what is a good lightweight V8 road course car?

[BigMass]

for a sensible budget (45k and under new), what would be a good light weight, good handling V8 road course car. I have been trying to figure this out for a while and i cant find anything. Does such a production car even exist?

No engine swaps allowed and car must be under 3100 lbs. If this car doesnt exist, why is this? Why is high displacement low weight cars reserved only for supercars? You cant tell me manufacturers cant stick a tuned V8 into a sub 3000lbs car for low money.

[Euro_Trash]

How much does a Porsche 928 weigh?

[C4S]

I think .. a 87 928 S4 is about 3,400 lbs :dunno:

I can find out ...

[africano]

Panoz makes a sweet V-8 powered race-car, not street legal. Are you looking for a street/track car or just a full out race course car?

[BigMass]

I would prefer a car i could drive to the race track instead of towing it. It would not be a daily driver though. I specifically mentioned V8 because with turbo 4cyl i have 100 choices. I thought i would be interesting whats out there that is light weight and powerful in the NA department.

[Weapon_R]

Try a mustang - a few light mods and the thing is a pretty good v8 road course car

[jdmakkord]

87-92ish mustang coupe 5.0 the lightest of the fox body mustangs.

[Redlyne_mr2]

The 928 whould sort of suck as a road course car, it's a big and heavy car then again it depends on the road course.

[joegrang]

NA? hmmmm I drive a 92 300zx, maybe the new G35 coupe? with NA you won't have much in terms of inscreaing to a large hp but then again I guess if u just want a good track car hp isn't everything... ummmm maybe something with 4wd? for handling?

[Tuner1]

If the car must have a V8 I suggest you get a Corvette C4 or C5. Both can be made to work very well on the road course with a few mods.

Rob

[sputnik]

The newer Camaros have a factory curb weight of 3400 lbs. Im sure it wouldnt take much work to shave 300lbs off of the car.

The LS6 motor with the 6 speed is a nice road course combonation and with a Ground Control suspension kit you could make it pretty nimble.

My uncle regularily AutoX's in his 99 Z28 and does quite well.

[ramminghard]

shelby cobra kit car.

[Boosted_TL]

Put a Supercharged 5.0L in a Miata
That would be a screamer

[DonJuan]

Any reason for the V8? Cuz manufacturers will rarely ever put a large engine in a small car unless it is specifically for high performance use. The reason behind this is the simple fact of who will buy it? Sure maybe they will sell a bunch in the first year of production like the Hummer H2 but after the rich (men) who are in their midlife crisis demographic is filled, who do you sell too? That is why if a car company wants to build be successful they have to consider their market. Couldn't Chevy just put a road worthy version of the C5R without the ammenities of air conditioning, leather interior, stereo etc and be able to destroy any car under 250k in all aspects? of course but who would buy it? After the viper owners trade in their snakes for this car then what? who will buy it next year? So to answer your question yes KIA can make a V8 supercar for under 45k but they won't do it because no one will buy it even for 45k.

[freakin]

Didn't the old Sunbeam Tigers come with Ford small blocks in them? It's a nice little roadster about the size of a Miata.

[BigMass]

The reason for the V8 was to start a discussion. What's the point of discussing a turbo 4cyl when we all know what's out there already. I love the lightweight maneuverability of the Japanese and Euro imports and i also love the power and sound of high displacement engines. I doubt i am alone in this and was surprised that more options are not available. I think i'm just watching too many supercar videos. Im convinced that powerful lightweight and maneuverable cars shouldn’t just be for rich people.

[T5_X]

Old Chev Nova SSs from mid-late 60s were only about 2800 lbs
Base Ford Mavericks from the early 70s were under 2600 lbs with the standard 6 cyl probably add 200-300 lbs if you got the full grabber package with the 302.
There are probably a few other compact muscle cars that came in under 3000 lbs, perhaps the dodge dart, demon or plymouth duster.

If you want even lighter though, best to swap in a V8 to a lighter car

[JCX]

A lightly used 03 Cobra should fit your budget. Lots of power, independant rear suspension, one of the best "factory" trackable mustangs with no mods. You'd probably want to put it on a diet though, it's a porker.

Failing that, find a nice used fox body notchback (like finding a unicorn) and build a nice track car. I'm sure the parts are out there.

[syeve]

I have seen mid 80's ish RX-7's with V-8 swaps...light weight, sounded unreal, and Im sure would be a good road course competitor.

[sasukekun]

Originally posted by sputnik
The newer Camaros have a factory curb weight of 3400 lbs. Im sure it wouldnt take much work to shave 300lbs off of the car.

The LS6 motor with the 6 speed is a nice road course combonation and with a Ground Control suspension kit you could make it pretty nimble.

My uncle regularily AutoX's in his 99 Z28 and does quite well.

I think you mean LS1 :P The LS6s never made it into the Camaros. But yea, quick cars, especially if you find one with the optional suspension package. The LS1s have a 56/44 weight distrobution, which is better than a WRX (58/42), it has a higher slalom speed (64mph) vs the WRX (62mph) and its got lots of balls :)

Swap some 4.10 gears into them, few quick bolt-ons, SFCs and you're good to go.

[JustinL]

If we're on the topic of swaps... you can fairly easily drop a V8 into a 944. There is a company that makes kits specifically for this. Renegade Hybrids I believe.

Justin

[T5_X]

Originally posted by JustinL
If we're on the topic of swaps... you can fairly easily drop a V8 into a 944. There is a company that makes kits specifically for this. Renegade Hybrids I believe.

Justin

I just looked these guys up. The 944 looks like a great candidate for the swap, especially since you can still use the stock transaxle.

[BuknBronco]

At world of wheels this year, there was a conversion kit to put the 32 valve Northstar caddy engines in Fieros.

[Alpine Autowerks]

A stock 944 is 1-2 secs quicker around raceshity speedway than a stock late eighties Camaro or Mustang.

[CKY]

lotus elise?? (its a V-6 isn't it?) well this car i think will fit under every requirment u asked for other than the V-8 block i believe

[Ekliptix]

My 89 Mustang weighs 3088lbs without me and a full tank of gas.
It still has the heavy stock seats and all the heavy suspension.

[Scat]

Shelby AC Cobra