What is a solid build platform for under 10 grand?

[lk250f]

What I mean is, what car is something that has a decent aftermarket but also is responsive to mods, easy to work on and install parts, etc. I also mean cars with fairly easy methods of tuning (hondata, giac. those things). I also have only about 10k to spend and would prefer nothing european. But will take suggestions. Turbo volvos were something i was looking into. Not sure if these types of threads are permitted and what not. So someone let me know and I will promptly delete. Thank you

[renn]

for 10k you could get into a decent WRX.

my budget is about half of yours but i found a clean 4dr EK civic for less than 2k and am using the rest of my budget to swap it and do some clean exterior mods. it will probably pull on stock WRX's when swapped and is still going to be comfortable with a/c and p/s. just food for thought.

[OverBoostedEvo]

dsm's I bought my 98 Eclipse and did a full color change, new interior, fully built motor, etc.. etc.. and i'm looking to runs 10's for under 10k, close to 5k but i did find alot of deals and do 99% of the work myself. Best bet is to find a dsm that is stock, or a shell, or somethign with minor mods and build it urself. If you do the build right, do all the maintenance and take care of it and just dont go and throw a huge turbo and lots of boost at it and blow it up the car will last. the 4g63 has alot of aftermarket support

[MattBear]

volvos are european btw.

Here's my list, and yes its got euro cars in it anyways.

V6 Accord
Mk4 1.8t GTI/Jetta/GLI
early 2000's LS1 Camaro/TA/Firebird
Volvo 850GLT
any 3 series BMW (e30/e36) - of the bunch thus far, best choice for longevity, comfort, driving excitement....
Infiniti G20 -SR20 motor, just facing the wrong way
6spd v6 altima - not bad but notchy gears even NEW.
2000/1 Impreza RS
WRX's - but they have weak 5spds

honestly you've got a lot of options if you open up to the idea of a european car as well. CONTRARY to popular belief they arent THAT unreliable, or expensive to fix. My Yetta is beyond 205k miles.... and its never left me stranded.... even with a list the length of my left leg of broken equipment (fuel pump, FPR, Fuel Rail, ISV, MAF, ETC.) that being said my car prior to my owning was poorly maintained, and i havent even so much as changed the damn oil.... and she runs well enough to get me to work. so if you spend the money to buy a clean, well kept euro car, you'll be ok.

But IMO, you will find tons of good options from our european buddies. They understand driving feel, and have a SUPERB aftermarket, but lack the theft rate of hondas. If you wanted something that would REALLY be fun, i'd buy a 1998 GTI Vr6 with low miles (say about 4500-6k) then spend the remainder of your 10k on a set of coilovers, and a vortech supercharger. Clean, quick, fun, KILLER aftermarket * WONT GET STOLEN LIKE A CIVIC *

Good luck, and glad to see you're moving on from the corolla.

[Fujito]

Toyota Celica

[SHOdude]

I smell honda in your future, but seriously you can fully build a honda for way less then 10k, **** you can even get a clean mkiii supra and do a 1 or 2jz swap for like 8k and that leaves room for cosmetics or single turbo conversion.
So heres my list
-Civic
-DSM
-240
-318i w/ s50 swap
-Rustang
-Merkur
-Camero
-ect...
Honestly with 10k you can do a lot, I could fully build just about anything mid level with 10k lol

[Renegade_]

Rust free 240s - take any motor in the world. Or close enough
GC chassis subarus 93-01 - STi or WRX swap in any of them
Civics - you can always turbo them to make them not slow
FC RX7s - take the rotary out and put a V8 in it.
Cressida - 1J swap = drift machine

[mckpat03]

DSM or Fox Body.

[WolfsFang]

i would have to go with dsm or 240

[enigma]

Yep, 1g dsm or a fox body is your best bet to make the most out of 10k.

[Proven]

Any year or miles restrictions? For 10k you can def. get something worth while. Are you looking at buying something stock or pre-modded to continue with? What kind of racing you into?

