Street racing is as exciting as it is dangerous and illegal. The power to control ultra-fast and powerful cars on the road is a great way to establish your credibility among your peers. The ability to subtly flex your muscles to the law is also a tacit advantage associated with street car racing.
Street racing is an activity that dates back to the invention of cars. Although the United States has taken the reins of this exhilarating phenomenon since the early 60s, street racing has gained immense worldwide attention with the success of the Hollywood blockbuster franchise, Fast and Furious.
But unlike movies where heroes and villains show off their skills with luxury cars, you don’t need to be a millionaire to race your heart out on the streets. You can build an awesome racer with commonly found cars.
Instead of buying fast cars directly from the showroom, you can buy a medium-speed car and modify it to be as fast as you want. Tuning cars is an art that sets you apart from an average street car racer.
In this article, we look at the best street racing cars that you can tune into a speed demon.
1. Toyota Supra.
Japanese cars are pretty much the ones that tuners love to play with, and the Toyota Supra is one of them. Although Toyota is not associated with breathtaking speed, the Supra can be tuned to be a street racer for any serious racer. Let’s find out what modifications can be made to this car.
- Downpipe – With an upgraded downpipe, you get much more power. The Toyota Supra is undoubtedly a powerful car, but if you want to tune it for performance, replacing the original downpipe is a must.
- Turbochargers – After upgrading the downpipe, it only makes sense if the turbocharger is upgraded. You can choose a larger and more powerful turbocharger to extract more power from this car.
- Some work on the ECU – A tuned ECU (Engine Control Unit) will pump out much more power. In fact, some experts say that tuning the ECU on this car adds about 50 horsepower.
- Reduce extra weight – Take a good look inside and remove anything you deem unnecessary. For example, you can have the seats replaced with a much lighter aftermarket brand.
- Suspension – There are many options to upgrade the suspension of the Toyota Supra. You need to choose the one that best suits your preferences.
2. Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is not the best performance car, but it is one of the most popular cars ever made by Honda. It is lightweight, reliable, and offers many tuning possibilities. You can perform the following upgrades or modifications on this car.
- Adding power – When we talk about adding power, many people might think of upgrading the engine or adding an extra turbocharger, but it’s not always about cylinder size or how much fuel it can burn.
A few extra horsepower can be added to your car by making small modifications, such as adding larger diameter exhaust pipes. A performance exhaust system will allow exhaust gases to leave the engine faster. As a result, the engine will work harder to produce more power. When the new exhaust is ready, replace the old restrictive airbox with a cold air intake, or add turbocharging or supercharging.
- Upgrade the brakes – More power and better performance mean you also need better braking power. Performance brake pads and cross-drilled rotors will provide effective braking and better cooling. You can also install a larger caliper and a bigger rotor for better and more responsive braking.
- Handling – A performance car must be able to handle corners smoothly. You can achieve this with the Honda Civic by replacing the original shock absorbers. You can add a performance shock absorber with heavier and weaker coil springs.
- Remove weight – Try to remove excess pounds from the car. Remove the carpets and replace them with lighter ones or an ultra-light spray-on lining. You can also replace the original seats with racing bucket seats. These are just a few examples. You can remove anything you deem unnecessary or that has a lighter replacement.
3. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.
This car has several variants, the Lancer Evo 6, 6.5, 7, 8, and Evo 9. However, all have the same engines, although there is a slight difference in the turbine housing and camshaft.
This car can have many tunable parts. You can work on the following if you want to tune the iconic Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. When you’re done working on the upgrades, you should have at least 60 to 70 extra horsepower.
- Air intake system
- Exhaust system
- Remap the engine control unit
- Fuel pump and fuel injectors
- Intercooler piping upgrade
- Wastegate actuator
- Throttle body
- Suspension
If you have enough money, there is almost no limit to what you can do with this car, and the good thing is that you can find the parts easily.
4. Ford Mustang.
The Ford Mustang offers serious power and performance, but you can still tune it to add a few more horsepower. Tuning the Mustang will give you a better and improved throttle response, more power and torque, and believe it or not, your car will even have better fuel economy.
Here is a list of things you can do for your Mustang.
- Cold air intake upgrade
- Throttle body
- Interior improvement (reduce weight by getting rid of items inside the car)
- Exhaust system upgrade
- Camshafts
- Cylinder heads
- Superchargers or turbochargers
- Fuel injectors
- Nitrous oxide
- Remove the speed limiter
Tuning the Ford Mustang is not difficult. The parts can be found in almost every corner of the United States, and tuners love working on this car.
There are several tuning software options, such as SCT pre-configured tune, Bama performance tune, Unleashed (only for 2015 Ecoboost), and Cobb. Depending on your car model, you can choose the ideal tuning program. If you’re not sure, you can ask a tuner. They will be happy to explain.
However, if your Mustang is new, you should know that your warranty will be voided if you tune it.
5. Subaru Impreza.
In a world of fast cars, Subaru is one of the cars that demands respect and attention. The Subaru Impreza is an excellent car that has many tunable parts, and it can be tuned for a reasonable amount. This car doesn’t necessarily need to be tuned, but if you want better handling and more power, you can tune it.
Below are the tunable parts of the Subaru Impreza.
- Exhaust system
- Turbochargers
- ECU remaps
- Suspension
- Bodywork
The Subaru Impreza has a solidly designed and very reliable engine. It can tolerate tuning with ease.
Frequently Asked Questions about Car Tuning.
What are the main factors to consider in a car for street racing?
Street racing cars operate at a completely different level than those on tracks. Therefore, the requirements are also very different. Here are the main factors to look for in a car for street racing:
- A small-sized car – A relatively small car will perform better for fitting into smaller spaces and also for weaving through traffic easily.
- Low-end torque – Instant torque will give you more performance compared to higher RPM on race tracks.
- Higher seats – The higher seat position will give you better visibility all around. This will boost your confidence in your driving skills and the overall outcome of the race.
- Lightweight – Lightweight cars will perform better for you in street racing, while heavy cars can slow you down significantly.
- Strong chassis – A robust chassis is a must in a street racing car. Street racing is a tough activity, so you need a strong chassis capable of withstanding street beating.
Why are tuner cars popular in street racing?
Although luxury and supercars are built for speed, the risk of damage is very high in street racing. The cars used for street racing suffer a lot of damage, at least aesthetically.
Besides the risk of damage, car tuning is an art that has a loyal fan base. A car that is modified and bears the mark of originality will earn you admiration and respect on the street rather than flashing a super luxury car.
Is street racing illegal?
Street racing is illegal in almost every country, but so is jaywalking. You don’t see that stopping many people, do you? Nevertheless, street racing is extremely popular almost everywhere.
Currently, San Diego is the only city where street racing is legal to some extent. The city has a program at Qualcomm Stadium, where street racers participate in events in a controlled environment.