Hey guys, I'm selling my Subaru Impreza WRX limited and thinking about picking up something cheap, just a weekend car. I have a daily driver, so this car would be a weekend car/project car. I was considering a 1989-1992 Mustang 5.0


I'm looking for something I can build up (I have spare performance parts laying around, turbos etc.) What would you recommend around the five thousand dollar price range?

I have a crotch rocket as well, (GSX-R) I plan on keeping that for my "fun" ride.


Thanks!

why would you sell a better car to pick up potentially a piece of crap mustang? Just build up the subbie

If you don't care about top speeds, I think a 1st gen Mazda MX5 Miata is a much better choice than an old rustang.

You can turbo it and you could tune it into a spec Miata if you want to race against others. You can even go nuts and swap a SR20DET in it

You'd have to be a lunatic to swap a WRX for a Mustang (or any Subaru for any Ford, really). Put the money into the WRX or at least follow Revvo's advice about the Mazda.

I second the 1st gen Miata. I have 2, one as a daily driver and the second I am building for spec miata. There is probably no better way to get into entry level racing than a first gen miata. Cheap, reliable, easy to work on, massive aftermarket, wide availability of parts, rear wheel drive, lightweight, a torson diff, 50/50 weight distribution and a direct link manual, all the components are there.

I do think that year mustang does make a good project car though. There is a huge after market and parts are easy to come by. Same reason the miata makes a good project car really. They do put that 5.0 engine into the miata as well. So get one of each maybe!

It is really going to boil down to what you want to use this car for and also what parts that you have hanging around. An expensive roots type supercharger obviously lends itself towards different applications than does a nice set of butterfly braces.

Nissan 240SX 94' and newer, or an MR2 Turbo if u can find them

I personally would do the stang. has the most aftermarket support, 1/2 to 3/4 of the summitracing catalog is geared to fords.
sites to visit:
www.corral.net
www.stangnet.com
www.mustangworld.com


parts sites to visit:
www.summitracing.com
www.need-4-speed.com
www.maximummotorsports.com (make it handle better than anything out there)
www.cjponyparts.com
www.dallasmustang.com
www.mustangsunlimited.com
www.americanmuscle.com
www.latemodelrestoration.com
www.superchargers4less.com (best price for superchargers that I have found)
www.jdsperformance.com

there are just so many sites
a real project would be a 94/95 gt...newer body style (sn95) and the trusty 5.0. the cars are solid but they are special as tuners generally have a hard time tuning them, and a lot of them say that they need to go the the old fox body computer to be able to tune them right (this is an issue with the tuner not the computer itself, as they can't understand that it is load based on the 94/95 not rpm based as in the 93 and previous, basically if you run into this go to another tuner).

lol @ swapping a WRX for a Mustang.

It would be a long shot to find one for $5k, but if you want a cheap fast car, get a Nissan 300zx twin turbo. Something like this:

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/van/cto/1427344320.html

Well when you pay as much as I do for a car that has 350-370awhp it just doesn't justify power/cost. I want to pick up something I can completely gut the interior and make it light as possible with a V8 supercharged or turbo'd.

Great idea on the Miata, wonder how hard it would be to swap a 5.0 into that car....

Z's are great cars, but just be ready to work in that really tight engine bay of the Z32.



Is 5.7L from an LS1 enough? http://www.bossfrog.biz/Miata_V8_Swap.html

It's a popular swap for the Miata and the RX7 FD.

Check out http://www.monstermiata.com/. They have been doing a lot of them and for years now so the knowledge base is there. I recall that the 5.0 mustang engine was the most common engine swap as well. I do worry you will upset the balance greatly though with any kind of heavy engine. In the front of a 2,000 pound car any change is going to be substantial.

Revvo,

Anything other than a rotary in a RX-7 is blasphemous and you should be burnt at the stake for suggesting such a thing. I have always wanted to do a 3 rotor out of a Cosmo though.

I knew you'd stab me for saying that

IIRC, you have a naturally aspirated FC . NA wankels are very reliable (apex seals lasting over 100,000km easy). The 13B-REW is a different story... twin turbos in any engine demands more care and attention from the driver. Even more if it's a rotary.

