First Street Racing Car?

[DoctorSwole]

Alright so I have been looking into buying a new car. I have been driving a 2004 Toyota Matrix that my mom gave me haha. But I am looking to get a new car that is suited for street racing. I am really quite uninformed on which cars are good/have the capability to be good. i am looking for a used (is that a good idea?) car for under 18g's or so, no more than 20. I would like a car that has a good market for upgrades and is very powerful. I have been looking into a Dodge SRT-4 because I've heard so many good things about them. But the other cars I have been looking at were RSX-S, Celica GT-S, 3000GT, Civic Si, or anything else. I'm not really sure of what a good street racing car is so if I could get any help i'd appreicate it or even an informative website. But what do you guys think of an SRT-4 as a car for me? Although I would prefer a coupe/2 door if the srt-4 is the most competitive then I will get that unless you guys can suggest somethingelse. Thanks a bunch for any help guys I really appreciate it.

[Igovert500]

Before everybody chimes in and tells you to get exactly what they either own or want to own.

1) how old are you?
2) how do you plan to pay for insurance adn maintaince?

[DoctorSwole]

I am 17 and my parents will be paying for insurance but I have to buy the car myself. I will most likely have to pay for maintenence/upgrades myself. Also one thing I'm wondering should I go for RWD or FWD? Also would buying used be a bad idea?

[Slowprocess]

To be perfectly honest, every one of your options suck as a first street racing car for 18g or less used. Sorry, but its the truth.
Before anyone with a car style listed in the above thread, this is not a stab at anyone's ride by any means. I would never recommend a 99 silverado to anyone for a first street racing ride, yet I have one. It has nothing to do with the capabilites of cars with mods,etc. This is simply in HIS particular situation. Just trying to keep him from making the same mistake ALOT of people make. What would my SS be right now if I would have gotten it instead of the truck back in 99? It would be a street sweeper of the worst kind.

I will explain more in detail if necessary......

[fivepointohhhh]

i would say if buying used spend half the money on car and save the other half for the things that WILL break and for upgrades, fwd would be a better car to start off with but i personaly love rwd and would never want to drive fwd, if you do go rwd take it easy until you learn your car so you dont swing it into anything

[drdisque]

Don't start street racing.

It's not cool, it's stupid and street racing makes you a moron.

Now if you want to buy a street car to race at the track, that's a whole different issue.

[Slowprocess]

Originally Posted by drdisque

Don't start street racing.

It's not cool, it's stupid and street racing makes you a moron.

Now if you want to buy a street car to race at the track, that's a whole different issue.

That would have been an AWESOME answer to a totally different question....like maybe," Should I start street racing?"

[DoctorSwole]

good point fellas I wasnt really thinking as I actually do have a drag race track relatively close to my house. and your right it would prob be alot safer to race it there although I still would like to drive it around in the streets...it's just such an adrenaline rush when I'm a passenger in my friends car while street racing. And if the cars I listed suck what ones would you recomend to me, something that I won't "outgrow" soon. Thanks for the help guys

[-The Stig-]

Decent street racer.... '98-'00 LS1 Camaro/Trans Am with automatic.

Bolt-ons with a aftermarket stall converter, reliable and consistent track/street car.

[GForce957]

Saturn

[Chiquae07]

saturn? are you nutz? a ls1 auto camero/trans am actually sounds good stig. only one thing. insurrance. i assume since having 18g to blow on a car, spend 9g on car, rest for repairs. grab a f-body stang and drop in the 702 block. lol. that would be insane. again, i agree with stig. btw, not tryin to hijack the thread, but how much is that crate motor?

[BullDog71ss]

Originally Posted by -The Stig-

Decent street racer.... '98-'00 LS1 Camaro/Trans Am with automatic.

Bolt-ons with a aftermarket stall converter, reliable and consistent track/street car.

Did you say reliable and LS1 in the same sentence, Matty?


I'd say an LT1 Camaro would be perfect car to start with. It's got more than enough umph in stock form to keep a new driver happy for at least 2 years or so, has a massive aftermarket, very stout motor and is fairly cheap compared to any car on that list to buy/upgrade. It is rwd with a good amount of power however, so a novice driver needs to be careful for a while untill the car is learned.


Bulldog, ftw!

[vwracer14]

a vw jetta or gti would be good.also a 90-94 eclipse gsx (warning this car requires you to know how to work on cars),and you cant go wrong with a 5.0 mustange

[VR43000GT]

I love 3000gt's but for 18 grand you could get a VR4. I dont reccomend that however, seeing as how the are damn expensive to maintain. They simpily aren't cheap cars and insurance on them is under "urban exotic". Then I am perplexed. You said 3000gt, Civic, etc. Completely different cars. What are you looking for? Speed in a straight line, nice handling car, something that looks real nice, Fi or n/a, etc.

[VR43000GT]

Originally Posted by BullDog71ss

Did you say reliable and LS1 in the same sentence, Matty?

No, no he didn't. They are clearly in seperate sentences.

Originally Posted by -The Stig-

Decent street racer.... '98-'00 LS1 Camaro/Trans Am with automatic.

Bolt-ons with a aftermarket stall converter, reliable and consistent track/street car.