Recommend me a car.. convertible, manual, american-made

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: crazySOB297

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: crazySOB297

Originally posted by: Arkaign

Originally posted by: mwmorph

Originally posted by: lurk3r

Originally posted by: crazySOB297

Originally posted by: Arkaign

Originally posted by: KIAman
Another vote for Solstice if you want used convertible american company car that's fun to drive.

The Solstice is at the end of the day still a 4-banger. The stock version is agonizingly slow for a 'sporty' car, and the mediocre GXP isn't all that hot either. Even the handling is usually panned as heavy-handed and lacking feedback, as in the excellent Miata. Finding a used Solstice GXP (I doubt the OP would want a stock Solstice that's slower than his Cherokee?) for under $20k is tricky, let alone down to the $13k-$15k range.

Vette >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Solstice.

Yeah, the GXP and Redline are so slow, with guys only running 12.00's with meth and a tune (<$1000).


(In your price range I'd still go for a C5 vert though)

Shens, you can't go from 14.4 to under 12 for a $1000 tune.

And for American convertible manual there's no point in looking anywhere but Vette.

Well you missed the most important part, methanol. The $1000 part is not a big deal, the 114 octane rating methanol is probably the most important part of that sentence.

Yeah. To start with, finding a GXP is gonna cost more like ~$20k to start with, and then you gotta add the Stage II setup, and then you're pretty much maxed out on the car without doing significant upgrades to the motor internals and rear-end. Point of diminishing returns for sure.

Take a $13k C5 6MT, and throw $7k in upgrades on it + some stickies, and you're out of reach of pretty much everything in the price range, and keeping up with $150k+ new cars.

EDIT : The '03/'04 Cobra is the only other vehicle I can think of in the same price universe that can deliver that spectrum of power in a reliable way, but IMHO they're not quite in the Vette realm, just personal opinion though. I do like the Terminators.

Don't know much about the Ecotec LNF do you?

It's a forged botom end, crank, and rods with a turbo that can do 30psi through the midrange with the right tunes (using a MAP tricker on the older tunes). The rear end came from the LS6 CTS-V and is more than capable. The direct injection can handle 400whp+ no problem and with a secondary fuel system there is a 600whp guy running around out there now.

The Stage 2 is 25-30 horses shy of what any aftermarket tune can do without tricking the MAP sensors (which is unecessary on the latest tunes from Vince @ Trifecta Motorsports).

I run 13's flat without any meth or pushing the turbo past 22psi.
Lee Howie ran:
60' = 1.636
1/4 mile = 12.012
111.110 mph

That said, in his price range, as I said, I'd go with the C5.

Sources: I own or have owned both.

And no sane person would want to DD that.

Why? What's the difference between running that and a motor with an obscenely high compression ratio? They're both rough on the entire motor which is why they are built so strong. The LNF has a very nice torque curve, you're not waiting for a week for the turbo to spool, and it gets awesome fuel efficiency.

I'm as much of a V8 loving 'merican as you guys, but being able to enjoy a different method of power delivery is one of the reasons I enjoy this car so much. It's like an I4 sport bike vs. a v-twin. Both are bad ass, they're just different. Appreciate them both :thumbsup:

I'm not talking about V8 stuff. I drive a turbo 4 and didn't mod the hel out of it cus I wanted it to be driveable everywhere and not have any problems at all. Yes an 11sec car could be street legal but it sure as hell wouldn't be comfortable to drive.

 

[EightySix Four]

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: crazySOB297

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: crazySOB297

Originally posted by: Arkaign

Originally posted by: mwmorph

Originally posted by: lurk3r

Originally posted by: crazySOB297

Originally posted by: Arkaign

Originally posted by: KIAman
Another vote for Solstice if you want used convertible american company car that's fun to drive.

The Solstice is at the end of the day still a 4-banger. The stock version is agonizingly slow for a 'sporty' car, and the mediocre GXP isn't all that hot either. Even the handling is usually panned as heavy-handed and lacking feedback, as in the excellent Miata. Finding a used Solstice GXP (I doubt the OP would want a stock Solstice that's slower than his Cherokee?) for under $20k is tricky, let alone down to the $13k-$15k range.

Vette >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Solstice.

Yeah, the GXP and Redline are so slow, with guys only running 12.00's with meth and a tune (<$1000).


(In your price range I'd still go for a C5 vert though)

Shens, you can't go from 14.4 to under 12 for a $1000 tune.

And for American convertible manual there's no point in looking anywhere but Vette.

Well you missed the most important part, methanol. The $1000 part is not a big deal, the 114 octane rating methanol is probably the most important part of that sentence.

Yeah. To start with, finding a GXP is gonna cost more like ~$20k to start with, and then you gotta add the Stage II setup, and then you're pretty much maxed out on the car without doing significant upgrades to the motor internals and rear-end. Point of diminishing returns for sure.