Honestly, the mustangs handle like crap and those years in particular have a HUGE amount of chassis flex. Have you ever seen them drag race? They twist like crazy. Ya you can get a lot of power out of the 5.0L, but it's all wasted. They are not fast cars except with enough power and chassis stiffening (negating your weight savings). They are not good around corners at all, which means they are not fun.

Yep you are right they aren't fast cars.

http://www.nmradigital.com/forums/showthread.php?t=86667 <-- NMRA= National Mustang Racers Association, Mustangs only.

Hot Street, which is a all motor fully functional exterior (lights, horn etc) run 8's (I know pretty slow right)

The pro cars are running 6.8 (even slower right?)

Man you really can't get those cars to move, so much chassis flex.

I don't know the new owner of my old car, full weight (air conditioner is intact as well as all of the smog equipment and stock interior, it hasn't gone on a diet yet, and it is a pig heavy 95) is running a low 11 sec (could be in the 10's if he would just power shift the damn thing and low 10's if he changed the suspension, right now has about 575 rwhp on a stock stroked and supercharged block).

face it man, they're crummy cars. Just because you can put a lot of power in them to make them go in a straight line does not make them a good or even a fun car.

The only part of the link you gave that had times that I can tell is the last post, and the fastest there is 11.12s.

Of course if you're into driving fast in a straight line on a drag strip and don't want to actually have fun with your car on the road, then the mustang is perfect for you

I have a 90' "Turbo 2" FC model. I have had a mixed bag in the reliability department. I bought the car in 93 and I suspect the guy that had it before me drove it hard. I know I drove it hard and probably didn't care for it as well as I should. In those days I didn't know any better. That engine apex seal went at 96,000 miles. I learned a good bit from that experience and from rebuilding the engine. I replaced the stock 2mm apex seals with 3mm apex seals and learned to care for the engine a little better. The second engine again a apex seal went 186,000 miles. That is using it pretty heavy with numerous track days including a few 8 hour endurance races as well as it serving as my sole car during most of that time. I am on my second engine now with the first engine having been rebuilt and ready for service again though the Rex is no longer my primary daily driver.

Back on topic I am not a huge mustang fan myself, but I don't understand the hate. For the price point the OP listed and for the ease of availability and inexpensiveness of the parts I think those year mustangs lend themselves extremely well as cheap project cars. I don't see a ton of them at the track, but I see a few and they don't do noticeable worse or better than any other model in their class. The driver is still the deciding factor. Keep in mind that this is road courses where even admitted mustang fans don't claim they are best served.

From the link, format goes:
number, class, year model, engine size, driver, city state, 1/4 mile time, mph
example:
1069 PRO '93 Mustang Ford 541 Mike Murillo San Antonio Tx 6.857 224.04 224.04
number: 1069
class: PRO
year model: 93 Mustang Ford
engine size: 541
driver: Mike Murillo
city state: San Antonio, TX
1/4 mile time: 6.857
mph, 224.04

Compulink StarTrak Turbonetics Pro Outlaw 10.5 Qualifying for 7 entries
Low ET 6.857 1069 Mike Murillo
Top Speed 224.04 1069 Mike Murillo
1069 PRO '93 Mustang Ford 541 Mike Murillo San Antonio Tx 6.857 224.04 224.04
1 PRO '04 Mustang Ford 550 Conrad Scarry Dearfield Beach FL 7.054 209.64 209.64
1397 PRO '05 Mustang Ford 408 AJ Powell Braidwood IL 7.257 188.36 188.36
8 PRO '04 Mustang Ford 407 Keith Neal Snellville Ga 7.269 195.95 195.95
1540 PRO '03 Cobra Ford 440 Dwayne James Albaqurque NM 7.907 184.27 184.27
1047 PRO '89 Mustang Ford 410 Ruben Tetsoshvili Wesley Chapel FL 8.012 180.43 182.22
1010 PRO '04 Mustang Ford 400 Dan Millen Dearborn MI 10.031 132.97 132.97


