fastest car for ~ 20- 23k

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toph99

Diamond Member
Aug 25, 2000
5,505
0
0
2000 Cobra
2002 Z28

but the fastest for the money will be a 5.0 mustang and mod the hell out of it, like someone suggested. Then you also have the reliability of a 302 under your hood. if you find a good body with a blown motor, a 351W with forged internals will not let you down ;) add a healthy cam and you can leave it like that, or make it into a twin turbo, supercharged or nitroused setup with plenty of cash left over :)
 

J0hnny

Platinum Member
Jul 2, 2002
2,366
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So far, I counted 1 rice hater. Pretty good for a car post ( I can't wait till I see one without). Such idiots. Anyway, get yourself a used Acura Integra. Fairly easy to obtain and you could get some decent ones with low milage. It's easy to modify and as long as you don't put "stickers" on them, the rice haters won't crap on your thread.
 

Viper GTS

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
38,107
433
136
Originally posted by: J0hnny
So far, I counted 1 rice hater. Pretty good for a car post ( I can't wait till I see one without). Such idiots. Anyway, get yourself a used Acura Integra. Fairly easy to obtain and you could get some decent ones with low milage. It's easy to modify and as long as you don't put "stickers" on them, the rice haters won't crap on your thread.

He said he wanted fast.

Integra's are nice cars, they handle well, but they aren't fast when compared to a Z28/SS Camaro.

Viper GTS
 

puffpio

Golden Member
Dec 21, 1999
1,664
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2.5RS can be turboed
Vishnu, Minnam..not sure who else makes turbo kits for it
Have you considered an SE-R Spec V?
 

andylawcc

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
18,183
3
81
1988 Honda CRV si: $1000
JDM B16 motor (shipped and installed): $3000
Garrett t25 Turbo with intercooler: $2500
a 15lb bottle of NOS (75 shot): $250

there you go, the remaining money can be spend on intake, exhaust, header, spoilers and bodykit... yum yum


and no it would be nonsensical to put a turbo in the 2.5RS.
 

snut

Golden Member
Oct 9, 1999
1,415
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wow thanks for the suggestions guys, ive never even thought about the SS or the firebirds...im still pretty much still undecied.. I like imports..but I also like the raw torq that a mustang or a SS has......also which would be cheaper to insure a american or a import?
 

Thanatopsis

Golden Member
Feb 7, 2000
1,464
1
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Originally posted by: snut
wow thanks for the suggestions guys, ive never even thought about the SS or the firebirds...im still pretty much still undecied.. I like imports..but I also like the raw torq that a mustang or a SS has......also which would be cheaper to insure a american or a import?

You wanted fast but didn't think of a v8 pony car? :Q

It all depends what you get, as far as insurance. Generally, more cylinders in a car = more $$$. However, with cars like Integras topping most often stolen lists, you'll pay a premium. If you get a used car, you can get insurance for less because it costs them less if you total your car.
 

Salvador

Diamond Member
May 19, 2001
7,058
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1988 Honda CRV si: $1000
Huh? You either have the year wrong on your Honda or you put a "V" in place of an "X".

BTW.. I thought the WRX was hot until I saw one up at Road America last year. Man.. Is that thing cheap looking. I didn't expect much, but I expected more. It's no wonder why they don't show the back end much in those commercials. Of course, my mind would probably be changed if I drove one. ;)

What type of car do you want? Do you want something that you're going to have to rev to get the power out of or something that will feel fast off the line by the seat of the pants?

American or import? Are insurance rates important? Gas mileage? Resale value? Reliability?

Sal
 

Whisper

Diamond Member
Feb 25, 2000
5,394
2
81
and no it would be nonsensical to put a turbo in the 2.5RS.

Why would you say that? Plenty of people stateside planted turbos in their previous generation RS (mainly because the WRX wasn't available) and received great results. The car can handle a turbo, it just needs a better rear anti-sway bar.

I'd go with a WRX, but that's just me. For cheap speed though, as said above, you can't beat a used 5.0, or a Camero SS. The mustang's may have the back end of a truck, but damn if they aren't quick in a straightaway.
 

imported_vr6

Platinum Member
Jul 6, 2001
2,740
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All these muscle cars are great and all, but come on, get on with the new, its 2003 and do you really want a 198X car and to just be able to go fast and ignore all the other possible expenses. The money of maintain the car is alot more then you would think. Factor in the gas and insurance, all your high cylinder/hp cars will slim down your wallet like crazy. Plus the real fun in driving is being able to manuver your car will skills, once u try autox u will know.

and for the high performance used cars in the 199X such as the Z, RX7, Supra, etc dependability becomes a issues, and again insurance and maintance will be an issue.

