Fastest cars under $10K

[Titan]

I was taking to some confused teenagers last night about their rice burners and their desire to go fast. The idea was it's not to effective to buy a Honda Civic and then spend money to make it go fast, it's better to buy the fastest car you can afford then work on making it go faster.

So, other than the obvious Mark VIII, what are the fastests cars available under 10 grand? My favorite is a Porche 928 S4, one of these did 171 at Bonneville, stock.

 

[Blenderhead]

Fastest top speed, or fastest acceleration? I think an LS1 F-body is probably one of the best speed bargains out there, and they can easily be had for under $10K, with money left over for mods. Or a heavily boosted AWD mitsu eclipse, but who knows how long that motor would hold together. And then, if you don't mind doing some work yourself, a fox body mustang with a built motor and a vortech will make for a ridiculously fast car, and can be pieced together for under $10K.

 

[richduty455]

i would say any LT-1 f-body, and some higher milage LS1 f bodys, TPI vettes, 10k is a broad range.......i'd try to find the fastest car under 5k

 

[TDUB]

I've seen 99-01 Cobra and LS1 GTOs for under 10 grand. I would definitely say shoot for 5 grand as there are a lot of cars that can be had for 10 nowadays.

 

[kustomizingkid]

DSM.... you can buy them modded for $5k and have another $5k left over for when the motor/transmission/etc breaks...

 

[TDUB]

For under 5 you can find a 4cyl fox and do a 351 or 460 swap.

 

[foxpaws]

Fastest top speed, or fastest acceleration? I think an LS1 F-body is probably one of the best speed bargains out there, and they can easily be had for under $10K, with money left over for mods. Or a heavily boosted AWD mitsu eclipse, but who knows how long that motor would hold together. And then, if you don't mind doing some work yourself, a fox body mustang with a built motor and a vortech will make for a ridiculously fast car, and can be pieced together for under $10K.

Blender, I have to agree for street light racing those '98 to '02 Camaros/Firebirds are hard to beat for the money. Top speed and quarter are a little doggy - but really, those teenagers are just looking to get off the line fast (it is how they approach all things in life... )

Plus, there is a ton of aftermarket for them, so if they can turn a wrench they can get things like decent long tube, mandrel bent coated headers for like $450, and lots of other bargains... It wouldn't take anything to get these cars into the lo to mid 4s, heck, they start out stock at 5.2

 

[kustomizingkid]

:q:q:q:q those Camaro's... I wouldn't buy one just because of what a BITCH they are to work on.....

 

[Blenderhead]

:q:q:q:q those Camaro's... I wouldn't buy one just because of what a BITCH they are to work on.....

They aren't that bad, as long as you have a lift. Pretty much everything is accessible from underneath, and if you can't get to it from underneath, you can drop the whole engine out the bottom of the car in under 2 hours.

 

[kustomizingkid]

All I know is that I did plugs in my friends 94z28.... :q:q:q:q THAT... I'd rather replace a Mark VIII EGR tube in a MN car!

 

[ground_zero298]

Fastest car for under 10G's hmm. I would go datsun 280z. Very advanced for it's time, You can't mess with that live rear axle and that inline 6 with a turbo.

 

[kustomizingkid]

They were IRS cars... I am in the middle of doing a 73 240z with a L28, manual, 4.11 rear diff swap into one... should be a mid-high 14 second car when it is done....

 

[ford nut]

clicky

 

[topher5150]

what about the old Ford 4-banger turbos; Merker, Turbo Coupe, and the SVO

 

[ground_zero298]

Thats a nice 300, you got pics of that 240? I had a chance to buy a 83 280z limited non turbo about 8 years ago from a friend in mississippi. No rust or damage, 60k miles, ran good. Interior was faded. He only wanted 100 bucks for it and I had no way to get it home. I'm kicking myself in the ass now.

 

[kustomizingkid]

They are increasing quite rapidly in value... the 240's are actually very valuable for what they are.

 

[Black87LSC]

Gotta go with a 5.0 mustang... I picked one up just over a year ago for $900, it obviously needed some work but it had a really strong running 5.0 and a nice tight transmission, 3.73 posi, 2.5" pipes with no cats and flowmasters, BBK cold air intake (whoopty $hit)... I'm guessing on a good day it was probably a low 14 high 13 second car... Guys run stockers with nitrous into the 12's no problem, and into the 10's with just bolt on's and maybe gears. If you can score one cheap, I'm convinced this is the cheapest way to go fast. HUGE bang for the buck

 

[ground_zero298]

Actually your right, I can't believe we all over looked that. My friend bought one for 4500 and it runs high 11's. Well probably 13's with him driving it.