What car? £3K, fast, rwd, 4 seats?

[declasm]

Hello,

thought I'd start my own 'what car' thread as I'm after something in particular but thought the PH collective might have some leftfield suggestions that would also fit the bill.

I am selling my current fun car, '93 Mazda RX-7 320bhp as I feel I've done everything I want to do with it, a few track days, drag days, road trips etc. and I fancy something different. In the past I've had E30 325i BMWs and I still love them. I'd love one again but they are a bit underpowered. Also I'd like to free up a few grand tied up in the car to go towards doing up the house or buying a new house so I'm going to spend less money on the new fun car than the Mazda. It would also be nice to have a fun car which can seat more than 2 for times when my wife and daughter might be coaxed into it.

So here are my requirements(for the purposes of this thread they are non-negotiable):
£3K max!
4 seats
front engine, rear wheel drive only
fast (interpret this however you like)
perhaps a bit of retro cool (as per an E30)
economy is not important
practicality is not important (other than 4 seats)
reliability is not important, except car must run, drive and have tax and test for £3K budget
not an estate
you must be able to show me one in the PH classifieds in budget (I might buy it?!)

I've been actively hunting for an E30 with an M30 or M50 engine conversion but there aren't that many about. what are my alternatives?

[declasm]

Really? I've only ever once spent more than £3K on a car! someone must be able to come up with an interesting/ retro-cool piece of japanese or german metal with a big, fun engine!

[Acehood]

I've been looking for a similar machine, I saw a Mitsubishi Starion within the price range

http://pistonheads.com/sales/1548804.htm

[Munter]

Cant tempt you into the 4wd Evo/Scooby arena?

Otherwise some of the very first M5s (Think H reg) can be got for not much over your budget....VERY expensive to repair should anything go twang though.

[ExPat2B]

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1557844.htm

Nissan 200sx.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1571972.htm

Nissan Skyline R33

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1617982.htm

Supra NA Manual.

[declasm]

Acehood said:

I've been looking for a similar machine, I saw a Mitsubishi Starion within the price range

http://pistonheads.com/sales/1548804.htm

I really like that! Even looks like it has rear seats!

[Jayho]

hmmm... you currently drive an RX7 and want to move on... but your criteria seems to fit to a perfect bill for your rx7... you can pick up a nissan silvia s14 for that budget, quite similar characteristics as your rx7, maybe a little less responsive, FR, upside compared to the RX7 is that they're cheaper and younger, and they do not require a regular rebuild like the wankles do. they are very very easily tunable. probably wont find something which is as powerful and as fast as your rx7 tbh...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1615778.htm

Correct me if i'm wrong but i also think a few of the subaru's, although 4wd they do share quite a common drive with FR cars...

[die fahrt]

Lexus Soarer? 4.0 V8 or 2.5TT, but mostly auto.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1292036.htm

Would suggest supra but for lack of real rear seats.

Celica GT4s are good but 4WD, not RWD.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1519881.htm

Edited by die fahrt on Tuesday 6th April 15:03

[declasm]

Munter said:

Cant tempt you into the 4wd Evo/Scooby arena?

Otherwise some of the very first M5s (Think H reg) can be got for not much over your budget....VERY expensive to repair should anything go twang though.

I have browsed the Evo/Subaru ads but can't convince myself I'd like 4wd enough. I quite like the old E28 M535i's and E34 M5s but would be hard to find a good one for the price

[okgo]

e36 m3

[declasm]

Jayho said:

hmmm... you currently drive an RX7 and want to move on... but your criteria seems to fit to a perfect bill for your rx7... you can pick up a nissan silvia s14 for that budget, quite similar characteristics as your rx7, maybe a little less responsive, FR, upside compared to the RX7 is that they're cheaper and younger, and they do not require a regular rebuild like the wankles do. they are very very easily tunable. probably wont find something which is as powerful and as fast as your rx7 tbh...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1615778.htm

Correct me if i'm wrong but i also think a few of the subaru's, although 4wd they do share quite a common drive with FR cars...

having had a couple of FD RX-7s they really are 2 seats only (especially the UK Spec which doesn't even pretend to have rear seats), so something a bit roomier with a little less of an edge is what I'm after. I'll look into S14s

[declasm]

okgo said:

e36 m3

can you find me a good one (that really is an M3!) for £3K?

