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- While modifying a car can transform it into an absolute performance car or stunner, it can also drain your wallet pretty quickly. That's why cheap used cars make the best project cars as they leave owners with enough pocket change for aftermarket modifications. We have updated this article to provide pricing information and added more cheap cars you can buy today that look insane with body kits.
Most people will not tell you about it, but modifying a car can be very expensive, regardless of whether it involves aesthetic or performance mods. It requires builders to have an unlimited budget to create their dream car, but that's almost never the case. To make things worse, today, many of the best JDM sports cars like classic Nissan Skylines command premium prices, way above anything that could categorize them as affordable cars.
UPDATE: 2024/03/29 14:45 EST BY DENNIS KARIUKI NJOKI
While modifying a car can transform it into an absolute performance car or stunner, it can also drain your wallet pretty quickly. That's why cheap used cars make the best project cars as they leave owners with enough pocket change for aftermarket modifications. We have updated this article to provide pricing information and added more cheap cars you can buy today that look insane with body kits.
That means modders on a budget must look towards a new set of cars to serve as bases for their projects. Cheap used cars are always attractive to builders, as it means more money is left in their pockets for modifying the car to their tastes. That opens up many options for aftermarket mods, from wheels and body kits – the bread and butter of show car culture – to performance mods and engine swaps. These 12 cars can all be found within the four-digit price range, and they also look great with body kits.
How We Got Our Model Selection: HotCars analyzed the used market for the best tuner-friendly cars and filtered for models within the $10,000 price point or cheaper, according to their average used price from Classic.com and J.D. Power. All included models were sorted from the most to the least expensive based on their average used price.
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Pricing
Average Used Price |
Used Price Range |
$10,500 |
$7,500-$13,500 |
Pricing sourced from Classic.com
A properly modified Subaru Impreza WRX is a head turner by default, with many examples roaming around on our roads, car shows, or the track. Often, builders start with the high-performance WRX STI models, which, although more capable, are also significantly costlier than the WRX model.
Luckily, in most cases, body kits made for the WRX STI will bolt right onto a regular Impreza. It's a cheaper way to get a car that looks great for a fraction of the price. The first-generation Impreza WRX models are the cheapest, with used, good-condition 1995 units going for just over $10,000 as per Classic.com.
11 2000 BMW 3 Series E46: $10,016
Pricing
Average Used Price |
Used Price Range |
$10,016 |
$1,974-$25,250 |
Pricing sourced from Classic.com
BMW enthusiasts consider the E46 generation of the M3 the ultimate German performance car for various reasons. That makes even the most beaten-up examples almost unattainable in today's market. Combine that with the fact that the E46 generation is one of the best BMW generations, and you can see why the E46 M3 is still expensive.
Wallet-conscious buyers can solve that by buying a regular E46 3 Series and modifying it with a body kit. Sure, it's not an M3, but purchasing and modifying it will be much cheaper. On top of that, the E46 was available in several body styles, including convertible, coupe, sedan, and wagon, meaning there's a variety of body kits available for owners to customize their E46 to exactly how they want it. Used 2000 3 Series models are some of the cheapest BMW cars to buy, averaging about $10,000 on the used market.
10 2007 Mazda 3: $9,764
Pricing
Average Used Price |
Used Price Range |
$9,764 |
$7,105-$15,250 |
Pricing sourced from Classic.com
Mazda's most popular tuner offerings are the RX-7 and the world's best-selling roadster, the Miata. However, RX-7 prices skyrocketed a few years back, and the cheapest Miatas are likely to have been thoroughly abused. Enter the Mazda 3, a car that still ticks the JDM box and looks great with a body kit on.
Being Mazda's affordable mid-size hatchback, the 2007 Mazda 3 is still within the budget of most project car builders. Averaging under $10,000 on the used market, the 2007 Mazda 3 is among the cheapest Japanese cars that have the potential to become absolute head-turners.
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Pricing
Average Used Price |
Used Price Range |
$9,194 |
$713-$21,000 |
Pricing sourced from Classic.com
The Honda Civic is a no-nonsense Japanese hatchback built to do its job as a daily driver. Honda has built a reputation for solid build quality and reliability, making the Civic a great, affordable project car.
The Civic is a favorite among JDM tuners, meaning many aftermarket parts are available for each generation, from wings and splitters to bumpers and everything in between. That means there's a lot of room to make a unique-looking car with the Civic. However, with a budget of under $10,000, the fourth-generation Civic is among the cheapest options. It was also available in various body styles, which made it even more appealing.
8 2006 Mazda RX-8: $9,025
Pricing
Average Used Price |
Used Price Range |
$9,025 |
$1,833-$20,500 |
Pricing sourced from Classic.com
Mazda introduced the RX-8 in 2004 as the successor to the iconic RX-7. Unfortunately, the RX-8 failed to fill its predecessor's shoes and was ultimately discontinued in 2012, following an unsuccessful 9-year production run. This, combined with the Mazda RX-8's reliability issues, makes the RX-8 more affordable today than its predecessor, making it a perfect candidate for aftermarket modifications.
