Need input/or Suggestions

[zuki19]

As some of you know I'm selling my car or for trade.

Looking for something fast, yet a bit economical.

Not really looking for a HUGE project...(no motor swapping or trans swapping)

Looking for something that dont take much to get in 12s or 13s

My ideas:

99+ Vette Hardtop
I LOVE NEW STIs(doubt i can afford one)
Boosted app.. maybe MR2/Honda???
04+ GTO
240sx
300zx TT

[djb5118]

it all depends on what your budget is. I would post that up and it would give a lot more info for people to work with

[zuki19]

if at a dealership i'm going to say 20-25K

private or trade no more than 8

[Elliott18t]

Id have to say no the gtslow. Im not really a fan of pontiacs though.. so obviously dont listen to that. id have to say go with the vette or the 300zxTT, they would probably get into the 12's 13's easier, yet this is more based on opinion than proof :P

[lawdogg]

Why not Evo?

A 3000GT VR-4, like the 300ZX, runs 13's out of the box and 12's with a tiny bit of coaxing.

[Got Insulin?]

How can you afford a 99+ Vette, but not an STI?

I'd go with the Z, if it was me personally, but just keep in mind, it's not an all year round car and fan be just as finicky as every other car out there. 3KGTs are a good bet, but like Z's, they take a good amount of cash to make them "fast." Maybe a late model DSM or an older Evo is where it's at for you. Turbo AWD and they look good.

[Honest_Bob]

Vette and 300ZX are going to run you $$$ when it comes to maintenance.

[94integra]

Srt4?

[SovXietday]

Id have to say no the gtslow. Im not really a fan of pontiacs though.. so obviously dont listen to that. id have to say go with the vette or the 300zxTT, they would probably get into the 12's 13's easier, yet this is more based on opinion than proof :P

Yeaaaah methinks you don't know what you're talking about. :-p

04+ GTO, otherwise known as the LS2 GTO, is boltons away from mid 12s. It's an easy low 13sec car bone stock.

300zxTT have an awesome engine, and then that's about where the appeal for me dies off. They're a bitch to work on, they're expensive as hell to maintain, and they take twice as much money to make faster.

Vette is cool, you can probably find a non Z06 for under 20 without much hassle.

Boosted 240s/Honda/etc has buyer beware written all over a lot of them, just pay attention to it at least.

That being said, I don't see anyone with a GTO, Vette, 300zx, or even a 240/Civic/MR2 who are going to be willingly trading for a boosted grand am.

[boostedmr2]

What type of driving you plan to do with it would decide it for me... I like backroad driving, yet having power as well. I have a turbo mr2 and i love it. It being a 4 cylinder turbo it get decent gas millage the only downside is space.

[JB'sLGT]

What else do you need in a car besides being fast, economical, and price?

Is it going to be your DD? Do you need more than 2 usable seats? AWD/RWD/FWD?

[Elliott18t]

Yeaaaah methinks you don't know what you're talking about. :-p

04+ GTO, otherwise known as the LS2 GTO, is boltons away from mid 12s. It's an easy low 13sec car bone stock.

300zxTT have an awesome engine, and then that's about where the appeal for me dies off. They're a bitch to work on, they're expensive as hell to maintain, and they take twice as much money to make faster.

Vette is cool, you can probably find a non Z06 for under 20 without much hassle.

Boosted 240s/Honda/etc has buyer beware written all over a lot of them, just pay attention to it at least.

That being said, I don't see anyone with a GTO, Vette, 300zx, or even a 240/Civic/MR2 who are going to be willingly trading for a boosted grand am.


would rather have a cobra.

