Car to compete with an m140i? sub 16k

[schmalex]

I'd be looking at a Cayman or Box S.

[Glasgowrob]

Supra Turbo will qualify for a classis policy now will it not?

[Meridius]

If you cant quite insure an M135i/140i, can you insure any of those hot hatches once you've declared the remaps?

[LasseV]

Glasgowrob said:

Supra Turbo will qualify for a classis policy now will it not?

I don't know mate. It is old so maybe? I heard that insurance in UK is not that bad. My n/a insurance costs are low in my country.

[caveman87]

125i coupe with a tune would keep up and in your price range and manual and only 2.0

[Latters]

I've got an M135i and would definitely recommend one if you could stretch to it. If not, what about a previous shape 135i M Sport coupe?

If you're considering TTSs, what about a 350Z or 370Z? They offer good performance for the money. Insurance might be an issue again though.

Another couple of alternatives if you and your mates are into hatches; how about a MkV Golf R32, MkVI Golf R or a Mazda 3 MPS?

[mike9009]

I presume a VX220 turbo would be out because of the daily driver requirement?

I was doing 10k miles in my vx220 back in the day - and I loved it (except cold mornings could be a challenge ). Insurance was surprisingly reasonable considering the performance on offer. Mechanical bits are reasonable and readily available - have a prang though and it can be difficult now.

Should easily keep up/ beat the german duo you mention.

Mike

[akadk]

[nunpuncher]

My m135i was one of the worst cars I've ever driven on the highland B roads. Undulating, twisting roads with uneven and often loose or broken surfaces really, really do not suit the set up of that car. The steering is far too vague to give confidence on those sorts of narrow roads with zero run off and the suspension just doesn't like being pushed like that.

I've also owned a golf R which was great on those roads. Its only issue was the haldex natural tendency to under steer a bit if you over cooked a corner.

I've now got a cupra 290 and while it is frustratingly bad at putting power down when wet or even damp it will absolutely lunch the other 2 on your average Scottish B road. I missjudged a corner on the Aberfeldy road last weekend, it was pouring and I went in far too quick. I was still within the national speedlimit but the 30 sign before this corner was there for a reason. The cupra just bit into it like you wouldn't believe. It was unnatural. Both the other cars would have been off. Adaptive dampers as standard is a bonus and the comfort setting is perfect for the highland roads.

In saying all that, the most fun I've had on those roads were in a v spec mk1 mx5 and a 1.6 205 gti. Both capably kept up with more powerful cars due to their agility so I wouldn't base your decision on power.

I recon a mini GP would be the ultimate weapon for those roads. Much rarer and more original than your mates cars, reasonable running costs and will hold value really well.

Edited by nunpuncher on Sunday 26th March 09:27

[rich85uk]

Although slightly over budget something like this would be perfect, seems to have been modified sensibly and would save you thousands in the long run if you were to buy a standard R and start modifying

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...

Failing that a standard MK6 Golf R, Sirocco R or Cupra R (265). They all share the same engine and remap very well

I suspect the Cupra 280/290 and MK7 R will be out of budget for a while yet, unless your willing to wait until the market is flooded with an the ex leased examples

[lewisf182]

nunpuncher said:

My m135i was one of the worst cars I've ever driven on the highland B roads. Undulating, twisting roads with uneven and often loose or broken surfaces really, really do not suit the set up of that car. The steering is far too vague to give confidence on those sorts of narrow roads with zero run off and the suspension just doesn't like being pushed like that.

I've also owned a golf R which was great on those roads. Its only issue was the haldex natural tendency to under steer a bit if you over cooked a corner.

I've now got a cupra 290 and while it is frustratingly bad at putting power down when wet or even damp it will absolutely lunch the other 2 on your average Scottish B road. I missjudged a corner on the Aberfeldy road last weekend, it was pouring and I went in far too quick. I was still within the national speedlimit but the 30 sign before this corner was there for a reason. The cupra just bit into it like you wouldn't believe. It was unnatural. Both the other cars would have been off. Adaptive dampers as standard is a bonus and the comfort setting is perfect for the highland roads.

