What Weekend Car - 20k Budget
Discussion
RS4 Convertible? Still has plenty of power (420bhp) but is something a little different being AWD and convertible... As for it's rarity, I'm not too sure how many are out there but I certainly don't see many convertible manuals around.
One for sale
&
PH B7 RS4 Buying Guide
One for sale
&
PH B7 RS4 Buying Guide
rb5er said:
You also think a Corvette will be as dependable and cheap to run as a Focus???
I like them alot but struggle very much to think that parts, tyres, brakes, fuel, insurance prices are at all comparable.
Parts, yes very likely. Tyres... depends on size/brand. Fuel, suspect a Vette is better than a 5 pot ST. But who said anything about fuel costs, think you are just being ultra difficult on purpose and as usual.I like them alot but struggle very much to think that parts, tyres, brakes, fuel, insurance prices are at all comparable.
Edited by rb5er on Friday 6th May 10:49
pilchard8 said:
A TVR has always been a heart choice but then my head says get something reliable. I will have another look into them.
Five and a half years and 20k miles with a Chimaera 500, first three years it sat outside, driven all year round, never broken down/left me stranded, every drive is an event 
300bhp/ton said:
Parts, yes very likely. Tyres... depends on size/brand. Fuel, suspect a Vette is better than a 5 pot ST. But who said anything about fuel costs, think you are just being ultra difficult on purpose and as usual.
if you think a Corvette will average a true 26mpg then you must be mad and yes fuel is a running cost. Parts will definitely cost more as will tyres.You think I'm the one being difficult? Pot, kettle etc. I'm just refuting the ridiculous.
rb5er said:
I can tell by your comments that you have neither driven nor been in an Evo 9 fq360 nor an RB5.
yawn....rb5er said:
I find both just as thrilling as my friends Cerbera and another friend that has an ISF and a Porsche 997 Turbo regrets ever selling his evo and loves my RB5.
I know you have an RB5, and as it's also your username, it is a big hint you are a fan, and likely to be somewhat biased.I don't have an RB5, but I do have an Impreza Turbo, with a few mods on, as well as other cars. So I'm not commenting from a point of ignorance, but a direct comparison of vehicles I own today.
I have no hate for Impreza's or RB5's, but I can tell you, I find such cars less fun than others. I believe this is MY opinion, which I'm entitled too. If you don't, then that is fine. But we are not likely comparing the same thing to the same thing.
And unless your RB5 is heavily modified it is 98%+ the same as my Impreza anyhow. The RB5 had stitching on the seats, some badges, a different boot spoiler, 17" alloys and a different colour. And that's about it, they are a UK Turbo 2000 otherwise.
The Prodrive kits where a handling package, I forget what it included, shocks/springs, ARB's maybe.
And the power kit which was exhaust and ECU tuning to 237hp.
Both optional, although most RB5's have 1 or both of them. Both kits where however available for the regular T2000 also.
Neither of these kits however dramatically alter the feel and characteristic of the car. They just make it a little faster and a bit tauter.
rb5er said:
On paper yes the RB5 is just a tweaked 2000turbo with lots of trim changes but they drive a fair bit differently and feel far more special to look at or sit in. All the little details add up to quite a big difference.
Yes they are lovely, no disagreeing from me. But there are cars which I enjoy driving a LOT more. --- which I can of feel is part of what the op is after.Trundling about, even semi briskly, but at low revs, this is not a hugely fun seat:
The interior is grey, the steering is power assisted and nothing to write home about at these speeds, the seating is very upright. The engine is flat at 2500rpm or under. Even with aftermarket exhaust the engine doesn't make much of a rumble at lower rpm. The view over the bonnet isn't all that special.
It's just an ordinary Japanese saloon or hatch feeling car at these speeds. Because that is exactly what it is.
Open it up, use the revs, the grip, get the 4wd working and they come alive, but you will always be at illegal speeds.
A low slung sports car with feet out in front of you, driving position, will and does feel far more special. From the moment you get in it.
Interesting interiors (MK1 Elise, TVR's) will all feel a lot more special just to sit in.
And rumbly exhausts from big Vee engines, just have something about them.
I like my Impreza, it is a good car. But for entertainment value it is a long way behind my Triumph V8, my Camaro and even my Roadster. They are vastly more grin inducing cars and will make you smile everytime you drive them. This just isn't true of the Subaru.
