Sensible sleeper - bangers
Discussion
Hi all, am looking for suggestions for cheap (under £1500- pref under a grand but will make exceptions) cars that are quickish, without having terrible economy.
My work situation is about to change and I may have to travel around a bit more for jobs and leave said car in any sort of undesirable location.
Car must look very ordinary but must induce a slight grin when pedal is pressed, and be pleasant to sit in for 3 hours at a time. Nothing that's excessively modified, and no diesels, I have nothing against them but I already have one as the family shed.
Oh and big enough to fit the family in on occasions which rules out an MX5.
Examples I'm considering are Mondeo/vectra V6 or 2.0. Honda Civic 1.8 Vti, Omega V6 or 2.2, Mid 90's Jag, 328i/528iBMW, older Volvo, or an MG Rover, or 75 v6.....
Any opinions on these or any other suggestions?
My work situation is about to change and I may have to travel around a bit more for jobs and leave said car in any sort of undesirable location.
Car must look very ordinary but must induce a slight grin when pedal is pressed, and be pleasant to sit in for 3 hours at a time. Nothing that's excessively modified, and no diesels, I have nothing against them but I already have one as the family shed.
Oh and big enough to fit the family in on occasions which rules out an MX5.
Examples I'm considering are Mondeo/vectra V6 or 2.0. Honda Civic 1.8 Vti, Omega V6 or 2.2, Mid 90's Jag, 328i/528iBMW, older Volvo, or an MG Rover, or 75 v6.....
Any opinions on these or any other suggestions?
Thanks for all the replies. A 328i touring would be nice, I'm a fan of RWD and 6 pots, but they aren't sleepers really.
The Honda Vti or rover 620 are indeed sleepers, nobody would look twice, therefore appealing. Also maybe a Citroen BX Gti if there are any left....
A friend has a late 90's Golf with a 1.8t motor and that is fairly handy and he says it always does mid 30's without him trying too hard. it looks oh so ordinary as well.
I was offered an Omega V6 a year back but had just bought an Audi diesel for the family runaround, so didn't have any spare money. I do feel I missed out there as I know the owner and it was a good well cared for car.....
I just don't want to get it wrong, I recently sold a Bmw E30 325i which was wonderfully nippy but undergeared for it's power so I never saw more than 30mpg no matter how slowly I went. It just wasn't what I expected.
I assume the later ones have a taller diff - I realise how much of a difference that makes. Whatever I get it needs to have fairly long gearing as I'm not going to be using it for track days.
Something that can achieve 35mpg at a 70 - 80mph run would be nice. Am I likely to see that from a mid 90's XJ6 3.2 as I do like them and have had a Jag before......and miss it....
The Honda Vti or rover 620 are indeed sleepers, nobody would look twice, therefore appealing. Also maybe a Citroen BX Gti if there are any left....
A friend has a late 90's Golf with a 1.8t motor and that is fairly handy and he says it always does mid 30's without him trying too hard. it looks oh so ordinary as well.
I was offered an Omega V6 a year back but had just bought an Audi diesel for the family runaround, so didn't have any spare money. I do feel I missed out there as I know the owner and it was a good well cared for car.....
I just don't want to get it wrong, I recently sold a Bmw E30 325i which was wonderfully nippy but undergeared for it's power so I never saw more than 30mpg no matter how slowly I went. It just wasn't what I expected.
I assume the later ones have a taller diff - I realise how much of a difference that makes. Whatever I get it needs to have fairly long gearing as I'm not going to be using it for track days.
Something that can achieve 35mpg at a 70 - 80mph run would be nice. Am I likely to see that from a mid 90's XJ6 3.2 as I do like them and have had a Jag before......and miss it....
I used to have a Jaguar 1984 V12 Sov. True, every drive was just a joy but normal driving saw 16mpg and really trying saw 23mpg. On a 250mile trip that I do from time to time that was ridiculous, easpecially as it made such a nice noise when nailed.... It had a crap gearbox, and need an overdrive for motorways. It even made me cry twice......once when I was filling it with fuel after only 250 miles - in the same day! and the other time was when I sold it.
Think I'm leaning towards a 328i touring.....
Maybe 5mpg either way doesn't make much difference but fuel is so expensive, and won't ever get cheaper. I'm trying to strike that fine balance between something that's quickish/nice to be in - yet not a guzzler. In my opinion 30 - 35mpg (on a run) is that. I don't do much town driving.
Think I'm leaning towards a 328i touring.....
Maybe 5mpg either way doesn't make much difference but fuel is so expensive, and won't ever get cheaper. I'm trying to strike that fine balance between something that's quickish/nice to be in - yet not a guzzler. In my opinion 30 - 35mpg (on a run) is that. I don't do much town driving.
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