The Last Cars Under $5000!

[@henrynewgent8481]

i feel the need to say this every time a prelude is mentioned: THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN REAR WHEEL DRIVE

[@thegiovannimauro]

I love the way they look, but I wanna drift.

[@MrSirGiuseppe]

Every car should be rwd or at least have the option from factory. I love my fwd too, but it just doesn't compare at the end of the day. The different challenges when it comes to racing fwd is intriguing though.

[@donovanolguin977]

Its the fwd s2k. I wish they were rwd. They just look so clean and could've been a competitor to the s chassis

[@Aminmotors]

They are too heavy anyway. The FWD doesn't stop you from drifting, but yes it is less fun.

[@FitmentIndustries]

💯💯💯

[@benbackus2000]

Not after this video 😂

[@Prestiged_peck]

ikr youtubers just gotta ruin every market!

[@Akac3sh]

KZbinrs have ruined the market

[@racerx7o743]

Why should they care, they can always find a good price if you know what I mean

[@FitmentIndustries]

😥

[@kingcap9928]

Factsss. Sheesh

[@tspectuning]

Can confirm decently clean 5th gen Honda Preludes are still out there for under 5k but it’s definitely pretty rare. I just sold my 97 base model for 4.5k with some issues. You have to keep standards low tho if looking for a 5th gen cause clean, factory and low miles they are literally up into the 20k+ range

[@nate5843]

Is 80,000miles low? I got mine for $5000usd at 80,000 miles factory stock.

[@SpaceGhostPurps]

You don’t one a prelude

[@ricertrash3527]

Got mine with 100k miles with crap paint think my 3rd gear synchronizer is going out and I recently spun a connecting rod bearing but I got it $3500 so I painted it and I’m gonna fix it and sell it for an FC rx7 cause I know a guy and I have a daily

[@DoktahAtlas]

Yeah I just bought my 99 prelude base back in January. I bought it for a bit more at $6,500 but I think it was worth it since it only has 140,000 miles

[@ricertrash3527]

@@DoktahAtlas Watch out for those piston rings the pistons expand when the engine gets hot and rub against the cylinder wall and wear out like crazy which is why you may or may not have noticed that the car smokes and that’s because it’s burning oil

[@rahxe80]

If you can even find any of these cars that aren't beat to hell for 5k. Be prepared to spend another 5k to get them to run properly.

[@wwaxaww5090]

fr

[@klaspeppar5619]

For those wanting a P24 S60 to tune, go for the T5, particularly the later 2.4 liter T5.

[@Mr.Music2324]

Why not an s60R?

[@klaspeppar5619]

@@Mr.Music2324 the T5s both the 2.3 and 2.4 T5’s have stronger blocks, the 2.5 in the R has a tendency to crack cylinder walls when tuned (the safe limit for the 2.5 is around 300ps) or driven hard in extreme conditions (went is extremely hot, like in the desert). The 2.4 T5 (B5244T5) got many of the same goodies as the 2.5 R, like VVT on both Cams, same top and the intake system is largely the same. The older 2.3 T5 (B5234T3) only has VVT on the exhaust cam, same top as the low pressure Turbos and largely the same intake, not a bad engine for tuning, but I would argue that the 2.4 T5 is superior.

[@Ranger_Pain]

Fieros can still be found for under 5k in decent shape. Awesome little platform to build. Mid engine, rwd, 4 speed and 5 speed options, lots of swaps for them from 4g63T to LS7s have been done. Lightweight cars with tons of grip. Even the stock 2.8 v6s have some decent potential. Just gotta be careful with snap oversteer and overbuild your cooling system.

[@preflightdrip8672]

Honestly I knew I was screwed when I started seeing Miatas and Suzuki samurais for 20k

[@FitmentIndustries]

😥😥😥

[@SoGroovy8]

That 5th generation prelude is my all time favorite car. First car I ever owned

[@sloth_7665]

5th gen prelude is fantastically fun car to drive for anyone thinking about it, easier than others to work on but the aftermarket support is terrible

[@luisgomez1025]

Not really, I just picked one up super mint 👌🏼 I’m finding all the parts for it cheaply and we’ll made, only like a good exhaust is hard to find lol

[@lugia021]

And now all of these are gonna skyrocket in value. Thanks guys.

