What's the best hp/$ used car?

"472CID" (472CID) 01/03/2014 at 14:40 • Filed to: None

4

100

I was looking at XJRs and noticed that for under 10 grand (5k blue book value(!)) you can have 370hp. That's gotta be one of the better values around - and don't go blabbing lets keep the values low.

What other cars give you lots of POOWWA for little moneys?

Victorious Secret > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 14:41

11

Gen 1 CTS-V I believe would also be a good choice

Manuél Ferrari > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 14:42

1

When it comes to the best reliable HP (especially if power to weight is considered) then my guess is that a used Corvette would win

dogisbadob > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 14:43

0

Almost definitely a 80s/90s Mustang or Camaro

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 14:44

9

CORVETTES.

/thread

For Sweden > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 14:44

18

Fourth-gen F-Bodies.

Third-Gen F-Bodies

Mustangs.

472CID > Victorious Secret 01/03/2014 at 14:45

2

First gens look to be 10-20k not shabby at all. About the same value as a GTO or 4th gen F body.

PilotMan > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 14:46

15

The real cheapos:

1990 Camaros/Cobra Mustangs with 300 horsepower for $5,000.

Lincoln Mark VIII with Cobra 32V motor for 300 horsepower for $3,500

Cadillac Eldorado 300 HP, $4,000.

Avalanche 2500 with the 8.1L 345 HP/425'Ibs trq $6,000

Brian Silvestro > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 14:47

12

472CID > Goshen, formerly Darkcode 01/03/2014 at 14:47

2

I don't know, a good C4 should cost at leas 5k. The for the same money the Jag has 70 extra hp.

472CID > PilotMan 01/03/2014 at 14:48

5

300hp Northstars are a good choice, you can get those for next to nothing.

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 14:48

12

The C4 makes a lot better use of the power by weighting half a tonne less.

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > PilotMan 01/03/2014 at 14:49

4

1990 Camaros? Peak power for 1990 was 240 HP I think. The Mustang Cobra only came out in 1993.

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > Brian Silvestro 01/03/2014 at 14:50

11

For brand new cars this is definitively the winner.

FromCanadaWithLove > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 14:52

8

A free car. Low bhp, divide by $0 = infinite POWERRR.

letsnothypocrisy > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 14:53

0

Ha!

I think the part you may be missing is that unless you're a Jaguar mechanic, or willing to part with the price of a slightly used Mustang Cobra every year in maintenance, that car is going to be producing exactly zero horsepower because its engine won't be working.

Victorious Secret > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 14:53

2

Ah yes, GTO.

Some more luxury and the CTS-V otherwise the GTO is a nice coupe.

Idomathforaliving > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 14:53

0

These prices seem to change quite a bit depending on your area but I have two points:

Can we include engine swaps that are common enough to find with ease? In this case I choose and old jag with a chevy ls. After that it's Camaros, Mustangs and anything JDM with RWD. Infiniti m30s are often overlooked and can easily go for 1k.

kyle242gt > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 14:54

0

That would be my recommendation if you want something that isn't a mulletmobile or a ticking time bomb of electrical gremlins. I picked up a 70K mile 05 last year for 15K.

Cross-shopped a GTO previously, and the GTO's chassis was a wet noodle by comparison.

Andrew Pickle > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 14:54

0

You can find LS1 F-Bodies for under 5k (higher mileage obviously) all day long. Just a tune and good tires make these a high 12 second car, they're reliable, and performance parts are cheap. If you want to go fast for not a lot of $$$, they're a solid choice.

fourvalleys > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 14:55

0

Camaros, Corvettes, Mustangs... good answers.

How about a Charger SRT8 or Chrysler 300 SRT8? 425 HP and there are a couple of them near me under $10k. Plus, they're a pretty decent sleeper.

(Granted, those under $10k are not the best condition - one is a former cruiser - but you're asking HP/$ here, right?)

e: here's a Mustang claiming 600+ for $8500.

http://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/cto/424809…

PilotMan > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 14:55

3

1997+ C5 Corvettes are probably the fastest affordable money you can spend. The C4s seem to be a couple decades behind in development.

DailyTurismo > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 14:55

7

You didn't say it needs to be stock did you? How about at 513 hp turbo V6 powered VW Beetle for $6,500 . Medical insurance extra.

If you want to go fast AND turn, just find an FD RX7 with LSX V8 swap. Those are all over the place for about $10k nowadays.

