She's gone

[havoc]

Well, after 3 years, 1 month and 9 days (well, probably 8 days and ~22hrs), I watched my baby go off with another man last night. :weeping:

Yes, the guy from the local Honda dealership came and collected my 'teg! By far the best car I've ever owned, would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone.
But time had come to part company...I've got a new job and need a diesel for the long commute, at least for the next year or so! :paperbag:



But there is a silver lining here...the new job pays rather well, so once I'm settled I'll be looking for a proper weekend toy, and the shortlist currently looks like:-
- Elise S1
- VX220
- 944/968
- (old) Chimera
- (old) S2000

I had thought about getting another 'teg and "tweaking" it for trackdays, and it'll still be the benchmark I measure anything else against. But I probably ought to try something different, and light, 2-seat and rwd is more interesting when you don't need it every day.

[havoc]

£10k or so, I hope...

Can't quite stretch to a 968 Clubsport, certainly not a right-hooker, and certainly not with likely bills on a 968.



If anyone sees W69 RBA for sale, drop me a line, I've owned her for the last 3 years!

[havoc]

Might be just too £££, but tempting, as are the Sport 135s/160s.

[4WD]

STI !

[MrV]

any of them other then the Tiv

[havoc]

4WD said:

STI !

Drove one.

- Too big, heavy, practical (this is 2nd car, track and B-roads)
- Too much grip...can't have fun with that on the public roads at <100mph.
- Would need the PPP pack...without it the power delivery is like a diesel...completely artificial!
- When changing gear I found 3rd instead of 5th!!!

I tell you what...one of the things I MUST have in the next fun car is a nice noise...I miss putting your foot down and getting aurally pleasured by the car!!!

[iaint]

Suprisingly I'd say RX-7.

For 10k you'll get a minter with a rebuilt engine and upto 400rwhp!!!

>> Edited by iaint on Friday 22 July 09:47

[havoc]

RX-7 HAS occured to me, and is still nagging away in my mind. My only worry...what happens if I'm the mug that ends up with the bills?!?

But I think the FD looks gorgeous, has the rarity and cachet that the vain part of me would like, and still drives really well by all accounts.

[turbo-tastic]

Gotta agree with iaint. The 'rex is clearly the best choice.
Lots O Trouble, Usually Serious 's are gorgeous cars, but for £10k, wouldn't you be looking at the pre Toyota engined models (S1), ie headgaskets blowing etc.

But if it were my money (which it aint!) and I was in the market for a fun trackday toy, it'd be a supercharged, stripped out/track prep'd MK1 MR2. You could get a rapid one, all set for track action with a fair bit of change left over from £5k.

IMO of course

[havoc]

If it was purely a track-car I'd go for light, cheap and powerful.

But...I won't do enough trackdays, and don't own/want to own a car capable of towing a trailer...so I want a car for the weekends as well as the occasional trackday. So it's got to be rear-drive, good bhp/tonne (150minimum, ~200 would be nice), agile, communicative (v. impt), sounds good, and, 'cause it's something for the weekend, looks would be nice too.

Hence the list at the top.

And yes, I know about Lotus', but it might be worth taking the chance...a few test-drives should tell me!!!

[turbo-tastic]

IIRC MK1 MR2 weighs as stock 925kgs, but with a bit of dieting, I am sure you could cut it down to under 900.

As stock the S/C & 20v puts out 160bhp, (Paul Woods of mk1mr2club.com/Woodsport can do conversions, anything from S/C & 1600cc 20v right up to 3S-GTE & Camry V6) which works out at 172BHP/ton

Of course the S/C can be pushed up to 200bhp ish (222bhp/ton @ 900kgs)

Food for thought anyway.

edited to say

havoc said:

looks would be nice too.

Plus you cant beat the 80's styling either. Any car with pop-up headlights = cool!!!

>> Edited by turbo-tastic on Tuesday 26th July 14:54

[havoc]

turbo-tastic said:

I'm not going to let it go!!!

I don't WANT a Mk1 MR-2!
I don't care if you can chip and turbo and tweak it to be ultra-capable...by the time I've spent that much time, money and insurance (I'm no mechanic), I may as well buy a good car out of the box! Which will be newer and have much better residuals than a heavily-modded 10-y.o. wedge.

So...back to some good cars that might be worth me buying...



Note:- Sorry TT, I know they're decent cars, but I'm not into FI really...RX7 is only there because of the handling, looks, and progressive power-delivery. And I'm definitely not into buying an old car and tweaking it up. Did think the first response might have been a clue!

[bad_roo]

Really nicely sorted BMW M3 GT with R tyres on? None of those other cars would see which way it had gone around a track.

[tuttle]

The Elise s1 or VX220 would do it for moi!
Civic R or S2000 appeal?

[havoc]

bad_roo said:

Really nicely sorted BMW M3 GT with R tyres on? None of those other cars would see which way it had gone around a track.

M3 GT? Which variant is that? If it's E36, forget it...too big, too bland, regardless of the performance. If it's E43 have a look at my budget!

tuttle said:

The Elise s1 or VX220 would do it for moi! Civic R or S2000 appeal?

S1 / VX are going to be the benchmark, I think, although the RX has a certain appeal. 968 will realistically be too £££.

CTR / S2000 -
CTR no, driven a couple, and I'd have kept the 'teg if I was staying fwd for the weekend car...much more fun than the Civic, in so many ways.
S2000 - is in the background...not entirely convinced, as I'd have to get one of the oldest, and the early ones had a reputation for being a bit snappy...but I'm going to drive one.

[bad_roo]

havoc said:

bad_roo said: Really nicely sorted BMW M3 GT with R tyres on? None of those other cars would see which way it had gone around a track. M3 GT? Which variant is that? If it's E36, forget it...too big, too bland, regardless of the performance. If it's E43 have a look at my budget!

Yes, it's an E36. I can personally recommend them. Take a look at this month's Evo and see what they bought as a basis for their sub-8 minute Ring car. People in the know know BMW M3 GTs. Its speed and capability is in a different league to any of the contenders you've listed. Seriously. Even if you don't care for the image, take a drive in one and it should make you re-examine your motives for purchasing any of the others.

[turbo-tastic]

Whoops

I did come across a bit obsessed (sp?) there did'nt I

Some good points there mate, (although I can see nothing wrong with a 10y.o. wedge!! ) but I think I will start again!!

If it were my money, which it still isn't, I would go for something along the lines of Caterham/Westfield etc. Very cool, and are pretty much purpose built track cars.

Of course, if you want something a bit different

edited to say:
I have just re-read your reply, and I know I have gone off the rails again, so treat this purely as suggestions. Note to self, read before typing!!


>> Edited by turbo-tastic on Thursday 28th July 23:57

[havoc]

It's cool matey...we're all passionate about our cars...you should see the flaming I'm getting on the Elise forum for daring to suggest it's not perfect!!!

zcars...hmmm, interesting! But not right now.

Being honest with myself, I think I'd quite like another Integra for "weekends and occasional track", and something small, lairy and rwd for fun, drifting, and generally trying to kill myself.

But Miss Havoc would serve me my b'll'cks for breakfast if I suggested 3 cars at the moment...for one thing we've no space, for another we're saving for a wedding! So I'm trying to find one "do-it-all" weekend car...test-drives will commence soon...should sort the men from the boys (Note to self: Must take spare underwear to TVR test-drive!!! )