50 fastest affordable imports?

Imports



For comparison sake, here are a few import 1/4 mile times. Note: Only cars with MSRPs less than $50,000 are on the list, so no exotics. Remember, these are supposed to be affordable.




FASTEST IMPORT CARS
# YEAR/MODEL ET/MPH ENGINE HP TRANS SOURCE
1 2001 BMW M Roadster [email protected] 3.2 I6 315 5-Speed MT 4/02
2 2001 BMW M3 Coupe [email protected] 3.2 I6 333 6-Speed MT 8/01
3 1993 Toyota Supra Turbo 13.4 3.0 V6 Turbo 320 - -
4 1995 Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 13.5 3.0 V6 Turbo 320 - -
5 2000 Honda S2000 [email protected] 2.0 I4 240 6-Speed MT 2/00
6 1995 Nissan 300ZX Turbo 13.9 3.0 V6 Turbo - - -
7 1993 Mazda RX-7 R1 13.9 - - - -
8 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX [email protected] 2.0 F4 Turbo 227 5-Speed MT 1/02
9 1995 Toyota MR2 Turbo 14.8 - - - -
10 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX 14.9 2.0 I4 Turbo - - -
11 2002 Acura RSX Type S [email protected] 2.0 I4 200 6-Speed MT 1/02
11 1994 Honda Prelude VTEC 15.1 @ 93 2.2 I4 190 5-Speed CD 6/94
13 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse GTS Spyder [email protected] 3.0 V6 210 5-Speed MT 4/02
14 1997 Acura Integra Type R 15.2 1.8 I4 190 5-Speed -
15 2002 Audi A4 Quattro 15.3 3.0 V6 220 6-Speed MT 2/02
16 1997 Acura Integra GS-R 15.5 1.8 I4 170 5-Speed -
17 2002 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec-V [email protected] 2.0 I4 175 6-Speed MT 4/02
18 1999 Honda Civic Si 15.7 1.6 I4 160 5-Speed -

would any of you change anything?

....well aside from the fact that this isnt actually the Top 50, its the top 18, i think this shud be stickied

why skip 350Z, Sti, Evo?

because i guess even though the invoice price of those cars may be less than 50 G's, the MSRP might be alot higher (like 150% even.)

....well aside from the fact that this isnt actually the Top 50, its the top 18, i think this shud be stickied


oops :uhoh: , it came from a list the top 50 muscle cars of all time, which they also added some top import cars, this is why i named it 50, not thinking.

i think it might be a little old so that might be why those other cars aren't in them.

so where would you guys put the evo sti and 350z in this list?

If it were me, I'd probablly place the Evolution and WRX STI in the thick of it in between the VR-4 and S2000....not sure which would be first since I'm too lazy to look through mags at 3 am.

As for the 350Z.....in between the WRX and MR2 Turbo.

Missed:

Mitsubishi Evolution 8
Subaru STI
VW R32
BMW Z4
Mercedes SLK

And many others...
VW GTI VR6
VW 1.8T
Lotus Elise

cerbera, chimera, griffith, tuscan, tamora....

oops.
you can't really get these can you...?

why only imports?

Because the topic is called:

50 fastest affordable imports

This would really kind of require a comprehensive list of cars imported to the US, a database with all relevant information included. Then you have to choose which area of performance you want to focus on. Whether it be 1/4 mile times as listed above, allow handicaps for age or displacement or potential for more power. But thats sounds hard. And I got a VG to tear down. And some soup cooking.

wow, why didnt I figure that out!? :disappoin




I was asking youngvr4 why the the thread is about imports only. especialy since the mitsubishi eclipse GSX is infact a domestic! .

wow, why didnt I figure that out!? :disappoin




I was asking youngvr4 why the the thread is about imports only. especialy since the mitsubishi eclipse GSX is infact a domestic! .

well, it has a mitsubishi motor, and drivetrain. all the mechanical stuff were pretty much engineered by mitsubishi, although it might of been put together in usa or some other place. i think the exterior appearance was designed by both mitsu, and chrysler. i think chrysler designed most of the body, while mitsu put finishing touches to it, like sideskirts, bumpers.

dude. it doesnt REALLY matter who made the cars. Here's how you determine if a car is import or domestic REGARDLESS of your country.
Domestic:
Ford, GM, Chevy, Pontiac, Lincoln, Buick, Mercury, Chrysler, Dodge, Oldsmobile

Import:
Anything else.

