What is cheaper to build for Performance an Import or a Muscle Car?

Question

Lets not start an argument over Import vs Muscle. I happen to like both just Imports a little more.
The reason I asked the question is for my Honors class to finish my summer assignment I had to do a compare and contrast research assignment. One of the question I chose is cost, so I need a cited source about which is cheaper to build Imports or Muscle?
I was thinking Import since my Subaru was pretty cheap to get Horsepower out of it all I do was put on a turbo and a new intake and I am running in the high 11s but a few people I talked to said Muscle but most of the muscle cars that I see are running 11s have just about every performance part done on there engine.
Which is cheaper Import or Muscle?

Answer 1

typically its easier to get cheaper horsepower from imports, way more aftermarket parts make prices lower and the lower weight of imports compared to muscle cars makes horsepower more potent.

Answer 2

If you are just for the most power for the least amount of dollars then import is the correct choice. Due to newer technologies the imports produce a healthier power range at the optimal cost and they look pretty good if done right. Muscle cars may look really good and sound amazing but the cost of them may be a bit alarming. You may find a good deal on an old, beat up muscle car but some parts are to die for when you are looking to get them replaced. Stock muscle cars have good power and torque but it is pretty hard and expansive to get them running a bit smoother and quicker then imports. Imports on the other hand have very chap body parts and cheap engine parts. Some people take the muscle engine out of the muscle cars and put them into imports. For example, a guy i know has a 93 240sx, an all time import drift classic. Usually they are fitted with skyline engines or silvia engines but the guy did some research and some measuring and found out that the engine bay of the 240 is large enough for a Corvette Engine. So now it looks like an ordinary 240sx but if a regular Corvette tries racing it at a light, the 240's body is lighter so the Import would win. Yes agreeing with you on the issue that we should not argue over Import vs. Muscle, but imports would be cheaper to replace and more fun to drive. and by the way, i believe a 2.5 i4 would eat a bit less then a 5.8 v8 and they could have the same power

Answer 3

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RE:

What is cheaper to build for Performance an Import or a Muscle Car?

Lets not start an argument over Import vs Muscle. I happen to like both just Imports a little more.

The reason I asked the question is for my Honors class to finish my summer assignment I had to do a compare and contrast research assignment. One of the question I chose is cost, so I need a cited...

Answer 4

Build Ripped Muscle Fast

Answer 5

Easily American cars. I could build a mustang that runs high 10s for under $4000. Including the price of the car. No way you can do that with an import.



You could go to a Ford dealer and buy a new mustang GT, get it retuned and slap some drag radials on it and run 11s, nothing else needed.





You also aren't running 11's with "just putting on a turbo and a new intake". To get even an STi into the 11s requires several thousands of dollars, and if you're willing to spend the money, can be done on a stock turbo. Flash, fuel system, intake/exhaust/pulleys/cams/tires and you can get about 12.40-12.50 from an STi, and all that will cost about $3500. Another $500 and I could have had a mustang running 10.90s.



And I forgot...You could go to a Ford dealer and buy a new mustang GT, get it retuned and slap some drag radials on it and run 11s, nothing else needed.

Also, if you see muscle cars running 11's, they are far from having "just about every performance part done". You see, unlike the import world where there's 1 aftermarket intake, and you can only use your stock cylinder head(s), there are a variety of options for American V8s. Take the Ford Mustang for an example. If it has a 302, a 351W will bolt right in. You can make a 302 into a 306ci, 331ci, 347ci. You can get the 351W, or you could turn it into a 358ci, 373ci 393ci, 408ci. All the heads interchange on those two engines. There are approximately 40 different performance cylinder heads available from a mild, stock replacement iron head that would be worth about 30hp gains over the stock heads, all the way up to huge race aluminum heads made to flow enough air for a big supercharger or huge turbo on that 408ci engine. And then you can port those heads further.

There isn't just "stage 1, stage 2, and stage 3" cams to choose from. There is several HUNDRED grinds of camshafts for a smallblock ford V8. There are about 50 different carbureted intake manifolds and about 30 EFI manifolds. You can use a timing chain, timing gears or timing belt. You can even change the rocker arm ratios to increase lift without increasing duration of the camshaft. There's multiple manufacturers of aftermarket blocks. If I wanted to double my budget, I could take that same mustang, and for about $8000 (not counting safety equipment) build that mustang, including the car, to run high 9s, with a 351W based engine, with no turbo, no supercharger, no nitrous, and on pump gas, while still remaining street legal. There isn't an import ever that can do this.



Lastly, most of the muscle cars you see running 11s are still using pump gas, mild ported stock heads or mild box stock aftermarket heads, still run the stock suspension, and only have upgraded camshaft, intake manifold, carburetor and exhaust, in 3800lb+ all steel bodies.

Answer 6

It all dpends on which imports you are using as some cars are harder to add power to and require more upgraded parts,whilst there are offer imports which are actually tuner cars,which are cars sold through the dealer in a detuned form and offer a mass of power which can be easily released through simple mods and at a low cost as the power is already there,on these cars more often the parts on the rest of the car are there to match its actual true running power,so braking and handling setups would not need upgrading when the true power is released.

Also when are often talking Muscle cars we go for V8 V10's etc and yet tuners across the World are running V8 and V10's etc tuner cars also with Japanese + other countries engines.

So the answer is tit for tat as you could find a Muscle car which is cheap to mod and on the other hand you could find a Tuner car which is cheap to mod and offer great bhp figures and on the other hand you could find a Muscle car but is low on power and needs a lot spending on it and the same for a tuner car.

Then other issues is both can go fast or one faster in a straight line but which one can turn a corner at speed with a great handling and power set up.

Which is cheaper all depends on which can you ar adding power to and what you want it do overall.

Answer 7

Well, I think you can do this very easy



1) Select a few Import and "muscle" (domestic?) cars

2) Simulate buying some parts, make a list of parts and cost

3) Calculate how much HPs you will gain with the mods (just check specs for the part you are "buying")

4) Use a car performance simulator to, "virtually" install this parts and check performance.



Step #4 can be done online with http://www.nxgtrsim.com

Answer 8

you can do budget builds for both, one isnt directly cheaper then the other, however most muscle cars will make more power/have better times then less money then imports because of the traction advantage

Answer 9

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Answer 10

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Answer 11

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