Beginner's Tuner

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ev0
  • 61 comments
  • 2,516 views
I'd say a Neon if you want to go Sport Compact. Either that or a Stratus or a Advenger. Both cars are rarely done up.

But if you really want some good cheap power I'd say a 5.0 Stang. They'll run all day long, but I'm guessing you think Mustangs are crappy non handeling cars so your best bet is a Neon.
 
Originally posted by ///M-Spec
They practically defined the term "aftermarket", but I guess if you were born after 1985, domestic cars pretty much don't exist to you.
Click to expand...

EhhH? :odd: Yeah suuuure, my parents have never bought an 'import'. Also good luck finding a dirt cheap Camaro, Mustang that isnt rusted and overpriced in maryland. And if you do end up finding something worth buying its probably going to be a pansy v6.
 
Originally posted by Fenrir51
EhhH? :odd: Yeah suuuure, my parents have never bought an 'import'. Also good luck finding a dirt cheap Camaro, Mustang that isnt rusted and overpriced in maryland. And if you do end up finding something worth buying its probably going to be a pansy v6.
Click to expand...

You obviously haven't look for one then. A quick search on autotrader.com of the Baltimore area (21201, 100 mile range) returned 500+ Camaros '94-05. Average price for the entire range was $13,570. Reduce the range from '97-00 and you still get 216 hits with an average price of $13348.

HERE is a '95 LT-1 Z28 AT4. 112,200k and $5,500 asking.

HERE is a '97 LT-1 Z28 with a 6 MT for $7,500 that only has 84,091 miles.

HERE is a '98 LS1 Z28 with 58k, asking $12,400.

HERE is a fine '98 SS M6 garage kept with less than 50k on it. Asking price is $15,000.

These took me about 3 minutes to find. The '95 has a book value of $3,500, should be a no brainer to bargin down to that amount. The '97 has an asking price less than 1k more than the KBB.com suggested private party sale price of $6,870.

In my book, 3-7k for a high 13 second car out of the box, bone stock is not bad. Each of those cars have easy potential for 12s without even going to FI and gutting the interior.


M
 
13k for a used car is not my idea of cheap. Also doubt the person selling the 95' would go down to 3.5k, unless you found something wrong with it. Two of thsoe are out of state btw.
 
Originally posted by Fenrir51
13k for a used car is not my idea of cheap. Also doubt the person selling the 95' would go down to 3.5k, unless you found something wrong with it. Two of thsoe are out of state btw.
Click to expand...

My other Camaro examples range from ~7-15k. The '97 for $7,000 is obviously high balled and can likely be bought for $5,500 (trade-in is $4,395). So for $6,000 driveaway cost, you have a low mileage '97 that will run high 13s bone stock. I think that is very reasonable.

As for the '95 LT1, it sounds to me like you don't know much about the car business. The dealer who bought that '95 Z28 probably paid less than ~$2,000 for it, net value.

All used car dealers go by auction value --which is the true market value of the car because that's what he can turn around and sell it tommarrow for. They have a little black book, updated monthly, that tells them what auction is on every car-- and they try very hard to make sure the general consumer doesn't know what that number is. Any car dealer that tells you he paid more than auction value for a car (net) is full of poop or an idiot who will not be in business long.

On KBB.com, auction value is very close to "Dealer Trade-in". And according to KBB.com a car like that is $1,995 (and they are usually a little high). This dealer should be happy to sell someone that car for $3.5 and pocket $1,500 for his trouble. If you think $5,500 or even $4,500 is a fair price for that Camaro, then you are the type of sucker that is every used car salesman's wet dream.

And so what if two of my examples are out of state? The search shows there are several hundred within a reasonable drive from Baltimore to choose from.


M
 
Originally posted by ///M-Spec
If you think $5,500 or even $4,500 is a fair price for that Camaro, then you are the type of sucker that is every used car salesman's wet dream.

And so what if two of my examples are out of state? The search shows there are several hundred within a reasonable drive from Baltimore to choose from.
Click to expand...

I never said it was a fair price, dont put your words in my mouth. Maybe when i go looking for a used car i do a local search, not a 100 mile drive.
 
Originally posted by Fenrir51
I never said it was a fair price, dont put your words in my mouth. Maybe when i go looking for a used car i do a local search, not a 100 mile drive.
Click to expand...
I flew from Philly to Atlanta to buy a 4-year-old Neon. It added $75 to the price of the car. And it was the right Neon for the right price. Almost 5 years later I'm still enjoying it - it's a ball to drive and it's cost me a total of about $1500 a year to own, including purchase, insurance, modifications, and maintenance.

You might as well quit while you're not too far behind. ///M-Spec has backed up his statements... and you're starting to whine.
 
Originally posted by Fenrir51
I never said it was a fair price, dont put your words in my mouth. Maybe when i go looking for a used car i do a local search, not a 100 mile drive.
Click to expand...

You think $13,000 is too much to pay for a used car, but you wouldn't drive a couple of hours to get a good deal possibly saving thousands and getting the right car instead of settling for what was down the street? :odd: Whatever man, its your dough.


M
 
Originally posted by BlazinXtreme
I'd say a Neon if you want to go Sport Compact. Either that or a Stratus or a Advenger. Both cars are rarely done up.

