Car Mods: MSD coil and tachometer

Whenever I do something on my car, I almost always end up f*cking something up in the process. Here's the latest: I wanted to install a cheap tachometer since my El Cheap Mazda 323 didn't come with one. I sourced a decent used one at an auto wrecker and proceeded with the install.

With only four wires, a tachometer is pretty easy to install. Still, I managed to make it difficult. When I went to connect the white tachometer wire to the ignition wire, I used a wire connector like the red one you see here, which sort of crimps (or clamps) the two wires together, making a connection.

Easy as pie and I use these all the time, but it turned out this tachometer didn't work anyway, so I had to rip everything out. Problem: the ignition wire going to the coil had almost been severed, and needed to be cut and reconnected.

But the wire going to the plastic connector on the stock coil was now too short to connect to--there just isn't enough wire to be able to wrap, solder, tape, or crimp. The solution? Rip out the stock coil, throw in an MSD Blaster 2 coil, connect the ignition wires directly to the MSD coil, and spend the next three hours fashioning a custom coil mounting plate out of scrap flooring.

I still have no tachometer, but the $60 MSD coil seems to have had a positive impact on top end performance and seems to work well with the K&N air filter I threw in at the same time.

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Honda CRX / Ballade

The Honda CRX Car Review has moved, and can now be seen here.

Nissan Maxima / Laurel

Click to read the Nissan Maxima Review

FunCheapCars.com Videos

FunCheapCars.com Videos
Car videos from around the world

We: scour the 'net and blogosphere to pilfer links to as many car videos as possible.
You: sit back and watch some of our favourites.

Warning: possible bling content, possible street-illegal content, possible not-so-cheap content, possible unrelated content, possible offensive content, possible really cool content. Enjoy at own risk.

Here's the latest:


More FunCheapCar.com video links:

Nismo Skyline R34 GTR Z-TUNED in motion (1)
Opel Calibra vs Honda Integra TypeR
SkyLine R34 800hp vs Modified Camaro with NOS
10 second Turbo Integra
Fast Supra
Supra From Hell
Neon SRT-4 vs Supra
323 GT-R Winterfun
Mazda 323 GT-R am Prüfstand
Mazda 323 GT-R
Skunkys Turbo Civic Hb Vs. Compton Robs Turbo Civic Si
500HP BHT Civic Turbo
civic vs rx-8
Crash Test 4x4 vs. Honda Civic Coupe 92
Maxima Vs Maxima/ mr2 vs. civic illegal street racing NY
maxima turbo 350hp
Maxima Girl's Drive Stories on FUSE
Nissan - G35, 350Z, Maxima meet @ Glendale, Queens
Ford Fiesta ST v Mitsubishi Colt CZT - Shoot-Outs
Mitsubishi Colt
Mitsubishi Colt 4WD
Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart Version-R Test Drive
Cube's Mitsubishi Colt Drifting and J-Turns!
Isuzu Impulse Ad
Isuzu Impulse AWD Turbo
1990 Isuzu Impulse at autocross
Isuzu Impulse Turbo Commercial
600 bhp celica gt4 awd vs subaru sti vs supra 1020hp
Ford Escort Cosworth vs Toyota Celica
Celica rally history
World's fastest toyota celica
Toyota Celica ST185RC
Sexy Car Wash Celica T23
Title Fight: 2008 Lancer Evo X vs. 2008 Subaru WXR STi
Impreza WRX STI 2008 Vs lancer Evolution X
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX
2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X by Edmunds' Inside Line
2007 New Lancer 2.0 GT Television Commercial
Subaru Impreza vs Escort Cosworth - In car 1/4mile
escort cosworth
top gear escort cosworth
2008 Subaru Impreza WRX vs. 2007 Mazdaspeed 3 by Inside Line
Mazda 3 MPS (Mazdaspeed 3) 13 second Quarter Mile Runs
Mazdaspeed 3 vs 350Z nismo
The New Driver's Seat - Mazda Speed 3
mazdaspeed 6 vs corvette
M3 vs 5.7L Charger vs 07 350Z vs Mazdaspeed 6
Mazdaspeed Miata Downhill
Racing the Forsa
Suzuki Every Turbo
Suzuki MightyBoy Turbo #2
Suzuki Swift GTI Turbo
Corolla GTS Video 1987
Corolla GTS 87
Powered 3SGTE corolla GTS AE86
AE86 Corolla GTS, Subaru Impreza Winter Drift
MR2 and Corolla GTS drag7
MGTE on an AE86 Corolla GTS

More video links coming soon...

