Best car to mod?

[Atty]

What would be the best car to buy stock and plan to add onto over time? I need to get a new car but don't really have the money for anything overly extravagant, but I'm open to buying something a bit less extravagant and then adding onto it over time, like buying a Civic (except I don't want a civic) and putting money into it over time to make it something worth writing home about, so to say.

Edit: If at all possible, something nice on the inside, prefer not totally stripped down interior, power locks, windows, etc.

 

[BlackTigers]

I was going to say a 5.0 Mustang until I read the edit.

 

[Atty]

If and when Mustang releases a new body style I like, lol.

 

[ric0chet06]

Honda civic w/ v-tec, and put a badass spoiler, intake, body kit, coffee can, and maybe while you're at it, some donk wheels!

 

[chris7b]

How new? Whats your budget. Your question is vague.

Nissan 240 is a nice platform. So is an older Porsche 911. There would be a big price difference in parts, inital cost, etc...

 

[Atty]

Sounds ricey.

Edit: Nothing over $25, preferablly around $20. Considering an '09 Cobalt Coupe SS, turbocharged, 260HP, fully loaded off the lot for $22,450 for me, since I've got a manufacturer discount because of the company I work for.

 

[vshah]

choose either:

large displacement
or
something turbocharged

 

[Atty]

Define: Large Displacement, lol.

 

[jlee]

Why do you need something new?

Buy a $12k commuter car and an $8k MR2.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Its Fox body mustang. Mine had all the power crap and even a/c . The problem is everybody has them of coarse thats also why everybody has them.

FWD blows and you live in Florida so get a damn RWD car.

 

[MovingTarget]

Caprice. Those are cheap, reliable, and pretty common. When you do fix them up properly (people often do some hideous "mods" to their caprices, which I do not endorse), they can be pretty luxurious especially when on the freeway. RWD, big engine, built like a true American tank.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: iAtticus
Sounds ricey.

Edit: Nothing over $25, preferablly around $20. Considering an '09 Cobalt Coupe SS, turbocharged, 260HP, fully loaded off the lot for $22,450 for me, since I've got a manufacturer discount because of the company I work for.

Well since they redesigned it there isn't too much stuff for it yet. It's the new bang for the buck king. It doesn't look that good on the outside but who cares what your car looks like when you whoop on cars that cost more. The aftermarket will grow tremendously seeing as great it's performing and people will realize it. Also since you have a discount, there isn't any other car unless you look at used if you want that.

The absolute cheapest you can get to modding is an old cheap Civic. There is nothing cheaper to mod.

 

[f1r3s1d3]

Mustang GT

 

[angry hampster]

Get a lightly used turbo Volkswagen GTI. The chassis is brilliant from the factory and mods are endless. VW interior is second-to-none.

 

[zerocool84]

GTI is too slow for what you pay for

 

[T2urtle]

so a 240sx is ricey, you dont like mustangs. you wnat something in the 20k range with a big engine.

you never exactly stated what type of mods you want... stereo , go fast, bling bling, you racing on a track or strip?

can you perform most of the work?

c32 AMG, add smaller pulley, ECU flash. change up wheels

m3 any year pretty much. you can go fast, project car. it can be modded almost ANY way you want.

if you want stereo mods you might look into a SUV.

20k gets you a used c5 maybe a c6 vette, that can go fast around any track, then you can go typical bolt-ons.

the WRX has become today's civic in my eyes. lots of people get them due to it be very pratical. mods support is there, not a slug to begin with. the STI is to WRX like a type R is to a civic. first gen bug eye's cost about 8-10k now. brand new ones are 24-28k. yea its not a big motor but it can compete with those LSx

speak of LSx, get a 2005 GTO, sub 20k for sure. great mod support. great base hp. cams, headers, ECU.

 

[BW86]

e46 m3

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: iAtticus
Define: Large Displacement, lol.

Usually from 4.0l up.

 

[SearchMaster]

How about a Monster Miata?

 

[melchoir]

98-2002 Trans Am, or Camaro Z28/SS. 5.7 Liters, power everything on the interior. Responds better to mods, and is quicker/faster stock than anything else mentioned yet. (Exception of c5).

Can be had for $7-12k

Camaro SS
Camaro SS

Trans Am
Trans Am
WS6 Trans Am

 

[bobross419]

I'd have to throw in a vote for a 5.0 Mustang. Interior can always be upgraded and there is a massive availability of fairly inexpensive aftermarket parts. Melchoir's suggestions are solid as well, but will run you a little more $$.

If you wanted to you could pick up a MkI Suzuki Swift GT and dump 20k into that and have a little rocket that isn't the same thing that everyone else on the planet has.

 

[Raduque]

Originally posted by: iAtticus
Define: Large Displacement, lol.

These days, anything over 4 liters is considered "Large Displacement". What I consider "Large Displacement" is anything bigger than a Chevy 350/5.7l V8.

BTW, I know you want a newer car, but any old Camaro or Firebird, or pretty much anything from the mid-late 90s with a Chevy V8 is the cheapest and easiest to make power with. There's eleventybillion different aftermarket parts and a streetable 350 can easily make upwards of 450hp at the wheels with the right parts and tuning.


Oh, and Civics aren't cheap. Ricer engine mods are expensive.

 

[EightySix Four]

Used C5 'Vette, no questions asked. After owning mine I'd recommend it to anyone in a heartbeat if you take care of it.

Like this heads/cam Z06

 

[BlackTigers]

Originally posted by: crazySOB297
Used C5 'Vette, no questions asked. After owning mine I'd recommend it to anyone in a heartbeat (as long as you take good care of them). If you don't mind the miles, grab a Z like this one.

Jesus, I didn't know the C5's got so cheap.

OP, you wouldn't even have to mod that for it to be bad ass. I think "bad ass" is implied with the "Z06" stamped on the side.

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: crazySOB297
Used C5 'Vette, no questions asked. After owning mine I'd recommend it to anyone in a heartbeat if you take care of it.

Like this heads/cam Z06

^^ This.

Nothing else remotely in the price range can touch it with a 100 foot pole. Handling, braking, fuel economy, massive power ceiling, reliable, easy to get parts for, etc, just one excellent package.