Help with decision!

[calerodrigue]

I have been having problems in the last few months with a big decision. I want to get a new car but dont know which. Here is my thing, I want an import, so it has to be Japanese, and I want it to be Rear-Wheel Drive, difficult I know, and I am going to use it for racing, so it should be reliable. Help me with this, friends have told me about a '99 Civic an Si, I know they are reliable, but still front wheel drive. '98 Eclipse again front wheel drive(I know GSX, all wheel drive) but I was thinking about a GS-T(turbo). But I recently found out that they have an engine problem which is very common (crank-walk). Prelude, FWD, but the thing is the Eclipse can take on both these cars. 240sx rear wheel drive, but just how good are they? The latest idea that I was given was about a 3000GT. My neighboor has one and I have been in the passanger seat while racing, and no problem he can take Civic's, Prelude's, Nissan's, and even a Mustang GT(stick shift) 4.6L engine. Here's the thing, the 3000GT is a V6 and completely STOCK, NOTHING ON THE ENGINE, and front wheel drive, so I ask myself how much more can you get out of them? 3000GT VR-4 all wheel drive and twin turbo engine. I need help with making a decision on which car to buy, Japanese, preferably rear wheel drive(not too many out there), and I have a budget of about $5,000 maybe $6,000 pushing it, so that prety much takes the VR-4 out of the equation (cost too much). I need ideas on car's like this that are tunable and good for racing. Thanks.

[97talon]

The 1st gen Eclipse's (94 and older) did not have the crank-walk problem. I would start there.

[calerodrigue]

Yeah, but don't want a 94 or older eclipse. Can yo suggest something else.

[BOTLFEDLT1]

You want something fast, reliable AND cheap? Sorry, you only get to pick two out of the three

Im not a big honda fan, but I think for the budget you are talking about, find someone selling a swapped civic. Its always cheaper to buy a car modified than it is to build something up. It will be peppy enough to have fun in and do everything sort of good.

Originally Posted by calerodrigue

Yeah, but don't want a 94 or older eclipse. Can yo suggest something else.

[97talon]

Originally Posted by calerodrigue

Yeah, but don't want a 94 or older eclipse. Can yo suggest something else.

Nope, I am biased towards the eclipses. The 4G63 motor in them can handle quite a bit of power stock and you get the advantage of AWD.

[calerodrigue]

What about a 300ZX? Can they keep up with the Honda's and Nissan's? They are rear wheel drive, and there is a twin turbo edition right? Thet only thing I don't like about them is that they look like they weigh too much.

[calerodrigue]

Originally Posted by BOTLFEDLT1

You want something fast, reliable AND cheap? Sorry, you only get to pick two out of the three

Im not a big honda fan, but I think for the budget you are talking about, find someone selling a swapped civic. Its always cheaper to buy a car modified than it is to build something up. It will be peppy enough to have fun in and do everything sort of good.

Okay, what about fast and cheap.

[/NDA]

there's fast and reliable or reliable and cheap... fast never comes cheap.

the fast and reliable -> supra

reliable and cheap -> 240

[Soup]

Fox body mustang is cheap and fast, but it's not japanese. An old (like pre 1990)Supra, 300zx, or rx-7 would be pretty quick, but you'd have to worry about reliability because they are fast cars and they've probably been driven fast. Your best bet would either be a fox body mustang or an older DSM (eclipse, talon, plymouth laser) because they are such common cars, parts for them are a lot cheaper than other fast cars. An sr20 swapperd 240sx would be a good option too, but when something broke you might have to wait for parts to ship from japan.

[dsmtim]

how old are u?

[01mmmz28]

your working w/ only $5000-6000 bucks?? Good luck man. I know you want an import, which can be cheap and the aftermarket is vast......but for 5-6 K your gunna get a rolling turd. The VR4's are the only damn mitsu 3000's worth a damn and even in stock form they are not that lethal, they are very heavy and AWD which robs the shit out of power transfer. Did you even try the domestic world?? The after market is very cheap and plentiful for the older mustang GT's ( 5.0L) and the LT1 camaro/Trans Am cars. The LT1 is an extremely long lasting powerful runner. A friend of mine has over 200,000 miles on his 94 LT1 camaro and it has only bolt-on mods and he runs low 13's all day, try that in an import for 5-6K. The car cost him $4,500 and his mods cost him $1,200......Doing the math makes these cars the clear winners here. If you are dead set on RWD, domestic is the way to go if you want out of the box power. Import RWD's can be had, but w/ todays drifting popularity and tuner market they are either bought up or the price for a ragged out POS is insane. Just a thought. Good luck and happy car hunting. You may just need a ride in a fun rwd domestic, I've converted a few import guys w/ a quick ride in my car.....

[bmxer99]

Originally Posted by calerodrigue

What about a 300ZX? Can they keep up with the Honda's and Nissan's? They are rear wheel drive, and there is a twin turbo edition right? Thet only thing I don't like about them is that they look like they weigh too much.

great cars, i had a 1996 white NA 300zx. it was hella fast for na 222hp. annnd it can burn rubber like no tomorrow with the RWD.

the hacas steering is the shit on it.but the bose sound system sucks.


seeing as that doesnt matter, you can find a good 300zx na for around 6 grand, it will have a few miles on it, but if your thinking about single turbo or Twin turbo and get some high hp ratings you will need to get forged internals anyways.

[01mmmz28]

Originally Posted by bmxer8699

great cars, i had a 1996 white NA 300zx. it was hella fast for na 222hp. annnd it can burn rubber like no tomorrow with the RWD.

the hacas steering is the shit on it.but the bose sound system sucks.


seeing as that doesnt matter, you can find a good 300zx na for around 6 grand, it will have a few miles on it, but if your thinking about single turbo or Twin turbo and get some high hp ratings you will need to get forged internals anyways.

stripping that v-6 down and forging the bottom ( crank, pistons, rods) and then buying a turbo, intercooler, pipeing, tuning etc......your looking at 10K+ might be worth it in the end, but his budget is limited to hardly nothing.

[Memphis]

how bout a corolla? not the AE86 the body before that, and swap in a TT motor from a MK3 supra

[vette12]

i say a 5.0 stang. those are fun cars, especially working with your budget. Or a an early f-body. and your probably looking for instant gratification and you wont get that with any early rwd imports. However if your determined enough you could work a lot and save up and buy an import later and pour all your earnings to make that what your truly looking for. You'll just have to bum rides until you have enough for what you want