Fastest you can go for £3500

[DavidJG]

Not sure if possible any more, but you might find a high mileage 944 S2 for that money.

Comfortably sub-7 0-60, good top speed - honestly can't remember what it is, but outside the autobahn you'll never get close to it.

Oh, and still looks good and handles brilliantly.

What's not to like?

[egor110]

DavidJG said:

Not sure if possible any more, but you might find a high mileage 944 S2 for that money.

Comfortably sub-7 0-60, good top speed - honestly can't remember what it is, but outside the autobahn you'll never get close to it.

Oh, and still looks good and handles brilliantly.

What's not to like?

I'd be interested how the Porsche fared on a b road against a Clio 172/182.

The Porsche is slower to 60 and its weighs more.

What sort of condition would a £3500 Porsche need, even the Porsche beards would say beware at that end of the market.

[Mr_D]

Again, depends what you need the car for. Impreza of some variety would be great, good luck getting a decent classic within your budget though.

What about a Revision 3 onwards MR2 Turbo? 2.0 Turbo (3SGTE) lump is highly tunable and reliable if looked after. Loved mine, and the acceleration was awesome, handled well too.

EP3 Type R would be a sensible shout too. K20 engine is a gem, quite cheap just now too.

[DavidJG]

egor110 said:

DavidJG said:

Not sure if possible any more, but you might find a high mileage 944 S2 for that money.

Comfortably sub-7 0-60, good top speed - honestly can't remember what it is, but outside the autobahn you'll never get close to it.

Oh, and still looks good and handles brilliantly.

What's not to like?

I'd be interested how the Porsche fared on a b road against a Clio 172/182.

The Porsche is slower to 60 and its weighs more.

What sort of condition would a £3500 Porsche need, even the Porsche beards would say beware at that end of the market.

Best figures I've found suggest:

944S2 0-60: 6.5s

Clio 172: 0-60 6.7s

Clio 182: 0-60 6.9s

So not much in it there.

Definitely beware at that end of the market. However, the 944 is very tough mechanically. Biggest issue is body rot, usually at the base of the B pillar. A well driven 944 S2 is still very effective on twisty roads / tracks. I'd be surprised if the Clio would keep up with someone who wasn't worried about speed limits / getting caught by plod.

[Bradley1500]

TiminYorkshire said:

Bradley1500 said:

Got to be a Jaguar XJR.

5.3 seconds to 60MPH with 370BHP and limited to 155MPH. I don’t think you’ll go quicker for this money unless you’re considering bikes and kit cars.

Great cars, I had one (supposedly with a different pulley on the supercharger set up)and do miss it. On a long run (Slovakia and back)at 90-140 leptons it averaged 23 mpg, around the houses it averaged 17 mpg.

Unfortunately I haven’t had the opportunity to own one, my experience is courtesy of my dad’s car. It had some modifications to around 400BHP, it was great surprising people who just thought it was an old Jaguar.

The 0-60 time is especially fast when you consider the weight of the car and that it is hampered by an automatic gearbox. Once moving that’s where I feel they’re properly fast.

techniques said:

However, Civic type r. EP3.

200bhp. 0-60mph = 6.8

30mpg.

Reliable Honda. Cheap parts/repairs compared to Mercedes/Beamers people are recommending.

I'm at the same budget and it is what I will be going for Early next year.

These are a good suggestion. Mine – admittedly modified – has hit 160MPH which is amazing for a hot-hatchback of this era.

Again the 0-60 time will be hampered because it’s FWD, 0-100 is around 16 seconds which gives a better indication of its speed.

[tejr]

Poopipe said:

Classic impreza sti

for top speed get an sti, for acceleration get an sti-ra

Youll undoubtedly find something with a higher top speed but you're very unlikely to find something that will reach it as readily.

Had a go with a few Impreza's at Shakespeare raceway, they come off the line quick but slow down pretty quick too. Must be the big wing and bonnet scoop.

I was able to make a terminal speed of 106mph, which was on average 7-8mph faster than the Impreza's.

I was in a sub £4k 200SX s14 with some minor tuning (approx 270bhp)

[R8Steve]

DavidJG said:

egor110 said:

DavidJG said:

Not sure if possible any more, but you might find a high mileage 944 S2 for that money.

Comfortably sub-7 0-60, good top speed - honestly can't remember what it is, but outside the autobahn you'll never get close to it.

Oh, and still looks good and handles brilliantly.

What's not to like?

I'd be interested how the Porsche fared on a b road against a Clio 172/182.

The Porsche is slower to 60 and its weighs more.

What sort of condition would a £3500 Porsche need, even the Porsche beards would say beware at that end of the market.

