Any cars with over 200bhp, more than 35mpg for under £3000?

[Baryonyx]

psummers said:

I can't see how an n/a wouldn't get 35mpg. I was getting consistently over that in my turbo driving to and around Cornwall, with two people in the car and both boots filled with luggage.



I was down to 26mpg around town in the cold weather recently, but I've found my MR2 pretty economical for what it is.

There must be something wrong with it. Unless you haven't realised that it redlines at 7000rpm rather than 3000rpm! Is your turbo actually connected!?

[CooperS]

RobCrezz said:

Vladimir said:

RobCrezz said:

I would be looking at EP3 Civic Type Rs at this price too, will be fairly high milage as it will be the bottom end of the market, but if you look around I bet you can get a prefacelift thats been well maintained. 100k+ isnt a problem for these if maintained well.

I've heard the engines haven't suffered a single failure. But this might be an urban myth?!

Yeah urban myth, the vtec system hasnt suffered a failure, not the engines. However the engines (and other mechanicals) are still very reliable.

What are they like cruise along a motorway?

I would say 182 but they are a bit noisy on long journeys.

I'm in the siutation where i might have to say goodbye to my M as i will be doing 78 miles a day but dont want something dull.

[psummers]

Baryonyx said:

There must be something wrong with it. Unless you haven't realised that it redlines at 7000rpm rather than 3000rpm! Is your turbo actually connected!?

Yes, although I’m beginning to wonder.

I do sit at 60-65mph on the motorway, I find it much more relaxing to chill out in the (usually deserted) inside lane and let everyone else battle with the MLMs and the accelerate/brake fest that is the outside lane. I am by no means hypermileing though.

You can get good economy out of performance cars if you drive sensibly. I’d much rather drive a bit slower on the motorway so that I can enjoy more interesting roads without worrying about it ruining my wallet.

Also, the redline is at 7,250rpm not 7,000rpm

[Steameh]

CooperS said:

What are they like cruise along a motorway?

I would say 182 but they are a bit noisy on long journeys.

I'm in the siutation where i might have to say goodbye to my M as i will be doing 78 miles a day but dont want something dull.

Mine wasnt the best on the motorway, tramlined a lot, was pretty noisy and the standard stereo was gunk. Overtaking was a breeze though.

Did a few trips from Leeds and Doncaster to Portsmouth, 4 hour stint mainly motorways, it wasnt overly uncomfortable but every time I was exhausted from the drive because it isnt a cruiser

[RobCrezz]

CooperS said:

RobCrezz said:

Vladimir said:

RobCrezz said:

I would be looking at EP3 Civic Type Rs at this price too, will be fairly high milage as it will be the bottom end of the market, but if you look around I bet you can get a prefacelift thats been well maintained. 100k+ isnt a problem for these if maintained well.

I've heard the engines haven't suffered a single failure. But this might be an urban myth?!

Yeah urban myth, the vtec system hasnt suffered a failure, not the engines. However the engines (and other mechanicals) are still very reliable.

What are they like cruise along a motorway?

I would say 182 but they are a bit noisy on long journeys.

I'm in the siutation where i might have to say goodbye to my M as i will be doing 78 miles a day but dont want something dull.

Not too bad. The gears are short, so 6th is about 4000rpm but it doesn't seem too bad as the engine will rev to 8200rpm. I managed just over 40mpg on a long run in my old one. Expect around 25mpg with town driving and even lower when giving it some welly.

[caiss4]

Thought I would have seen an Alfa156V6 after 5 pages. Misses the criteria slightly on all counts 190bhp, probably 28mpg at best and 0-60 in, well, it's quick enough. Sound track to die for, reliable, comfortable and you can get a 10 year old relatively low mileage minter for under £2k so plenty of change for the petrol and or insurance (£125 pa but then I'm an old git)

[samdale]

Baryonyx said:

psummers said:

I can't see how an n/a wouldn't get 35mpg. I was getting consistently over that in my turbo driving to and around Cornwall, with two people in the car and both boots filled with luggage.



