Choices, choices, choices...

Posted by Emotional_Dare5743@reddit | projectcar | View on Reddit | 9 comments

I'm wondering what the community's thoughts are for potential project car:

2006 Mazda 3, 5-speed manual, 320k miles, runs like a top, needs AC work and suspension, bearings and stuff.

1995 Toyota Tacoma, 221k miles, automatic, runs ok, been dinged in the front, needs AC system completely rebuilt and a bit of body work but nothing major.

Both have solid bodies, little to no rust, all the glass is intact and the windows roll up and down (hand crank, lol.) I would be rebuilding/engine swapping for a fun project. Both are free to me. I've driven both, they belong to a relative. I can't have both.

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No-Locksmith-9377@reddit

What do you want to do with them? Like, obviously, if you want to get outside and drive offroad you get the tacoma, or if you want to do some autocross weekends you should get the 3.

Personally, the toyota is a cult classic and should be easier to find any parts for and will be worth way more in the end if/when you sell it. only downside is probably mpgs.

You could also literally do anything with the tacoma. I mean literally anything. I have seen that tacoma used obviously for offroad driving, rock crawlers, desert running, but also on a road course, drifting, and drag racing.

And just to prove my point, here is my favorite drag racing team winning at World Cup Finals.

95 tacoma with a Honda k24 swap, 6266 turbo, Chevy transmission, Ford rear end makes around 1000hp and running 8.1x @160mph. https://youtu.be/1N8As-3Y06A?si=LacjPmnWlXm8Zmk4

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Emotional_Dare5743@reddit (OP)

Heard. I forgot to add that the Taco is a 2WD. I'd be building a souped up road truck, more or less. This thread has given me some good info and perspective. I wasn't really seeking out the Mazda3, it's just been presented to me as an option. I saw a really cool build with one, turbo Ecoboost with meth injection that looked fun as hell that got me thinking.

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No-Locksmith-9377@reddit

I've owned a turbo regular 3 and the special factory turbo speed3. Just avoid the platform man. Buy a miata and have fun. Especially for your first projects, you should focus on platforms that are supported by the aftermarket.

If you just wanted a reliable daily driver hatchback that is kinda fun to drive while getting good mpgs, the 3 is great. used engines are cheap if you just want to swap a used engine in and keep it running.

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No-Locksmith-9377@reddit

You need to watch the LS3 tacoma build series by the famous Turbo Tom. His guides and build plans are rediculous good.

https://youtu.be/ZRewZb8naGg?si=BAp6KA8dSRBMcaK8

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kabobkebabkabob@reddit

Engine swapping a mazda 3, let alone one with 320k, seems like a fool's errand to me.

Taco is better in pretty much every way except being a bit less comfy and not being a manual. But if you're really gonna swap anyway, doesn't matter.

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No-Locksmith-9377@reddit

Engine swapping the 3 will be kinda pointless as no one really cares about them. The aftermarket support is non existent. I owned a regular 3 and a turbo model Speed3. The are dead platforms.

The Gen1 tacoma is loved by f@cking everyone and has a huge aftermarket support with 1000% more parts availability and tuning options.

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