El_Nombre Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 Going to make this brief (only giving myself a short break here) but debating buying a new car. I'm 28 so midlife crisis isn't really looming just yet, and looking towards something with a bit of beans to it now that I'm not 17 anymore and obviously an uninsurable mass-murderer in the waiting. I'd basically like something that fills the following crietria: -< insurance group 19. -0-60mph < 6.7 secs (very important) OR can be modified to such, without breaking any other conditions. -Mpg hopefully not < 20. -No more modern than the new car tax brackets (so looking at up to late nineties cars.) -No more than £3000 . I don't plan on owning it longer than 18 months so won't service it, just fix what ever goes wrong. So far my choices seem to be: Toyota Supra mk3 3.0 turbo/2.5 twin turbo http://members.optusnet.com.au/supra80/generalma70/images/DSC00336.jpg Nissan 300 zx http://www.cars-directory.net/pics/nissan/300zx/1991/nissan_300zx_901329.jpg Honda Prelude (motegi) http://www.carfolio.com/images/dbimages/zgas/models/id/15125/1996_honda_prelude_si.jpg Mitsubishi FTO (would change/uprate filter, sparks and decent but not loud exhaust) http://www.diseno-art.com/images/mitsubishi_FTO.jpg Favourite is the Supra tbh. Just wanted as many opinions as possible! Any thoughts appreciated, as well as any cautionary tales and horror stories. Thanks for reading.
Disaster Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 I'd go for a good condition Saab 900 turbo, not fast, but then where I am not much room for gassing it, and they look hella coooo Becoming bit of a cult classic though so probably cost more than they're worth. FTO is a good choice, heard good things about them
DAZZD88 Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 I'd recommend a used post 2001 Civic Type-R. 200BHP and 6.7s 0-60. Also about 30-35mpg.
teejay Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 -0-60mph < 6.7 secs (very important) OR can be modified to such, without breaking any other conditions. Let me guess, you're getting beaten in a traffic light drag race by a car that does 0-60 in 6.8 secs
Sirbendy Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 Prelude - no resale value, but not bad motors. Something Vauxhall with the C20XE or similar? very tuneable, cheap bits..
DAZZD88 Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 C20XE Someone a Vauxhall fan there? Lol. Any Vauxhall engine is pretty tuneable. The Astra I had I think it's engine code was Z16XE and I had a Performance Vauxhall mag that had a 300BHP Astra with an almost identical engine. Incidentally I was tempted to buy the bolt-on turbo kit that was advertised to give about 40% more power from a bog-standard engine.
El_Nombre Posted January 10, 2011 Author Posted January 10, 2011 Oooh thanks guys. And Disaster, strong username. Hehe, yeah my nemesis is infact a PE teacher with an Audi TT - can't even write this stuff. Anyway that's about 7-8% of the reason and I don't drive like a lunatic tbh, just want the option. I'll look into bolting bits onto Vauxhalls - did DESPARATELY want a Calibra turbo but they're all knackered now it seems. Mitsubishi GTO was a consideration, but they're very mechanically complicated and prone to giving you the old death so I'm avoiding those. The 200sx is a handsome car but stock is a bit slow, and I've heard many tales of the sump falling out if you do anything daft like turn a corner in it. Keep having this INSANE idea about buying a cheap-ish Jaguar XJ and just putting an Arden-esque bodykit on it. Someone talk me out of that plox! Cheers very much for the replies so far folks.
Butuz Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 Hmm. Supra / 300zx = heavy chestwig 80's tastic and cost a fair wack to run. Prelude / FTO = two of the best FWD cars made but still RWD is where it's at if you want a sports car. My vote: Nissan 200sx S14 or S14a. Amazing cars for the money. Proper mans sports car, turbocharged, RWD, cheap to buy run and insure, 0-60 in the 6's as standard and more importantly are very cheap and easy to mod. You can go from 200 to 300 horse power for about £500 extra. I've had a few and loved them and miss them still. Butuz
3s-gtech Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 Ha, this is my favourite topic, and I always give the same recommendation - MR2 Turbo (hence the username!). Fits the bill apart from insurance, but you're older than me and I am only paying £400 or so a year to insure it. The rev3 cars and later are better, they're tuneable, handle well, reliable, and there's a massive wealth of very cheap parts available.
Guest Guest Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 (edited) MR2 Turbo ftw 0-60 in a second less than your spec. You could even go for a MR2 N/A beams engine (1999-2001 iirc) which gives you around 7seconds standard without the hassle and driving style considerations of a turbo Edited January 10, 2011 by Guest
Sirbendy Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 Take Calibra engine, drop into something worthy, lighter, and that doesn't handle like a boat...classic MINI!!! (and yes, I'm serious here).
3s-gtech Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 BEAMS may be over budget though, quite sought after I can confirm it's a quick car, though I've never tested its limits really. Some advantages over the NA include a better gearbox, optional LSD, bigger brakes and ARBs on early ones. C20LET plus Mini = understeer and fiery death. Fun though, apparently.
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