Fairly cheap, powerful fast car?

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Hey all, Im not all together sure I'd ever do this, but Im wondering. For a budget of around $3500-$4000, what would be a good car (sedan or coupe) that is fairly new, quite powerful, and would be easy to modify for more power? Not really a street racer or rice burner but something that you could just have some fun with, both stock and modified. TIA!
 
You're not really in a price range where you can get much of any car.
There is an old saying that goes "Do you want fast, cheap or reliable? Pick any two".
 
Look for a Pontiac Grand Prix GTP. Boosted cars are usually cheap and easy to make faster and this one is in your price range.
 
1985-1986 Omni GLH Turbo
1985-1986 Shelby Charger Turbo
1984-up Daytona Turbo Z/Shelby Z/Iroc/Laser XE/XT Turbo
Spirit R/T
Mitsubishi 3000GT
Stealth R/T

None are late model,but all are screamers.
...just waiting to be blown up and crashed by speed freaks.
On 2nd thought,buy a GM vehicle and destroy it instead.
 
Originally Posted By: NHGUY
1985-1986 Omni GLH Turbo
1985-1986 Shelby Charger Turbo
1984-up Daytona Turbo Z/Shelby Z/Iroc/Laser XE/XT Turbo
Spirit R/T
Mitsubishi 3000GT
Stealth R/T

None are late model,but all are screamers.
...just waiting to be blown up and crashed by speed freaks.
On 2nd thought,buy a GM vehicle and destroy it instead.


Any of these would be easy to find in good original condition for 3-4K.
 
You could probably find a straight and decent e36 BMW for this kind of coin and unlike a number of other cars you'll find in this price range, they are pretty reliable and pretty durable.
A lot of people are afraid of these cars, but they're actually pretty good in terms of holding up to years and miles and parts prices are nothing to fear. Parts availability is also no problem, unlike many Japanese or even American cars of the 'nineties.
A 325i is pretty strong and a 328i is stronger.
The 323is are pretty rare, although I saw a perfect e36 323i convertible driven by a perfect older middle aged woman last week. I also saw an e36 'vert in the same Boston Green as mine driven by an attractive fortyish woman. It had the rare factory hard top.
A 318i is weak but willing to rev and it does handle like a BMW should.
Fuel economy is also very good in my experience.
There are also deals on five and seven series cars, but these tend to be more troublesome than the e36.
 
Had a 87 Daytona ShelbyZ with a turbo 2 in it that was a screamerrrrrrr!! Wish I would have kept it & restored it. Soo much fun in that car until the connecting rods went!!
 
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Originally Posted By: NHGUY


1985-1986 Omni GLH Turbo



I had one of those....... O.M.G. was it fast.
 
SN95 Mustang. I picked up my 95 GT last year for $3250. Sure she didn't look the best, but she is fun to drive. I have her torn down now doing a rebuild on the motor and some pretty big suspension modifications.
 
Depends on how much work you want to do and what your state emissions laws are like.

Scratch fairly new. You could supercharge a 3.8/3.9 Mustang but on that budget you either get the supercharger kit or the Mustang. You don't get both.

Get an '80s G-body sedan. Powertrain doesn't matter because you are going to take it out anyway. Chevrolet 350, decent TH350 trans, 10-bolt posi and that should do it for your budget. Few hundred more in steering, sway bars, springs...etc... and it'll do as well as any Monte Carlo Super Sport in a corner.

Want it out of the box fast? Ummmm.....you might be able to score a Supercharged Grand Prix or Monte Carlo. It's going to have well over 100,000 miles.

Maybe a Chrysler 300M. There's not much you can do to them though. PCM swap, exhaust, throttle body...might get you to 260 at the crank.

That $3500 mark puts you down in the LT1 Camaro or high mileage LS1 group.
 
Originally Posted By: Malo83
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According to the guy who sells synlube lube4life, it's the best car you can get. Worth 2x a BMW.
 
If you can spin wrenches (if not, do not even THINK of doing this), hunt Craigslist for someone selling a V8-swapped S- pickup. I have seen square-body trucks (1982-93) and early aero trucks (1994-1996-ish) go for $3-4K.
 
While I would probably go with an E36 328is or M3, for the less adventurous a Mustang V8 would be my top pick.
 
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