I've been taking a break from the forums for a bit to work a fair amount of overtime at my job in order to start a new hobby.

 

 

 

Being part of the car culture is a fun and exciting way to express oneself and can be a great hobby. Building a project car involves purchasing a used car at a relatively low price and making it unique and personal.

 

Purchasing A Project Car: The first question one must ask is Japan, USA or Europe? Buying a project car means buying a cheap car that can be easily and quickly modified (although some projects take longer than others) and personalized.

 

JDM: Japanese project cars are by far the easiest to purchase and modify because of the secondhand price value and easiest to modify because many Japanese cars have vast amounts of aftermarket supplies and parts to choose from.

 

 

 

By far the most common Japanese project is the Honda Civic, for many reasons. Firstly, Civics can be found almost everywhere and used can be bought for a little as $800. The Honda Civic is a basic A to B vehicle that is intensely reliable which also contributes to the fact that so many of them are still on the road today. The Honda Civic is also cheap to insure, Adding a vehicle to your insurance plan can be expensive depending on the model but Honda Civics are among the cheapest vehicles to insure. Aftermarket and spare parts and even engines for the Honda Civic are very easy to find which is big factor for a project car.

 

 

 

The Integra shares most of its project car status with the Civic because they are similar. Honda produced the Integra as a sporty two door in the 90's and its status in the car culture is solidified. The Integra is a Civic with a much better engine and those who are modifying for power should chose the Integra over the Civic. Integra enthusiasts often try to find the rare Integra Type R which comes with a more powerful Honda VTEC engine.

 

 

 

The Toyota Supra is highly coveted by JDM car enthusiasts because of its overall form factor. The Supra was one of the last Toyota sports cars that provided a true driver focused experience. Its 2JZ Engine is legendary as well as its interior. The Supra had a dashboard which completely faces and surrounds the driver making anyone feel like a true race car driver. The Supra however is perhaps one of the most expensive projects to purchase. A 1993 Toyota Supra can cost anyway between $34,000 and $40,000 because of their demand and rarity. A few have been imported from Japan taking advantage of the US Import law saying vehicles can be imported to the United States after they reach 20 years old. Right Hand Drive Supra's have also made it state side.

 

Honorable JDM Mentions would include: Nissan 240sx, Nissan 300zx, Subaru WRX/Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Acura RSX, Toyota Celica, Scion TC/XB, Honda Civic Del Sol, Mazda Miata, Lexus SC/GS/LS, Infiniti G35

 

The Stars And Stripes: American cars can be primed for a project at relatively low cost as well and some models can have just as many aftermarket parts as their Japanese counterparts. However with American cars the overall tune and mod list is usually different. American cars are often bigger and have larger V8 engines which can sometimes make some American cars expensive to personalize.

 

 

 

Ford Mustang: The Mustang is perhaps the most deserving to be at the top of the American portion of this list with over 50 years of production the Mustang is as arguably common as the Civic. The Mustang is often modded for both looks and power and depending on the year can be done within budget. Older Mustangs from the 60s should be avoided unless the project budget is higher as parts for older mustangs can be difficult to find. Newer mustangs also should be avoided for awhile as the 2015+ models haven't had time to depreciate in value or have enough aftermarket support at good cost. The Best mustangs are in the middle ground from the "Foxbody" from the 80s all the way up to about the 05 model

 

 

 

Chevrolet Camaro: The Camaro is equally on par with the Mustang with ease of customization and modding. The Camaro became more popular to mod after its appearance in the Transformers franchise. Most Chevy fans opting for a Camaro often search for the more powerful SS variant as its a better base to start from when modding for power. Aftermarket supplies and equipment for the Camaro are also plentiful. Like the Mustang the Camaro can be found in great numbers and the newer models have now had enough time to decrease in value making finding one all the more easier.

 

 

 

Ford Crown Victoria: After serving and protecting, some Crown Vic's have managed to find a new life as part of the modding community. Old Police Cruisers can be purchased for as little as $1000 when police departments auction off their old vehicles. The CVPI or Crown Victoria Police Interceptor was equipped with a powerful V8 engine a stiffer suspension and body on frame construction to better help police officers during pursuits. All of the extra features of the Police Package make the Crown Vic a top pick for American modders. Ford has replaced the Crown Vic with a new police interceptor and now the last Crown Vic's built are finally ready to retire from police service and be auctioned off.

 

American Honorable Mentions: Chevrolet Impala SS, Dodge Charger, Dodge Neon SRT, Dodge Challenger (Expensive To Modify), Chrysler PT Cruiser, Ford Focus, Ford Fiesta, Chevrolet Caprice, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Pontiac Grand Prix, Pontiac Trans Am,

 

 

 

Euro Tune: European Cars have always touted themselves as being the best of the best, however starting a European project can be difficult and expensive because of their complex nature. European cars often have engines that only certain mechanics understand and in the US aftermarket support for European cars often ranks last. This means that aftermarket parts are more difficult to find and expensive. Older European cars are often able to escape this stigma however a project car should be simple enough that even the most basic shade tree mechanic with a simple ratchet set would be able to get under the hood.

 

 

 

Mercedes Benz S Class: Few vehicles in the world exude the word "power" better than a Mercedes S Class. Most people modding an S class will opt for the W220 or W140 Models which have the most aftermarket support for both visual and engine mods. The S class being the Flagship Mercedes Benz model was always the first to have new technologies fitted. The W220 also came with a V8 which is known to be fairly reliable. These models however suffer from transmission issues and should be replaced after purchase. Like most German cars the best aftermarket materials come from German manufacturers and must be shipped to the US such as Meisterschaft exhaust systems for Mercedes and BMW models.

 

 

 

Volkswagen Jetta: The Jetta is essentially the German Civic. It can be found in large numbers and it can be purchased for a very low price aftermarket. The Jetta has a very strong cultural following and thus has tons of aftermarket support. Older models in good condition can fetch higher asking prices. Its VR6 Engines give the Jetta a distinctive exhaust note VW fans enjoy. The Jetta is also intensely reliable and its older models are basic enough that beginners can work on them and feel comfortable and not overwhelmed.

 

 

 

BMW M5/5Series: The BMW 5 Series is one the more popular Euro projects to start in the US as they are fairly common but their owners are often very much aware of their value and will not let them go for cheap. Most BMW 5 Fans search for the BMW M5's older variant which was equipped with BMW's V10 engine and was later retired. BMW switched back to a V8 in the newer model making the old one desirable. BMW's are often a headache for beginner mechanics and should be avoided unless you have a dedicated specialist mechanic on hand.

 

Euro Tune Honorable Mentions: Audi S4/A4/A8/TT BMW 7 Series (2002-2006), Volkswagen Beetle, Volkswagen Golf, Mercedes Benz SL/300/190E/Diesel, Jaguar S-Type (Expensive)