2003 Cobra- weight- 3665 pounds - horsepower stock- 390 crank- 4.6 Liter DOHC S/C
- Quarter mile: 12.8 sec. 0-60: 4.5 sec. Final Drive Ratio: 3.55:1
T-56 6-speed - ( 1st-2.66:1, 2nd-1.78:1, 3rd-1.30:1, 4th-1.00:1, 5th-0.80:1, 6th-0.63:1)


2005 Pontiac GTO- weight- 3735 pounds- Horsepower stock- 400 crank- 6.0 Liter LS2
-Quarter mile: 13.3 sec. 0-60: 4.9 sec Final Drive Ratio: 3.46:1
T-56 6 Speed- (1st: 2.97:1, 2nd: 2.07:1, 3rd: 1.43:1, 4th: 1.00:1, 5th:0.84:1, 6th:0.57:1)

[SovXietday]

^ My point was you can hardly call it a "GTslow" when it's an easy 12sec car with a lid and catback, lol.

[evogsrviii]

i may be a little biased, but you can get a used Evo 8 for 17-20k. Throw 2k into it and its a mid 12sec car with 4 doors and AWD. I dont think there is much that can beat that.

[Elliott18t]

^ My point was you can hardly call it a "GTslow" when it's an easy 12sec car with a lid and catback, lol.

compared to something else Id rather have, getting similar power out of a smaller engine and faster, Ill call it a gtslow. yet this is just an opinion, and I get your point :-p

definately a respectable car reguardless of what i've said.

[R_Rambo]

id have to say go look at an 09 wrx that would be in your price ranger

[zuki19]

I could afford a Older STI, I like the new 09 hatches... but I think they retail at 35K... as for corvette, I think they sell for like anywhere from 18-25... and I thought evo's were more than 17-20??? Wouldnt mind owning one of them... but Space is not a big deal... and yes it will be my DD... but probably not for winter, I picked up a beater...

[evogsrviii]

I could afford a Older STI, I like the new 09 hatches... but I think they retail at 35K... as for corvette, I think they sell for like anywhere from 18-25... and I thought evo's were more than 17-20??? Wouldnt mind owning one of them... but Space is not a big deal... and yes it will be my DD... but probably not for winter, I picked up a beater...


here is a page with 23 cars under 21000. That one 05 looks like a great deal. Low miles and they have a bigger hotside on the turbo and are more reliable than the 03-04s.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/searchresults.jsp?num_records=25&search_lang=en&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&search_type=both&distance=200&address=08226&marketZipError=false&style_flag=1&make=MIT&model=LANCERMITS&make2=&start_year=2003&end_year=2009&min_price=&max_price=21000&seller_type=b&transmission=Manual&engine=&drive=All+wheel+drive&doors=&fuel=&max_mileage=&color=&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&keywords_display=&sort_type=priceDESC&body_code=0&certified=&advanced=y&highlightFirstMakeModel=&showZipError=n&default_sort=priceDESC&awsp=false&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&systime=&sownerid=3754922&rdm=1228853590789

[peteyturbo]

Evo ftw!!

[boostedmr2]

When you cant decide its time to test drive some of them then you'll just know

[JB'sLGT]

just an idea... http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=94652

[JDMTyler3326]

Look here man


Here is a lot of EVO's under 25g
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/searchresults.jsp?num_records=25&search_lang=en&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&search_type=both&distance=100&address=19067&marketZipError=false&style_flag=1&make=MIT&model=LANCERMITS&make2=&start_year=1981&end_year=2009&min_price=0&max_price=25000&seller_type=b&transmission=&engine=&drive=&doors=&fuel=&max_mileage=&color=&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&keywords_display=&sort_type=priceDESC&body_code=0&certified=&advanced=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&showZipError=n&default_sort=priceDESC&awsp=false&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&systime=&rdm=1228908589148

Some 350z's
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/searchresults.jsp?num_records=25&search_lang=en&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&search_type=both&distance=100&address=19067&marketZipError=false&style_flag=1&make=NISSAN&model=350Z&make2=&start_year=1981&end_year=2009&min_price=0&max_price=25000&seller_type=b&transmission=&engine=&drive=&doors=&fuel=&max_mileage=&color=&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&keywords_display=&sort_type=priceDESC&body_code=0&certified=&advanced=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&showZipError=n&default_sort=priceDESC&awsp=false&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&systime=&rdm=1228908657485