Take a $13k C5 6MT, and throw $7k in upgrades on it + some stickies, and you're out of reach of pretty much everything in the price range, and keeping up with $150k+ new cars.

EDIT : The '03/'04 Cobra is the only other vehicle I can think of in the same price universe that can deliver that spectrum of power in a reliable way, but IMHO they're not quite in the Vette realm, just personal opinion though. I do like the Terminators.

Don't know much about the Ecotec LNF do you?

It's a forged botom end, crank, and rods with a turbo that can do 30psi through the midrange with the right tunes (using a MAP tricker on the older tunes). The rear end came from the LS6 CTS-V and is more than capable. The direct injection can handle 400whp+ no problem and with a secondary fuel system there is a 600whp guy running around out there now.

The Stage 2 is 25-30 horses shy of what any aftermarket tune can do without tricking the MAP sensors (which is unecessary on the latest tunes from Vince @ Trifecta Motorsports).

I run 13's flat without any meth or pushing the turbo past 22psi.
Lee Howie ran:
60' = 1.636
1/4 mile = 12.012
111.110 mph

That said, in his price range, as I said, I'd go with the C5.

Sources: I own or have owned both.

And no sane person would want to DD that.

Why? What's the difference between running that and a motor with an obscenely high compression ratio? They're both rough on the entire motor which is why they are built so strong. The LNF has a very nice torque curve, you're not waiting for a week for the turbo to spool, and it gets awesome fuel efficiency.

I'm as much of a V8 loving 'merican as you guys, but being able to enjoy a different method of power delivery is one of the reasons I enjoy this car so much. It's like an I4 sport bike vs. a v-twin. Both are bad ass, they're just different. Appreciate them both :thumbsup:

I'm not talking about V8 stuff. I drive a turbo 4 and didn't mod the hel out of it cus I wanted it to be driveable everywhere and not have any problems at all. Yes an 11sec car could be street legal but it sure as hell wouldn't be comfortable to drive.

And that's where I don't understand the problem? It's just as daily driveable, the cams don't get wild and the turbo doesn't spool unless you get on it?


Man, we've gone wayyy off track.

Get the Vette already!

 

[lurk3r]

Originally posted by: crazySOB297

Originally posted by: Arkaign

Originally posted by: mwmorph

Originally posted by: lurk3r

Originally posted by: crazySOB297

Originally posted by: Arkaign

Originally posted by: KIAman
Another vote for Solstice if you want used convertible american company car that's fun to drive.

The Solstice is at the end of the day still a 4-banger. The stock version is agonizingly slow for a 'sporty' car, and the mediocre GXP isn't all that hot either. Even the handling is usually panned as heavy-handed and lacking feedback, as in the excellent Miata. Finding a used Solstice GXP (I doubt the OP would want a stock Solstice that's slower than his Cherokee?) for under $20k is tricky, let alone down to the $13k-$15k range.

Vette >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Solstice.

Yeah, the GXP and Redline are so slow, with guys only running 12.00's with meth and a tune (<$1000).


(In your price range I'd still go for a C5 vert though)

Shens, you can't go from 14.4 to under 12 for a $1000 tune.

And for American convertible manual there's no point in looking anywhere but Vette.

Well you missed the most important part, methanol. The $1000 part is not a big deal, the 114 octane rating methanol is probably the most important part of that sentence.

Yeah. To start with, finding a GXP is gonna cost more like ~$20k to start with, and then you gotta add the Stage II setup, and then you're pretty much maxed out on the car without doing significant upgrades to the motor internals and rear-end. Point of diminishing returns for sure.

Take a $13k C5 6MT, and throw $7k in upgrades on it + some stickies, and you're out of reach of pretty much everything in the price range, and keeping up with $150k+ new cars.

EDIT : The '03/'04 Cobra is the only other vehicle I can think of in the same price universe that can deliver that spectrum of power in a reliable way, but IMHO they're not quite in the Vette realm, just personal opinion though. I do like the Terminators.

Don't know much about the Ecotec LNF do you?

It's a forged botom end, crank, and rods with a turbo that can do 30psi through the midrange with the right tunes (using a MAP tricker on the older tunes). The rear end came from the LS6 CTS-V and is more than capable. The direct injection can handle 400whp+ no problem and with a secondary fuel system there is a 600whp guy running around out there now.

The Stage 2 is 25-30 horses shy of what any aftermarket tune can do without tricking the MAP sensors (which is unecessary on the latest tunes from Vince @ Trifecta Motorsports).

I run 13's flat without any meth or pushing the turbo past 22psi.
Lee Howie ran:
60' = 1.636
1/4 mile = 12.012
111.110 mph

That said, in his price range, as I said, I'd go with the C5.