Compulink StarTrak ProCharger S/Street Outlaw Qualifying for 6 entries
Low ET 7.427 1 John Urist
Top Speed 193.79 1 John Urist
1 SSO '93 Mustang Ford 420 John Urist Albuquerque NM 7.427 189.75 193.79
2787 SSO '01 Mustang Ford 380 John MacDonald White Lake MI 7.529 183.11 193.38
2151 SSO '80 Mustang Ford 525 Don Burton Aberdeen MD 7.591 191.24 191.24
2023 SSO '87 Mustang Ford 360 Chris Tuten Pelion SC 7.604 188.75 188.75
2142 SSO '90 Mustang Ford 352 Billy Driscoll Tampa FL 8.512 168.09 168.09
2221 SSO '86 Mustang GT Ford 281 Perry Santini Miramar FL 8.678 174.45 174.45


Compulink StarTrak Diablo Sport EFI Renegade Qualifying for 8 entries
Low ET 8.405 8 Dan Rawls
Top Speed 163.22 8 Dan Rawls
8 REN '90 Mustang LX Ford 362 Dan Rawls Clevland TN 8.405 163.22 163.22
6 REN '04 Mustang Ford 310 Brian Mitchell Wilmington DE 8.501 160.97 160.97
4 REN '89 Mustang Ford 312 Alton Clements Central SC 8.742 156.41 156.41
4214 REN '04 Cobra Ford 336 Bart Tobner Winder Ga 8.759 162.04 162.04
4401 REN '90 Mustang LX Ford 309 Chris VanGilder Quackertown PA 8.812 154.58 156.25
4254 REN '97 Cobra Ford 306 Chris Beary St Charles IL 9.007 150.4 153.6
4001 REN '03 Cobra Ford 358 Chris Little Pasedena MN 9.02 151.08 151.08
3 REN '91 Mustang Ford 364 Brian Tuten Lexington SC 9.025 134 134


Compulink StarTrak Edelbrock Hot Street Qualifying for 5 entries
Low ET 8.634 1 Robert Blankenship
Top Speed 155.60 1 Robert Blankenship
1 HS '04 Mustang Ford 400 Robert Blankenship Hudson FL 8.634 151.74 155.6
3072 HS '89 Mustang F0rd 360 Max Gross Cattaraugus NY 8.691 152.9 153.19
3131 HS '95 Mustang Ford 400 Timothy Eichhorn Boynton Beach FL 8.805 153.32 153.32
3 HS '91 Mustang Ford 400 Ben Mens Petersburg MI 8.823 152.12 152.23
3671 HS '70 Maverick Ford 398 Don Bowles Madisonville KY 8.884 150.22 150.22


Compulink StarTrak BF Goodrich Drag Radial Qualifying for 11 entries
Low ET 8.001 5 Jason Lee
Top Speed 181.26 10000 Sean Lyon
5 DR '86 Mustang Ford 360 Jason Lee Maumee OH 8.001 175.13 175.13
10000 DR '93 Mustang Ford 353 Sean Lyon Panama City Fl 8.014 181.26 181.26
9 DR '88 Mustang Ford 342 Enzo Pecchini Woodbridge Ontario 8.292 171.49 174.14
10136 DR '92 Mustang Ford 356 Matt Bell Normal IL 8.302 172.24 172.24
10353 DR '99 Cobra Ford 281 Orson Johnson House Springs MO 8.53 164.98 164.98
10983 DR '88 Mustang Ford 364 Chris Bussell Los Alamos NM 8.549 161.72 161.72
7 DR '09 Mustang Ford 357 Pete Johnson Greenwood IN 8.564 167.53 167.53
10 DR '91 Mustang Ford 350 Bill Wolf Macon GA 8.703 161.57 161.57
4 DR '86 Mustang Ford 364 Bob Kurgan Byron IL 8.853 171.62 171.62
10366 DR '95 Mustang Ford 364 Adam Jude Burns Tn 9.271 168.13 169.77
10990 DR '04 Mustang Ford 330 Sonny Biggs Millington TN 9.779 170.64 170.64


Compulink StarTrak 5.0 Mustang Real Street Qualifying for 7 entries
Low ET 9.625 3 Jim Breese
Top Speed 143.26 6 Dave Ginter
3 RS '04 Mustang Ford 284 Jim Breese Transfer PA 9.625 141.77 141.77
6 RS '98 Mustang Ford 284 Dave Ginter Racine WI 9.65 140.42 143.26
2 RS '01 Mustang Ford 284 Tim Matherly Statham GA 9.932 142.49 142.49
8082 RS '92 Mustang Ford 310 Paul Alfeo West Palm Beach 10.08 132.84 132.84
8910 RS '93 Mustang Ford 310 Paul Wiley Summerville Sc 10.211 137.15 137.15
4 RS '87 Mustang Ford 308 Michael Washington Glen Burne MD 10.473 121.88 121.88
8090 RS '88 Mustang Ford 308 Jonathan Musil Brenner OH 21.107 45.67 45.67