I was down to 26mpg around town in the cold weather recently, but I've found my MR2 pretty economical for what it is.

There must be something wrong with it. Unless you haven't realised that it redlines at 7000rpm rather than 3000rpm! Is your turboaccelerator pedal actually connected!?

EFA.

Not sure how anything above idle achieved that. Best I've had so far in my N/A is 32. Best I have ever heard of from a turbo is low 30's and if it's anything other than purely cruising without boost then that's soon down to low 20's.
Even into the teens on a good hoon.

[anonymous-user]

DC2 achieves 25-32 depending on roads.

[6potdave]

psummers said:

samdale said:

HAHA Even my N/A won't see 35mpg easily. Cracking cars though. Best BHP an N/A will have is 170-odd (7.something to 60), unless you are jammy enough to find a 'beams' for that money...

I can't see how an n/a wouldn't get 35mpg. I was getting consistently over that in my turbo driving to and around Cornwall, with two people in the car and both boots filled with luggage.



I was down to 26mpg around town in the cold weather recently, but I've found my MR2 pretty economical for what it is.

Get around 26mpg from my N/A. Economical it is not, however most of my driving is combined with a roads and city centres.

[Flying machine]

6potdave said:

psummers said:

samdale said:

HAHA Even my N/A won't see 35mpg easily. Cracking cars though. Best BHP an N/A will have is 170-odd (7.something to 60), unless you are jammy enough to find a 'beams' for that money...

I can't see how an n/a wouldn't get 35mpg. I was getting consistently over that in my turbo driving to and around Cornwall, with two people in the car and both boots filled with luggage.



I was down to 26mpg around town in the cold weather recently, but I've found my MR2 pretty economical for what it is.

Get around 26mpg from my N/A. Economical it is not, however most of my driving is combined with a roads and city centres.

Totally agree - I had an MR2 T quite a few years ago now and with mild mods it never saw anywhere near 30 mpg, 25 much more (optimistically) realistic. Only my impreza has been worse on fuel. Good fun though. Plus as the OP obviously has economy in mind I wouldn't even consider one of these as they will be almost exclusively total nails at that price and age now.

[traffman]

Our type r (ep3) manages 30 ish mpg , but thats generally staying out of the vtec zone , 134 thousand miles and still going stronger than ever.

I dont think its worth much more than 3 grand , which is a shame as we shelled out 10 thousand for it

[Talksteer]

johnpeat said:

Talksteer said:

Fiat Coupe 20VT

220bhp (once)

0-60 - 6.0

38mpg - Euro

22mpg around town - high 30s on a steady dual run - 38mpg is fairytalk.

I used to get about 30 average, but I quoted the book figure because its a standard measure. Either way the 20VT is pretty economic given it's performance and age.

[Crippo]

Kit Car?

[Rammy76]

psummers said:

Yes, although I’m beginning to wonder.

I do sit at 60-65mph on the motorway, I find it much more relaxing to chill out in the (usually deserted) inside lane and let everyone else battle with the MLMs and the accelerate/brake fest that is the outside lane. I am by no means hypermileing though.

You can get good economy out of performance cars if you drive sensibly. I’d much rather drive a bit slower on the motorway so that I can enjoy more interesting roads without worrying about it ruining my wallet.

That what I like to do too, when the motorway is very busy.

Sitting back and letting everyone battle out the other 2 lanes and generally stressing out whilst I sit back listening to decent music and taking in the scenery is quite satisfying!

The fact your MPG is good and you generally tend to catch up with most of the cars "pressing on" anyway seems to prove the point even more

On the point of car choice, like said before something light like a Clio 182 would surely be the best bet.

[Jayfish]

Fiat Coupe 20VT, even the MPG is achievable, but you may find you just don't want to get any more than say 14 MPG