300bhp per tonne

[10mmspanners]

Had lots of cars over the years in varying power, but to me the bhp per tonne is a true measure of how quick a car feels. I'm looking at getting back into something above 300bhp/tonne. And most importantly cheaper the better but will be a daily so ideally 4WD and below 40k miles.

Last few have been:
-Exige V6
-M2
-M2 Competition

Things I've considered upto 60-70k are:
-Guilia Quadrifoglio (Cheap even around 35k but reliable?)
-Nissan GTR (Ticks all boxes but prices for good examples are ££)
-F Type R / SVR (Would prefer 4 seats and reliability)
-Porsche 911 GTS 911.1 / 911.2 (Very top end of budget)
-M3 X-Drive (Pricey but hoot to drive)

I've disregarded a C63S and any other 2 or 2.5L German equivalents or EVs. Noise is a must!

[CG2020UK]

Think the natural progression is if you want more sports car than your M2 you have to go Porsche.

New M3 is brilliant I’m a huge fan and doesn’t really have a weakness.

F90 M5 is a fantastic but big.

What type of car is it you are looking as that might help?

You’ll get EVs that are as fast if not faster in the real world but won’t be drivers cars like above.

[ChocolateFrog]

Assumed this was going to be about the eponymous PHer.

The answer to any car buying question being an 84 Buick Grand National.

[InitialDave]

Sounds like you're looking at relatively hefty stuff with around 500bhp to achieve your metric.

At the other end of the scale, a GR Yaris with some work done on it could give you what you want, but with the lower weight may also give the feeling you're after even without hitting that power to weight ratio.

[LunarOne]

ChocolateFrog said:

Assumed this was going to be about the eponymous PHer.

The answer to any car buying question being an 84 Buick Grand National.

Looks very much like the '79 Buick Regal my parents brought back from the U.S. having realised that it was cheaper to buy a car than rent one for a road trip around the east coast US and Canada in 1979. Dad died the following year but we kept the car in the family for a long time. I still have a new unpainted fibreglass front end for it (single headlights as in pic below) in my storage unit in case anyone needs one?

[Roger Irrelevant]

ChocolateFrog said:

Assumed this was going to be about the eponymous PHer.

The answer to any car buying question being an 84 Buick Grand National.

That's not quite fair - occasionally he would recommend a Series Land Rover too (after a 2,000 word essay on the many and varied benefits of solid axles).

[popeyewhite]

Out of your list M3 XDrive. Standard it's just under 300 bhp/tonne. But I went out in a tuned 700 bhp XDrive before Christmas (about 390 bhp/tonne) and it went like stink. I was very impressed, however it was also ridiculously expensive when you can buy a Golf r, RS3, M2, M240i, etc etc and go just as fast or thereabouts with a tune.

Personally I'd discount the Skyline from your list. Very expensive to tune, lots can go wrong, and even heavily tuned they would be no quicker than an XDrive. Well, not so you'd notice anyway.

[10mmspanners]

Thanks for the inputs so far.

Question is, are the Porsches that good? Are they worth the prices you pay for them? My worry is that they would do everything 'too' good so overall seem dull.

I agree with the M3 X-Drive as had one for a few days whilst M2 was in for work, they are insane and still feel like a rear wheel drive M car, a tuned one must be truly mad.

Its taken 10+ years for the germans to do what the GTR can do which makes the GTR even more impressive for its age and always been drawn to them. Hefty bills is a worry.

And for the SVR and QF I'm not so sure. Saw a QF yesterday and it looked epic in comp red

[PushedDover]

Harry Catchpole seemed happy enough with:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9jsK5lLHEM&t=...


Not sure it fits your brief though....

Edited by PushedDover on Thursday 27th February 15:53

[popeyewhite]

I like Skylines myself, but it's had its time IMV. Not the quickest or most nimble and they're hideously overpriced, but love the looks and the size. Sigh. I owned a 911 Carrera S, good car for when you want a tiny sportscar that handles well, but that's about all it did. Sold it after a year for an RS6 which at least was comfortable and could be used year round.

[rallycross]

ChocolateFrog said:

Assumed this was going to be about the eponymous PHer.

The answer to any car buying question being an 84 Buick Grand National.

Where's he gone?

[Frankychops]

10mmspanners said:

Thanks for the inputs so far.

Question is, are the Porsches that good? Are they worth the prices you pay for them? My worry is that they would do everything 'too' good so overall seem dull.

I agree with the M3 X-Drive as had one for a few days whilst M2 was in for work, they are insane and still feel like a rear wheel drive M car, a tuned one must be truly mad.

Its taken 10+ years for the germans to do what the GTR can do which makes the GTR even more impressive for its age and always been drawn to them. Hefty bills is a worry.

And for the SVR and QF I'm not so sure. Saw a QF yesterday and it looked epic in comp red

The Alfa or a gtr. The gtr is very robust, especially standard. The BMW’s, are just BMW’s

[Pixel Pusher]

10mmspanners said:

Had lots of cars over the years in varying power, but to me the bhp per tonne is a true measure of how quick a car feels. I'm looking at getting back into something above 300bhp/tonne. And most importantly cheaper the better but will be a daily so ideally 4WD and below 40k miles.

Last few have been:
-Exige V6
-M2
-M2 Competition

Things I've considered upto 60-70k are:
-Guilia Quadrifoglio (Cheap even around 35k but reliable?)
-Nissan GTR (Ticks all boxes but prices for good examples are ££)
-F Type R / SVR (Would prefer 4 seats and reliability)
-Porsche 911 GTS 911.1 / 911.2 (Very top end of budget)
-M3 X-Drive (Pricey but hoot to drive)

I've disregarded a C63S and any other 2 or 2.5L German equivalents or EVs. Noise is a must!

This might help.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[popeyewhite]

Frankychops said:

The Alfa or a gtr. The gtr is very robust, especially standard. The BMW’s, are just BMW’s

The GTR, lets say something like a standard 2018, is no faster than a standard M3 XDrive. They weigh the same, have the same power, more or less. As against that, yes, the BMWs are just BMWs!

[CG2020UK]

10mmspanners said:

Question is, are the Porsches that good? Are they worth the prices you pay for them? My worry is that they would do everything 'too' good so overall seem dull.

Touchy question that one

They offer very fast lap times which typically means a very stable and predictable car.

Very often people drive an M sport 3 series and think it’s like an M3 when it’s not even close. I think Porsche has the same problem a lot of times with lower trims.

Louder inside than an M2 for how hard to live with reference point.

10mmspanners said:

And for the SVR and QF I'm not so sure. Saw a QF yesterday and it looked epic in comp red

I love the F-Type but dynamically it’s up against stiff competition in your list.
QF is a smasher but it’s smaller inside than the M3. I took an M2 over one 3 years ago.

Nissan GTR is the coolest car in your list but I’ve never been in one and my Japanese car knowledge is poor.

Mercedes AMG GTs are in budget?

[cerb4.5lee]

ChocolateFrog said:

Assumed this was going to be about the eponymous PHer.

The answer to any car buying question being an 84 Buick Grand National.

I always miss him when he is not here though.

[cerb4.5lee]

CG2020UK said:

10mmspanners said:

Question is, are the Porsches that good? Are they worth the prices you pay for them? My worry is that they would do everything 'too' good so overall seem dull.

Touchy question that one

It seems the OP knows his stuff for sure!

[Phil.]

I’ve owned a GTR, V8 F-Types and F90 M5 Comps. The M5 would suit your needs perfectly. It’s as fast as a GTR but a far better and more comfortable daily.

[JackReacher]

Slightly left field option, but a 718 Cayman S or GTS is about 260bhp per ton. The S can be had from about £35k. Very quick cars as standard but can also be tuned easily to 400-450bhp taking them over 300bhp/ton. Also offers manual gearbox option. Yes the sound is not as good as the 6 cylinder versions, but some of the cars you've listed don't sound that great. Also much more nimble than most of the other suggestions.

You can also get 991.2 carrera's under £60k than can be tuned to big power, see litchfield options.

[Frankychops]

popeyewhite said:

The GTR, lets say something like a standard 2018, is no faster than a standard M3 XDrive. They weigh the same, have the same power, more or less. As against that, yes, the BMWs are just BMWs!

I’d bet they are faster A>B. The Nissan looks better and just has something ‘more’. Especially in a sea of bmw’s