Sources: I own or have owned both.

So you've got a 13s car, did you do it for under $1000 like the claim? I wasn't debating that the GXP was capable of 12s, just the 'claim' that it was done for under $1000, and running meth definately does not qualify ... how much is a tank of 115 octane gas? When I fill my vette up with the 105 it runs me about $200.

 

[EightySix Four]

Originally posted by: lurk3r

Originally posted by: crazySOB297
Don't know much about the Ecotec LNF do you?

It's a forged botom end, crank, and rods with a turbo that can do 30psi through the midrange with the right tunes (using a MAP tricker on the older tunes). The rear end came from the LS6 CTS-V and is more than capable. The direct injection can handle 400whp+ no problem and with a secondary fuel system there is a 600whp guy running around out there now.

The Stage 2 is 25-30 horses shy of what any aftermarket tune can do without tricking the MAP sensors (which is unecessary on the latest tunes from Vince @ Trifecta Motorsports).

I run 13's flat without any meth or pushing the turbo past 22psi.
Lee Howie ran:
60' = 1.636
1/4 mile = 12.012
111.110 mph

That said, in his price range, as I said, I'd go with the C5.

Sources: I own or have owned both.

So you've got a 13s car, did you do it for under $1000 like the claim? I wasn't debating that the GXP was capable of 12s, just the 'claim' that it was done for under $1000, and running meth definately does not qualify ... how much is a tank of 115 octane gas? When I fill my vette up with the 105 it runs me about $200.

I don't run meth. Mine has nothing but a custom tune that I've done with this software http://www.hptuners.com/order.php for $499. I could get meth and still be under $1k though, and run down into the 12's. I don't think I could get to Lee Howie's time without getting a tune from him, he's pretty damn good at what he does.

Also you don't run straight meth, you run 50/50 meth and water, aka antifreeze.

 

[bargetrav]

Originally posted by: crazySOB297

Originally posted by: lurk3r

Originally posted by: crazySOB297
Don't know much about the Ecotec LNF do you?

It's a forged botom end, crank, and rods with a turbo that can do 30psi through the midrange with the right tunes (using a MAP tricker on the older tunes). The rear end came from the LS6 CTS-V and is more than capable. The direct injection can handle 400whp+ no problem and with a secondary fuel system there is a 600whp guy running around out there now.

The Stage 2 is 25-30 horses shy of what any aftermarket tune can do without tricking the MAP sensors (which is unecessary on the latest tunes from Vince @ Trifecta Motorsports).

I run 13's flat without any meth or pushing the turbo past 22psi.
Lee Howie ran:
60' = 1.636
1/4 mile = 12.012
111.110 mph

That said, in his price range, as I said, I'd go with the C5.

Sources: I own or have owned both.

So you've got a 13s car, did you do it for under $1000 like the claim? I wasn't debating that the GXP was capable of 12s, just the 'claim' that it was done for under $1000, and running meth definately does not qualify ... how much is a tank of 115 octane gas? When I fill my vette up with the 105 it runs me about $200.

I don't run meth. Mine has nothing but a custom tune that I've done with this software http://www.hptuners.com/order.php for $499. I could get meth and still be under $1k though, and run down into the 12's. I don't think I could get to Lee Howie's time without getting a tune from him, he's pretty damn good at what he does.

Also you don't run straight meth, you run 50/50 meth and water, aka antifreeze.

That guy had a crazy 60', the trap indicates it's still pretty low on power though at 111mph he is aboslutely maxing out the power of that car. I'd be worried about something breaking launching that hard. Either way the solstice is cool as hell with that turbo on that awesome motor.


Is there an afermarket blower for them? The entire reason I didn't purchase one years ago is their ECU's were so hard to crack no one had anything out that could really increase power, something with the computer resetting shit, I dunno..


Anyway, get a moderate mileage 03 Cobra (50-60k) vert for 18k already modded (it will be) add a port to your STOCK blower, you'll have 500/500 to the wheels, and it'll be cooler than the c5 vette.

And to Arkaign, adding a blower to a corvette is extremely expensive and you have to live with the limits of the LS1 as it's not forged etc.

 

[EightySix Four]

Originally posted by: bargetrav

Originally posted by: crazySOB297

Originally posted by: lurk3r

Originally posted by: crazySOB297
Don't know much about the Ecotec LNF do you?

It's a forged botom end, crank, and rods with a turbo that can do 30psi through the midrange with the right tunes (using a MAP tricker on the older tunes). The rear end came from the LS6 CTS-V and is more than capable. The direct injection can handle 400whp+ no problem and with a secondary fuel system there is a 600whp guy running around out there now.

