Cheap 10-Second Car

Last Updated on January 18, 2023 by Leepu Da Maxim

A 10-second car is a car that can travel a quarter-mile in less than 10 seconds. These cars are usually expensive due to the power characteristics included in their engine. Some of the cheapest 10-second cars are Nissan 300 ZX, Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR4, Audi S8 D3, etc.

Key Takeaways

• The Nissan 300ZX was available in both two-seat and four-seat configurations and was known for its powerful engine
• The Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR4 featured a 3.0-liter V6 engine that produced up to 320 horsepower
• The Chevrolet Corvette C4 ZR1 was the first Corvette to break the 200 mph barrier
• The Dodge Neon SRT-4 is equipped with a turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-four engine that produces 215 horsepower and 245 lb-ft of torque

5 Cheap 10-Second Cars

Car	¼ – Mile Time
Nissan 300 ZX	14,5 seconds – 105 mph
Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR4	15 seconds – 105 mph
Chevrolet Corvette C4 ZR1	13 seconds – 110 mph
Audi S8 D3	13,7 seconds – 115 mph
Dodge Neon SRT4	14,1 seconds – 108 mph

What Are The Cheapest 10-Second Cars?

The 10-second cars are well known for being fast and going through a quarter-mile in 10 seconds or less. However, here it is not always necessary to spend a large amount of money on a very powerful car that is a 10-second car. Some inexpensive car options could be transformed into a 10-second car.

Of course, this may require the addition and repair of some parts. Anyway, with a decent budget, it is possible to transform a cheap car into a 10-second car. However, not just any car can be transformed into a 10-second car with some modifications. That is why here we can mention which are the cheapest 10-second cars that can prove this after some modifications. 

1. Nissan 300 ZX

One of the most recommended options to have a cheap 10-second car is the Nissan model. This is a vehicle that was first sold in 1989 and looked like a sports car. This vehicle has a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine. Also, this is a vehicle that can offer 283 lb-ft of torque and 300 horsepower.

Especially, the power of this vehicle records it to be on par with the Ferrari vehicles of those times. So, this Nissan vehicle was specially built to be able to compete with the high-performance Porsche 944 and Chevrolet Corvette C4. Today it is an inexpensive vehicle that can be harnessed and modified to become a 10-second car.

In particular, this car can reach 60 mph in just 6.0 seconds. Along with that, this is a fast vehicle, as its regulated top speed is 155 miles per hour. So, this is a very convenient vehicle that has a 5-speed manual transmission. This can be very much taken advantage of by people who wish to enjoy a 10-second car.

Without any modifications, this car can travel a quarter-mile in 14.5 seconds. For that this car reaches 105 miles per hour at its best performance. Anyway, the power-to-weight ratio considering the U.S. tons is 171. So, this is a powerful vehicle that can offer a great design in its original state.

At the same time, it is very easy to notice the overall aesthetic package of this sports car compared to Nissan’s Z32 series. While this is a vehicle that is 4.5 seconds over 10 seconds, it is still a very fast vehicle that experienced users know how to take advantage of. After some modifications, this car has what it takes to offer great power.

2. Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR4

Another fast and cheap vehicle that can be a 10-second car is this model from Mitsubishi. In this case, it is one of the most iconic cars of the 1990s that includes a sporty design. It is a fast car that boasts a hefty $1 of 3737 pounds. Despite this, it is quite a competition to the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro of that era.

In many ways, this Mitsubishi model is very similar to the Nissan model we mentioned earlier. In this case, the timeless sporty design is combined with high performance and appropriate power to deliver great results. Today, this vehicle continues to offer a fresh appearance in combination with a pleasant ride.

Among all of them, the VR4 variant is the one that manages to deliver high-performance characteristics. So, some aerodynamic add-ons such as additional power and an inverted airfoil spoiler have been included here. Anyway, the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine is one of the most appropriate when we are talking about a cheap car that is also fast.

Specifically, this engine can produce 315 lb-ft of torque as well as 320 horsepower. To reach 60 miles per hour this sports car needs 5.7 seconds of pure power. Besides, it can reach 165 miles per hour which is much faster than some of today’s sports cars.

