Wanting to buy vr4 got some questions(please help)

[JP2005]

ok i have had a 95 camaro v6 which was my first car at the age of 16 then a girl ran into me and totaled that car...17 now...my dad got me a 99 z28...but since that he has quit driving his truck due to problems beyond control...so recently ive been thinking about what kind of car to get here are my picks(in no particular order):

1995-1999 eclipse gsx(somewhat cheap, reliable, good looks w/ aftermarket parts and with tuning VERY fast)
1991-1995 3000gt vr4(very expensive, nice looks stocks and w/ aftermarket, fast stock, and pretty reliable)
1997 corvette(very expensive, nice looks, lack of customizing abilities, fast stock, very reliable)
1993-1997 camaro z28 and/or ss(somewhat cheap, very reliable, good looks, not much customizing ability, somewhat fast)
1993-1997 trans am(somewhat cheap, very reliable, good looks, not much customizing ability, somewhat fast)

opinions on what i should get would be greatly appreciated but now its time for my real question

if i get a vr4 it would probably be around 80,000-90,000 miles + with a high mileage car that i will assume has been raced since lets face it who can refuse to race a fast car... what common problems come with the vr4s with high mileage, common mishaps, and also assuming i race like every other 17 year old i have never owned an vr4 so im not quite sure on what to expect

my other question what are easy, cheap ways to mod vr4s in the performance category to give them the huge advantage any suggestions would be appreciated

thanks
JP

[duchguy]

1)
The transmission will become a problem, if mitsu has to change it out $4000.00 , Kormex in CA can do it for $2000 shipped andif u have an acquintance who can do it, it will cost u like 700-800.

[Igovert500]

Well I would recommend doing some reading on this forum. First off there is a post labeled "need some buying advice" -- this has plenty of info on what to look for when buying a vr4.

2ndly, NOTHING on this car is cheap. the car will cost money, the parts aren't cheap either stock or aftermarket, you have to run on 91+ octane ($40+ to fill your tank), so gas aint cheap, your 17 so insurance on this wont be cheap (mine at 20 began at over 4 grand a year). Nothing on this car is cheap...AT ALL

Next realize that a vr4 is twin turbo v6, this is gonna put your v6 camaro to shame. This car is an easy way to kill yourself if you aren't careful. If you are the type to race everything and aren't cautious, this might not be the best choice for you. It's alot of power to harness. You hit the gas and you fly. You really need to respect the danger involved in racing it...I almost put myself into a tree the 3rd day I had it. That in mind, this car will already have a huge advantage.
If you do choose to mod it, you can get an intake for 170, gut your precats(free), get a cheap manual boost controller ($20), and a testpipe (30) and you will have 400hp and run 12.8s in the 1/4. Granted this car should not be modded cheaply. The manual boost controllers can allow for huge spikes in boost, if you upgrade and don't monitor your car carefully with the proper gauges you will ruin it. In comparison, I would recommend a electronic boost controller that would run 400+.

Read up on this car. This is a great forum, read previous posts. Also, www.3si.org and www.stealth316.com have enough info to keep you reading for weeks. If you are thinking about getting a vr4, I would suggest researching it much much more.

In this forum I can't imagine anyone suggesting anything over the vr4, but I would take some time to decide what you really want. The cars mentioned are quite different. You have turbod imports and american v8s.

[Igovert500]

Tranny is not always a problem...don't write it off as a definant problem, but synchros wearing out is a common problem, all of this is listed in the other post i mentioned.

[duchguy]

Originally Posted by Igovert500

Tranny is not always a problem...don't write it off as a definant problem, but synchros wearing out is a common problem, all of this is listed in the other post i mentioned.

With my comments I meant the synchros! And I mentioned it cause the average life they say(and from my personal experience) of these or one of the sunchros goes out around 105000 miles, specially if you think its bin raced a lot. Whether its the tranny or the synchros, mitsu wont touch it and will put in an other one.

[Igovert500]

Sorry, I knew that you meant the synchros, I just wanted to point out that, yes it is a common problem, but not a 100% of the time problem. They wont die on every car that reaches 100k. I just thought it important since he is not as familiar with our cars. Sorry for the confusion.