[declasm]

die fahrt said:

Lexus Soarer? 4.0 V8 or 2.5TT, but mostly auto.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1292036.htm

Would suggest supra but for lack of real rear seats.

Celica GT4s are good but 4WD, not RWD.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1519881.htm

Edited by die fahrt on Tuesday 6th April 15:03

Soarer is going on the list of maybes - any idea which is preferable V8 or TT assuming both autos?

[Phil Dicky]

declasm said:

okgo said:

e36 m3

can you find me a good one (that really is an M3!) for £3K?

Now thats a challenge

[okgo]

declasm said:

okgo said:

e36 m3

can you find me a good one (that really is an M3!) for £3K?

You can get a 3.0 non evo for that money wouldn't be a low miles one, but look hard haggle well and you might be in luck.

[ExPat2B]

declasm said:

die fahrt said:

Lexus Soarer? 4.0 V8 or 2.5TT, but mostly auto.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1292036.htm

Would suggest supra but for lack of real rear seats.

Celica GT4s are good but 4WD, not RWD.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1519881.htm

Edited by die fahrt on Tuesday 6th April 15:03

Soarer is going on the list of maybes - any idea which is preferable V8 or TT assuming both autos?

For tuning, the 2.5TT is the same basic engine as the Supra and responds extremely well to bigger turbos, more intercooling etc.

The V8 is best if you plan to leave it standard. Plenty of power and very reliable.

[Renn Sport]

E36 328 Saloon?

Does it all and will leave you some change for service and tweeking of the suspension.

Some of the suggestions on here are quite good.

I like the Sylvia..

[declasm]

Renn Sport said:

E36 328 Saloon?

Does it all and will leave you some change for service and tweeking of the suspension.

Some of the suggestions on here are quite good.

I like the Sylvia..

What is an E36 like to drive? I understand the M3s are a pretty good steer but I imagine the 325i and 328i to feel a little underwhelming? I'm a big fan of the E30 and if someone put the 328i's engine in one I'd jump at it but few have so persuade me.

[okgo]

I would think the 328 would feel OK. I have the same engine in my 5, and sure its not quick but it has decent enough in gear go and probably weighs half a ton more than a e36.

[300bhp/ton]

declasm said:

Hello,

thought I'd start my own 'what car' thread as I'm after something in particular but thought the PH collective might have some leftfield suggestions that would also fit the bill.

I am selling my current fun car, '93 Mazda RX-7 320bhp as I feel I've done everything I want to do with it, a few track days, drag days, road trips etc. and I fancy something different. In the past I've had E30 325i BMWs and I still love them. I'd love one again but they are a bit underpowered. Also I'd like to free up a few grand tied up in the car to go towards doing up the house or buying a new house so I'm going to spend less money on the new fun car than the Mazda. It would also be nice to have a fun car which can seat more than 2 for times when my wife and daughter might be coaxed into it.

So here are my requirements(for the purposes of this thread they are non-negotiable):
£3K max!
4 seats
front engine, rear wheel drive only
fast (interpret this however you like)
perhaps a bit of retro cool (as per an E30)
economy is not important
practicality is not important (other than 4 seats)
reliability is not important, except car must run, drive and have tax and test for £3K budget
not an estate
you must be able to show me one in the PH classifieds in budget (I might buy it?!)

I've been actively hunting for an E30 with an M30 or M50 engine conversion but there aren't that many about. what are my alternatives?

Some what left field, but how about one of these:






6.0 litre XJ12 V12. All you'd need to do is slap a nice sounding exhaust on it and it'd make you grin all the time.

My Dad had one of these a number of years ago. It really was a fab car, easily on par with a Bentley (well better really).

The engine is silky silky smooth, the Jag V12 is in a class of its own here. Never experienced anything even remotely close in terms of smoothness.

The sound fantastic (stock exhaust is silent though).

XJ40 body is actually rather sleek in person.

A pretty good drive and handling, although more comfy than outright sporty, but I doubt you'd not be impressed.

Still rather rapid, even by today's standards.

Retro cool 80's look, and as these were only built for 93 and 94 model years quite a rare beast today.

RWD with a proper slippy diff


Fast when you want it to be
Fun when you want it to be
Extremely comfy
Fantastic interior
Big boot
4 seats


Only downer is 15-16mpg average, but with an RX-7 I suspect it's not such an issue.