Most underrated car(s)?

So, what do you guys think the most underrated car for all around(ie not just drag racing) performance and its potential after a little bit of hotrodding?

So, what do you guys think the most underrated car for all around(ie not just drag racing) performance and its potential after a little bit of hotrodding?

There is a lot, but one of the most is the 3000GT VR4. I mean the 300ZX Twin Turbo, Supra Twin Turbo, and RX-7 Twin Turbo all get a lot of attention on the import tuning scene, and rightfully so, but people tend to forget that there is another Twin Turbo out there that has awesome performance too. Sure the main gripe is the weight, but who ever said the Supra and 300ZX were light weights, and even with it's weight the VR4 is still an awesome performance car.

Before everyone knew what a Silvia, 180SX, Sil-eighty....the 240SX was underrated...but it was light, RWD, cheap (relatively), and nimble.

I have to second that notion... so many people, even die-hard importers seem to neglect or discount this car... I don't see Y, / AWD and AW-steering I would think that this car can be made to be the Japanese King, yes, I said it, even dethrown the Skyline.

even dethrown the Skyline.

If it was meant to "dethrone" the Skyline...why didnt it dominate the JGTC and Australian TCC for so long they had to ban it since it was just too good/kicking everyone's tail?

hey joseph are you talking about the VR4?

Oh yea and by the way for the first time i will have to agree with 3000ways. the 3000gt VR4 is very underrated because they dont get as much attention as the other tt cars do? in my opinion its got the best looks of all those cars. they deserve to be on as many covers of import magazines as other cars. im never going to understand why its always the weight issue on this car, when the car competes and even beats many of the supposedly import kings. and by the way i would rather own a VR4 than a skyline. skylines miight be you guys's import king but for me the VR4 takes it all. SKYLINES are ugly square cars. just my 2 cents

well, I agree with you the VR4 doesnt get the attenion it deserves... but I find it extremely suprising the Dodge Stealth r/t turbo(or what the name name is) isnt even mentioned. That is an underrated car!
a few years ago I would agree the 240sx was underrated, but now its quite the opposite. Still a great car that you can get for not too much money though. :)

Other underrated cars...
Subaru Impreza 2.5RS: It has the old school wrx look, its lighter, you can get it as a coup. heck all of the awd impreza's rock and are great platforms imo.
Pontiac Fiero: These cars have a horrible reputation. They where underpowered becuase GM didnt wanted them to be a cheap echono car rather then a sports car but people have been doing some amazing things with these, allot of v8 swaps.
Toyota MK1 Mr2( aw11 ): Super lightweight mid-engine car. What kills me is now that the ae86 is getting all this attenion lately(thanks in part to Initial D and Best Motoring) but absolutly nothing about the aw11. *shrugs
Toyota mk3 Mr2/MR-S: Well I just personaly love this car exept for the fact its a convert. These cars are just simply amazying imo. Its a shame toyota didnt give them abit more power from the factory. This (http://auto.joins.com/upboard/pds/pdst/BestMotoring_Na_vs_Turbo.asf) is an interesting vid from BMI. NA vs. turbo. The guy in the mr-s is does very well. Its kinda funny actualy, mr-s is a good ways ahead and slows down and gets behind the silvia to show the differences between na and turbo. then catches back up and passes him... just go loose on the strait... but hey, 320hp vs 190 and the mr-s did get the fastest lap time.. :)
(since all cars where extremely modified it really isnt a great basis for an arguement, i just wanted to post the vid becuase it was interesting)

[edit: oops, i ment other underrated cars]

Mazda MX5- 'nuff said. 50/50 weight distribution, RWD, light and cheap. Yet somehow seen as a girls car. WTF?

yeah I agree with you 100percent but it really depends on who you go to. Very few autocrossers underrate this car.. but then there is the rest of the world.. I really hate it when people ignore and mock great cars with such piss poor excuses such as "chicks car". (what makes a car a chicks car btw?) Same can be said for the mr-s as well.

Mazda MX5- 'nuff said. 50/50 weight distribution, RWD, light and cheap. Yet somehow seen as a girls car. WTF?
i think it's cuz the carry the connotation of a "girls car". i agree with you though. miata's can be made very fast and are easily turbo ready and as you said handle very well.

i'd also say the Toyota mr2 is underrated.