Tuners who want an RX-7 but can't afford it turn to the RX-8 as it's cheaper, features a rotary engine, and has a near 50:50 weight distribution. It also has a sleek, curvy styling, which, fitted with a body kit, will transform the RX-8 into a head-turner. Earlier model years are the most affordable, and with a budget of under $10,000, you can get a 2006-used RX-8 for about $9,025.
7 1990 Toyota MR2 W10: $8,405
Pricing
Average Used Price |
Used Price Range |
$8,405 |
$8,405 |
Pricing sourced from Classic.com
Toyota's MR2s are beloved among gearheads for their light weight and sporty mid-engined designs. This design also means they often get used as the base for exotic replicas. Everything from Ferraris to Batmobiles has been previously made out of the MR2, but the car looks best left in Toyota form.
An MR2 with a body kit, lower ride height, and a set of work wheels turns out to be a real stunner. Although newer models are a bit costly on the used market, you can get earlier generation models like the 1990 W10 for under $10,000, making it one of the cheapest used sports cars on sale today.
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Pricing
Average Used Price |
Used Price Range |
$8,091 |
$4,000-$13,750 |
Pricing sourced from Classic.com
Historically, Volvos have had a reputation as safe but bland cars, one that they're only just breaking out of with their latest models. The V70 fell squarely into the former category, meaning prices are generally good even for lower mileage models.
A body kit transforms the V70 into a more modern take on the slammed classic Volvo look that's become popular recently. The first-generation V70 models are the cheapest, with 2000 used examples fetching as low as $4,000 on the second-hand market.
5 2010 Subaru Legacy: $7,790
Pricing
Average Used Price |
Used Price Range |
$7,790 |
$4,876-$10,704 |
Pricing sourced from Classic.com
The Impreza's less popular cousin, the Legacy, is a great choice for modding on the cheap. It is powered by Subaru's boxer engines, which are generally bulletproof and known to last well over 150,000 miles with no major problems.
There are many used examples under $10,000, so finding one in good condition shouldn't be an issue. The 2010 model year, for example, has an average used price of $7,790, which, with a body kit on, can look much more expensive than it already is.
4 Mitsubishi Eclipse 3G: $7,204
Pricing
Average Used Price |
Used Price Range |
$7,204 |
$2,420-$15,750 |
Pricing sourced from Classic.com
Like most Japanese cars from the '80s and '90s, the Mitsubishi Eclipse is another tuner-friendly car and is among the few left that are still affordable today. The Eclipse is a popular sight in the aftermarket scene, thanks partly to Brian's second-gen Mitsubishi Eclipse in the 2001 The Fast and the Furious film.
Third-generation Eclipses, however, came with a complete redesign, and they make for some of the best Japanese cars to throw a body kit onto. You can fetch used examples for about $7,204 on the second-hand market and transform them into absolute show-stoppers with a body kit, just like the movie car.
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Pricing
Average Used Price |
Used Price Range |
$7,010 |
$5,329-$10,000 |
Pricing sourced from Classic.com
Although they're not so popular in America, VW Golfs are consistently among the best-selling hatchbacks in Europe and the rest of the world. That means they enjoy huge aftermarket support for modders on the west side of the Atlantic who are willing to look further afield to source their body kits. They can get them at affordable prices, too.
Mk3 Golfs, in particular, are fairly cheap across the USA. Buyers shouldn't, therefore, have trouble finding used examples that are within budget. These humble hatchbacks are some of the best cheap tuner cars under $10,000, as they can be modified into anything, including drift cars and off-roaders.
2 Ford Mustang SN-95: $6,175
Pricing
Average Used Price |
Used Price Range |
$6,175 |
$3,300-$8,800 |
Pricing sourced from Classic.com
The Mustang is, hands down, America's best-selling muscle car. It's, therefore, no surprise that there are lots of aftermarket options available for the Mustang. Base-spec fifth-generation Mustangs are incredibly cheap, and with a body kit installed, the Mustang SN-95 transforms into a proper performance-looking car.
Although the base-spec Mustang isn't competitive performance-wise, there are enough aftermarket parts and limitless engine swaps to turn this classic 'Stang into a real muscle car. The SN-95 Mustang is among the cheapest muscle cars, as you can find high-mileage examples for next to nothing – about $3,300.
1 2004 Hyundai Tiburon: $2,800
Pricing
Average Used Price |
Used Price Range |
$2,800 |
$1,800-$4,100 |
Pricing sourced from J.D. Power
While a used Hyundai isn't where most people's minds go when they think of cheap project cars, the Tiburon proves that even Hyundai can make stunningly good-looking sports cars. Surprisingly, the Tiburon is dirt cheap on the used market, with the lowest-priced examples going for only a few thousand, depending on its condition.
The Tiburon is a much more unusual choice that's guaranteed to turn heads. The only downside is that, since it's rare and often overlooked, it lacks adequate aftermarket parts, hence requiring a lot of custom fabrication. But for as low as $1,800 for a used 2004 example, the Tiburon is arguably the best kit-ready car at that price point.
Sources: Classic.com, J.D. Power