Some STI's
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/searchresults.jsp?num_records=25&search_lang=en&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&search_type=both&distance=100&address=19067&marketZipError=false&style_flag=1&make=SUB&model=IMPREZ&make2=&start_year=1981&end_year=2009&min_price=0&max_price=25000&seller_type=b&transmission=&engine=&drive=&doors=&fuel=&max_mileage=&color=&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&keywords_display=&sort_type=priceDESC&body_code=0&certified=&advanced=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&showZipError=n&default_sort=priceDESC&awsp=false&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&systime=&rdm=1228908709225


I really say you should try to get a STI. You can get a 06,05,04 for under 25g's

[zuki19]

An Evo is tempting. but most of those are private sellers..??

[lawdogg]

Test drive stuff!!! Fun!

[zuki19]

lawdogg I wouldn't mind seeing pics of your vr4 or even videos... you go to meets? could you scare me ? Never rode in one before.

[lawdogg]

lawdogg I wouldn't mind seeing pics of your vr4 or even videos... you go to meets? could you scare me ? Never rode in one before.

Finding a good, healthy VR-4 or Stealth TT would kick ass. You just can't beat it for so many reasons but I'll spare you my 3/S fanboi-ism for now. :p

You're in the 12's with a clutch, intake, downpipe, and boost controller. You can pull 1.7 60's on the street. It's incredibly comfortable and incredibly stable at triple digit speeds. It'll do over 110 in 3rd. Yadda yadda yadda. They're way too cheap for what you get, but hey, that's a good thing right?

Come spring I may have it down in Philly sometimes if you're in the area. Are you ever out in Williamsport / Lewisburg? I wouldn't mind meeting up and going for a drive.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/lawdoggvr4/3000GT/3SiSig1-3.jpg

I really don't have much in terms of pictures.

[zuki19]

interesting... I hate the look of them but yours looks sick

[Elliott18t]

interesting... I hate the look of them but yours looks sick

you hate the looks of 3000gt's/stealths? :eek::bigeek:

[Grandpopsbuick]

hhaha at the gt-slow comment , my buddy has a 2004 auto and it ran 13.5 with a horrible 60ft and the 04 came with the ls1 motor not the ls2. the newer ones run almost 12s bone stock. i would get a older ls1 vette . i came a cross a 2000 with 35k miles and a warranty at a nj dealer they wanted 19k or 20k for it. if a vette fits your lifestyle and u dont mind the 2 seats then go for it lol.

[Elliott18t]

read my other posts. plus it says that the ls2's do 13.3's..
I just don't respect something that you slap the biggest engine you can in and call it awesome. sure it sounds amazing/has potential, I just dont care for it.

66.6~HP/L :bigeek::screwy:

massive engines had their days with older camaro's,mustangs,chevelles etc. Those are sweet.

[lawdogg]

interesting... I hate the look of them but yours looks sick

:cry: Some other pics I have ...

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/lawdoggvr4/3000GT/120-2.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/lawdoggvr4/3000GT/20071109-016.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/lawdoggvr4/3000GT/3SPA2008-2953.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/lawdoggvr4/3000GT/3SPA2008-2970.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/lawdoggvr4/3000GT/MattC-0944.jpg


Ok sorry guys for cluttering the thread with 3/S's. :wiggle:

[NJGOAT]

I've owned quite a few different cars and driven a lot more than I can even remember. To be honest, your choices are kind of all over the board, which is typical for most performance enthusiasts. If your lifestyle allows for it, I would get the Vette. No other car on your list has the performance bang for the buck of the Vette. The GTO is also a very valid choice. I know for a fact that despite what the magazine numbers above say a bone stock LS2 GTO is quite capable of running 12's. The only reason to consider a GTO over the Vette IMO would be if you would have occasional need to take more than one passenger along. The GTO is a very comfortable car for four people and no one will complain about being put in the back. The other upsides to the GTO/Vette are that they are very easy/cheap to mod, even just a tune will net you a nice performance increase. Additionally they both return very good highway fuel economy. The GTO in the mid-20's and the Vette easily getting in the high-20's when cruising.