Compulink StarTrak Eibach Springs Pure Street Qualifying for 10 entries
Low ET 10.237 6 Mark Anderson
Top Speed 132.58 5007 Steve Gifford
6 PS '89 Mustang Ford 310 Mark Anderson Lexington IL 10.237 129.88 129.88
5119 PS '88 Mustang Ford 311 Jimmy Wilson Gainsville FL 10.253 130.43 130.43
1 PS '98 Mustang Ford 289 Brandon Alsept Amelia OH 10.359 129.96 129.96
5007 PS '98 Cobra Ford 289 Steve Gifford Bennington IN 10.393 132.58 132.58
8 PS '95 Mustang Ford 311 Eric Burkhart Greensburg In 10.434 129.64 130.15
5112 PS '93 Mustang Ford 310 David Hill Casselberry FL 10.456 128.88 128.88
5300 PS '03 Cobra Ford 289 Shawn Johnson Bylon Ctr MI 10.48 128.09 128.09
5137 PS '86 Mustang Ford 308 Alan Hill Citra FL 10.637 125.06 126.13
5065 PS '88 Mustang Ford 306 Drew Lyons Ellettsville In 10.852 111.34 111.34
10 PS '90 Mustang Ford 311 Shawn Hansen Wells ME 10.878 123.18 123.18


Compulink StarTrak ACT Factory Stock Qualifying for 8 entries
Low ET 11.488 6 Carlos Sobrino
Top Speed 119.26 4 Jay Dold
6 FS '86 Mustang LX Ford 310 Carlos Sobrino Fairview NJ 11.488 116.51 117
2 FS '89 Mustang Ford 310 John Leslie Jr. Munster IN 11.51 116.97 117.15
4 FS '03 Mach 1 Ford 289 Jay Dold Harrison OH 11.579 119.26 119.26
6117 FS '94 Mustang Ford 284 Brian Marr Jackson MI 11.612 115.45 115.45
1 FS '89 Mustang Ford 311 Tommy Godfrey Sunderland MA 11.64 117.61 117.61
10 FS '90 Mustang LX Ford 308 Rick Walsh Lake Panasoff Kee 11.797 116.39 116.39
6290 FS '93 Cobra Ford 311 Greg Novac Aldie VA 11.837 115.13 115.13
6852 FS '99 Mustang Ford 284 Jim St Charles Aracida In 11.907 117.63 117.63


Compulink StarTrak Roush Modular Muscle Qualifying for 18 entries
Low ET 0.002 1 Tom Motycka
Top Speed 158.22 7372 Nelson Whitlock
1 MM '96 Mustang Ford 331 Tom Motycka Lawton MI 0.002 0.002
6 MM '96 Mustang Ford 281 Jeff Stafford Clarksville TN 0.003 0.003
4 MM '05 Mustang Ford 299 Donnie Bowles Madisonville KY 0.006 0.006
3 MM '01 Mustang Ford 281 Susan Mc Clenaghan Livonia MI 0.006 0.006
7302 MM '07 Shelby Ford 331 Paul Svincki Michigan Center MI 0.011 0.011
7219 MM '97 Mustang Ford 281 Richard Robinson Lawrenceburg Ky 0.012 0.012
7461 MM '98 Cobra Ford 281 Reggie Burnette Sr Rougemont Nc 0.013 0.013
7001 MM '96 Cobra Ford 281 Derek Kernodle Middletown OH 0.02 0.02
7372 MM '07 GT-500 Ford 331 Nelson Whitlock Aston PA 0.023 0.023
2 MM '00 Mustang Ford 281 Reggie Burnette JR Rougemont NC 0.08 0.08
7003 MM '04 Mustang Ford 281 Tim Vendette Bradenton FL 0.094 0.094
7210 MM '99 Mustang Ford 281 Steve Gauman Birmingham OH 0.094 0.094
7754 MM '97 Cobra Ford 283 John Brooks Kanata ONT 0.099 0.099
7336 MM '05 GT Ford 281 Chalon Hoffert Nixa MO 0.237 0.237
7308 MM '99 Mustang Ford 281 Ronnie Diaz Elizabeth NJ 0.273 0.273
7409 MM '99 Mustang Ford 281 Ray Wheatley Newark DE 0.384 0.384
7380 MM 07 Shelby GT Ford 331 David Shea Dartmouth MA 0.526 0.526
7282 MM '03 Cobra Ford 4.6 Richard Smith Bradenton FL 0.577 0.577