In saying all that, the most fun I've had on those roads were in a v spec mk1 mx5 and a 1.6 205 gti. Both capably kept up with more powerful cars due to their agility so I wouldn't base your decision on power.

I recon a mini GP would be the ultimate weapon for those roads. Much rarer and more original than your mates cars, reasonable running costs and will hold value really well.

Edited by nunpuncher on Sunday 26th March 09:27

I've never driven one but haven't heard nothing but goodness for the mini GP models. On readers cars theres a guy whose recently awitched to an e92 m3 and on welsh roads he couldn't keep up with a GP so i'd imagine a similar story with the m140i etc. They don't sound bad at al for a 4 pot either. Mk1's seem to hold their value incredibly well too, the mk2 less so.

[Hammy98]

caveman87 said:

125i coupe with a tune would keep up and in your price range and manual and only 2.0

Are these not an N/A 3 litre? The 125i hatch is a 2.0 twin turbo I believe

[Hammy98]

mike9009 said:

I presume a VX220 turbo would be out because of the daily driver requirement?

I was doing 10k miles in my vx220 back in the day - and I loved it (except cold mornings could be a challenge ). Insurance was surprisingly reasonable considering the performance on offer. Mechanical bits are reasonable and readily available - have a prang though and it can be difficult now.

Should easily keep up/ beat the german duo you mention.

Mike

Would love one! I'd maybe try a non turbo for a few months and see how I get on with it as a daily.

[Hammy98]

nunpuncher said:

I recon a mini GP would be the ultimate weapon for those roads. Much rarer and more original than your mates cars, reasonable running costs and will hold value really well.

GP is a good proposition, supercharged over turbo or the other way around?

I hear you on the cupra as well, theres a few floating around the 16k mark. Do you reckon the values will tumble a bit once the ex lease cars come onto the used market?

[Hammy98]

Cheers for all the replies btw. Instead of replying separately and bumping the thread constantly I'll address a few of the suggestions in one post.

Audi TT QS - are these the 1.8t? would imagine these are fairly quick with a map and the low weight & quattro. Anyone had any reliability issues? Just as they are a bit older than some of the other recommendations.

Supras etc - Insurance on these is astronomical unless N/A so rules them out unfortunately.

350z/370z - much the same as above, big displacement seems to kill them off with regards to insurance.

Mk6 Golf R/ Scirocco R/ Cupra R - Golf insurance is reasonable however they seem to be holding their value quite well so I can get a 2/3 year old cupra 280 for the same money. Scirocco and Cupra R insurance seems weirdly high so rules them out unfortunately.

Really fancy a Mini GP1, my dad had an r53 S when they first came out, noise from the supercharger was addictive. Away to run insurance quotes

EDIT: Gp insurance is eye watering, 3k! Seems limited numbers push it up a fair bit as am R56 JCW is half that.

Edited by Hammy98 on Monday 27th March 14:40

[Hammy98]

Meridius said:

If you cant quite insure an M135i/140i, can you insure any of those hot hatches once you've declared the remaps?

Insurance seems to vary wildly, some of the less common stuff is a lot cheaper to insure - I.e Mini Cooper S with a remap is a fair chunk less than a standard Fiesta ST.

[awlp16]

Hammy98 said:

350z/370z - much the same as above, big displacement seems to kill them off with regards to insurance.

Have you been quoted? My 370z was cheaper to insure than my 1.6tdi golf.

[Hammy98]

awlp16 said:

Have you been quoted? My 370z was cheaper to insure than my 1.6tdi golf.

2.2k unfortunately

[anonymous-user]

How about a Mazda 3 MPS? often overlooked despite being a very good car! Fast, 256bhp, tuneable engine if thats what you want to do, very reliable and look pretty good, also its not one of the default Germans

[Hammy98]

MonkeyMatt said:

How about a Mazda 3 MPS? often overlooked despite being a very good car! Fast, 256bhp, tuneable engine if thats what you want to do, very reliable and look pretty good, also its not one of the default Germans

Had a quick look at these on autotrader, always liked the facelift ones with the bonnet scoop. Doesn't seem to be any with mileage sub 40k which is a bit disappointing. I do 10-15k a year and would plan to keep for 2-3 years so would like a little lower mileage