Tuner Starter Car

[B3AST]

Alright guys, currently I have a ford thunderbird which I really don't want to mod it that much. I rather just leave it as a DD or sell it, so I want to get a car that I want to mod its just kind of hard to make a choice on something that I dont know to much about. So it would be appreciated if you guys could help me choose a starter car that won't really break the bank but I'm not really into getting a civic even though that is probably the best choice its just that you see so many of them over done with big ass fart cans. So any suggestions will be appreciated.

[Turbodude06]

civic LOL!!!!!!! I've always liked accords but its hard to find a two door 5 speed one......

[uproot]

you could get a civic, and not do the fart can thing lol...


just depends on what your goals are and what you want to do with the car.... some cars will have good engines to start with, others you'll probably want to swap the engine... also depends on how much work/time you want to put into it

[Turbodude06]

although eclipses aren't bad I just think civic's are more reliable.....

[B3AST]

damn, fast replies!! and thx for the advice

[B3AST]

whats the problem with eclipse's? all I read of was crank walk...

[Z32redondo]

MR2's are pretty nice wellrounded cars. Turbo is pretty fast. RWD, as well as lightweight. Turbo would respond pretty nicely to mods, as well as some being targa topped.

[Turbodude06]

whats the problem with eclipse's? all I read of was crank walk...

Its just not a honda

-but no their pretty good cars and u can pick them up cheap and parts are very cheap too.....

[B3AST]

Its just not a honda

-but no their pretty good cars and u can pick them up cheap and parts are very cheap too.....

are we a little biased?LOL

[Turbodude06]

LOL

[91ma70]

get a mr2 its somthing most people dont have and has good aftermarket support

[japan4racing]

lol at tuner cars....makes em sound like toys when you call em that. the best import for you imho is the honda civic simply becuase of the knowlege out there and the huge aftermarket support and ease of swaps. not say the others cars are bad but i just think the easiest way to do things is with a honda

[OneSlow5pt0]

MR2s are light?

the mk1 are and MR2-S are but not the mk2 mr2..........get 6th gen celica and do a GT4 swap u will be making close to 300HP

also for 3k could get a RX-7

[Z32redondo]

MR2s are light?

the mk1 are and MR2-S are but not the mk2 mr2..........get 6th gen celica and do a GT4 swap u will be making close to 300HP

also for 3k could get a RX-7

LOL both my cars are 4000 lbs or more so ya that is light. You could also pick up a MK3 supra turbo for around 3K.

[Deke]

Does it have to be an import? If you want something fast and cheap how about an older 5.0 Mustang? Not sayign that they are great cars or anything, but you can make them really fast for pretty damn cheap. Also they have a pretty traditional setup and would make a great car for learning how to wrench. [Puts on flame suit]

[OneSlow5pt0]

LOL both my cars are 4000 lbs or more so ya that is light. You could also pick up a MK3 supra turbo for around 3K.

lol,iv never driven a car that weighs over 2900

[Z32redondo]

Does it have to be an import? If you want something fast and cheap how about an older 5.0 Mustang? Not sayign that they are great cars or anything, but you can make them really fast for pretty damn cheap. Also they have a pretty traditional setup and would make a great car for learning how to wrench. [Puts on flame suit]

Actually this would be the best way to go now that i think of it. V8's respond very nicely to mods and a 5.0 would be fast. Or something like a Irok-Z would be nice. If you can find one with a 350 you will be set.

[Z32redondo]

lol,iv never driven a car that weighs over 2900

ya the 300 weighs in at like 39xx something and the truck is like...well im not getting into that.

[OneSlow5pt0]

ya the 300 weighs in at like 39xx something and the truck is like...well im not getting into that.

..i like those cars,but damn..thats to heavy for me.

also probbly could get a Miata for around 3k.....

[91ma70]

mk3s are 35xxlbs

[Z32redondo]

mk3s are 35xxlbs

For a 4 seated turbo V6 ya and it can pull that weight.

Also to add my friend has a older miata that has some nice suspension upgrades and it can whoop some ass in the twisties. Just depends on what you want to do with your project car i guess.

