Cars with cheap mods for easy power

Kable72 · 25-09-2014, 08:35 AM

Hey guys,

Thinkin' of selling the ute in the next few months to pick up something with a bit more up and go. Been looking at XR6Ts and XR8s but couple friends have been trying to broaden my view so I've been looking at some R33's and S15s. Actually starting to like the idea of getting something that isn't a Falcon. What else are some good cars that don't cost a lot, mods are a dime a dozen and fairly easy to get good power out of? Budget is around 15-20k for the car and whatever for mods

Vesper Martini · 25-09-2014, 08:46 AM

Dime a dozen and fairly easy to get good power out of. hard to go past an XR6T.

R33's and S15s are not as available, so not dime a dozen

Kable72 · 25-09-2014, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

Dime a dozen and fairly easy to get good power out of. hard to go past an XR6T.

R33's and S15s are not as available, so not dime a dozen

I know but I've been with Falcons my entire driving life. All 5 years of it... Want something a little different. The cars are pretty hard to come by a good example of but the parts are everywhere.

Jack960 · 25-09-2014, 08:47 AM

I always played with the idea of going to an import. Something like a 180sx, s15 or r32-34, but you are going backwards by 15 years. Yeah they are easy and cheap to mod however the insurance cost of imports is killer, they are tiny inside which means you can only fit 2 adults and they have crap all safety features. I'd love one as a weekend or project car however for daily driving, I reckon you can't go wrong with the xr6t or xr8.

**Falcon Coupe** · 25-09-2014, 09:21 AM

Depends on your definition of "easy power" Forced induction will always make easier power than N/A....But

Doesn't matter what car you build it costs a LOT. Old school V8 or imported turbo it doesn't matter. Once you get some power you want more. Then comes upgraded fuel systems, transmission, axles, diff, cooling system the list goes on.
You need to draw a line in the sand and not cross it or spend. If you cut corners at the start or move the goal higher a lot of cash can be wasted getting there.

And if it's your daily driver you will spend a lot of time walking in between

Kable72 · 25-09-2014, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

Depends on your definition of "easy power" Forced induction will always make easier power than N/A....But

Doesn't matter what car you build it costs a LOT. Old school V8 or imported turbo it doesn't matter. Once you get some power you want more. Then comes upgraded fuel systems, transmission, axles, diff, cooling system the list goes on.
You need to draw a line in the sand and not cross it or spend. If you cut corners at the start or move the goal higher a lot of cash can be wasted getting there.

And if it's your daily driver you will spend a lot of time walking in between

I'm prepared for the bug :P. I know it's going to cost a lot eventually and I'm not talking about getting 500-600rwhp easily. I'm talking like how easy it is to get a bit more from standard with minimal mods. Kinda like how XR6Ts can get a nice boost with a tune and intercooler upgrade. Anything more than that will cost a lot no matter with what you go for but as I say, I'm thinking about anything with a turbo and looking to broaden my horizons as a car owner and enthusiast.

Sioso · 25-09-2014, 09:34 AM

As mentioned, turbo's are great when it comes to $$$ vs power, there is a lot of wrx/sti/evo's for sale, I'm sure you could find a decent one for that sort of money.

Kable72 · 25-09-2014, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T.O.Wallace

As mentioned, turbo's are great when it comes to $$$ vs power, there is a lot of wrx/sti/evo's for sale, I'm sure you could find a decent one for that sort of money.

I've been looking at Evo's but then a Chaser came up, what are those like? I've never actually seen one in the metal.

**Dave R** · 25-09-2014, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kable72

I've been looking at Evo's but then a Chaser came up, what are those like? I've never actually seen one in the metal.

Chasers are badass, they're like a Jap XR6 Turbo.

Xauterus · 25-09-2014, 10:14 AM

What about considering a track/ hill climb car. An mx5 makes a great car to mod cheaply and is good out of the box. Easy to.tow as well. Or an escort or a falcon if it needs to be a Ford.

Kable72 · 25-09-2014, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xauterus

What about considering a track/ hill climb car. An mx5 makes a great car to mod cheaply and is good out of the box. Easy to.tow as well. Or an escort or a falcon if it needs to be a Ford.

Well that was the original plan, by a cheap ****ter and just flog it on the track every now and then but then I started gradually looking at higher priced cars and I'm starting to take a liking to some of the JDM cars that are around. I'm trying to look elsewhere other than Ford for now.

raised by monkeys · 25-09-2014, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xauterus

What about considering a track/ hill climb car. An mx5 makes a great car to mod cheaply and is good out of the box. Easy to.tow as well. Or an escort or a falcon if it needs to be a Ford.

great for purse shopping too

Xauterus · 26-09-2014, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raised by monkeys

great for purse shopping too

Could always create a monster miata like they do in the states with small block ford V8 later. Just cause its small doesnt mean it cant be a seriously fast handful.

http://monstermiata.webs.com/

Boza · 25-09-2014, 10:17 AM

Late model wrx or xt forester I have had both an 2000 wrx and a 99 gt forester did stuff all to them big inside reliable as hell when moded properly they don't need much intercooler upgrade. exhaust, in take and a tune and your flying and they sound awesome IMO compoared to other jap cars and i'm not a massive fan of Jap stuff but those 2 were awesome cars wish I kept the forester fast and practical

EA2BA · 25-09-2014, 10:48 AM

You may want to consider the cost of rebuilds too, more power = easy break something and you are not buying brand new, so the new toy and blow up the motor could be a very expensive start.