It's not based on what/who the car is made of, it's where the company is known to be from.

well, i know a maxima can fall anywhere between 8&13

Yeah there are a lot of cars missing and all times could be + or - a couple of tenths. Aso I do think magazines should be used, but a combination of sources should be used and averaged out. Say for instance the Evolution, tested by MT at 13.0, tested by R&T at 13.4, tested by C&D at 13.6, and etc. So compiling a list is difficult, but I do like the concept. I added a few, like I said all cars on the list can be + or - a couple of tenths (depending on track, track conditions, driver, or even the car itself, because even cars that are the same model dyno differently.

FASTEST IMPORT CARS
# YEAR/MODEL ET/MPH ENGINE HP TRANS SOURCE
1 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR [email protected] I4 Turbo 285 R&T- Speed Spring Edition
1 2001 BMW M Roadster [email protected] 3.2 I6 315 5-Speed MT 4/02
2 2001 BMW M3 Coupe [email protected] 3.2 I6 333 6-Speed MT 8/01
2 2004 Subaru WRX STI [email protected] 2.5L F4 Turbo 300 (multiple sources average)
3 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution RS [email protected] 2.0L I4 Turbo 271 (multiple sources average)
4 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution [email protected] 2.0L I4 Turbo 271 (multiple sources average)
4 1993 Toyota Supra Turbo 13.4 3.0 V6 Turbo 320 - -
4 1995 Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 13.5 3.0 V6 Turbo 320 - -
5 2000 Honda S2000 [email protected] 2.0 I4 240 6-Speed MT 2/00
6 1995 Nissan 300ZX Turbo 13.9 3.0 V6 Turbo - - -
7 1993 Mazda RX-7 R1 13.9 - - - -
8 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX [email protected] 2.0 F4 Turbo 227 5-Speed MT 1/02
9 1995 Toyota MR2 Turbo 14.8 - - - -
10 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX 14.9 2.0 I4 Turbo - - -
11 2002 Acura RSX Type S [email protected] 2.0 I4 200 6-Speed MT 1/02
11 1994 Honda Prelude VTEC 15.1 @ 93 2.2 I4 190 5-Speed CD 6/94
13 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse GTS Spyder [email protected] 3.0 V6 210 5-Speed MT 4/02
14 1997 Acura Integra Type R 15.2 1.8 I4 190 5-Speed -
15 2002 Audi A4 Quattro 15.3 3.0 V6 220 6-Speed MT 2/02
16 1997 Acura Integra GS-R 15.5 1.8 I4 170 5-Speed -
17 2002 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec-V [email protected] 2.0 I4 175 6-Speed MT 4/02
18 1999 Honda Civic Si 15.7 1.6 I4 160 5-Speed -

I started doing it, and then realized I'd be adding cars forever, because there so many that fit in between 1 and 18. Cars such as 2004 Audi S4 with the V8, 2003 Audi S4 with Twin Turbo, BMW E36 M3 and E36 M Roadster and Coupe, 1991-1996 Acura NSX, BMW 330I, BMW 330XI, used BMW 540I, 5-Speed manual IS300, 2004 Acura TL, 6-Speed manual 2003 Acura CL Type S and TL Type S, Toyota Celica GT-S, Toyota Celica All Trac 4, R32 Skyline from Motorex or other importers, 350Z, G35 Coupe and Sedan, M45, used Q45, Acura TSX, Mazda MazdaSpeed Protege, Mazda MazdaSpeed Miata, Lotus Elise, BMW Z4 3.0, BMW 840CI, Mini Cooper S, Audi TT, Mazda RX-8, 2004 Nissan Altima and Maxima, 2004 Honda Accord V6, Lexus GS430 and GS400, Lexus SC400, Lexus LS400, 2004 Toyota Solara (222HP), Beetle Turbo S, and more and more.

well, it has a mitsubishi motor, and drivetrain. all the mechanical stuff were pretty much engineered by mitsubishi, although it might of been put together in usa or some other place. i think the exterior appearance was designed by both mitsu, and chrysler. i think chrysler designed most of the body, while mitsu put finishing touches to it, like sideskirts, bumpers.

very true, only reason I brought it up was that it kind complicates things.

The real point of the question "why only imports" as in why filter out a a few sports cars for no apperent hence forth I asked what this reason would be.

1 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR [email protected] I4 Turbo 285 R&T- Speed Spring Edition
:eek: holy crap thats a quick sadan.

*now if they would put that in a lightweight sports coup :p

Woops my bad, I miss read the issue, it's CORRECTION- [email protected]

the ":eek:" still stands

Is that a Japanese version, or the USDM version? Because I believe the USDM version only has 280 hp, as opposed to the 285 you have listed.

that mr has a bigger turbo than the regular lancer evo, and look how quick the regular evo can get with the stock turbo, it can do low 12s. with basic turbo mods, with the stock turbine, i bet the mr can do 11s.

..there's also a very limited 400bhp (factory) version of the evo coming to the uk.

if the 400bhp is scary,
how about the 380lb/ft of torque that goes with it?

..there's also a very limited 400bhp (factory) version of the evo coming to the uk.

if the 400bhp is scary,
how about the 380lb/ft of torque that goes with it?


are you sure because the fastest EVO in the UK that i know of is the FQ340 and even that is not exactly factory since the mods are done by dealers. they do keep the warranty though

pretty sure.
it's a celebratory model (30 years) done by Ralliart
called the VFQ.
just 30 to be made.

can't remember the rest....

and um, not sure what you would call factory or not.
Ralliart is mistubishi,
well, their uk motorsports division...

does that count?

kinda like the STI guys for subaru.

pretty sure.
it's a celebratory model (30 years) done by Ralliart
called the VFQ.
just 30 to be made.

can't remember the rest....

and um, not sure what you would call factory or not.
Ralliart is mistubishi,
well, their uk motorsports division...

does that count?

kinda like the STI guys for subaru.


Cool i never heard of that one, since only 30 will be made i bet it will cost a lot.

BTW when i said not quite factory i was refering to the FQ models, from what I understand its done by authorised dealers using HKS parts.

But if the model you are talking about is done by Ralliart then that would be factory.

um, not sure about the FQ cars cos as far as i'm aware, they're all done by Ralliart over here....
just so you know, it's not just a new parts fit in the VFQ.
it's a engine rebuild with new con-rods, cylinder heads, manifolds, turbos etc, etc.
still two litres but upped power although not excessively to maintain reliability (i.e still well within engine stress limits)

and yeah, not cheap.
price unconfirmed but estimated at £40-45,000
but then it's offering porsche gt accelleration, if not the top speed (but then that's down to gearing....)

hmm, I want an evo now..

I don't. The USDM versions are built like crap. :(

I don't. The USDM versions are built like crap. :(


Well beside the clutch and 5th gear syncro they don't seem too bad. Anyway hopefully with the advent of the MR we'll get something closer to the rest of the world evo.

That's the problem, Mitsubishi can be anal about fixing that stuff.

I don't. The USDM versions are built like crap. :(

couldnt be anyworse then the 1g GSX wich is about the closest thing I can afford.. :mad:

I don't. The USDM versions are built like crap. :(


I wouldn't say crap, most EVO owners don't have major problems, but I wouldn't call them the most reliable, but crap, please... I know you had some buddy who had trouble with his EVO and trouble with a local Mitsubishi dealership, but your experience does not represent the entire Mitsubishi EVO experience of most. Get over it and move on, sh*t it wasn't even your car, stop hating. Also the EVO MR has been reported to have 280HP+, not surprising you would leave the plus out, and just say 280HP.

I say 280 because every article I've read on it quotes the USDM version at 280 HP and 295 torque. Automakers underrate/overrate cars all the time, I'm not going to put a + or - by every HP figure.

What am I supposed to think of the Evo, when the only two I've ever seen had clutch/tranny problems that Mitsu refuses to fix? I'm not saying my experience represents the whole Evo community, but it represents to me that they aren't built that well.

I say 280 because every article I've read on it quotes the USDM version at 280 HP and 295 torque. Automakers underrate/overrate cars all the time, I'm not going to put a + or - by every HP figure.

What am I supposed to think of the Evo, when the only two I've ever seen had clutch/tranny problems that Mitsu refuses to fix? I'm not saying my experience represents the whole Evo community, but it represents to me that they aren't built that well.

I'm sorry that you had two bad experiences with EVOs, but like I said your experiences doesn't necessarily mean this is the experiences that most EVO owners go through. Please check out this poll in which some of the issues you have brought up in the past are addressed-

http://forums.evolutionm.net/showthread.php?t=90780

there is a guy on here buy the name of 2000ls1. he has a evo and had to replace the clutch within i beleive a month or two of having the car

but is that because of bad car or bad driving?

i mean, remember that this is a car that is meant to be driven hard and fast,
and most people do.
result = the occasional bad gear change, clutch slips, gears grind....

to cite another example.
driven hard (i.e track use), the old elise vhpd eats a clutch every 3000 miles, not to mention what it does to the engine....

but is that because of bad car or bad driving?

i mean, remember that this is a car that is meant to be driven hard and fast,
and most people do.
result = the occasional bad gear change, clutch slips, gears grind....

to cite another example.
driven hard (i.e track use), the old elise vhpd eats a clutch every 3000 miles, not to mention what it does to the engine....


Well for a while I used to say the same thing: "Its the users" but what changed my mind was when C&D did a comparo between an offroad bike and an evo. The evo was driven by last year's SCCA's Pro Rally Champion (on an evo). At the end of the day they had to tow the car back since the clutch died. You cannot say that it was driver error with one of the best US rally drivers at the wheel.

The sentra you have listed is a 2.5L actually...everything else seemed to be alright...

personally I don't think this should be stickied...because it's purely an opinion of what 50 cars should be on it...are we talking about used and new or just new cars? because I doubt there are 50 cars that are even quick that are also imports and affordable...and by affordable you definitely have a very open opinion...most car buyers are looking at under 25k...tops 30k for a sporty car that isn't necessarily practical...

We all can dream, but what's the point...I'd rather be enjoying an rx7 r1 or mr2 turbo than thinking about the new evo coming out and how if I spent all my college savings and sold everything I own I might be able to make to payments...No offense to anyone who can afford it...it's just most of us can't.

Well for a while I used to say the same thing: "Its the users" but what changed my mind was when C&D did a comparo between an offroad bike and an evo. The evo was driven by last year's SCCA's Pro Rally Champion (on an evo). At the end of the day they had to tow the car back since the clutch died. You cannot say that it was driver error with one of the best US rally drivers at the wheel.

Heh, I remember reading about this. And just for the record, my friend never once launched the car, and he grinded the gears maybe once or twice within 3000 miles. The clutch still died. I have no idea why Mitsubishi refuses to recall the car, I guess they don't have the money to be able to do that.

yep, and you can say its the user but how many other cars you know of clutch going out in the first month with only 2 launches and no grinding? i launched my car probably 20 times before the clutch ever went out and that was at 130,000 miles.

how bout 3000 miles. doesnt make much sense does it.

and about the mitsu not able to afford it. within the mitsubishi world, rumor is mitsu is going out of business. there is 2 dealerships that have shut down up here in the past 2 months. and my city isn't the only one. its been in papers and all

When Daimler-Chrysler cut off funding to Mitsubishi Motors, they probably would have died if the other Mitsubishi companies didn't bail them out. It's not just a rumor, it's gonna happen if Mitsubishi doesn't start selling some cars soon. The new Galant isn't doing too well against the Mazda 6 and the Accord EX V6, nor is the Lancer doing very well against the Mazda 3 and Civic EX.

The evo was driven by last year's SCCA's Pro Rally Champion (on an evo). At the end of the day they had to tow the car back since the clutch died

well, the thing is, this is slightly 'skewed' too cos the car doesn't use the same clutch (or gearbox)that the proper rally car does.
imagine how much stress it must have been through?

a few years back, (i can't remember who) took a mondeo st200 for a few laps around a touring car track for a comparison to his full on mondeo touring car.
he more or less wrecked the gear box.
y'know, if driven normally by normal people, the gearbox would be fine....

y'know.
i'm not defending the car here,
just want to throw some other factors into the open.
also, i should point out that there haven't been many reports of dodgy clutches on evo's around here.

well, the thing is, this is slightly 'skewed' too cos the car doesn't use the same clutch (or gearbox)that the proper rally car does.
imagine how much stress it must have been through?


y'know.
i'm not defending the car here,
just want to throw some other factors into the open.
also, i should point out that there haven't been many reports of dodgy clutches on evo's around here.


I know they ussually use sequentials on rally cars, but even then I'm sure the guy has to know what he is doing. You don't get to be a rally champion by being a crappy driver.

And I'm not surprised that you guys don't get as many problems with your EVOs. remember you're getting the whole thing with AYC Active Diff etc...and the best explanation I found for the clutch failure is that the clutch is designed to work with a different center diff running different transfer rates and not the viscous pasive 50:50 diff the US gets.

You guys are assuming that most EVO owners have been having major problems with their clutches. While I don't doubt there are cases (perhaps more than usual) where clutches have been a problem, to use a few cases to represent a whole is ridiculous. I have already shown you evidence that most of Mitsubishi community have not reported problems, until you provide proof of other wise (other than a few cases), such as atleast 40% of Mitsubishi EVO owners reporting clutch failure, than what you are typing really doesn't have any legs to stand on.

You see I am open to other's opinion, but honestly what you guys are typing really does not have any legs to stand on. I consider myself a potential Mitsubishi EVO customer, and honestly if there are major clutch failures being reported by Mitsubishi EVO owners than yes it is something of big concern to me. So please if you guys have any information proving that it is something of an absolute major concern than yes I am all ears or eyes in this case since we are on the internet. But as of now, all you guys have given me, is a few cases of problems, so should I listen to you and your few examples of very pre-mature clutch failures or should pay most of my attention to the countless numbers of polls on this particular subject in which 80% or more actual Evolution owners have stated to not have any major problems with their clutches? I'm sorry the latter evidence is just a lot more convincing in my opinion.

you mean, you guys get different evos to the uk?

how the hell does that work?
how can you sell a car called evo whatever in the states that is actually different to the evos in the rest of the world?

no offence but that seems rather silly to me.

You guys are assuming that most EVO owners have been having major problems with their clutches. While I don't doubt there are cases (perhaps more than usual) where clutches have been a problem, to use a few cases to represent a whole is ridiculous. I have already shown you evidence that most of Mitsubishi community have not reported problems, until you provide proof of other wise (other than a few cases), such as atleast 40% of Mitsubishi EVO owners reporting clutch failure, than what you are typing really doesn't have any legs to stand on.

its not as if i have this written on paper, but i know 2 guys personally that have had to replace there clutch and a guy on here also.

its like the reason why people are skeptical about dsm' trannie. it didn't get that rep for nothin.

not saying ALL of there clutches went out, but when you got severall people telling you its went out on people they know and it hasnt even been 3 months since they had it, that says something because you don't here that with any other brand new car thats came out. i have not heard anything about sti's clutch.

maybe i'll pm 2000ls1 since he owns one and he'll give his thoughts, because he also knows of other evo-8 owners that it went out on also i beleive.

Once again you give me examples of several people and those several examples are just suppose to outweigh the hundreds of examples that do not have any problems. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying go buck wild and launch all day and every day with an EVO, the clutch should be monitored carefully, but I'm sorry the exaggerated tales of 1,000 and 1,000 of EVOs clutches going kaboom do not exist. In fact you haven't even given me exaggerated tales of thousands, just examples of 2 or 3 people.

you mean, you guys get different evos to the uk?

how the hell does that work?
how can you sell a car called evo whatever in the states that is actually different to the evos in the rest of the world?

no offence but that seems rather silly to me.


Its no offence to me but this is what Mitsubishi did. How do you think they managed to keep it so cheap. it costs here in US dollars as much as in the UK in pounds. And the ratio dollar to pound is about 1.6 so its way cheaper here.

They did that by removing the Active cented diff, AYC, and automatic climate control. Those are the obvious changes, what else nobody knows.

------------------------------------------------

3000ways we are not saying that all evo's have clutch problems but an unaceptable percentage of them have problems.

In the link you posted:

http://forums.evolutionm.net/showthread.php?t=90780

20.29% of people voting had problems. That is a huge percentage and its absolutelly unaceptable.

Its the same with the 2nd gen DSM, I'm sure most of them don't get crankwalk but enough of them get it to make it a very serious problem.

BTW you should take note that most of us are EVO suporters but we cannot overlook evident problems with the USDM version.

man, that is in my opinion, really bad practice....
is that typical behaviour from your car dealers?
i mean, i understand the safety issues such as bumpers (almost...) but to remove the ayc and diff
AND
to still call it the evo when it quite clearly isn't?

y'know, every now and then i wonder if things really are that different between the u.s and the u.k
then i hear something like that...
and there i thought what ford did to the st170 for your market was bad (making it all soft and mushy...).
can't you guys complain to the dealer or something?

or is it something to do with u.s import laws and safety regs and such?
i mean, i hear that customs can impound on the spot if you even look at them funny (or something like that).

I really don't know why, but you're right, we definitely get half-assed imports here in America. I guess it's just to keep costs down, although honestly, I don't think that the average American driver can live with the intensity and ferocity of a true Japanese import.