Which Cheap 80's/90's Turbo Hatch?

[s m]

1Addicted said:

Thanks for the replies; there are some good ones I'd not thought about at all, especially the Rover and Jap stuff.

I guess the iconic ones I think about are the R5 and Ford RS's, the Euro stuff but as you've pointed out, one that isn't totally beyond economical repair is going to be a hard find at a sub-£2k budget. Sorry, I should have said that £2k is the limit to make it a viable project that I can just dribble time over without caring.

From my searching there really does seem to be a clear gap between scrap cars and and clean ones with little in the middle.

I like the idea of a Pulsar GTiR. Whoever said that, well done as if forgotten about it.

I actually had a 106GTI as my first car. Stupid first car really, also liked eating gearboxes but handled a dream. Shame no turbo though. As for Delta's, I figured they'd be a classic by now but I'll hunt for a 'barn find'.

Thanks again. I'm literally plumbing all if your suggestions into my searches so I'll find something soon I'm sure, as well as taking a trip down memory lane...the memory lane that is ancient old Max Power magazines anyway.

Any thoughts on a Bluebird Turbo?

Edited by 1Addicted on Wednesday 26th November 14:48

click

Slightly above budget but a cheaper one sold a month or so ago with MOT

[RP1]

Gratuitous pic opportunity... Here's my old one. Had a remap to 170bhp and that was plenty.

ETA: there is one on Car and Classic currently which looks nice, in the same colour as this for £1600.

Edited by RP1 on Wednesday 26th November 16:02

Edited by RP1 on Wednesday 26th November 16:02

[carinaman]

s m said:

click

Slightly above budget but a cheaper one sold a month or so ago with MOT

What a great eBay advert with description and photos of the bodywork issues. What a decent vendor.

[Al U]

s m said:

106 Gti turbo???? Aftermarket?

Lancia Delta HF Turbo with Martini decals

Or if you want to keep up with modern traffic, Rover 220Gti/Gsi Turbo if you can find one
0-100 in 15.7 seconds and 145max

Sorry, I did miss the turbo bit. My vote would probably be a glanza, friend at uni had one that was running around 250bhp and it certainly shifted! Fiat Uno Turbo as a rarer alterantive?

[dorset_clive]

Would a Saab 900 hatch count? Or even a 9000?? Lots of tuning potential for not much money apparently...and heated seats!!

[xstian]

How about a Saab 900 turbo, or even a 9000 Aero.

Beaten to it.

Edited by xstian on Wednesday 26th November 16:22

[Noble P4]

Try a few different models before you decide, there was some fast but crap stuff sold in that era. Local enthusiasts should be more than happy to show you the ropes. I bought a R5 GT turbo in auction (main dealer part ex) to see what the fuss was about...despite being a Renault it was one of the most entertaining cars I've owned, can you stretch your budget?

[DanielJames]

Gotta be a Lancia Delta. They were actually pretty reliable, a guy from work's family had one from new and ran it close to 200k miles without much of a hiccup. Even had the original turbo!

[nitrodave]

got to be a jap turbo if you want to crank up the boost.

I've had lots of fun with toyota and nissan turbos and they all seem to take 50% more power with little much needed.

My favourite is the mr2 rev3+ turbo. You can pick one up for £2kish in good condition and the they have the best setup from factory. Metal head gaskets, ct20b turbo can take over a bar of boost and will push 300bhp, they have map sensors and no maf and the ecu adapts to anything you want. a standard car, with less than £500 spent on it will see 0-60 times under 4.5 seconds

[vtecyo]

nitrodave said:

My favourite is the mr2 rev3+ turbo. You can pick one up for £2kish in good condition and the they have the best setup from factory. Metal head gaskets, ct20b turbo can take over a bar of boost and will push 300bhp, they have map sensors and no maf and the ecu adapts to anything you want. a standard car, with less than £500 spent on it will see 0-60 times under 4.5 seconds

This. Can't think of an easier, more reliable way to 300bhp for the same money.

[s m]

DanielJames said:

Gotta be a Lancia Delta. They were actually pretty reliable, a guy from work's family had one from new and ran it close to 200k miles without much of a hiccup. Even had the original turbo!

Back in the 80s/90s a good mate had 2 fwd HF Turbos

They were both pretty reliable compared to the hot Stradas that preceded them ( 105 then 130 ) and definitely more reliable than the Integrale that followed the front wheel drive HFs
The first HF had the really skinny 165s and would 4-wheel drift all of a piece in high speed bends. We had some great drives through Wales to the coast - he upped the power on the second one until it laughed in the face of E30 325s ( a quick car at the time ) - I reckon it was about 160/165bhp - very quick

[AmiableChimp]

Not a small hatch but what about either a Rover 620ti or Renault 21 Quadra?

[R33dk]

Charade gti
Ep82 gt turbo ( quad headlight )
Glanza
Micra super turbo (super rare )
Not a hatch but Suzuki cappuccino ?
Again not a hatch but mx5 bbr turbo

Not a turbo but a Mitsubishi colt cyborg (1.6 mivec 170bhp give or take)

And well honda ek9 type r ( sir)

Experience with all of these and amazing fun

[R33dk]

Not jap but what about a rover tomcat ?

[Slow]

I had the same plan.

Friend got a R5 turbo, I couldnt afford one.
Ended up with a cherry turbo.

Very box shaped, no abs, brakes the size of a mopeds, no power steering, doors shake at 70mph, but over 150bhp and will match a astra vxr to 100mph or so.

Barely had to touch it since the turbo rebuild, knew it was needed soon when bought it.

[Veeayt]

Always liked this JDM thing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_City_%28AA%29#C...

[likesachange]

I recon the charade gtti (yes gtti) would be heaps of fun being so light and a claimed 7.7 0-60. But not sure how readily available parts would be.

Exclusivety win for me

[BlueEyedBoy]

Punto GT - maybe it's rose tinted specs from my youth, but I used to love that car. Foot down in 3rd at 30, nothing, nothing, nothing, full boost, wheelspin and off like a rocket ship. Also had some mod cons like electric sunroof and was very reliable in the 3 years I had it.

If you fancy going a little bigger, I have a 9-3 aero hot I have not been bothered to sell in my barn for 4 months. Had a new clutch and slave etc, steering pump less than 500 miles ago and all new computer and heating display as I hated the fact a couple of pixels had gone.. Has fully adjustable koni's and abbott motorsport ecu. In terms of speed, nothing much within reason would touch it. I have owed it 8 years and could never find anything I wanted to replace it for. Z4M finally swayed me.

If I knew it was going to a good home and hassle free sale etc it might be an option for you.

[wildcat45]

Yamahadivvyrider said:

Mazda 323. Gtx 4wd turbo

Edited by Yamahadivvyrider on Wednesday 26th November 13:31

Beat me to it. But are there any left?

How about a Renault Fuego Turbo?

[Type R Tom]

Not a hatch (as such) but you can get 2 bikes in the back of a S13 200sx with the seats down.