sleeper cars

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STi AdDiCt

STi AdDiCt

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can anyone name some sleeper cars. (cars you wouldnt expect to be fast becasue of the way they look, but really have unknown power)

for example a '91 mitsubitshi galant vr-4

i'm just looking for one becasue my friend just got the galant that i liked, and i would feel stupid if both of us had the same car.
 
Buick Regal Turbo T ;)
Looks like an 80-something year old should be driving it around to all but those in the know.

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This car is good for a 12.45 in the 1/4
 
Im not too familiar with stock sleepers, but my neighbour has a blue 551hp Acura TL, except it has stock tailpipes/exhaust to reduce noise and police attention. Im sure he could free up a good 10hp with a catback. He says he plans on getting the new Venom 400 Performance Mod (also featured in SRS), but thats after he gets new pistonheads and a better intake manifold. Man that thing is awesome. Sparco racing seats. :drool: :eek: i love it. i've only ever rode in it once and that was one day when i was late for school during lunch. So awesome.
My aunt has a probe GT, from....1993 i think? Anyway, my cousing Chris, hes about 28 now lived with her/his mom/my aunt till he was like 25 and didnt even have to pay rent so he had a ton of spare cash layin around. One of my uncles from BC flew down here and ended up having to use the probe for some transportation. After he noticed the engine was shifting at odd points (sadly its an automatic) and sounded a little peppier than a normal one he drove to Kitchener (from Guelph) to see some old friend of his. eventually they got to the ca and looked under the hood to find a T67 ball-bearing turbo, intake manifold, pulley kit, intercooler, and upon closer inspection found high-performance spark-plugs (good for a wopping 4hp!). Under the car however, most of the suspension was stock, but he did replace the brakes with 12'' Brembo's and got her some nice 17's to ride on, and a smooth catback. My Aunt, is quite odd. She is ass deaf as a door nail and doesn't notice a damn thing. We decided not to tell her. Apparently she hasnt noticed the change in performance at all, althought she seem to think that getting a regular oil check will shave 2 seconds off your qm time. Those are the only 2 sleepers i know of.
 
- 1994-1996 Volvo 850 Turbo / 1997 Volvo 850 T5 (looks like a Volvo, goes like hell; 0-60 in 7.3)
- 2004-present Saturn Vue V6 (small SUV with mid-large SUV engine; 0-60 in 6.6 with 2-wheel drive)
- 2004-present Buick Rainier V8 (putting the V8 in the five-seat does wonders; 0-60 in 6.9)
- 1999-2004 Honda Odyssey (0-60 in 7.7)
 
A Cosworth Vega is a definite sleeper. Aluminum block 122ci I4 with a 16 valve DOHC head and sequential multi-point electronic fuel injection...

IN 1975.

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I also submit any and all Chrysler-based front-drive Shelbys. And the Dodge Spirit R/T and Daytona IROC R/T.
 
To me, a Vega sounds like a washing machine you see at the those old Laundry stores.

Chug chug chug.
 
Another one:

98-03BuickRegalGS.jpg


1997-2003 (2004?) Buick Regal GS.

Nobody suspects Grandpa's Buick can reach 60mph faster than an Accord sedan and Nissan Altima with an automatic.
 
My auto tech. teacher had a chevy vega with a 502 big block in it, pushing out over 500hp he said the car just couldn't handle it, but he somehow managed to not kill himslef with it. He twisted the chassis a couple of times....He did get caught for speeding many times once over 140mph sadly he had to sell the car.
 
plymouth_prowler_01.jpg


1999-2002 Chrysler/Plymouth Prowler

By virtue of its reputation for being a slowpoke. 1999 and newer models with the revised all-aluminum V6 can sprint to 60 in 5.8 seconds. That's as fast as a Camaro/Trans Am with an LT1.
 
That doesn't qualify. Car people think they're slow, but any normal person on the street thinks it's faster than a speeding whatever (yeah, a speeding whatever). Sleepers are supposed to fool everyone!
 
Firebird
Another one:

1997-2003 (2004?) Buick Regal GS.