[@FitmentIndustries]

Sorry, not sorry 😅

[@gavinhicks7621]

For kdm the hyundai Tiburon is a pretty good option under 5k. Not a huge aftermarket community BUT if you’re willing to learn a few skills and put the time into the car you can make those cars insane. Although the 4-cyl can’t take much boost stock or make really anything over like 300hp if you throw in high quality forged internals you can easily push 500hp. To give you an idea of these small 4-cyl engines some of these cars actually in Korea are pushing 1000hp. The v6 engines in the gt versions are able to make a bit more hp than the 4-cyl and a lot of kdm people use them to race so there is a bit more of a market. They have a lot of potential but require more time and skill to get there.

[@jordanprice9285]

Actually not true, the 2.0L can take more so around 400hp - 450hp since there's some guys with Hyundai Accents with those swaps that are bolt in have made that on the stock block. And even more close to 600whp with a 1.8L piston setup since it lowers compression. Those 2.0L are tanks though. The limiting factor on the Tiburon 2.0 was the transmission since those are weaker than the Accent trans is

[@djhero0071]

I have a hard time believing you could find a clean, worthwhile SRT-4, Cobalt SS, Ion Redline, or even a new edge Mustang for under 5K. I feel like those cars have enough of a legacy nowadays that most of the car community knows what they are, what they can do, and how much they're truly worth as a performance platform. I'd probably bet on a Spec V Sentra, CRX Del Sol, Dodge Caliber SRT-4 or Chrysler PT Cruiser GT over those cars (though I'll admit that USDM cars are hard as hell to find cheap and fun. The fact that y'all made the attempt deserves recognition.)

[@jacksonmitchell5175]

You’re absolutely right. The Del Sol is dirty how cheap it still is lol

[@zachfrecks1067]

Just bought one in october for 2k man thing was a steal, still they are gonna slowly rise in price because they are getting increasingly rare but even with having one I still think it was a missed rwd opportunity

[@zachfrecks1067]

@@shaqoats Head gasket?

[@cooliodiablo4571]

@ShaqOats Sounds like you need to put coolant in the radiator, or get a new radiator. Or is it your oil that’s over heating? Might also just be your engines fan, that could be just a bad fuse. Any way that doesn’t seem like that big of an issue man. There’s really only a few things that’ll cause you to over heat.

[@cooliodiablo4571]

New edges are pretty cheap in my area. If I go on cargurus right now I’ll find a page full of them for 5k. Same with Cobalt SS’s tbh, those are all over for the low. Idk what you’re talking about. Also you’re saying you’d rather drive a shitty PT Cruiser, or Del Sol rather than a New Edge or a Dodge Stealth?…Some thing ain’t right with that.

[@SpLaTTyDaDDy]

5th gen prelude on some good suspension is a dream to drive in corners. Miss my 97 so much

[@DudeWithALude97]

I’ve got a red 97 on some tein coilovers and some jnc wheels. Don’t rmemeber the name of the body kit. I can’t give her up. Gotta keep her alive

[@outdoorsfish2859]

I miss my 2000 those cars are slept on foreal there good ass cars .

[@interceptingfist5682]

Fwd and corners 🤔

[@redcatxb125]

As a prelude owner thanks for making my ride appreciate faster👍

[@izzy-monkey7112]

One of my favorites that wasn’t mentioned is really any GM with the 3.8L v6 specifically the 2nd and 3rd gen of these engines. A lot of pontiacs had a decent amount of modifications available for these engines and could make surprising power out of the supercharged ones. For insanely cheap you could also get other NA ones like Buicks and Oldsmobile with the exact same engine. Very neat to see sleeper Buicks going around!

[@coupons420]

Stop I’m secretly hiding everything about these. Seriously the 90 degree v6 is hissing and waiting for appreciation.

[@izzy-monkey7112]

@@coupons420 I myself have learned most of what I know on one! I have an 02 lesabre with a straight pipe exhaust and Grand Prix wheels. I love GM 90 degree v6’s

[@Zach_CR]

agree that they’re good engines, disagree on the modifiability though, unless you find a rwd car.

[@izzy-monkey7112]

@@Zach_CR you can easily push 400 out of them without bottom end work. I can make a whole list of how they’re very great performance applications for the 3800 if you want

[@Zach_CR]

@@izzy-monkey7112 N/A? I’d be curious actually. Also my issue is the glass transmissions that they all are paired with🫠

[@therealbaratheon578]

Owned a 93 prelude for years. Amazing and reliable and cheap to fix up. H22A motor, 5 speed. cheap to mod for a little boost. Rides great and smooth.