Miatta - True
Scoob 2.5 - Prolly true.
280sx - True
Fierro - Got spanked by the aw11- Boo, ponticrap:)
Aw11 - Hell yeah, just sold mine tho :(
MK3 Mr2 - I'm very hesitant, Its just so 'Hello Kitty'
Ae86 - Yeah, it drowns out the aw11, but to be honest, aw11 had some handling issues, It was very nimble and out handled most carsm but not the ae86. The aw11 was a good bit tail heavy and it understeers in the twisties until it violently snaps around. The ae86 was a better car *sigh* four passenger with beatiful weight distrubution... it deserves the attention. (in fact i bought my aw11 from a guy who needed his garage for his ae86, and this was before Initial D:) )
VR4- I don't know, It deserves its place on the road, its a great car, but 'underated' i think not. True sports cars are supposed to be light and simple, I think the VR4 gets plenty of attention for being so fat and complicated...
-If i could pick one, it would be... it kinda sucks, you guys pointed mine out already, aw11,ae86,280sx,miata.. ahwell.

golf gti, audi a4 1.8 t, miata for sure, and yes even the civic. people think that because they can beat ricers that all civics are gonna be slow. not a huge civic fan but they are very underrated

I would have to agree that the 3000GT VR-4/Stealth RT/TT were very underrated cars. Another Mitsubishi that wasn't too bad, which was also the father of the FTO and the 3000GT/Stealth was the Starion/Conquest. It wasn't too bad for it's time.

I think most of you can hear this coming, but I'm going to have to say the cars like mine, The Turbo Chryslers/Dodges. They have to be some of the most underrated cars of all time. The majority of people think they are slow, can't handle, can't stop, and will fall apart after a few weeks. This couldn't be further from the truth. However, I don't mind, people can think that if they want. It makes it all the more fun to see the look on their faces when you blow their doors off, and not just in drag racing either.

Heh, I was just about to mention the LeBaron. It's a cheap, older domestic that's turbocharged from the factory and fairly lightweight.

But I think one of the most underrated cars, and best sleepers, is the Buick Regal GS. On the outside, it looks like a grandma car, but under the hood is a supercharged 3800 Series II V6. With very few mods, the car can actually run low 13's. And it's a freakin' Buick sedan :P

buick gnx nuff said

i really really hate these cars, but v6 probe/mx6's. i've seen these cars throw down some serious numbers. also (i can't believe i'm saying this) 24v contours and SHO taurus'. seen good runs by both.

My friend had an MX-6, and it was slow as hell, I smoked it in my V6 Camaro.

3000GT VR4, buick gnx are under rated?? I don't think so...

I'll agree with the turbo 4-cyl chryslers, and the mrk1 mr2.

I'll add the RA20-RA65 celica, RWD compact, good low end with the bulletproof 20R/22R/22R-E engine, proceeded the nissan 200sx/240sx by over 10 years...

Mazda 323 gt/gtx

i think that the sprite r/t and the early 90's eclipise's (awd, turbo only) are some pretty underrated cars


also any rotory car is underrated i think as well.

i find maximas are considred family cars but they put down some decent numbers . i guess its just because ppl dont turn them in2 very fast cars.

toyota cressidas are pretty quick and they share there drivetrain with the supra i guess they are the prodeccesor of the lexus is 300

Two cars that come to mind are the omni GLHS and the chevy caprice 9C1. 9C1s could be had with LT1s and an even better suspension than the impala SS.

mega man: Reminds me of a Cressida I saw with a twin-turbo Supra motor in it. Funniest shit ever :D

buick gnx nuff said


How are they underrated? They cost around $40k.

hmmm, toyota yaris t-sport.
it's only got a little 1.5 litre engine.
it isn't that fast.
BUT
it's cheap
it's cheap to insure
parts are cheap
and you can use every last ounce of power from it.
it won't beat many cars off the line (0-60 in 9secs if you're lucky)
but on the move, it'll take a brave driver to get the best of you.

my accord 152 tq out of a 4 cyl. wahooo. only one pound foot less than the old s2k. not fast but the tires are very easy to spin with the standard

Anything with a 3800 Series 2..N/A or SC'd, is underrated.

Underrated: Miatas, first gen probe/mx-6 turbo gt, Protege ES (put some racing beat sway bars, springs and tires and you'll be able to keep up with vipers on on-ramps) Third gen rx-7s (the most versaitle car out there)

wich one is the 3rd gen?

I only know them as fb,fc,fd ect

Fd3s

hmm. not that im going to argue with it but the FD would have never stuck me as underrated...

I would put the FB as being really underrated.. well, ignored for being a good platform for upgrades I should say. not sure of the stats of the 12a but I have heard of many people doing swaps in to the very light FB's.
*shrugs

The FD3S was probably the least underrated of the early nineties twin turbos. Now the 3000GT VR4...

Ford Escort W/ 1.9 L-



So when my FC won't start AGAIN I can go get parts....:lol2:

a gnx costs 40k ? ohhh maybe im thinking of a grandnational? what are u talking about they go from like 10k and up depending on the condition

A GNX is a Grand National

A GNX is a limited-run Grand National (I believe only 300 were made). It makes more power out of the box, but I can't remember how much.

yea thast what i meant i know a gnx and a grand national are the same thing thats why i said that because his numbers where so different from mine.

mazda mx-6 turbos are suppose to be pretty fastthey make 190 hp

I think the Merkur Xr4ti is really underrated. Most people havent even heard of it, its rwd and has a 2.3l turbo with 175 hp. And this was in the mid to late 80s when you were lucky to have any power at all. In Europe it was sold as the Ford Sierra, and Cosworth got their hands on it and made a Cosworth Sierra, an incredible car.

mega man: Nope, the Mazda MX-6 Turbo makes 145 hp and 190 torque (my numbers might be 5-10 off, but it's in that general area).

