What makes a good tuner car

If you do some homework you can find these at a great price. This engine is naturally aspirated which means you can easily ramp up the horsepower numbers with a little work. And since the S13 weighs significantly less than most other cars in this price range, even adding another horsepower will make this one of the most fun cars in this price range.

But perhaps most important is, as far as Japanese cars go, this one is probably the most iconic. Another outstanding option is the z. Parts are abundant and affordable, and even when kept stock, this machine puts out an impressive horsepower. As a general rule, you can never go wrong with buying a Miata.

Finally, a car with an all-wheel-drive drivetrain! And the best way to get more traction is to deliver power to all four wheels. Not only that, but it delivers the most power per kg out of any car reviewed up to this point. However, they have higher performance specs, and they come with more comfort features.

Instead, to stay in the average price range listed above, look for a to model year. There are few car brands with as loyal of a following as Subaru.

What that means for you is that there are plenty of forums and support groups to walk you through different upgrades. This is a massive perk for beginners and experts alike! And all that hard work will reward you with a car that has impressive measurables, is a joy to drive, and is even better to tune.

Instead, they were popular in the overseas market first — especially in Japan. But since these vehicles need to be older than 25 years to import, only about half of the model years are eligible. And as more model years and vehicles become available, the price should drop some. They come twin-turbocharged and produce an impressive horsepower. We like all the cars on our list — as many car lovers would. Did someone mention drifting? If so, you want a Miata. It's one of the most popular performance cars in the country, with an aftermarket that stretches back more than 50 years.

Ford's hot hatch duo might not be sold in the U. Companies like Cobb and Mountune have everything you need to go fast, from tunes, to turbo upgrades, to suspension mods.

The SX's popularity as a drift car means there are plenty of kits, parts, and how-to guides available to make it the best possible car it can be. There's a reason most Wranglers you see aren't stock. They're incredibly easy to customize thanks to massive parts support and an ever-growing cult-like fanbase. The Lancer Evolution may be gone from showrooms, but aftermarket support is still as strong as ever. With a solid all-wheel drive system and an engine just begging to be modified, it's the perfect all-weather tuning machine.

There's a reason you see so many Miatas at track days and autocross events. They're incredibly fun to drive, and get even more fun once you start slapping go-fast parts onto them. Because it's the most popular roadster on earth, aftermarket support is endless. It might not be as popular as the Miata, but the Mazdaspeed 3 is still a turbocharged hot hatch, meaning there's plenty of opportunities for modifications.

Just be cautious of torque steer if you bump the power—the car is already pretty difficult to keep in a straight line from the factory. Of course, if you're more into German cars, the many iterations of Volkswagen Golf built throughout the years have plenty to offer in the way of tuning potential.

Like the Golf, the Civic has plenty of generations for you to choose from, all of which have tons of available parts and upgrades available, no matter what type of car you're trying to build. It might seem a little strange to see a mid-range BMW on this list, but in reality, the turbocharged N54 straight-six under the hood of the i can handle massive amounts of power without a crazy amount of work.

The Toyota-Subaru twins were built with tuning in mind—with extra space in the engine bay and enlarged exhaust pipe cutouts in the rear bumper, the car can accept all kinds of mods right out of the box. GM's line of LS engines is one of the most versatile on the planet.

They're cheap to buy and cheap to run, and because so many cars came with them pre-installed Corvette , Camaro , and Chevy SS , just to name a few , upgrades from third party sources are readily available. See the List. Join Now. New Cars. Mazda MX-5 Miata. Source: Car and Driver. The Mazda MX-5 Miata is the premier small sports car for tuners to get their hands on.

This little guy is a lightweight, two-passenger roadster with a rear-wheel drive setup. It debuted way back in and still retains that unique fusion of technological sophistication, beautiful dynamic balance, and classic car look.

It holds the title of the best-selling two-seat convertible in sports car history. The latest version of the MX-5 strikes a perfect balance of features and handling and is available with either automatic or stick shift. The Volkswagen Golf. Source: Autoblog. The Volkswagen Golf has the advantage of a huge selection of aftermarket parts, thanks to a vibrant European tuning culture that it itself helped launch.

The Golf is one of the best-known compact cars on the market, available since It has traditionally been a front-wheel drive vehicle , though all-wheel drive versions have also been produced. All generations of the VW Golf are extremely tuner friendly. Those with larger engines are best tuned with a full induction kit and cold air. The 1. As an added plus, the Golf is well known for its reliability and will hold its resale value quite well.

Tinker away! The Audi TT, ready to take on the world. Source: Edmunds. Currently in its third generation, the Audi TT is a 2-door sedan with a multitude of intriguing tuning possibilities.

Like many Audis out there, it is known for its front-mounted and transvers engine, quattro four-wheel drive, and independent front suspension. Why would a sedan be named after a motorcycle race, you ask? A heavily tuned Audi TT. Source: LovelyMotor. Some choice motorsport modifications for your Audi TT include:.