If you are thinking of the 300ZX or VR-4 they are great cars, but are older and will be harder to find in good shape, harder to finance if you do find one and will be more expensive to maintain.

When you get into the STI/Evo they are also fantastic cars and gain you 4 doors and AWD, which can't be overlooked as an advantage. They also have a great after market and community if you want to go that way. The cars really are blank slates IMO ready for anything you would want to do to them. The only knock I would have on them is insurance costs when compared to the GTO/Vette. Believe it or not, GTO's and Vette's are very cheap performance cars to insure. The same can't be said for the STI/Evo. However, that really depends on where you live, your age and your driving record.

Something else I would suggest that hasn't been brought up would be a 2000 - 2002 Audi S4. You get a 4 door AWD luxury car with an awesome motor that has unlimited potential. They are unique, make for an awesome ride and can be picked up for under $20k pretty easily. The only issue with them is the cost of maintenance. It will probably be one of the most expensive cars to maintain that you could consider.

Outside of all that is the fact that all of this seems to hinge on your ability to get a good deal on your car as a trade. Right now inventories are piling up and auction prices are falling on the order of up to 15% across the board. It is also the time of year that dealers refer to as the deadzone because sales are so slow. The chance of you getting a good price from a dealer on your trade is pretty much non-existent. However, it is also an excellent time to snatch up a good deal on a purchase as they want to unload inventory in the worst way.

[Elliott18t]

I've owned quite a few different cars and driven a lot more than I can even remember. To be honest, your choices are kind of all over the board, which is typical for most performance enthusiasts. If your lifestyle allows for it, I would get the Vette. No other car on your list has the performance bang for the buck of the Vette. The GTO is also a very valid choice. I know for a fact that despite what the magazine numbers above say a bone stock LS2 GTO is quite capable of running 12's. The only reason to consider a GTO over the Vette IMO would be if you would have occasional need to take more than one passenger along. The GTO is a very comfortable car for four people and no one will complain about being put in the back. The other upsides to the GTO/Vette are that they are very easy/cheap to mod, even just a tune will net you a nice performance increase. Additionally they both return very good highway fuel economy. The GTO in the mid-20's and the Vette easily getting in the high-20's when cruising.

If you are thinking of the 300ZX or VR-4 they are great cars, but are older and will be harder to find in good shape, harder to finance if you do find one and will be more expensive to maintain.

When you get into the STI/Evo they are also fantastic cars and gain you 4 doors and AWD, which can't be overlooked as an advantage. They also have a great after market and community if you want to go that way. The cars really are blank slates IMO ready for anything you would want to do to them. The only knock I would have on them is insurance costs when compared to the GTO/Vette. Believe it or not, GTO's and Vette's are very cheap performance cars to insure. The same can't be said for the STI/Evo. However, that really depends on where you live, your age and your driving record.

Something else I would suggest that hasn't been brought up would be a 2000 - 2002 Audi S4. You get a 4 door AWD luxury car with an awesome motor that has unlimited potential. They are unique, make for an awesome ride and can be picked up for under $20k pretty easily. The only issue with them is the cost of maintenance. It will probably be one of the most expensive cars to maintain that you could consider.

Outside of all that is the fact that all of this seems to hinge on your ability to get a good deal on your car as a trade. Right now inventories are piling up and auction prices are falling on the order of up to 15% across the board. It is also the time of year that dealers refer to as the deadzone because sales are so slow. The chance of you getting a good price from a dealer on your trade is pretty much non-existent. However, it is also an excellent time to snatch up a good deal on a purchase as they want to unload inventory in the worst way.


they are cheap to insure? hmm that pretty sweet :)

Ive also noticed that audi's really are not that bad on insurance either, Mine and the a6 and the a4 my friend has had have been relatively cheap to insure.:wiggle: maintenance is a bitch with audi/vw yet if you keep up with it regularly it will be a great car. at least the whole front end comes off fairly easily(at least with my V8) to make things like turbos,etc. easier. not sure about newer audis though.

