What's The Next Great Cheap Gearhead Car? Jalopnik QOTD discussion.

[Need4SSpeed]

early 996 will be the future E30. They are going to get cheaper and cheaper, and the IMS failures are going to make more cars available for basically nothing with the ability to slap Subau turbo engines in for very little money.

Nick

Hey I wouldn't complain if I could pick up an early model 996 Turbo (X50) or Turbo S....

[white out]

I'm thinking n/a 996, the Turbo & x50 will never get to the low price-point of the IMS 996s.

Nick

[peopleunderthe]

If someone could get cheap power out of an early mini cooper I bet as they get older they will be quite a bit more popular due to price.

[motorhead]

Results are in: http://jalopnik.com/5918053/the-ten-...uture/gallery/

I am disappoint.

[white out]

I'm not really surprised by the results.

Nick

[Dev]

Nope, figured the scion and 350 would make it on the list.

[tron_]

Interesting thread, I think the IS300 will be a strong candidate.

[flat4wagon]

The only one that surprised me was the 1 series BMW. The rest of the cars are already under $15k used, but the 1 series is still over $20k. But they acknowledged that point in the article.

[Gigs]

Results are in: http://jalopnik.com/5918053/the-ten-...uture/gallery/

I am disappoint.

Scion TC and a Mazda 2 ?

I can't really see those being huge tuner cars in the future.

The Bugeye Wrx is going to be amusing , I'm going to go start a shop that specializes in rebuilding subaru 5 speed transmissions and make bank.

[flat4wagon]

Scion TC and a Mazda 2 ?

I can't really see those being huge tuner cars in the future.

The Bugeye Wrx is going to be amusing , I'm going to go start a shop that specializes in rebuilding subaru 5 speed transmissions and make bank.

The TCs will be the body-kitted, fart cannoned ricers.

And Mazda2s just don't make sense. If I wanted to make one fast I would take it straight to the dealership and trade it on a speed3.

I think the WRX has the most tuner/HP potential of the stuff on the list. At least as far as modding on a high school, minimum wage budget goes. Obviously you can make more power with a few of the other cars on the list, but those kind of thing will be out of most high school budgets. Superchargers and turbo kits run $1500 and up for everything.

[Gigs]

The TCs will be the body-kitted, fart cannoned ricers.

And Mazda2s just don't make sense. If I wanted to make one fast I would take it straight to the dealership and trade it on a speed3.

I think the WRX has the most tuner/HP potential of the stuff on the list. At least as far as modding on a high school, minimum wage budget goes. Obviously you can make more power with a few of the other cars on the list, but those kind of thing will be out of most high school budgets. Superchargers and turbo kits run $1500 and up for everything.

Of course you can make 300 + whp on a Bugeye , but keeping it that way will prove to be the challenge.

People really overestimate the TD04 based Wrx , Sadly it is just as fast as a 1995 BMW M3 with just full exhaust.

[flat4wagon]

I'm not doubting the reliability, I have a td04 powered 06 WRX with 80k on it and I have money stashed away to replace the turbo when it inevitably goes out in the near future. I was just pointing out that in the spectrum of the 10 cars that were on the Jalopnik list, the WRX has the most mod potential on a high school budget. The power gains for your first $500-$1000 on a WRX, or any factory boosted car for that matter, are much more noticeable than the same amount on a Mustang or 350z.

Just for comparison sake, I had a VF46 powered LGT before I got my WRX, and I much prefer the VF46 over the TD04. It flows better and is more reliable, with very little difference in spool. 18psi on my LGT felt faster than 18psi on my TD04. But that is getting off topic.

[dirty blue rex]

The TCs will be the body-kitted, fart cannoned ricers.

And Mazda2s just don't make sense. If I wanted to make one fast I would take it straight to the dealership and trade it on a speed3.

I think the WRX has the most tuner/HP potential of the stuff on the list. At least as far as modding on a high school, minimum wage budget goes. Obviously you can make more power with a few of the other cars on the list, but those kind of thing will be out of most high school budgets. Superchargers and turbo kits run $1500 and up for everything.

Granted it has a higher starting cost than most of the list, but people really underestimate the tuning potential of the 135. For less than $1500 you could be making almost 350whp. They really are quite detuned from the factory, and are sleepers to most people. I ran my car with less than $2000 in mods on it and made 385whp on Speed Industry's Mustang dyno last year. I think WRX's will go the way of DSM's honestly. They will be cheap to pick up, but finding one that isn't a hack job will be nearly impossible. They seem to already be headed that way with early ones.

[Need4SSpeed]

Granted it has a higher starting cost than most of the list, but people really underestimate the tuning potential of the 135. For less than $1500 you could be making almost 350whp. They really are quite detuned from the factory, and are sleepers to most people.

Which is why a 135i will be my next car!

[dirty blue rex]

Which is why a 135i will be my next car!

I'm definitely a fan of mine. It makes decent power and is a total sleeper to most people on the road. Just make sure you get one with an N54 motor, not the N55!

[buttons]

I was just pointing out that in the spectrum of the 10 cars that were on the Jalopnik list, the WRX has the most mod potential on a high school budget..

Your high school and my high school must be two very different places. I am 30, have a pretty good job and still cant justify the price of a WRX. WRX has really good resale value which i think keeps it out of "high school budgets" at least for now. When i was in high school i wanted a 1999 subaru impreza RS coupe really bad, but my parents were like , "that car is $15,000 TOO MUCH!"

I think for this reason the Cobalt SS, Grand prix GTP, SRT-4, type cars will be the high school tuners. poor resale value and good aftermarket is key here.

[Delsoul]

x2 ^^

[flat4wagon]

02 and 03 (bugeye) WRXs are going for under $10k now. You can find some around $5k if you look for a little bit.

[Delsoul]

I've yet to find a bugeye WRX that hasn't been beaten to piss. I'd rather spend that $10k and buy an old fox body Mustang, then beef it to hell and
kick WRX ass all day long.

[white out]

fox bodies cost $10k? Fuck, pick up a bmw 2002, an LS1/T56, make it fit. Profit.

Nick