Like most things, the Japanese excell in getting accessable power to the young.
Turbo cars, like grey import Nissan Sylvia's and 200SX's can do low 14's right out of the factory. A Nitrous oxide system can add up to 1.5 times the hp, that's a 12.5 second quarter right away.
The latest 3.0 V-tec V6 Honda Accords can do 15.5 second quarters, and the 2.0 liter Type R's 15.3 seconds. Add Nitrous and work the traction control aspect with the right tires, you've got a mid 13.5 second quarter.
A Subaru STi will do low 14's with awd, and will do 12 second quarters with a boost increase, an 10's with nitrous. (After ypou've blown the diff, clutch, intercooler, half shafts and paid a motza on duribility mods)
The only issue is that all these cars are hard to modify without becoming illegal. Second, they break expensive components. Third, they need expensive mods to ensure they can handle the modifications.
The 200 I6 will do low 19's or high 18's as a stocker. The mods to the engine must be made up with existing gearing and the planned stick or slush box you plan to run. A shift kitted auto is always better on the street or drags than an auto. With the mods you are looking at, MustangSix has said that its unlikely you'll go over 165 hp. A low 15 second quarter is the very best you can hope for with that cam. To get that level of performance takes time, and the car must be well tuned and set up.
Good news is that once you've updated to triples and all the good bits, a good safe nitrous kit would really add another 65 hp on that 165. With 230 hp, you've just smoked a 13.5 second quarter. If its an auto, you would be able to drive it on the street. If its a manual, you'll need a World Class T5 and the right gearing.
Last point. Where else can you get an engine which can take
a) 2 fold power increase on the stock block without needing a turbo (90 hp net to 165+). Example. Mustang Geezer, Mustangaroo etc
b) then being able to take an eventual three fold boost (90 hp net to 230 hp estimated), with nitrous Example is a stock 90 hp net 200 which has stock log, nitrous, header and 500 Holley in Oz, that puts out 190 hp and does 13.6 second quarters.
c) and then, if turboed, a further 4 fold boost (90 hp to ~360 hp). Example is someone called DragStang ??. It may have had even more than that, but aside from the turbo, it started off very close to stock.
And if you break anything, there are still plenty of good core engines around to rebuild it!