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Subaru Justy

Subaru Justy
Type: 3 door hatchback, 5 door hatchback
Years: 1984-present
Bling Rating: 0.4/5
Zing Rating: 2.9/5
Price Rating: 3.9/5
FunCheapFactor: 5.52

Essentially a Suzuki Swift with a Subaru engine and 4WD drive-train, the Subaru Justy is something of a cult classic (in North America at least). Still available overseas (where it's now based on a Daihatsu Sirion) the Justy was discontinued in the North American market in 1994, as it was probably deemed too small, underpowered, and cute for U.S. customers.

Looking at the cars Subaru sells today--and their aggressive, angry, and powerfully brutish image--it's hard to imagine this is the same company that made the little Justy a little over a decade ago. But what endeared the "classic" Justy to many buyers is exactly what repelled others: it was small, nimble, underpowered, very cute, ultra-efficient, and all-wheel drive.

An odd package to say the least...that is unless you own one. To most owners, the Justy is a fantastic car. It's not fast or sporty (although many are raced in amateur rally) but it's fun to drive and oh so practical. The tiny 3-cylinder engine produces tolerable pep (with a manual transmission at least) and the all-wheel drive is incredible for such a small car.

Mechanically, the Justy is rock solid. They have above average reliability with very few problem areas--most of which, like rear differential wear or engine problems, are due to owner neglect. Like all Subaru's, the AWD system used in the Justy has proved very effective and very tough over the years--one of the reasons many Justy's are still going strong today.

In town, the Justy is one of the nicest little cars to drive. Ample interior space, great visibility, superb manoeuvrability, and incredible fuel economy (in the range of 50 miles per gallon). On the highway it's a little noisy and buzzy, but who buys a Justy for highway driving?

With all-wheel drive and a compact size, the Justy is a very fun car to drive--especially on gravel or snow-covered roads. Used prices are reasonable, parts are still available from dealers and wreckers, and they are legendarily cheap to own and drive.

What the Subaru Justy lacks in excitement it more than makes up for in fun. And until you've driven one on snowy roads, past other cars stuck in the ditch or unable to climb an ice-covered hill, you don't know just how fun they are. And since used ones can be picked up for a song these days, you can spend all the money you saved on long johns, hot apple cider, mittens, and lift tickets.

Subaru Justy Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_Just
http://www.carsurvey.org/model_Subaru_Justy.html
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/1990-to-1994-subaru-justy.htm

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Honda Prelude

The Honda Prelude Review has moved, and can now be seen here.

Toyota Corolla / Levin / Trueno

Toyota Corolla / Levin / Trueno
Type: 3 door hatchback, 4 door sedan, 2 door coupe
Years: 1966 - present
Bling Rating: 0.8/5
Zing Rating: 3.4/5
Price Rating: 2.6/5
FunCheapFactor: 7.07

It's not easy to write about the Toyota Corolla, the world's best selling car for many, many years. Not only is it a legend in its class and a car that, like the Landcruiser, helped build a company, but it's also a bit of an enigma. So many Corolla models have been produced it's hard to narrow it down to one FunCheapCars.com category. Sports car? Sometimes. Sleeper? Sure. Boring as white bread. Oh yes. Powerful and exciting? Can be.

In some ways the Corolla even makes the Honda Civic look like an outlaw, it's that refined and that well-rounded. Fortunately, Toyota offered a few sporty Corolla models over the years, mixed in with all those utterly plain-Jane 4 door automatics.

One of those, the Corolla GT-S (AE86) handled so well it was prohibited from certain classes at an Autocross track I used to frequent simply because it gave drivers an unfair advantage. And in Japan the AE86 Levin / Trueno became a rear-wheel drive racing, rallying, and drifting legend on pavement and on the Sony PlayStation--and it still is today.

In every sense, the Corolla is a car to be reckoned with. We all know how reliable and well built it is by name alone, but not everyone one knows its sport racing heritage. When I say it is a legend in Japan, that's no exaggeration. Even Japanese who aren't interested in cars know the Levin name (just ask my wife).

Given it's worldwide legend status, you might be wondering why the Toyota Corolla scores rather low (7.07) on our FunCheapCars.com Index. It has to do with two things: price and availability.

Used Corollas--like all used Toyotas it seems--hold their value far too well in most markets. Even with high mileage, people still ask top dollar. On top of this, not very many GT-S's were sold in some markets, making them rare and often, more over-priced.

But even regular 'ol Corollas have potential. Bolt on a $50 free-flow muffler and CAT, cut the shifter (or install a short-shift kit if you got the dough), slap in a $30 sports-bucket from the wreckers, bolt-on a homemade cold air intake, and mount some used 50-series sports tires. That drab Corolla 4-door sedan can be transformed into a Fun and (relatively) Cheap Car.