As if that was not enough, this vehicle has been available with a 4-speed automatic transmission, a six-speed manual transmission, or a 5-speed manual transmission. Among all of them, the 6-speed transmission is the most appropriate.

In turn, this car travels a quarter-mile in 15 seconds and goes up to 105 miles per hour. With some modifications, this car can reach 10 seconds in a quarter-mile.

3. Chevrolet Corvette C4 ZR1

This car first appeared in 1983 offering a clear Chevrolet identity in sports cars. It was a great innovation of Chevrolet, very successful because it is a classic vehicle in sports cars. In turn, no one can deny that its appearance has surpassed a lot of sports cars of the time.

In this case, it is a car with a 5.7-liter LT5 engine and rear-wheel drive. So, this car can produce 385 lb-ft of torque, as well as an output of 405 horsepower. The maximum speed that this vehicle can reach is 180 miles per hour. At the same time, it only needs 4.4 seconds to reach 60 miles per hour.

In these times, it is possible to cross a quarter-mile in only 13 seconds reaching a maximum speed of 110 miles per hour. This is a car that is 3 seconds over 10 seconds. Anyway, it is still an excellent mark if we take into account that this is possible to achieve without any additional modifications. 

With which, people who have an appropriate budget can implement the necessary modifications to reach 10 seconds in a quarter-mile. Some versions of this vehicle can be found for approximately $25,000.

Either way, the standard version of the C4 Corvette can be obtained for $13000 or $18000. In particular, versions built up to the year 1988 are recommended. 

4. Audi S8 D3

Surprisingly, this Audi model boasts a weight of 4277 pounds or 1940 kilograms. Despite its great weight, this is a car that can offer excellent power. This is a vehicle that needs only 5.1 seconds to reach 60 miles per hour. The electronically limited top speed can provide 155 miles per hour.

Inside this vehicle, we can find a 5.2-liter V10 engine. Moreover, it is considered an engine that is very similar to the 5.0-liter Lamborghini V10 engine that was used for the Gallardo supercar. That is why it is not strange to mention that this engine can deliver 398 lb-ft of torque and 444 horsepower for excellent speed.

Beyond the great power of this car, it is possible to find some models for only $6000. So, there are many used versions on the market that allow a person to get a used car that is fast at the same time. To reach the quarter-mile this car needs only 13.7 seconds. Along with that, in this quarter-mile, this Audi model can reach 115 miles per hour.

So, this is another one of the used vehicles that are fast and very close to 10 seconds in a quarter-mile. Also, the great affordable cost of this vehicle leaves a good margin in anyone’s budget. This can easily be leveraged to implement major modifications to achieve the coveted 10-second quarter-mile time.

5. Dodge Neon SRT4

In its day, the Dodge Neon was not one of the most inspiring cars of the era, although it was a very fast vehicle. In its day it was a front-wheel drive, front-engine compact sedan. Despite some shortcomings, one of the neon models is still one of the most chosen ones to enjoy a cheap car that is at the same time fast.

This vehicle includes a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine. Also, the design of this engine can provide 245 lb-ft of torque as well as 215 horsepower. While this is not something very amazing these days, in its time it was known to be a very light and fast car. For that, we should note that it takes 5.6 seconds to reach 60 miles per hour.

Also, the top speed that this vehicle can offer is 153 miles per hour. When we talk about a quarter-mile, this vehicle needs 14.1 seconds to cross this course. In this same course, this Neon can offer 108 miles per hour at its best time. Today, it is possible to find some Neon models for $10,000.

It is also necessary to mention that the weight is 2900 pounds or 1300 kg. Anyway, it is an excellent candidate to become a 10-second car after some modifications. At the same time, its great affordability allows users to invest the appropriate budget in the necessary modifications. 

References:

https://www.torquecars.com/tuning/10-second-car.php

https://jalopnik.com/here-are-ten-of-the-best-drag-cars-on-ebay-for-less-tha-1656781410