I'm not even suggesting the OP should get an RB5. Its irrelevant but you talking as an owner of the lowest powered turbo impreza as if you think they are all the same is like comparing a perfectly cooked fillet steak from a reknowned butcher to some crappy sirloin from Asda.
The seats and door cards are indeed trimmed in blue alcantara, the dials are different with brushed look surround and a WR sport motif, the silver trim also extends around the heater controls etc, the numbered plaque shows its not just a standard impreza but a tribute to a rally legend. The one you have posted a pic of has a hideous gearknob and stereo which actually makes quite a difference to the look of any car. It has 30bhp over yours as standard (the difference of this alone is over 1 second to 60mph and 2 seconds to 100mph) and mine has an extra 30bhp over that. The prodrive exhaust makes a lovely noise even just at idle and the rest of the car looks and feels more special with the prodrive wing and speedline alloys.
Howsabout this: post pics of your impreza inside and out as flattering as you can get and I will do likewise and it will be obvious for all to see why I think mine is something special (as do all the reviews) and you think yours is a shed. They really are very different and if you don't think so then you will be happy to prove me wrong with this little test purely on the aesthetics. The fact that they are quite different to drive can be looked at by the statistics and reviews.
As you said you are entitled to your opinion but if you have no actual experience of the cars you are criticising then your opinion it really just meaningless. You seem to think that no car based on an ordinary hatchback or saloon can be at all special but this is simply not true. Some cars based on modest underpinnings can be faster and more fun than some cars designed from the start to be that way, whether you agree or not.
You yawn at the evo9 fq360 again having never driven one which is just ridiculous. Drive one and you will find no part of it is mundane, its an absolute animal.
Edit: Just looked at your garage, what a load of s
t. Only imo of course although I have actually been in a Camaro and Smart roadster and know they are cack. The defender which I have also driven does have some appeal offroad but is awful on it. You could have a couple of decent cars for the cost of that lot of sheds surely?
The seats and door cards are indeed trimmed in blue alcantara, the dials are different with brushed look surround and a WR sport motif, the silver trim also extends around the heater controls etc, the numbered plaque shows its not just a standard impreza but a tribute to a rally legend. The one you have posted a pic of has a hideous gearknob and stereo which actually makes quite a difference to the look of any car. It has 30bhp over yours as standard (the difference of this alone is over 1 second to 60mph and 2 seconds to 100mph) and mine has an extra 30bhp over that. The prodrive exhaust makes a lovely noise even just at idle and the rest of the car looks and feels more special with the prodrive wing and speedline alloys.
Howsabout this: post pics of your impreza inside and out as flattering as you can get and I will do likewise and it will be obvious for all to see why I think mine is something special (as do all the reviews) and you think yours is a shed. They really are very different and if you don't think so then you will be happy to prove me wrong with this little test purely on the aesthetics. The fact that they are quite different to drive can be looked at by the statistics and reviews.
As you said you are entitled to your opinion but if you have no actual experience of the cars you are criticising then your opinion it really just meaningless. You seem to think that no car based on an ordinary hatchback or saloon can be at all special but this is simply not true. Some cars based on modest underpinnings can be faster and more fun than some cars designed from the start to be that way, whether you agree or not.
You yawn at the evo9 fq360 again having never driven one which is just ridiculous. Drive one and you will find no part of it is mundane, its an absolute animal.
Edit: Just looked at your garage, what a load of s
t. Only imo of course although I have actually been in a Camaro and Smart roadster and know they are cack. The defender which I have also driven does have some appeal offroad but is awful on it. You could have a couple of decent cars for the cost of that lot of sheds surely? Edited by rb5er on Friday 6th May 12:09
rb5er said:
I'm not even suggesting the OP should get an RB5. Its irrelevant but you talking as an owner of the lowest powered turbo impreza as if you think they are all the same is like comparing a perfectly cooked fillet steak from a reknowned butcher to some crappy sirloin from Asda.
Very well done at taking it way out of proportion and context. I applaud you 
rb5er said:
It has 30bhp over yours as standard
No it doesn't. A stock RB5 has the same power as a stock T2000. The extra power comes from the optional Prodrive package. I know most RB5's had this option, but it was nonetheless an OPTION 
The same option could also be optioned for a T2000. So they could have identical power. But I'm sure you'll stick to your ignorance and ignore this in your normal way
rb5er said:
and mine has an extra 30bhp over that.