AMC/Renauledge > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 14:55

10

2005 GTO. 400hp. $9,985 on kbb.com with average mileage, private party, in very good condition.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 14:55

0

Yes you must remember what it's capable of, not just the numbers.

GhostZ > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 14:56

39

1990 Nissan Stanza, with some rust, frame damage, and a sketchy title.

About 90 HP for $200.

Andrew Pickle > Goshen, formerly Darkcode 01/03/2014 at 14:56

1

I assumed he meant the entire decade, not just 1990.

maximum_sarge > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 14:56

0

Older Mercedes are nearly in the same bloat... I mean boat.

matt miller > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 14:56

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people are suggesting 90's camaros and 'stangs, lincoln mark somethings and pre-cts-v caddy's? pontiacs?!? don't seem to be getting the picture.

the jag actually looks sweet as fck, and it has a nice interior. though it'll be more expensive to fix (and may break down more often), it is in a different league from a C4 'vette. it's classy, ladies.

pedal-force > PilotMan 01/03/2014 at 14:56

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1998 Camaro Z28, first year with the LS1, you can find for $6k or under. 305 HP.

firstshad0w > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 14:56

3

If I recall correctly, you may be able to get a C32 or SRT6 crossfire for around 10k or less. 350hp stock, bolt ons and a tune for a bit more :)

Andrew Pickle > Goshen, formerly Darkcode 01/03/2014 at 14:56

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People with just a pulley swap and tune are making north of 700 to the tires. That's nutty.

pedal-force > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 01/03/2014 at 14:57

1

Except that the specific question was best hp/$. I don't see anything that says he cares about weight.

matt miller > matt miller 01/03/2014 at 14:58

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that said, i would rather spend four or five times as much on a '69 camaro SS or z/28.

firstshad0w > DailyTurismo 01/03/2014 at 14:58

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LS fd run 20k and up from what I've seen, definitely on the CP side!

Voice of C. Montgomery Burns > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 14:58

0

I could have gotten a white 90s XJR for $7,000 (that's what he wanted, probably could have haggled to bring him down) about 5 years ago. I'm not sure on the exact year but I think it was a '95. Don't see many on the road and it's still a looker. No idea on maintenance/reliability though.

zipfuel > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 14:59

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Assuming you're into English masochism the Jaguar F-type R has the same motor while it weighs and costs less.

My favorite sleeper of late though is the 2003 Infiniti M45. That's a 340hp V8 for $6-8k which no one will see coming!

ACCEL_ENG > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 15:00

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1St gen DSM (talon tsi, Eclipse GSX, Plymouth Laser.)

Dirt cheap, and boostable to the moon. 400hp stock internals,,, net investment... mmm 3 or 4K? tops?

typhoonegator > GhostZ 01/03/2014 at 15:00

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Paint it black and that was the car I bought when I turned 16. Was more expensive in 1995, though.

PilotMan > Goshen, formerly Darkcode 01/03/2014 at 15:00

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Yeah, 1990s

TheCraigy > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 15:00

1

Um, all those AMG mercs that have lost all six figures of their value.

I mean, if you're considering a used jag, just go all the way on a real expensive cheap mercedes.

Otherwise, GTO, C4 vette, beat to hell C5 Z06, those supercharged buick regals.

DollaMoneyAve > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 15:01

26

Used CL65 AMG. You can get one for 25k, and get 738 ftlbs of torque with 604 hp. I have an S65 and it will walk away from a 458 Italia after 90 mph.

Doug Nash > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 15:01

0

Wouldn't it really be something like a relatively new Mustang or Camaro? Those modern incarnations of (conservatively) twice the power they used to in the 80s/90s. And while substantially more money now, I would have to imagine that they each depreciate massively, in little time. So, maybe a mid/high mileage 2011 or 2012 'Stang?

I'm simply guessing. But I bet it's a decent cost/power ratio.

BeaterGT > PilotMan 01/03/2014 at 15:01

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Doesn't mean they(C4s) aren't fast!

BeaterGT > For Sweden 01/03/2014 at 15:02

6

+1 for the white 35th WS6. Best looking car to ever hit the road

FeralRiser > Goshen, formerly Darkcode 01/03/2014 at 15:02

0

Not to mention the '93 Cobras can go for $15,000+ depending on wear/mileage.

