Cars that are quicker than they look

[Disco You]

Hackney said:

I'm going to nominate my own car as well: VW Passat W8 Estate

People assume its a 1.8 deisel.

Who would fit a 1.8 diesel to a passat? In fact, who even makes A 1.8 diesel?

[rehab71]

Disco You said:

Hackney said:

I'm going to nominate my own car as well: VW Passat W8 Estate

People assume its a 1.8 deisel.

Who would fit a 1.8 diesel to a passat? In fact, who even makes A 1.8 diesel?

Don't be so pedantic.

[Walter Sobchak]

strangehighways said:

c32amg

0 - 60 : 4.6
0 - 100: 10.8

At the time, not much was quicker in the saloon world.

Is a C32 really that close to the 55K cars 0-60?, I imagine after that the bigger cars are noticeably quicker but that's really impressive still, especially now, they look like a bargain!!.

[Walter Sobchak]

Mashedpotatoes said:

E55k ?

Yes, most people seem to mistake them for a CDI cab, mine certainly did once when I was parking up near a pub and a guy came out, read out his postcode and asked how much to home?, it did make me chuckle.

[Sir Fergie]

I nominate the ZX turbo version of the most hated car on PH (if the reaction to a 1.6 example been SOTW was anything to go by) - the Nissan Bluebird.

0 to 60 in about 8.5 seconds IIRC

[strangehighways]

Walter Sobchak said:

Is a C32 really that close to the 55K cars 0-60?, I imagine after that the bigger cars are noticeably quicker but that's really impressive still, especially now, they look like a bargain!!.

The figures are the ones Autocar managed to get on the C32. I remember being amazed at how quick it was for just 350bhp. 10.8 to 100 was quicker than the e39 m5 and the xjr at the time.

No idea what the 55k 0 - 100mph is?

You can pick c32s up for £5k easily. It's quite tempting..

[Walter Sobchak]

Mid 9s for the E55K.

[vtecyo]

Swift GTi. Forgotten little gem.

[jp7152]

My vote - M3 Evo saloon model. Looks pretty similar to 316/318i etc.



Looks old and slow but had 321bhp hiding inside.

Also a vote for the S/V 70 Volvos. Big boxy Volvos but with T5 engines sure have a lot of go.

[Kolbenkopp]

1.4 TSI Golf Plus. Quirky supercharged + turbocharged 1.4 engine with 170 PS (whish they dropped that one in the A2 ) tucked in one very bland box:

[pcvdriver]

GravelBen said:

I guess most people know about fast Subarus now, but back in 1989 these were already a 2.0 turbo Awd bashing out 0-60 in 6.5, with a quarter mile in the mid 14s.

A friend's mum had the estate version back in the day.........and I must admit to having a big green monstar come over me every time I drove it.....way quicker than my own Opel Manta, which I thought was the nuts - until I'd driven my mates mum's car.

[morgrp]

Volvo 850 t5 - basically looks the same as any other model as the t5 Columbia alloys were offered on all models

Rover 620ti - looks like any other 600 series

[pcvdriver]

Hillman Imp - with rally-prepped 998cc motor with big valve head, twin Webers, Janspeed manifold and exhaust. Below 3,000 revs - shopping cart runabout - over 3,000 and up to 12,000 revs it was a screaming, wailing banshee, capable of embarrassing plenty of 2.0 "sports" cars.... I wish I still had mine....

[stupidbutkeen]

pcvdriver said:

Hillman Imp - with rally-prepped 998cc motor with big valve head, twin Webers, Janspeed manifold and exhaust. Below 3,000 revs - shopping cart runabout - over 3,000 and up to 12,000 revs it was a screaming, wailing banshee, capable of embarrassing plenty of 2.0 "sports" cars.... I wish I still had mine....

My dad had something the same,Rolled it one night and just pushed it back upright and went on his way.....only thing he had forgot was my mum was in the passenger seat at the time 8 months gone with me.

[Captain Cadillac]

Here's one:



1958 Lincoln. 0-60 in 8.5 seconds. Stock. Upper 7s with optional dealer installed triple carbs. 7.0L V8, 375bhp/490lb-ft. 5,000+ lbs. 400bhp with triple carbs....


Here's another one:



1997 Toyota Camry CE V6. These were available with an almost never seen 5-speed manual. While Camrys are like flies on poop over here the CE V6 was quite uncommon (the CE was the base model) and the 5-speeds were rare.

Oh yeah, the few that were built hit 60 in 6.9 seconds! Still crap to drive but a total sleeper.

[GravelBen]

pcvdriver said:

GravelBen said:

I guess most people know about fast Subarus now, but back in 1989 these were already a 2.0 turbo Awd bashing out 0-60 in 6.5, with a quarter mile in the mid 14s.

A friend's mum had the estate version back in the day.........and I must admit to having a big green monstar come over me every time I drove it.....way quicker than my own Opel Manta, which I thought was the nuts - until I'd driven my mates mum's car.

I had a wagon in the same colour, but mine was only the 150bhp 2.0 NA model. Still felt pretty fast to a 19yr old though and loved to rev - got into its stride about 4500rpm and bumped the limiter at 7750.

It stopped feeling fast after I drove a turbo one mind you...

Edited by GravelBen on Sunday 17th November 05:21

[Vladimir]

Can I vote for mine? 335d SE Touring. Dyno'd at 305bhp and there's the oh so much over hyped (!) torque of 430lbs-ft. Mid to high 5s to 60 if you can drive properly, 100 in around 13.5.

Spent ages looking for an SE (NOT M Sport) version; apart from the tailpipes (and chrome grille showing it's a six pot) , it looks like a 318d…!

[MADRod]

CR6ZZ said:

Sierra Sapphire Cosworth.

That depends on its Power a standard car has only 200bhp & is no fire breather. The fastest out there can exceed 200mph & pack 800bhp.

[300bhp/ton]

Limpet said:

Jaguar XJR V8. To this day, one of the fastest accelerating cars I have ever experienced, but you wouldn't give it a second glance.

Sorry but you'd have to be pretty dumb to think an expensive luxury Jag isn't going to be at least a bit speedy.

[Panda P]

Mitsubishi Galant VR4 saloon & estate
Honda Civic VTi
Nissan Pulsar
SEAT Leon 20VT
Nissan Bluebird Turbo
SAAB 900/9-3 Turbo
Rover 220 Turbo
Daihatsu Charade GTti
Nissan Stagea