Keeping aftermarket support in mind I would go with -

AWD - A wrx I think would be the obvious choice. Working on them CAN be a pain but nothing redonk. Parts are everywhere new and used and prices fairly decent. Reliability shouldn't be an issue. (good for rally-x, auto-x, track days, and some 1/4 builds).. you could also get a clean GC8 Swapped for around 10k..

FWD - A Honda is your best choice when it comes to cheap parts/tuning. I would say maybe RSX-S or integra, or hatch with K series swap already done. HUGE aftermarket, cheap pricing on mods, and very easy to work on. Only downfall is high theft. (good for track days, auto-x, and 1/4 builds)

RWD - 240sx, you can def. get one with a swap, built turbo KA, and even one with a RB (the 25 or 26). Parts everywhere and fairly cheap. (good for auto-x, Drift of course, track days, and some 1/4 builds)

[Rado_VR6]

Coming from over a dozen different VW/Audis, don't bother. If you want to be fast, won't be happening on the 1.8T, platform with a 10K budget, I can assure you that. Factor in price of the car and you're left with half or less of that 10K. You can probably find a decent B5 S4, but when those break, they are a money pit unless you can pull your own motor, again, ask me how I know. DSM's are getting up there in age and are hard to find in pristine condition. Find a WRX and call it a day. Obviously not the fastest kids on the block, but the driving experience is a blast. A Honda goes without saying and they're tried and true, but that scene is played out. One wheel burnouts are cute.

You can even find SRT's in great condition for your budget. 10K will net you one with decent mileage and a decent mod list. Only downside, you're driving a Neon like the rest of us. I've owned ALL the cars I'm suggesting besides the WRX. My ex-wife owned that one and I rarely drove because I had my GLI and first SRT. My SRT is probably the funnest one because it's all about one thing, being balls fast. The WRX would have been my next choice though. I love the way boxer engines sound and AWD is tits.

If you want to swap, that's cool, but personally I'd prefer something that didn't require me to have to spend a weekend yanking the motor out. Nothing better than factory fit and finish. That's why the WRX, SRT, and a select few are your best bets. They came straight from the factory with decent motors and have a looooonnnngggg list of aftermarket parts. Sure Honda's do as well and they have the most factory fit and finish swaps available, so don't count them out, I just prefer something a little more refined. Again, that just me though.

[dragoncustompc]

For 10k u have a good bit of options. You can pick up srt's for 5 to 6k now a days and 4k will net u some real nice mods. A Merkur would be fun if u can find it or the parts for it. "I have one im in the process of obtaining ownership for...."

10k could net u a nice Bel air too http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Aweso...item2a188dd10a

I got bored and searched ebay quick for things of that price range. tons of mustangs

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2002-...item5891e84b43

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1953-...item2a18ab19fb

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/67-CH...item35b90b1095

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2002-...item4161bf5dc0

[92awdtsi]

anything with an LS1 in it, You can pick up a basemodel c5 corvette for 10k now and leave it stock and have a sh!tload of fun at the racetrack.

[Swimmerboy]

I owned an LT1 (1994) Camaro 6spd. That was a fast car, made a great sound and the mods were fairly inexpensive. With that being said, it constantly broke down. I won't buy American again.

I say go either WRX, or if you can, a Celica GT-Four. But good luck on finding a GT-Four.

How about a TT 3000GT? They can usually be had for around 6K or so.

[O2SpecV]

yeah seriously for 10k if you want the fastest car go ls1/lt1

[SovXietday]

Do I even need to cast my vote? Lol.

[mcperson2k]

Yeah seriously... 10k will get you *almost* any tuner car on the market... 90s or 00s and a ton of different restored classic / muscle cars.

[dudewheresmycar]

Too many options lol, thats like saying " I have 250k ,which exotic should I buy"

[SHOdude]

Also for AWD you could go galant vr4, gsx, and any quattro. I would say go for an a4 quattro, crank up the boost, drop it, get a nice BOV and call it a day with a couple g's to play with.