SLEEPERS! Anyone have a street sleeper here?
Discussion
Fermit said:
I had one of those for about 18yrs and when new, no not a sleeper and these days not really either as they're so rare now as are all MK3 Cavaliers that it'd likely appear on more people's radar. However, equally.... a few years back when Cavaliers were common, they were a bit sleeper spec as less were aware of what it was and I guess even today, would 23yr old Darren in his Golf R know what it was and thus be taken by surprise.
Mine was around 300bhp and would run into the 13's with a sub 6 second to 60 time so not a slow car, so leave it a bit grubby and again it could surprise a few things so again, grey area but in some ways, yes.
Stick the running gear in a clapped out, rusty arches, grey bumper standard 4x4 and that'd be starting to reach peak sleeper. Always fancied doing that.
Is it just me or do other people on here find themselves looking at cars & wondering if there's something special underneath?
Example from last weekend: parked up in a retail park car park & opposite was a very clean, plain white, M plate Polo. The wheels looked a bit wide for the car, but other than that it was like that Renault 5 above - a well looked after example of an older car. My instant thought was "sleeper?" Didn't see it move, so no idea whether it was or not, but I've wondered about it ever since.
Example from last weekend: parked up in a retail park car park & opposite was a very clean, plain white, M plate Polo. The wheels looked a bit wide for the car, but other than that it was like that Renault 5 above - a well looked after example of an older car. My instant thought was "sleeper?" Didn't see it move, so no idea whether it was or not, but I've wondered about it ever since.
alangla said:
Is it just me or do other people on here find themselves looking at cars & wondering if there's something special underneath?
Example from last weekend: parked up in a retail park car park & opposite was a very clean, plain white, M plate Polo. The wheels looked a bit wide for the car, but other than that it was like that Renault 5 above - a well looked after example of an older car. My instant thought was "sleeper?" Didn't see it move, so no idea whether it was or not, but I've wondered about it ever since.
I’d say its sort of the idea. 99% of joe public wouldn’t look twice at it, except to maybe say “haven’t seen one of those for years”. But on that note, I think I’m in the minority on this thread that I think older, less commonly sighted cars lose some “sleeper status” just because they’re a rarer sight on UK roads. They don’t lose much but the rarity makes them stand out a bit. That Polo is prime example, you barely see the shape after that one you saw these days. Another 5yrs or so my 02 plate Astra will fit into that category as well I think. Example from last weekend: parked up in a retail park car park & opposite was a very clean, plain white, M plate Polo. The wheels looked a bit wide for the car, but other than that it was like that Renault 5 above - a well looked after example of an older car. My instant thought was "sleeper?" Didn't see it move, so no idea whether it was or not, but I've wondered about it ever since.
Turkish91 said:
alangla said:
Is it just me or do other people on here find themselves looking at cars & wondering if there's something special underneath?
Example from last weekend: parked up in a retail park car park & opposite was a very clean, plain white, M plate Polo. The wheels looked a bit wide for the car, but other than that it was like that Renault 5 above - a well looked after example of an older car. My instant thought was "sleeper?" Didn't see it move, so no idea whether it was or not, but I've wondered about it ever since.
I’d say its sort of the idea. 99% of joe public wouldn’t look twice at it, except to maybe say “haven’t seen one of those for years”. But on that note, I think I’m in the minority on this thread that I think older, less commonly sighted cars lose some “sleeper status” just because they’re a rarer sight on UK roads. They don’t lose much but the rarity makes them stand out a bit. That Polo is prime example, you barely see the shape after that one you saw these days. Another 5yrs or so my 02 plate Astra will fit into that category as well I think. Example from last weekend: parked up in a retail park car park & opposite was a very clean, plain white, M plate Polo. The wheels looked a bit wide for the car, but other than that it was like that Renault 5 above - a well looked after example of an older car. My instant thought was "sleeper?" Didn't see it move, so no idea whether it was or not, but I've wondered about it ever since.
A big part of the element of suprise is not standing out, so anything based on cars say 8 to 15 years old is the key age range, and being something not commonly modified is another factor, a 400 bhp Yaris Verso or Citroen Berlingo for example.
My Fiesta ST isn't a sleeper being an ST but another couple of surprises, an obviously highly tuned diesel Ibiza all whooshing and loads of smoke, tried to make a point and didn't, Audi S4 as well. Both kind of in the way really
I think sometimes cars can look a bit too sleepy, maybe mines just dozing ?
Its an interesting point whether cars lose "Sleeper" status when they become uncommon.
An example would be low-spec American body on frame cars of the 60s and 70s. Not the GTOs and Challenger Hemis, but the boggo spec four dour examples that played the role of everyday transport, before they all rusted away.
Now anytime I see something like the below, I assume it has a hopped up engine, because who would keep a Valiant or Chevette with a wheezy four or six in it?
