Beginner's Tuner

[Ev0]

I've been wondering what would be a good car for someone new to tuning. Can anyone post some good cars for this purpose? No ricermobiles please, something with good performance.

 

[Fenrir51]

A Honda Civic, it has alot of aftermarket support and they have a kit for just about anything you want to do. Also its cheap car, cheap insurance, etc. Not sure why you would think its a rice mobile unless your some 16 year old who knows nothing.

 

[Dave A]

A civic is a very capable car, and it does have alot of parts and kits for it. It depends what kind of car your after, if it's just a dirt cheap hatch that can be tuned with ease, then a Saxo is cheaper than a Civic, not quite got the potential in the long run. But if it's your first, then start with the Saxo and get the hang of it all, then buy a decent car like an old Impreza, or do a Jamie (Carisma) Shaw and fully mod a TVR Cerbera .

 

[Darin]

Scion xB is cheaper and its not a rice mobile. Im getting a xB as my first car.

 

[rollazn]

Originally posted by Fenrir51
A Honda Civic, it has alot of aftermarket support and they have a kit for just about anything you want to do. Also its cheap car, cheap insurance, etc. Not sure why you would think its a rice mobile unless your some 16 year old who knows nothing.

True, civic can be fast if tuned correctly. One of my friend had a civic that ran high 11s - low 12s about 350hp. Im not sure of all his modification i forgot but i know it is turbocharged.

I would get a Impreza, either new or used. If you want to be different get the Subaru Forester 2.5XT those are quick as hell stock, and cost around the same as the Impreza. Its an SUV so it will seat 7.

 

[Darin]

Originally posted by rollazn
I would get a Impreza, either new or used. If you want to be different get the Subaru Forester 2.5XT those are quick as hell stock, and cost around the same as the Impreza. .

Where do you plan to push the cars limits at?

 

[-Fred-]

Originally posted by Darin
Where do you plan to push the cars limits at?

I think it's called, um... a track! 💡 All you need is a helmet, at least when you start. Then you get the bite, and you need stickier tires, bigger brakes, a roll cage, stiffer suspensions, more power, etc... Fun, fun, fun!

 

[bmwm3guy]

Yea civic is a good route to go.. and guys.. he lives in Toronto, Canada... So TVRs and Saxos are out of the question...

Whats your budget?

 

[Darin]

Originally posted by PunkRock
I think it's called, um... a track! 💡 All you need is a helmet, at least when you start. Then you get the bite, and you need stickier tires, bigger brakes, a roll cage, stiffer suspensions, more power, etc... Fun, fun, fun!

Yes, but thats all cash. What if you can't afford the prices.

 

[-Fred-]

Originally posted by Darin
Yes, but thats all cash. What if you can't afford the prices.

Get a bicycle. The price for an entry at the track is almost equivalent to an oil change at a dealership, if not cheaper.

 

[rollazn]

yeah, its not like your going to the track everyday. Maybe once a week or every two weeks. I dont plan on going to the track everyday.

 

[Ev0]

As of now, I don't have a budget. I've been daydreaming at school recently about what cars I'd like to modify some day, but I'm not going to tune a Supra or an R32 for my first modified car! Any good FR cars for this purpose (Miata?)

 

[bmwm3guy]

miata is RWD and it is way to ghey

 

[bmwm3guy]

stick with the civic kid

 

[skylineGTR_guy]

Originally posted by Ev0
As of now, I don't have a budget. I've been daydreaming at school recently about what cars I'd like to modify some day, but I'm not going to tune a Supra or an R32 for my first modified car! Any good FR cars for this purpose (Miata?)

What about a 1990 supra? It's old so the insurance shouldnt be too high and you can make it haul ass. Or even better, a 1995 accord EX, V6 if you can. Lots of room, faster than a civic more comfortable and better looking. Plus nothing beats whooping someone in a family sedan but they also make a 2 door version.

 

[ExigeEvan]

old MR2 or RX7!..

 

[Fenrir51]

Your not going to find any too cheap RWD cars with a big aftermarket, most cars today are FWD.

