Interested in a second tuning car..

[Unknown_Epiphany]

Seeing Scionlife's thread on the limitations of our engine has really got me thinking. I now think that a better idea ( for myself anyway) would to look at a used toyota car and tune it. I am not looking to spend more then 5 grand on the car outright and do not want older then 1993.

What toyota car would give me the most bang for my buck at first and then give me some reasonable HP and torque gains?

I do plan on keeping my Yaris until the wheels fall off as a DD.. so no flaming me lol

[jdubau55]

I dont know of any Toyotas I would tune for under 5G's and '93 or up. Thats a hard shoe to fill. Bout the only thing worth it would be a Supra or MR2.

[Unknown_Epiphany]

My G/F's old friend had a Celica which was pretty nice. I am not totally sold on either tuning the Yaris or another car it is just something that really interests me. Any other suggestions?

[joey1320]

does it have to be a toyota???

[Unknown_Epiphany]

No but I am def sticking with Japanese Manufacturing.

[eTiMaGo]

HOnda CiVic yO! :barf:

I'd say look into nissan, they may be pretty common, but they have some really tough engines that can take a lot of abuse, and can be swapped around relatively easily if needed.

Or an older Subaru Impreza, those are pretty awesome too

[Unknown_Epiphany]

My soon to be Fiancee's brother has a WRX and I do like the way it drives. What kinds of Nissan would you recommend eTiMaGo?

That is exactly the way I feel about Civics too.

[Vervepipes]

Mazda MX3, 5, or 6. I had a friend with an MX3 1.8L v6 and it was a little rocket

[eTiMaGo]

My soon to be Fiancee's brother has a WRX and I do like the way it drives. What kinds of Nissan would you recommend eTiMaGo?

That is exactly the way I feel about Civics too.

Well I'm not quite sure what's available in the states and under what names, and at what prices! But for a 93 or later car, a S14 or similar would be good, and they look good too IMO :wink:

[Unknown_Epiphany]

I know this sounds really petty but if FORD has anything to do with a company I will not touch it lol. Mazda , Volvo, Aston Martin ( like I could ever afford it) and etc. will never be bought by me because of their association with Ford.

I am researching different manufacturers and different cars. It is just hard to get a good idea about a car because of the non sensical fanboys on those sites.

[TrancosRt]

What about an old Mazda Miata?
Chick car, granted, but those things pretty much last forever (A friend's father has an old one and the thing still kicks ass).
Maybe Ford hadn't taken over Mazda when the Miata was designed?

[CASTREX]

Toyota Celica
Toyota MR2
Nissan Sentra SE-R (B13, B14 chasis)
Nissan 240 SX (S14 chasis)
Both Nissan options are easy swaps to the SER DET engine capable of up to 500hp!
Mazda Miata
Mazda speed
Mitsubishi Eclipse GS-T

[jdubau55]

I'd def go with the 240SX. The aftermarket support is ridonkulus. If you swap in a SR20DET the sky is limitless. You could even be unique and swap the CA18DET but the aftermarket in the US for that is very small. Even in Japan it gets no love cause of the SR20.

[Nutzoids]

3 Cars come to mind in the Under 5 Grand Tuning Category

Car number 1: Rear Wheel Drive Fun!
198X Toyota Corolla GT-S
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Toyota-Corolla-gts-1984-toyota-corolla-gt-s-ae86-rare-hachiroku-4ag_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6445QQihZ017QQitemZ 270108048560QQrdZ1


Car number 2: The car that can take the Biggest Beating!
199X Honda Prelude
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/93-PRELUDE-new-motor-AEM-intake-Great-car-all-around_W0QQitemZ280101297314QQihZ018QQcategoryZ625 9QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Car number 3: Arguably the car that started it all!
198X Volkswagen Scirocco
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Volkswagen-Scirocco-1988-16-Valve-2-door-Hatchback_W0QQitemZ220101788955QQihZ012QQcategoryZ 6060QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

:evil:

[joey1320]

i'm sorry but with 5g's i'll buy a 92-95 civic cx hatch and get a 94-00 integra ls engine swap. that would be less than $2000-3000

then get a ebay turbo kit for less than $1200 and you are set(5-7psi). get a suspension setup and some 15" wheels and you are good to go.

[eTiMaGo]

Sure but then you'll be like the millions of other modded civic owners out there :wink:

Nah but seriously, it's really up to the original poster, the Civic route is definitely a relatively inexpensive, and well-documented way to get a fun modded car, but you already have a front-wheel drive Yaris, which is why I'd recommend the RWD or 4WD route.

[elsteverino889]

I say go with a honda civic, or a 240 sx both are sweet cars and ive been doing alot of research on honda civics and you can get a shell and import a type-r engine and easily push out 230 hp instantly and if u have money for the turbo youll be killin a ton of cars with 300+hp bcuz the power to weight ratio those things are killer

[Blenjar]

Get a Lotus engine and put it in the yaris.

thats even better! ;)

-- Blen

[churp]

Do a little hot roddin......Rx7's are cheap and you can put anything in them, find an old Nash Metro and put any jap rwd stup u want in it, old fiat 500's (seen these with VW/ Corvair engines hangin 2 feet out the back hood), old Mini Coopers!!!!.........sorry guess there's more hot rodder than tuner in me!!!

