Great sound and handling for 5k
Discussion
My wife is working from home and her super reliable but immensely boring yaris is sitting around not moving.
I'd like to change it for something that has a good sounding engine that handles well. I appreciate 'good' is subjective but ideas are welcome.
Max 5k but preferably less.
I've got a convertible so don't need another and my daily is V50 T5 so no 5 pots.
For reference I've had a Mk2 Focus and it was too spongy and heavy to be fun. I've had a Pug 208 GTI by PS which was excellent but the milits were too high at normal speeds. I've also had a MK1 Focus which I adored because of the feedback. Something between the latter would be great.
I'm happy to work on the car with regards to improving the sound or handling with moss to make it suit if that opens up options.
It needs to be able to do a 3 hr trip of Manc to whitby (on occasion) without destroying me.
ETA: Pref not a bmw but if its the best option I'll try it
I'd like to change it for something that has a good sounding engine that handles well. I appreciate 'good' is subjective but ideas are welcome.
Max 5k but preferably less.
I've got a convertible so don't need another and my daily is V50 T5 so no 5 pots.
For reference I've had a Mk2 Focus and it was too spongy and heavy to be fun. I've had a Pug 208 GTI by PS which was excellent but the milits were too high at normal speeds. I've also had a MK1 Focus which I adored because of the feedback. Something between the latter would be great.
I'm happy to work on the car with regards to improving the sound or handling with moss to make it suit if that opens up options.
It needs to be able to do a 3 hr trip of Manc to whitby (on occasion) without destroying me.
ETA: Pref not a bmw but if its the best option I'll try it
Edited by smiley_boy2501 on Thursday 22 October 21:55
Edited by smiley_boy2501 on Friday 23 October 09:10
Interesting as im more or less looking for same.
Ive nearly set myself on the Type R FN2 - does make a nice noise but made a thread about the handling side of things as i hear so many mixed views. But have also come across quite a few other cars in my search considering reliability and if examples are looked after.
For that i think also you may find, Celica Gt-four or Celica 190. Fiesta ST mk6, as already said EP3, Prelude if you dont mind going Auto, Golf Mk5 Gti or Lupo Gti however i had the Golf but found it felt quite heavy driving normally.
I also investigated RX-8 but the engine scared me off unfortunately, also possibly a high mile 350z or AW11 MR2 and Mk2 MR2 but of course these are quite rare.
Ive also spotted a few Accord Rs in this bracket but again can be quite rare and some examples also a bit ropey.
Ive nearly set myself on the Type R FN2 - does make a nice noise but made a thread about the handling side of things as i hear so many mixed views. But have also come across quite a few other cars in my search considering reliability and if examples are looked after.
For that i think also you may find, Celica Gt-four or Celica 190. Fiesta ST mk6, as already said EP3, Prelude if you dont mind going Auto, Golf Mk5 Gti or Lupo Gti however i had the Golf but found it felt quite heavy driving normally.
I also investigated RX-8 but the engine scared me off unfortunately, also possibly a high mile 350z or AW11 MR2 and Mk2 MR2 but of course these are quite rare.
Ive also spotted a few Accord Rs in this bracket but again can be quite rare and some examples also a bit ropey.
Edited by Ads22 on Friday 23 October 14:36
An Alfa with the Busso V6 will sound nice, GTV's are meant to handle well too.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfa-Romeo-GTV-3-0-V6-2...
That one is half way between Manchester and Whitby too, you could pick it up and enjoy the rest of the drive on some of the finest roads in the country.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfa-Romeo-GTV-3-0-V6-2...
That one is half way between Manchester and Whitby too, you could pick it up and enjoy the rest of the drive on some of the finest roads in the country.
Thanks for suggestions so far.
Forgot about the RX8. Will have a look. I'm aware of some of the issues and rebuilds etc.
I have a Mk3 MR2 (although I plan on replacing it with a boxster in due course) so I'd rather not go for another even if it is a hardtop.
Cooper S is a good shout.
Busso would be lovely. Thought the GTVs were meant to be a bit heavy nosed and therefore understeery.
As mentioned civics would be nice but EP3 is meant to be numb and the FN2 a bit too hard for British roads to really enjoy. Not sure.
I wish the ST170 had a more interesting engine.
Forgot about the RX8. Will have a look. I'm aware of some of the issues and rebuilds etc.
I have a Mk3 MR2 (although I plan on replacing it with a boxster in due course) so I'd rather not go for another even if it is a hardtop.
Cooper S is a good shout.
Busso would be lovely. Thought the GTVs were meant to be a bit heavy nosed and therefore understeery.
As mentioned civics would be nice but EP3 is meant to be numb and the FN2 a bit too hard for British roads to really enjoy. Not sure.
I wish the ST170 had a more interesting engine.
I've got an r53 Cooper S which sounds ok, it's not exactly going to give you an eargasm but the supercharger makes it a bit more interesting than the average 4 pot. The later ones make a lot of stupid popping and crackling noises which make a good job of telling everyone you're a dick.
I previously had an EP3 and while it has a nice metallic rasp to it at the top end, most of the time it just sounds like any other 4 pot ie... a bit s
t.
You really need more cylinders to sound good (unless its a 4 running carbs). Some sort of straight 6 BMW, A 350Z if they're still that cheap and I know you said you don't want a convertible but a 986 with a bypass pipe sounds magic and it'll tick the handling box better than anything else.
I previously had an EP3 and while it has a nice metallic rasp to it at the top end, most of the time it just sounds like any other 4 pot ie... a bit s
t.You really need more cylinders to sound good (unless its a 4 running carbs). Some sort of straight 6 BMW, A 350Z if they're still that cheap and I know you said you don't want a convertible but a 986 with a bypass pipe sounds magic and it'll tick the handling box better than anything else.
Vectra VXR
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007131...
Remove the graphics & this is a one
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010235...
3.2 159 JTS
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010185...
R32 if you don't mind a Cat D
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008313...
VR6
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009274...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007060...
3.2 A3
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010014...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009193...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009133...
330i as long as you're willing to do some work on the handling.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010054...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007131...
Remove the graphics & this is a one
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010235...
3.2 159 JTS
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010185...
R32 if you don't mind a Cat D
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008313...
VR6
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009274...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007060...
3.2 A3
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010014...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009193...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009133...
330i as long as you're willing to do some work on the handling.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010054...
Great shout with the GTV and that one you linked to looks to be a nice example at a fair price.
I've had 2 GTV V6's and loved them, the interior feels very special, they are unique, sound fantastic and drive very nicely.
I didn't notice any issues with the weight at the nose myself. I found the handling very planted, very little body roll - it just felt like the power and chassis were so well suited. There's a reason Jeremy Clarkson called it his coupe of the year.
The driving position is quite high, but other than that no complaints.
I've had 2 GTV V6's and loved them, the interior feels very special, they are unique, sound fantastic and drive very nicely.
I didn't notice any issues with the weight at the nose myself. I found the handling very planted, very little body roll - it just felt like the power and chassis were so well suited. There's a reason Jeremy Clarkson called it his coupe of the year.
The driving position is quite high, but other than that no complaints.
130i?...
RWD, manual (or auto), straight six with lovely linear power and noise. Practical if you get the 5 door too and returns around 32 - 36mpg on average.
Not too many around but for your budget you'd get one with under 100k on, pretty reliable being the N52 engine but buy on service history not mileage!
RWD, manual (or auto), straight six with lovely linear power and noise. Practical if you get the 5 door too and returns around 32 - 36mpg on average.
Not too many around but for your budget you'd get one with under 100k on, pretty reliable being the N52 engine but buy on service history not mileage!
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