So now you are wanting to compare modified to stock, which is fine, so long at you are sensible about it. But it isn't apples to apples is it.rb5er said:
The prodrive exhaust makes a lovely noise even just at idle
What, one of these....
Yes, they are nice. But quiet compared to two of my other cars.
rb5er said:
and the rest of the car looks and feels more special with the prodrive wing and speedline alloys.
Hardly game changing attributes are they.rb5er said:
Howsabout this: post pics of your impreza inside and out as flattering as you can get and I will do likewise and it will be obvious for all to see why I think mine is something special (as do all the reviews) and you think yours is a shed. They really are very different and if you don't think so then you will be happy to prove me wrong with this little test purely on the aesthetics. The fact that they are quite different to drive can be looked at by the statistics and reviews.
An Impreza will drive like an Impreza. Yes more power makes them quicker, different suspension makes them roll less. But ultimately they drive 100% like an Impreza, you cannot avoid this.The driving position and seating position is also completely unaltered. So at 30mph, they will be identical to drive. And even at 9/10th's they will and are very similar.
rb5er said:
As you said you are entitled to your opinion but if you have no actual experience of the cars you are criticising then your opinion it really just meaningless.
You really are far too much hard work.I own 4 'sporty' cars, including an Impreza Turbo. The Impreza is the least fun. I've been in many other Impreza's and Evo's. Prodrive, JDM, modified, stock.
I can see why you don't rate it massively. You do have the most depressing version of a 2000turbo. Perfect for farm duties though.
Funny though how none of your "sporty cars" seem to list in any reviewers favourites but hey I guess everyone is entitled to hold any silly opinion they like.
It is still very obvious you have no experience of an RB5 PPP or an evo9 fq360 though.
Camaro & Smart Roadster
Funny though how none of your "sporty cars" seem to list in any reviewers favourites but hey I guess everyone is entitled to hold any silly opinion they like.
It is still very obvious you have no experience of an RB5 PPP or an evo9 fq360 though.
Camaro & Smart Roadster
A good Cerbera is a very fine thing indeed.
A Chimaera would also be a very fine car - but the two are _nothing_ like each other to drive despite sharing some styling similarities externally, so I'd strongly encourage you look at these, and go visit a reputable dealer some day for a look at a few examples. Don't assume that if you test drive a Chimaera you've got a vague idea of what a Cerbera is like or vice versa.
A Chimaera would also be a very fine car - but the two are _nothing_ like each other to drive despite sharing some styling similarities externally, so I'd strongly encourage you look at these, and go visit a reputable dealer some day for a look at a few examples. Don't assume that if you test drive a Chimaera you've got a vague idea of what a Cerbera is like or vice versa.
swerni said:
I've been running one for over 4 years now
My annual service and MOT bill is just shy of £350.
Insurance is circa £500 but mine is a modified Z06 ( 564bhp) and has business cover.
Tyres are ruinous on mine as the rears are 325's
4 years of depreciation = 0.
Fuel costs = depends on miles, but this is a weekend car so low
If you looked and spending 20K on a Focus, over 4 years factoring all the costs including depreciation ( which is the killer) probably not much in it.
Agreed depreciation is a big hitter but this can only be compared like for like.My annual service and MOT bill is just shy of £350.
Insurance is circa £500 but mine is a modified Z06 ( 564bhp) and has business cover.
Tyres are ruinous on mine as the rears are 325's
4 years of depreciation = 0.
Fuel costs = depends on miles, but this is a weekend car so low
If you looked and spending 20K on a Focus, over 4 years factoring all the costs including depreciation ( which is the killer) probably not much in it.
Either both brand new or 10 years old they both either depreciate ££££'s or hardly at all.
Like for like a Focus ST at 10 years old is doing naff all depreciation over the next 3 years just like the Corvette.
I'm sure you don't agree that with this in mind they are really comparable in regards to running costs.
Tyres as you say are a big difference in price and surely so are brake components and mechanical parts.
Don't get me wrong I'd also much rather have a 10 year old Corvette to a 10 year old Focus ST but buying prices and running costs are not really comparable like for like.
rb5er said:
if you think a Corvette will average a true 26mpg then you must be mad and yes fuel is a running cost. Parts will definitely cost more as will tyres.You think I'm the one being difficult? Pot, kettle etc. I'm just refuting the ridiculous.
rb5er said:
I can see why you don't rate it massively. You do have the most depressing version of a 2000turbo. Perfect for farm duties though.
