What's the best Q car?

1998-2000 Ford Contour SVT

Depending on condition could fit into either price range.

Genesis Sedan, 4.6 V8. 375hp. understated styling that disappears in traffic at extra legal speeds. https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/677139864/overview/

What's everyone's thoughts on the Mercedes CLK55 AMG? These seem to fit in the upper end of OP's price range.

Fairly late model Chevy Impala can be had with a 300+ hp V-6 and so anonymous that their owners lose them in parking lots regularly.

Nissan Maxima: same thing.

KyAllroad wrote: Fairly late model Chevy Impala can be had with a 300+ hp V-6 and so anonymous that their owners lose them in parking lots regularly. Nissan Maxima: same thing.

That would be the '12-'13 Impala and '14 Impala Limited, which had the 314hp 3.6L VVT. More power than the old 5.3L Impala SS. They are a rocket ship.

Wow, didn't know those Impalas were so quick. 14.8 in the quarter at 97 mph, that's definitely Q-ship material.

I came to say Honda Accord V6 Sedan with the manual. Made only in 06-07, they are set apart from their auto-equipped Sedan cousins only by a red "V6" badge on the rear deck and unique 5-spoke alloys. Quarter mile goes by in 14.2 at 102 mph. Under $10,000 for sure, and the V6 responds well to mods. I bet much of the Acura TL suspension bolts on as well.

HappyAndy wrote: Speaking of Pontiacs, I always liked the Bonneville SSeI. I'm sure that engine has tuning potential, not sure about the rest of the car though. That supercharged 3800 engine was also in a Buick, I forgot which model name, but it was quite plain looking compared to the Bonneville.

I've got a Buick Regal GS. Smaller than the Park Avenue Ultra, with the same drivetrain. Looks like an anonymous jellybean, and they go for under $3000 in "little old lady mobile" condition. So-so FWD chassis, but it's not especially heavy; they were high 14 second cars out of the box. And here's what they can do if you turn up the wick:

Insane Regal GS The best part about that link is that he's completely up front about what he's done to the car and what it can run. And nobody believes him even though he tells them exactly what he's up to. Now that's a sleeper.

Another sub-$5K possibility I'd consider would be to get an '80s era Crown Vic or Grand Marquis, and go nuts with a smallblock build. Use it to re-enact certain scenes from "Men In Black."

The Galant VR4 was your winner. Not as unobtanium as you think.

galantvr4.org

Bobzilla wrote: Genesis Sedan, 4.6 V8. 375hp. understated styling that disappears in traffic at extra legal speeds. https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/677139864/overview/

Oh, yes...this. Bonus points for R-Spec. No-one will ever see it coming compared to these Euro models some of you are throwing out there. Not exactly in the price range though.

NickD wrote:

KyAllroad wrote: Fairly late model Chevy Impala can be had with a 300+ hp V-6 and so anonymous that their owners lose them in parking lots regularly. Nissan Maxima: same thing.

That would be the '12-'13 Impala and '14 Impala Limited, which had the 314hp 3.6L VVT. More power than the old 5.3L Impala SS. They are a rocket ship.

Most manufacturers now days have a NA 3.5-3.7 liter V6 that puts out 300+ hp.

szeis4cookie wrote: What's everyone's thoughts on the Mercedes CLK55 AMG? These seem to fit in the upper end of OP's price range.

Service and parts as astronimcally bad on that one.

I vote M45. Mainly because I want one.

wearymicrobe wrote:

szeis4cookie wrote: What's everyone's thoughts on the Mercedes CLK55 AMG? These seem to fit in the upper end of OP's price range.

Service and parts as astronimcally bad on that one. I vote M45. Mainly because I want one.

These are really really good.

If we're talking total sleeper, i have a few ideas.

Chevy Truck 2wd single cab short bed. Add turbo. No one wants short beds anymore. Double bonus if you can find the elusive flareside.

Ford Fairmont. Wagon. We all already know what this is.

The mx6/626 mentioned earlier is a good call as well.

Mazda cx7. Same motor as the ms3 and can be had awd.

Ls400. The things the Saudis are doing with the 1uz are absolutely bonkers.

Camry solara. Seriously. Packing one of the strongest motor/trans combos toyota ever put out, these are amazing. There's at least one Canadian camry running around close to 1000whp. Lots of Solara parts.

How has this not come up here yet? The E38 740i M Sport is roughly in that price range. 0-60 in 5.9 seconds, quarter in 15.5@95 isn't great but not bad. Reasonably reliable and very solid styling, not to mention BMW parts support for older vehicles is, IMO, probably the best out there.

In reply to STM317:

I'm a little afraid of the secret getting out too, but GRM guys deserve to know. Right now they are very easy to get. In terms of straight line speed, the V6 is just about equal to the P71. The handling is what really sets the car apart. The only downside is body panel replacements are straight from Australia at this time there is no stock kept here, they also are going to stop making the car soon, unknown on any replacement.

I did talk to a guy that works with an agency that has a few V8s, he told me they are "too fast" for what they needed. His response shocked me so much that I had a hard time finishing the rest of the conversation, I mean, who says that?!

A tip on buying one though, don't get a department's test mule. If a department is only selling one, stay away. The test mule cars usually get beat to hell.

Chadeux wrote: So I googled Q-ship. If I decided to ignore what I assume you guys mean, look at the literal WWI/II definition, and then barely translate that to a car. I vote E150 van with a 5.4 and a blower. Windows are optional. Pretty sure I'm doing this wrong.

No, you have it right. Lots of neat cars have been posted, but the idea is to be invisible.

$50-5000 range.

Audi A6 2.7T with an APR tune (318 hp and 382 lb-ft, anyone?).

$5000-10000

04 Town Car with a 4V swap from a Mark VIII (literally bolts in, IIRC), TR-3650 swap from a Mustang GT (the trans literally bolts in), Megasquirt II, sticky tires on 2005 Mustang GT machined wheels, 3.73 Trac-lok, Heinous control arms, and ADTR.net coilovers.

I'll chime in with The G-Man...
Lincoln Mark 8's are really cheap. The $800 Lincoln Mark 8 ran like 14.9 sec drag times at The Challenge.

HunterBenz wrote: I have put several hundred miles on the new Caprice PPV. I have only driven the V6 version. They handle really dang well for being built like a tank. The V6 is fun, I bet the V8 is better. I'm not an auto guy, but the sport mode on the trans will actually let you decel with engine revs like running a manual if you can figure out the way the pedal feeds the computer. I've been trying to convince the wife we need a V8 Caprice.

This is an awesome idear too. I'd love one. Then figure out a way to snage the SS manual trans and stuff it in there with a 3rd pedal.

Or, if you just got the Mark 8, I'm sure a CX Racing GT45R, FMIC, MSII, and a basic custom manifold would make things really interesting. .

'05-10 Subaru Legacy GT. Almost an STi in a plain wrapper. Bonus points for wagon version (becoming unicorns), or the later models that were Camrycord ugly.

AWD, and easy to get 300whp. They did have some issues with the 2.5 motors at higher mileages.

2.5 Legacy GT Wagon gets my vote. I test drove an 05 when they came out and that thing could've easy surpassed triple digits if I put my foot down any more on the highway

Also, i'd throw a vote out for a 2 door Accord V6/6 Speed Coupe. The Intrepid R/T's need to be pretty cheap these days.