Be realistic, get a nice car now, not just a high performance machine.

and no matter what you do, be causious about buyin modded cars, never know what it went throught.

i can't resist the vw fanboy part of me kickin in.... The GTI is AWESOME almost as good as my JEtta. Just make sure its not a 2.0 or a tdi and you'll be more than happy ;)
 

rubenswm

Golden Member
Aug 12, 2000
1,871
0
76
the 2.5RS has very unimpressive stock numbers. If you check out impreza enthusaist pages, an intake/exhaust knocks off an ENTIRE SECOND. This is almost unheard of! That should put you in about what 14.8-14.9? that's about the same as an ITR. I'd take the ITR..even over the Fbods..yes. Fbods are beautiful.. just test drive an ITR and then test drive an Fbod..make the call yourself..ITRs are something rare and special!
 

jjessico

Senior member
May 29, 2002
733
0
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Any Chevrolet F-body with the 350cid V8. Basically any of the latest generation Firebirds of Camaros. Very fast car out of the box. Tons of aftermarket bolt on horsepower adders for it later. Anything from N2O to a new cam. Also you can beef up the suspension for auto-cross type racing or drag racing. Also the aftermarket parts are cheap(big used market too) because the cars are plentiful and there is a big market. Go American V8, you won't be dissapointed.

Oh yeah if you don't mind geting a classic car, there are tons of old iron cars out there that will knock your socks off for cheap.

Jason
 

jjessico

Senior member
May 29, 2002
733
0
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Insurance will suck on any new, fast car. Stuff with a turbo gets insurance up there with firebirds or camaros. However, if you want to get cheap insurance and stay fast, get a classic. Get a set of collectors plates and collectors insurance and you're set. Both are very cheap. You'll pay less for insurance on a classic in one year than two months with any fast late model.

Jason
 

Turkey

Senior member
Jan 10, 2000
839
0
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A base no-options WRX sedan invoice is somewhere around 22500... you can easily get $300 over invoice, so now you have a WRX sedan for under $23k. Turbo 2.5RS is also very nice... faster than a WRX. ITRs are also very nice but they are more of a summer/track car, emphasizing handling over raw speed. Personally I'd go for the 2.5rs for the best balance of cost, versatility, handling, and speed. For fast I'd go for a muscle car, Camaro/Mustang (8cyl only)/Firebird. For handling I'd go with an Integra of some type.
 

dafatha00

Diamond Member
Oct 19, 2000
3,871
0
76
the 300ZX was slow, heavy, and ugly. blech. even the twin turbo version was slow for a 300+ hp car.

if you're into speed only, a used Z28, otherwise i'd settle for a used type R.
 

SpankyMcNasty

Junior Member
Aug 7, 2002
7
0
0
(Dodge Stealth/Mitsu 3000GT) VR4, Twin turbo 320 HP 6cyl', all-wheel drive, and, ALL WHEEL STEARING. (6 spd to I think.. but don't quote meon that)

If not the stealth/3000GT, just take your time and look around.... 20+K 'll buy ya a really nice car. I'm still trying to save up for mt 2nd gen CRX and but a B16a in it. =P
 

iamwiz82

Lifer
Jan 10, 2001
30,772
13
81
Originally posted by: SpankyMcNasty
(Dodge Stealth/Mitsu 3000GT) VR4, Twin turbo 320 HP 6cyl', all-wheel drive, and, ALL WHEEL STEARING. (6 spd to I think.. but don't quote meon that)

If not the stealth/3000GT, just take your time and look around.... 20+K 'll buy ya a really nice car. I'm still trying to save up for mt 2nd gen CRX and but a B16a in it. =P

a stealth/3000GT is the last car i would look at if reliability is any concern.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,345
126
(Dodge Stealth/Mitsu 3000GT) VR4, Twin turbo 320 HP 6cyl', all-wheel drive, and, ALL WHEEL STEARING. (6 spd to I think.. but don't quote meon that)

Great. More weight, and more expensive sh!t to break.

Bleh. I'll pass.
 

Rallispec

Lifer
Jul 26, 2001
12,375
10
81
Originally posted by: pio!pio!
2.5RS can be turboed
Vishnu, Minnam..not sure who else makes turbo kits for it
Have you considered an SE-R Spec V?



what my good friend pio!pio! said.
 

hoihtah

Diamond Member
Jan 12, 2001
5,183
0
76
Originally posted by: SALvation
How about a brand new Jetta Turbo?

Jettas are nice... but it's no where near being the fastest within the price range.
 

Rent

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2000
7,127
1
81
'95 Cobra <- has the 302. Not fast stock, but with the extra 12+ grand you have after getting the car, you can mod it to be hell on wheels.

You could also do an LT1 swap into a '74 Datsun 240z. With 20 grand, you could make a VERY nice swap...