GhostZ > typhoonegator 01/03/2014 at 15:02

7

They're the ultimate beater car, in my mind. I bought a 1990 Nissan Maxima when I was 15 (back in 2006) for $200. Nothing electronic in it worked, which is a shame, since pretty much everything in those cars is electronic. I think everyone deserves a dirty, used, FWD econobox for their first car so they can get their mistakes out of their systems before moving upmarket.

Davevq > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 15:03

2

2008 Saab 9-3 Turbo X with 280hp at $14,000

2006+ Saab 9-5 Aero with 260hp at $5,000

JoelA237 > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 15:03

0

4th gen Fbody for sure. you can get lt1 versions for super cheap.. I bought a super clean 93 trans am for 3400 4 years ago with just 121k 1 owner texas miles on it. looking at a 99 now for 4700.

Ratchet when he's all hopped up on synthetic energon > PilotMan 01/03/2014 at 15:03

3

Unless you're autocrossing. For some reason, the C4s are almost always faster than C5s. GM brought out C4s when they did C6 development to figure out why.

TheCraigy > Goshen, formerly Darkcode 01/03/2014 at 15:03

1

You can get a Z06 vette under $15k if you don't mind a lot of miles.

Gavin S. > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 15:04

1

The way the prices have dropped on the early E60 M5s, I'd think they would be in the conversation. 507hp V10. Mind you, it will cost you a lot to own one. I know from experience.

Hypocrisy doesn’t make me wrong > DollaMoneyAve 01/03/2014 at 15:04

3

This is what I came to say, I answered at least 4 posts on Jalop with the CL65... it is truly amazing how much car you get for the money.

strokeofgenius > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 15:04

4

One of these can be had for the price of scrap and they make decent power stock, but even more with a few hundred dollars in upgrades

BeaterGT > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 15:05

0

I'd have to say Corvette or 4th gen fbody. C4 ZR1s can be had for close* to 10k and they started in 1990 with around 375 hp.

*may not be in most desirable of conditions

Monty Totten > Goshen, formerly Darkcode 01/03/2014 at 15:05

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He means 96-98 Cobras. 305 HP out of a 32v DOHC All aluminum V8. Not a bad deal at all. Hell, that's why I have one.

pedal-force > GhostZ 01/03/2014 at 15:06

1

I think you have the right idea. I tried Autotrader for V8 and the best I could do was $1200 for 272 HP in a 2006 Crown Vic. $2/hp is pretty hard to beat.

davedave1111 > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 15:06

0

Hard to beat a regular XJ8 - not even a hundred horsies down on the XJR, but can be had for maybe a tenth of the price. Cheapest on Autotrader is £500.

ArlingtonMazda > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 15:06

0

My personal car is a Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 hemi. 05's sell for 5-6k used with 330Hp and 370tq they are pretty quick for an SUV

San Baban > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 15:07

1

Used mercedes 65 amg's
S class or the CL
They can be found for cheap prices as well

Stradale > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 15:07

20

I don't like telling people about this sleeper but.....03-06' Mercedes Benz E55 AMG Kompressor.

469 horsepower 516 lb-ft of torque.

13k about 100,000 miles.

20k about 30,000 miles.

GhostZ > pedal-force 01/03/2014 at 15:07

1

Throw $1000 worth of parts at a rusty Nissan Stanza, and you can make more than 272 HP. Just not for very long. I think a junkyard Ford V8/V6 swap (or an ebay turbo) some garage-cut/welded mounts, and a shot of NOS would do the trick.

PilotMan > Ratchet when he's all hopped up on synthetic energon 01/03/2014 at 15:07

2

Because they are narrower I would assume. Easier to go through the cones when you don't need to turn as much to clear each corner.

aarmel732 > Goshen, formerly Darkcode 01/03/2014 at 15:08

1

I bought a C4 corvette, 88 TPI 245HP = 12HP / $10 that has to be hard to beat. The jag in the example above is Less than .4 HP / $10.

typhoonegator > GhostZ 01/03/2014 at 15:08

1

They're actually sort-of fun to drive too. Huge greenhouse, low cowl, lightweight, sits low to the ground (relatively). I loved it, and drove it until 2005 when the passenger door fell off after moving me and my then-new wife from Chicago to Boston. I had to take it out back like Old Yeller.

I actually looked at a Maxima back then. So many tiny switches on the dash and center console, it looked like the damn space shuttle.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > pedal-force 01/03/2014 at 15:09

0

This is true, he seems to be interesting in getting power for cheap, which to me means he really wants performance for cheap.

