If you are reading this post then I guess you too grew up playing Need For Speed and watching Fast and Furious. People like you and me couldn?t wait till we get our driver?s licenses and get behind the wheel. And we had a dream of one day buying our own car and modifying it. If you are on the market for a fun to drive, the easily modifiable car which will not break the bank, I gathered a list of 6 cars under $5,000 that fit the criteria.
6. Ford Mustang
If you are a fan of American muscle you should consider 4th generation Mustang. This pony was never suffering from too much love and appreciation from the car community. Obscured by the previous generation Fox-body Mustang and the next generation S197 Mustang, the 4th generation lost most of its value over time. However, GT versions were equipped with 4.7L or 5.0L V8 engine producing 225?290 hp, rear-wheel drive, and the manual transmission which means that they can be tons of fun. Muffler delete will make this car sound like a true beast, and exterior modifications can make your $5,000 Mustang look like a $60,000 Cobra R.
5. Honda Civic
5th generation Civic is good enthusiast budget car. Despite being front-wheel models with the manual transmission will allow you to have some decent fun. But don?t let the Fast and Furious fool you, even 1.6L VTEC engine is far from being very powerful. However, today you can get one of these in decent condition for as low as $2000, which leaves $3,000 of your budget for mods. If you want to go extreme then turbo kit and engine and drivetrain reinforcement will allow you to triple the stock horse power.
4. Lexus IS300
1st generation Lexus IS300 might look like a boring family sedan, but don?t let the looks fool you. This is a true sheep in wolfs clothing. Under the hood IS 300 has one of the most, if not the most, famous and loved engines in the world ? 2JZ. Variations of this engine were installed in the legendary Mk4 Supra. Reliability and potential of this block will allow you to output anywhere from 300hp to over 2000 hp, depending on your budget. Today you can find this sleeper for just under $5,000.
3. Volkswagen Golf
Mk4 Golf is one of the most stylish and loved Volkswagens in the car community. 3-door hot hatch with a set of lowering springs and aftermarket wheels will turn heads despite being 20 years old. Golf will not disappoint you power wise either. 1.8L turbo engine producing 180 hp in its stock form is easily boosted up to 300 hp. Hooked to a manual transmission this car can bring you tons of joy and happiness as both daily driver and track toy. You can find mint condition GTI?s for around $5,000 online.
2. Mazda MX-5 Miata
This car is a true legend and there is nothing much to say about it. If you are into cars you already know everything: 1.8L, 4 cylinders, 140 hp, 2300 lbs, and a huge potential for modification. Miata is a street legal go kart. These babies start to go up in price as we speak. So if you always dreamed about a JDM legend as a project car, now is the time.
1. Subaru Impreza WRX
2.5L boxer turbo engine, manual transmission, all-wheel drive, and a sporty handling make bugeye WRX a fun daily driver even in its stock form. The sound is good, acceleration is on point, and handling will not disappoint you either. However, with couple thousand dollars in mods, you can boost the power up to 300 hp and make it sound like a true rally beast. It is possible to find a good condition WRX for just under $5,000.
Hello everyone! My name is Anton and I am a car enthusiast. I am working on a start-up for people who want to get into car modifications but are struggling with finding the trustworthy mechanics. Check it out!