An example would be low-spec American body on frame cars of the 60s and 70s. Not the GTOs and Challenger Hemis, but the boggo spec four dour examples that played the role of everyday transport, before they all rusted away.
Now anytime I see something like the below, I assume it has a hopped up engine, because who would keep a Valiant or Chevette with a wheezy four or six in it?
I think the too old to be a sleeper argument is only slightly valid for things like that renault 5 where the car is also suspiciously tidy too.
If I saw a 30 year old Micra no rust, super clean, nice wheels, I wouldn't think sleeper but I also wouldnt be surprised. If I saw the same car with a few dings, covered in grime etc I'd just think it was a s
tter that belonged to a local takeaway and be entirely surprised.
I don't think age is such a big deal with sleeps, bit of obvious neglect helps.
If I saw a 30 year old Micra no rust, super clean, nice wheels, I wouldn't think sleeper but I also wouldnt be surprised. If I saw the same car with a few dings, covered in grime etc I'd just think it was a s
tter that belonged to a local takeaway and be entirely surprised.I don't think age is such a big deal with sleeps, bit of obvious neglect helps.
RB Will said:
I think the too old to be a sleeper argument is only slightly valid for things like that renault 5 where the car is also suspiciously tidy too.
If I saw a 30 year old Micra no rust, super clean, nice wheels, I wouldn't think sleeper but I also wouldnt be surprised. If I saw the same car with a few dings, covered in grime etc I'd just think it was a stter that belonged to a local takeaway and be entirely surprised.
I don't think age is such a big deal with sleeps, bit of obvious neglect helps.
This is the conundrum i'm in.If I saw a 30 year old Micra no rust, super clean, nice wheels, I wouldn't think sleeper but I also wouldnt be surprised. If I saw the same car with a few dings, covered in grime etc I'd just think it was a s
tter that belonged to a local takeaway and be entirely surprised.I don't think age is such a big deal with sleeps, bit of obvious neglect helps.
I have a mk4 Astra which belonged to a family member that i'm now custodian of. Steel wheels, 4 door, dark blue. It's actually relatively tidy, no signficant rust. So it might make quite a good sleeper with a 450bhp engine fitted.
However, inherently, it is quite tidy and I'm in the throws of fixing it up, so I almost need to embrace the fact it isn't a wreck and enjoy it being a good example.
I have also, somehow, acquired the factory option BBS wheels, the full factory option body kit and projector headlamps. I suppose it would be wrong not to make it a really smart, clean car as the chassis is good as it stands. Obviously, still with the healthy engine.
C7 JFW said:
This is the conundrum i'm in.
I have a mk4 Astra which belonged to a family member that i'm now custodian of. Steel wheels, 4 door, dark blue. It's actually relatively tidy, no signficant rust. So it might make quite a good sleeper with a 450bhp engine fitted.
However, inherently, it is quite tidy and I'm in the throws of fixing it up, so I almost need to embrace the fact it isn't a wreck and enjoy it being a good example.
I have also, somehow, acquired the factory option BBS wheels, the full factory option body kit and projector headlamps. I suppose it would be wrong not to make it a really smart, clean car as the chassis is good as it stands. Obviously, still with the healthy engine.
If you wanted to do it I’d be happy to give some pointers. Easiest option is to acquire a complete Coupe Turbo which can still be had for relatively sensible money and then transfer everything across. I have a mk4 Astra which belonged to a family member that i'm now custodian of. Steel wheels, 4 door, dark blue. It's actually relatively tidy, no signficant rust. So it might make quite a good sleeper with a 450bhp engine fitted.
However, inherently, it is quite tidy and I'm in the throws of fixing it up, so I almost need to embrace the fact it isn't a wreck and enjoy it being a good example.
I have also, somehow, acquired the factory option BBS wheels, the full factory option body kit and projector headlamps. I suppose it would be wrong not to make it a really smart, clean car as the chassis is good as it stands. Obviously, still with the healthy engine.
Mine is remarkably tidy underneath (to the point it confuses me as it’s been used in all weathers and not really looked after in that way) but is battered on the outside… every panel has a dent or scuff on it
woodnut67 said:
Looks really cool, those Rover 3500 only had 160bhp so is it actually any faster? 
trails said:
woodnut67 said:
Looks really cool, those Rover 3500 only had 160bhp so is it actually any faster? But the forward motion would be, for me, would be secondary to my feeling of impending doom when driving a nearly 40 year old Easter Bloc budget car with a Rover V8 stuff where there was a little four cylinder, the RV8 isnt that heavy but I am guessing its heavier than the Skoda one with the new gearbox.
Get that wrong on a wet road its like driving lump hammer from the wooden end, its probably better than you expect, right until you get cocky and it bites.
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