Kable72 · 25-09-2014, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EA2BA

You may want to consider the cost of rebuilds too, more power = easy break something and you are not buying brand new, so the new toy and blow up the motor could be a very expensive start.

Yep, I understand the risks of buying second hand and especially an older second hand car.

simon varley · 25-09-2014, 11:23 AM

you could always go real old school and get something with carbies.

Kable72 · 25-09-2014, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simon varley

you could always go real old school and get something with carbies.

That's where the "easy power for less dollars" comes in. They're pretty hard to find in good running condition and then cost heaps to get much out of them. Not as simple as just winding up the boost.

tezxr8man · 02-10-2014, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kable72

That's where the "easy power for less dollars" comes in. They're pretty hard to find in good running condition and then cost heaps to get much out of them. Not as simple as just winding up the boost.

winding up the boost sounds pretty simple. but performance is never that simple

old school performance is pretty much the same as your import stuff. think xe with Cleveland, cam, intake and carby and you make cosistant power for 10ish grand. r33 skyline will need work and will cost about the same to make the same approximate power and still be less reliable

it can just as easily turn out bad either way tho. that's performance for ya

phat_stak_tipa · 25-09-2014, 11:49 AM

Chasers have the 1jz nearly unbreakable with the minimal mods you want!

mik · 25-09-2014, 11:51 AM

Old cheap import that makes lots of horsepower. ........... sorry no such animal, they sound cheap to begin with and shortly down the track money starts evaporating out of your wallet.
Nothing comes close to the XR6T for cheap reliable horsepower imo.

FPV+fteT3 · 25-09-2014, 12:54 PM

The biggest problem with buying a 10-15 year old Jap import is most, if not all have been owned by someone who has flogged the bygeezus out of it on a regular basis. I mean thats what people buy them for right?
Oh yeah shiny on top but thrashed every time it was driven and last serviced when?
Problem is they are not old enough to be collectable and fully restored, but cheap enough that almost anyone can pay one off with their fortnightly cheque with nothing left to service it.

creative · 26-09-2014, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FPV+fteT3

The biggest problem with buying a 10-15 year old Jap import is most, if not all have been owned by someone who has flogged the bygeezus out of it on a regular basis. I mean thats what people buy them for right?
Oh yeah shiny on top but thrashed every time it was driven and last serviced when?
Problem is they are not old enough to be collectable and fully restored, but cheap enough that almost anyone can pay one off with their fortnightly cheque with nothing left to service it.

just like most falcons? I completely disagree with you im afraid.

Having been jap before with an R33 gtst and a supra, I would have either in a heartbeat.

The supra was just a cruiser! awesome on the freeway but capable of making big power, the skyline was just the opposite..using just one word to describe it... Raw. It would scare the crap out of me every time I drove it but my god did I have a smile on my dial at the end.

Franco Cozzo · 25-09-2014, 12:57 PM

If you want to go the Jap Import route maybe talk to Iron Chef and import something yourself.

raised by monkeys · 25-09-2014, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kable72

Hey guys,

Thinkin' of selling the ute in the next few months to pick up something with a bit more up and go. Been looking at XR6Ts and XR8s but couple friends have been trying to broaden my view so I've been looking at some R33's and S15s. Actually starting to like the idea of getting something that isn't a Falcon. What else are some good cars that don't cost a lot, mods are a dime a dozen and fairly easy to get good power out of? Budget is around 15-20k for the car and whatever for mods

evo...

superfly · 25-09-2014, 01:10 PM

For your budget, I'd look at a WRX or STi. Very easy to get extra power and plenty are available already with lots of mods.

Loads of grip and speed.

Kable72 · 25-09-2014, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superfly

For your budget, I'd look at a WRX or STi. Very easy to get extra power and plenty are available already with lots of mods.

Loads of grip and speed.

An Evo has been suggested and they seem to be a similar beast with a different badge. Loads of grip for fast acceleration. Lightweight cars don't need to make big numbers to go fast either which is pretty attractive at the moment.

raised by monkeys · 25-09-2014, 01:10 PM

Mitsubishi legnum also.

Andy777 · 25-09-2014, 01:38 PM

the beauty of jap cars and jap imports is you can get so many parts from overseas for cheap for them, and they are a good package to begin with, a con of them is the police tend to target the jdm scene more than they target falcons and commodores

Kable72 · 25-09-2014, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy777

the beauty of jap cars and jap imports is you can get so many parts from overseas for cheap for them, and they are a good package to begin with, a con of them is the police tend to target the jdm scene more than they target falcons and commodores

It's a pretty attractive package when you look at it like that minus the extra attention.