Four-seat fun - suggestions?
Discussion
It's possible that I'll have to swap the TVR for something a bit more practical next year. I'm also looking to economise a bit, so the budget won't be huge, say, £5k. This is pipe dreaming at this stage, but what would people suggest as a fun car with four-seats?
It doesn't need to accommodate a fully grown adult in the back, but it must have a proper lap and diagonal belt with enough room for a baby seat.
I would prefer something a bit different and I tend to go for sports cars or coupes in preference to hot hatches, but I'm open to suggestions.
Always talked about getting a Lotus Excel, so that's definitely on the list (although good ones seem to have doubled in price since I last looked, so maybe not!) I've had a couple of front-engined Porsches already, but wouldn't rule out another if the deeply dished rear seats allowed a baby seat. Also tempted by any Impreza, although that feels more like a daily driver than a weekend toy.
It doesn't need to accommodate a fully grown adult in the back, but it must have a proper lap and diagonal belt with enough room for a baby seat.
I would prefer something a bit different and I tend to go for sports cars or coupes in preference to hot hatches, but I'm open to suggestions.
Always talked about getting a Lotus Excel, so that's definitely on the list (although good ones seem to have doubled in price since I last looked, so maybe not!) I've had a couple of front-engined Porsches already, but wouldn't rule out another if the deeply dished rear seats allowed a baby seat. Also tempted by any Impreza, although that feels more like a daily driver than a weekend toy.
jamieduff1981 said:
Buy clothes from ASDA and upgrade Chimaera to Cerbera 
If only. And yes, I guess I could do what my parents did and get a Tasmin 2+2.
200SX is a good shout, although like you say it comes down to finding one that's not been slammed and boosted to a million horsepower.
The M3 is an interesting one. I know it's a brilliant car and I'm sure I'd be won over if I actually drove one, but I've always found it difficult to get excited about saloon-based coupes. Don't get me wrong, I realise the M3 is a very different prospect to a normal 3-Series (not that I'd say no to a good 328i Coupe) but I see it more as a daily driver. I'd prefer something a bit more leftfield.
It's a shame ... I can remember when an Integrale Evo 2 would have been in-budget.
I realise this is outwardly a contradiction to my M3 comments, but I do quite like the idea of an MG ZT 260. Again, it's a question of whether the purchase and running costs make sense. While I say it's intended as a weekend toy the idea is to use it for work trips and things like that too.
What's the going rate for a 4th gen Camaro over here? Not a fan of the styling or the LHD layout, but the concept sounds quite amusing.
Edited by Chris71 on Monday 22 December 13:54
Chris71 said:
What's the going rate for a 4th gen Camaro over here? Not a fan of the styling or the LHD layout, but the concept sounds quite amusing.
Other than petrol, running costs are generally low - the engine is unstressed and the mechanical parts are umm tried and tested?
balls-out said:
I paid £3k for mine - 6sp manual V8. for that money you are talking Lt1 engined. Later post face lift have the Corvette LS1 motor which makes more bhp, but you will need a bit more cash.
Other than petrol, running costs are generally low - the engine is unstressed and the mechanical parts are umm tried and tested?
£3k? That's pretty tempting.Other than petrol, running costs are generally low - the engine is unstressed and the mechanical parts are umm tried and tested?
The bhp-per-dollar you can get with LS/LT/Small Block engines is just insane. I go to a couple of the US trade shows with work and you can buy a 500 bhp crate engine for about $5,000. If only the same applied to Rover V8s over here ... even considered an LS-conversion for the Chimaera when it blew up.
Chris71 said:
It's possible that I'll have to swap the TVR for something a bit more practical next year. I'm also looking to economise a bit, so the budget won't be huge, say, £5k. This is pipe dreaming at this stage, but what would people suggest as a fun car with four-seats?
It doesn't need to accommodate a fully grown adult in the back, but it must have a proper lap and diagonal belt with enough room for a baby seat.
