Estate Sleepers

[GravelBen]

mat59 said:

That sounds good. How come the Legacy will do more MPG than the Impreza. I thought they were pretty much an STI engine in a bigger body. I always thought the Impreza was rubbish on fuel.

Better aerodynamics, longer gearing, twin-turbo motor gives more torque lower down so you don't have to work it as much, etc...

Even with Imprezas I think the reputation is worse than the reality though (and most often the comments about how thirsty they are actually come from the drivers of 15mpg SUV barges), 25+mpg should be easy enough to get from an STi Impreza. Of course any car with that power level has the ability to guzzle it down fast when you're working it, but driven with a modicum of restraint they're ok.

[TIGA84]

TankRizzo said:

I always fancied a Legnum VR4, I don't know how bad they are on fuel though.

I've emptied a tank of Super in around 150 miles, so they can be a little on the juicy side of things.










that was on the autobahn, and it was flat out for about 5 miles straight.......

[300bhp/ton]

Why spend so much? Save some and buy a Rover 75/MG ZT-T the 2.5 KV6 is reliable and will average high 20's/low 30's for normal use.


With a Rover badge the V6 isn't a bad sleeper.

Or go for the diesel.

If you want more economy how about an X-Type Jag? You might still find a nice 3.0 V6 petrol or the 2.2 diesel is pretty good. It's not slow and will do 48mpg!



Not sure if these are in budget, but I think they look great!!! Also available with a diesel I believe.





Lastly say sod it to outright pace and look for different thrills along the lines of these:

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Wednesday 30th September 08:34

[Truckosaurus]

300bhp/ton said:

Not sure if these are in budget, but I think they look great!!! Also available with a diesel I believe.

Slightly too much vulgar chrome to be a true sleeper, but put a size smaller wheels on it and it would pass muster (especially in SRT8 format)

[Great Pretender]

300bhp/ton said:

A Rover

I might have know that came from you.

Seriously, WTF?

[300bhp/ton]

Great Pretender said:

300bhp/ton said:

A Rover

I might have know that came from you.

Seriously, WTF?

Yeah seriously who think a well built, reliable, affordable good performing car would be a sensible suggestion

[Silent1]

300bhp/ton said:

Great Pretender said:

300bhp/ton said:

A Rover

I might have know that came from you.

Seriously, WTF?

Yeah seriously who think a well built, reliable, affordable good performing car would be a sensible suggestion

Like the one i towed off the road and to a rover garage yesterday?

That was a v6 auto that had shat it's headgasket.

[300bhp/ton]

Silent1 said:

300bhp/ton said:

Great Pretender said:

300bhp/ton said:

A Rover

I might have know that came from you.

Seriously, WTF?

Yeah seriously who think a well built, reliable, affordable good performing car would be a sensible suggestion

Like the one i towed off the road and to a rover garage yesterday?

That was a v6 auto that had shat it's headgasket.

So you're implying no other cars have issues then?

So you know one with an issue. I know of two which have never been any problem at all. And I'm sure many would share that experience.

Btw did you see the VW bashing thread yesterday. Must mean that every VW is utter rubbish

[Silent1]

I've never seen any other marque occupy so much garage time at 5-7 years old that they're becoming write offs due to engine failure.

[RobCrezz]

300bhp/ton said:

Great Pretender said:

300bhp/ton said:

A Rover

I might have know that came from you.

Seriously, WTF?

Yeah seriously who think a well built, reliable, affordable good performing car would be a sensible suggestion

They arent really very quick though.

[sleep envy]

300bhp/ton said:

Great Pretender said:

300bhp/ton said:

A Rover

I might have know that came from you.

Seriously, WTF?

Yeah seriously who think a well built, reliable, affordable good performing car would be a sensible suggestion

possibly the only accurate words in your post are 'car' and 'affordable'

[frosted]

Truckosaurus said:

300bhp/ton said:

Not sure if these are in budget, but I think they look great!!! Also available with a diesel I believe.

