What car can I put together for for 10k to whip the EVO or STI?

Question

what japanese import would should consider that would make serious power and looks good for under $10k

Answer 1

An older Eclipse GSX. This one uses a very similar drivetrain to the EVO and can make comparable amounts of power. Just be very sure to buy one in good shape... or deliberately buy one that's in aweful shape for next to nothing and have a place like Buschur Racing rebuild the engine with top of the line components.

Answer 2

Most evo's and sti's would be modded from 300 - 400hp and have superior take off ability due to awd traction. You can't use a front wheel drive car, you'd get smoked off the line badly. You gotta go rwd. One car that you could tune to that kind of power would be a 240sx with all the turbo goodies (don't forget the lsd, engine internals, computer and fuel parts), and it looks nice.
Any other candidate would be out of your budget (rx-7, 350z, supra, etc). Or you could go american muscle for half price. Up to you. Either way you gotta google and figure in the cost of labor.

Answer 3

Maybe an old Supra turbo with NOX, but those only started at about 230hp. Better yet, a less old BMW 540i with NOX, they start at 280hp or so. That's going to get you some straight line speed but you are still going to be very hard pressed to put the power down as well as they do or come anywhere near them in normal driving.

Answer 4

You funny. There is no such thing. You want power and easy to make it faster. Go with the Mustang. Imports are for gas mileage not for going fast.

Answer 5

honda civic vx ,strip it down to nothing and spend your money on 16b engine and NITROS (cheapest power adder),then get it painted at maaco for a few hundred - this is no joke as honda civics are becoming the 57 chevys and camaros of a new generation.the vx is a canadian model that is real light to begin with