Best figures I've found suggest:

944S2 0-60: 6.5s

Clio 172: 0-60 6.7s

Clio 182: 0-60 6.9s

So not much in it there.

Definitely beware at that end of the market. However, the 944 is very tough mechanically. Biggest issue is body rot, usually at the base of the B pillar. A well driven 944 S2 is still very effective on twisty roads / tracks. I'd be surprised if the Clio would keep up with someone who wasn't worried about speed limits / getting caught by plod.

A porsche 944 S2 was left way behind at knockhill by my clio 182 and many others. It was well driven, it just couldn't keep with them at all.

[Bradley1500]

Mitsubishi GTO Twin Turbo may be worth a look.

0-60 in 5.2 seconds and once you’ve taken off the Japanese speed limiter they should see 160MPH+. Plus being a turbo there's potential of a lot more power should you want it.

The prices are rising but currently £3.5K should bag a good one.

[neil-935ql]

R8Steve said:

A porsche 944 S2 was left way behind at knockhill by my clio 182 and many others. It was well driven, it just couldn't keep with them at all.

I agree , might not be everyone's cup of tea but a Clio 172/182 is a proper hot hatch and well capable of mixing it on B roads with bigger more expensive cars , interior quality lets it down a bit , but never put me off

[pti]

MR2 Turbo. 300bhp easily achievable with bolt ons (Rev 3) and only weighs around 1250 kg.

Biased opinion

[layercake]

folks what would be a good base car to get customized by the likes of compressor racing? I was close to buying their e55 beast but snoozed and lost out

[R8Steve]

layercake said:

folks what would be a good base car to get customized by the likes of compressor racing? I was close to buying their e55 beast but snoozed and lost out

A turbocharged one?

[BuzzBravado]

pti said:

MR2 Turbo. 300bhp easily achievable with bolt ons (Rev 3) and only weighs around 1250 kg.

Biased opinion

From personal experience even the Rev3 starts to lift at the front about 140mph+

[egor110]

neil-935ql said:

I agree , might not be everyone's cup of tea but a Clio 172/182 is a proper hot hatch and well capable of mixing it on B roads with bigger more expensive cars , interior quality lets it down a bit , but never put me off

At a maximum of £3500 I'd be looking at mainstream makes like renault Clio or the Honda civic r type because parts are cheaper, there are no tired old turbos that replacing.

I got a Clio 172 cup for £1400 for that you get essentially a factory track car.

No aircon, no abs, thinner glass to get the cars weight down to just over 1000kg and wider axles front and back for better stability.

I've often wondered what I'd replace it with for a budget of £5000 and a Subaru wrx or Nissan 350z would be my choices.

Both do 0-60 in 5.7 ones four wheel drive and turbo charged the others a v6 rear wheel drive with more torque.

Not sure what condition wrx your £3500 would actually get you through.

[andy-xr]

Fastest you can go for £3500 and we're offering up Clios and Mondeos? The fk happened to this place?

OP - you need either a big engine or a big turbo'd engine. Ideally both, but that might not happen.

4.2 S Type @ £3995 negotiable http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jaguar-S-Type-4-2-V8-6-S...

Skyline for under £3k; http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1995-NISSAN-skyline-r33-...

Mitsubishi Airtech (Evo engine) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-MITSUBISHI-AIRTREK-...

Phaeton; http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volkswagen-Phaeton-3-2-V...

Capra R; http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-SEAT-LEON-CUPRA-R-B...

S4; http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-S4-Avant-2-7-Quattr...

[CorvetteConvert]

Gotta be an old Scooby I reckon for that price.

[Prof Prolapse]

BuzzBravado said:

pti said:

MR2 Turbo. 300bhp easily achievable with bolt ons (Rev 3) and only weighs around 1250 kg.

Biased opinion

From personal experience even the Rev3 starts to lift at the front about 140mph+

I had one running at 290bhp.

fking terrifying when the front end went light. Part of the reason I sold it.

Great car, but really difficult to use the power.

[Cyder]

I bought my 350Z for £3800. ~280bhp, 0-60 in 5.8 seconds.

[egor110]

Those are going to be fked, there's a reason there cheap there on their last legs.

Anyone can search eBay for a fast car in budget some of us are more realistic as to getting something reliable.

Also somebody set get a sti, where are you going to get a sti for £3500 that's not about to die,hence the low price.

[Joeguard1990]

RX8 (I own one) isn't as quick when compared to the others.
You'll constantly get spanked by TDIs and hot hatches in a straight line.
They shine in the corners though and that's what these are all about.
Your budget would get you a non-runner for around £800 and an engine rebuild for £2-3K.