Nobody suspects Grandpa's Buick can reach 60mph faster than an Accord sedan and Nissan Altima with an automatic.
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This doesn't qualify either! All midsize sedans are fast now. Add this, you have to add the Altima SE, Accord EX V6, Camry SE V6, 6s, Galant V6 and Impala SS. Just because it's domestic and the design is as old as **** doesn't mean it doesn't get judged by the same standards as the rest of them.

In 1997, this would've been a sleeper. No more!

Incidentally, 2004 was a normal model year for the Regal, though there was no 2005 model, unlike the Century.
 
I was under the impression eevryone thought it was slow, regardless of their knowledge or lack thereof of all things "car".
 
Firebird
I was under the impression eevryone thought it was slow, regardless of their knowledge or lack thereof of all things "car".
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I've never heard anyone who had no car knowledge say the things were slow, and of course whenever I see one with non-car people in the car, they always make all sorts of comments.
 
M5Power
This doesn't qualify either! All midsize sedans are fast now. Add this, you have to add the Altima SE, Accord EX V6, Camry SE V6, 6s, Galant V6 and Impala SS.
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Impala SS certainly. Even Chebby fans think it's slow, even though it would hand the 1994-1996 Caprice-based Impala SS its ass on a silver platter.

The fact that the Buick Regal is (/was) an older design (I'm hard-pressed to dismiss a seven year old design as "old as ****"... :rolleyes: ) also adds to the sleeper factor. Midsized cars of TODAY are fast, but they weren't nearly as fast in 1997, save for the Regal GS and Grand Prix GTP (which are both still the fastest, save for an Altima 3.5SE with a manual transmission.
 
M5Power
- 1994-1996 Volvo 850 Turbo / 1997 Volvo 850 T5 (looks like a Volvo, goes like hell; 0-60 in 7.3)
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This doesn't qualify either! All midsize sedans are fast now. Add this, you have to add the Altima SE, Accord EX V6, Camry SE V6, 6s, Galant V6 and Impala SS. Just because it's Swedish and the design is as old as **** doesn't mean it doesn't get judged by the same standards as the rest of them.

In 1994, this would've been a sleeper. No more!
 
Firebird
Impala SS certainly. Even Chebby fans think it's slow, even though it would hand the 1994-1996 Caprice-based Impala SS its ass on a silver platter.
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That's because Chevrolet people equate 'front-drive' with 'slow' which is why they suck.

The fact that the Buick Regal is (/was) an older design (I'm hard-pressed to dismiss a seven year old design as "old as ****"... :rolleyes: ) also adds to the sleeper factor. Midsized cars of TODAY are fast, but they weren't nearly as fast in 1997, save for the Regal GS and Grand Prix GTP (which are both still the fastest, save for an Altima 3.5SE with a manual transmission.
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Agreed - which is why it was a sleeper in 1997. Hell, it was a sleeper in 2001. But based on the vigorous ad campaigns of midsize sedans today, everyone knows that today's midsize sedans are quick. And the vehicle is judged on today's scale, not 1997's, since we're here in today, not 1997. Making the Regal GS just another midsize sedan with quite a bit of power.

A seven-year-old design is what I refer to as 'scary old' in the midsize sedan market, particularly today's market since the trends are fluctuating more than ever before (power, hybrids, interior and exterior design, luxury features). Few designs of that age remain relevant in any market, though there are several glaring exceptions, namely in the light truck market and from Jeep. Trutufully, I think the Cherokee is among the best-looking vehicles of all-time, and while I really like the Liberty, I love the Cherokee.

I saw a Briarwood yesterday; I was really proud of myself. Obviously the Wrangler remains and will always remain relevant and is the best example of 'minimum investment, maximum returns' in the history of economics, as I've discussed previously.

I don't know why there are people who consider the Pontiac Grand Prix a midsize sedan, but evidently those people do indeed exist, and even more evidently, I've found one of them.
 
Firebird
This doesn't qualify either! All midsize sedans are fast now. Add this, you have to add the Altima SE, Accord EX V6, Camry SE V6, 6s, Galant V6 and Impala SS. Just because it's Swedish and the design is as old as **** doesn't mean it doesn't get judged by the same standards as the rest of them.

In 1994, this would've been a sleeper. No more!
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The difference of course being that this thing was cancelled in 1997 while it could still get away with being a sleeper. I've already conceded the Regal GS was a sleeper through 2001, before the Altima V6, Accord V6, etc.

What really sucks is that the 850 platform is celebrating its twelfth birthday and there's still a new car using it. The C70 and 406 Coupe truly are approaching their sell-by date, if it hasn't already past, beautiful though they may be.

You know what Volvo was really a sleeper? The old 740 Turbo Wagon. A lot of people are starting to really maintain those and the other day I saw one with seventeens from the 850R. That thing did 0-60 in around seven with a manual transmission, which is far more common than the automatic, and they easily go for $2k on the used market. This, remember, was in the mid-80s, long before Audi and BMW wagons.
 
M5Power
Few designs of that age remain relevant in any market, though there are several glaring exceptions, namely in the light truck market and from Jeep. Trutufully, I think the Cherokee is among the best-looking vehicles of all-time, and while I really like the Liberty, I love the Cherokee.

I saw a Briarwood yesterday; I was really proud of myself.
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birthdays_438.JPG


:cheers:
 
It depends on whether or not you want a stock sleeper or you want to build a sleeper.

For stock sleepers I suggest:

The VUE, Doug is right that thing is amazingly fast for what it is. I wasn't a believer until I drove one, impressed the hell out of me. I wish I would have bought one sometimes.

I don't know if this counts or not but a Ford Crown Vic, Mec Grand Marquis, Lincoln Town car. You would think old people would drive these but I think they get up and go.

The same goes for the older Caddy Sevilles.

The old tuboed Dodge Caravans back in the 80's. Freakin fast!


Now if you want to build one:

The coolest built sleeper I have ever seen has been a Astro Van with a LS1 motor in it. That is pure genius and no one would ever think that would be fast.

The second coolest one I've ever seen was a 1996 S-10 with a 454 in it. That thing had to be insanly fast.
 
Completely fogotten so far...who remebers the Ford LTD LX? ;) Essentially a 4-door Fox-body Mustang. Same potent 5.0, same suspension. Looks like, well, nothing (or the Vice City taxicab)

http://www.hotrod.com/featuredvehicles/55758/

324557_13_full.jpg

Just as capable of 10s as any Mustang...talk about a surprise for the guy in the next lane.
 
Firebird
:cheers:
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Yeah, I mean, look at that thing. Aftermarket headlight covers aside (:p), how is that design not completely in keeping with everything buyers today want? It's functional and good-looking (which is rare), it's masculine but not so masculine that a woman wouldn't buy or drive one, it isn't huge at all but it looks big. And there's room for improvement in paint schemes and wheels, which they did with the Classic and Country, to make it look even better. If they'd given it the 3.7 and done something to improve the ride, they could still be selling it to this day; I don't see why it wouldn't be a viable alternative to the Ford Escape (of course, the Liberty's option list would have to be the same - today these things need heated this and automatic that to compete). I recommend them to nearly everyone with $12000 or less looking for an SUV. They kick ass!

Except for those door handles. I hate the push-pull thing. Ick. :D
 
skip0110
They are good for that additional micromile per gallon.
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:D Probably offset by my DRLs. I read an anti-DRL website that claimed the current that DRLs draw from the electrical system forces the engine to work ever so slightly harder, resulting in about 6 inches less per gallon.


And I actually got them to protect the headlights, which are older-style sealed-beams. I had replaced two within a few months of it being new, and at $34 a pop was not enthused.
 
Firebird
:D Probably offset by my DRLs. I read an anti-DRL website that claimed the current that DRLs draw from the electrical system forces the engine to work ever so slightly harder, resulting in about 6 inches less per gallon.
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Hah. Most Americans - even die-hard car-loving Americans - don't know they're required in Canada. I can't even recall ever seeing a Jeep with DRLs, though I don't tend to notice it, since a lot of people actually drive with their lights on.

And I actually got them to protect the headlights, which are older-style sealed-beams. I had replaced two within a few months of it being new, and at $34 a pop was not enthused.
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Did you get them or did you make them yourself? :D
 
The Nissan Cefiro is a bit of a Sleeper a 4door Sedan with a 2.0 turbo (RB20DET) and nissan silvia supension. Also makes a good drifter :p
 
a 60s mercedes 300SEL 6.3.

300 horses in a staid looking benz. remove the 6.3 badge and one would ever know the difference, there was no external difference between the 6 cylinder and V8 versions.
 

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