G'day guys,  just thought I'd come in and show off my new '87 NA AW11 :) The whole affair has been a bit of a rollercoaster, but I'm extremely happy with my Adub. (warning - lots of pics to follow!)
 
I decided to buy a car a few months ago (I've been driving a Toyota Town-ace van for the last 2 years, saving my pennies, and was going insane being beaten off the lights by semi-trailers every morning) and originally decided on a SW20 - found one in beautiful, stock condition (except for the stereo, which I'm not too fussed about) and just over 100k on the clock. '90 GT Turbo, I was the third Aussie owner. Even came with original log books!



 
 
 
I had it for 6 days, 22 hours....
 
The weekend after buying it I drove it to work on saturday morning. As I was driving past mascot airport in unusually heavy traffic, a VT commodore coming the opposite direction decided to chuck a right into a side street - directly across in front of me (either I was obscured from him by stopped traffic in the lane next to me, or he didn't check to see who was coming - or both). I was doing about 50km/h when he appeared about 5-10m in front of me - I had just enough time to get a foot on the brake and brace myself, the impact probably happened at about 40km/h...
 
 



 
Was absolutely devastated. Luckily no-one was injured - The SW20 took most of the impact though, and was written off. Insurance was the first thing I had organised, and the car was insured for the sum I paid for it, so I ended up getting the money back - even though the other driver had a suspended licence 
 
So then I was back looking for a car again. No SW20's on the market in the same condition in Sydney (a couple of bright green/orange/pink ones, a couple with DVD players in the door cards and 18 inch chrome rims etc) and for a while I considered going a bit more upmarket and looking at an evo - until a white AW11 popped up out at Windsor. 100% stock, beautiful condition, the car had only three previous owners and the last one was an 80's jap car enthusiast (had a beautifully turned out starion too! not for sale though :( )Went out, checked it out, and drove it home an hour later :)
 










 
 
It needs a few little things doing - wheels need a refurb, a couple of small dents need to be pulled out, front plastic trim under headlight is peeling slightly and theres some stone chips on front bumper and guard, but the interior is immaculate (better than the old SW20) and exterior plastic trim looks in good nick.
 
Have a few plans for it, wouldn't mind some 14" or 15" watanabes for it (if I can find any) but that'd be about it in terms of exterior - maybe a fujitsubo exhaust as well, as the one on there has a bit of rust. Further down the track maybe a silvertop conversion, but for the time being I'll just enjoy it the way it is - a lot more chuckable than the SW20, and although it lacks the turbo's shove, the AW11 has more character up top. A bloody fun little car!
 

Nice car. Congrats! Come to the next MR2 meet. I'm sure you'd have a bit of change after getting the AW11, so still free to get an SW20 turbo :)

that poor SW20.. looked so neat and original. :(
.. but what a great adub you've picked up. :D looks great on the teardrop's.. they look different with the short wheelnuts! doesn't look like its done many KM either, or had a particularly hard life. :)
cool plans anyway.. all things i like! I've had both 14 and 15" watanabe's on my AW11 - which i loved - suit the AW11 perfectly IMO. AND i've currently got a Fujitsubo exhaust.. my favorite for the AW11!
rad. :P

Another SW bites the dust

Shame about the sdub. looked pretty clean

That AW looks really nice, I had that happen also previously, when someone tried to turn right into the street in front of me. I chuck it down to our cars being so low and small, that it gets hidden behind the car in front. 

RIP Sdub, but LOVE the Adub!
 
Its even got the 80's blue interior hehehe

Blue trim FTW welcome to the cult of doorstops.

Nice buys both of them, shame about the SW
Looks a very clean AW I hope you have this one for a much longer time

Thanks for all the kind sentiments guys!
 
Yeah the Sdub was a beaut, the fact that there was one less sw20 in the world pissed me off more than anything. (Although looking at the colour of the coolant, maybe the crash saved me a few headaches in the long run...seemed to be a lot of rust in there somewhere). Nightingale I think you're on the money - I didn't see him until he was in my lane too, as the cars in the lane next to me were so much taller :s 
 

RdS
that poor SW20.. looked so neat and original. :( 
.. but what a great adub you've picked up. :D looks great on the teardrop's.. they look different with the short wheelnuts! doesn't look like its done many KM either, or had a particularly hard life. :) 
cool plans anyway.. all things i like! I've had both 14 and 15" watanabe's on my AW11 - which i loved - suit the AW11 perfectly IMO. AND i've currently got a Fujitsubo exhaust.. my favorite for the AW11! 
rad. :P

Thanks! great minds think alike. It's done 172k kms - not too bad considering it's age, but it runs well and still likes to rev :) The teardrops need a refurb - close up they've got a few marks and scratches, but It's not too obvious most of the time. I love the look of the watanabe's, beautiful 80's racer look. and the Fujitsubo doesn't stick out too much - there's a lot of 5 inch cannons hanging off the back of pulsars and civics around where I live (south west syd) so I don't really want to blend in with them - I like the twin tip of the fujitsubo. [edit]: just realised yours is the spotless red AW11 in this forum - I was reading your showroom thread before I joined. I thought mine was in good nick till I saw your adub - It's immaculate!

MR2QIK Nice car. Congrats! Come to the next MR2 meet. I'm sure you'd have a bit of change after getting the AW11, so still free to get an SW20 turbo :)

The insurance company would love that ;) I almost feel like I'll have to buy one again eventually, I never really got a good taste of it - A bit like buying a meat pie, taking one bite and then dropping it....

Ill have a look when the next meet is and try and make it.