Gearheads tend to focus on anything a powerful engine that produces over 450 hp. When thinking about it, why would anyone spend more than 10 seconds looking at a car that produces less than 100 hp? It is not like these types of cars are stylish, sporty, and true head-turners after all.
The neighbor's car may be something laughable at first sight, but it is possible to turn it into a true beast. Certain affordable cars can easily be turned into sports car slaying sleepers. The whole sleeper car trend started a while ago, however, these days, it's very common to stumble upon a completely normal car that can easily destroy an Italian supercar.
10 Honda CRX
Honda placed itself in the US market as the manufacturer of affordable and disposable vehicles. Honda cars sure are cheaper to buy and maintain. They are also highly reliable. However, this reputation can be a catch-22. As years went on, Honda was mainly perceived as what is mentioned above. Not as a producer of Japanese-made sports cars.
The CRX should be among the 10 coolest cars from the '90s petrol heads can buy for peanuts. Built by MR Performance in Texas, this CRX is powered by a turbocharged 2.2L F22A engine (the same engine found in the older Honda Accord) that produces about 450 hp.
9 Volvo 245
The Swedish carmaker Volvo is one of the most impressive Scandinavian car manufacturers. The company diversified its portfolio by producing 18-wheelers and other heavy machinery. As far as its cars only concerned, very few people know that the company has released some of the best cars to modify to insane levels.
This 245 is one of the best sleepers gearheads can buy for less than $10,000. In fact, this Volvo should definitely on your shopping list. The car was allegedly equipped with a 2JZ engine, but its owner decided to spice things up by cramming a Lamborghini V10 from a Gallardo.
8 Ford Falcon XR6
The Ford Falcon is best known among American gearheads as a highly underrated vehicle that truly deserves every classic car fan's attention. In the US, the car was discontinued in the early 1970s. In Australia, the car was so popular that it is still in production until recently.
Anyone Australian gearhead will know that the XR6 is fitted with a 4.0L inline-six Barra engine that produces 362 hp and 393 lb-ft of torque. It is quite impressive for a Ford. However, this sleeper XR6 develops 600 hp at the crankshaft. This is insane. It is a family car.
7 Toyota Celica
Over the years, Toyota produced a wide array of interesting vehicles. From the more recent Camry TRD that cranks out 300 hp to the legendary Supra, the company did release some amazing vehicles. The best part about these cars is the fact that they can be modified to extreme levels.
A 1975 Celica is not known for being outrageously powerful. That is exactly why this Celica received a 2JZ-GTE engine; the exact same engine found on the Supra MK4. However, the owners of the Celica are completely crazy, and decided to crank up the power to 1,049 hp.
6 Audi B5 S4 Avant
Audi did strike gold when it released its S-Series. Similar to the M-badged Bimmers and AMG-Series Mercs, the Audi S-Series gives drivers the possibility to cruise around in a street-legal sports car. These cars are seriously under-tuned. Thankfully, there are tons of aftermarket parts available on the market to exploit the potential of those outstanding vehicles.
Uneducated car fans will disregard any station wagon stating they are ugly. Well, the Audi S4 B5 Avant is equipped with a very potent twin-turbocharged 2.7L V6 that produces 261 hp to the wheels. This particular S4 was boosted to develop 1,200 hp. This flame-throwing grocery getter is an absolute beast.
5 Nissan Juke R
Japanese carmakers are very strange. Though they have come up with some of the nicest sports cars available on the market, they have also created some truly laughable vehicles that are are anything but respectable. That being said, these cars are as modular as other Japanese cars.
Why in the world would a Nissan Juke cost $700,000? Well, the answer is quite surprising. Named the Juke R, this urban dweller is fitted with the powerplant found in the Nissan GT-R. There is a twin-turbocharged 3.8L V6 under the hood that produces 690 hp. Not bad for a Juke.
4 Ford Crown Victoria
The American automotive industry was once one of the most respected industries in the world. American car manufacturers did come up with vehicles such as the Mustang and Corvette after all. Since the late 1970s and early 1980s, American carmakers have released some deplorable cars. Law enforcement's favorite, the Crown Victoria, is among those sub-par vehicles.
The Crown Victoria is a god-awful car that only a retiree would find attractive. The car is as ugly as it is slow. The owner of this Crown Vic decided to give the car a bit more power. The original 4.6L V8 was replaced by a unit from the Ford Cobra. The power was consequently raised from 250 hp to 422 hp.
3 Mercedes-Benz SL600
Mercedes-Benz sure is not known for producing awful vehicles. Over the years, the company produced some great vehicles. The Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR is a prime example. However, not all Mercedes cars cost millions of dollars. The company also produces cars that even students crumbling under student loans can afford.
It is fair to admit that the Mercedes SL600 is far from being lukewarm. However, it is not every day that readers get to see a 1,000 hp SL600. Definitely not your wealthy yoga teacher car. The power output to the wheels is 783 hp, which is still far more powerful than some of the latest muscle cars.
2 BMW E30 320i
The way German car brands are divided is quite interesting. Volkswagen is by definition the poor man's car. Mercedes-Benz is more for people with a fat wallet. Audi is the more luxurious offspring of Volkswagen, but it nowhere as luxurious as Mercedes. Porsche is the outlier. BMW is a good mix of all the brands cited above.
This E30 rocks a small block GM V8 bored to 5.8L. Coupled with two Holset HX35 turbos, the engine is capable of producing as much power as some of the newer M3s. Its owner, Jordan Butters, allegedly claimed that the ultimate goal would be to reach the 1,000 hp mark.
1 Volvo 960
Volvo cars are quite odd. They are known for being college girl/suburban mom cars, but they are quite powerful. The Volvo S60 R is by definition a sports car. The turbocharged 2.5L inline-five produces 300 hp after all. Given the potential of most Volvos, it is quite normal that gearheads decided to get the most out of them.
This 960 was modified to extreme levels. The engine is now equipped with four turbos and produces 2,200 hp. Is this thing even drivable? Is it street legal? The answer to both questions is yes. It must be quite puzzling to pull up to this mad ride at a red light.