Civic type R, Astra Gsi Turbo or BMW 325 compact?

[bmthnick1981]

Bitzer said:

325ti all the way. 6 pot with RWD.

+1

[GSI SID]

I know this post is abit late but please let me tell you. Ive had a Type R EP3 yes quick upto 120 then nothing. It takes a very very long road to go any faster due to lack of turbo and torque. After 120 any turbo car would eat the Type R, its just common sense. I now have a 2.0 Turbo and after 120 it keeps pulling. The Type R didnt!. Also people Type R engine arent reliable like made out. they suffer from worn cam pulleys at high mileage and this will cause the chain to slip again and again.

[Butter Face]

GSI SID said:

I know this post is abit late but please let me tell you. Ive had a Type R EP3 yes quick upto 120 then nothing. It takes a very very long road to go any faster due to lack of turbo and torque. After 120 any turbo car would eat the Type R, its just common sense. I now have a 2.0 Turbo and after 120 it keeps pulling. The Type R didnt!. Also people Type R engine arent reliable like made out. they suffer from worn cam pulleys at high mileage and this will cause the chain to slip again and again.

Wow man, Thanks for the input on a 6+ year old thread

[LuS1fer]

Butter Face said:

GSI SID said:

I know this post is abit late but please let me tell you. Ive had a Type R EP3 yes quick upto 120 then nothing. It takes a very very long road to go any faster due to lack of turbo and torque. After 120 any turbo car would eat the Type R, its just common sense. I now have a 2.0 Turbo and after 120 it keeps pulling. The Type R didnt!. Also people Type R engine arent reliable like made out. they suffer from worn cam pulleys at high mileage and this will cause the chain to slip again and again.

Wow man, Thanks for the input on a 6+ year old thread

Very useful for all those people who like to maintain a constant 125mph everywhere...

[manracer]

Back in 2003 I owned a astra Sri turbo, I believe this was the precursor to the gsi. Same z20let engine, same rear wing but different bumpers and wheels. A remap and exhaust saw 250bhp. Some koni suspension sorted the handling.

In 2006 I got a 325ti, lovely car, just felt a LOT slower than the astra. It did sound nice and was nippy but needed a bit more thrashing to get any decent momentum.

Of the two, the astra was more fun, depends what you are after.

[Ian Geary]

The saddest thing about this update is seeing that 325s were going for £2.3k 6 years ago.

Just looked on 'trader, and they're going for £1.7k - £4k still.

Vauxhall still churning out powerful cars with dull handling though, so some things can be relied on.

[ZX10R NIN]

My leftfield choice as long as you don't mind an auto are the C320/350 C Coupe dependent on your budget:

320

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

C350

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[s m]

Ian Geary said:

The saddest thing about this update is seeing that 325s were going for £2.3k 6 years ago.

Just looked on 'trader, and they're going for £1.7k - £4k still.

Vauxhall still churning out powerful cars with dull handling though, so some things can be relied on.

I paid 2.5k for my 70k miler ti back in early 2013 - one owner, loads of options

Only lost about a grand in depreciation since

Having said that I wish I could get an Astra GTE 16v for that money now!

[GSI SID]

It seems Type Rs EP3 are still sought after even now years later. So i hope my comment does help somewhat. As for the sarcastic comment about flying around @ 125mph everywhere, there are such things as old airfields and runways, also race days and track meetings. Hope that clears up a few things. My licence is clean 100%, i get maximum NCB from my insurance 9+ years, so please no more jumping to conclusions from a member trying to advise on an old posting. All the very best,Happy christmas.

[Chestrockwell]

Before I saw the date, I was thinking, what an odd choice of cars to pick from and do Astra GSI’s even exist anymore? Haven’t seen one in years, then I see the date of the OP

As for EP3’s top speed, I once got 130 out of mine easily and it’s at VTEC at that speed so it picks up easily! It’s much more satisfying than a turbo car that’s quicker, you can feel the car working it’s arse off trying to go that tiny bit faster, that could be seen as something negative but when it’s a 1200kg NA 8k rpm Honda, it’s very satisfying, I LOVED mine.

[Scobblelotcher]

I’ve owned a CTR, Astra GSI (and lots of others in between) and now a M135i so some experience of the different brands.

The CTR vs the Astra is a no contest for me. The 2.0t can easily be tuned for more power but the rest of the car is distinctly average. Whilst the Astra offers decent performance, it’s steering always felt dead and the engine note was awful however it was perfectly reliable and cheap.

The CTR by comparison can sometimes feel a bit gutless unless rev’d hard and it’s easy to get caught out but conversely I enjoyed the fact it really needed to be driven hard to get a lot out of it! The CTR’s engine, gearbox and chassis is really brilliant and the engine makes the most wonderful howl when it’s driven hard. The CTR is a brilliant drivers car that always put a smile on my face and my over riding memories (I had one in 2005) was how engaging it was to drive and how brilliantly reliable it was after been driven hard and 20+ track days.

The BMW is the odd ball here in its more of a cruiser and not a hot hatch like the others.

Get the CTR!

[RSTurboPaul]

ZX10R NIN said:

My leftfield choice as long as you don't mind an auto are the C320/350 C Coupe dependent on your budget:

320

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

C350

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

The C350s seem very understated for their performance, and not a big barge, which is nice.

Are they really only automatic, though? That is a shame.

[s m]

RSTurboPaul said:

ZX10R NIN said:

My leftfield choice as long as you don't mind an auto are the C320/350 C Coupe dependent on your budget:

320

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

C350

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

The C350s seem very understated for their performance, and not a big barge, which is nice.

Are they really only automatic, though? That is a shame.

This one would have been even more fun for 4K ( if the saloons still go at that price ).....although only lhd and auto

350bhp

[ZX10R NIN]

s m said:

RSTurboPaul said:

ZX10R NIN said:

My leftfield choice as long as you don't mind an auto are the C320/350 C Coupe dependent on your budget:

320

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

C350

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

The C350s seem very understated for their performance, and not a big barge, which is nice.

Are they really only automatic, though? That is a shame.

This one would have been even more fun for 4K ( if the saloons still go at that price ).....although only lhd and auto

350bhp

Wow I never knew they even put the C32 drivetrain in the C Coupe.

Yea they're auto only but the 350's benefit from the 7 Speed box.