[91ma70]

turbos can but the n/a is slow

[OneSlow5pt0]

turbos can but the n/a is slow

slow when compared to what?

a civic? then no

[91ma70]

top speed on them is good the n/a suck at Accelerating

[Jecht]

I would go with a CRX. I'm not big on the looks of them but you can't ignore the fact that you can swap a B-series into it and it weighs so little.

[CSquared]

You're most likely not going to find a reliable/buildable mk3 supra for 3k or under... Scratch that off the list as a first unless you have a shitload of time and money to spend, and have a good amount of automotive knowledge... They are testy as fuck and i wouldn't recommend it (speaking from experience).

[CSquared]

For a 4 seated turbo V6 ya and it can pull that weight.

Also to add my friend has a older miata that has some nice suspension upgrades and it can whoop some ass in the twisties. Just depends on what you want to do with your project car i guess.

You talking about the supra?

If so... straight six my friend

turbos can but the n/a is slow

Once again if you are talking about the mk3's

mk3 turbos run 15's.
mk3 NAs run 16's.

Either way not too shabby, but i wouldnt waste my time buying an n/a car when there is a stock turbo version...

[Z32redondo]

You talking about the supra?

If so... straight six my friend



Once again if you are talking about the mk3's

mk3 turbos run 15's.
mk3 NAs run 16's.

Either way not too shabby, but i wouldnt waste my time buying an n/a car when there is a stock turbo version...

Ya i know is a straight 6 i just didnt want to get technical. And i am used to muscle cars so i use slant 6. But same thing. As far as the MK3 Supra though. It is nice and i have seen a few go for 3K turbo but no targa. I like it because it is in fact a turbo car but also came with a 1JZ twin turbo engine in JDM land. Making a twin turbo swap some what easy. As well as the infamous 2JZ swap going around. But thats if you truely want a project car and dont mind saving some money after you buy the car for an engine swap.

I dont get too detailed into supra's more so 300zx's but i believe people are swapping the 1jz head and 2jz block and internals and running them like this. Because of the bottom end of the 2JZ being able to hold alot power on stock internals. I dont know if thats what it was or if it was something else but i heard they call it a 1.5jz or something. Dont quote me on any of that though.

[Z32redondo]

You're most likely not going to find a reliable/buildable mk3 supra for 3k or under... Scratch that off the list as a first unless you have a shitload of time and money to spend, and have a good amount of automotive knowledge... They are testy as fuck and i wouldn't recommend it (speaking from experience).

And ya he's right, my dad had 3 of them.

[sleepys4]

Eclipse GST or GSX. 1993-1994 or 1997-1999

[sleepys4]

Or 1991 6bolt/4bolt can't go wrong.

[Driftk1d350z]

id juts get a 240 because they're cheap, there are a lot of parts for them, and they're RWD

[OneSlow5pt0]

since i only paid $1200 for my RX-7 w/ 60k miles.i think u could find a good one for that,or maybe a T2 that needs little work

[Driftk1d350z]

yeah RX-7 is good too

yo just dont want to be "another civic"

[Driftk1d350z]

but then again 240s are becomming common also

[R_Rated]

also look at a jetta/golf with the 1.8T motor. Most easily tunable motor out there!

[cactusEG]

start off with a honda

[B3AST]

Does it have to be an import? If you want something fast and cheap how about an older 5.0 Mustang? Not sayign that they are great cars or anything, but you can make them really fast for pretty damn cheap. Also they have a pretty traditional setup and would make a great car for learning how to wrench. [Puts on flame suit]

only problem with that is I'm 16 and a Mustang especially with a v8 is going to be hell on insurance(and gas) so I'd rather start with a motor thats just a wii bit smaller than a 5.0L V-8 LOL

[greasemunkey]

go with an old bmw, like a 1986. ive driven a 5-speed 3 series of that year and they are alot quicker than i thought and it was completely stock, and you don't see a modded bmw's to often and the body style looks great IMO

[B3AST]

yeah I been looking at those but it just seems hard to find one in alright shape or is it just me?