Modifying your car is a journey that many people take in the quest for speed and power, fueled by the thought of their personal, and often affordable, car becoming a true street and track dominating monster. While the early days of modifying a car were filled with do-it-yourself ingenuity, today's manufacturing technologies have allowed anyone with the right car to tap into some serious aftermarket performance.
Not all cars are made equal, and the fate of your project car is often dependent on the car that will be your project. Certain aspects like the engine that comes with the car will decide whether or not your bolt-on modifications take it to a new extreme of power or a pit of despair as parts break, and your goal becomes seemingly unreachable.
So read on, to find out which 10 cars under $10,000 will become speed demons with some work, and which 5 will become demons that haunt you, should you try to work on them:
15 Modified Monster: Lexus IS300 (1999-2005)
A long-running staple of Lexus' lineup, the IS300 has always been Lexus' sportier but still luxurious, sedan. One of the worst kept secrets among Toyota fans, the IS300 of 1999-2005 happened to come stock with the 2JZ-GE engine. Even if it's missing the Turbos, they can be added with a Turbo kit, and plenty of modifications and tuning can be done fairly hassle-free to turn the IS300 into what essentially is a Supra Sedan!
14 Modified Monster: Infiniti G35 (2003-2007)
While Nissan 350Zs get plenty of attention as a platform for modification, a far more affordable platform exists, the Infiniti G35. A luxury coupe like this makes for a great daily driver, and best of all, it comes with the VQ35 engine also found in the 350Z. With prices for these older G35s sitting at an incredibly affordable position, it offers a more comfortable experience, with the same power and speed as its sportier Nissan brother.
13 Modified Monster: BMW 3-Series (1990-2000)
This generation of 3 Series, known as the E36, has been the go-to choice for a cheap DIY racecar for quite some time. Offering a great wheelbase for track days, or drift events, alongside the M50 or M52 Inline 6 engine.
Prices are cheap as German sedans like this depreciate like a boulder falling off a cliff. If you can find an E36 with the M50 or M52 motor and a manual gearbox, you're in for a treat, as basic modifications can turn it into an awesome track day toy.
12 Modified Monster: Chevrolet Camaro (1993-2002)
While the 4th generation of Camaro isn't remembered too fondly, that memory is starting to change. Since they are mostly un-desirable, decent condition 4th-gen Camaros are dirt cheap, even for the ones with an LS series V8 under the hood.
If you can score a deal on an LS-powered one, you're in for some serious power, as these motors are notorious for making tire-shredding power with a bit of work.
11 Modified Monster: Mazda MX-5 Miata (1989-1997)
Ask most car forums what the ideal first project car is, and most will tell you to buy a first-generation Mazda Miata. Mechanically simple, lightweight, agile, affordable, as well as reliable, the only thing a stock Miata is missing is power. Fortunately, there's a huge selection of bolt-on aftermarket modifications, including Turbo and supercharger kits that will give your Miata the power it deserves.
10 Modified Monster: Ford Mustang (1994-2004)
Much like the 4th generation Camaro, 3rd generation Mustangs are available in high supply, and for not much money. While it doesn't look as good as newer Mustangs, the V8 powered models pack a punch and can be easily taken to the extreme with a bit of work. In particular, many Supercharger kits are the best way to go and yield amazing results.
9 Modified Monster: Mercury Marauder (2003-2004)
The meaner cousin to the Ford Crown Victoria, the Mercury Marauder only lasted for 2 years of production. But those 2 years produced an awesome car. Sharing the Panther platform with the Police Interceptor Crown Victoria, but with far more power, 302 hp out of a 4.6L V8, to be exact.
Buy a Marauder for under $10k, add a bolt-on supercharger, and you have a serious sleeper on your hand. As an added bonus, people may think you're a police officer, and get out of your way on the highway.
8 Modified Monster: Acura RSX (2002-2006)
Sold as the final generation of Integra in Japan, export models were known as the Acura RSX. But being the successor to the Integra means this car packs a lightweight punch.
RSXs are already nimble little cars when stock, but can become track monsters with chassis stiffening and coil-overs. Power as well is excellent, carrying the K20 motor under the hood, a motor known for making serious power numbers when modified and tuned.
7 Modified Monster: Acura Integra
While the RSX may have been the Integra's send-off, original generations of Integra are just as excellent for building into a track monster. One of the best parts of them is their light-weight maneuverability, but also how simple they are to work on.
The best flavor of Integra is the Type R, but those have become rather expensive, so look for one with a B18 motor under the hood, and you can build it to be far faster than a Type R, as well as most other cars on the road.
6 Modified Monster: Honda Civic (1992-2000)
There's a reason Honda Civics are the stereotypical cheap tuner car. Built with simple construction but reliably, an older Civic can be turned into almost anything you want it to be. Drag racer? You got it. Track day toy? Easy. Drift car? You bet. With a Honda Civic, you get a dirt-cheap platform for any modifications you so desire.
5 Not Worth It: Audi A4 (1994-2001)
While the B5 generation of Audi A4 may seem like a great platform, comparable with the BMW E36 3 Series, it really isn't. In general, it is a more complicated car, to access the timing belt, for example, you have to remove the entire front bumper. While a B5 A4 isn't a terrible choice for a project car, it isn't worth the hassle to turn it into a monster, when cars like the BMW E36 can do the same thing with far less effort.
4 Not Worth It: Mazda RX-8
Mazda's ill-fated successor to their legendary RX-7 may be an appealing car, you get 4 doors, practicality, sports car agility, and of course - rotary power. But the appeal of Rotary engines shouldn't overshadow their reliability, the seals for the combustion chamber are a consumable, just like the oil it burns. If you absolutely must modify a rotary RX-8, get ready to put in several times more work as a typical piston engine.
3 Not Worth It: Subaru Legacy/Outback (1999-2004)
While the 3rd generation of Subaru's Legacy/Outback platform ticks all the boxes for a cheap project car, it has a fatal flaw that crushes any dreams of adding power: the EJ251 engine. When you hear about Subaru's headgasket issues, think of this engine, as it is the worst of all boxer motors in terms of headgasket failure.
Even if those survive, the engine just can't handle much power anyway. The exception here would be the Flat 6 versions of the Outback, but not much exists in terms of aftermarket modifications for those.
2 Not Worth It: Jaguar X-Type
It's not too hard to see the appeal of an X-Type. On the used market they can frequently be found for under $5,000, and that may seem like a great deal for a British luxury sedan, especially the AWD ones, but don't be fooled by any thoughts of modifying one to go faster - they're cheap used for a reason. These are not the most reliable or easy to work on cars, to begin with, and owners report the transfer cases not surviving more than 250 hp.
1 Not Worth It: MG MGB
A dirt-cheap classic roadster may seem like a great idea for a project car at first, so long as you don't expect much out of the car. These MGBs, in particular, can be found for next to nothing, but power is also just that, next to nothing.
The only real way to get serious power out of a classic roadster like this is to swap out the engine entirely, not a friendly job for someone looking for a powerhouse on a budget. And that's not even mentioning the shoddy electronics. It's best to just buy a Miata if you want a small and nimble roadster.