[JP2005]

igo...

i also said i had a "1999 Chevrolet Camaro Z28" which im sure youre smart enough to know is a v8 stock 305 hp and it is currently modded to around 350 or so at the wheels...trust me i am careful and know how to race...with that being said i know these are expensive try 550 a month for full coverage...and i know the repairs are devastating i j

just need info on problems when these cars get high mileage and what is to high mileage

[YogsVR4]

550 a month! Thats nuts! My Spyder runs 900 for six months. You either have a bucket load of points, live in the worst possible neighborhood or you need a new insurance company. Ouch!

[JP2005]

Originally Posted by YogsVR4

550 a month! Thats nuts! My Spyder runs 900 for six months. You either have a bucket load of points, live in the worst possible neighborhood or you need a new insurance company. Ouch!

you exposed all possible explainations but the right one...the truth is im 17...in kansas they doint have points, live in a very nice neighborhood, and that was a quote from an insurance company i currently dont have

[Teazrsnow]

well it really depends on what you wanna do and how much you wanna spend

[Igovert500]

JP sorry I was confused by your post and understood it to mean that you weren't using the v8. I didn't know that you had been using it. Regardless, I am not tryiing to talk down or imply that you aren't responsible. I don't think age is the problem, I think responsibility is. I just remember when I was that young I wasn't that responsible and I raced like a maniac. And it took me awhile, I still do stupid sh!t, that's the point. You said it yourself you race like every other 17 year old and didn't know what to expect from the car...I was trying to tell you, no disrespect meant.

As Yogs said, I would seriously shop around with insurance if you are going to be paying that much. 6600 is ridiculous, I got mine down to under 3grand.

as far as high mileage, I am curious why you choose to look for one with 80k or 90k. If you can afford to pay that much for insurance, then why not look for something with lower mileage on it, so these problems wont be such a concern.

As far as upgrading, for 2 to 4 grand you can upgrade the turbos, fuel pump, injectors, and get an Air/Fuel controller and really get some Massive power gains.

[GrungeAholicVR4]

Man, as igov said, man, it doesnt matter on age, it purely matters on responsiblity and maturity. I am 18, i got my VR4 a few weeks ago, and traded in my old trucks to get it, a 97 with a 305, a few mods on it, and a 69 chevy P/U that did the quater in 12.9, it had a 400CI smally in it with a turbo 400 trany with a shift kit and 373 locker out back, it was fast, but then again, i was impressed with the VR4, turbo kick in and sounden power gains are fun and can easily take your mind off of the road and your surroundings, plus AWD of the VR4 is very awe inspiring, its basically an instant pwoer launch, no wheel spin, just a chirp and your gone...soooo fun, I recomend the Vr4 to anyone wanting to have a fast ride, that can handle it with responisbilty, and if you had a camaro with 350 to the wheels, you can definetely handle it. Im just saying be careful, plus, my VR4 is a 95, it has 85 thousand miles on it, the only real problems I had with it, is the clutch needed to be replaced almost as soon as I got it, if you plan to drive the car for awhile, i recommend a good solid aftermarket clutch...stock crappy organic clutches will not last, especially if you plan on luanch and racing it often...every other problem is simple cosmetic electrical problems like sun roof shorts, and aero problems, but thats nothing to worry about at all. Enjoythe VR4, its is an excellent car, and with the TT and AWD, with mods, will kill anything

[azn3000GTRacer]

Originally Posted by JP2005

igo...

i also said i had a "1999 Chevrolet Camaro Z28" which im sure youre smart enough to know is a v8 stock 305 hp and it is currently modded to around 350 or so at the wheels...trust me i am careful and know how to race...with that being said i know these are expensive try 550 a month for full coverage...and i know the repairs are devastating i j

just need info on problems when these cars get high mileage and what is to high mileage

LOL damn 550 amonth. Get out the bike for me lol. I first got my car last april and i was 17. Me as secondary driver and my dad as Primary it was only 200 a month. 1200 every 6 months. Now that iam 18 it went down a little. 185 a month. could be 170 if i was on the honor roll lol. Oh yea and the transmission broke on me to 3900$ not cheap. New forks 1st 2nd 3rd Sycnro's. New 1st gear new 2nd Gear. LOL oh yea new clutch to because for awhile i drove around with only 3rd gear to start with because 1st and 2nd was out. LOL dumb me. Dad wasent to happy but now it's shifts like a loose goose. VR4's are worth it if u can find one with no problems.

[AcesHigh]

Holy Jesus. I don't know how you'd even have the money to consider the new generation Corvette. If yoy don't mind paying an arm and a leg, get the Corvette.