5 cylinder + RWD for 20k options?

[Pig benis]

Hello folks

This year I accepted a new job which resulted in a 110 miles per day commute, this meant I sold my toy to buy a BMW e91 330D auto with 24k on the clock. However, I no longer need this car due to getting a job much closer to home (I now walk to work) so the diesel needs to go.

The 330D has been my first RWD car and I want to stick with a RWD car but I am desperate for a 5 cylinder engine. I have always wanted a Ford Focus RS mk2, but after years of owning FWD cars, I would finally like a performance RWD car. Can any of you think of a 5 cylinder, RWD car for about 20k?

The other option is to buy a manual competition pack e92 M3, but the potential for massive bills does put me off.

Advice would be massively appreciated.

PB

[kambites]

Hmm. The only RWD five-pot I can think of at all is the south American market VW camper. There's a few 4wd options.

[s m]

A very old diesel Merc????

[kambites]

Ah yeah, I forgot Mercedes bad a five-cylinder diesel engine in the 80s.

There you go, two options and I bet you can get both for £20k. Let us know which you choose.

[Pig benis]

kambites said:

Hmm. The only RWD five-pot I can think of at all is the south American market VW camper. There's a few 4wd options.

A camper would be so cool, but I doubt it has the performance I'm after.

I have looked at pushing the budget for an RS3, which felt like a rocket on the test drive and the noise was glorious, I just feel I would get bored very quickly of another AWD car. My previous car was a Subaru Impreza, this car had huge levels of grip in nearly all driving conditions which was its downfall, as I like a car to move around and not just be a 'point and squirt'. The Subaru in question though was unbelievably mint, she only had 55k on the clock, Sonic blue etc she was awesome.

[Pig benis]

kambites said:

Ah yeah, I forgot Mercedes bad a five-cylinder diesel engine in the 80s.

There you go, two options and I bet you can get both for £20k. Let us know which you choose.

Thanks for your help chaps, I shall keep y'all updated

[J4CKO]

Any six cylinder BMW, remove a plug ?

Dont think it exists im afraid.

Only exponent of 5 cyls these days is Audi with the TTRS/RS3.

In the past, again Audi were pretty keen on 5 cylinder engines, 90, 100, 200, quattro etc

Fiat did a 5 cyl in the Coupe and Marea, but FWD

As mentioned older Merc diesels

There were 5 cyl VW's, the VR5, which was available in Golfs, Leons etc

Loads of Volvos were for a few years, most notably the 850 T5/T5R/V70 AWD

Also a fan as they were a great combination of being preferable/more interesting than a 4 without the additional burden of a six, and they made a nice noise.

[Sheepshanks]

kambites said:

Ah yeah, I forgot Mercedes bad a five-cylinder diesel engine in the 80s.

Much more recent - C/E270 was sold until around 2006 - I’ve had a 2005 model C270CDi Estate since it was a few moths old. One of the reasons I’ve held on to it is I love the sound and feel of its engine.

[MDMA .]

How about a TTRS with a Gen 4 HPA Haldex controller?

[Pig benis]

J4CKO said:

Any six cylinder BMW, remove a plug ?

Dont think it exists im afraid.

Only exponent of 5 cyls these days is Audi with the TTRS/RS3.

In the past, again Audi were pretty keen on 5 cylinder engines, 90, 100, 200, quattro etc

Fiat did a 5 cyl in the Coupe and Marea, but FWD

As mentioned older Merc diesels

There were 5 cyl VW's, the VR5, which was available in Golfs, Leons etc

Loads of Volvos were for a few years, most notably the 850 T5/T5R/V70 AWD

Also a fan as they were a great combination of being preferable/more interesting than a 4 without the additional burden of a six, and they made a nice noise.

It does strike me as strange that there aren't any RWD 5 cylinder performance cars. I'm really not interested in an Audi RS3/TTRS, they are very nice cars but the quattro setup really doesn't appeal to me.

Time to go back to the drawing board on which car to buy. It is such a shame the E92 M3 is such a pig to run, the fuel side of things does not bother me as I do 10k miles per annum, but it is having to replace rod bearings, throttle actuators, M tax on all parts etc would get tiresome and I know I would end up selling the car, I just can't think of any other car at the moment that I would like to own.

[Brainpox]

The Donkervoort D8 GTO is a RWD 5-cylinder but you won't see one for £20k.

[QuattroDave]

old Audi S2 can be converted to RWD, but I'll guarantee that it'll be no fun to drive with the engine in front of the headlights! My old URQ sounded and looked epic but it wasn't a car to enjoy quickly (especially as there was always a high chance of something breaking!).

