Im looking to get back into the whole modding game again, its been about 6 months since ive done anything and im beginning to get the bug. ive done the whole honda thing with the turbo and im kinda trying to get away from that but i highly doubt it will happen. I am looking to put a relatively “big” turbo on whatever car i purchase, and looking for somewhere around 300+whp, that is reliable. I’m going to build it right and not cut corners anywhere (it bit me in the ass once), but i dont want to put internals into the motor. Here are a few cars i am considering, im looking for pros and cons on each, with viewpoints on each.
Honda Civic/Crx/Del Sol - D series is to weak for any plans i want to do, and i do not feel like shelling out for a swap. so it would have to be pre-swapped to b series
Acura Integra - base model or gsr
DSM - FWD/AWD I know have the ability to make good power, but they seem to have many horror stories associated, which makes me nervous.
2001+ VW Jetta/Gti VR6 - unsure how reliable a vr6 turbo really is or what the tuning options are but im sure it would make a nasty car
2001+ VW Jetta/Gti 1.8T - The hand of god of coarse, but im sure with a big turbo setup would roll out pretty good
From what you are describing I would get an AWD DSM.
You can make 300 wheel cheaper on that car than you can any other. To avoid the horror stories make sure to have it gone over with a fine tooth comb and get all the maintenance done before you mod it. Then get a 3 inch turbo back, fuel pump, decent intercooler, DSM link, crank the boost and tune call it a day. You could do that on stock injectors but I would get 650’s at least. Most people don’t stay at 300wheel in a DSM very long. It’s not as light as a honda so the feel is different but it is still good power if you know how to take advantage of it.
Mid 90s SC300. 2JZ-ge, RWD, can swap in a r154 from a Chaser. And a 30r with supporting mods will make well into 500. Plus they look solid, have plenty of mods to support it, have luxury, and you won’t see many like yoursel in the Northeast.
I must say the SC300’s 5sp transmission was the best manual transmission that I’ve had the pleasure of using. After I drove it I just sat in it shifting for a minute because it just felt like butter. It was fantastic.
I’d suggest getting a 2nd gen miata and modding it up but I may be a bit biased…
manual trans is a must, and i don’t want to have to swap anything. If i am gonna start swapping i will stick to Honda because that is what i know best.
also it must be able to take 300whp on a stock internal setup, is the miata capable of such things?
RELIABILITY is huge here, i am considering going back to school full time, which will kill my cash flow by a large amount, so i can’t have something that is breaking every other week.
Well you won’t have to touch a 2JZ-ge internally until you hit 450ish. Basic turbo kit from SRT or Boostlogic will set you back about 5 grand but will put you to the 450 mark. Hell even an ebay kit would at your target for less, but obviously not the reliability.
5sp SC300’s are out there, just harder to find. V156 tranny’s can hold about 350 stock without slipping. But even if you hit 300 I’d start upgrading it.
stock internals will take 250-300 to an extent. it all depends on how you plan on controling it. the weakness of the bp is the rods, find some thicker gtx b6t rods super cheap and be done… besides that find a bp4w head for the better flow and solid lifters… if you can mod a honda you can mod a mazda, what all do you think is that much different?..lol… hell i run around with 15psi daily on a stock bottom end with a vf8 it loves it…lol…
Get the VW or an AWD DSM (not a FWD DSM). The VW 1.8t and a tune/exhaust/intake would keep you very happy for a while although it is short of your goal. You could supercharge a VR6 too if you went the VR6 route. DSM’s are cheap to mod, but not my taste really although AWD is very nice. I would stay away from the Honda’s personally if you want cheap reliable and fast they may be out of you reach. Also for a DD the luxury offered with the VW and even the DSM are far better than the Honda has to offer. My .02