I would prefer something a bit different and I tend to go for sports cars or coupes in preference to hot hatches, but I'm open to suggestions.
Always talked about getting a Lotus Excel, so that's definitely on the list (although good ones seem to have doubled in price since I last looked, so maybe not!) I've had a couple of front-engined Porsches already, but wouldn't rule out another if the deeply dished rear seats allowed a baby seat. Also tempted by any Impreza, although that feels more like a daily driver than a weekend toy.
What about n/a mk4 Toyota Supra? It will offer the same performance as 968 and it has proper inline 6 engine. With suspension refresh and a new exhaust it is hood to drive AND its is good car to own. Back seats are practical enough for your purpose.It doesn't need to accommodate a fully grown adult in the back, but it must have a proper lap and diagonal belt with enough room for a baby seat.
I would prefer something a bit different and I tend to go for sports cars or coupes in preference to hot hatches, but I'm open to suggestions.
Always talked about getting a Lotus Excel, so that's definitely on the list (although good ones seem to have doubled in price since I last looked, so maybe not!) I've had a couple of front-engined Porsches already, but wouldn't rule out another if the deeply dished rear seats allowed a baby seat. Also tempted by any Impreza, although that feels more like a daily driver than a weekend toy.
SZR would be the best pick cos it has LSD, ABS and better (bilstein) suspension as an standard equipments. Those bilsteins are cheap to service and in general there is a huge amount of aftermarket parts available for supra.
james_gt3rs said:
Impreza?
Definite possibility. Considered getting one of these as a daily driver recently. To be honest the only thing that stopped is that it took ages to get round to sorting a couple of niggles on my current car.LasseV said:
What about n/a mk4 Toyota Supra? It will offer the same performance as 968 and it has proper inline 6 engine. With suspension refresh and a new exhaust it is hood to drive AND its is good car to own. Back seats are practical enough for your purpose.
Now there's an interesting thought. Certainly one to consider, although I wonder if I'd end up wishing I had the turbo? Coincidentally, the one thing I don't like about the 968 is the rather dull four-cylinder engine, so a nice six would be quite an interesting proposition.I do like the more leftfield Japanese cars - Colt Starion and Celica GT4 spring to mind now you mention the Supra. I presume AE86s are way out of budget now?
Chris71 said:
Always talked about getting a Lotus Excel, so that's definitely on the list
Guess what i was going to suggest?The back seats are very usable.
Head room is retricted (wouldnt want to be 6 foot) but leg room is good.
I can sit behind my own driving position comfortably. Im 5'10".
Ive had mine since early september. Everything works except the clock and the drivers electric window switch which packed up last week due to me not fixing another niggle (the switch stuck)
I paid £5k for mine from a Lotus Specialist. Having looked around i got a very good deal. Engine is sweet and its just had a full (albeit cheap) respray.
Would deffo recommend an rx8!
Bought an 04 231 for 1900 quid, costs me £20 pound to do 70/80 miles with spirited driving.
The sound is addictive, the handling is great fun (although i ended up in a roundabout in my last one) and get a lot of equipment for not much money.
Mine is currently sitting on 115k miles.
Bought an 04 231 for 1900 quid, costs me £20 pound to do 70/80 miles with spirited driving.
The sound is addictive, the handling is great fun (although i ended up in a roundabout in my last one) and get a lot of equipment for not much money.
Mine is currently sitting on 115k miles.
Chris71 said:
although I wonder if I'd end up wishing I had the turbo?
Well, luckily financial side of things does resolve your question 
They are damn expensive......More seriously speaking, of course it depends what you want from a car. Do you want to have GTR killer performance (and a car which sometimes try to kill you too) or do you want to have a more traditional sports car which is very enjoyable/safe to drive in twisties. However, even n/a Supra is a very dramatic car to drive. All that noise and looks and low driving position etc etc.
Edit: Yeah, AE86 could be a too expensive. It's a nice car tho. GT4 celica would be a great choice also, but i personally prefer rwd.
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