Desperate need for some rwd suggestions

[nashteck]

I had a 944 turbo cab with a dyno proven 417 bhp and it was lots more fun than my 996tt running 520 bhp .
Also had maserati 3200gt and a z3m coupe at the same time both very slidey lol .
7

[gavin18787]

Another vote for the gt86.

Cheap to run
Easy to work on
Plenty of mods for when you get bored of the power
Lots of toys, great driving position and space. (I'm 6ft plus and can get me and bike in it with ease)
Don't think I have had a car that makes me smile as much as this one. Often find myself chuckling to myself on a good quite road/roundabout.

Take it for a good drive as they are under whelming at first due to the relatively low power. But find a good road and give it a boot up the revs and the fun starts.

They don't feel slow until you compare it to other cars and go on big open tracks etc. But then the modding begins if needed.
Although I came from a 300 bhp plus civic type r and haven't felt the need to mod yet!

[g8ape]

gavin18787 said:

Another vote for the gt86.

Cheap to run
Easy to work on
Plenty of mods for when you get bored of the power
Lots of toys, great driving position and space. (I'm 6ft plus and can get me and bike in it with ease)
Don't think I have had a car that makes me smile as much as this one. Often find myself chuckling to myself on a good quite road/roundabout.

Take it for a good drive as they are under whelming at first due to the relatively low power. But find a good road and give it a boot up the revs and the fun starts.

They don't feel slow until you compare it to other cars and go on big open tracks etc. But then the modding begins if needed.
Although I came from a 300 bhp plus civic type r and haven't felt the need to mod yet!

Thank you all good points well made! Am going to try and drive one this week...

[g8ape]

nashteck said:

I had a 944 turbo cab with a dyno proven 417 bhp and it was lots more fun than my 996tt running 520 bhp .
Also had maserati 3200gt and a z3m coupe at the same time both very slidey lol .
7

I do look for good 944's every now and then, good call thank you! Think I prefer the styling of the Z3M to the Z4M, Im probably in a minority group though...

Maserati 3200 I have driven they don't speak to me really apart from big future bills maybe..!

[V8RX7]

£50 finders fee for the perfect car:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-CAPRI-5-7-V8-T5-MAN...

Or a slower Auto:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Capri-Mk3-V8-/12200...

[g8ape]

V8RX7 said:

£50 finders fee for the perfect car:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-CAPRI-5-7-V8-T5-MAN...

Or a slower Auto:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Capri-Mk3-V8-/12200...

Thanks I do like the manual, T5 gear box helps a lot I was quite surprised by papercups american box hassles.
£50 finders fee sounds cheap I would of asked for more

[sce7gk]

Had a very similar dilemma myself and 2 years ago I bought this

Lotus Elan +2 (Spyder Zetec Modified)

My logic...
Depreciation proof
Easy and cheap to work on
4 seats
No tax
Cheap insurance
200bhp/tonne
30mpg
Beautiful (to my eyes)
Brilliant RWD Chassis

[ATM]

g8ape said:

I was quite surprised by papercups american box hassles.

Mine box is fine. It's the same box used on Monaros. What hassles did he have?

[rallycross]

sce7gk said:

Had a very similar dilemma myself and 2 years ago I bought this

Lotus Elan +2 (Spyder Zetec Modified)


Beautiful (to my eyes)
Brilliant RWD Chassis

that is beautiful!

[sce7gk]

rallycross said:

that is beautiful!

Cheers

I absolutely love it and it's perfect for my needs at the moment, it's my daily drive and I've done nearly 20k miles in the last 2 years, steadily improving and upgrading as i go. The modern engine and throttle body injection make it plenty reliable.

But I totally get the OPs desire to chop and change cars, I would like to say it's a keeper but with so many cars out there to experience there is always temptation round the corner.

If I wasn't driving this at the moment then I would be looking for e34 M5, 944 Turbo or 968. 911s are too much money for me now days and while I love TVRs I just couldn't stomach the mpg.

240z or a sporty Alfa 105 (GTA style) would also be high on my list

[g8ape]

sce7gk said:

Cheers

I absolutely love it and it's perfect for my needs at the moment, it's my daily drive and I've done nearly 20k miles in the last 2 years, steadily improving and upgrading as i go. The modern engine and throttle body injection make it plenty reliable.

But I totally get the OPs desire to chop and change cars, I would like to say it's a keeper but with so many cars out there to experience there is always temptation round the corner.

If I wasn't driving this at the moment then I would be looking for e34 M5, 944 Turbo or 968. 911s are too much money for me now days and while I love TVRs I just couldn't stomach the mpg.

