Cars that are quicker than they look

Cars that are quicker than they look

Author
Discussion

pthelazyjourno

Original Poster:

1,849 posts

170 months

Saturday 16th November 2013
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If it's not been done before, one to oppose the other thread... Obviously a platform to argue about what fast and slow is too!

I'll start with the 205 XS:



Doesn't look a whole lot different to a 1.2, but could crack 60 in 9 and a bit seconds, and on the road was pretty much neck and neck with the 1.6 GTi.

I'm not saying it's a fast car, but 0-60mph is quicker than the majority of hatchbacks from 5 years ago, and quick for a 1.4 85bhp car - to me that's something that's quicker than it looks.

Off you go! No doubt this thread will be full of diesel saloons by the end!!

GravelBen

15,713 posts

231 months

Saturday 16th November 2013
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I guess most people know about fast Subarus now, but back in 1989 these were already a 2.0 turbo Awd bashing out 0-60 in 6.5, with a quarter mile in the mid 14s.

Pet Troll

1,362 posts

179 months

Saturday 16th November 2013
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Keeping on the theme of the 205, I nominate my own. It looks like a standard GTI (albeit with different wheels) but has a 3.0 V6 under the bonnet. It goes rather well!




peterbredde

775 posts

201 months

Saturday 16th November 2013
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Pet Troll said:
Keeping on the theme of the 205, I nominate my own. It looks like a standard GTI (albeit with different wheels) but has a 3.0 V6 under the bonnet. It goes rather well!

Tell us more - how fast? what kind of noise? That sounds awesome

Hackney

6,856 posts

209 months

Saturday 16th November 2013
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I'm going to nominate my own car as well: VW Passat W8 Estate

People assume its a 1.8 deisel.

CR6ZZ

1,313 posts

146 months

Saturday 16th November 2013
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Sierra Sapphire Cosworth.

ging84

8,931 posts

147 months

Saturday 16th November 2013
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volvos
well some of them

DaveH23

3,238 posts

171 months

Saturday 16th November 2013
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Mk1 mazda 3 MPS absolute wolf in sheeps clothing.


sebhaque

6,410 posts

182 months

Saturday 16th November 2013
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I knew what it was when I spotted the red and white badge. My buddy, driving his 330d, was horrified as to what had just left him for dead on the slip road.

Pooh

3,692 posts

254 months

Saturday 16th November 2013
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I have an XC90 V8 with 310 BHP, it surprises a lot of people smile

matchmaker

8,502 posts

201 months

Saturday 16th November 2013
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GravelBen said:


I guess most people know about fast Subarus now, but back in 1989 these were already a 2.0 turbo Awd bashing out 0-60 in 6.5, with a quarter mile in the mid 14s.
The estate was even more of a sleeper!

Pet Troll

1,362 posts

179 months

Saturday 16th November 2013
quotequote all
peterbredde said:
Tell us more - how fast? what kind of noise? That sounds awesome
Very fast acceleration, top speed is only geared to about 145-150mph, sounds amazing both inside and out, a nice deep rumble!

Nimby

4,614 posts

151 months

Saturday 16th November 2013
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My wife's Micra 160SR (at least, when I'm driving it).

" ... the Nissan Micra ranks as a top contender for the most improbable performance car of all time" according to Top Gear

Limpet

6,331 posts

162 months

Saturday 16th November 2013
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Jaguar XJR V8. To this day, one of the fastest accelerating cars I have ever experienced, but you wouldn't give it a second glance.




matchmaker

8,502 posts

201 months

Saturday 16th November 2013
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Limpet said:
Jaguar XJR V8. To this day, one of the fastest accelerating cars I have ever experienced, but you wouldn't give it a second glance.

Should this not be in the "Bad Parking" thread? biggrin

Stenjay

2,248 posts

135 months

Saturday 16th November 2013
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Citroen Xsara VTS.



Not that fast but looks no different to any other old sheddy 1.4. I remember years ago being made to look a little silly in my 1.6 Astra when I was left far behind by one of these. Still have a bit of a soft spot for them.

HSV_V8

158 posts

187 months

Saturday 16th November 2013
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matchmaker said:
GravelBen said:


I guess most people know about fast Subarus now, but back in 1989 these were already a 2.0 turbo Awd bashing out 0-60 in 6.5, with a quarter mile in the mid 14s.
The estate was even more of a sleeper!
thumbup yes, what a weapon! proper farmers car too back in the day and massively under the radar.

jamieduff1981

8,029 posts

141 months

Saturday 16th November 2013
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These were quicker than they looked:



620ti

T16 engine - 2.0l 16v turbo, 197bhp from a T25, so relatively low lag for its day. Car weighed about 1400kg. PG1 gearbox came with a Torsen diff. 0-60mph was 7.0secs. Pretty lukewarm now, but for a model released in 1993 looking fairly inoffensive like that it was often pulled up next to by German saloons rather than behind it - the Germans expecting that they needed to be in front of it.

I don't generally race from traffic lights, so the whole sleeper thing just got annoying for me. The constant flow of other people who saw what looked like a slow car and just had to get past and invariably drive slower just irritated me.

Lazygraduate

1,789 posts

162 months

Saturday 16th November 2013
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BMW 550i in SE trim.

smokin

IanA2

2,763 posts

163 months

Saturday 16th November 2013
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Lexus GS430 smilesmile