Choices, choices choices

[300bhp/ton]

Right, the TR is up for sale but I feel it's time for a change... and 4 seats.

The car won't be a daily or a weekend car, but it will be used as and when needed.


4 seats is really key, as is having a bit of a usable boot. But that said, while it's not a daily, horrendous mpg isn't a plus point (yes RX-8 I'm looking at you).


AWD would mean I'd probably sell my Jeep too, as this would fulfill the 4 seat winter capability. So this would mean 1 years road tax and MoT better, plus savings on fuel and maintenance.

Yet the others would also mean I could use them for motoring events like autosolo's and gymkhana's. Which is something I'd still like to do and have previously used the TR for. So should this car not be suitable, I'd probably end up buying something extra at some point anyhow.

I'm keeping the Roadster (daily driver) and the Camaro (shows/weekends, something fast). So I don't want a car that'll tread on either of their toes too much either.


Short list:


Audi S4 B5:

+AWD using a Torsen centre diff
+looks have grown on me
+would remap it to 300+hp
+most practical of the bunch
+comfy
-likely expensive to run/maintain
-not too great on fuel
-probably not the most sporty to drive





Honda Integra Type R (DC2):

+dream car since I first drove one in 1998
+handling
+noise
+performance
+love the looks of the UK spec ones in white
+future classic?
-all getting on a bit and high mileage and tatty
-rust issues on some
-potential gearbox issues
-least practical
-too similar thrills to the Roadster?





Mazda RX-8 231

+really want to own a wankel at some point
+rwd
+4 door practicality
+newest of the three for the money
+xenon's
-horrendous fuel consumption
-mine field buying one
-potential engine failure and other engine related maintenance costs

[kambites]

I suggest it might be worth adding a Corrado to that list too, if you can find a good VR6 and keep it good, I suspect its value is only going to go up. A bit more of a cruiser than the 'teg, but equally good to drive in its own way and the engine is a gem.

Still of the cars you've listed, I'd go for the RX8. It's the only one that really seems... special to me (not specifically to drive, but in general). I just love the cleverness and oddity of the whole design.

Edited by kambites on Friday 7th October 10:22

[mnkiboy]

S4 Avant, remapped to 300bhp. Everyone thinks it's a 1.9TDi.

[300bhp/ton]

mnkiboy said:

S4 Avant, remapped to 300bhp. Everyone thinks it's a 1.9TDi.

That does sort of appeal.

[300bhp/ton]

kambites said:

I suggest it might be worth adding a Corrado to that list too, if you can find a good VR6 and keep it good, I suspect its value is only going to go up. A bit more of a cruiser than the 'teg, but equally good to drive in its own way and the engine is a gem.

Still of the cars you've listed, I'd go for the RX8. It's the only one that really seems... special to me (not specifically to drive, but in general). I just love the cleverness and oddity of the whole design.

Edited by kambites on Friday 7th October 10:22

Hadn't really thought of a Corrado. I can certainly hold a healthy appreciation for them, not sure if I'd regret buying one though, they just don't have that 'want' factor for me. Maybe I need to read up on them a bit though.

[RAClNG SNAKE]

I have just sold my Roadster to my wife and I am on the verge of scratching the RX8 itch that I have had for years.

If the engine goes, I can pop in a LSx.

[Snowboy]

Thinking on what you said.
I'd suggest the RX8.

It's different, unusual.

The audi is a business saloon in a posh frock.
The Integra is a 2 door little hatchback.
I think you'll get bored with them.

Get the RX8.
There's one parked in the office carpark, and I always pause as I walk past it.

[braddo]

Make sure you test drive them all and report back because I'd be intriged to see what you think of them, given you're usually not keen on either German stuff or FWD.

[900T-R]

To be bluntly honest - the cars you listed are either not really suited to the sort of stuff you used the TR for, or indeed are going to stand on the toes of what you already have.

If you could up the budget (both purchase and running costs) and get a Cerbera (preferably one sorted by the likes of BCA for your motorsport indulgences ) I reckon that would be sort of ideal.

[james_gt3rs]

E36 M3?

[FreeLitres]

What about the 3.0 X-Type? Permanent AWD with 60% rear wheel drive bias.

There are a few good ones for sale too for as little as £1995!

