Quest for the Least Reliable Vehicle for MontuckyFried

Anyone know anything about Daihatsu Rocky? It appears to be in the same class as the aforementioned Tracker/Samurai and only ~8k were sold here between 1989-1991 when Daihatsu left the US market, so you get the added fun of tracking down parts. There's one for sale in my town. I would be tempted if it was cheap as like MontuckyFried, I can be a bit of a glutton for punishment.

Attachment 405882

Edit: Just called about it. The seller is asking $3800. A guy had spoken for it, but it didn't pass smog, so it's up in the air. I'm not sure why they didn't register it as a classic car as it is a 1990 and you can get a classic plate here for anything over 20 years old that you drive less than 5000 miles a year.

Those are as good as the Montero of the day, IOW maintain them and they're as tough and reliable as could be. They're trucks made to do truck things.

Did somebody say daihatsu?

https://nwct.craigslist.org/cto/d/no...445924451.html

Any caddy with a northstar...
The trunk space is for carrying water jugs

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Originally Posted by SirVicSmasher

Any caddy with a northstar...
The trunk space is for carrying water jugs

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https://peoria.craigslist.org/ctd/d/...443485918.html


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Originally Posted by Todd Zander

Did somebody say daihatsu?

https://nwct.craigslist.org/cto/d/no...445924451.html

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sick!

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Originally Posted by MarcusBrody

Anyone know anything about Daihatsu Rocky? It appears to be in the same class as the aforementioned Tracker/Samurai and only ~8k were sold here between 1989-1991 when Daihatsu left the US market, so you get the added fun of tracking down parts. There's one for sale in my town. I would be tempted if it was cheap as like MontuckyFried, I can be a bit of a glutton for punishment.

Attachment 405882

Edit: Just called about it. The seller is asking $3800. A guy had spoken for it, but it didn't pass smog, so it's up in the air. I'm not sure why they didn't register it as a classic car as it is a 1990 and you can get a classic plate here for anything over 20 years old that you drive less than 5000 miles a year.

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Do it!

That Rocky with the chev 350 would be fun as hell.

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Originally Posted by SirVicSmasher

Any caddy with a northstar...
The trunk space is for carrying water jugs

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Had a Northstar. Engine was solid for me. Evidently the trick is swapping the head bolts preemptively before those bastards back out on their own and cause head gasket failure. I'd buy another. ESPECIALLY in STS-V or XLR-V flavors.

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Originally Posted by Todd Zander

Did somebody say daihatsu?

https://nwct.craigslist.org/cto/d/no...445924451.html

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Oh shit!

This seems a worthy contender. Fun 90s sports car with Mitsu/Dodge collaboration (perfect for the spirit of this thread), evidently needs work out the gate (cuz of course it does). Guaranteed to leave me stranded.
https://sanantonio.craigslist.org/ct...446187237.html
Looked it up, and apparently this is kind of the going rate for them these days. Typically cheaper than its Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 sibling. I had no idea since all the other 90s dream cars are so insanely priced these days. Neat!

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Originally Posted by MontuckyFried

This seems a worthy contender. Fun 90s sports car with Mitsu/Dodge collaboration (perfect for the spirit of this thread), evidently needs work out the gate (cuz of course it does). Guaranteed to leave me stranded.
https://sanantonio.craigslist.org/ct...446187237.html
Looked it up, and apparently this is kind of the going rate for them these days. Typically cheaper than its Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 sibling. I had no idea since all the other 90s dream cars are so insanely priced these days. Neat!

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I remember looking at these in Sportscar Trader as a kid in the early 90s. I somehow didn't realize it was a 3000GT sibling.

A transverse mounted twin turbo V6 with all-wheel drive, all wheel steering, adaptive suspension, adjustable spoiler (maybe?), that's 30 years old with limited factory support... what could go wrong?!

Yeah, the early model years had active aero. They had a bunch of cool shit but kind of ended up the bastard of the '90s Japanese sports car bunch. They had some racing success at Pikes Peak and I seem to recall they had the highest top speed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c726eDCoUVY

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Originally Posted by MontuckyFried

This seems a worthy contender. Fun 90s sports car with Mitsu/Dodge collaboration (perfect for the spirit of this thread), evidently needs work out the gate (cuz of course it does). Guaranteed to leave me stranded.
https://sanantonio.craigslist.org/ct...446187237.html
Looked it up, and apparently this is kind of the going rate for them these days. Typically cheaper than its Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 sibling. I had no idea since all the other 90s dream cars are so insanely priced these days. Neat!

