Fast, Fun, RWD 2+2 ?

[redgriff500]

Hi guys I'm still looking for a fast, fun 2+2 and am looking for suggestions I'm happy to have a modified car.

I've considered an XJS but really they are too much of a cruiser and I'd like a sports car.

Budget £5k - £15k

Thanks

[Zaxxon]

E90 335?
E46 M3?

[redgriff500]

Zaxxon said:

E90 335?
E46 M3?

Sorry your idea of Classics are somewhat newer than mine.

I did look at an E46 M3 last year which is probably ideal for me but it left me totally cold.

I'm thinking along the lines of a V6 Alfa 1960 - 80 could be a saloon or coupe as long as it can take at least 2 adults and 2 kids.

I looked at a Matra Murena as mostly I could get away with 3 seats but TBH it was too slow and not very nice to drive.

[A9XXC]

944 Turbo easy......

[anonymous-user]

I suggest a Lotus Elan Plus 2 S 130 (choice of four or five speed boxes).

A well set up Matra Murena is very good to drive, but you really need the S variant, which is the quick one.

I have one of each of these cars, and they are both a blast.

Other options: Opel Manta? Dare I mention a geezah Capri? Lotus Excel, if you can find a tidy one (tricky).

If in Alfaland, maybe a 1970s GTV6?

Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 10th June 00:31

[mark387mw]

Looking at your car history it's difficult to think of something you've not had!

How about a 1978 Toyota Celica 1600ST or a 1983 Ferrari Mondial

[Pat H]

I had a brilliant couple of years with a 2.8 Capri.

Great fun and very practical.

Had Janspeed manifolds and exhaust, so sounded fab, too.

Not at all fast by modern standards, and the brakes were hopeless.

Sold it for what I paid for it (£6000 in 2008) and very much wish that I'd been able to keep it.

I would also consider trying to find an absolutely mint Essex engined Scimitar, as they are woefully undervalued.

If you prefer handling to grunt, you could grab a nice Lotus Excel before they become too collectable.

Or if you are really brave, your budget will almost stretch to a Mondial....

Mint Ferrari 328s are fetching over £35,000, so the mechanically identical Mondial for under £20,000 is quite tempting, as long as you can cope with the challenging aesthetics.

I had a 328GTS a few years ago and it was completely reliable, easy to maintain and was very well built compared to something like a Lotus or TVR.

[anonymous-user]

Of my three Lotuses, I would rate the Excel as the most usable and reliable. The Toyota gearbox and drivetrain are robust, and the build quality on my 1990 car is good. The 180 BHP normally aspirated 907 series engine is plenty rorty enough, especially if you really open the throttles on the Dellortos. The handling is not quite as good as that of the Elan Plus Two, as the Excel is heavier, but , by front engined standards, the handling is very good indeed. The Europa outhandles both, but has only two seats. Lotus brakes are always good.

The excel also has power steering, aircon, radio controls on the steering column, side impact protection, a roll over bar, and such like modern touches. Parts are plentiful and cheap.

The Elan Plus Two is more elegant than the Excel. The rear seats in the Excel are more comfortable than those in the Elan.

The Elan Plus Two oozes style and is very luxurious in the front, by 70s standards. The 1.6 Lotus/Ford Big Valve engine is very peppy, and the handling is a delight. My car has Dellortos, although some say that Webers are better.

The Excel engine will go well over 100,000 miles without a rebuild. The Elan engine may needs a top end rebuild at every 50,000 miles or so.

The Excel is currently a bargain. Elan Plus Two prices are starting to head north.

[gforceg]

What about a 635csi? Maybe an early-ish 928?

Enjoy the search!

[Lotus 50]

I'd echo the vote for the Elan +2 S130 (well I would wouldn't I!) - check out this month's Classic and Sportscar...

For your budget you should be able to get a good one but look carefully and try a few out before buying. Even though they are less nimble than the 2 seater they are great fun, have added practicality and, in theory handle better than the smaller car.

[redgriff500]

Thanks for the replies.

944 Turbo is on my list but I've had one before so would rather try something else.

Capri - how dare you ! I'm a Manta fan but again I've had some before (still have one slowly rotting away) I guess I could

I'd like something interesting like the Lotus suggestions but I prefer larger engines - I had a V8 Excel and I'd have another if I could find a good one (or my old one back)

I looked at Ferraris a couple of years ago when 308 / 328 were £15k so I couldn't bring myself to pay £35k now plus as they are 2 seaters they'd have limited use. I really don't like the Mondial but perhaps I ought to drive one - whilst over budget I could afford one.

I was hoping for some 3 litre Alfa / Lancia coupe suggestions I'm unsure if such a car exists a 75 doesn't really excite me.

