new To Tuning.. help Me Pick A car!

So i have close to 10k to spend on a new car and any mods i want.. I was thinking a 240sx with an SR swap, a civic or prelude with a JDM H22A motor swap, or an Integra GSR.. But any ideas on imports and mods for 10k or stock cars close to 10k would be greatly appreciated. Really did not want a civic due to the massive number of ricer civics.. but idk ANYideas please post here!  

Is there any particular platform you're looking for? It sounds like you're open to all AWD, AWD and RWD. Civics are fine; they are, aferall, very reliable and can be quick.

An Eclipse GSX or Talon tsi awd will have more potential for cheap, but come with horrible unreliability issues (most of the time). Even so, I'd go for an AWD DSM if you can find one in good condition, but only if it's stock.

I'm a sucker for AWD, so I'll also push the WRX as an option, you should be able to find one under that price.

I love my 3000gt VR4, but it's a lot of work to upkeep, so I'd shy away from it unless you have the strong desire for it (as I do).  
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1994 GTO Twin Turbo
nothin wrong with front-wheel drive, I just refuse to own one

I love the 3000gt its always been one of my fav looking ones not to mention the VR4 would be amazing if i could find it.. Id prefer a RWD but its not a huge issue to me. I thought about an Eclipse/Talon but my friend has built his talon literally from a shell and its the most unreliable car ive seen. Granted he is pushing 650hp but still. You think i could find a WRX for 10k? Any other ideas? i dont think i would be able to find a VR4 GTO or Galant (ultra rare although my friend stumbled along one lucky him). Id prefer one that already has a turbo so i dont have to put an extra 5-6k in just the turbo.. Do you think the Teg GSR or 240 Sr20DET would be good ideas? sorry just looking for your opinion/ any new ideas for cars.  

speaking of VR4 GTO's.. look at how sad this makes me http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/1332240896.html why would anyone do this to such a beautiful car..?  

Not a terrible deal, but the body obviously needs serious work. Also kind of weird with the yellow on red, maybe he wanted it to look more Ferrari-ish?

A 240 with a swap is always good, but I think it'll be a pricey project. Someone else here will have more info on that.  
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1994 GTO Twin Turbo
nothin wrong with front-wheel drive, I just refuse to own one

Try looking for a Srt-4 or a Hyundai Tiburon Gt V6...  
The Tiburon Guru

ha id NEVER buy an SRT-4 idc how fast they are because a. I hate American Cars b. I especially hate Neons lol. c. A tiberon? those things are so slow and not a ton of aftermarket support.. like engine swaps. I want a kickass engine in my *** and hyundai makes shitty engines minus the new genesis lol.  

OK big boy.....well I promise you that you wont think that after you get left buy my tib. You dont know what slow is man. You have to know how to drive before you can go out and call a car slow especially a tiburon gt v6. are you crazy or something???  
The Tiburon Guru

bro a stock gt v6 pulls like 176hp at the crank. Ha. My 1997 Maxima GXE pulls 190 at the crank. What have you done to your tib? Because those engines dont have a lot of aftermarket support. So im guessin if i bought a 240sx s13 and swapped in a sr20det and put a good Intercooler, BOV, WG, and intake&exhaust itd smoke your *** Im not knockin the tib it looks bad as *** my gf has one and with rims, dark tint, and lowered itd be sexy as hell. I mean i still love driving hers but in terms of tuning and modding it just doesnt have a whole lot of stff to back it up. unless you can show me what all can be done and what power/torque gains can be made its just hard for me to believe. do you have any pics of your tib?  

Alright thanx for calming down a little. Considering the weight to horsepower ratio my tib has got alot of cars beat. I just got my tib but im playing on putting a supercharger and exhaust and the hole nine yards. But right now all it has that isnt stock is a upgraded transmission and trust me it makes a hell of a difference. You may beat me on the top end but I am gonna leave you at first.  
The Tiburon Guru

idk bro my gfs auto tib has absolutely NO low end Torque. My NisMax is auto but its quick as *** off the line. no off i think id still take you but if you got a lighter flywheel, and weight reduction. My gfs tib is terrible off the line like i smoke her everytime. But itd be interesting to go head to head with you itd be fun ha. But are you planning any visual/body part upgrades? id think abt a new header, exhaust, and intake befor i go with a turbocharger or supercharger. But that would be tight. What color is yours? u need like 5% rear tint, 35 front, lowering springs and some sick rims i would love to see a tib like that.  

Yea man im glad you actually have an open mind about these cars. My ride is a silver 2003 Tiburon Gt V6 6 speed. My car has awesome low end torque. Like i said it has a manual six speed and it takes off amazing. My car is quick off the line also. But for a tuner a manuel is the way to go. Yea im planning on getting a full body kit not sure which one yet, I wanna a new hood and spoiler. But first I want to work on performance. Im starting with a Dual catback exhaust system then headers and eventually a cold air intake. It will be a while before a get a bolt on power adder like a turbo or supercharger. Whoever had the car before me put really dark tint on it. I dont know the percentage exactly but I promise you its barely legal. And yea I will eventually get around to putting a better suspension.

Let me know some of your suggestions..I might consider them, after all im just getting started in the tuner scene, but I have been around cars all of my life.  
The Tiburon Guru

yea i really wanted a manual 01 vtech prelude but it cost just over our budget lol. my dad paid 4 out of the 5k. im pretty new to tuning/modding cars but know some things :/ id start w the cold air then exhaust then header but thats just me.  I really wanted this 240 manual in our price raange but my dad said since its a coupe and old insurance/maintanance would be costly. *** thats spelled way wrong. here in OH 50% is legal front and anything is legal in back. you should buy a sick CF hood and spoiler with some black rims.  try a new LSD and some anti-roll bars.  

Before I bought my tib I was looking for a prelude like the one your talking about and I found one that had a engine swap. It has a jdm h22a engine I think. It was nice but I wanted a newer car that looked really good. But yea im trying to decide whether I wanna save and get a turbo or supercharger or do I want to just leave it n/a. And yea we think alike. Ha Im trying to make it a carbon fiber car. But yea 240sx takes alot of maintenence to keep them running, but I would love to have one as a fix up car to race on the weekends or something.  
The Tiburon Guru

yea itd definately be sick. i have a buddy who owns a 240s15 but has an rb26dett engine in it.. omg that car is stupid fast like i cant even describe. and my other frind has a tsi talon he and his dad built by themselves from a shell.. it now makes 650hp.. since its fwd it can take a gallardo/murcielago from a 50or 70 HW roll. I like the tib and was considering it for my next car but from what i looked up and saw on forums and online there isnt a lot of aftermarket support.. and not too many options (at least compared to a teg/240/prelude) but yea you car good be looking good and be pretty quick if you got a lighter clutch flywheel etc and and all that carbon fiber with the added power to a lighter chassis would be sick.