Fastest <$10k car? Fastest <$5k car?

Scootin159

Diamond Member
Apr 17, 2001
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I'm kinda interested in getting a new (used) car. I don't want to (read: can't) spend too much money on one however. I do want a fast/sporty car however. Here are the specs I would like:

small car preferred
(only need room for 4 passengers)
creature comforts not nessisary (who needs air conditioning?)
manual transmission prefered

How fast a car is possible to find for <$5k? <$10k?

And before the whole Foreign/Domestic war starts: I DON'T CARE ;)
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
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You want brute speed @ a low $ you need a V8 mustang/camaro/firebird. Nuff said!
 

Scootin159

Diamond Member
Apr 17, 2001
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Thing is though that the camaro/firebirds tend to be real clunky & long. The mustang is a possibility though, but still quite heavy.

I was thinking more something like this:
S13 Nissan Silia
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
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They aren't ungodly fast, but they sure are fun to drive - Look at a 92 or 94 VW corrado SLC w/ VR6 engine.

Hard to find.

Fastest VW, and best handling VW ever made. Useable back seat space too.

0-60 times in the 6.8 second range. Handles like it's on rails.
 

Ih8canada

Senior member
Jan 21, 2002
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Early 90's to Mid 90's Ford Taurus SHO fast as a bat out of hell 0-60 under 7 seconds.

 

Scootin159

Diamond Member
Apr 17, 2001
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<< They aren't ungodly fast, but they sure are fun to drive - Look at a 92 or 94 VW corrado SLC w/ VR6 engine.

Hard to find.

Fastest VW, and best handling VW ever made. Useable back seat space too.

0-60 times in the 6.8 second range. Handles like it's on rails.
>>



Looks like a nice car. Looks like an upgraded version of the Volkswagen Rabbit (1982) that I used to have. That was a sweet car! Imagine if it had that VR6 engine ;). Anyways, I did a quick search & didn't find any VR6 Corrado's in NY (Autotrader).
 

Scootin159

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Apr 17, 2001
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<< Early 90's to Mid 90's Ford Taurus SHO fast as a bat out of hell 0-60 under 7 seconds. >>



If I was gonna get something Taurus sized I might as well go for a camaro. Thanks for the suggestion anyways. I do agree though, they are nice cars, just not quite what I was looking for.
 

Scootin159

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Apr 17, 2001
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<< also check out autobytel.com :) >>



That's the other one! Thanks, I couldn't think of the name of it....(mind blank)
 

4WHLDFT

Junior Member
Feb 4, 2002
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cheapest car to go fast is gonna be a domestic. Imports typically cost more on a power to price ratio. Looks like a mustang or firebird for you.

There are some imports out there that are pretty quick for under 10k, but since your asking this question I don't think you would have the patience to find them. No offense intended, but they are just really hard to find, harder to buy.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
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If you can't find a Corrado, I'd suggest a 95 or 96 VW GTi w/ the VR6.

A little boxier looking, but they are great sleepers. They handle great, and have very good acceleration across the RPM band.

0-60's in the 6.8-7.0 range. I owned one for close to a year. Loved the car, but had to upgrade to something bigger, and with an automatic transmission.

You should be able to find something very nice in your price range.
 

Scootin159

Diamond Member
Apr 17, 2001
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Hmm....The GTi looks great.... 2818lb curb weight & 172hp...not too bad at all. How possible is it to put a turbo on the VR6? Are there any kits for it?
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
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There's several kits out for the VR6.

Look here

and

Here

for info.

You're probably looking at $3k to $5k in parts and labor, with a gain of anwhere from 100 to 150 HP. I've heard of some guys running low 5's with a supercharged VR6. Just need to watch it though, because they run 10:1 compression stock. Not a whole lot of room for boost there.
 

Scootin159

Diamond Member
Apr 17, 2001
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How hard would it be to just do it myself? I'm no car god (haven't gone far past changing the oil actually), but would love to do something like this myself. I imagine if you get it in a kit you get all the brackets, ect. that you need, so it should be fairly easy, right? Or would I have to pull the engine? I don't really have any special tools beyond a wrench.
 

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
25,074
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The fastest car I can think of for under $5k would be a 92/93 Daytona IROC R/T - runs 14.5 stock. I can't think of anything faster off of the top of my head for that price.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
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I am BY NO MEANS an expert on this, but a supercharger would be MUCH more "friendly" to install than a turbo. The supercharger is pretty much a bolt on unit, while the turbo takes some pretty elaborate exhaust and welding work to fit on.

The turbos offer the benefit of more HP, and can be adjusted at the flick of a switch, but the superchargers are easier to install, and have less turbo lag.

Read the threads and and see which one would fit your needs better.
 

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
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vi is right, a S/C is much simpler than a Turbo, but IMO a Turbo is better and not to mention more fun.