[Turbotechnic]

Build one. Stick a Volvo 5pot turbo in a Volvo 240 saloon

[J4CKO]

I bought an M135i, fits your bill, just has an extra cylinder, can even be pretty good on fuel if you are on a longer run and careful.

Its a bit of an obvious choice at that budget, poss get an M140i for that now.

To be honest, much as I love the five cylinder engines I have had, Audi 100, Fiat Coupe, Volvo 850T, the BMW six is better and makes quite a nice noise.

[tril]

The car unfortunately just doesn't exist for £20k.

You could push for a previous gen RS3 or TTRS but the 8P RS3 is pretty crap and the 8J TTRS has a manual gearbox from a van. The 8V and 8S are much improved but you won't get close to one with £20k.

Your best bet is a M235i

[Pig benis]

J4CKO said:

I bought an M135i, fits your bill, just has an extra cylinder, can even be pretty good on fuel if you are on a longer run and careful.

Its a bit of an obvious choice at that budget, poss get an M140i for that now.

To be honest, much as I love the five cylinder engines I have had, Audi 100, Fiat Coupe, Volvo 850T, the BMW six is better and makes quite a nice noise.

I have been looking at the M Lites for a few months now, I even test drove one and they are fantastic. The only thing stopping me buying one is they don't look special enough for me. I haven't had a car yet which has wide arches and this is an absolute must for me, as who doesn't love a wide track

I am genuinely stuck on which car to buy, as I want the chassis setup from an E92 M3 and the engine from the Ford Focus RS mk2

[gsl67]

Mk2 Focus RS maybe? Closest to your price point I can think of, obviously lacks RWD though.

[J4CKO]

Pig benis said:

J4CKO said:

I bought an M135i, fits your bill, just has an extra cylinder, can even be pretty good on fuel if you are on a longer run and careful.

Its a bit of an obvious choice at that budget, poss get an M140i for that now.

To be honest, much as I love the five cylinder engines I have had, Audi 100, Fiat Coupe, Volvo 850T, the BMW six is better and makes quite a nice noise.

I have been looking at the M Lites for a few months now, I even test drove one and they are fantastic. The only thing stopping me buying one is they don't look special enough for me. I haven't had a car yet which has wide arches and this is an absolute must for me, as who doesn't love a wide track

I am genuinely stuck on which car to buy, as I want the chassis setup from an E92 M3 and the engine from the Ford Focus RS mk2

Yeah, they pretty much look like any other one series, I quite like the looks but the roads are teeming with the things so can see your dilemma, and M2 would be the obvious solution but they are all 35k plus unfortunately.

M235i looks a bit more special but doesnt have that pugnacious stance you are after, would need a bit of work such as lowering, either wider wheels or spacers, there is a white M135i at the gym that looks great, black Rota Grids etc, a bit OTT for me personally at 48 but it looks very nicely done.

[MikeGoodwin]

I wouldn't let the E92 M3 worry you too much, do your homework and work out running costs (see Evolve Automotive for ideas on service costs and bearing replacement) and work out fuel as 200 miles to £85 vpower and thats what itll cost you. Running costs arent that bad considering what it is so long as you avoid the stealerships. Sold mine this year (kneejerk reaction) and regret it, want back in one next year sometime.

If you buy into the rod bearing fiasco then budget in to swap them out or look for a car thats had them done. If you can spanner then the actuators shouldn't worry you too much. DCT boxes are reliable presently.

Its a big car though in my mind best as a daily, the engine being the main event. Next time round I'd go coilovers, primary cat delete and 18's.

Definitely a car to own once.

[QuattroDave]

Pig benis said:

J4CKO said:

I bought an M135i, fits your bill, just has an extra cylinder, can even be pretty good on fuel if you are on a longer run and careful.

Its a bit of an obvious choice at that budget, poss get an M140i for that now.

To be honest, much as I love the five cylinder engines I have had, Audi 100, Fiat Coupe, Volvo 850T, the BMW six is better and makes quite a nice noise.

I have been looking at the M Lites for a few months now, I even test drove one and they are fantastic. The only thing stopping me buying one is they don't look special enough for me. I haven't had a car yet which has wide arches and this is an absolute must for me, as who doesn't love a wide track

I am genuinely stuck on which car to buy, as I want the chassis setup from an E92 M3 and the engine from the Ford Focus RS mk2

I have an M140 and I tend to agree with you. A couple of things I've done have helped. Ordering it in Valencia Orange and changing the black 80mm tips for 100mm chrome rolled edge slash cut tips that fit the valence to within 5mm. I'd love to get the arches flared more but as yet not found anyone who's done it on these cars. I think it'll give it the aggressive look it needs. M2esque rear arch bulge would be enough.