Compulink StarTrak Steeda Open Comp Qualifying for 25 entries
Low ET 0.001 6 Saul Walker II
Top Speed 141.15 9686 Steven Wieczorek
6 OC '93 Mustang Ford 360 Saul Walker II Browns Mills NJ 0.001 0.001
9656 OC '05 Mustang Ford 4.0 Scott Baumgartner Grass Lake MI 0.001 0.001
9458 OC '82 Capri Ford 477 Bruce Parker Brown Mills NJ 0.003 0.003
9915 OC '71 Maverick Ford 460 Greg Essen Boca Raton FL 0.006 0.006
9008 OC '78 Mustang II Ford 351 Donald Carver Hanson KY 0.007 0.007
7 OC '83 Mustang Ford 468 Wesley Dalrymple Langhorne PA 0.009 0.009
9549 OC '89 Mustang Ford 351 Bill Lee Jr Bradenton FL 0.011 0.011
9984 OC '84 Thunderbird Ford 501 David Woodside Laurinburg NC 0.024 0.024
9003 OC '90 Mustang Ford 302 Robert Prather St Cloud FL 0.033 0.033
3 OC '94 Cobra Ford 302 Randy Conway Newport MI 0.038 0.038
8 OC '88 Mustang Ford 550 Robert Motycka Lawton MI 0.041 0.041
9440 OC '88 Mustang Ford 351 Jeffrey Schelern Lake Wales FL 0.043 0.043
9721 OC '89 Mustang GT Ford 302 Jason Steamer Winter Park FL 0.048 0.048
9722 OC '88 Mustang Ford 302 Dach Anderson Winter Springs FL 0.073 0.073
9829 OC '68 Cougar Ford 347 Joe Motycka Lawton MI 0.075 0.075
5 OC '67 Mustang Ford 521 David Watson Garden City MI 0.084 0.084
9910 OC '77 Pinto Ford 146 Joe Laramee Decatur IL 0.098 0.098
9677 OC '88 Mustang Ford 306 Jimmy Aycock N Ft Meyers FL 0.109 0.109
9422 OC '86 Mustang Ford 306 Charles Zammerilla N Ft Meyers FL 0.121 0.121
9800 OC '69 Cougar Ford 428 Russell Deronda Tampa FL 0.142 0.142
9875 OC '86 Mustang Ford 351 Rob Findley Parrish FL 0.161 0.161
9686 OC '86 Mustang Ford 427 Steven Wieczorek Middleburg FL 0.183 0.183
9017 OC '90 Mustang GT Ford 306 Sean Reiter Cape Coral FL 0.2 0.2
9784 OC '80 Mustang Ford 351 Tom Rohr Thonatasassa FL 0.236 0.236
9663 OC '86 Mustang Ford 358 Greg Bagnell Spring Hill FL -0.007 -0.007


