Even though I stopped hitting the bottle a few years ago like it was my last night on Earth, I can say that I enjoyed the drinking games. I’ve played pretty much all of them…A-hole, King’s Cup, you name it. My favorite was “Would You Rather?” mostly because I like watching people cringe as they had to answer or slam another drink. I was the guy who could come up with some of the most horrific questions possible.
For this “Would You Rather?” posting, here’s my thought process: While daily-driving the build/project/toy is a great thought, most people, myself included, have some mode of transportation for when it’s down getting it’s next round of work, repairs and improvements. I’m offering four cars for you to pick from as your daily driver. Remember, this isn’t a full-on build, but one or two mild ideas to make it the ideal daily driver. I’ve given consideration to MPG, options should you wish to modify, comfort, actual usability, and honestly, how much each car pisses off the BangShift community as a whole.
Hey, the game isn’t as fun otherwise!
1) 1975-1978 Ford Mustang II
- Pros: V8, manual available, t-tops, great front suspension
- Cons: A Pinto with an attitude issue, if not a V8 it’s a dog, disco looks
- Suggestion: Mild V8, more gears in trans for MPG
2) 1991-1993 Dodge Daytona R/T
- Pros: 224hp and 2800lb curb weight, good FWD handler, could easily hang with Mustang GT and the F-body twins
- Cons: Hot-rodded K-car platform, torque steer for miles
- Suggestion: Shelby/Chrysler parts, VNT turbo
3) 1981-1983 AMC Eagle SX/4
- Pros: Full-time AWD, Jeep suspension pieces, 4.0L six, V8 fits, pisses off Subaru hipsters
- Cons: Gremlin past, good luck finding a nice one, automatic only
- Suggestion: Jeep Cherokee/Wrangler 4.0/5-speed swap
4) 1990-1994 Chevrolet Lumina Z34
- Pros: Roomy, newer, parts available, NASCAR heritage
- Cons: NASCAR fans hate you, FWD, lots of GM plastic
- Suggestion: L67 supercharged V6 swap, keep five-speed
Pick your poison, and let us know why below!
Considering this is based on a drinking game, It’s 4 AM, and I am way to drunk to still be allowed on the internet, I’ll play. Um..Um… Well.. Uh… crap. If I am allowed to modify, I’ll pick the AMC Eagle SX/4. I could turn it into a budget version of the Local Motors Rally Fighter. The Mustang could make a could drag car, but, meh, and the other two are essentially worthless for anything I would want to do.
Another vote for the Eagle.
Those are good cars. Plus, I’m a softie for AMC, especially Gremmies.
Pintostang. Because I like them and I really want one.
Mustang II – No no no no no ! You’ve got it all wrong . Stuffing a V8 in its snout being all too predictable .. not to mention destroying any hope of the car handling worth a damn as well as its mpg . The better solution is to find one of those absolutely freaking brilliant Ford Cosworth I4 turbos out of a Merkur XR4TI wreck and stuff that …. along with the Merkur’s IRS underneath the Two’er . With a bit of tuning on the motor you could easily have yourself the ‘ sensible ‘ sleeper of the decade that’d rattle the cages of more than a few EuroSnobs as well .
As to the Eagle SX/4 suggestion from a couple of others ? Hmmmn…. yeah … you know what ? With a bit of careful planning and the right motor under the hood .. y’all might just have something there . The SX/4 being THE car AMC should of evolved rather than dumped .
But I still like my ‘Stang II suggestion better .
GuitarSlinger, the Mustang II had a V8 option from the factory during those years as well as having a front suspension used on many American race cars and street rods.
When was the last time you went to a salvage yard and even seen a Merkur XR4TI ?
Since you obviously get off on European cars such as a VW van, why aren’t you on European car websites? As you seem to enjoy bashing American cars and their capabilities.
@ 75Duster
1) IRS stands for Independent REAR Suspension there wingnut .
2) A V8 in a car as small as a Mustang II turns the handling into slop !
3) I’m a GearHead …. as in I appreciate ALL things Good when it come to cars . Got a problem with that Mr Xenophobe ? Too freaking bad
4) As a matter of fact over the last ten years I’ve seen several XR4TI’s in scrapyards as well as derelict in peoples yards . Fact is if Mr McTaggert would like to take up my suggestion I can send him straight to one right now !
5) IF .. you’d been keeping up with the current trends in Hot Rodding you’d know using those Cosworth Fords from XR4TI’s in both Hot Rods and customs is becoming quite the trend . Might I suggest a subscription to TRJ to get you all caught up ?
6) As to my love of Beetle Buses …. deal with it . Your loss if you don’t ‘ get it ‘ … My guess being …. you didn’t ‘ get ‘ any either back in the day 😉
In closing my little xenophobe . When was the last time you stuck your nose above ground to have a good look at whats around you … not to mention the changes going on in Hot Rods & Customs ?
1.Ah yes, the typical GuitarSlinger smugness as usual. I am well aware of what IRS stands for as I have replaced many a bushing on them when I worked at a Corvette shop.
2.Then why was a V8 a option during those years in a Mustang II? Why were many a Pinto/Vega/Arrow converted to V8’s.
3.My name is GuitarSlinger, I use big words to call people names.