I interpret it as, buy a c4 (or 5 if you can get one with 93985710345723498576234 miles on it)

Big Block I-4 > DollaMoneyAve 01/03/2014 at 15:09

1

I was going to come in here and say an older AMG. I almost bought a E55 for like 8K and that thing had like 355HP I think. Also I saw a C43 AMG with 300hp or so for about $6K.

GhostZ > PilotMan 01/03/2014 at 15:10

2

Bingo. I remember reading somewhere that the C5 actually had to compromise some handling in order to put down the dramatically higher power outputs, which was mostly just made up for in bigger rubber, but the C4, lacking much power, had most of its development in the suspension and chassis.

Vlan1 > AMC/Renauledge 01/03/2014 at 15:10

1

Yeah but how many miles?

I was shopping those earlier this year and NEVER saw an example with under 75k on the clock for less than $15/16k

aarmel732 > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 15:10

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C4 Corvette. I got an 88 Corvette TPI for $2,000. 245 HP. Therefore 12HP / $10. That will be hard to beat. The Jaguar in the example is less than .4HP / $10.

burglar can't heart click anything > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 15:11

12

Best power/weight/dollar ratio? Nice knowing you, though.

pedal-force > GhostZ 01/03/2014 at 15:12

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You could take the Ford V8 out of a wrecked crown vic, off the top of my head a V8 at PullaPart is $200 or something, 200 shot of NOS, you've got 475 HP, if only once.

bidwell07 > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 15:12

1

I actually considered this for $2,000...

1989 BMW 750IL V12

GhostZ > typhoonegator 01/03/2014 at 15:13

1

Every one of those switches would kill the engine in my Maxima. It had a badly botched stereo job and sat with the sunroof open (I had to manually pull it out and close it and never opened it again) in the rain and dirt underneath a tree for almost 12 months before I bought it. So flipping any of the electronic switches from their 'stable' position was taking a gamble that it would either short something while driving, or drain the battery as soon as you shut it off.

I miss that car. Automatic transmission went out at 160,000 miles, which is completely unsurprising. Sold it for what I bought it for.

BrianMadigan > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 15:13

0

The Jaguar STR has a 400bhp Eaton-supercharged 4.2 liter V8, and looks like landed gentry. You can find XJRs and STRs for under 10k. Should be just like a Lincoln LS as far as fixing it goes....

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > Monty Totten 01/03/2014 at 15:13

1

The '96-'98 Cobras have an all-aluminium engine and the '03-'04s didn't?

prettybored > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 15:13

0

id just snap up an early 2000's elise, reasonable price for what you get. not much power / not much weight either. plus it goes around things which most of the other suggestions dont

bobrayner > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 15:14

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People pay fat premiums for prestigious cars. If you want maximum hp/$ it's probably best to go for something with a less shiny badge than a jaaaag. There will be 200hp hot-hatches selling for a tiny fraction of 10 grand.

Having said that, I bought one of these for $6500, so I'm happy. :-)

aarmel732 > matt miller 01/03/2014 at 15:15

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Yea, but he didn't ask about as classy as fuck / dollar. He asked HP / Dollar. HP/$ will always be won by an older American trailer park car.

pedal-force > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 01/03/2014 at 15:15

1

Maybe he wants to brag to the boys down at the bar how many ponies he has? I assume that's what people at bars talk about, and do people still call HP ponies? I'm so uncool.

Vlan1 > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 15:16

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Uhhh where did you get those KBB #s

I just looked up a XJR with 60K on the odo And Suggested retail was 24k

AMC/Renauledge > Vlan1 01/03/2014 at 15:16

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Whatever KBB's default for a 9 year-old car is. My guess is somewhere in the 90k range.

Ratchet when he's all hopped up on synthetic energon > PilotMan 01/03/2014 at 15:16

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It's more than that. I'm sure the lower-rpm powerband of the L98 has a bit to do with it as well; the '84 automatic with the Z51(?) package is supposed to be the holy grail for AX, and I assume it's due to having access to most/all of it's torque at very low speeds, making it able to come out of tight corners faster.

DollaMoneyAve > Big Block I-4 01/03/2014 at 15:17

0

Yeah but those are probably right at the point where major maintenance needs to be done, and that will cost an arm and a leg and maybe a few vital organs. If my suspension goes, it's something like $25k, and insurance will write off the whole car.

epidemike > GhostZ 01/03/2014 at 15:18

1

LOL, that makes me think of my progression of cars.