Compulink StarTrak Detroit Locker Trucks Qualifying for 22 entries
Low ET 0.000 5 Paul Gamino
Top Speed 134.20 11962 MJ Ranchero
5 TR '77 F-150 Ford 331 Paul Gamino Roshaum TX 0 0
7 TR '01 Lightning Ford 335 Brian Owens Sarasota FL 0.007 0.007
11190 TR '99 Lightning Ford 331 Robert Chuhran Wixom MI 0.009 0.009
1 TR '79 F-150 Ford 460 Mike Motycka Mattawan MI 0.015 0.015
10 TR '03 Lightning Ford 331 Craig Cain Kodak TN 0.028 0.028
11429 TR '48 Ford F100 Ford 429 Bob Cochran Columbus OH 0.042 0.042
11013 TR '01 Lightning Ford 331 Don Justus Hendersonville NC 0.045 0.045
9 TR '01 Lightning Ford 330 James Steamer Sanford FL 0.047 0.047
3 TR '93 Lightning Ford 351 Gary Windsor Pasadena MD 0.056 0.056
11002 TR '03 Lightning Ford 5.4 JR Roberts Largo FL 0.056 0.056
11962 TR '62 Ranchero Ford 438 MJ Ranchero Plymouth Mn 0.063 0.063
2 TR '02 Lightning Ford 354 Johnny Lightning New Providence PA 0.072 0.072
11151 TR '02 Lightning Ford 330 Joseph Matthews Stafford CT 0.121 0.121
11191 TR '94 Ranger Ford 4.0 Gerry Van Veer Stockbridge GA 0.139 0.139
8 TR '02 Lightning Ford 331 CJ Cigarran Tampa FL 0.175 0.175
11170 TR '02 Lightning Ford 330 Marco Ponce Jr Alexandria VA 0.202 0.202
11025 TR '03 Lightning Ford 322 Andrew Kelly Orlando TX 0.256 0.256
11020 TR '02 Lightning Ford 330 Eric Demeri Ft Meyers FL 0.327 0.327
11202 TR '00 Lightning Ford 5.4 Robert Steamer Winter Park FL 0.342 0.342
11005 TR '04 Lightning Ford 5.4 Fred Wade Palm Beach Gardens FL 0.639 0.639
11263 TR '03 F-150 Ford 331 Jimmy Smith Arlington TN 0.699 0.699
11022 TR Ford 5.4 Scott Baker Bradenton FL 0.744 0.744

for the autocross statement you can check out streetfire.net and see all of the mustangs that can't handle, you'd be suprised as to how many that can. Unfortunaly out of the box they really do handle like poo, but with some aftermarket parts they will do exactly what you want. They may be crummy but they are cheap and there is more aftermarket support than just about any other car and you can take it in whatever direction you want to go in, autocross, drag, show.

here is a video of a 6 sec pass with a pos car.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8e_dwmhSus...player_embedded

here is a svo that seems to be keeping pretty good in the turns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTlQk9AoTa0

If you go with the fox body Mustang, go for the 4.6 SVT Cobra swap. Now there's a nice project car

I only answered one part of your original post. Let me answer this one too...stop light to stop light racing is fun. Playing around on the street is fun. Putting your foot down on the gas and getting your back pegged to the seat is a feeling you will only see with power and puts a big smile on your face. Cornering can be had to the point that it will be as good as, if not better than a bmw (although you do loose ride quality). So I don't quite understand how it isn't fun on the street, you start with a blank slate (a slow ass pos that doesn't corner) and you build it up to a car that no one expects that will beat the pants out of most things on the road. If you read my other post 575 rwhp (not bhp or flywheel hp, which means more like 625-650 bhp), with cats and all smog equipment in tact still able to pass california based emmissions, that is a lot of fun on the street no matter how you cut it. I sold it with close to 400 rwhp and that was a blast, the passengers didn't get off the seat until i let off the gas. You can't beat raw power, and putting that in a car that has a decent suspension would work wonders.

If I am not mistaken this is a project car, not a complete off the factory line drive it and go car. If he is going to frankenstein it why not a mustang with all of the available parts out there. As I said in my above post, you can get them to handle and you can get them to have more power than you know what to do with (getting in a car with that much power can and will break the tires loose at 40 mph with 315mm standard radials). He may end up spending 20-30,000 by the time that he is done (very easy to do), but will have a car faster and better handling than what he would spend the same money on and he can do it when he has the money vs taking out a loan.

Don't hate it because you don't understand it. Don't think it is crappy just because it starts off like that. Think it of a box of legos, you can build to it to make it into a (name your favorite lego set, I personally like the star wars x wing fighter), or you can keep it as basic as a McDonalds toy that has 3 pieces and no complexity to it.


As far as the 4.6 svt cobra motor swap, it can be done, it has been done..there are better mods that can be done for less, unless you can obtain the 4.6 motor and supercharger on the cheap side. You have to transfer all of the electronics over (computer harness, computer, engine, trans) which would require you to completely gut the car. It's not at all easy to put in the computer harness while everything is in the car, but a good project none the less.

