When you guys say street car I think you are saying it with a pre-conceived idea of a straight line car. A street car should have the ability to do both as a "street" isn't automatically a straight line. Thats a drag car.

I would have to say in the price/performance ratio while taking all aspects into account, in the USDM market the evo wins in my opinion.

In a straight line, both the evo and DSMs share motor archetypes so you really cant descriminate them based on their motors (unless there is a motor difference that I am not aware of, I am not a DSM guy so please tell me if there is). STis (other than the 07 limiteds) don't have the ability to keep up with an Evo mod for mod, dollar for dollar but both of them handle very well each with their own characteristics (evo is more neutral, subies understeer a tad more... but after seeing an STi with a 2 way LSD in action.... wow)

Handling on the other hand the evo will smack a DSM around. Not saying a DSM can't be made to handle as you can pretty much make any car handle moderately well to very good depending on how much money you want to throw at it. Supras are awesome in a straight line (the first time I got a ride in a supra I was grinning more and more as the boost kept building), but I highly doubt they could outhandle evos when the turns come.

I'm making this assumption not based on any reliability issues and just looking at performance aspects.

Renegade, you make a good argument about evo's being the best bang for the buck, but if your gonna bring bang for the buck aspect into the picture im gonna have to disagree about the evo. You can buy any 90-99 GSX(AWD) for less than 1k-7K and sink 10K into it and have a pretty NASTY street car. As for the EVO your gonna spend that 17K for a stock car. **** if money wasnt an issue we would be talkin about exotics such as the porsche's, ferrari's, etc...

I know this question will seem out of the blue... but how do DSMs take to swapping in JDM Evo driveline components? If you could swap in an Evo steering rack and get the tight ratio (12.5:1 I think?) then DSMs would be a lot more formidable. Then again I might just be talking out of my ass as I don't really know DSMs too well.

And for price comparison it is basically what you value more. If you want to spend less, get the same straight line response as the evo, a DSM would be an obvious choice. But after that initial investment is done its all a matter of how much is handling worth it to you.

As for suspension, you can make a DSM handle real bad ass. I dont know if you recall but either last year or the year before in sport compact mag. they held the ultimate street car challange, well there was a 2G Gsx in the contest that was the Fastest on the roadcourse. Id rather buy a real nice 2G for 7K and spend 2k-3K on suspension and it'll handle much better than an evo and your still 10K less than the evo.

Anyone that ever said there DSM was a POS is because they didn't know what they were doing. I have had over a dozen of them. Alot of them had problems when I bought them, but thats because of the previous owners not knowing anything about them. If you know the cars, they are amazing cars. If you never had one, buy one and then say its a POS.

^ awd4g63 said it all. And your right about you buying dsm's with problems from morons who jacked them all up, thats why alot of people have problems.

I own 3 of them.

I resent that comment :( :wink:

Ultimate street car? I like to this so. But when I see this question... ..., I can't think of another car. Not that I have been "spanking" people on the road, but I've seen what they are capable of.

No offense, Im talking about young ass kids beating the crap out of these cars with NO knowledge about how the car functions.

don't you mean 2.5 :-p

I know, I was joking, I get a lot of **** from people anyways cause I'm only 16

Good point. My vote for ultimate street car would go to...

-Exige S by Lotus. Handles incredible. Fast in a straight line. Brakes incredible. Toyota reliability in the drivetrain. 30mph on pump gas.

No. Not everyone it this thread can afford one and not everyone owns one so it doesnt count. The 'Ultimate Street Car' thread is limited to what any 16 year old kid can build on a budget. DSM>ALL :bigeek:

When did I ever say it was the ultimate street car because kids my age can build one on a budget? I didn't. It's a great street car because anyone (with a general knowladge on tuning) on any budget (above 1k) can make one fast.

Look at the question it the title of the thread. You guys are saying, 'IF DSM's arent the ultimate street car then what is.' And you dont like the answer.
DSMs are a good car for the budget but theres nothing ultimate about them.

Ok then maybe the title should say "DSM's, ultimate budget street car"

Sure, thats accurate.

I just found this post and saw reference to my car. To answer the question. The only reason my motor was pulled out was because I lost the oil filter housing while street tuning. Althought the motors are strong...they still need oil pressure.

I will say that I have had my share of cars...and, I was on the 2.2 band wagon...I had a Omni GLHS - yes, a real one - but not pretty and a Dodge Spirit RT. They are neat cars - but FWD's suck. Torque steer, loss of traction...not fun. The SRT4's are cool dailys - but again, FWD only.

I flat out think - they are the ultimate 'bang for buck' mod car on the road. I would love to hear a valid argument against that statement.

Anyone who hates DSM's simply cant beat them. Those in the know respect them.