[@alexcarrasco7946]

I love the fact that the 5th gen is on this list, but in all honesty i wouldn’t recommend it as a first car unless you find a super clean example. They aren’t the most reliable car. But if you’re willing to put in the work. Best bang for your buck!!

[@crazyloco8844]

FINALLY, THE SONATA got mentioned!!! It's about time! Now, yes that year was a sleeper as well as the V6 2009,-10, but Sonata has come a long way from a grandma car. I'll stop for now, cuz price becomes an issue with the newer years.😜-(over $5000)

[@valves.mp4]

Saab is also pretty good if you guys want a lil bit of a sleeper, they're weird af but fun, and since Saab is a dead company (in terms of cars) you can pick them up for cheap, the 900 is the fan favourite but almost all of their engines have a nice tuning potential and they're reliable too :3

[@jungeezy]

Those Saab parts are expensive af though

[@valves.mp4]

damn yeah I just noticed, but the engines are bulletproof if you find one that's mint enough, but yeah make sure to not see any issues with them since the parts did indeed get hella expensive so be careful when you buy one of these since parts aren't made anymore haha

[@kingishnoob2229]

I’m always surprised how the W-Body platform by GM (late 90s-early 2000s Grand Prix, Buick Regal, Monte Carlo, and a few more) flys so far under the radar. The 3800 is a hell of a power plant to jump into for 1-2k. Tons of low end torque and they are tough as hell. The Grand Prix GTP is a solid car, and with just bolt ons and some BCs they can be fun as all hell

[@marcusborderlands6177]

I've got a 3800, but the transmission in my LeSabre is such a piece of shit its slow as molasses

[@thechosen1617]

Working on the W platform is terrible, unless you like removing motor mounts I guess

[@bighomie6435]

an F body with the 3800 is a better option. More aftermarket for the body/suspension etc. and RWD. They're a little more expensive than W body but they're still well under 5k if you get one thats a little beat on

[@Mickay_19]

NO DONT BRING ATTENTION TO THE PRELUDE

[@Mickay_19]

LEAVE THEM ALONE

[@FitmentIndustries]

We're sorry 😥

[@donovanolguin977]

This is how you know when rolling shells of 180s coming in at 10k are becoming the normal. This some bs

[@Lord_Pilaf]

Need to get me a Prelude, they look so sick!

[@Aminmotors]

Very accurate list, great job on this video! I would also add the b15 and b16 Nissan Sentra SE-R and Spec V, you can get a bulletproof six speed, an LSD, and a 2.5 plenty of power for $2-5k. I didn't know there was a 4g63 powered Hyundai, now I have to own one!

[@CommentLikeDescribe]

I had one of these puppies back in '02. It was a fun torque monster with a typical shit Nissan interior

[@Aminmotors]

@@CommentLikeDescribe I have a 09 spec V, the interior is pretty decent on the b16s IMO. Either way for a $1000 car I love it lol

[@clappednotso445]

Currently going through the process of unshitboxing my 03 spec v.

[@josephburkhalter1985]

Specifically the 4th gen my favorite on this list though by far is the stealth

[@JAlexanderYugioh]

I’m SO happy to see a Prelude. If you join the Lude community. You will not regret it. They’re such a treat. Especially the 5th gen(BB6)

[@robertpaulsen969]

Sonatas might be the best tip in the video. Had no idea they had a 4g63

[@preludeboy99]

Thanks for boosting the lude value 😂😂

[@grimestonecity4651]

Facts 🤐

[@Afiictionz]

FINALLY! I’ve had a stealth for a couple years now and this is the first video I’ve seen where someone mentions this slept on car

[@Aschwabbles]

Maybe im biased but… The MK5 GTI is also a really good option especially for a first car that won’t break the bank

[@Sam_Pillay]

Agreed. Mk4 golfs and jettas are getting pretty old now, and there aren't many in good condition and unmodified, but Mk5's are basically the same price and there's a lot more good examples left, especially since they weren't appreciated as much as the mk4

[@FitmentIndustries]

Absolutely! A lot of mk4's and mk5's are definitely in the right price range!

