It's not that hard to get a turbo rex into the 12's. Doesn't cost anywhere near 12k either.

 

I know it will be close though. I figure I spent about $3500(buying the car, fixing some parts, adding a few upgrades)so far, another 5-6k should get me a turbo kit, additional fuel and spark upgrades, a stronger(built) engine, and some solid tuning. But, like I said before, it still needs paint, some front end work, new doors, oh i forgot to mention a new windshield, and some other things here and there. All in all, the extra stuff to get it back to looking like a good car would cost me around 2-3k, probably more(I don't wanna cheap out on the paint job or the body work ). So now, I spent 5-6k+2-3k, so =~$7-9k. So now I spent around $10.5k-12.5k. That actually is quite a bit of money.
Plus, the car STILL will not be emissions legal.

 

Sounds more and more like the trans-am is the better choice...

 

but you're keeping the crx anyway, so the money you've already spent on it doesn't matter, it doesn't add to the equation if you're comparing how much you'd spend on the rex v. how much you'd spend on the pontiac.

You also don't need a built motor to put a crx into the 12s. For instance, you could trade your b16 for a b18b, put together some quality turbo parts for ~$2k, spend ~$500 on management and dyno time, spend ~$150 for a set of drag radials, and you're in the 12s with less than $3,000 out of pocket. :dunno:

 

Live rear axle FTL.

My friend has a Camaro SS, it's a decent car but not my taste. Yes, they are very easy to make fast in a straight line.

 

Trans am? Git offa yer sister!

CRX > Fbody

 

I've always kind of liked the Trans Am, and the LS1 is a sweet engine. It's real easy to up the horsepower on those guys too, since the Chevy small-block has been around for so long. You get very nice gains from just freeing up the intake and exhaust tracts. It'll never handle like the CRX, but it will be much easier (and much more driveable) to make it real fast in a straight line. Plus you get A/C.

Make sure to do some decent suspension upgrades to it as well though, as I always laugh when I see them bobbing up and down on the highway after hitting a bump.

 

Basically if you want an LS1, get it in a Corvette.