A GNX is a limited-run Grand National (I believe only 300 were made). It makes more power out of the box, but I can't remember how much.
285 hp thanks to a bigger ceramic ball bearing turbo, as opposed to 245 out of the normal GN.

ohh .. i stand corrected well 190 torque isnt that bad.. better then 190 hp

Yeah, the first gen. MX-6 Turbo isn't a bad car at all, good tuning potential :)

Gremlin - Ever ride in one with a 401 stuffed in it ?

a first gen isuzu impulse turbo, with a 2.6 truck block and a tbird turbo setup.

I think the most underrated car performance wise would be a 88 to 91 mustang gt the have exceptionally well performance and with a little time and a few hundred dolllars it could be a mean street performer

Did anyone mention the Pulsar/Sunny GTi-R?

It's not really underrated, I mean, if I wouldn't know what that is I would only laugh at that small car.

I read it has the AWD-system from the R33 skyline.
Plus, it's got the SR20-DET with 200hp
a little, very mean machine, runs high 13s stock!

http://www.japcar.ru/images/pulsar%20gti-r.jpg

cu

VERY unknown indeed. mention it to any kid, and you end up with ? marks. Can compete with STis and EVOs, but doesnt get the attention.

with the huge popularity of slightly old to new mid-lightweight RWD sports cars these days like the 240sx/silvia, FC rx7's, I would say the porsche 924/944's since they can be had for not too much money if you do your research and are good with a wrench. I just recently discoverd this.. :)
Also Mistubishi Starion and what ever dodges clone car was. :)

that GTI-R looks mean, yet a little weird with that hood. I'm we americans where denied of that jem as well right? :/

how can you say a conquest/starion is under-rated?

if anything they are over-rated!!!

Have you ever personally seen, first hand, what their stock rear suspension looks like?

GTiR's are insanely ugly little buggers, but relatively good cars if done properly.

how can you say a conquest/starion is under-rated?

if anything they are over-rated!!!

Have you ever personally seen, first hand, what their stock rear suspension looks like?

actualy I havent, explain.

the most underated car in the world is the plymouth road runner. 440 magnum, 4 barrel, this car is insane.

the mazda familia GTX.... and since no1 seems 2 care about italian cars anymore, the lancia delta HF integrale

the mazda familia GTX.... and since no1 seems 2 care about italian cars anymore, the lancia delta HF integrale
Familia GTX's seem like a nice idea- until you go through your third transmission and decide that it was a badly executed idea.

iz familia GTR same engine + gearbox???

Originally Posted by nbw


Cars on my list:
Mk1 mr2(aw11): Lightweight(NA's are about 2300lb's where as the SC weigh about 2600lb's do to standard fluff like t-tops) cheap little mid-engine car that is simply a blast to drive. the 4age has a good fallowing behind it but they are a little down on power with just above 100hp(keep in mind that it doesnt take much hp at all to get this car moving!)
Miata: Light weigh rwd, autocross demon. My only complaint is they are convertables... I hate converts! but thats just me... Dont nock this car off your list do to the label as a "chicks car". these cars own!
88 Fiero: mid/lightweight(about 2750lb's) mid-engine car. The engine that isn't much but an engine swap isnt that hard to do in this car. there are many v8 fiero's out there. the northstar v8 is a popular swap. Reason I chose 88 in piticular was becuase that is the year Pontiac got the Fiero right. It finaly got a revised suspension amungst other things that I cant remember atm..
CRX: Yeah i said it. These cars are really light and really cheap to buy and practicle!
Omni GLH/Shelby GLHS: I dont know jack about them but I remember reading about them being preaty cool. lightweight turbo 4bangers is about all I remember..
corrola gts(ae86): Lightweight FR car that is gaining popularity again do to a cartoon. Great car though if you can find one. ATM I dont remember much about them. 4age and yup.. there goes the rest of what I remember.
Mistubishi Starion/Dodge Conquest: FR turbocharged 2.4L 4bangers. dont know much about them though.(other then they look bad ass)
Foxbody Ford Mustang. GT or LX: at around 3000lb's stock with a 5.0L v8... HUGE aftermarket with tons of cheap stuff. It was and still is one of the best bang for your buck sports cars you can get!
Mazda GT-X/ ford TS3: Light weight AWD turbocharged. what more needs to be said? well, allot but saddly I dont know anything about them.. :p
z31 300zx: no info, sorry

1more time I get to use this. I am still looking for info on some of the cars listed so pls share. :)

well if your talking about cars in general then the Audi A8/S8 when compared to the MB S-class