[@brentsnocomgaming7813]

What universe is a prelude under 5k? Unless you're talking about ones that don't run? The cheapest prelude I could find within 500 miles of where I live (Houston) is a 1998 base model, automatic, with 300k miles for 10k

[@pootmahgoots8482]

Being from central Minnesota the first guys that would challenge you to a race were guys with clapped out Honda Accords and Dodge Neons and are usually the ones to blow their trans all over the county road at 1AM while a 1998 Lincoln Town Car walks away from them.... ;)

[@ryurc3033]

My buddy bought an auto 2000 prelude, and manual swapped it, he had more wrapped up in buying manual trans, brackets, pedal set, clutch....all that jazz than he did in buying the car. Just buy the manual

[@archer30071]

I got a 1997 BMW Z3 2.8L 5 speed for just 3k it needed a full 1k of parts but its perfect now!! it has 165k miles btw

[@FitmentIndustries]

That's dope! I hope it treats you well!

[@archer30071]

@@FitmentIndustries it has lsd from factory. Plus I have a 2011 535i with 500whp (auto😑). It's just my toy, I'm going to boost it to 450whp. It will be faster then my 535i.

[@jonathanpeterson1]

Audi A4. Same engine as the GTI, AWD and available as a sedan or wagon. You can get them with a manual as well.

[@miggyspain3218]

Any Generation in particular that you would recommend?

[@rahxe80]

A more unreliable gti 😅

[@jonathanpeterson1]

@@miggyspain3218 you can get any one of the B5, B6 or B7 Gen for that or close to that. I’m partial to the B7, but yes, there are two things to look for: cam follower and chain guide. That scares away people, but it’s a simple job to get done if you do it yourself. You’ll hear balance shaft on the B7 as well, but if you keep the oil clean, that is not as prevalent as made out to be. The B7 has a PCV system that will go bad over time, it is cheap and easy to fix as well. My B7 has 160k miles on it and the only error is an exhaust error, which I caused. The B5&B6 use the 1.8T, with the B6’s just being an updated and revised version of the B5’s. From the owner groups, I hear about the PCV system being an issue, as well as timing chain guides and belt, like the B7. Keep in mind, this will be more due to age of the vehicle, than inherent design flaw. People consider the 1.8T to be more reliable overall, probably due to fewer composite components used in some places, but keep in mind the 1.8T’s will likely have higher mileage and that may be a wash. Bottom line: lowest mileage, best condition B5-B7 you can find that meets your specs best. If you can, try to get an S-Line model, as it does come with a sport suspension, along with some minor cosmetic upgrades. Some non S-Lines did come with the sport suspension as well, which you can actually email Audi North America with the VIN and they can send you the list of options the car came with. I wrote a lot because I personally own a B7 and MKV GTI, and have a decent amount of experience with this engine, from an owners perspective. The biggest thing with these engines is doing the maintenance. You CAN beat on them within reason and have fun, but don’t skimp out on the maintenance and then complain when it breaks. These will be higher mileage cars, so it’s important to keep that in mind. But for a lot of people, these cars dig into you and make you fans for life. Plus, they have a massive aftermarket for each generation, especially performance, because you are literally getting the GTI motor in an AWD lux-sport sedan/wagon.

[@jonathanpeterson1]

@@rahxe80 eh, the only extra things to go wrong from a drivetrain perspective is the AWD related parts, which are damn stout. Plus, since the engine is facing the proper way, a lot of things are easier to work on compared to the GTI. Pretty much everyone runs Stage 2 A4’s, which is intake, downpipe and tune. And considering the group is fairly large, it’s really no less reliable than the GTI counterparts or most cars of their era. People sometimes confuse reliability of vehicles that are old, for one, or neglected maintenance, for two.

[@rahxe80]

@@jonathanpeterson1 It's good your having a good experience, I wouldn't touch a audi without a warranty, I'd have one maybe as a second car in the garage but not my main transportation. Looking at Edmunds report maintenance seem to be hit or miss . I have a k04 mk6 gli and I have thought about upgrading to a b8 s4 but I'm not buying any car right now with these current auto prices 😅

[@ssjstonerr]

Got my 2004 bmw 325xi with 132,000 miles on it 2 years ago for $3200. Has 148,000 now and has been solid since.

[@maxxedredlineproductions]

I had no idea Preludes looked that nice! 1 mil this year definitely!