But if you can, find a AE86 Corolla / Levin / Trueno GT / GT-S. It might not be as cheap as a plain 'ol Corolla, but it will be lots more fun from the get-go.

Toyota Corolla / Levin / Trueno GT-S Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_AE86
http://www.dorikaze.ca/dorikaze_primer.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Corolla

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To JDM or not to JDM: Are Japanese domestic market cars worth it?

FunCheapCars.com Feature
To JDM or not to JDM: Are Japanese domestic market cars worth it?

When it comes to fun, cheap, and very fast cars, the Japanese are spoilt for choice. In Japan cars are almost universally regarded as fodder for the auto recyclers when they are more than ten years old or when they have more than 100,000 kms on the odo. It's hard to believe, but true.

Little do they know, their worthless car is worth thousands in overseas markets, as most Japan Domestic Market (JDM) cars are in pristine condition and have very low miles for the year. And since Japan has mandatory government inspections, most cars have been very well maintained.

The choices for FunCheapCar enthusiasts are truly mouthwatering--think Nissan Skyline, Toyota Supra and Celica GT-four, Honda Civic Type-R, Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VIII, Mazda RX-7 (Efini RX7 FD3S), and Subaru Impreza WRX STi. These are just a few examples of the JDM performance cars that are available for much less than you might pay for a local vehicle of the same age with higher miles and far fewer options.

But while many JDM cars may be pristine and loaded with options unseen elsewhere, all that revs is not gold. Many JDM market cars have spent more time sitting in storage than being driven, which can wreak havoc on engine and drive-line seals. And in the case of performance cars, many have literally had the wheels driven off them (remember, the Japanese invented and perfected the art of drifting).

Also, used JDM car importers are not unlike used car dealers: there are many great ones, but a few unscrupulous ones as well. So that JDM twin-turbo Toyota Soarer with 45,000 kms on the odo may not be as good as it seems. It pays to keep the excitement at bay and check the car and the importer like you would any other.

Another possibility: if and when something goes wrong with your JDM car, you might find local dealers less than willing to help out. Many dealers refuse to sell parts for JDM cars while others make the process painful and expensive. Fortunately you can find just about everything you need online or from local JDM importers.

With eye-popping right-hand drive, mind-blowing performance, and envy-generating options, JDM cars can make fantastic FunCheapCars. And because they're a few years older and not widely regarded as cool (many JDM performance cars are true sleepers) the bling factor isn't too high either, which is also a good thing.

If you're in the market for a FunCheapCar, a JDM car can definitely be worth it. Just do some homework before you part with those hard earned dollars.

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Nissan NX1600 / NX2000

Nissan NX1600 / NX2000
Type: 3 door hatchback
Years: 1987-1990 / 1991-1993
Bling Rating: .995/5
Zing Rating: 3.4/5
Price Rating: 2.9/5
FunCheapFactor: 9.81

Hailed by Road & Track magazine as one of the "world's best handling cars" without a hint of hyperbole, Nissan's NX's made quite a splash when they arrived on the import scene. Sporty, quick, and modern, the NX1600--and it's big-engined brother the NX2000--soon developed a loyal following among those who like small, fast, sporty cars.

The NX had many things going for it: a limited slip front differential for improved traction and less torque steer, a well received and sporty design, and in the case of the 2.0 litre SE-R NX2000, arguably one of the best normally-aspirated in-line 4-cylinder engines ever mated to a 5 speed transmission. This engine could rev fast and high, was relatively smooth and quiet, and delivered respectable horsepower (150 bhp).

Over the years, the NX's have aged well. The 1.6 and 2.0 litre engines have proved their reliability in many Nissan applications, and these days the NX aftermarket, while not booming, is certainly healthy. While the NX2000 is more prized for it's larger engine, the NX1600 is still a spry and capable car, and a good condition used example shouldn't be overlooked.

Prices for both NX's have come down rapidly in recent years, perhaps more quickly that other cars in its class. This probably has little to do with reliability, parts availability, or resale (which are all good) and more to do with the somewhat dated and unconventional styling.

The NX is a good enough looking car from the side, but from the front or rear, it can be less than appealing. There's little argument it came fitted with one of the ugliest front ends ever seen on a Japanese car (think Geo Storm), and the rear end looks disproportionately large, an optical illusion possibly triggered by the overly large tail lights.

But to those who know, this matters little--it's what's under the sheet metal that counts, and rightly so. And the NX is by no means an ugly or unappealing car, just somewhat uniquely styled.

Used prices are reasonable, and fit and finish is on par with the best of Japan of the same age. Off the line they are extremely peppy, and in the corners they hold the road at least as well as anyone driving on public streets should want them to.

Overall the NX1600 and NX2000 are great examples of what FunCheapCars are all about.

