12 Awesome Tuner Cars That Won't Break The Bank

Automobiles represent one of the most popular hobbies in the world and the market for customization is worth billions. Custom cars also have a long history stretching back as far as the origin of the automobile, with innovations developing from the bootlegging era during prohibition and the hot rod scene in California in the '50s. This trend continued through the muscle car era and still didn't wane even through the days of emissions controls that killed power in the cars coming out of Detroit in the '70s. By the end of the 20th century, the popularity of Japanese and European imports changed the character of the custom car, with front-wheel-drive and computer-controlled engines altering tuning methods dramatically.

Today, the market for aftermarket upgrades and custom accessories is as big and healthy as ever. With the advanced technology involved in the manufacture of new cars, the methods of increasing performance have also become more sophisticated. Additionally, while just about any car can be modified, some are better suited than others. Most folks don't have any desire to create a minivan that can run a fast quarter-mile, and other cars just don't have any parts available for them, forcing a lot of difficult fabrication and adaptation of components. These just are not worth the time, expense, or effort. But a lot of cars are worth modifying, and these 12 tuners won't break the bank.

While Mazda had a lock on two-seater convertibles throughout the '90s, Honda entered the fray with its S2000, a front-engine coupe with a tough 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that tuners love. While it only lasted a handful of years in production, it proved a potent challenger. From the factory, the S2000 was equipped with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with VTEC dual overhead cams that made 240 horsepower, a respectable figure. This made the car relatively powerful and its low weight and small size gave it go-kart-like handling.

Honda produced this car from 2000 to 2008 and values have remained strong. Unfortunately, the most expensive part of tuning an S2000 will be acquiring the car itself. Listings on Edmunds show a range starting at $17,000 that goes all the way up to $35,000 for cars well over a decade old. But once you have the car, the upgrades can be completed easily for reasonable prices. Some of the most cost-effective upgrades include a higher-flow intake and exhaust, each of which can cost a few hundred dollars. However, the engine in the S2000 is tough and can handle a lot of abuse, which leads many owners to use a turbo or custom supercharger conversion kit to boost the power close to 500 horsepower. Cost of these can range from $3,000 to $5,000 and can be worth the money for those wanting that much grunt under the hood. While the Honda S2000 is not the cheapest tuner around, it can be a really fun car for far less than comparable models currently sitting in showrooms.

The Ford Mustang introduced in 1979 quickly became a breakout model that helped the company move past the "malaise era" of automaking with uninspiring and low-power automobiles. The new Mustang was fresh and exciting and it evolved into a fast and affordable street racer that everyone loved to tune. It was a top seller and, since it was a Ford, parts were plentiful and cheap and that remains true today some three or more decades later.

While Mustangs from the '80s and '90s are fast becoming extinct, there are still some to choose from that are not yet rusted into a pile of ore. The pricing of such cars runs the gamut from a few hundred dollars for one that essentially needs a total rebuild to tens of thousands of dollars for perfectly preserved special editions, such as the SVO. Whether you pick up a 1980 model with the 5.0-liter V8 with a carburetor or a 1990 model with the H.O. multiport fuel-injected 5.0-liter, parts and upgrades can be found anywhere from dozens of sites online to most auto parts stores in your neighborhood. For example, American Muscle explains that the Ford EEC-IV ECU used from 1983 to 1993 can be tuned for added power by swapping the processing chip and upgrading a few sensors, and adjusting the tune. The chips run about $300 and a few hundred dollars more can get you the rest of the gear needed to shave time off of your quarter-mile.

The first Mazda3 went on sale in 2004, receiving accolades from the motoring press for its abundance of standard features, excellent handling, and sophisticated technology compared to its rivals. Furthermore, the cars were attractive and sporty, especially when compared to the competition. Mazda followed up that success with the turbocharged MAZDASPEED3 in 2007, stuffing a direct-injected turbo 2.3-liter engine and 6-speed transmission in the 5-door hatchback version, which kicked out 263 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. It was affordable, attractive, and most of all, fast.

