Performance car bargains

[anonymous-user]

Badge snobs to one side, what's the biggest bang per buck currently?

I'm thinking Insignia VXR with a few mods can yield 400hp with great mid range ooompf. Nice looking, 4 doors and 4wd make it a compelling choice IMHO.

Any other suggestions?

PS. Not looking, just a topic for discussion.

[McFarnsworth]

- awaits the inevitable BMW M135i answer

[Troubleatmill]

Caterham.
Residuals mean almost depreciation free motoring.

[jasongtr]

i could never bring myself to buy a £15k vauxhall - sorry couldn't put that badge snobbery aside, the nearest i could get to a vauxhall is a vx220.

whilst not newer id rather spend £15k on something else

[anonymous-user]

Troubleatmill said:

Caterham.
Residuals mean almost depreciation free motoring.

Nice but I'm thinking something every day usable, fast and interesting. Modern day Jag XJR if you will.

[deltashad]

I reckon I'm a lucky guy. I have two. An Elise and Integrale. Both are very quick for UK roads and I truly believe they are not going to depreciate. They don't have 400 bhp but that means nothing to me.... Oh Vienna.... Drunk now. (2 hours ahead in Bulgaria if that's an excuse)

[anonymous-user]

jasongtr said:

i could never bring myself to buy a £15k vauxhall - sorry couldn't put that badge snobbery aside, the nearest i could get to a vauxhall is a vx220.

whilst not newer id rather spend £15k on something else

Then arguably you are missing out. Anyone remember the Fiat Uno turbo? Not posh but a great little car.

...I have also spent quite a lot on my own Vauxhall. Far more than I should!

Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 30th November 18:26

[Codswallop]

E60 M5 can be had for under £15k, and has 500bhp as standard. Seems like good value to me (just don't mention the running costs/ bork factor).

[Jazoli]

wormus said:

Then arguably you are missing out. Anyone remember the Fiat Uno turbo? Not posh but a great little car.

As was the the Daihatsu Charade Gtti, an unknown badge but a great car nonetheless, I reckon the Vauxhall VXR8 ia a steal these days.

[Mr E]

McFarnsworth said:

- awaits the inevitable BMW M135i answer

Now at £250 a month on a 6+24 lease.

I don't need one and I'm tempted.

[anonymous-user]

deltashad said:

but that means nothing to me.... Oh Vienna.... Drunk now. (2 hours ahead in Bulgaria if that's an excuse)

I can see what you did there. I "lament" Ultravox myself.

[anonymous-user]

Mr E said:

McFarnsworth said:

- awaits the inevitable BMW M135i answer

Now at £250 a month on a 6+24 lease.

I don't need one and I'm tempted.

against the rules of this game I'm afraid. Needs to be bargain, not just cheap.

[slipstream 1985]

rx8?

[StottyZr]

Codswallop said:

E60 M5 can be had for under £15k, and has 500bhp as standard. Seems like good value to me (just don't mention the running costs/ bork factor).

Last year a mate of mine picked one up an approved used one for 23k with 46k on the clock. Complete with a comprehensive one year warranty from BMW. It was absolutely brilliant, very very fast and supremely comfortable.

It was let down by the gearbox, the SMG3 is useless and the worst gearbox I've experienced in any car I can think of. He sold it purely because of the gearbox and wished he had bought a manual instead.

To elaborate the box holds onto gears pointlessly, it doesn't predict what you want to do at all. The only time it redeemed itself was when you were ringing the thing out, high rev gear changes were nicely aggressive (proper kick up the back side) but even then it felt slow.

[anonymous-user]

Troubleatmill said:

Caterham.
Residuals mean almost depreciation free motoring.

until the inevitable upgrades

[SRi Slim R]

Volvo 850/S70 T5
Audi S4 2.7TT
Vauxhall Vectra 2.8V6T (Talking about ex police VXR'S)
Seat Leon Cupra R Mk1
Porsche Boxster
Mitsubishi Evo 4?

[jasongtr]

wormus said:

Then arguably you are missing out. Anyone remember the Fiat Uno turbo? Not posh but a great little car.

...I have also spent quite a lot on my own Vauxhall. Far more than I should!

Edited by wormus on Saturday 30th November 18:26

happy to do so than have a vauxhall in my garage

[anonymous-user]

Rover 75 V8
Jag S-Type R
E55 AMG
C43 AMG
Corvette C5/C6
Camaro SS
3/5 series Alpina's


Basically find something that likes a drink

[deltashad]

wormus said:

deltashad said:

but that means nothing to me.... Oh Vienna.... CDrunk now. (2 hours ahead in Bulgaria if that's an excuse)

I can see what you did there. I "lament" Ultravox myself.

I saw midge play 'dancing with tears in my eyes' last year and I cried. But please don't tell anyone.

[anonymous-user]

Jazoli said:

As was the the Daihatsu Charade Gtti, an unknown badge but a great car nonetheless, I reckon the Vauxhall VXR8 ia a steal these days.

1 litre turbo as I remember? Awesome little machines. You are right about the VXR8, they are great value.