[Pat H]

redgriff500 said:

I was hoping for some 3 litre Alfa / Lancia coupe suggestions I'm unsure if such a car exists a 75 doesn't really excite me.

Then your choice is pretty limited.

It is going to be a 1980s Alfa GTV6.

Unless you are prepared to compromise either your budget, and buy my dream car....





Or compromise your RWD requirement, in which case you could have one of these...





I'm very much of the RWD school of manly motoring, but the Alfa GTV V6 ticks all the other boxes.

Mine (pictured above) had equal length manifolds and a remap and it was a properly quick car with an amazing soundtrack.

An MGB GTV8 has plenty of grunt and RWD action with (very) occasional seating in the back, so might be worth a look, if your passengers are very small.

I would probably look for a Mondial or a 1980s Alfa GTV with the 2.5 V6.

You could also get a 1980s 911 if you can put up with a leggy example or a Targa.

[12345menno]

You could try a Pontiac Catalina 2 + 2 from early 60's. (One of my favourite US cars) Depending on engine and gearbox spec you could get something quite quick, 0-60 in less than 5 secs, I read in an original article somewhere that they could reach 0-60 in 3.7 seconds. (However, this seemed a bit optimistic) That said, any other American V8 from that era will get you moving quite quickly. Only difficulty is, finding one in the UK...

Good luck in your search.

[Pat H]

redgriff500 said:

I really don't like the Mondial but perhaps I ought to drive one - whilst over budget I could afford one.

I am told that they drive just like the 308/328, which I suppose makes sense.

My 328 was a brilliant drive. Steering, handling and brakes were superb and that clack clack clack gearbox was wonderfully evocative once it was warmed up. (and terribly obstructive when cold)

The only disappointment for me was the engine.

Everyone raves about how magnificent Ferrari V8s are, but to be truthful it sounded crap unless you were really wringing it's neck.

In my humble opinion it sounds nothing like as nice as an Alfa V6 or a TVR fettled RV8.

Perhaps the answer is a Ferrari 308GT4. They are much more handsome than a Mondial and its carbs will be miles snortier than the later injected engine.

And from the driver's seat they could almost be a 246 Dino.

You know you want to...

[velocemitch]

Alfa SZ ?? Might be a bit over the budget though and I'm not sure how much room there is in the back. Mind you for the budget you could get a GTV6 AND a 916 GTV V6!!

[robsa]

I would be very tempted by a 105 series Alfa - a GT Junior possibly.... I still think these are one of the most beautiful cars.

Like this one for £13,995 (sadly sold now):
http://www.alfaholics.com/2011/05/1967-alfa-romeo-...



Or as someone mentioned a Toytown silly car Toyota Celica ? The early 70s ones are pretty cool, really nice inside in a 70s sportscar way, although the Alfa is a far nicer car to drive:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C303645#

[anonymous-user]

redgriff500 said:

....


I'd like something interesting like the Lotus suggestions but I prefer larger engines - I had a V8 Excel and I'd have another if I could find a good one (or my old one back)

...


I was hoping for some 3 litre Alfa / Lancia coupe suggestions I'm unsure if such a car exists a 75 doesn't really excite me.

If you had a V8 Excel then you had the only one in the world. In fact, there was and is no such thing. All Excels had the four cylinder 907 engine. You must mean a V8 Esprit, which has only two seats.

Lancia Betas only have two litres and are FWD, but they are surprisingly fast and have very good handling. You could try the Beta in Spider, Coupe, or HPE form, each of which is a decent two plus two. The HPE is more of a longish coupe than an estate. The Volumex ones are quite nippy.

The Alfa Montreal is luvverly, if you can find a good one in budget.

Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 10th June 19:45

[Pat H]

Breadvan72 said:

If you had a V8 Excel then you had the only one in the world. In fact, there was and is no such thing. All Excels had the four cylinder 907 engine.

I suspect he had a home brewed rover engined éclat or excel

The v8 fitted pretty easily, so I'm told

[redgriff500]

Breadvan72 said:

If you had a V8 Excel then you had the only one in the world. In fact, there was and is no such thing.

Perhaps you ought to Google before posting.

It was a fairly common conversion, Spyder even made a chassis set up for it.

Mine was a JE 4.2 with 300bhp

[anonymous-user]

Well, we live and learn, but it's not a car ever produced by Lotus, and it seems that the conversions tend to have Rover V8s. As for a Spyder chassis, fancy taking a perfectly good Lotus galvanised chassis and replacing it with one of those! I would hardly call a Lotus Excel thus messed up a Lotus Excel at all, minus its lovely Lotus engine and chassis. Still, there's no accounting for petolheadiania.

On the basis that you can Barry and bodge any car, why not just buy anything you like and mod it up to your spec? I wouldn't, but we all have our own tastes.

Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 10th June 20:47