Long Term Test: 2000 Pontiac Sunfire GT

[FlatBlackCaddy]

FordSVT,

IT was a joke, no need for the lengthy response to counter my post.

Also its tough saying that there isn't anything better for the money when talking about modified vehicles. Someone can always build something faster for less money and possibly even make it more reliable too.

I'm sure the Mustang you mention would be fantastic, i personally would probobly go the lighter, cheaper(and probobly faster) route of doing the RX7+v8 build. I'm sure those old mustangs are great, but its hard to mask that extra 600-800lbs with horsepower.

As for the original topic, way to go hemi. I hope that your court action goes in your favor. On to bigger and better things.

[SVT666]

I'm sure the Mustang you mention would be fantastic, i personally would probobly go the lighter, cheaper(and probobly faster) route of doing the RX7+v8 build. I'm sure those old mustangs are great, but its hard to mask that extra 600-800lbs with horsepower.

The 5.0L LX cars like the one I posted had a curb weight of 2850 lbs.

[SVT666]

And Hemi666, I totally agree with you on the looks of the notch-back 5.0L LX. I don't like the hatches with the gfx, etc. Just a bunch of added weight and reduced stiffness. The LX is a clean design, small, tight, nothing fancy. All business. I'd take a mint 90-93 LX 5.0 over a 94-98 Mustang to be honest. I'd take a 260 hp 99+ GT over either of course.

I actually really like teh '94-'98 GTs since I've owned two of them.  They're fast and are much stiffer then the Fox bodies.  The problem comes with the '94-'95 5.0L models because the hood clearance is less then the Fox body cars and you can't fit the aftermarket intakes under the hood without getting a cowl hood.  Not many parts were made for those cars because 5.0L was only in that car for 2 years.  The 4.6L when properly modded will hit 400 hp in Naturally Aspirated form.  I did it, and I know the owner of Modular Depot has a 4.6L 2V in NA form that's pushing 390 RWHP.

I'd go as far as to say that for the money, there aren't any cars that can take a properly set-up 5.0 on the street. A clean car + under $10,000 and your time will build you a reliable 11 second, 0.9-1.0 G import killer that stops on a dime as well. The biggest chunk of change is the forced induction  setup and the internals to go with it, but the stock block can easily handle 350-400 hp. However, I'm the type who'd spend the extra cash to make it bullet-proof, especially when the motor is 15 years old. But parts are cheap and advice is plentiful. Swap the shocks, brakes, anti roll bars and change the rear end. A short throw shifter and a set of decent 17" wheels and tires. Tint the windows (remove the spoiler if there is one). Fuck the big stereo: 4-6 speakers and a head unit is all you need, and that shit is heavy. Voila! Putting the same money into something like a Civic would be a damn waste for what you'd end up with.

Trick Flow offers a head, intake, and cam package for the 5.0L that one of my local Mustang shops installed on a customer car and immediately dyno'd with no other mods and it made 305 RWHP which is approx. 365 HP at the crank.  Full exhaust, tune, and CAI got it up to 325 RWHP (approx. 390 HP at the crank).  Lowering springs, subframe connectors, lower and upper controls arms, and performance brakes turn this 20 year old car into a modern day world beater.  You can get the Watts Link for the Fox body as well which would enhance handling even more. 

[nickdrinkwater]

Great review Hemi!

Ooooh, the Fox Body notch is one of the most beautiful cars ever made...please get one

My sarcasm meter just went into overdrive there!

[FordSVT]

FordSVT,

IT was a joke, no need for the lengthy response to counter my post.

Only the first two sentences were for you, the rest of me was ranting about a car I like. 

[SaltyDog]

Another reason to get the notch is that 99% of fastbacks on the used market were beatup by high school kids.

[SaltyDog]

Great review Hemi!

My sarcasm meter just went into overdrive there!

False alarm!

[SVT666]

Another reason to get the notch is that 99% of fastbacks on the used market were beatup by high school kids.

The hatches also didn't seal very well.

[Payman]

My racing buddy, Mark, has a friend who'll sell me a '99 Sunfire with the 5 speed and 2.4 (is that the Quad4?) for $250. According to your assessment, this will make a terrific Comp4 race car. Thoughts?