Mazda sold millions of the turbo and non-turbo versions and they both have become favorites of fans of the hot hatch. Values are modest and either version of the car can be picked up for a reasonable price, with few of the nicest examples exceeding $10,000, making it an excellent place to start for tuning. Additionally, Mazda's commitment to racing and the legion of Mazda racing fans around the world have contributed to a robust aftermarket with options to modify almost anything you want from mild to wild. Cork Sport, for example, offers a broad selection of performance upgrades for a range of Mazda vehicles only. Boosting stock power to 300 horsepower is relatively cheap while squeezing 400 horsepower out of the Mazda 2.3 is not out of the question with a little bit of a larger budget and more time.

When the Toyota/Subaru FR-S/BR-Z joint project sports car was originally released, the power rating was not anything particularly spectacular. Both Toyota and Subaru models feature a 4-cylinder boxer engine from Subaru, but with significant development contributed by Toyota, and a chassis jointly developed by both companies. This car is not about being the most powerful tire-burning monster on the track, but a balanced model with good handling and enough power to make the most of the platform. Huge power is not necessary to fully appreciate this vehicle, but it can be extracted from it, and this car is built in a way that suggests owners are meant to tune it straight out of the showroom.

With such a great platform for modifying and tuning for higher performance, it should be no surprise a large selection of parts are available at various price points. Some of the common upgrades include a high-flow intake and performance headers. Other changes include flashing the ECU to increase performance, but that will require some expertise to do it properly. Tuning Pro lists a series of upgrades that can increase horsepower by 50 for about $2,000, which is a reasonable price for that sort of increase.

Toyota originally marketed the FR-S under its Scion sub-brand in the U.S. and now calls it the Toyota GR86. A new GR86 runs about $30,000 with pricing on the Subaru being roughly equivalent. Used values remain steady for these cars, so expect to pay $12,000 to $15,000 for some of the earliest ones and more than $20,000 for newer copies with low miles when looking through local listings on Facebook Marketplace.

When Honda first released the Civic, it was nothing more than a small and economical car that happened to be utterly reliable and well-built. Over the years, the Civic was improved and became a mainstream car found everywhere, and tuners soon started working to get an increasing amount of power out of them. This led to the Civic being one of the most popular imported tuner cars you can find. Furthermore, Honda has embraced the desire for hot Civics and released several high-performance models over the last couple of decades.

Since the Honda Civic is one of the best and longest-selling cars of all time, there are millions to choose from. Hatchbacks appear to be preferred by most tuners based on conversations on forums, but sedans work just as well. The Civic is also one of the cheapest cars to modify as parts and kits are plentiful. For example, turbo kits with everything needed start at around $1,000. Otherwise, a few hundred dollars can get intake and exhaust, and just a few hundred more can get a new suspension all around. The Civic is one of the most versatile tuner platforms available.

The Honda Civic is also likely the cheapest car to purchase. If you want to start from the ground up, a non-running example with a straight body should be easy to find for less than a grand, and a running car a little rough around the edges will be more than about $3,000.

For Honda fans, the only thing better than a Civic is the upscale version of the civic from Acura, the Integra. First produced in 1986 and discontinued in 2001, the Acura proved to be a popular elegant small car that offered a highly refined ride with Honda reliability. While all of the Integras offered good performance from their relatively small 1.6 and 1.8-liter engines, it was the Integra that Honda used to introduce the American market to a Type-R Honda with the 195 horsepower Integra Type-R. This cemented Integra's place as a sporty and tunable car.

Acura has revived the Integra name for 2023, but the original run of Integras remains popular, especially among import tuners. Getting a Type-R is probably out of the question as recent auctions have seen them reaching absurdly high bids, with one selling on Bring a Trailer in 2022 for $112,112. Other more pedestrian models can be found for less than $10,000.

Tuning an Integra is not much different from other Hondas and parts may be a bit more costly but still reasonable. A couple thousand dollars can get you a turbo while a few hundred could handle an intake and exhaust. Just like anything, it is all relative to what you want to accomplish but it will still come in way under the price of a new performance car.