Best car for around 20-30k?

[Salamander]

It's time for a new car! I'm looking for a performance car, need some advice.
Some cars i have in mind:
2004 STi
2002 WRX
SRT-4
3000GT VR4


I'm open to any other suggestions.
Again, anywhere around the 20k/30k price range. Also if you could add some 0-60's and 1/4miles would be appreciated, thanks.

[Neutrino]

well if you would like to save quite a bit of money and use the rest to tinker with the car then the srt4 is your best choice. Especially with the factory upgrades.

stock the srt4 runs 0-60 ~ mid 5's and 1/4 miles ~ low 14s high 13s

the $1200 factory stage 2 with toys should place you around low 13s high 12s

btw make sure the srt4 is at least an 04 or a new 05 they are quite a bit better than the 03s


otherwise get an evo or even better wait for the new evo MR

[Salamander]

I dont really like the look of the srt-4, everyone around me says it doesent last long, the interior is horrible, and it handles badly. So i'm not partial to the SRT-4. When does the new evo MR come out? and how much does it cost?
any more suggestions = thanks!

[Neutrino]

Originally Posted by Salamander

I dont really like the look of the srt-4, everyone around me says it doesent last long, the interior is horrible, and it handles badly. So i'm not partial to the SRT-4. When does the new evo MR come out? and how much does it cost?
any more suggestions = thanks!

Yes a lot of people seem to have an unatural hate towards the srt4 and like to spread false rumors.

The srt4 is bulletproof here is the link for that:
http://www.sportcompactcarweb.com/pr...0scc_projneon/

its handling is not at evo levels but its very good, especially since the 04 s come with a quiafe stock. Plus the handling can be tremendously improved with a stage 3 mopar coilovers custom made by the german kw

fyi i posted a video a while ago in street racing of an modded srt4 gaining on a modded nsx in the curves

also very lightly modded one won 8th overall last year in the one lap
http://www.caranddriver.com/article....&page_number=6

the interior its true is made by rubbermaid but the evo is no bentley either.

The Mr will come out anytime now and it will be around 33K

[Salamander]

I'll be looking around for that MR. What about the STi and the WRX? I hear alot of people have complaints about them, I realllllllly like the look of them though. Is there anything you could do to change the front & back lights of the SRT-4? I think they're really ugly, lol.
Anyone else??

[kman10587]

I'd go with a 2004 WRX...unless you -really- want the extra performance of the STi and you know how to use it

[Neutrino]

Originally Posted by Salamander

I'll be looking around for that MR. What about the STi and the WRX? I hear alot of people have complaints about them, I realllllllly like the look of them though. Is there anything you could do to change the front & back lights of the SRT-4? I think they're really ugly, lol.
Anyone else??

you can get some aftermark stuff for the srt4 to change a bit its looks. Of course looks are always subjective, I for once find the srt4 decent looking but again its a personal thing.


The WRX is a fine car, i just find it a bit too softly sprung stock. nothing aftermaked can't change though. Also its turbo is quite laggy compared to the srt4

sti is again very nice but all comparos say that the evo is by far a better handling car. They need to bring the spec c stateside badly

[Salamander]

:bump:. Also, what do you think about this? ^_^ http://cobbtuning.com/wrx/accessecu.html
Anyone else got anything to add?

[kman10587]

I read in Car and Driver's Boost magazine about an accessory exclusively for the WRX called the Praxis Air Suspension. It's an adjustable air suspension with three settings; touring, sport, and track. C&D did a thorough test with it on a 2004 WRX, and it works quite nicely. Touring is about as comfortable as a stock WRX, sport is about equal to a stock STi, and track is, well, for track use. If I had $30,000, I'd probably skip the STi (which costs about $33,000 anyways), get a WRX for about $25,000, put on that air suspension (it costs about $3,000), and spend the rest on engine upgrades.

[GTO4Life]

for under 20K you can find a 97-99 VR4 and add some mods to it being able to beat any of those other cars you listed... Not to mention, the 3000GT has some bad$$ looks.... Tho cars turn mad heads.

[kman10587]

It's too damn heavy.

[GTO4Life]

Originally Posted by kman10587

It's too damn heavy.

ya thats another ignorant answer and excuse not to get the car, that machine makes up for it with the torque and hp is has, not to mention that the body is one of the best built from mitsubishi. Plus its AWD... Drop 5K on that machine and i doubt STI's will be MUCH faster than a barely modded VR4. Also.... LOOKS... "Too damn heavy". Stop underestimating the car. Look at the supra, it weights almost the same as the VR4 except for like 2 lbs.... Hell go race a VR4, DRIVE one and then please come with an excuse.

[kman10587]

Who cares? The VR4 is ugly as all hell. I'd much rather look out the window and see a Supra in my driveway every day. Besides, the Supra is a lot more reliable. You can argue it all you want, but Mitsubishi has not been making very good cars in the last 10-20 years, and that's part of the reason why they're almost bankrupt. Meanwhile, Toyota has one of the highest mechanical quality ratings, and it's pretty damn far from bankruptcy; in fact, Toyota sales have never been better.

I know you're going to defend the 3000GT/GTO to the death, so go right ahead. Nothing you say really means anything in the big picture. There's a reason that the Supra gets five times more attention than the VR4: it's five times the car.

[LS1Killa225]

go with a 03 cobra throw on a nother pulley and a chip and u got a 12 second car

[Salamander]

Alot of my friends have cobras, not looking for one of them. Psh, STi all teh way!