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3287258.htm

[Nors]

I'd say the Audi covers all your requirements there, there's a few on audisrs.com that are well sorted and going for really cheap money. Most available on there are well maintained by enthusiasts and some have some of the better suspension mods that really sharpen up the handling from the standard set-up.

Lots of advice there too if you are serioulsly considering one! I'd go for the avant, much more of a Q car.

Good luck with the hunt, whatever you end up with!

[GravelBen]

3 very different cars there!

I voted Audi as it seems the main gap you have is a sensible, comfortable (but still enjoyable) car for longer trips etc. Less involving but as you say you have other cars for that.

Integra would be a lot of fun but competing with your V8 for a plaything and probably a bit raw for relaxed cruising.

RX8 has appeal as a combination of comfort and sweet handling, but the reputation for thirst and unreliability would put me off.

[Nors]

doogz said:

You like driving.

On that basis, i'd replace the S4 in your shortlist with an Impreza.

Cheaper, quicker, lighter, less understeery, and i might get a hard time for this, but i prefer the sound a flat 4 makes, to the V6.

Interior might not be as nice, but i get the impression that's not at the top of your list of priorities.

From your current 3 though, tricky one. DC2's are ace, but if you get a good RX-8, it would be too.

That's a fair alternative tbh, but the less understeery comment whilst true, would be more noticable on a track. You'd have to be doing some serious speed on a public road to get it to understeer, what lots of people forget is that they also have a serious amount of grip too.

I like the scoobies, but as you say they're a very differnet place to "live in". The Audi is a much nicer place to be on longer trips especially.

Scooby cheaper to buy newer perhaps, but lots of your run of the mill parts for the Audi are not expensive either. Full consumption depending on driving should be pretty much on a par I would guess.

[Nors]

Don't know what your budget limits are, but the B6 S4 gets you into a V8 with 343bhp out of the box.

Prices start about £6.5k for a half decent one. Saloons are always a bit cheaper.

[GravelBen]

I guess in between the Impreza and S4 options you have a Legacy too - bigger and much nicer interior than an Impreza (but not quite as nimble), more involving than the Audi but not as luxurious.

[Caulkhead]

RX8 for me.

I've driven a couple of S4's and the wooden, dull chassis put me right off. I had an Accord Type-R as a company car and loved it and would take one of those over the Integra personally, but in sheer value for money terms, the RX8 is unbeatable. I love the engine, they sound great with the right exhaust, very agile, roomy interior, etc, etc.

I know they like a drink, but they only require 95ron and they slurp a bit of cheap oil now and again but I can forgive them that for daring to be different, which appears to be your automotive credo on this forum, so RX8 it is!

[Nors]

doogz said:

I dunno, you can spot it on the road without going too daft, i found understeer obvious at low speed in the Audi, you don't need to be going too fast for all that weight to push the front out wide.

I'd disagree with your comment regarding fuel consumption though. My Audi wasn't even the S4, just the 220bhp 3.0V6 Quattro, and it managed an average in the low 20's. Doing the exact same drive in my 265 bhp WRX PPP, i average 28mpg, which is fking fantastic imo, i wasn't really expecting that when i bought it.

Slow speeds in the wet, yes, probably. In the dry? You'd have to be pushing quite a bit. My experience anyway.

Avg 28mpg in your WRX is really surprisingly good. 3.0V6 would have been a B6 and a bit heavier than a B5. B5 "should" avg about 24-25. Start to get abusive with it though and that will drop to mid teens.

[vz-r_dave]

Snowboy said:

Thinking on what you said.
I'd suggest the RX8.

It's different, unusual.

The audi is a business saloon in a posh frock.
The Integra is a 2 door little hatchback.
I think you'll get bored with them.

Get the RX8.
There's one parked in the office carpark, and I always pause as I walk past it.

Get bored of one of the most involving cars ever prodcued for the road?? Your mad lol The DC2 is not as comfortable as the Audi or Mazda, but its a hell of lot more involving and pretty much as close as you can get to a race car for the road. I would go as far as saying that its probably quicker from point to point as well. Bored should not be mentioned in the same sentence.

I'd go for the RX8

[ludicrous speed]

I'd go for the Integra. I have a feeling the other two might be better on a long journey on the motorway, but i reckon the integra would be a lot more fun on some of the more interesting roads.