Quite a specific what car...

[Deluded]

I have some specific requirements although some are open to bending. Just don't know where to turn.

At the moment I have a BMW E36 Compact 316i. Lovely car. Great to drive etc. I don't dislike the car at all but just fancy something with a bit more grunt. The 316 is putting out around 100hp, which is fine for pretty much everything really, but I don't really drive it that much any more (cycle to work) so want something with more go so I can really enjoy it when I do get to drive it. Plus, with me cycling a lot now, I don't have to worry about petrol costs so much.

Requirements are as follows :

150hp or more.
Pref manual but would go for an auto if the car was special
Pref RWD but would go for FWD if the car was special
Cost no more than £1500.
Must have 4 seats and a usable boot, pref hatch.
Would prefer to be a bit out of the box. For example, I don't want a Focus.


Any ideas?

[Google [bot]]

S13 200SX? Possibly a 300ZX?

Might you get an E30 325i?

You could even look at something out there like an old Camaro?

924S?

XR4i/4x4?

In fact, why am I bothering to type this when all you need for inspiration is:

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/doc.asp?c=162

ETA: Scimitar GTE?

Edited by Google [bot] on Monday 21st June 07:25

[fathomfive]

Something like this perhaps?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

Edited by fathomfive on Monday 21st June 07:41

[CraigyMc]

You could have a scruffy e39 5 series with a straight-6 engine for that. 523se?

Thinking about it though, you'd probably end up paying out quite a lot in insurance anyway, so I'm questioning the £1500 limit.

Edited to Add: This sort of thing

C

Edited by CraigyMc on Monday 21st June 07:56

[Vvroom]

fathomfive said:

Something like this perhaps?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

Edited by fathomfive on Monday 21st June 07:41

^^This.

Well spotted FF

[simonrockman]

coupe Fiat

[hairyaardvark]

Integra type r ?

[Jonc]

or

Edited by Jonc on Monday 21st June 09:02

Edited by Jonc on Monday 21st June 09:16

[rallycross]

OP says £1500 so this is the key thing, you only have £1500 to play with, so you can forget suggesting things like Integra Type R's !

I'd say Saab 9-5 turbo or 323 E36.

[Deluded]

Cheers for the replies.

£1500 is pretty much max, not including insurance though. I'll just swap cars on my policy which I pay monthly anyway so it's not coming out of the car budget.

Some good suggestions, most of which I have thought of already. 3-series tourer was a good idea but can't seem to find one with sensible mileage in my price range.

Fiat Coupe is a no as the insurance is stupid, regardless whether it is a turbo or not. I used to have a Bravo HGT which is a top car but don't think I would want one again. They have all sorts of silly problems and build quality issues.

If it could be kept to max Group 16.

[300bhp/ton]

Deluded said:

I have some specific requirements although some are open to bending. Just don't know where to turn.

At the moment I have a BMW E36 Compact 316i. Lovely car. Great to drive etc. I don't dislike the car at all but just fancy something with a bit more grunt. The 316 is putting out around 100hp, which is fine for pretty much everything really, but I don't really drive it that much any more (cycle to work) so want something with more go so I can really enjoy it when I do get to drive it. Plus, with me cycling a lot now, I don't have to worry about petrol costs so much.

Requirements are as follows :

150hp or more.
Pref manual but would go for an auto if the car was special
Pref RWD but would go for FWD if the car was special
Cost no more than £1500.
Must have 4 seats and a usable boot, pref hatch.
Would prefer to be a bit out of the box. For example, I don't want a Focus.


Any ideas?

ok, a few probs with your "requirements".

As in most, if not all hatchbacks will not be RWD. Ok you may get some RWD "coupes" with a hatch, but its not really the same thing.

Also you say 4 seats and a usable boot.

So is a coupe 2+2 good enough or do you genuinely need 4 proper seats and 4 doors? And as for a usable boot, usable for what? Is there something specific you need to carry?

I think I can see what you want, but with only £1500 and some conflicting requirements I think you'll struggle to find what you are after.

There are loads of very good cars out there, but with a smallish budget I think you need to focus on what you really want the car to do, and what you need it to do.

So, do you really need 4 seats?

Is speed and power an issue?

Or if it's just for fun, would do you want something light and chuckable?


I have to say I'm not actually a BMW fan, but I did have an e36 318i last year. And despite the horrid interior and lack of power it went rather well and was actually rather fun to drive. I certainly preferred driving it to most FWD hatches I've been in or driven in the past.

There are exceptions of course and some very good and capable hatches, but they do offer different thrills and driving experiences.

So without knowing exactly what you want I'll throw in some interesting and maybe left field options that are within your budget. That way you can decide on if they are worth looking at further:


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1797387.htm

MG ZS 180 Hatchback (2003)
51,500 miles £1,600


Very underrated car, fast with a lovely V6. (0-60mph 7.3 sec) and handle very well. Lots of fun, newish, cheap and easy to run.



http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1755979.htm

ROVER 200 BRM (Rare car) low miles (1999)
65,000 miles £1,500


Limited edition car, with a very plush custom (factory custom) red leather and alloy trim interior. More refined than the ZS above, but this little hatch is quick (0-60mph in 7.9 sec) and has a close ratio gearbox and a front LSD.



bmw e30 325i 2 door (1986)
130,000 miles £1,700

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1779886.htm


Smaller, lighter and better looking than an e36. More tailout style handling, but with the bigger motor more fun and faster.




(Can't see one in the PH classifieds, but there must be some on eBay/Autotrader).

But a 3.6 (223hp) or 4.0 (225hp) XJ40 (XJ6) can be had with a manual gearbox. The auto's are pretty good, but the manuals are actually quite a lot of fun and fastish (0-60mph in 7.8 and 140mph). Ok they might not be the most flighty, but they ride well and handle quite well too and give a sort of muscle car feel about them, which IMO makes them quite fun to drive.


2001 Silver Puma - Looks Great (2001)
83,000 miles £1,100

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1723169.htm


Great handling, fastish with the 1.7 16v and funky looks.



1967 Land Rover Series llA (1967)
£2,000

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1797512.htm


This one is tax exempt, so cheaper to run. Although at this price range you might might also find one with a V8 or TDI conversions. Lots of possibilities, good at hauling and huge fun.



Lots of other interesting cars out there, such as very good and fun classics, which are likely to offer what you want, and if you plan to keep for a bit and maybe modify or modernise a bit can make very, very pleasant cars to own, such as a Triumph 2000:



Elegant big Brit saloon car with a lovely straight 6 motor. Lots of potential upgrades and things you can do to them.

[frosted]

300bhp hasn't put forward some American crap in a what car thread shocker !

Out the lot I would pick the MG , most value for money and they can drive surprisingly good

[snotrag]

306 GTI-6 ticks every box perfectly here... plenty of nice ones for sale on the owners forum for that kind of money.

In group is 15 or 16, plenty of power, superb chassis...

[Google [bot]]

Deluded said:

If it could be kept to max Group 16.

This, along with little need for a daily, appreciation rather than depreciation, is another reason reason a charismatic modern or older classic makes sense.