Best US "Tuner Car" for $9-13k?

[Kielan]

MINI Cooper S? If you want FWD and that go-kart feel, you really can't go wrong with a Cooper.

[Rogue86]

I can't think of a car I've ever driven that was more awful than a Mini, even a Cooper S. The only car that comes close is an original Mini Cooper. Overhyped, over-rated, underpowered, and the only similarity it had with a go-kart was the size of its wheels, and the fact it too struggled to break 30mph.

Another vote for an NA Miata, I ran one as a daily driver and track-hack for 3 years (the car was built for the Nurburgring). I can't say I ever struggled for space apart from when we were moving house, but then we rented a van anyway. Reliable, cheap, good on fuel, huge aftermarket...the only downside is that they're massively popular at the moment. You would be going down the well-trodden path.

Did you guys get old Starlets there?

[kartikeya]

baaaaad idea. The MK3 is a fun, underrated platform, but it isn't cheap, and it won't work out unless you have a lot of time on your hands and enjoy being frustrated. They're incredibly heavy, the engine needs tweaking to avoid BHG immediately, aftermarket is kind of weak, all bodykits are hideous, zero steering angle, blah blah....

Really? That's a shame, about the engine problems. I always heard 7Ms were very strong.. then again I guess that doesn't mean the HG is. I've seen some go for pretty cheap though. To me, it feels like driving a less refined FD RX-7, but with 80s styling. Never got the chance to flog one, unfortunately.

[padraigmk3]

Really? That's a shame, about the engine problems. I always heard 7Ms were very strong.. then again I guess that doesn't mean the HG is. I've seen some go for pretty cheap though. To me, it feels like driving a less refined FD RX-7, but with 80s styling. Never got the chance to flog one, unfortunately.

7M's are strong, but Toyota built them with the headbolts torqued incorrectly and then never recalled them even after this became apparent. All you have to do is buy a good aftermarket HG and tighten the headbolts down to 70 - 75 foot-pounds TQ and you can end up making 300 HP at 18lbs of boost reliably for years and years.

They're cheap at the start, you just have to keep up on your maintenance, and find one that's well kept.

[northmiler89]

mods? heard of a few blowing holes in the block that were all stock

JUST A QUICKKK OFF TOPIC response.

Ah, I was one of the first guys seriously mod-ing them. It was WAYY back before there were any big turbo alternatives OR tuning.

Car had:

Cobb Intake, custom inlet, prototype corksport FMIC, TurboXS downpipe/racepipe, Forge BPV, MBC, tubular header.. and every other tweak the early guys came up with.

I was actually bringing the car to Dent Sport Garage in Norwood, MA on Thursday for a one off gt3071 with external wastegate, etc and what turned into CP-E's standalone. But that Tuesday I blew the motor and had to take the $ for the build to completely redo the motor.

My old speed... :sigh:







This one is funny... notice what is stamped beneath the hole... as horrible as it was, the fact that FoMoCo is cast under the hole in the block is hilarious to this day



Amazingly fun car.. it was just a blast

[jared1988]

bummer. really diggin the CS FMIC, i want it and the TBE. heard it before and sounds really mean and throaty. ive seen those headlights before, or someone had the same idea on a TR ms3

[northmiler89]

bummer. really diggin the CS FMIC, i want it and the TBE. heard it before and sounds really mean and throaty. ive seen those headlights before, or someone had the same idea on a TR ms3

you have a speed 3? didnt realize that.


Im onto c5 corvettes. Id love to get a z06.. and in the budget but i really like the removable top on the normal c5 and even a c5 vert. Yea some people dont like verts, but ive got a e46 m3 vert and its a blast around here (rhode island) in the summer cruising the beaches and all

Plus the regular ls1 with headers, and the normal bolt ons is pretty quick and good gas milage. Toss on some spray and its a budget supercar killer. (not compared to a boosted civic...) but you know what i mean

[jared1988]

you have a speed 3? didnt realize that.


Im onto c5 corvettes. Id love to get a z06.. and in the budget but i really like the removable top on the normal c5 and even a c5 vert. Yea some people dont like verts, but ive got a e46 m3 vert and its a blast around here (rhode island) in the summer cruising the beaches and all

Plus the regular ls1 with headers, and the normal bolt ons is pretty quick and good gas milage. Toss on some spray and its a budget supercar killer. (not compared to a boosted civic...) but you know what i mean

yeah i got one, its sitting in storage right now until 2014 ish. cant wait to fire it up and all the crap in the intake mani will fly suck into the engine and bend a rod -.-# storage place starts it once a month but i doubt they rev it to blow all the crap out of the intake

[northmiler89]

yeah i got one, its sitting in storage right now until 2014 ish. cant wait to fire it up and all the crap in the intake mani will fly suck into the engine and bend a rod -.-# storage place starts it once a month but i doubt they rev it to blow all the crap out of the intake

hahaa you dont think they will rev it... unless its a blind and semi def 80 yr old dude.. you start that thing up, even stock inside and you are like... hmm.. wtf is this thing.. small rev.. hmm.. bigger rev... OH.. oh wow.... rev limiter rev limiter .... HOLY fucker.... test drive ensues.

you will come back with bald tires trying to figure out how that happened without it leaving the storage area.. after you pull the car out you find 3" of rubber on your storage until floor.

[jared1988]

hahaa you dont think they will rev it... unless its a blind and semi def 80 yr old dude.. you start that thing up, even stock inside and you are like... hmm.. wtf is this thing.. small rev.. hmm.. bigger rev... OH.. oh wow.... rev limiter rev limiter .... HOLY fucker.... test drive ensues.

you will come back with bald tires trying to figure out how that happened without it leaving the storage area.. after you pull the car out you find 3" of rubber on your storage until floor.

lol its a mass storage place, i think they got better things to do, i hope. is it bad i was upset cause the tiny turbo spool was louder than my exhaust?

[Va_350z]

2003 350z is relatively cheap but has the good looks and looks great after being stanced and is great with a LS1 swap

[Ollie]

2003 350z is relatively cheap but has the good looks and looks great after being stanced and is great with a LS1 swap

gtfo the forum.

[Khalil]

gtfo the forum.

[theseeker411]

C5 Vette would be awesome. Unbelievable power can be had with those motors for relatively little money.

[NickBroderick]

If nobody knew, he has a 335i now.



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