G32 - is it for me?
Discussion
surprised to see a G32 thread at the top of the list, but didn't want to hijack the OP's thread so thought I'd start a new one.
i'm thinking of a G32 as a possible project car. It ticks a lot of boxes for me [oddball, rwd, loads of potential] including personal ones [i used to work in s
horpe and the current ginetta factory is a short drive from where I grew up]. i like the fact they're cheap and a little unloved, that they look 80s AF, but mainly because I see a lot of potential there for a fast, 'different' yet small sports car that i don't need to be too precious about.
my main questions to start with are:
what is the ride and handling like as stock? please compare to other cars you have experience of. i have an elise and used to have a locost7 if that helps frame the reference points.
how hard is a LHD conversion? it looks very simple given the engine location and the use of a ford dash, but i may well be missing something. i like the idea of using an rs200 replica dash but there are plenty of lhd fiesta ones on ebay from what i can see. what work would be involved? i'd likely use something like an elise quick rack rather than a fiesta one, i take it these cars don't need power steering?
would it be possible to use an ecoboost engine? it would mean having everything the opposite way around; intake to the front, exhaust at the back; or keeping it the same way but with the gearbox on the opposite side. which is more favourable? i have an ecoboost going into my radical project, which will be a keeper so makes sense for me use a less lairy one in a road car. 300bhp is a very cheap exercise and a donor engine with 6 speed box is peanuts [my one cost me 350quid!]. it's also a very light engine and one that's is only growing in aftermarket support, so makes much more sense to me that throwing a load of dough at a zetec.
what are the common tuning upgrades and are they worth it? the weight is around the same as my federalised elise, so it would be nice to get near the steering feel of the lotus whilst exploiting the shorter wheelbase with more of a tarmac rally set-up. i'm thinking pushrod front suspension, some decent shocks and brakes, and of course much improved cooling.
what would be the cost of a 'good' condition car? i can;t see any for sale currently, only a hillclimb one which was listed at 4200. original wheezy engine is fine and i don't mind if i have to do chassis repair/replacement, so long as it is complete and in good enough nick so that i have a guide to follow.
lastly, is the owners club worth joining at this stage? 32.50 seems steep for forum access, it worries me as clubs with fees are often the kind of club i don't want to be a member of, if you get my meaning.
i'm thinking of a G32 as a possible project car. It ticks a lot of boxes for me [oddball, rwd, loads of potential] including personal ones [i used to work in s
horpe and the current ginetta factory is a short drive from where I grew up]. i like the fact they're cheap and a little unloved, that they look 80s AF, but mainly because I see a lot of potential there for a fast, 'different' yet small sports car that i don't need to be too precious about.my main questions to start with are:
what is the ride and handling like as stock? please compare to other cars you have experience of. i have an elise and used to have a locost7 if that helps frame the reference points.
how hard is a LHD conversion? it looks very simple given the engine location and the use of a ford dash, but i may well be missing something. i like the idea of using an rs200 replica dash but there are plenty of lhd fiesta ones on ebay from what i can see. what work would be involved? i'd likely use something like an elise quick rack rather than a fiesta one, i take it these cars don't need power steering?
would it be possible to use an ecoboost engine? it would mean having everything the opposite way around; intake to the front, exhaust at the back; or keeping it the same way but with the gearbox on the opposite side. which is more favourable? i have an ecoboost going into my radical project, which will be a keeper so makes sense for me use a less lairy one in a road car. 300bhp is a very cheap exercise and a donor engine with 6 speed box is peanuts [my one cost me 350quid!]. it's also a very light engine and one that's is only growing in aftermarket support, so makes much more sense to me that throwing a load of dough at a zetec.
what are the common tuning upgrades and are they worth it? the weight is around the same as my federalised elise, so it would be nice to get near the steering feel of the lotus whilst exploiting the shorter wheelbase with more of a tarmac rally set-up. i'm thinking pushrod front suspension, some decent shocks and brakes, and of course much improved cooling.
what would be the cost of a 'good' condition car? i can;t see any for sale currently, only a hillclimb one which was listed at 4200. original wheezy engine is fine and i don't mind if i have to do chassis repair/replacement, so long as it is complete and in good enough nick so that i have a guide to follow.
lastly, is the owners club worth joining at this stage? 32.50 seems steep for forum access, it worries me as clubs with fees are often the kind of club i don't want to be a member of, if you get my meaning.
I think the problem will be trying to find one. Haven't seen one for sale for ages. So if any come up for sale I don't think you can be that choosy. I believe some of the later ones had galvanised chassis but somehow they could still rot.
I've never driven one so can't comment on what they are like to drive. I think the owners club has had its ups and downs, I think there are a few posts on here discussing them in the past.
I've never driven one so can't comment on what they are like to drive. I think the owners club has had its ups and downs, I think there are a few posts on here discussing them in the past.
yes they seem to be very thin on the ground. however i wasn't even aware of this car a couple of weeks ago so have little frame of reference. there was the zetec'd hillclimb car on racecarsdirect and an original, driver condition, green one on the classic sites for about the same money.
i'm not that bothered if rust has set in as the chassis looks like it has plenty of scope of upgrading. as i say i just need a complete one for reference. would be nice if its in good driving condition so i can assess its strenghs/weakness properly before teardown.
i can wait a while as well. losing my garage in 2 mths and still have the radical project. not a great time to be selling my elise either....
i'm not that bothered if rust has set in as the chassis looks like it has plenty of scope of upgrading. as i say i just need a complete one for reference. would be nice if its in good driving condition so i can assess its strenghs/weakness properly before teardown.
i can wait a while as well. losing my garage in 2 mths and still have the radical project. not a great time to be selling my elise either....
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