Slightly too much vulgar chrome to be a true sleeper, but put a size smaller wheels on it and it would pass muster (especially in SRT8 format)

Every single time I see one on road I cant keep thinking of what the owners are compensating for when they decided to buy it . Mid life crissis ,tryin to appear rich or just plainly having a little winky ??

[300bhp/ton]

frosted said:

Truckosaurus said:

300bhp/ton said:

Not sure if these are in budget, but I think they look great!!! Also available with a diesel I believe.

Slightly too much vulgar chrome to be a true sleeper, but put a size smaller wheels on it and it would pass muster (especially in SRT8 format)

Every single time I see one on road I cant keep thinking of what the owners are compensating for when they decided to buy it . Mid life crissis ,tryin to appear rich or just plainly having a little winky ??

Think is you could say that about any car - M5, M3, 335i with M pack, blinged up AMG Merc or look a like.

[300bhp/ton]

Silent1 said:

I've never seen any other marque occupy so much garage time at 5-7 years old that they're becoming write offs due to engine failure.

Engine failure??

The only issue is HG failure, most common on the 1.8 and its a cheap and easy fix. Cheaper than doing a cam belt on a Pug V6. Can't see that being a write off.

We've had 2 KV6's, both no hassle at all. One was in a 825 Sterling and its still going strong with the people who bought it off us.

[Roman]

I have to say my ZT 190 has been perfectly reliable over the past 5 years - solid with no build quality problems, it is really nice to drive and its ability to get from one place to another quickly is very impressive as it is excellent at carrying speed through corners.

I think this finesse is different to the 'surprising' acceleration required to qualify as a Q car though - if out-accelerating people is what you're into.

I would say a ZT-T260 is a possible but I suspect 20-25mpg day to day would be realistic.

I suppose a chipped 330/530/535D, V60 or 93/95 would be obvious options but every one I know with a 330D has been landed with a £1,500+ bill for new injectors so secondhand I'd probably choose a 330/530i instead.

Edited by Roman on Wednesday 30th September 10:22

[300bhp/ton]

RobCrezz said:

300bhp/ton said:

Great Pretender said:

300bhp/ton said:

A Rover

I might have know that came from you.

Seriously, WTF?

Yeah seriously who think a well built, reliable, affordable good performing car would be a sensible suggestion

They arent really very quick though.

I admit they are not the quickest. But by the same measure they are not exactly slow either.

And as the op says they want an estate (ie a big car) and good economy, they simply won't get both with high performance.

Not for £12k at least.

[derestrictor]

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/inc/popup3.asp?pictur...

Oh,

As you say, not exactly ten a penny...

[monthefish]

GravelBen said:

ETA: Sleepy looking enough for you?

For me? no.

The big alloys, bonnet scoop, flared skirts and tinted glass all detract from its 'sleeper' credentials.......

[emicen]

300bhp/ton said:

Great Pretender said:

300bhp/ton said:

A Rover

I might have know that came from you.

Seriously, WTF?

Yeah seriously who think a well built, reliable, affordable good performing car would be a sensible suggestion

I drove a KV6 engined 75. Wouldnt pull your foreskin back. Woeful car, nowhere near enough performance to be called a sleeper.

[dave_s13]

Hammerhead said:

dave_s13 said:

What sort of driving do you do?
...
The main reason I sold my E39 540 Touring was due to 18mpg average.

What sort of driving did you do to get 18mpg?
Local running about in mine gets around 24.

dave_s13 said:

Al this talk of 30mpg is only true if you live on the motorway.

True! But still, amazed to see a knat's todger under 34 on a trip from Somerset to Derbyshire.

Just think, that's 68mpg avg for each bank/2.2 litres

Mine was an auto and 99% around town driving, even on a trip from Leeds to Devon and back it only did 25mpg - that was with a lot of touring around devon the week were there too. They're brilliant, don't get me wrong and the one Der has posted looks smashing.

Very hard to find one you would actually want to buy though.

My previous E39 528 touring onoly did 21mpg too. Must be something to do with the way I drive!!