I personally would get either a Mazda Miata (older, as others mentioned), 240sx (late 80s/early 90s), or an if you can find one...2nd gen RX7, I highly doubt you can get a decent 3rd gen rx7 for >5k..

Properly maintained FDs start at around 10k so yeah, FC is all you got and the FCs in a good shape are over 5K.

I would be choosing between a 1st gen Miata, and an E30 325i (because an E30 M3 is too rare and expensive ) The problem with me is, living on the east side, we get a good amount of rain so I'd be tempted to put a hard top on the Miata.

I say look for a 95 Mustang GTS, it's the 95 GT is very few options (lighter weight), and you get the 5.0 with a body thats very easy to put a 4.6, or even 331+ in if you want to go that route.

You can even find a 95 Cobra for 5k if you look around.

To the guys that say a mustang cant handle they have no idea wtf they are talking about. Of the lot maybe, but put a little work into it (springs, frame connectors and struts/shocks, you can get some nice numbers.

Must be in a terrible shape, because Foxbody Cobras go for around $CAD 10k here.

Pickup a 240sx. Just make sure its m/t. Easy to work on, their RWD, and the tuning market is immense for these. I have one and I absolutely love it, granted I've spent a few thousands modifying it to my taste I have a kouki S14, those are a little newer then the old S13 models with the popups. The old s13's usually have a lot of rust, which isn't a problem with the s14's.

There great on gas too. I get almost 30mpg...no Cobra can even dream of coming close lol. Unless your a mechanic, I'd stay away from buying a 300zx or any rotary cars (FC, FD Rx7's).

and no 240 sx will come close to doing mid 12's stock either. sure it can handle better, but we can get a mustang to handle just as well for less than what it would take to get the 240 in the 12's safely (without dumping un safe amounts of nitrous into the engine). you loose mpg for speed, it is an offset. high mpg = slow but doesn't break the bank at the pump.

^ stock? Obviously you have to upgrade a number of things, but nos is certainly not needed. This SR20DET does 10s: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4VdaS37ISQ

All you need is to swap in a bigger turbo, and change the needed parts like the cams and intake.

Get a SS Camaro.

I see them in what I would call a workable mechanically sound state for under 5k a lot here. You are not going to get perfect paint and interior for that price or low miles, but good enough for a "fun" car and occasional spirited driving. I wonder if you guys got a lot less up there in Canada with the RWD bit and all.

Also the hard top install on a Miata is a simple affair that takes all of 15 mins and can be removed at any time so you can have your cake and eat it too in this case.

Depends what you want.

The safest choice is an imported JDM like a skyline R32 or Z32 300ZX or FD twin turbo. Most of them are rust-free with low mileage (like 70,000 km), but they're RHD so you better get used to it.

RHD is fun to drive except for left-turns. I almost bought a RHD Supra TT but decided I'd rather settle on a LHD s14 and modify it up.

and how many silvia's are available in the US and Canada? I am going to say less than 50. Ebay's US site has a total of 6 in all different stages of completion ranging from 5 to 14000. IF you can get it at the price you want, it would be a good car. Might as well try to find a Cobra R (also out of his price range, and has a rarity in the world not just in the US), in 93 Ford only made 107 of them and all of them look like this (I personally thing this guy is crazy asking that, but it is a very very very rare car and would appeal to collectors).

There are ALOT of 240sx's in NA.

yep there sure are, not stock turbo charged SR20DET's which are imported.

http://motors.shop.ebay.com/Cars-Trucks-/6...m282&_rdc=1

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/searchresult...m=1257193442477

vs

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/searchresult...m=1257193774622

http://motors.shop.ebay.com/Cars-Trucks-/6...m282&_rdc=1

http://www.cars.com/for-sale/searchresults...T&pgId=2102

I don't understand what your saying. You can buy a 240sx, and throw in a SR in your garage for less than 2-3k

That's a wild guess? Since you included Canada, I'll say that it's not a problem for us because we can import them from Japan at a relatively fair price when you consider the low mileage and that most of them are turbocharged.

As much as I like Cobras and Shelby's, they're expensive and rare and certainly wouldn't use them as track cars. They would be my weekend cars. Track cars I'd go JDM.

I just remembered about the Toyota Soarers/Lexus SC400. They're heavy cars, but still very fast and smooth for what they are.

Fox body Cobras were only made 1 year and are more highly looked for then the 95.