But if you really want some good cheap power I'd say a 5.0 Stang. They'll run all day long, but I'm guessing you think Mustangs are crappy non handeling cars so your best bet is a Neon.
Click to expand...
Actually a 'stang wouldn't be bad for drag racing.
 
Originally posted by neon_duke
I flew from Philly to Atlanta to buy a 4-year-old Neon. It added $75 to the price of the car. And it was the right Neon for the right price. Almost 5 years later I'm still enjoying it - it's a ball to drive and it's cost me a total of about $1500 a year to own, including purchase, insurance, modifications, and maintenance.

You might as well quit while you're not too far behind. ///M-Spec has backed up his statements... and you're starting to whine.
Click to expand...

Rofl I would never fly anywhere no matter how far to buy a Dodge Neon.You must have needed that car badly. If you have a problem with my whinning then add me to your ignore list, I come here to post my thoughts and thats what I do. :D Dont like them? Tuff.

Just for you
dandddance.gif
 
Originally posted by Fenrir51
Rofl I would never fly anywhere no matter how far to buy a Dodge Neon.You must have needed that car badly. If you have a problem with my whinning then add me to your ignore list, I come here to post my thoughts and thats what I do. :D Dont like them? Tuff.
Click to expand...
I can't add you to my ignore list, because I don't have one. That's a privelege I gave up when I became a moderator.

If you are so quick to say "tuff", I suggest you apply that fairly. Don't like what reasonable, intelligent people say to you? Tough.
 
Originally posted by neon_duke

If you are so quick to say "tuff", I suggest you apply that fairly. Don't like what reasonable, intelligent people say to you? Tough.
Click to expand...

Well when a reasonable, intelligent person says something to me ill let you know.
 
Originally posted by Fenrir51
Well when a reasonable, intelligent person says something to me ill let you know.
Click to expand...
Good luck recognizing it when it happens again. If you want to cop an attitude, try actually responding to some of ///M-Spec's posts instead of just potshooting a bunch of blather.

Nobody takes blowhards very seriously around here. Just in case you hadn't figured that out yet.
 
Of all people here, I certainly don't tolerate blowhards.

Next.
 
neon_duke, you sure have showed a lot of patience with this guy. Guess thats why you're a mod.

One car that was missed in this discussion is th 80's SVO Mustang. Unlike the V8 Mustangs, it's not front-heavy, and has a sport-tuned suspension. And the dead-reliable turbo 4 can be tuned to about 400 hp with a stock bottom end. Believe it or not, I think these can be picked up for $7000-$10,000. Fairly rare, though. (80's t-birds also had the turbo 4, but they are a lot heavier)

EDIT: I forgot, the car I was thinking of did have a re-ring job before upping the boost. So not a totallly stock bottom end. But that's on a 100,000 mile motor. They're still rock-solid engines.
 
SVO 'stangs are not terribly hard to find. The good thing is that for every somewhat-tired SVO Mustang, there is a junkyard Thunderbird Turbo Coupe waiting to donate parts.

And thanks, skip. I'm glad it's appreciated.
 
Another car I'm surprised hasn't been mentioned yet is the Z31 and Z32 300ZX turbos. Plenty to be found in those motors and prices have plummeted on them. Probably very hard to find one that is straight and clean, however.

An LT1 or LT4 Corvette C4 is also a very good buy right now. Lots of performance to be found there as well. Heck, I bet you can pick up an early C5 for under 20 grand pretty easy. There's a whole lotta bang for your buck.


M
 
Sorry, ///M, that just won't cut it. 20 grand is about 17 grand more than Fenrir is willing to pay, and he wants it brought to his house on a rollback.
 
Originally posted by neon_duke
Sorry, ///M, that just won't cut it. 20 grand is about 17 grand more than Fenrir is willing to pay, and he wants it brought to his house on a rollback.
Click to expand...
There is nothing wrong with that. I have done it once and yeah it is a lot of busted bloody knuckles, but you get the job done and it is totally worth it : ) But it is a huge endavour. . .
 
Originally posted by miata13B
There is nothing wrong with that. I have done it once and yeah it is a lot of busted bloody knuckles, but you get the job done and it is totally worth it : ) But it is a huge endavour. . .
Click to expand...


Oh yea? I didn't know Walmart delivered :D :lol:


M
 
:confused:

I'm saying that Fenrir wants to pay $3000 for a $20,000 car, and he doesn't want to look very hard to find one. The implication that he wants it hand-delivered to him was a little ironic exaggeration on my part.
 
Originally posted by ///M-Spec
Oh yea? I didn't know Walmart delivered :D :lol:


M
Click to expand...
yeah. . . I was just slow to post trying to find a suitable pic for walmart : ) See ya guys in a bit, headed home finally : )yup. . .
 

Attachments

  • storm-type-r.jpg
    storm-type-r.jpg
    20.4 KB · Views: 24

Similar threads

D
GT3/GT4 tuning
Replies
6
Views
5K
ToneDef
ToneDef
Marty_Debiru
Tempting in buying a Forester SG
Replies
5
Views
2K
Keef
Keef
meltyki
Tips on doing complex decals for GT7
Replies
15
Views
4K
MatskiMonk
MatskiMonk
911RSR
J. Clarkson and Harry's garage about todays cars
Replies
4
Views
2K
lbpomg95
lbpomg95
Metfanant
Some random tuning noob questions
Replies
10
Views
4K
THE_KART96
THE_KART96

Latest Posts

Back