4.I wonder why all those XR4TI’s were scrapped? Why don’t you have one?
5.Might I suggest a subscription to Car Craft, Hot Rod to get you caught up.
6.How can you say a VW van can out drive a American muscle car?
7.I was just at the Street Machine Nationals last week, I saw what was going on with hot rods and customs. Not a single Cosworth XR4TI there.
GuitarSlinger, isn’t it true that you were already kicked off of one website?
Also… the Ford 2.3 is way heavier than you might expect. IIRC, it’s a little over 400 lbs, and a 5.0 with aluminum heads won’t add that much weight. If you wanted to improve a Mustang II’s weight balance, you could put a Zetec in it… but a small block Ford won’t make it much more nose heavy than it already is.
@75Duster – BWTM – Apologies but I forgot to add …. I only ‘ bash ‘ the crap that the American manufactures are putting out these days . Which unfortunately is most of it . Not to mention that other than the Ford F150 , Corvette C7 and the Viper …. there ARE no new American cars anymore ! Honda’s and Toyotas being more ‘ American ‘ than 99% of the crap the [ not so ] Big Three are foisting upon an unsuspecting American car buying public unable to discern between truth versus marketing hype disguising itself as ‘ Patriotism ‘ .
GuitarSlinger, let me school you on something.
Have you ever been to a US shipping port? And what do you see under those plastic wraps? That’s right, those are cars shipped from Japan.
Hondas and Toyotas are also assembled in the US to keep costs down for the manufacturer, therefor, with no tariffs, they maximize there profits.
There is this thing called brand loyalty, whether its a Ford, Mopar, or GM, many of us prefer to drive them, and yes, what manufacturer doesn’t have its issues?
Many of us enjoy going to this website to see some badass cars, and if it happens to be American made, YOU always find a way to bitch about it.
Want a example on YOUR bitching? Go back to the Challenger Hellcat article.
I’ll have to go with the AMC Eagle. If for no other reason because there just ain’t that many of them. That and a Chrysler A block will just about bolt in. I can always convert it to a manual if I want to.
…. or even better …. the batsh*t crazy turbo I4 out of the Shelby GLH / GLHS …. tweaked and tuned a bit more
Eagle, just because it’ll fo more all around things than the others. I like Pintostangs, and Daytonas, though…
I’ll take the Daytona… I used to have a LeBaron Turbo, and it was a fun little beater. The Daytona R/T turns up the wick considerably further.
Put me down for the Lumina. This is a daily driver, and my commute is over 100 miles round trip. 3800 V6 is reliable and gets decent mileage. W-body for me.
Eagle. Turbo the straight six and make it a Rallycross beater from hell.
I had an 87 Dodge Daytona Shelby Z with the 2.2 turbo and 5 speed for a few years. It was one of my favorite cars to daily drive. 35 mpg on the interstate, turbo power right there and it haul nearly everything I owned. The handling was decent too, better than most grocery getters.
I would go with the Mustang II. Without the T-tops please. I would drop in a 80s Mustang fuel injected 302 and trans.
Eagle. My childhood babysitter (Mrs. Shaw, RIP) had a medium metallic blue 2-door Hornet which she later replaced with a refrigerator white 2 door Hornet (with poverty caps). Eagle is a bobbed Hornet with 4WD. Plus, if we’re talking DD, might as well have 4WD.
Nothing but Fords in my driveway..And there are three 429s in my garage just waiting for something…
I’d say the AMC, and as seen as mopar owned them I’d bolt in a 2.2 turbo 4 instead of that 4.0 inline 6.. change out the head bolts for studs, and add a pre oiler for the turbo and it run forever… and rock the 4×4 off road
The Mustang II
I’d rather have my hair set on fire, then have it put it out with a hammer.
Without a second thought it would be the Mach I. Why? Because I had one back in the day and they’re a bast to play with after a little bit of work.
AMC Because I always had a soft spot for the underdog. And they were cool. What other 2 door coupe could you go muddin’ in?
Eagle or Daytona 50/50 for me. The 4×4 in the Eagle would be cool, a turbo in the Daytona would be nice too. My brother in law had a “Cobra” pintostang backbin the day that was actually pretty fun to drive, but Mustangs are not designed for tall people… Lumina? No thank you…
A friend of mine had a sleeper Yugo years ago. Since they were license built Fiats, most of the Fiat X1/9 hop up and race parts fit. He had an X1/9 engine built by a SoCal race shop which had nitrous, mag wheels and a body kit. He had no problem embarrassing Mustang 5.0s and Vettes on the street and it held together. Life got in the way so he never installed the turbo before he had to get rid of it.
I’d go with the eagle, lower it 3 – 4 inches, put on some lightweight wheels with sticky summer tires and ditch the all wheel drive and motor in favor of what the Roadkill guys did with the rotsun and throw in a beefed up 4.3 liter V6 Chevy S-10 motor and 5 speed with a turbo and a ford 9 in rear end and just blast that thing all over the place with a huge grin on my face.
Gotta go with the Mustang. Throw a turbo charged Mustang SVO motor in it and really have some fun!!!
Mustang II – just google Charlie Kemp Mustang II and you’ll understand
I see nothing really cringe worthy in these choices. I would drive any of these with no real issues.