1988 Chevy or Pontiac grand am

1991 Chevy Corsica - I had this for a few years. 1996-1998 and I used to drive it with only my permit. Car died because I didn't change the oil during that entire time. Dad did really educate me on car maintenance.

1996 Toyota Camry - Had this sucker from 1998-2006. Turned from a nice car to a donation to KARS-4-KIDS. This car had many memories and many stories to tell. It's the only car I've ever named. We used to call it the Camron.

2007 Honda Accord - Bought this because of the Camron's death. Only had it till 2009 and that was because I grew out of love with it.

2009 Nissan Altima - Current car and I have loved it very much. Learned from my mistakes with the Corsica and I make sure I do oil changes (full synth).

Next car...I don't know but it could very well be a minivan.

GhostZ > pedal-force 01/03/2014 at 15:18

0

The only problem with that is getting the V8 to fit, given the sheer amount of custom work (you'd have to run a driveshaft) I doubt you'd have enough money left over to set up a nitrous system too.

But let's be honest. We secretly would to throw a dirt cheap V8 and NOS into every poor beater as a sendoff to car heaven if we could.

lingenfelter > aarmel732 01/03/2014 at 15:19

0

So you picked up an 88 for about 2 grand? Good deal.

Ljvb > DollaMoneyAve 01/03/2014 at 15:20

0

The replacement parts on the 65's are stupid expensive..

CAR_IS_MI > DailyTurismo 01/03/2014 at 15:20

12

Wonder how quickly Orlove could roll this.

DollaMoneyAve > Hypocrisy doesn’t make me wrong 01/03/2014 at 15:20

3

Most non-Jalops don't even know the 65 series exists. Honestly, I didn't even know until my dad came home with the thing back in '07. That motor deserves more credit and attention than it gets. The only problem is that for the price of a new S/CL/SL 65, you can buy a Gallardo, Continental GT, etc., and those are seen as being more exclusive for some reason.

DasWolf13 > Goshen, formerly Darkcode 01/03/2014 at 15:21

0

And it doesn't nearly have the electrical system problems that a jag has, but it's a Corvette so the interior sucks, No animals or wood were harmed in it's construction.

lingenfelter > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 01/03/2014 at 15:21

1

An aquaintance of mine bought a florida 2997 C5 for about 12k, the same car locally would sell for nearly double that - it's all about the market.

seriouslywhyiskinjastillterrible > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 15:21

0

'03 Ford Fairlane. Leather seats and all.

$4,600 AUD ($4128.50 USD) / 220kW (295hp)

not what I would pick up for racing, but probably cheapest on hp from my quick look.

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/detail…

G8GT364 > Victorious Secret 01/03/2014 at 15:22

1

Ive found a few Gen 1 CTS-V's with around 50k miles that were M6's for 20-22k. I'd say thats a good buy for the performance.

pedal-force > GhostZ 01/03/2014 at 15:22

1

Yeah, the whole changing from FWD to RWD and putting a longitudinally mounted V8 where an (I assume) transverse mounted I4 used to be does tend to be bit of a pain. Every car should go out in a blaze of glory with a connecting rod launch salute.

stoke > Stradale 01/03/2014 at 15:23

8

$20k for that car with 30,000 miles on it is an absolute steal. I don't even like the E-Class, but holy crap.

G8GT364 > AMC/Renauledge 01/03/2014 at 15:24

0

KBB can tell you all day long that an LS2 GTO is worth $10k. Good luck finding one for that price.

PilotMan > Doug Nash 01/03/2014 at 15:26

0

The 1998 Camaros had 305-315 horsepower, the 2002s had closer to 340 if you were lucky enough to get a LS6 block, heads,

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > stoke 01/03/2014 at 15:27

35

And that's how you describe an early 2000s AMG benz.

You step on the gas - "HOLY -"

Then something breaks every day - "......crap"

lingenfelter > Vlan1 01/03/2014 at 15:27

0

Asking price is never selling price. But I agree, the asking prices are shockingly high, and the same goes for any V8/Manual F body without a bajillion miles on it.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > 472CID 01/03/2014 at 15:28

0

My dad leased a '99 XJR way back when. He loved that car and I recall being impressed by its throttle response. Nowadays 370hp seems quaint, doesn't it?