Funny though how none of your "sporty cars" seem to list in any reviewers favourites but hey I guess everyone is entitled to hold any silly opinion they like.
It is still very obvious you have no experience of an RB5 PPP or an evo9 fq360 though.
Camaro & Smart Roadster
I'm done, you are an unreasonable tit.Funny though how none of your "sporty cars" seem to list in any reviewers favourites but hey I guess everyone is entitled to hold any silly opinion they like.
It is still very obvious you have no experience of an RB5 PPP or an evo9 fq360 though.
Camaro & Smart Roadster
DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.
I apologies, I thought it was obvious. Obviously not.First. We are talking about about two classic Impreza's, an RB5 and a 1999 UK T2000.
They are 98%+ the same car.
How can they really feel different? The seats are the same, the steering wheel is the same, the steering column is the same and in the same place, the pedals are the same, they use the same gearbox, same clutch, same gear linkage, the engines are the same, the turbo's are the same, the doors are the same, the chassis/shell is the same, the suspension architecture is the same, the brakes are the same.
And even if all these weren't true (yet they are). The basic drive of one classic Impreza is always going to be very similar to any other classic Impreza. You can't change the general traits and feel of a vehicle, you can only enhance or diminish them to suit different needs and requirements. And it's not as if we are talking base model (1.6 FWD) to competition spec (22b).
Think about it, an Elise will be more different from a Focus than an ST is from a ZeTec. A Range Rover will be different again, as will a TVR, as will a Mustang, as will a Caterham, as will a Bentley Continental GT. All of these off different drives and sensations. However two models in the same line up will only offer a variation on that theme.
jamieduff1981 said:
A good Cerbera is a very fine thing indeed.
A Chimaera would also be a very fine car - but the two are _nothing_ like each other to drive despite sharing some styling similarities externally, so I'd strongly encourage you look at these, and go visit a reputable dealer some day for a look at a few examples. Don't assume that if you test drive a Chimaera you've got a vague idea of what a Cerbera is like or vice versa.
I owned a Chimaera 400 and Cerbera 4.5 back to back and 100% agree. I found the Chimaera more of an event at slow speeds, Cerbera came alive at high speeds/revs and was a lot quicker. Both stored outside, used all year round, and reliable as long as their batteries had charge. Great cars - preferred the Chimaera for the noise (and the fact it was a convertible) and the Cerbera for the interior and looks. The Cerbera was a lot more expensive to run, but I was a bit unlucky to need a new clutch. A Chimaera would also be a very fine car - but the two are _nothing_ like each other to drive despite sharing some styling similarities externally, so I'd strongly encourage you look at these, and go visit a reputable dealer some day for a look at a few examples. Don't assume that if you test drive a Chimaera you've got a vague idea of what a Cerbera is like or vice versa.
ETA - Of the two I'd rather have another Chimaera actually - the Cerbera was the more able car, better handling and brakes, just felt more balanced and sophisticated, but you had to have silly speeds on the clock to make it switch on. The Chimaera made me smile on a drive to the shops.
Edited by _Neal_ on Friday 6th May 16:49
300bhp/ton said:
I'm done, you are an unreasonable tit.
Ooh name calling, how very mature. You obviously know you have lost that one thenWhether you like it or not the RB5 with ppp is quite different to a 2000turbo despite being similar. This is why in evos top 100 drivers cars it came in at 13th a couple of years ago (above the p1). I don't recall seeing any of your cars on the list.
When you have experience of one then you can say how it feels. Google it, there are lots of people with no experience of it saying it must be basically the same car as there are not many different parts and then there are plenty of reviewers (that have actually driven it) describing how actually yes it feels quite a lot better. But hey you just keep looking at the spec sheet and continue with the uninformed drivel.
swerni said:
When you two stop your pissing contest, can we get back to the job at hand?
OP do you want to race around in it and throw it about or have slower speed fun in a V8 torque beast.
What a fine pair OP do you want to race around in it and throw it about or have slower speed fun in a V8 torque beast.
just go with the TVR, I really NEED to get back into another one soon before their prices go through the roofGassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff