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Okay. So, I'd like to improve the performance on my 1996 Buick Skylark limited. My friend says there are a bunch of little tiny tweaks I can do on the engine to increase performance, but I'm doubtful of how noticable a change getting better sparkplugs, air filter and stuff would make. So he told me get a new car, something I like and make a project out of it. Thing is, the kind of cars I like are harder to come by, more expensive to get, work on and maintain, and all that. Muscle cars. 60s-70s muscle cars and sports cars. I love them. Problem is, they guzzle gas, parts can be sometimes hard to find or just expensive. And I don't want a bloody rice burner because I hate the sound of their engines whining down the road. They might have great acceleration, but overall are gutless.

So heres the question. Do I upgrade what I can on my buick or get a new car? And if I am to get a new car, what sort? I like toyotas, but again, the whole rice burner thing comes into effect. If I were to really put some work and money into a toyota it would end up sounding like a ******** lawnmower. I like cars with a V6. Decent gas mileage, adaquate power and acceleration and all. So if I am to get a new car I would like something with a good V6 where the end result wouldnt be a lawnmower type sound. Anything muscle car-esque will be in projects taken on much further down the road when I have a job that can enable me to afford such beauties.

I agree with Lowrider, mostly. The tiny things for regular driving. Turbo or supercharger and the tiny stuff if you want to race.

I'll throw out this idea now too...if you get an older car with a 302 or a 289 you will have a good sound, a good looking car, and around 20 or 25 miles per gallon, which is nothing to complain about. That would be my pick, plsu you can find high quality cars with the 302 or 289 in them that you could buy and drive right onto the road.

Also, I really don't think the Toyota idea is bad at all, haha, don't feel so bad about a Toyota. My dad built a 1980 Toyota Corolla GT to be able to beat Porsches with ease. 160+ miles per hour at 3800 RPMs in top gear. That still left plenty of pedal.

Toyota has alot of good cars...I think a VW Jetta would be an awsome car to have...it gets reasonable gas mileage and it has many upgrades...but also...If you like toyota than you would like the 1988 MR2...my sister in-law used to own one that I drove a couple times it looked sort of like this one...It has very good acceleration and it has a high top speed...and it also has alot of parts you can use to upgrade it...the only bad thing about having sports cars is that cops are always watching you...MR2s have alot of potential...they would beat most of those wanna bee racers that drive hondas(no offence to you guys/girls)...and if you put a flowmaster American thunder exaust sytem or even flowmaster Delta Flow exaust system on it then it should take care of most of your lawnmower sounds...It will sound more like a throaty muscle car...except you will still have the high pitch engine sounds...

Yeah. My friend said something similar. I'm also heavily considering eventually getting a Volkswagen Cabriolet or if I can manage to get one imported, a VW Golf VR6. Upgradeable, fast, efficient and durable. The Golf VR6 might present a problem though. I don't want a new one. I want late something mid 90's. Those have proven to be quite good. Friend of mine has a '97 Jetta. The thing is a ******** tank.

No offence, regarding the performance, acceleration and stuff, but this is realy ugly car. Looks like a Mustang at his worse time. I have seen it, and no matter what it was done on it, it look like its gonna fall apart. I put it in dark ages of automotive history. From the '80s i can't pinpoint a car that i like, from Japan or USA. Europe to the side. That invazion of Japan cars to USA lead to total design bust.

The only car from the 1980s I like is the 1987 Buick GNX. Wheel stand, from the factory. And it looks damn nice.
But good luck finding one, let alone affording it.

I would just upgrade it because that way it would cost less and would be better all around

Okay okay okay. Scrap anything dealing with the buick. Blew a head gaskett. Didnt figure this out until well after discovering that the mechanics I had taken it to had ******** up the wiring to the crank shaft position sensor. Oh and I cracked a radiator. Who knows when the gaskett blew in the middle of all that. Oh well.

Anyway, I just today was able to get myself a 91 toyota tercel DX. Or maybe it's DLX. I didnt pay much attention to what letters were on the trunk. The floor of the garage is like ice right now and I was in bare feet. But yes, this little car is a 5-speed manual, so it's a rather interesting adjustment for me, who has been driving automatics for nearly four years now and never been given the chance to learn to drive a manual.

So what I am planning, once I pay back all the money I owe my parents from repairs on the buick as well as getting this car, is to make this small little car zip around more than it already does. It's got great low end acceleration which seems to be common with toyotas, but also has quite nice high end acceleration, though I have yet to try that out myself. Still getting the whole clutch manipulation thing down. Did well for my first day driving it today...I think...

Anyway, I'm thinking some alterations to the exhaust. A coworker of mine recomended a few parts that I cant remember. The one bit I do remember is that he told me to go for 2-1/2 inch to 3 inch tips for the exhaust. That's supposed to produce a sound much more favorable to someone like me, who prefers the rumble of a powerful V8 with a carb on it. I am also thinking of sticking on a cold air intake, MSD ignition, and may even one day tinker with the gear ratios, though I'm so far happy with how the car shifts already. I may look into seeing if a bigger engine is possible for me to get and stick under the hood, but for now I'm good with the engine I got. 1.5L I Believe.

So if anyone has any suggestions at all, feel free to suggest away!