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You got skillz

The 3000GT VR4 had active aero, the Stealth didn’t. Made in Japan, just a rebadge job minimal dodge. A saabaru

Good clarification. The list of cars with active aero is short, and active front aero shorter.

https://carsguide-res.cloudinary.com...-1200x800p.jpg

It's really a lesser Nissan Z. Many similarities, but different in ways that make it worse.

AWD or FWD vs RWD. Ridiculously tight under the hood, but hey, let's put the engine sideways! So now you've got longer (more vague) linkages, and even more weight bias. It's bigger, and heavier, but just as cramped. They're both ugly, but the Stealth is uglier. And it looks cheaper.

I'm sure the performance is about the same, but there's so much support for the Nissan from both the factory and the aftermarket. Chrysler killed the Stealth themselves to make way for the Viper.

I'm guessing "I have spare heads for it" is code for there being a design issue, eg. known to overheat/warp, leaks, drinks oil, eats head gaskets, etc

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Originally Posted by Ted Striker

It's really a lesser Nissan Z. Many similarities, but different in ways that make it worse.

AWD or FWD vs RWD. Ridiculously tight under the hood, but hey, let's put the engine sideways! So now you've got longer (more vague) linkages, and even more weight bias. It's bigger, and heavier, but just as cramped. They're both ugly, but the Stealth is uglier. And it looks cheaper.

I'm sure the performance is about the same, but there's so much support for the Nissan from both the factory and the aftermarket. Chrysler killed the Stealth themselves to make way for the Viper.

I'm guessing "I have spare heads for it" is code for there being a design issue, eg. known to overheat/warp, leaks, drinks oil, eats head gaskets, etc

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All true. Thus the vastly cheaper prices than equivalent year Supras, Z's, RX-7's, and such. Always thought they looked like teh suck to work on. WAY advanced tech for the time, but yeah, lots to go wrong too. If I had a lift and plenty of spare time, it'd be a fun toy to tinker around with and abuse for a bit before dumping it off on the next sucker.

"Bargain Classic"

I'm sure there are enthusiast social / parts channels / racing, etc, that would make ownership easier. But that exists for all the other cars in its class as well.

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Originally Posted by Ted Striker

When I was a kid, a guy on my paper route had a Jensen Interceptor. It was in pristine condition and only driven to/from car shows and the occasional sunny Sunday drive. I couldn't tell you if it was a Mk1 or 2, what year, or which engine other than it was a Chrysler V8 w/auto. That curved back window was space age cool, and the whole thing was very 'luxury sports car'.

Years later as an adult seeing a convertible, I realized that it actually had great lines without the roof/glass dome silliness.

Attachment 405713

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Joining late and was going to suggest Jenson, but ya beat me to it.

Which means I have to suggest a car I actually want. Saab Sonnet. Beautiful car. See?:

Attachment 406077

Here's a nice project car version:
https://www.classicdriver.com/en/car...ii/1970/856717

And if that's too put together you have this option for only $3,000 and the next 4 years of your life:
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/pts...440677331.html

It'll look like this when you are done
https://www.mecum.com/lots/CA0812-13...ab-sonett-iii/

Instant classic. Ralph Nader special.

https://classics.autotrader.com/clas...vair/101583799

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Originally Posted by Ted Striker

make way for the Viper.

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Hmm.

How cheap can a Viper be obtained?

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Originally Posted by El Chupacabra

Hmm.

How cheap can a Viper be obtained?

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Mid-30Ks last I checked. Sucks because there was a time when you could pick them up in the teens for the less desirable models. That said I've driven enough of the 90s variants in my past that I'm not super interested, even if they were cheap. Dodge Neon parts bin interior. WEIRD pedal and steering wheel placement since the transmission tunnel shoves everything over. Definitely fun to hoon around for a day or two, or probably on a track, but I've had my fill even not owning one. Just borrowing them from the dealer I worked at from time to time when we had one sitting on the lot. CRAZY slidey in wet weather too. Haha. Good times, but kind of a sucky DD. Perhaps if I had a 10 car garage and lots of money, but alas.

Except a Viper like this one. I'd buy this one*
https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/d...446253619.html
*if I could

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtqVHMdvNkI