Just another wannabe drifter

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Rikochet
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Joined: 24 Nov 2014 08:56 pm

Just another wannabe drifter

Post by Rikochet » 26 Nov 2014 01:14 am

Hi, love it or hate it I'm interested in getting into drifting and my weapon of choice is to be the humble Volvo 300 series. There are a couple of reasons behind this, one being the relative cost compared to a high spec BMW or Jap car and the second is that when I was at school my mates mum used to drive us to school in one. She was a terrible driver, she was much too fast and couldn't control the car at all. Obviously at 13 we thought it was awesome and I was reminded of it all when I saw that the 300 was being used for budget drifting :)

I'm considering either a 340 with a Clio engine or a 360 with a Volvo turbo lump. Still haven't decided yet but it'll probably be down to what's available up here in salty Scotland on the first payday after Christmas! Would love a 3 door but I'll take whatever I can get tbh. Anyway I was lurking about on here a bit too much and rather than feeling like a stalker looking through someone's bedroom window I thought I'd knock on the door and introduce myself ;)

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bogbasic
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Re: Just another wannabe drifter

Post by bogbasic » 26 Nov 2014 02:15 am

Good luck finding a nice car and looking after it. There seem to be quite a few on sale these days after a lull over the last few months but maybe that's the usual pattern, although the number on ebay does seem to have gone up a lot more than usual!

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trabitom99
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Re: Just another wannabe drifter

Post by trabitom99 » 26 Nov 2014 02:05 pm

Have you had a look at the V3M facebook group? There are lots of ex-drift cars being put up for sale there ...

Cheers

Tom
343 GL Touring B14.1E CVT (155) 98000kms 1980 (sold)
343 L Junior B14.3E MT4 (155) 229000kms 1981 (scrapped)
343 DLS B19A MT4 (155) 167900kms 1982
360 GL Injection B200F MT5 (231) 348598kms 1988 (scrapped)
360 GLT B200F MT5 (302) 230000kms 1988

Rikochet
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Joined: 24 Nov 2014 08:56 pm

Re: Just another wannabe drifter

Post by Rikochet » 26 Nov 2014 03:35 pm

bogbasic wrote:Good luck finding a nice car and looking after it. There seem to be quite a few on sale these days after a lull over the last few months but maybe that's the usual pattern, although the number on ebay does seem to have gone up a lot more than usual!
Yeah I'll treat whatever I get as a semi classic and try to keep it in one piece on the track. I'm a qualified panel beater/painter and I've still got a few pals in the trade so providing panels are still readily available I should be able to keep it looking mint. Thinking a nice gloss grey would look nice for its first respray.

This is always a good time of year to find a bargain as people either need money for Christmas or they don't want to look at their incomplete project under a pile of snow in the drive for 6 months. How much should I budget for a semi decent, roadworthy 3 door 340? Was thinking £500-800 maybe.

Rikochet
Posts: 11
Joined: 24 Nov 2014 08:56 pm

Re: Just another wannabe drifter

Post by Rikochet » 26 Nov 2014 03:35 pm

trabitom99 wrote:Have you had a look at the V3M facebook group? There are lots of ex-drift cars being put up for sale there ...

Cheers

Tom
I will do that just now and see what's around.

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bogbasic
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Re: Just another wannabe drifter

Post by bogbasic » 26 Nov 2014 06:22 pm

Gone are the days when they went for 99p but the low-end of the figures you quoted sounds about right for a semi-good running car needing some work but if you can find someone local with one they just want to get rid of, you could probably pay a lot less.
1988 340 1.4 GL, 218k, 5 door (Grey Bess). Gone to CBA.
1991 340 1.7 GL, 64k, 5 door, petrol blue (Deep Blue).
1988 360 2.0 GLE, 140k, 5 door, ocean blue metallic (Blue Bess).
1989 340 1.7 GL, 108k, 3 door (Red Ness).
More info here!

Rikochet
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Joined: 24 Nov 2014 08:56 pm

Re: Just another wannabe drifter

Post by Rikochet » 26 Nov 2014 09:58 pm

bogbasic wrote:Gone are the days when they went for 99p but the low-end of the figures you quoted sounds about right for a semi-good running car needing some work but if you can find someone local with one they just want to get rid of, you could probably pay a lot less.

Cool thanks. I had no idea there was such a big scene for these cars until about 2 days ago. Think I typed 'easiest engine swap' into Google when I was searching for my next project and http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=857501

Someone mentions a clio 172 engine in a Volvo 340 and here I am 2 days later after loads of frantic searching and checking Ebay........

Rikochet
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Re: Just another wannabe drifter

Post by Rikochet » 27 Nov 2014 09:17 pm

Picking up a 480 Turbo tomorrow :lol:

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SteveP
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Re: Just another wannabe drifter

Post by SteveP » 02 Dec 2014 05:35 pm

You should indeed be able to pick something up for £500-800 - whether it be a 3 door or not maybe not. Prices are certainly on the up.

Given the work involved and the abuse the drivetrain gets through drifting - have you thought of a 900 series turbo? Strong drivetrain, more scope for power and more lock as standard. You certainly wont make a capable and crucially reliable drift 300 without considerable expense which makes those drift Beemers look attractive again :lol:

Saying that, they're a good fun car - my preference would be a 360 with a B230FT as the drivetrain is generally stronger. Watch out for rust up there in salty Scotland!
1989 - Volvo 360 GLT
1985 - Volvo 360 GLS
2008 - Volvo S60 SE Lux

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