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No, this is not a "Hey guys, I'm a newbie jumping on the bandwagon so anywayz I want to no how much $$ a new drift car costs" thread.
What this thread really is about is the prices of previously affordable drift cars. Before I was serious about buying a 240SX, before the fad began, that is, one could pick a nice one up for no more than $2500. Now there are people trying to pawn off junkheaps with screwed up bodies and crap paint for $3500+. I don't even want to talk about the SR20DET-swapped cars... I wonder if the owners realize that in California they can be sued for the full price of smog legalization. (Yes, that means they can be sued for an engine swap back to KA, labor inclusive) Granted, there are the diamonds in the rough, owned by people not influenced by the current drifting trends... however most are automatics. Also, many charge a premium due to simple modifications or visual mods. Guys, mods have never added much to a car's price, maybe a 10-25% increase in normal price would be right. Instead, there are S13s with Silvia front ends and KAs for sale at $6000.
Examples of charging way too much: '91 240SX w/SR20DET and mods
And another
And... another
240s are bad, but AE86s are the worst. You can get a basketcase for $2500, and it just gets worse. $3500 for decent condition? $4000 for good condition? Uh, what? Has the world gone mad? These are rather primitive cars that dyno at about 95rwhp. Why on earth are they worth that much? Initial D and the current drifting fad.
How about an AE86 for $8500?
Even if one were to find that diamond in the rough, most likely he or she would be outbid by ex-ricers/trust fund babies with deep pockets. (It's happened to me twice so far.) The cars probably won't last through the year.
Bottom line: Drifting's popularity is not nice to drifters who want a car, especially in Southern California. Keep searching, and keep hoping. That, and offer reasonable amounts for cars... maybe you can get the sellers to back down their price.
What this thread really is about is the prices of previously affordable drift cars. Before I was serious about buying a 240SX, before the fad began, that is, one could pick a nice one up for no more than $2500. Now there are people trying to pawn off junkheaps with screwed up bodies and crap paint for $3500+. I don't even want to talk about the SR20DET-swapped cars... I wonder if the owners realize that in California they can be sued for the full price of smog legalization. (Yes, that means they can be sued for an engine swap back to KA, labor inclusive) Granted, there are the diamonds in the rough, owned by people not influenced by the current drifting trends... however most are automatics. Also, many charge a premium due to simple modifications or visual mods. Guys, mods have never added much to a car's price, maybe a 10-25% increase in normal price would be right. Instead, there are S13s with Silvia front ends and KAs for sale at $6000.
Examples of charging way too much: '91 240SX w/SR20DET and mods
And another
And... another
240s are bad, but AE86s are the worst. You can get a basketcase for $2500, and it just gets worse. $3500 for decent condition? $4000 for good condition? Uh, what? Has the world gone mad? These are rather primitive cars that dyno at about 95rwhp. Why on earth are they worth that much? Initial D and the current drifting fad.
How about an AE86 for $8500?
Even if one were to find that diamond in the rough, most likely he or she would be outbid by ex-ricers/trust fund babies with deep pockets. (It's happened to me twice so far.) The cars probably won't last through the year.
Bottom line: Drifting's popularity is not nice to drifters who want a car, especially in Southern California. Keep searching, and keep hoping. That, and offer reasonable amounts for cars... maybe you can get the sellers to back down their price.
Domestics are cheap!
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