[@FitmentIndustries]

Preludes are underrated for sure!

[@DARKEST_VANTA]

I always liked the Prelude. Was always an anti-4-banger, but the Prelude had such an ORIGINAL DESIGN & the H22 engine was great for the time!!

[@Iamthestig42069]

3800 s/c Pontiacs and Buicks are slept on. You can buy one and build it into an import fighter for under 5 grand

[@alexanderlanciani2127]

Not the prelude. I've seen most of them over 10k

[@jj481012]

I also had a ‘95 E36! Manual vert car for less than $2k. Most fun car I’ve ever owned. Upgraded to an E46 330ci recently and it is a fantastic daily.

[@luckyluckyluchs9216]

For the jdm guys out there, the 1984-88 nissan 300zx z31s are a good cheap way to get a nice 3.0 v6 that (from my experience) is pretty reliable. These z's are overlooked a ton and I'm not sure why; t tops, pop up headlights, digital gauges (in some cases), tanky 5 speed manual, and best of all suspension and steering parts can be swapped with s chassis parts with little to no modification. Just another option there for you if you're a z or s chassis fan :)

[@61936]

From what I’ve heard aren’t z31 kinda are to work on

[@luckyluckyluchs9216]

@@61936 body wise yeah they can be a pain and personally if I have motor upgrades I pull the motor. The vg30e is a massive motor for such a tight engine bay and yeah it can get pretty difficult to reach the lower end. But parts are pretty abundant especially if you live in the west coast.

[@tystella9127]

Honestly corollas need some love you can get models with the 1zz for really cheap and if you can find xrs models for cheap it’s an easy way to get a 2zz although not alot of power stock they are bullet proof and have lots of potential if you know your stuff

[@BigSteve_Gaming187]

I love my 04' Passat 1.8T 5-Speed Wagon. It's been named, "The Granny Sleeper". Quick and fun.

[@Whats-It-To-Ya]

I have a '98 Prelude with the Jackson Racing Supercharger and I'd never let it go for 5K. Full Wings West bodykit, Commando spoiler, San Marino red, way less than 100K original miles. Built it in '08

[@FitmentIndustries]

Sounds like you got an incredible build going! 🙏

[@Whats-It-To-Ya]

@@FitmentIndustries I've been done building it for a while. Not much more that I could do to it. It has full bolt-ons, cams, and a built suspension, poly mounts and bushings (my favorite mod).Now I just enjoy it during the summer months. It never sees snow. The salt here in PA would eat this poor thing alive and I would have an aneurism.

[@aramis762]

About to get a 2010 Nissan Sentra not much for customization but all I really want to do to is it paint, subs, interior trim lighting, and tint

[@TheGrimiest]

Don’t wast money painting or wrapping a Sentra. Just save that money for a nicer car later on seriously. I wasted so much money on just stupid cars that weren’t anything special and it didn’t make them special

[@trashbandit2449]

5k paint job on a 5k throwaway car... I mean you do you but there's better places to spend your money. In my opinion, better places start with not a sentra

[@blakelip3]

Sentra ser maybe

[@Dunki113]

I can find crown vics and caprices in reasonable shape and under $5k if you're looking for a V8. Hell, even the 90s roadmaster has sleeper potential as they came out with the same 5.7 V8 that you find in corvettes, camaros, and caprices (that were used as police cars) and they sound pretty good with the right exhaust as well.

[@hempflows]

I’ve been having a prelude since I was 18 that was back in 2015. I still have my 2001 prelude type sh with 144k miles on the original engine.

[@ElRayDelRio]

I miss my Type S! Such a wonderful 1st car. Once upon a time I owned a 2dr CB7 as well with matching H22 5sp!

[@hempflows]

@@ElRayDelRio that mf must a been a beast, I wanna go h2b tooo but Idk 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@---bl6px]

Before the video started I was thinking the Mazda RX8 and I did not think it would get put in here but I was so happy he mentioned it 😁

[@nagalomayesva9843]

if y’all wanna potentially look cool, then the Nissan 300zx is for you, specifically the Z31 model, there’s plenty on offer up for under 5k only saying this bc i thought it should’ve been in the video

[@lessefrost]

Duuude 1G Eclipses honestly look great. They're peppy, and came with the more durable 6 bolt version of the 4g63. Not biased since a 92 Eagle Talon (same car model) is my little project haha