 

[MazKid]

I'd go with a Geo Metro. Since you can't rely on its power(or lack there of) you have to become a better driver. Also, insurence would be very low, and junkyard parts support is top notch. Plus, the car is very light wieght so it'll be easy to change tires just with a buddy lifting the car. Also, if you have a full-size truck, you might beable to load it into the bed to take it to the track.

I always knew the Geo served some purpose...

 

[phreakypat]

"95' Toyota Corolla DX FWD
341HP
11.83 @ 119.76 mph"

WTF do you have in there?

Anyway, yeah definetly the Civic would be your best bet. Once upon a time I had this video from the net of a Cheesefrog's Civic keeping up with a 10.7 Viper. Pretty amazing actually! Though I've always thought most people have ignored the Honda Prelude. I've driven it and its a pretty good car with good torque.

 

[Takumi Fujiwara]

FR----

1995-1998 Nissan 240SX Coupe (S14). FR, with a huge aftermarket.

1991-1997 Mazda Miata(NA6C('91-'94, 1.6l) NA8C('94-'97, 1.8l)). People may make fun of it. But it's FR, and handles like a dream. And with a turbo, it's got some serious grunt.

1986-1992 Mazda RX-7 (FC3S). Great balance, rotary power. Although it's officially FR, it's compact engine is mounter far torards the rear of the engine bay, giving the car Midship caliber agility.

Toyota Supra MkII (MA70)I: FR. 3.0 liters. Over 200HP stock, and that's the N/A version. The downside: It's somewhat old, so finding parts is a little harder. But the MA70 is still popular, so many manufacturers still make parts, just not as many as, say, a 240SX or a Supra.

AWD----

-2001 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS. May not have the newer WRX's power, but it has the great Subaru AWD system, and a large aftermarket.

-Mazda 323 GT-X. Often ignored by car enthusiasts, it combines AWD with small size and low weight. Makes a superb rally car.

MR----
1st/2nd gen MR2 (AW11(G.1)/SW20(G.2)) Mid Engine, light weight, and a good engine.

FF---


Gen. 6 Toyota Celica (ST204). A moderately large aftermarket exists to support it. Only 135 HP, but great handling, in many ways unlike that of an average FF. Attractive styling, too.

Honda Civic. It's main advantage is the huge aftermarket that exists to support it. Good for drag. Batter prepare to slow down fo rthe corners, though, or you'll be dealing with massive understeer.

Acura Integra. Same story as the civic. A little faster, and a little better looking, but then again, a little more expensive.

Honda Prelude. Same story again, pretty much a sporty looking Accord.

Dodge Neon- Often overlooked as well. The neon, while appearing harmless enough, is a great track racer. Light weight and good handling combine to make a good choice. And a moderately large aftermarket exists to serve its drivers.

 

[Takumi Fujiwara]

Originally posted by MazKid
I'd go with a Geo Metro. Since you can't rely on its power(or lack there of) you have to become a better driver. Also, insurence would be very low, and junkyard parts support is top notch. Plus, the car is very light wieght so it'll be easy to change tires just with a buddy lifting the car. Also, if you have a full-size truck, you might beable to load it into the bed to take it to the track.

I always knew the Geo served some purpose...

I wouldn't go with one. My friend has one. His bumper fell off in the middle fo the street. And, for a young driver, insurance is so expensive that it doesn't really matter what you drive, as the difference is small compared to the overall price. Well, unless you have a high-end car. My dad was thinking of giving me his 328i and getting a new car, but, compared to a 240SX, for example, 2600 bucks every 6 months, the 3 would cost over 3500, so almost 2,000 bucks more a year.

Bu the difference between, say, the Metro and a Civic, is relatively small, especially if the civic is an older model.

Besides, he wants a car he can tune and modify, and the Metro has what must be a nearly nonexistant aftermarket.

 

[sUn]

Just go with an older model Civic. There's tons of modifications for them. But if your going for hardcore step by step tuner, if you can afford it try getting an RSX, those things kill on the track, that is once there well tuned. 👍

 

[Ev0]

Originally posted by MazKid
I'd go with a Geo Metro. Since you can't rely on its power(or lack there of) you have to become a better driver. Also, insurence would be very low, and junkyard parts support is top notch. Plus, the car is very light wieght so it'll be easy to change tires just with a buddy lifting the car. Also, if you have a full-size truck, you might beable to load it into the bed to take it to the track.

I always knew the Geo served some purpose...

Don't Metros have 50hp engines?

 

[felix4787]

Everyone over looks the 1gen awd dsm's. They can be had for around $3500-$5000 depending on condition and location. They can spank a civic stock (in a straight line), and for around $1000 you can put a hurtin on a stock LS1 F-body.

 

[MazKid]

Takumi, if he's a beginner tuner, he doesn't want to start on a rotary, nor should he go with a 323 GT-X(because, contrary to popular belief, there's 323 enthusiasts who are looking hard for these cars, and, becides, there's not much aftermarket for it).

The Geo Metro was just a joke, but it would be funny and since it's light, you don't need much power to make it relatively fast. And, I don't see how your friend's bumper could just fall off unless he was messing with it or the car was wrecked. Parts that are normally non-moving don't just one day fall off for no reason, even on a Geo.

 

[Fenrir51]

Originally posted by phreakypat
"95' Toyota Corolla DX FWD
341HP
11.83 @ 119.76 mph"

WTF do you have in there?

Anyway, yeah definetly the Civic would be your best bet. Once upon a time I had this video from the net of a Cheesefrog's Civic keeping up with a 10.7 Viper. Pretty amazing actually! Though I've always thought most people have ignored the Honda Prelude. I've driven it and its a pretty good car with good torque.

I have a joke in there I just made it to copy off of TS1's

If you do get a Civic go for the EG's 92-95, it uses ODB1 so alot less hassle to deal with compared to OBD2. Engine swaps, turbos, will be easier to do.

 

[Takumi Fujiwara]

Originally posted by MazKid
Takumi, if he's a beginner tuner, he doesn't want to start on a rotary, nor should he go with a 323 GT-X(because, contrary to popular belief, there's 323 enthusiasts who are looking hard for these cars, and, becides, there's not much aftermarket for it).

The Geo Metro was just a joke, but it would be funny and since it's light, you don't need much power to make it relatively fast. And, I don't see how your friend's bumper could just fall off unless he was messing with it or the car was wrecked. Parts that are normally non-moving don't just one day fall off for no reason, even on a Geo.

The GT-X really that rare? I came across a couple for a few grand each a while ago....

As for the DSM, I don't like them. Possibly because I got stuck behind a pair of them on the Touge and consequently, everyone behind the DSMs got lost........

Plus, they have a reputation for blowing up.

 

[TS1AWD]

Originally posted by felix4787
Everyone over looks the 1gen awd dsm's. They can be had for around $3500-$5000 depending on condition and location. They can spank a civic stock (in a straight line), and for around $1000 you can put a hurtin on a stock LS1 F-body.

I bought my 91 TSi for $1,500, it is a cherry outside and perfect interior with only 116,000 on it at the time. But it was a rolling chasis. Got it home and built up an engine from all the spares in the garage and I was good to go. Droped $2,000 in it to have a 12 second daily driver. Total cost was $3,500 to hit 12.6's. Not bad.

 

[///M-Spec]

Originally posted by Fenrir51
Your not going to find any too cheap RWD cars with a big aftermarket, most cars today are FWD.

You can buy RWD GM F-bods and Fox chassied Mustangs all day for "cheap". An LS1 F-body with just gears and DRs can run 12s without power adders. They practically defined the term "aftermarket", but I guess if you were born after 1985, domestic cars pretty much don't exist to you.

If Detroit iron is not to your liking, a RWD '95 ODB-I M3 has very good potential and pretty soild aftermarket support. You can now pick them up for 10-15k all day long. Not as inexpensive as a pony car to tune, but there are plenty of NA choices up to ~300 hp and FI choices up to ~450-550.

You can also try a Porsche 944 Turbo (Type 951). Fast out of the box, vast potential in messing with the turbo as the stock motor is exceedingly strong. Easy 12s for a few grand plus cost of the car.


M

 

[Duke]

Originally posted by bmwm3guy
miata is RWD and it is way to ghey

Yeah, OK, whatever you say. If I had disposable income to spend on a project car, one of the first places I'd look is at a Miata. Phenomenal handling, crisp shifts, RWD, and enough power to be fun. I'd spend a year autocrossing with it and then build it up for Spec Miata road racing.