[SVT666]

My racing buddy, Mark, has a friend who'll sell me a '99 Sunfire with the 5 speed and 2.4 (is that the Quad4?) for $250. According to your assessment, this will make a terrific Comp4 race car. Thoughts?

$250?  Good deal for a world class sports car.

[TheIntrepid]

My racing buddy, Mark, has a friend who'll sell me a '99 Sunfire with the 5 speed and 2.4 (is that the Quad4?) for $250. According to your assessment, this will make a terrific Comp4 race car. Thoughts?

wtf. $250?! I'll offer $500. It runs?

[Payman]

I haven't seen it yet, but he's still driving it. My guess it has rust issues.

[SVT666]

I haven't seen it yet, but he's still driving it. My guess it has rust issues.

In Ontario rust is the problem with all cars isn't it?  Rust can't keep a good car down.

[TheIntrepid]

In Ontario rust is the problem with all cars isn't it?  Rust can't keep a good car down.

Mine's been driven hard for all of its 157,000km and it doesn't have a speck of rust on it!

[The Pirate]

Mine's been driven hard for all of its 157,000km and it doesn't have a speck of rust on it!

Look on the underside.  There will be rust, more than if you lived in North Carolina or something.  Your car is still fairly new (model year wise) too.  It's only a matter of time before it creeps up to your body panels.

[SVT666]

Look on the underside.  There will be rust, more than if you lived in North Carolina or something.  Your car is still fairly new (model year wise) too.  It's only a matter of time before it creeps up to your body panels.

People in Western Canada will not buy used cars from Eastern Canada because the amount of salt they use out there is autrocious.

[The Pirate]

People in Western Canada will not buy used cars from Eastern Canada because the amount of salt they use out there is autrocious.

NY state uses the same amount of salt, I'd imagine.  The last two cars I purchased came from the south (Georgia and North Carolina, respectively), and that's the way to go, if buying used.  I buy 'em in the summer, put a coating on the underside, and I'm good for a while.

It sucks though...

[nickdrinkwater]

False alarm!

You actually do think that Mustang is one of the most beautiful cars ever made? 

[Payman]

In Newfoundland, there is a sea salt zone that extends upwards of 3000 feet. Couple that with the tons of roadsalt they use, cars don't last very long. I remember dad's 1976 Valiant... in 1978 he was duct taping over the rust holes in the fenders. 

[SaltyDog]

You actually do think that Mustang is one of the most beautiful cars ever made? 

I think it looks good in just about every way.  It might be a simple design, but that's fine.

The hatches also didn't seal very well.

Wierd, there must be 3 hatches for every notch where I live.

[SVT666]

I think it looks good in just about every way.  It might be a simple design, but that's fine.

Wierd, there must be 3 hatches for every notch where I live.

Here too, but I remember riding in my buddy's '88 GT Cobra and the hatch would shake over bumps and he would get a water drip whenever it rained and the car was only 7 years old when he had it.

[r0tor]

I'm sure the Mustang you mention would be fantastic, i personally would probobly go the lighter, cheaper(and probobly faster) route of doing the RX7 +v8 build.

[3.0L V6]

My racing buddy, Mark, has a friend who'll sell me a '99 Sunfire with the 5 speed and 2.4 (is that the Quad4?) for $250. According to your assessment, this will make a terrific Comp4 race car. Thoughts?

It was called the "Twin Cam Four". It was a derivitave of the Quad4 with more displacement and balance shafts.

[sportyaccordy]

You could build a 12 second, track ready, all motor Civic for $10K but that's another discussion

I've always had a soft spot for the 91-93 LX's and GTs (blame Vanilla Ice )... if I HAD to get one of these oxcarts it would be that one, although my absolute favorite, merely for its unsuccessful marriage of high and low tech, would have to be the 2.3L turbo powered SVO model of the mid 80s, complete with discontinued metric sized tires and the general air of malaise in the automotive world of the 80s

[SVT666]

You could build a 12 second, track ready, all motor Civic for $10K but that's another discussion

And for the same money I can build a 10 second Mustang.