The Stage 2 is 25-30 horses shy of what any aftermarket tune can do without tricking the MAP sensors (which is unecessary on the latest tunes from Vince @ Trifecta Motorsports).

I run 13's flat without any meth or pushing the turbo past 22psi.
Lee Howie ran:
60' = 1.636
1/4 mile = 12.012
111.110 mph

That said, in his price range, as I said, I'd go with the C5.

Sources: I own or have owned both.

So you've got a 13s car, did you do it for under $1000 like the claim? I wasn't debating that the GXP was capable of 12s, just the 'claim' that it was done for under $1000, and running meth definately does not qualify ... how much is a tank of 115 octane gas? When I fill my vette up with the 105 it runs me about $200.

I don't run meth. Mine has nothing but a custom tune that I've done with this software http://www.hptuners.com/order.php for $499. I could get meth and still be under $1k though, and run down into the 12's. I don't think I could get to Lee Howie's time without getting a tune from him, he's pretty damn good at what he does.

Also you don't run straight meth, you run 50/50 meth and water, aka antifreeze.

That guy had a crazy 60', the trap indicates it's still pretty low on power though at 111mph he is aboslutely maxing out the power of that car. I'd be worried about something breaking launching that hard. Either way the solstice is cool as hell with that turbo on that awesome motor.


Is there an afermarket blower for them? The entire reason I didn't purchase one years ago is their ECU's were so hard to crack no one had anything out that could really increase power, something with the computer resetting shit, I dunno..


Anyway, get a moderate mileage 03 Cobra (50-60k) vert for 18k already modded (it will be) add a port to your STOCK blower, you'll have 500/500 to the wheels, and it'll be cooler than the c5 vette.

And to Arkaign, adding a blower to a corvette is extremely expensive and you have to live with the limits of the LS1 as it's not forged etc.

The automatics all launch like that, it's nuts.

Yes, the ECU is cracked for the most part.. As I said in another post I'm on track to be the first with a compound turbo set-up between the stock turbo (400lb.ft torque at around 3k rpm) and using a GT40 to pull all the way to 8200 rpm for a good 600whp or so.

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: bargetrav

Originally posted by: crazySOB297

Originally posted by: lurk3r

Originally posted by: crazySOB297
Don't know much about the Ecotec LNF do you?

It's a forged botom end, crank, and rods with a turbo that can do 30psi through the midrange with the right tunes (using a MAP tricker on the older tunes). The rear end came from the LS6 CTS-V and is more than capable. The direct injection can handle 400whp+ no problem and with a secondary fuel system there is a 600whp guy running around out there now.

The Stage 2 is 25-30 horses shy of what any aftermarket tune can do without tricking the MAP sensors (which is unecessary on the latest tunes from Vince @ Trifecta Motorsports).

I run 13's flat without any meth or pushing the turbo past 22psi.
Lee Howie ran:
60' = 1.636
1/4 mile = 12.012
111.110 mph

That said, in his price range, as I said, I'd go with the C5.

Sources: I own or have owned both.

So you've got a 13s car, did you do it for under $1000 like the claim? I wasn't debating that the GXP was capable of 12s, just the 'claim' that it was done for under $1000, and running meth definately does not qualify ... how much is a tank of 115 octane gas? When I fill my vette up with the 105 it runs me about $200.

I don't run meth. Mine has nothing but a custom tune that I've done with this software http://www.hptuners.com/order.php for $499. I could get meth and still be under $1k though, and run down into the 12's. I don't think I could get to Lee Howie's time without getting a tune from him, he's pretty damn good at what he does.

Also you don't run straight meth, you run 50/50 meth and water, aka antifreeze.

That guy had a crazy 60', the trap indicates it's still pretty low on power though at 111mph he is aboslutely maxing out the power of that car. I'd be worried about something breaking launching that hard. Either way the solstice is cool as hell with that turbo on that awesome motor.


Is there an afermarket blower for them? The entire reason I didn't purchase one years ago is their ECU's were so hard to crack no one had anything out that could really increase power, something with the computer resetting shit, I dunno..


Anyway, get a moderate mileage 03 Cobra (50-60k) vert for 18k already modded (it will be) add a port to your STOCK blower, you'll have 500/500 to the wheels, and it'll be cooler than the c5 vette.

And to Arkaign, adding a blower to a corvette is extremely expensive and you have to live with the limits of the LS1 as it's not forged etc.

You can do a quality kit on the LS1/LS2 for $5k-$7k. You can do it cheaper if you cut corners and scour for used stuff. The comparison was between :

$20k for a 2007+ Solstice GXP, probably 25k miles or less.

vs.

~$13k for a C5 w/~100k miles on it. Then put $5k-$7k in upgrades on the C5.

I do realize that putting a quality SC or Turbo on an LS motor is pricey, but it's not so bad in the context of what you get out of it.