I want to pick up a fun daily driver that won't drain my wallet. I'm considering just getting something and stripping the hell out of it to make it peppy and then just some simple cheap mods - intake/exhaust. I want a RELIABLE car.

I'm looking for something under 5k. Basically, what I have in mind lately is:

-1st gen DSM. HUGE gains with weight reduction, can literally knock 600+lbs off the car. Even more depending on how far you want to take it. Not a reliable vehicle. Will take well to simple mods. Ok gas mileage.

-92-95 Honda Civic - Fast cars with a motor swap. Already incredibly light weight, with alittle weight reduction can get the vehicle below 2000lbs. Will not respond at all to mods unless turbod. VERY reliable, great gas mileage. This is where i'm heading right now

-v8 NA car - insert whatever you'd like here. 88-92 IROC, Fox body mustang, c4 vette. I know less about these cars, but it seems they are incredibly heavy without being able to really knock alot of weight off. Will respond better to mods due to the extra cylinders. Probably poor gas mileage.

I'm open to ideas, before anyone interjects with good idea/bad idea in terms of stripping and modding a DD. It's what I want to do, it's a fun project. So leave that to me : )

 

i would look at a 240sx or 280sx...

relativly inexpensive, and definatly fun to drive. as far as 82-92 camaro/trans am reliability will not be where you want it, trust me i drove an 87 for over a year and ended up putting 5600$ into it to keep it going and looking nice. and even then, it wasnt all that fast.

 

you mean 240 or 180. i.e. engine displacement.

 

personally id go for an early to mid 90s trans am/firebird get it "chipped", 3" catless, ram air induction, and coated or wrapped headers w/ a hurst 6 speed. relatively cheap you can prolly get that whole deal for under 7-8k depending on new/used parts and condition of the car. but as we all know once you start you cant stop...soon itll be on slicks and blown, cammed, and running 11's lol.

 

5.0 Mustang LX. Weighs less than an evo and is really easy to modify. I have personally seen one run 9's all summer with just a nitrous kit... It popped in the end but all in all it made about 100+ passes on a 300 shot.

 

Chrysler Conquest, Dodge Daytona, Supra late 80s/early 90s, 300z late 80s/early 90s, VW Gti, Ford Focus ZX3 or SVT....

 

LMFAO you said DSM and reliable in the same thread...bwhahahahahahahaha

 

-1st gen DSM. HUGE gains with weight reduction, can literally knock 600+lbs off the car. Even more depending on how far you want to take it. Not a reliable vehicle. Will take well to simple mods. Ok gas mileage.


Anyway, 240sx is a good one actually, I didnt think of it. I've driven one and it was a good ride.

Expand upon that list of cars you have there ;P

 

96 civic with a turbo k20 swap.

 

All Motor K20A should keep him fun for a while

 

k24 block with k20a head ftw

 

here is the best car to strip...AE86.