Which $7k Hot Hatch

jere wrote: In reply to yamaha: Looks like the 318ti will make 0-60 in 8.8 seconds so if we are talking factory stock cars it's off the list too. To the OP are we talking about modded cars or factory stock cars?

Any inline 6 swap(that can be done easily with factory stock parts) will make a ti respectably fast in acceleration. They sold 6pot ti's overseas, just never here. Already swapped ones can be had for under his budget......I still think the fsvt is the answer. The zetec can be built up to make pretty good power n/a or boost for instant hoonage.

And if you get the dirty itch Focii are probably one of the most common group 2 rally cars of this time period. Always seeing them for sale on specialstage.

I would definitely look into the LSD that is the only thing I really "missed" in my car with light mods+suspension+tires. And was very livable and still git a 55" TV in the back in its box lol

The 2.3 duratec PZEV motor can easily be made to out power the SVTF but it would take a lot more work to make the 2.3 ZX3 as nice as the SVTF inside IMHO

yamaha wrote:

jere wrote: In reply to yamaha: Looks like the 318ti will make 0-60 in 8.8 seconds so if we are talking factory stock cars it's off the list too. To the OP are we talking about modded cars or factory stock cars?

Any inline 6 swap(that can be done easily with factory stock parts) will make a ti respectably fast in acceleration. They sold 6pot ti's overseas, just never here. Already swapped ones can be had for under his budget......I still think the fsvt is the answer. The zetec can be built up to make pretty good power n/a or boost for instant hoonage.

Well if we are talking swaps I am sure there are a dozen or more cars that will make more power with less money.

For that matter $7K you could build or buy (someone elses already built) a crotch rocket fast NX and get better than the 30mpg hwy with money left over if you do the work yourself.

I really like the 318ti I would take one over a mini or SVT focus for sure. If we are looking for maximum fun daily driver/ don't really car what class it fits in from a swap or turbo I would look at a few other cars first

The 2.3 duratec PZEV motor can easily be made to out power the SVTF but it would take a lot more work to make the 2.3 ZX3 as nice as the SVTF inside IMHO

Yep, and that's really more important in my opinion.

Cheap starter NXs not motorcycle fast but will give the SVT focus a hard time without trying

$2200 NX turbo-d Columbia sc

$1200 turbo- NX needs some new sheet metal welded in. Madison, WI

Any Focus I've been in has had 1) a terrible interior and 2) poor build quality. Never saw the appeal in them after owning one and having been in multiple.

And the seating position in my 2000 ZX3 was fubar'd something fierce. Feelings like you are sitting on top of the car rather than in it...

jere wrote: Cheap starter NXs not motorcycle fast but will give the SVT focus a hard time without trying $2200 NX turbo-d $1200 turbo- NX needs some new sheet metal welded in.

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HiTempguy wrote: Any Focus I've been in has had 1) a terrible interior and 2) poor build quality. Never saw the appeal in them after owning one and having been in multiple. And the seating position in my 2000 ZX3 was fubar'd something fierce. Feelings like you are sitting on top of the car rather than in it...

Well I am sure when he test drives one he will be able to suss out if that is an issue

I wanted a 318ti very much but I could not find one with a manual and under 150K. I ended up with an SVT and I am happy with it. The SVTF EAP package is a sweet upgrade, the only thing I don't like is that the European package includes traction control as standard. You cannot really defeat the traction control under 15mph as I am told. I dislike the nanny factor and my car will not see snow, so I shopped for a SVT without traction control.

Cannot is a strong word. Pulling ABS fuses, or a switch to a relay doing the same thing, almost always works on old setups.

Interesting. Never heard the traction control thing before

E36 M3! Don't know why it didn't occur to me until just now but up until recently there were 2 turbo mirage/colts on ATL CL. I'd take one of those over a probe or focus.

How about a first gen Honda Insight? Maybe replace the battery with updated one? Decent autocrosser? Sure it's not a "hot-hatch" in the general sense of the term, but it would be interesting to see what GRM could do with one. In the same vein as the Camry build.

Probably hittin' the pipe a little on price, but damn, I don't know that I've ever seen a cleaner one:

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/3717246872.html

I don't find that price offensive, that thing is incredible and 16g dsms can get the berkeley down.

Yup. But the kind of guy who's gonna cream over that car usually isn't gonna have the cash, and good luck getting a loan

vwcorvette wrote: How about a first gen Honda Insight? Maybe replace the battery with updated one? Decent autocrosser? Sure it's not a "hot-hatch" in the general sense of the term, but it would be interesting to see what GRM could do with one. In the same vein as the Camry build.

I would rock an insight as a DD. All the benefits of honda build and engineering, hybrid miliage, interesting shape and design, and none of the prius' snob appeal

I have owned a lot of the cars mentioned here. The Focus SVT was a favorite. Put 20k miles on one. I am driving a lot of Mazda's now and am quite smitten with them as well. The Speed3 is way over budget but is a gigglefest and license loser to be sure.

poopshovel wrote: Probably hittin' the pipe a little on price, but damn, I don't know that I've ever seen a cleaner one: http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/3717246872.html

7k is a GOOD deal for that car. It may still be tough to sell it for that. If so, its another case of the free market being wrong.

As for 1g Insight DD, i do it. It needs suspension mods severely (which i havent started on mine yet) but it is still fun in the way that an 1800 lb Honda hatch inevitably is. And once you get used to the MPG it's hard to go back to the way you thought before.

I'VE MADE MY DECISION! (Drumroll please...)

I'm buying a P71! Stay tuned, gentlemen.

Let me say this again to be clear..

P71?

Ugh.

Choice fail.

Oh to be young and have $7k in disposable income....though I assume this is a joke.