[@6lik6]

that s60!!!! i wanted one as my first car when i was 18…then i saw the crown vic videos from you and donut and i was sold! want a 4 door v8 that is literally bulletproof? don’t wanna pay for a scat? crown vic is the move 😂😂

[@FitmentIndustries]

Crown Vic is definitely the move 💪🏼

[@triston5540]

The NA 2.5 Subaru are for sure a hidden Japanese gem. 3/4 of the fun for 1/4 of the price

[@FitmentIndustries]

Absolutely! 🤘

[@heyitsfranklynn168]

Mk3 supra. I picked mine up for $800. Plz buy more of these things people, of yall start demanding it the aftermarket will get MUCH better than it is.

[@antidrill123]

My 5th gen prelude has 150k miles and I got it for 1,800 since there was some motor problems. I think these will definitely rise in price soon though.

[@redcatxb125]

They already have, any clean stock prelude manual under 100k miles will easily run 10-15k

[@ChrisMorganYT]

As an European, I have to admit I’ve never even heard of the Saturn Ion Redeye. Looks like a toy car straight out of Burnout 2 if you ask me 😂

[@spamusapan]

They're weird cars. Back row was accessed by half doors (almost like a truck) with a supercharged 4 cyl. Just bizarre

[@kempmonaghan6336]

Ford focus Mrk2 is definitely on my list. its such and underrated car and no one mods them. The 2.0 duratech is also a great sounding engine!

[@HobbiesWithNick]

It sucks no 4 cylinder should be NA. Can’t wait to get rid of mine

[@RedJerk5]

@@HobbiesWithNick when are you thinking of getting rid of it 😁

[@kiyoshiher7394]

A KDM car around 5k I believe would be a Hyundai Tiburon

[@drizzlezyt4388]

tiburon, NA veloster, kia forte koup,

[@4touchdowns1game29]

You can still get an srt 4 neon for under 5k. Only thing is you have to buy the secret version of the set 4 neon which nobody knows about.

[@ryanricketts6674]

I did not know about the KDM car 🤨 glad to see the Korean cars are making moves now

[@rickardjohannesson9009]

Saabs are always underrated and still on the cheap for the most part

[@CommentLikeDescribe]

Loved my 9-5 but it liked to randomly lose all power on the freeway here and there and that was both expensive and terrifying.

[@rickardjohannesson9009]

@@CommentLikeDescribe I've had 16 Saabs and never had any real issues with any of them. Of course some cars always gets fault no matter the make

[@insanityward1516]

Ok look the scion tc is an amazing tuner car that gets overlooked alot you can get a manual one with under 200k miles for 4-5k with the only issue they have is burning oil which is solved easily if you get new headstuds or just get a 2008 or later there really set for tuning too like 2k will get you a full stand alone for the car another 3k will get you intake exhaust and injectors which will get you too about 200 wheel add a turbo for like 2k or get one of the trd supercharged ones and add a boost screw and the same aforementioned you can push like 300-325 to the wheel the stock internals will handle 350-375 wheel and if you get forged internals than you can get the stroker kit which ups displacement from 2.4 to 2.6 and with just bolt ONS and a tune it'll add 25-30hp which is but also allows you too run more boost and get roughly 400hp to the wheels on the factory supercharger

[@inflameswetrust2194]

I got my 95 impreza L coupe for 2k…. Four years ago. It’s now got a td04 on the stock ej22. I pull 12psi. It scoots. Also ridiculously fun on dirt roads and arroyos. My brother just bought an ej22 94 legacy wagon that he’s gonna supercharge. I think it was like 1500 or something.

[@rubenrosas1651]

You threw a turbo on the stock NA motor and it didn’t blow up!? *stares at my GC8 menacingly* I picked up my 2.5RS for $4k in October of last year BUT it had a blown motor and needed a decent amount of work

[@inflameswetrust2194]

@@rubenrosas1651 yes. I have 280cc red top injectors stock and I use a boost driven fuel regulator thingy that over pressurizes the fuel rails depending on boost level. My gm8 (gm for coupe) has the phase 1 ej22e sohc. It’s rumored to have semi forged internals because Subaru didn’t want to put a knock sensor in it. Common Frankenstein motor nat build takes my block, ej22e, your heads (I have some dohc heads off a 98 outback, same thing as your 2.5 heads). The ej22e with that head combo drops compression a little and adds a ton of head flow. I’ve heard the head castings are the same as the jdm sti from that era. Get 340cc or thereabouts injectors and a Chinese td05 turbo and you’ll boost to 1 bar ez :)

[@inflameswetrust2194]

Also we can use oem Buick 3.6 liter pistons. They come with better ring distance from top of piston and anodized crown. They are like $23 a piece. They’re made for the gnx so they’re very boost happy pistons.

