I still can’t decide on my first car.
$30,000 spending limit. Throw out names…Go.
I want a vehicle that has a large tuning community so it’s easy to find custom parts. I’m also interested in street racing, going to meets, and etc also. So a Camry/Sonata or anything like that won’t do.
Thanks guys.
Lots of options with that type of spending ability. The biased side of me would say get a 2012 WRX STi, massive tuning community (See NASIOC), meets everywhere, fantastic handling and straightline speed, reliable, etc. ECU reflash can net you quite a big power gain too because they’re tuned very conservatively from the factory for economy. Plus you’ve got 4 doors, good trunk space and all that. You can say roughly the same exact thing about an EVO X, better performance wise than the Subaru, but not as good of a daily imo. Still a great car, and as usual, absolutely massive aftermarket. AWD on both these cars is great for the winter, plus good amounts of grip whether you’re looking at straight line speed or corners.
A newer 5.0 Mustang GT is also probably one of your best bang for buck performance wise. They look mean, handle incredibly well and shatter the stereotype that american cars cant handle, the 5.0 V8 sounds like it came from hell with a little exhaust work, and its fairly well equipped. Its not the cheap plasticy Mustang from the 80s-2000’s by any means. Big big aftermarket too, but if you’re into the tuner/jap scene its not as appealing.
Honda S2000 is also a great option. Handles great, the K20 is already a legendary motor, and the standard in swaps now. Again, gigantic aftermarket, Honda reliability, RWD, never seems to age, and the interiors are great. The shifts are extremely short and concise and the sound of the K20 at redline is unreal. You would be buying used though for these since they were discontinued 2 or 3 years ago.
However, from a luxury point of view its not all that great. If you want something that’ll feel a lot nicer, and be a better DD persay, but not as fast, you could go for an Infiniti G37 or a used BMW 3 series, 2008+. Even the base models are fairly quick and very well equipped. That or you can get a 3rd gen M3 in great condition for much cheaper, which have big aftermarket support and are fantastic cars.
If you want more risky, er moreso a different path, you could go for something like an RX7 or Supra in that price bracket. Big power, obviously huge aftermarket, and near legend status. Its just that its a 10+yr old car so there is that disadvantage.
Just throwing ideas out there though from my experience/tastes. Hope it gives you some ideas man!
