Originally Posted by Ike

That depends on what you consider versatile... My Evo handles great year round in all weather conditions with one set of tires (if I choose), carries more than I would have ever dreamed (4 wicker chairs, an end table, an area rug, and several gallons of paint as well as misc. painting supplies in one trip this weekend). If I'm feeling saucy it will smoke many cars from a dig or a roll and I happen to think it looks great doing so. Yes it has it's fair share of compromises (stiff ride, few amenities, and the looks aren't for everyone) but it does everything I need and want a car to do.

Originally Posted by Ike

As for modding to max potential, there are numerous Evos that will anhilate the fastest new gen. GTOs in this country. Show me a new GTO that runs 9s and can trap 150+.

Originally Posted by VikingDJ

If you wanna start talking about mods, you are really in a different bang for buck category. I'm going by new vs new, right out of the box, with a full warranty. Looking at the cars as they sit in showroom waiting to sell, what is the best bang for the buck in straight line power? One could argue the SRT, however, the GTO will trounce that car badly, even in 1/4 mile. I have seen the GTO sell new for $27500 in some cases.

As I suspected, you hid behind the 1/4 mile and standing start theory, and mod potential theory which changes everything, but also compromises the car's warranty and longevity greatly. When you are dealing with high displacement cars, you are always playing catch up in this category, and modding = catchup. I can hop in an auto GTO and run low 13s in my sleep practically, while the guy in the stock EVO is beating the living **** out of his car to keep up. Then the race continues, and it's all over. Also, I would like to point out that you didn't argue the fact that after 1/4 mile the GTO would eat the STi and EVo for lunch. So how much does 1/4 mile play a role? A lot, but these AWD cars like EVO and STI rely on that launch, and the race ending early, so without it, they are in big trouble. Sometimes it doesn't play as big of a role as you think, and it's NOT a true test of straight line power either. Cars like the EVO and STI are not built and tuned for this, and simply cannot touch these big displacement cars in this category without that dig start and shut down right after 1/4 mile.

I understand fully that 1/4 mile does tell a lot, but you seem to constantly hide behind that without looking further into it. I noticed how you argued your point talking about 1/4 mile and 1/4 mile trap speed, but took no regard to the other aspects of straight line performance that I talked about. How about full mile and full mile trap speed?; If you don't think that changes the game and the numbers all together you are in denial. That's a big part of straight line power like it or not, and in the real world actually has more meaning. I've talked to guys with modded GTOS. They admit that AWD and high mods is a tough task in 1/4 mile, but he challenges all to race from a roll, and carry the stretch out to a more realistic street distance. Smartly enough, they refuse that challenge.

I think we are arguing two different points here. The only basis I go by when looking bang for buck is how the car is when you buy it. I won't mod my STI to high levels beyond stage 1 because it's my daily driver, and I need to get a good 150k near trouble free miles out of it. If I want it to be as fast as a GTO not just in 1/4 mile but in 1/2 mile,. full mile, and various rolling starts, I'm gonna seriously compromise the durability, reliability and longevity of this car. That is to be said with all those cars yu have discussed.

Originally Posted by Japan8

Prepare to eat your hat Ike... you're wrong for once...

Would You Believe Ken Cranmer's, 9-Second Turbocharged '04 GTO is Street Driven?
http://www.gtoforum.com/showthread.php?t=7252

ok well the trap is 141, not 150+... but still



But the '03 Mustang is so so on the outside and the interior sucks. Add in the weaker handling and weaker chassis...

F-bodies? I'd rather drive an ugly WRX first. I hate the styling inside and out, and more importantly I utter LOATHE the seating position. It's like you're sitting in a hole! God forbid you have to do any tight maneuvers... outward visibility is **** in this car. Add to that the cheap quality and bad fit and finish... Never would I even remotely consider one. And... definitely forget about handling.

Originally Posted by Ike

You started talking mods, not me... Though it is hard for me to not consider what a few cheap mods to do for a car when you're looking for the best bang for your buck in the speed department. For instance, put car price aside, the 350Z and the SRT-4 are about equal from a roll, but if you put a little money into both of them and the SRT-4 wins hands down. To me that makes the SRT-4 the best choice of the two when it comes to bang for your buck. (I agree that once mods get put into the equation the argument gets difficult and shakey)

I'm not hiding behind anything. In the 1/4 mile my car will be going close to 110 mph, I quite frankly am not going to go faster than that on public streets very often, if ever. Your suggestion of a 1/2 mile or 1 mile drag is recockulous and pointless to me for that reason. However, the Evo IX would keep up pretty well even 0-130, it would also keep up pretty well from a roll (the GTO would still win). Beyond 130 I'm not really sure, but I do know my Evo will blow the doors off of a GTO at 160+. Something you didn't address is the fact that the Mustang Cobra will beat the GTO in any straight line competition. Hell, production is over for both cars, might as well consider it...

Anyhow, the argument is stupid. I never disagreed with you that the GTO was one of the best bang for the buck cars out there if you want to go fast in a straight line. It's just an exageration that it's THE best by far, IMO.

Originally Posted by Ike

I wasn't really wrong, I said 150+ But I'll concede, I haven't seen that car before and it's nice to see a new GTO in the 9s.

I actually like the looks of the '03 Cobra better than the GTO. Plus, arguing looks when we're debating bang for your buck in straight line speed is kinda silly.

Originally Posted by Ike

I wasn't really wrong, I said 150+ But I'll concede, I haven't seen that car before and it's nice to see a new GTO in the 9s.

I actually like the looks of the '03 Cobra better than the GTO. Plus, arguing looks when we're debating bang for your buck in straight line speed is kinda silly.

Originally Posted by VikingDJ

I just wanted to point out that when I used the term best bang for the buck in a straight line BY FAR, I was more or less arguing that finding a car right out of the box, that your average person shopping would want to choose if this is their one and only goal. The GTO would be that choice by far, because it doesn't take much skill. You can buy an automatic low 13s car right out of the box. There's not much to it, and more often then not in most straight line situations, you will beat many a driver in an EVO or STi, even from a dig in a 1/4 mile, and always from a roll on highway. It's simply the easiest car to blow people away in, and all you really need is gonads. The EVO and STI require skill that most do not have, not to mention serious clutch wear in order to achieve this and compete.

I have found on the STi forums, that many owners who track their cars in stock form are rarely able to run that close to what magazine tests have shown the car to be capable to do. Some do eventually with lots of practice, but most can't. I have been on GTO forums, and basically it's not very difficult to come very close to those times magazines run with an average driver. With that said, I will definitely pick the GTO as the clear winner for best bang for buck in straight line. Sorry I never simplified this better, and assumed you'd read between the lines with my babble.

Originally Posted by Ike

So is the GTO a better bang for the buck than the Cobra because the Cobra doesn't come in an AT?

Originally Posted by Japan8

Actually used '03 and '04 Cobra's still run in the high 20's... like $27-29k. A used '04 GTO is $20-22k and a '05 is $24-26k. The GTO still holds an advantage. The difference in price can net you a SLP kit for 455hp on the LS2...

Originally Posted by Japan8

Actually used '03 and '04 Cobra's still run in the high 20's... like $27-29k. A used '04 GTO is $20-22k and a '05 is $24-26k. The GTO still holds an advantage. The difference in price can net you a SLP kit for 455hp on the LS2...

Originally Posted by Ike

Nah, you can get em for under 25k without much difficulty.

Originally Posted by Japan8

Not listed with Autotrader within 300 miles of Central Florida...