[zuki19]

Car would be under my dads name... with insurance... does that mean when i make payments it has to be towards him?

[evogsrviii]

i live in jersey, have a record that includs speeding tickets and such and pay $140 month for insurance on the evo. i would think if it was on your dad's plan, it would be pretty reasonable.

[Whitekryptonit3]

I could afford a Older STI, I like the new 09 hatches... but I think they retail at 35K... as for corvette, I think they sell for like anywhere from 18-25... and I thought evo's were more than 17-20??? Wouldnt mind owning one of them... but Space is not a big deal... and yes it will be my DD... but probably not for winter, I picked up a beater...

If you like STi's buy CHAO's his is for sale right now on ebay for $23k which isn't bad considering all the mods that come with it.

Car would be under my dads name... with insurance... does that mean when i make payments it has to be towards him?


Your new name should be " Captain Obvious".

[zuki19]

As I mentioned before, Only STI that I would like having is a 09 hatch... I don't like the sedan style sti's. no grudge against them because they are nice cars.

[SovXietday]

read my other posts. plus it says that the ls2's do 13.3's..
I just don't respect something that you slap the biggest engine you can in and call it awesome. sure it sounds amazing/has potential, I just dont care for it.

66.6~HP/L :bigeek::screwy:

massive engines had their days with older camaro's,mustangs,chevelles etc. Those are sweet.

When you increase the displacement you lose efficiency. Also, you are comparing that car to the 03-04 Cobra which has a blower on it. I've seen guys put together Procharger kits for an LS1 and make 700rwhp on 8psi.:bigeek:

[Tyler]

evo's and sti's imo are the best buy. 4 doors and awd. they are ranging from 17-35+ so you have alot of selection haha.. if you wanna save a little go for a 04-05 sti or evoIII and that will be 17-22k.. 06-07 sti's are about 23-28k evo mr's and ix's are 24-30k

[Tyler]

If you like STi's buy CHAO's his is for sale right now on ebay for $23k which isn't bad considering all the mods that come with it.



i would have to agree and it is very clean from the pics i saw

[TGilb2007]

Id have to say no the gtslow. Im not really a fan of pontiacs though.. so obviously dont listen to that. id have to say go with the vette or the 300zxTT, they would probably get into the 12's 13's easier, yet this is more based on opinion than proof :P

GTslow??

Yeaaaah methinks you don't know what you're talking about. :-p

04+ GTO, otherwise known as the LS2 GTO, is boltons away from mid 12s. It's an easy low 13sec car bone stock.

300zxTT have an awesome engine, and then that's about where the appeal for me dies off. They're a bitch to work on, they're expensive as hell to maintain, and they take twice as much money to make faster.

Vette is cool, you can probably find a non Z06 for under 20 without much hassle.

Boosted 240s/Honda/etc has buyer beware written all over a lot of them, just pay attention to it at least.

That being said, I don't see anyone with a GTO, Vette, 300zx, or even a 240/Civic/MR2 who are going to be willingly trading for a boosted grand am.

GTO or MR2 I really agree with

^ My point was you can hardly call it a "GTslow" when it's an easy 12sec car with a lid and catback, lol.

compared to something else Id rather have, getting similar power out of a smaller engine and faster, Ill call it a gtslow. yet this is just an opinion, and I get your point :-p

definately a respectable car reguardless of what i've said.

The two cars you compared though are REALLY different. One being a supercharged motor, the other being naturally aspirated. And, from the numbers you posted, the Cobra really isnt' that much faster.

Also, LS2 GTO would be in the 12s with a full exhaust and tune. Slicks can get you into the mid 12s NO problem, let alone if its camm'd, then its over.