240z or a sporty Alfa 105 (GTA style) would also be high on my list

I hadn't considered one, it looks great! The E34 M5 is a truly great car I highly rate them, when I was doing significant travel for work it made every journey special, as did a Mercedes C43AMG Estate, I remember getting lost when my sat nav died on a trip back from Turnberry to Durham it was unbelievably good on tight twisty sheep dodging roads, not as pure as the M5 but still great & you can get a washing machine in the back without folding the rear seats!

Todays searches -
Lotus Elise S2.
Caterham SV.
TVR Tuscan, Cerebra & Chimaera.
Monaro.
BMW M5, M3, M6 & Z4M.
Mazda MX5.
Jeeps you know about.
Toyota Land Cruiser, Hilux & Supra.
Various large engined American junk.
Trawling eBay & Piston Heads unfinished projects.
Ultimas.
Subaru Legacy estate.
Lexus IS300 sportcross.
Land & Range Rovers.
BMW 325ti compact.
Ginetta G40.
Some obscure Jensen.
Brabus Smart & coupe.
Mercedes SLK 55 AMG.
Triumph Vitesse.
Triumph TR6.

I am no further forward to buying another car, automotive failure to launch...

[g8ape]

ATM said:

Mine box is fine. It's the same box used on Monaros. What hassles did he have?

IIRC the ratios negated 1st gear, but I think that could have been a diff ratio issue as well, apparently the selection was slow and iffy/vague. I know theres a danger in reading and deciding v's actually driving but papercup's thread is very detailed and he seems a very accomplished driver and has commissioned many mods.

[g8ape]

ATM said:

Mine box is fine. It's the same box used on Monaros. What hassles did he have?

Just remembered I test drove a new Monaro years ago and I didn't notice anything sloppy about the gearbox... there you go I am guilty of believing what I read more than my own experience... I had a really notchy awkward LT77 box on my TVR Griffith and spent ages swopping in a Tuscan T5 gearbox and all the resultant speedo drive issues, then drove a friends Griffith with a LT77 box and it wasn't far off the quality of the T5, another friend had one and the shift was also horrible that convinced me to change. "Time spent in reconnaissance is rarely wasted'

[wjb]

g8ape said:

I must go and sit in an RX8 as I liked the look from when they 1st came out, those the 1st TT's and GT86/BRZ's are the only things in recent years that Ive liked the look of.

Give an RX8 a try, superb car, as long as you choose wisely.

[g8ape]

wjb said:

Give an RX8 a try, superb car, as long as you choose wisely.

I will, thanks! They are exceptionally good value/well priced because of the 'fear factor' I imagine. I believe its post 2010 cars that are less problematic?

[wjb]

g8ape said:

I will, thanks! They are exceptionally good value/well priced because of the 'fear factor' I imagine. I believe its post 2010 cars that are less problematic?

Yes the latest R3 model would be considered the most user friendly, but then obviously dearest to buy.

I own an '06 PZ, they do need to be well looked after and aren't great on fuel, there's no getting away from that, but they are such a rewarding drive it's worth it.

[g8ape]

wjb said:

Yes the latest R3 model would be considered the most user friendly, but then obviously dearest to buy.

I own an '06 PZ, they do need to be well looked after and aren't great on fuel, there's no getting away from that, but they are such a rewarding drive it's worth it.

Ok thanks, I don't do enough miles to worry about mpg so thats good, would an 05 be just as good as an 06 just thinking of road tax?

[wjb]

g8ape said:

Ok thanks, I don't do enough miles to worry about mpg so thats good, would an 05 be just as good as an 06 just thinking of road tax?

I think 55 or maybe early '06 is the low band, cars will be same as high band, apart from the special editions.

I wanted a PZ which is higher tax band, due to it's rarity (only 800 made) and factory upgrades over the standard car.

[g8ape]

wjb said:

I think 55 or maybe early '06 is the low band, cars will be same as high band, apart from the special editions.

I wanted a PZ which is higher tax band, due to it's rarity (only 800 made) and factory upgrades over the standard car.

Thanks again! Im not familiar with the special editions I will do some research. Is the PZ the one to have?

[g8ape]

wjb said:

I think 55 or maybe early '06 is the low band, cars will be same as high band, apart from the special editions.

I wanted a PZ which is higher tax band, due to it's rarity (only 800 made) and factory upgrades over the standard car.

Found this as a start.

http://www.theaa.com/allaboutcars/cartestreports/2...

I had seen 231 bhp cars but the PZ hadn't registered.