Fast, fun, scratch an itch?

[Lundqvist]

Yes I know - another what car thread. Sorry not sorry. I’ve had my Octavia vRS nearly four years now, and it’s a fantastic car. It’s more than capable of anything you could throw at it, but it doesn’t really excel anywhere. I’ve thrown some cash at it over the years taking it to about 220bhp, which certainly brings a smile to my face.

Wife recently got a boggo diesel fn2 Civic, and it’s made me realise that really once you get past that engine and boot the Octavia is sorely lacking. It really made me yearn for the handling of my past Alfa’s, or.. well for an fn2, frankly.

So it’s taken a lot longer than before (never had a car this long!) but I now have ‘the itch’ and I feel a late Christmas present to myself might be in order.

Budget will be up to 10k, but the less the better. Main requirement is fun but enough power that I don’t miss the Octy, and big enough for family duties. I’m also very picky! Problem is a lot of what I want cannot be easily found/tested without appearing to be a piss taker. I would really want to try them to compare, but since that’s not so easy... any opinions? Would be a Daily too so costs are a consideration. Oh and engines and handling impress me, but driving modes and Bluetooth enabled gubbins really doesn’t. I want a driving experience.

Current shortlist:

e90 330i (or 335i but the engine stories scare me)

Renaultsport Megane

Impreza STI (though other half thinks these are too chav and will divorce me... )

Integra Type R Dc2/dc5

Civic Type R fn2

Alfa GT v6

Lancer Evo (though I suspect servicing it every 100 miles and living with 20mpg night wear thin)


Thoughts/suggestions?

[Stu-nph26]

E46 M3? Lotus Elise, VX220 or TVR Chimera if you don't mind 2 seats and you can get one for your budget.

[sawman]

Legacy spec b or one of the jdm 4 pot turbos, probably less likely to cause a chavchariot related divorce

[Stu-nph26]

Can you get a Manaro for 10K? Worth a look.

[Scobblelotcher]

10K will get you a great Impreza and you could either go for a few years older with a big spec (350bhp+) or look for something like a 330s which looks very civilised, reliable, comfortable and massively quicker than your Octavia . The AWD is also very useful in winter.

It’s worth being mindful the 2.5t engine can have issues (often around 50-70k) so forged rebuilds are preferable or standard cars. The 2.0 engine on the other hand is very reliable.

[Lundqvist]

Stu-nph26 said:

E46 M3? Lotus Elise, VX220 or TVR Chimera if you don't mind 2 seats and you can get one for your budget.

Elise and TVR are both on the long list - to own before dying - but sadly neither children nor camping kit are likely to fit

I do rather fancy an M3, but most of the 10kish examples look fairly leggy and the potential for big bills scares me a little.

[Stu-nph26]

Lundqvist said:

Elise and TVR are both on the long list - to own before dying - but sadly neither children nor camping kit are likely to fit

I do rather fancy an M3, but most of the 10kish examples look fairly leggy and the potential for big bills scares me a little.

http://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/showthread.php?t=182817 It's a convertible, but would leave a war chest of 2k and pretty much depreciation proof

[ZX10R NIN]

The Megane RS is the one great chassis good power & overall a stonking car.

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

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

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

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

[Lundqvist]

ZX10R NIN said:

The Megane RS is the one great chassis good power & overall a stonking car.

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

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

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

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

The Megane is the one I really want, but I gather the boot is truely pitiful? In many ways the ITR offers nearly as many thrills but with more practicality...

[Lundqvist]

sawman said:

Legacy spec b or one of the jdm 4 pot turbos, probably less likely to cause a chavchariot related divorce

Truely never considered one of thes- specs etc look good and I do like the looks. Decent saloons seem like gold dust though!

[ZX10R NIN]

Lundqvist said:

The Megane is the one I really want, but I gather the boot is truely pitiful? In many ways the ITR offers nearly as many thrills but with more practicality...

I didn't think it was that bad, take a look at one & see if it works for you.

[sawman]

Lundqvist said:

Truely never considered one of thes- specs etc look good and I do like the looks. Decent saloons seem like gold dust though!

Wagons are the way forward

[rich85uk]

Considering you enjoy driving the standard model then the FN2 Type R is the obvious answer and your budget would get a nice late one with LSD, had mine nearly 2 years now and it truly is a great car. a DC5 will no doubt be the better 'Type R' but they are hit by the scene tax so you will be getting an older car for the money, although it will have many small JDM advantages


Hard to ignore what ZX10R NIN suggests though, truly applaud his input to this forum over the years

[cerb4.5lee]

Another vote for the Megane, you won't get any fun from a E90 330i...they're a great all round car but dull overall.

[designforlife]

Whole heartedly recommend the DC5, bought one 9 months ago, and can't see myself getting rid for a long time.

Ideal blend of performance and practicality, with that honda reliability thrown in. MPG is manageable, and they're still pretty quick cars, even by modern standards.

£10k is right on the money to buy a nice clean low miler, and you won't lose any money on it, mine is still worth what i paid for it, and can't see that dipping.