RE: The Unusual Suspects: PH Blog

[m8rky]

Of course the hardcore Xsarist prefers Bora Bora green, probably one of the few cars I really regret selling. Sadly over 11 years of Xsara VTS ownership in PH1 & PH2 guises is set to end this weekend
Have enjoyed every minute.

[LocoBlade]

I had a 309 SRI with the 1.6 GTi engine in it, made an awesome late teenage car. It was barely 10kgs heavier than a 205 so went as well, it handled brilliantly and insurance was only group 8 when a 205/309 GTi was 13-14. Only real issues were driveshafts made of chocolate and the low rent interior, but still to this day I have more fond memories of driving that car than any other daily driver I've owned since, the steering feel and chassis feedback is light years ahead of any modern everyday car that invariable weigh 50% more, have power steering, wide tyres and swathes of insulating material to remove all that lovely information that makes a car really enjoyable to drive near its limit.

Another shout...

[sinbaddio]

Love the old Fiats. How about the Uno Turbo ie? Overshadowed by it's French counterparts at the time but a proper tearaway. And my pe teacher had a Datsun Cherry Turbo which always stood out amongst the rotting Allgero's and Maxi's.

[Welshwonder]

Another 309 vote here. Had this one over four years now and it's faster and more fun than ever.

[ffhard]

Many years ago I had a 1991 Rover 216 GTi, Honda twin cam 16 valve engine, revved to (if I recall correctly) a bit over 7,000 and sounded fine as it did so, repeatedly. It just looked like any other Rover but it actually drove really, really well. It was a great fun car but, of course, the body started rotting and it just wasn't valuable enough to keep repairing. A shame really, it wasn't ultimately that fast but it felt fast if you see what I mean.

Wonder if there are any left?

[Negative Creep]

matchmaker said:

Leins said:

There was a time when these adorned the front of performance car magazines:

Yes, had one. Brilliant car. Said to be have better handling than the Golf as the body was stiffer.

The difficulty now is finding one that hasn't been stickerbombed and sitting 2mm off the ground on cut springs

[Mike1990]

One that springs to my mind is the Mk4 Astra GSi. Came in the early 2000's(2002-2004)when Turbo's and 200bhp+ Hot Hatches where making an entrance and the like's off the Mk1 Focus RS, Mk1 Leon Cupra R and the Audi 8L S3 where coming and getting all the attention, the poor old Astra just didn't really get a look in at the time or a group test even!

Quite a rare car now and still look's bloody good IMO! and them in the know said it had a decent chassis and handling.

[angry jock]

Have a proper soft spot for most hot hatches.

As a proper left-field one though how about this


Mitsubishi Colt/Mirage Cyborg.

[J4CKO]

HorneyMX5 said:

The 309 was a better car than the 205, I also thought it looked better.

I NEED to own a Rover 200 BRM at somepoint. I've driven a couple and witht he VVT lump and the LSD they really are a cracking drive and I love the colour scheme and interior. They're going up in price for good ones now though.

I had one, it was great engine, possibly the best gearbox I have ever had in a car and it handled well, downsides were that the leather didnt hold you in and the Gearknob left a permanent imprint on my palm like the SS officer in Raiders of the lost Ark because it was so cold in winter.









My uncle still has the one on the right, he has had it for years, I sold mine as the HG went, fixed it but the liners had sunk, the guy who bought it put a 2.0 Turbo engine in.

[realnumber 1]

I think the ZX 16v Dakar fits this category well. Had a Volcane years ago and would still love a mint Dakar now...

[muppet42]

Loved my 1.2 after some suspension tweaking so always wondered what the Prodrive 2.4 was like...



Criminally underrated in my opinion, even just for the sound of the engine

[fph]

I had a Mazda 323f ZXi, not quick against the clock but a sweet revving quad cam V6 and great fun down a country road.

[Countersteer]

Every now and then, I like to go on ebay, type in 'rare car' and just see what comes up. Admittedly some are dead boring with a rare colour but just occasionally it throws up a gem...

[Bill]

I went to look at a 309gti but it was a bit of a dog (the tracking was off so the owner offered to take the steering wheel off to align it ) and I ended up getting a Nissan Sunny ZX coupe which was ace to drive.

[Kipplemaster]

I went to the motor show in 1994 and my favourite car was the Alfa 145 Cloverleaf. Still think it looks cool.

[turps]

My oddity!

[turps]

..And my previous oddity!

[Leins]

Kipplemaster said:

I went to the motor show in 1994 and my favourite car was the Alfa 145 Cloverleaf. Still think it looks cool.

I went to that with my older brother, and he was so taken that he ordered a new 145 the next week, albeit just the 1.6L. The car stayed in the family until only a few years ago

[JamesyBoy75]

Most my best suggestions already noted, as a rally fan always loved the Charade GTti every now and again check eBay and other sites for them. no one has mentioned the Visa GTi, never driven one but 1600cc lump from 205 and a lighter body must have been fun

[Matt Bird]

Thanks for the contributions here guys, some gems I hadn't thought of and in some cases didn't even know about. Helios Green on the Xsara looks great and some of the Daihatsus are ace. And the Jetta GTI! Good to hear the 200 BRM is quite good as well. Keep 'em coming!


Matt