Nissan NX1600 / NX2000 Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_100NX
http://www.carsurvey.org/model_Nissan_NX2000.html
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/1991-to-1993-nissan-nx-1.htm

Suzuki Swift / Forsa / Sprint / Firefly / Metro

Suzuki Swift / Forsa / Sprint / Firefly / Metro
Type: 3 door hatchback, 5 door hatchback / 4 door sedan
Years: 1985-present
Bling Rating: 0.7/5
Zing Rating: 4.1/5
Price Rating: 3.6/5
FunCheapFactor: 10.33

The first time I drove a Suzuki Swift turbo, it put all my other FunCheapCars (owned at that time) into perspective. Up until that point, I thought my bone-stock '73 and '76 Celicas were quick, and my '79 and '82 Rabbits were dang near fast. How wrong I was.

When it blasted on to the market in '85, the Swift was at first discounted and mocked by those who refused to believe a little Japanese "supermini" could be cheap, quick, fast, efficient, and fun. How wrong they were.

In North America the Swift was also Suzuki's first foray into cars: the much loved Samurai 4x4 had been around for a while, but Suzuki was a motorcycle company and nothing else--or so we thought at the time.

One 1st gear red light dash was all it took to convince me--and many like me--that the little Swift meant business and was here to stay. And it has stayed, currently forming the platform for Suzuki's new "world" car and having remarkable success just about everywhere it's sold.

With its re-badging by GM as a Metro and Firefly, the MkI and MkII Swifts became a little too mainstream to develop a cult following, but they are very popular with those who want cheap, reliable, and fun transportation without the monthly payments.

And these days, the turbo GTi or GT models are rare enough to raise a few eyebrows when they drive by--and with some 105 bhp on tap and ready to spool in an instant, they're quick enough to raise a few pulses as well.

The Swift has proved itself a reliable little rocket, holding together at least as well as Japan's best in the same class, although the interior finish and detailing might not have been up to Honda or Toyota standards. But who cares? For sheer pocket-rocket driving enjoyment, a Suzuki Swift (with a decent set of tires, upgrade brake pads, a cold air intake [preferably home-made] and lowered springs) is tough to beat. Good handling and performance don't often come together in such a fun cheap package.

Used examples are relatively plentiful and inexpensive, although finding a good used turbo model that doesn't require a rebuild can be a challenge. But it's worth the effort: the little car that could, did, and still does, the Suzuki Swift is a fantastic all-rounder with more zing than many expect.

Suzuki Swift / Forsa / Sprint / Firefly / Metro Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_Swift
http://www.carsurvey.org/model_Suzuki_Swift.html
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/1995-to-2001-suzuki-swift.htm

Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / Caribe

Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / Caribe
Type: 3 door hatchback, 5 door hatchback, convertible, pick-up
Years: 1974-present
Bling Rating: 1.1/5
Zing Rating: 3.4/5
Price Rating: 2.8/5
FunCheapFactor: 10.47

The original "hot hatch", the Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit has been the world's third best selling automobile model. The Rabbit (as I'll refer to it being a North American and having owned two) is one of the most enjoyable FunCheapCars to own, drive, and maintain. They are quick, nimble, inexpensive, reliable, sporty, and very European--in design at least.

Manufactured in Germany and then for many years in North America (first the U.S., more recently Mexico), the Italian-designed, German Engineered Rabbit Mark I has been a hot-hatch legend for so long, it belongs to another era, another time, another generation--almost.

It's still a popular car today, as the after market is vast, parts are easy to find, and good, used examples are still somewhat common and not always over priced. And those little fuel injected 1.6 and 1.8 litre engines are long lived and provide enough pep to surprise drivers of much newer, more expensive cars.

With the creation of the GTi version in 1976 (it's not that long ago) Volkswagen became the first car company to combine an economy car with sports performance, giving birth to an entirely new automotive segment. Some might claim other manufacturers beat VW to the punch, and they might be right, but no other company popularized--and mass produced with incredible success--an economy performance car like the Rabbit GTi.

Early Rabbits are getting long-in-tooth these days, and unless they've been well maintained the age shows. Many GTi's have also been modified, driven hard, and put away wet as they say. And while there is a plethora of Mark II Golfs around, the early ones (in North American at least) suffered from poor build quality due in part to their assembly in Mexican plants.

But overall, Volkswagen Rabbits makes fantastic FunCheapCars. They are modern classics that helped define an era and create an automotive segment. Well designed, nimble, and quick, they are a total blast to drive; often inexpensive and easy to work on, they are a joy to own and tune.

Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / Caribe Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Golf
http://www.carsurvey.org/model_Volkswagen_Rabbit.html
http://www.carsurvey.org/model_Volkswagen_Golf.html