Rare versions of common cars

[jogger1976]

Leveret said:

Audi A8 is quite common, A8 LWB W12 quite rare, usually one or two on Autotrader, but my A8 SWB W12 sports quattro is very rare. They made a few hundred in 2004/5 as a stopgap between the old D2 S8 V8 (anyone seen the 'Ronin' car chase?) and the new D3 S8 V10 -same power, but less torque than the W12. Only about 50 right hand drive versions were sold here - I don't know how many are still on the road.
I see it's been mentioned before in this thread - just thought I'd clarify and expand on it a bit. One of the finest sports saloons of its time - utterly delightful to drive.

I absolutely love A8's. There something really cool about them and they're great Q cars.
One of the best things I've seen in many years of motoring was an A8L Quattro absolutely monstering a 911 Carrera away from.the lights on an uphill slip road on.the A1M.
No.idea if it was chipped, but by the time the Porsche had reached the top of the slip road the Audi was in a distant figure in the outside lane.

[cmvtec]

Not 100% on topic, but after looking for a relative recently, anything mid-spec engine wise is rare on anything top end.

There are far more Mercedes S320 diesels and S500 than S430 for example.

Not sure if this is a British phenomenon though?

[AAD44H]

RENAULT WIND ROADSTER DYNAMIQUE S VVT - Top of the range model apart from the gordini. According to howmanyleft, only 1 of these awful cars remaining in this spec.

[stevesingo]

Dannbodge said:

Rawwr said:

The 320Si is pretty rare and I quite like the idea of it

They are lovely. Shame the engine is terrible.

The lack of a coolant temperature gauge is the greatest problem with the engine. No coincidence that the most cylinder liner failures occurred in the scandinavian countries.

As an engine to use, they are great with a naughty bark above 5k rpm. Had one for 2 1/2yrs and 60k miles without issue.

[Bjam99]

In keeping with the latest fast Yaris - I can't imagine there are huge numbers of the 1.8 Yaris SR out there?

[Bjam99]

also in the small car big engine league - the 1.8 SXI Corsa? currently only 5 for sale on Autotrader compared to 9,000+ of the usual rubbish.

[p1stonhead]

Bjam99 said:

also in the small car big engine league - the 1.8 SXI Corsa? currently only 5 for sale on Autotrader compared to 9,000+ of the usual rubbish.

1.8 is a big engine?

[antacid]

schmalex said:

What poppycock. In 99% of driving, a regular driver would never know the difference between front and rear wheel drive.

I disagree with that, dynamically even at low speeds you feel the difference, at anything near slightly enthusiastic, jumping in a rwd or fwd car, you feel a big difference, in terms of grip, cornering and even to the extent of having torque steer. You don't have to be the stig to feel that 'something' is different between the two

cologne2792 said:

Is the RHD Corvette actually produced or is it a conversion ? Are we talking modern 'Vette's or classic ones ?

The last one I remember was;

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077372/

Conversion - generally it costs around $50k to convert a Left hooker to right; as the parts arent available they fully reverse engineer the steering components (which often invoves re-routing engine components too) And fabricate most of the interior, dash, switchgear, gear stick and surrounds, sometimes chairs if it's a car where the driver's one has 'extra' functionality. There's only a handful of places that do each car and the attention to detail is great, but it means a $20-40k car becomes over $100 once you've gotten it on the road Looking to do it with either an SRT or a GTS at some point and it becomes ferarri 360 money

[M666 EVO]

Lancia Delta HPE - 3 door hatchback, FWD with Integrale engine.

Edited by M666 EVO on Thursday 25th January 10:02

[Bjam99]

Well...i'd prefer 123bhp over the base 64, but I admit neither is particularly appealing.

[Boobonman]

AppleJuice said:

E60 540i manual.
One on Autotrader; don't think owner comes with it though. Or does he?|https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201801243041168?advertising-location=at_cars&transmission=Manual&sort=sponsored&maximum-badge-engine-size=4.0&keywords=540i&quantity-of-doors=4&make=BMW&postcode=pe111sp&radius=1501&fuel-type=Petrol&model=5%20SERIES&onesearchad=Used&page=1[/url]

To be fair to him he has got his best tracksuit / baseball cap combo on.

[p1stonhead]

antacid said:

schmalex said:

What poppycock. In 99% of driving, a regular driver would never know the difference between front and rear wheel drive.

I disagree with that, dynamically even at low speeds you feel the difference, at anything near slightly enthusiastic, jumping in a rwd or fwd car, you feel a big difference, in terms of grip, cornering and even to the extent of having torque steer. You don't have to be the stig to feel that 'something' is different between the two

You only feel the difference because you know there is a difference. 90% of people probably dont even know FWD or RWD cars exist. They havent ever given a second's thought as to how their car functions.

[AppleJuice]

cmvtec said:

Not 100% on topic, but after looking for a relative recently, anything mid-spec engine wise is rare on anything top end.

There are far more Mercedes S320 diesels and S500 than S430 for example.

Not sure if this is a British phenomenon though?

Unsure if Britain received this model, but the mid-range W221 S450:

4663cc V8 > 340 PS / 460 Nm

[spodrod]

Have we had the Xantia Activa yet? Xantia's were everywhere in the mid-late 90s but I cant imagine many people stumped up for one with the tick, roll-eliminating suspension....

[PTF]

AppleJuice said:

I offer an E60 550i SE manual (as seen on PH):

That's stunning, and a great little back-story to go with it.

[Joe5y]

I’m yet to understand what a rare common car is yet so here’s mine, 1 of 66. Next to the Eiffel Tower, 1 of 2.

[AppleJuice]

W203/S203 30 CDI AMG:

3.0 I5 > 231 PS / 540 Nm

[MorganP104]

Boobonman said:

AppleJuice said:

E60 540i manual.
One on Autotrader; don't think owner comes with it though. Or does he?|https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201801243041168?advertising-location=at_cars&transmission=Manual&sort=sponsored&maximum-badge-engine-size=4.0&keywords=540i&quantity-of-doors=4&make=BMW&postcode=pe111sp&radius=1501&fuel-type=Petrol&model=5%20SERIES&onesearchad=Used&page=1[/url]

To be fair to him he has got his best tracksuit / baseball cap combo on.

If he doesn't own a local hand car wash, then I'm the Pope.

[vtecyo]

How about a Toyota Avensis estate with 4WD and the 3S-GTE from the Celica GT4 / MR2 turbo under the bonnet. Sold in Japan as the "Caldina".

[Jakg]

AppleJuice said:

W203/S203 30 CDI AMG:

3.0 I5 > 231 PS / 540 Nm

Very rare in the UK... because they were never sold over here (or in RHD). Not really sure that counts.

Same as the M550d