sleeper 14 second car...cheep...help with ideas

Many of you gave me opinions on my sons new to him car...the zx2 vs neon thread. So he got a Neon...he is doing a few things for it...I am guessing that he will end up in the 14.5 - 15.5 second range...for now anyways...I dont see him making it a total hot rod.

So then there is me. I need something that is at least a little quicker than his car. I have this thing...I want a car that most people would not suspect to be quick...something of a sleeper. I dont know why...I just like that idea. I think about the old Station Wagon hot rods of the past.

Some thoughts I had were a Maxima or a Taurus SHO...but they are both the kind of sleeper that people KNOW are quick. I have seen some people do a SHO and then debadge it and even remove some of the extra body panels or fill in the SHO letters on the back bumper etc.

I am kind of a Ford guy...so I like the Taurus...although I dont know there is a lot that you can do with a regular Taurus. The contour is an OK car...maybe with a V6 hot roded a little bit? There is the zx2....at least they are cheep and a 5 speed.

I know there is a lot that can be done with Hondas....every expects a civic...maybe an older accord? I have seen a few BMW's or like Acuras etc pretty cheep...but I would think the costs for parts etc would be too much.

I would prefer a 5 speed...but if I can make a car pretty quick with an auto...then that is fine also. I have never swapped an engine...but I feel like I can as long as it doesnt require any fabrication.

What do you think? ideas?

I think you might be entering a peeing match you might not win.

mcompton1973 wrote: So then there is me. I need something that is at least a little quicker than his car.

Dodge Spirit RT. Ultimate sleeper.

I've got a project version if you are interested. Complete, in pieces. Has a 5 spd. No fabrication necessary. Can be reassembeld in a weekend. Should run 13's easily.

Well. If you like station wagon hot rods get a turbo Volvo.

clutchsmoke wrote: Well. If you like station wagon hot rods get a turbo Volvo.

Yep

• Lee

SVreX wrote: I think you might be entering a peeing match you might not win.

mcompton1973 wrote: So then there is me. I need something that is at least a little quicker than his car.

hahaha... naaaa....If he goes all out on his car then I will accept that. I dont think he will do anything too crazy...like a turbo or srt-4 engine swap etc....at least not till after basic which is late next spring....lol.

Helping him with his car, I am just remembering how much fun it was having a quick car...I had a SHO before. It was a lot of fun...and really all I did was get across the intersection after a stop light faster than other cars...lol.

Budget is limited and so is car selection around here...not much exciting....wonder if I can find one of those old Caravans with the Turbo? hahaha....

OH! I just had another idea. ULTIMATE Grandpa sleeper. '97-'04 Buick Regal GS. It has the supercharged V6.

Wikipedia isn't 100% accurate, but it's pretty close.

Wiki: The supercharged Regal GS had a 1/4 mile ET of 14.7 seconds, and acceleration to 60 mph (100 km/h) took only 6.6 seconds.[6] The Regal GS, equipped with the supercharged 3.8 liter V6 engine (L67) produced 240 hp (180 kW) & 280 ft·lbf (380 N·m) of torque. The Regal GS's PCM has programming that activates torque management to reduce wheel spin at launch. The supercharged Regal GS was EPA rated at 18/27 MPG city/freeway.

Oh no. Now I want one.

is that like Buick version of the GTP? or more like the Bonniville SSEI?

i think you're on the right track. i would think making a SHO look like a haggard GL would be easy enough.

Making a Regal GS look like a Century is easy too.

mcompton1973 wrote: is that like Buick version of the GTP? or more like the Bonniville SSEI?

Yup it's the Buick GTP.

I'm likin' that supercharged Buick idea, grandpa... he he

I saw a pontiac torrent gxp today. Didn't know such a thing ever existed. Don't think it is the answer here, just was surprised to notice a pontiac today that i never knew about after spotting a pontiac g3 last week,which is another car i had never heard of. Maybe if you want a sleeper look a now defunct gm brand like pontiac or saturn.

I like the sleeperability of the regal. You could get a blue hair wig or put a couple hats on the parcel shelf to really fool 'em.

... as the blue hair stabs the throttle and leaves the kids in the dust

+1 on the Regal GS.

My brother had one for a few years. Torquey, surprisingly quick, stealthy, and decent to drive. I couldn't get comfortable for long periods of times in the seats, but great car to soak up the miles if the seats work for you.

Typical GM shortcomings (chintzy turn signal stalk, overboosted steering, electrics went to E36 M3 on his after a few years), but that car never ever failed to start or left him stranded.

In reply to T.J.:

HAH! So true. I've seen so many Regals with hats on the parcel shelf. I'm already 95% sure there is a retiree behind the wheel of the Regal, but when I spot the hats? 110% certain.

Compared to the other cars I have had, the ride of the w-body with the 3800SC is terrible. Its fun for accelerating fast for a while, but the rest of the time it drives like a crappy rental car. They do run mid 14s stock if you get a good one. You could always get a V8 mercedes too (500SE, 560SEL, 400E, etc), they handle better than the regal, etc and have a decent amount of power.

That would have to be a car I really watch for... Scanning CL it doesnt look like something that there is going to be a lot of... :-(

I had been thinking maybe a Mazda protege...I know this is NO WHERE NEAR the regal...I guess they are basically the same as an Escort GT right? I know a few people that are fanatics about the EGT's...but the Mazda looks more generic to me....

I dunno. Just thoughts. I will keep looking

Just really not sure I can do the GM products...although I looked at that GS a little...pretty sharp car actually.

I never took it to a track, but I'm pretty sure my Merkur XR4Ti was a 14 second car. LA2 ECU and big VAM from the junk yard, Rapido intercooler and Gillis boost valve. That should get you comfortably over 200 HP and I think they weigh 2900 ish lbs. could save some weight, for sure, and go faster.

I had fun in that car. No one knew what it was. I think people thought it was a Tempo. They look FWD. But sure did make some expensive cars look silly... when it ran.

I always wanted the Buick, or better yet a Cutlass. I always thought the grill was nicer on the Cutlass. Put an LSwhatever in and you're doing better than 13s I'd guess.

Here's what I have been thinking about for the last couple weeks...

1987 SRT4 Chrysler wagon...

Turbo Brick. Or if you want "stealth" of the "wow, definitely a poser ... holy crap that's actually fast" sort, get a Mustang II with the 302.

In reply to Racer1ab:

Definite sleeper!

What about a V8 MN-12 with a turbo in place of the muffler? When I pass a thunderchicken, I rarely think "Ohhh fast car"...