[@rubenrosas1651]

@@inflameswetrust2194 sounds like a much more cost effective way to turbo these cars without dropping in a full ej205/207 swap To keep my swap within my means when I replaced the blown stock motor I put in a JDM ej203 since they’re about $700 a pop Where can I find more information on your swap? I’m very curious as to how much it would cost to replicate it!?

[@demonofcamber]

bought my clean cressida with no rust dents and running great has arp head bolts perfect interior no dash crack for $500

[@FitmentIndustries]

Dangggg! That's a steal!

[@rahxe80]

I had a 2g eclipse rs and bought a $2k star turbo kit. The stage 1 kit only ran 5 psi of boost but man did it wake that car up . Power went from 140 h.p to 225 h.p . Car was such a sleeper I loved it . Sadly timing belt popped and valves got bent but we had a good run.

[@FitmentIndustries]

Honestly, could've been worth it to fix!

[@rahxe80]

@@FitmentIndustries I was already on my second engine first engine died the same way 😅. Let's just say I did a lot of procrastination as a young man and did not follow the recommended time to get timing belt replaced. I sold the whole car to a guy from n.c and 2 years later when I got out of college I got into a 03 350z.

[@yobama9890]

WITH the Honda prelude, it has 4WS its the only FWD to drift that actually doesnt look THAT bad

[@eclipseys]

E36 near me 500k miles half an engine blown trans no wheels two front diffs and no drive shafts 5k

[@Whateva67]

I have a nice 2001 Prelude,5 speed,leather interior with 170 thousand kms on it. Had it since 2004. It’s gotta be close to one of the last ones ever made since it was built in October of’01. I don’t drive it much because I’m always working away from home.

[@ryanlee2672]

1999-2004 mustang gt is a pretty good buy for a first car plus hella easy to work on

[@BigTea]

You can still find a decent e46 for under 5k. You’ll be looking for a while, but it worked out for me

[@Fotosynthesis858]

My neighbor bought a Pontiac Grand Prix for cheap & he turned that thing into a gem

[@friscostreetstories5403]

Bad ass looking, under 5k it will NEED work. It was the biggest VTEC lump for sure. I had 2 GSXs in the 90s, unreliable but fast for its time....210 hp stock.

[@geoffreyrebman6910]

Prelude also has bigger displacement than the civic with the h22

[@xx_ironman77_xx1]

I am sorry if you have almost gone broke after keep on rebuilding that 13b just LS swap it the rx8 is an pretty good car the only thing wrong with it is that glass engine once you put in an actually reliable engine you can enjoy the car without having ptsd

[@chasehough]

3g eclipses actually looks good. Change my mind

[@jtmoney8521]

Just saying a bargain I don’t see a lot of people talking about is 99-07 Chevy trucks you can find them for around 4 grand in decent shape some came in manuals either 5 or 6 speeds and they have vortec motors which is just a cast iron block LS pick up a 2wd 1500 with a 4.8 or 5.3 lower it do a cam and some headers and you’re having a shit ton of fun for cheap and they have crazy power potential you could even pick up a single cab short bed 4wd and lower it take a transfer case out of a trailblazer ss Silverado ss or even a Yukon xl Denali of the same years pair it with a cam good set of heads headers and a single turbo and you’re gonna have an awd 5-600 horse monster of a sleeper

[@knotlaced9088]

Been looking at an 04 e46 lately thinking about getting one soon

[@asideofbeans5803]

I got a nearly mint (body wise) manual 1993 Ford Probe GT for $800 non running. All it needed to get running was a battery

[@FitmentIndustries]

What a steal!

[@ElRayDelRio]

MK1 or MK2?

[@asideofbeans5803]

@@ElRayDelRio MK2

[@anthonymcneill4863]

You can get a 2006 m45 for about $4500

[@twinblade02]

I have a 3G Eclipse. Don't get the V6, get the I4 variant. You can switch them out for an engine from the Evo 7 and 8. No one will ever see you coming.