:burnrubber: :headbang:


The old buy this, buy that, and glue/bolt it on !!!!.....I'm gettin too old, there's only so many ways you can combine purchased parts and be creative. :rolleyes:

[Yaris Revenge]

I've always wanted an early-'90s Nissan 300ZX, but I have no idea how much they go for now.

~YR

[Unknown_Epiphany]

Yaris Revenge lol, That was and still is one my dream cars. They go for alot more then 5k especially if they are still in ok condition. The only issue with smaller cars with me is my height. I am 6'5 and I do fit in the Yaris but most other cars I can't even squeeze into. You should see me get into my g/f's 04 Cavalier. I look a clown in all honesty.

I will keep reaearching my options though and any other advice would be greatly appreciated. The most original the car the better in my opinion.

and no I refuse to mod a civic.

[Yaris Revenge]

and no I refuse to mod a civic.
Amen, brotha, amen!
:thumbup: :clap: :respekt:

Do you think Honda is aware that there's an entire group of potential customers out there that refuse to buy because of their current customers? :laugh: Sad, really... Honda makes good stuff.

~YR

[Unknown_Epiphany]

Oh I drove my best friends fiancee's car once. It was a 98 civic. It was fun to drive but I mean I have to go against the stream not with it.

[ECHOKnight2000]

I know this sounds really petty but if FORD has anything to do with a company I will not touch it lol. Mazda , Volvo, Aston Martin ( like I could ever afford it) and etc. will never be bought by me because of their association with Ford.

I am researching different manufacturers and different cars. It is just hard to get a good idea about a car because of the non sensical fanboys on those sites.

Ford doesn't own Mazda but it does have a stake in it, I'm not sure what percentage.:thumbsup: Personally I love the current Mazda's, very nice cars as well as cool looking IMO. My dad has a very nice teal 5-speed Mazda, its nice. Fords uses Mazda parts/platforms for some of its cars and vice versa. But obviously its up to you! Good luck!:thumbsup:

[jdubau55]

i'm sorry but with 5g's i'll buy a 92-95 civic cx hatch and get a 94-00 integra ls engine swap. that would be less than $2000-3000

then get a ebay turbo kit for less than $1200 and you are set(5-7psi). get a suspension setup and some 15" wheels and you are good to go.

Seriously...A 240SX and SR20 swap could be had for the same price. A mere 2-3000 into the SR20 would give you a reliable 350+ WHP. Not to mention actual race parts from super high quality tuners.

SR20DET SEX!!! (http://www.junauto.co.jp/democar/s15/index.html?en)

[Unknown_Epiphany]

Maybe I need to get two "tuning cars" one for my g/f and one for myself when I can afford both. Knowing here though she will want an eclipse (ewwwwwww).

Nice link jdubau55.

[Unknown_Epiphany]

One day when I have all of this money ( lol .)

[kurokoma-kun]

These are all such interesting suggestions. I'm wondering, do you want a car very similar to Yaris or one that's completley different?

I have been considering this exact same idea (traded more expensive car for Yaris in part so I could afford to tune something totally different).

To me Miata and CRX are both somewhat like Yaris (lightweight, great handling, fast cornering)--a blast to drive in twisties but not the greatest on highway or high speed). So I'm thinking RX-7 (2nd or 3rd gen), celica supra or 90s prelude.

[Unknown_Epiphany]

Completely different beast is what I am aiming for. Something more compact but balls to the wall.

[churp]

T-Rex type?

[ChinoCharles]

Real Honda tuners drive Acuras! :respekt:

[Unknown_Epiphany]

and real Toyota drivers do not drive either lol

[Black Yaris]

and real Toyota drivers do not drive either lol

Ohhhhh :clap: Unknown trumps Chino

[ChinoCharles]

I got nothin' :bow: :laugh:

[Unknown_Epiphany]

lol man I wish I didn't live in DE you guys from Ohio crack me up.

[Unknown_Epiphany]

I sm kind of leaning towards a sleeper car as well. Supras are nice but anyone who knows a thing about cars knows it is a beastly car. Plus I do not want every single pre-pubescent idiot to challenge me at redlights.

I want to drive it on the street and take it on the track.

[jdubau55]

If thats the case.....pimp out a 510. You can put all kinds of sick engines in those things and I think the are hot when tricked out.

[Unknown_Epiphany]

I had to google 510 to even see what you were talking about. WOW yeah that would be one heck of a sleeper. what years? I am actually really considering a 1995-1997 Celica GT. But I will keep my options open.

[kurokoma-kun]

Celica GTs are sweeeet! My sister had a '95--my 2nd car ever was a '77! Both were fun as hell and nearly indestructible. Do not know anyone who has rebuilt one recently though...

[Unknown_Epiphany]

I went to 6gc.net, helluva great resource for Celica 6th gen owners and am blown away at what you can do with those cars.

[Black Yaris]

1995-1997 Celica GT

that has always been one of my favorite cars

good idea:thumbsup: , with a 3SGTE swap, there are a couple guy here in Toledo with that set up, hella fast sleepers and tons of aftermarket parts

[Unknown_Epiphany]

Well I am going to start saving up. Shouldn't take me too long after I pay off my Yaris. I have an idea as well for me to make some money on the side. I have a compressor and and a paintgun so I am going to learn how to paint cars.

[Unknown_Epiphany]

Plus if I ever got good I would offer YW.com discounts.

[Black Yaris]

there is not much to painting cars, hardest part is getting a clean, dust free enviroment to do it in...