other options? i suggest looking for something cheap, commonplace, with four cylinders and three pedals. early japanese cars fit the bill, although you can have a somewhat "newer" car if you avoid honda since they hold their value so well. think nissan sentra, mazda protege, etc. for similar money you can probably get a newer and/or lower mileage domestic - neon, saturn, j-car, etc. if you want rwd and good handling think e30 or miata, otherwise you're probably talking six cylinder camaro/mustang. obviously there are many many other options but this should be a reasonable starting point.

JohnByers · **Posted:** Sun Jun 12, 2011 7:18 pm

Michael Westerfield wrote:

I wouldn't build any BMW if you want to have a chance at not getting a penalty.

Besides, ask Remchak, they suck anyways.

I like em, but I want to make the right choice. Doesn't matter particular make as long as we can make one reliable to keep her going round

BretLuter · **Posted:** Sun Jun 12, 2011 10:36 pm

I don't think you have to worry too much about making a 318ti Lemons or Chump "legal". I mean, what's the worst that could happen?? You might get some penalty laps, but so what?? Unless you have a bunch of ringers for drivers and are very good at building a car to last and not have some sort of incident/accident or mechanical that takes you out of contention, you're not liable to be in the running for the win anyway.

You will have to fight the general anti-BMW sentiment, but haters gonna hate, so what can you do? If you don't want to deal with that, then find an E28 or E21 or other more oddball BMW and go with that. I personally think an E28 would be a great choice.

I heard VK was getting a job as a Lemons BS judge mostly because of his love for BMW's.

:thumbsup:

JohnByers · **Posted:** Sun Jun 12, 2011 11:01 pm

BretLuter wrote:

If you don't want to deal with that, then find an E28 or E21 or other more oddball BMW and go with that. I personally think an E28 would be a great choice.

:thumbsup:

Funny you should mention that!
:wink:

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon Jun 13, 2011 8:10 am

Wait, so you are thinking of building a race car with an automatic transmission? NO, STOP, and DON'T.

JohnByers · **Posted:** Mon Jun 13, 2011 8:15 am

Vincent Keene wrote:

Wait, so you are thinking of building a race car with an automatic transmission? NO, STOP, and DON'T.

Oh, no way. It will have three pedals. No autotragics for me :lol:

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Mon Jun 13, 2011 8:28 am

I think the BMW hate has subsided a bit in Lemons. Do the BMW, just don't be lame, that's where most BMW's go wrong.

Not lame BMW (also not slow)

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon Jun 13, 2011 8:33 am

JohnByers wrote:

Vincent Keene wrote:

Wait, so you are thinking of building a race car with an automatic transmission? NO, STOP, and DON'T.

Oh, no way. It will have three pedals. No autotragics for me :lol:

OK, since Jason alluded to you being better off with a car with three pedals I thought you were thinking of an auto. We have yet to see one that didn't overheat...even with a huge cooler.

TomFreeman · **Posted:** Mon Jun 13, 2011 8:37 am

Ryan Holton wrote:

I think the BMW hate has subsided a bit in Lemons. Do the BMW, just don't be lame, that's where most BMW's go wrong.

Not lame BMW (also not slow)

LOVED this car and the theme. The team costumes were outstanding.

JohnByers · **Posted:** Mon Jun 13, 2011 3:49 pm

do you think they would allow a 1977 porsche 924?

Jason Tower · **Joined:** Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:31 pm **Posts:** 1173

JohnByers wrote:

do you think they would allow a 1977 porsche 924?

if you think you can make a 924 survive an endurance race that'd be an inspired choice

Mark Barnes · **Posted:** Mon Jun 13, 2011 4:08 pm

You build about anything and have fun as long as it is reliable. Much more fun to watch the race and drink beer at night than spent all your time trying to get the car fixed.

Pick something odd if you want attention and recognition (at Lemons), anything fast will work for Chump. We have neither of these catagories covered but have fun regardless.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon Jun 13, 2011 4:14 pm

Jason Tower wrote:

JohnByers wrote:

do you think they would allow a 1977 porsche 924?

if you think you can make a 924 survive an endurance race that'd be an inspired choice

I agree. Hell, we see 944s all the time in Lemons. They don't usually last thus they don't gather to much attention from the judges.

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