[@joshuaduong7078]

What are y’all’s thoughts on the del sols?

[@jacedewitte8779]

The tops normally leak but a blast to drive

[@FitmentIndustries]

Love them! Underrated in my opinion!

[@Rosweld76]

Honestly surprised they missed the Ford Taurus SHO that could be had with a manual trans and the Contour SVT. Only seen a handful of them myself but they are always dirt cheap when they’re for sale and the Taurus can look really cool with a couple mods.

[@johnyersdel3067]

When talking about VW you shouldn’t forget the unlimited tuning potential of the 1.9 tdi

[@FitmentIndustries]

This is facts

[@kilian7441]

Great list. Personal Edition: Toyota Celica either 6th or seventh Gen. Great ol' Toyota reliability 💪🏻

[@gansior4744]

I'm glad I've picked up T200 before the popularity boom. Fun almost sport car, with reliability and lot of space inside. Also, engine bay is massive so working on it as a first car is a great option

[@darin6969]

need to get my 89 prelude running. it need A new alternator but it’s about it. has inkie wheels n Tomi exhaust.

[@josephcruz7760]

dont forget the 2004-2007 Nissan maxima. has a VQ under the hood no matter the trim. and come in manual if you can find them

[@CommentLikeDescribe]

'01 to' 03 is better (more reliable) though and still with a vq.

[@-Just_Justin-]

I owned a 99 Hyundai Tiburon as my 1st car, it was a 4 cyl and it was comparable to the 4g63, some said the Koreans copied it but the engine orientation is backwards between the 2. It ran out ok for what it was na. I think the 420a engine was the other option.

[@bedtimebear1721]

I’m glad no one mentions the na ford focus a good USA alt to the civic and the focus was basically a rally car soo slept on people only think about the ST or RS but the na with a set of coils will go around corners the as well as the other 2

[@ae86fiend]

I remember cars with the same age 30 years ago were under $1K. The used car market is messes up.

[@willriley1619]

Volvos are the best. Easy to make power and robust so plenty of them still out there with at least 100k miles left in them. Plus many parts and engine swapping stuff just like the Honda scene. Best cheapest fast Volvo would be either a C70 LPT with a HPT or R turbo swapped on it with a tune or the S60 2.4t or 2.5t AWD with same modifications. Ironically the S60 2.5t weighs basically the same as a Subaru STI. The Volvos can get 300whp and 330wtq on a moderate tune. Not bad and all can probably be done for under 5k. Only problem good luck finding a manual trans. The autos are faster anyway.

[@muska323]

I just got an eclipse GST last week for 5k lol not running but very clean and just 1 previous owner

[@Warex06]

2006-07 Mazdaspeed 6 2.3L turbocharged 4 cylinder w/ direct injection mated to a great 6 speed manual transmission pushing power to all 4 wheels with a LSD in the rear. Stock makes 276hp & 280ft/lbs tq invest in intake, exhaust and tune & makes as much as 350 awhp on stock turbo

[@Warex06]

Can find Mazdaspeed 6 for around 5-10 grand depending on condition, mileage etc

[@thomascover5064]

C4 Corvette could probably be along side the new edge mustang

[@barryliu3473]

We need another one of these every couple of months lololol

[@eastcoastken]

We paid $271 for our 2G GS Eclipse, had a hydro locked motor. Has no motor right now but a built 420a on a stand while it gets some body work done.

[@FitmentIndustries]

That's going to be sick! 🤘

[@tamagothicc]

Love seeing the 4g eclipse get some love, I bought a 2009 last year for $4000, runs perfectly. Slapped all the easy bolt on mods (cat back , headers, cold air intake, evo throttle body), sounds decent for a small V4 and people love it (even though its pretty slow).

[@lol-no7vm]

94-95 sn95s and 96-98 sn95 cobras. best bang for your buck

[@itzyaboybugz]

I think I saw some high mileage Power Wheels that only require battery swap to run for under 5k still

[@hunterphan]

Over here in texas you could find some decent project 300zx for around 5k and yeah most are NA but its somewhere to start

[@BaddDukk]

I'm a fan of the 4th gen Prelude. I loved them then, and still do, but I *never* see them on the road.

[@Abstract_190]

2:55 nightride b roll baby!!!