What car advice - 2+2 coupe/cabrio, manual, engine sound
Discussion
Looking for the "fun car" to be used on the weekend. Because of the baby it needs to have a halfway decent rear seat. Manual tranny is a must as well as an awesome engine sound. Obviously a V8 is on top of the list, but the 2+2 and manual really limits the choice. Budget would be around 10-15k.
Audi S5: the 4,2 is a great motor, but quite afew of the around, still a nice looking ride.
Maseratti 3200 GT: a bit scared of the maintanace costs
Jag XK: only comes with an auto box.
6er BMW: not sure about that rear end; sometimes I like it and sometimes I just have to shake my head. Sleek, elegant is definately something else.
Merc V8's are all automatic.
6-cylinder:
911: the 996 is in for the price but some of the issues I've been reading about put me off.
3-er BMW: not really exiting to look at.
Alfa GTV with the Busso motor: looks amazing, sounds even better, cheap...how is the handling?
Greatful for suggestions.
Audi S5: the 4,2 is a great motor, but quite afew of the around, still a nice looking ride.
Maseratti 3200 GT: a bit scared of the maintanace costs
Jag XK: only comes with an auto box.
6er BMW: not sure about that rear end; sometimes I like it and sometimes I just have to shake my head. Sleek, elegant is definately something else.
Merc V8's are all automatic.
6-cylinder:
911: the 996 is in for the price but some of the issues I've been reading about put me off.
3-er BMW: not really exiting to look at.
Alfa GTV with the Busso motor: looks amazing, sounds even better, cheap...how is the handling?
Greatful for suggestions.
flatso said:
The RX-8 ....the engine sounds a bit like a lawnmower? Are there any aftermarket options for this?
I suspect you're never going to make it sound anything but smooth, if that's what you mean. Can you get American cars there? Something like a Mustang would certainly fit the bill.
flatso said:
I live in Switzerland and unfortunately we do not get the VXR8 on the continent. RHD is not an option!
The RX-8 ....the engine sounds a bit like a lawnmower? Are there any aftermarket options for this?
There are plenty of aftermarket exhausts, induction kits etc The RX-8 ....the engine sounds a bit like a lawnmower? Are there any aftermarket options for this?
Mine was fitted with a FEED induction and DC Sports exhaust and sounded like a whale having an orgasm.
Orgasmic whale sound? A Humpback most likely:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAbRG7BFo6k
The 928 is a good shout.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAbRG7BFo6k
The 928 is a good shout.
flatso said:
The 928 is a good shout.
Loved them since I watched Risky Business and Weird Science 
Anyway, you could actually get the most desirable(and most likely to appreciate in price) in budget:
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...
5.4l V8, 340bhp, manual and the sound, oh my god that sound is just...........oops, may need to change my pants
flatso said:
Anyone have any experience with older generations of Camaro's and Trans Am's?
Yes, I do.I've had a 3rd gen with an LG4 V8 and T5 5 speed manual and a friend had a later Z28 with the 5.0 205hp Auto.
In general, the interiors on early 3rd gens are pretty bad with brittle plastics. the early V8s vary from 145 to 175hp with carbs or 190-225 for the 5.0 V8s which comprise the majority of what is available (autos are 205). Few have the 5.7 V8 but they are all auto.
The 3rd gens are getting on a bit now so the later the better but they are generally underpowered.
The 4th gen Z28s came with the Corvette's LT1 detuned to 275-285hp or around 300 in SS form between 1994 and 1997. The LT1 ids the engine with the funny optispark ignition on the nose of the crank which tends to be unpopular.
The LS1 all-alloy engine (with 8 ignition coils)came in for 1998 and had an easy 300-plus hp with an ostensibly detuned C5 V8 though in reality it wasn't much detuned at all.
The 4th gens finally got a 6 speed manual though it is hardly slick and quite rare so autos again dominate what is available.
They are better inside (it's all relative) and much faster than 3rd gens.
They come in fixed roof or T-top and of course there are sister Trans Ams too.
I loved my 4th gen far more than my 3rd gen but did lower it and fit Bilstein suspension and weklded in sub-frame connectors, making it a sort of 4 seater Corvette. My wife loved it and still loves it more than my Mustang GT.
Watch for flaking chrome wheels which are only 16" on Z28 but 17s on the SS (they really need 18s though).
3rd gens are largely metal apart from bumper/nosecone whereas the 4th gen is largely plastic panelled save for rear wings and bonnet.
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