Import Mod Questions

[tweaker76]

Let me explain what I am attempting to do, and hopefully, the good folks here can help me out.

Currently, I drive a 2000 VW Jetta with a V-4. It's also an auto. I didn't buy the car because I wanted speed. I just liked the way the car drove. I have no desire to do any mods on this car besides upgrading the sound system.

Nevertheless, the next car I am planning on buying will be a "sports" car.
Up until I started reading about street racing, I had planned to buy a Porsche Boxster -- one of the advantages of being over paid with no kids or a wife. Anyway, since I have a problem (I need to know how everything works and why), I thought it would be cool to buy a nice import and mod it. I am willing to spend up to the price in total of a Boxster. I am also 25.

Another problem of mine is that I like to plan things out. I do not intend to buy a new car until 2004.

What I would like to know is:

1) what are the current best imports for mod work?

2) without going back to school (I work about 60+ hours a week), what are good resources for learning how to mod a car? books, weekend programs, etc.?

3) any suggestions for good driving schools?

4) what would you do?

Thanks,

Tweak

[fastrThanU]

currently IMO, the imports i'd be most interested in modding would be the Supra, 911, RX-7, and NSX off the top of my head. Personally, i'm more of a domestic guy myself, but i still like a bunch of imports. those are some of the big names. as far as reading up, i'd subscribe to some car magazines. not car and driver or any of that crap, but something that will show you tearing down and building up a car. Car Craft and mags like that are great, and although they're for domestics, they'll teach you the theory, and how to make power. i'd also read a book on rebuilding an engine. another way is to just goin and get yer hands dirty, find some friends at local car cruises during the summer, and hook up. i did all this before i even bought my first car, so needless to say, before i even got behind thee wheel, i knew my way around pretty much any car.
Skip Barber is a great driving school. they will teach you all the ins and outs of performance driving and how to be safe. i highly recommend them. best of luck to you.

[DemonZX]

i would agree on his choice of cars. RX-7's put out great power to weight ratio, but they don't last. You also have the 300ZXTwinTurbo heavy, but plenty of mods available. My choice would be the Supra TwinTurbo. Ton's of go fast parts available, plus plenty of information on how to build that particular engine up. Find any import magazine, i assure you there will be at least one article on a Supra!

Good Luck

p/s> My dad was going to do the same thing you are...He wants a Corvette! I said you can spend the same anount of money on the Supra and crank out 500-600 whp! So I think he might change his mind!

Peace :smoka:

[tweaker76]

Does Toyota still make Supras? I just went to their website, and I didn't see any listed.

Tweak

[fastrThanU]

no, they don't. toyota stopped making them in the 90's, so you'd have to get a used one. they are definetely very up to date in styling, though. especially in a body kit. do a google.com search or something to find out more about them. all i can say is that they are balls-out machines that resopnd to mods like a cat to milk.

[tweaker76]

Thanks.

Any suggestions for books to read up on them? I have heard both good things and bad things about Chilton's.

Thoughts?

Tweak

[DemonZX]

Not that i know of. Check out Sport Compact Car, and Turbo Magazines they usually have stuff on Supra's.

[tweaker76]

Thanks everyone for your help.

Here's the current plan:

1) I found out that Columbus state has a certified ASE program with
night classes, so I think I can talk my boss into letting me out earlier
once a week to go to class. I will be starting in their Spring Quarter.

2) I subscribed to Car Craft. Thanks for the recommendation!

3) I can feasibly see purchasing a used Supra after I finish the
mechanics training.

I guess the only questions I still have are:

* Beyond the core basic instruction classes, any suggestions for what classes will give me the biggest bang for the buck?

* Good Domestic Cars for Mods? (10 years or younger)

Thanks Again,

Tweak

[AlexB]

If you want to have a ton of fun, a 95-96 Eclipse GSX (AWD)... 25G turbo, front-mounted intercooler, 1st generation heads, new injection, fuel pump, stand-alone ECU, clutch, full exhaust, full intake, and whatever else you can find. That will get you running low 11's as someone I know has less than that on their GSX and is running high 11's... you could also do a stroker Rebuild on it to get it to 2.3L. If you want something that's already sporty, a 300ZX TT, Supra TT, 3000GT, or Stealth TT would be right for you... turbo upgrade, some support mods... and wowies

[AlexB]

OOOOOOOH yea!!!!! You could get a Porsche 944 Turbo S for around 15 grand... or a 944 S2. There's enough mods for those. I've also seen some badass awd 4-motion VW's. You could even get a 4-motion awd kit from europe to put on almost any VW...

[tweaker76]

The 4WD on the VW sounds appealing, but I don't want to waste the money since I only have a 2.0L engine. I'm honestly thinking about doing a massive upgrade on the audio system in my Jetta, maybe a Kenwood or an Eclipse head unit with some speaker upgrades.

In the mean time, I prefer to spend the money on mechanic training and high performance driving school this year. Once I get my hands dirty, then, I will start shopping for used cars to upgrade. I honestly do not have the foundation knowlege in mechanics that I need to make well thought out decisions.

Tweak

[AlexB]

Stick with this forum and you'll learn a lot!

[tweaker76]

I agree.

But there are still things that require hands on learning and practice. I am hoping that both the driving school and the mechanic school will help me cover those areas.

Tweak