Cheapest V8 2 seater?

[CM2020]

coldel said:

CM2020 said:

All of them are supposed to be GTs then and not true sports cars? I can see the Cerbera being a GT. But Sagaris, T350C, Griffith? The 80s wedges? I would have though these would or should be sports cars. But if I'm wrong, my misconception then.

MX5 is nearly the perfect weekend car. If it only had a bit more grunt and sounded any good. I know about all the swaps etc. But really not looking for a frankenstein car and all the effort and expense of getting there and staying there.

Edited by CM2020 on Tuesday 14th March 10:42

Throw a BBR tune or similar at one? Even 30bhp extra on a lightweight car transforms it?

Ok, but how will it solve they sounding so unexciting? And if turbo, only makes it sound worse IMO.

All this just makes me think of how fun it could have been if Mercedes made a V8 R171 with a manual and a rag top. Just goes to confirm germans don't know how to party. They have been spoiling the party since the 80s now, with all but just the very expensive cars being any kind of fun lately.

[coldel]

CM2020 said:

Ok, but how will it solve they sounding so unexciting? And if turbo, only makes it sound worse IMO.

All this just makes me think of how fun it could have been if Mercedes made a V8 R171 with a manual and a rag top. Just goes to confirm germans don't know how to party. They have been spoiling the party since the 80s now, with all but just the very expensive cars being any kind of fun lately.

They do plenty of non turbo upgrades, the BBR 200 option for the mk3 MX5 adds around 45bhp and a decent exhaust can add some sound. Yes its not a V8 but in terms of driving nirvana its a good way to take the already good MX5 up another level.

[CM2020]

coldel said:

CM2020 said:

Ok, but how will it solve they sounding so unexciting? And if turbo, only makes it sound worse IMO.

All this just makes me think of how fun it could have been if Mercedes made a V8 R171 with a manual and a rag top. Just goes to confirm germans don't know how to party. They have been spoiling the party since the 80s now, with all but just the very expensive cars being any kind of fun lately.

They do plenty of non turbo upgrades, the BBR 200 option for the mk3 MX5 adds around 45bhp and a decent exhaust can add some sound. Yes its not a V8 but in terms of driving nirvana its a good way to take the already good MX5 up another level.

I need a V8 or at the very least a very satisfying V6. Pity the Alfa V6 was never in anything worthwhile.

[cerb4.5lee]

CM2020 said:

cerb4.5lee said:

CM2020 said:

FHCNICK said:

cerb4.5lee said:

I was only saying it as a bit of fun, and I was just alluding to the Cerb staying straight and not crashing, whereas the 2 seater binned it that's all.

that is from one of the crazy dutch tvrcc infamous Zolder track days I believe

I think it does show how much of a hand full these cars are though?

I remember mine snapping out on me once in the rain on my way back from work. Hardly any throttle and it just decided that it wanted to go sideways on me! I'd been driving it for about 18 miles so it wasn't like the tyres were cold or anything like that. You do have to respect the throttle and they definitely keep you on your toes at times. They involve you in the driving experience even at slow speeds, and there aren't many cars that do that I reckon.

I love driving involvement. But at which point it stops being involvement and becomes just you desperately trying to compensate for the car's incompetence?

The longer wheelbase/very quick steering still makes it controllable in the Cerb if you have some experience with RWD cars though I think(plus the chassis is predictable generally and you can mostly feel what it is going to do). I had 4 years in a mildly tuned S14 200SX before the Cerb so that helped loads for me as well. I did however struggle to get used to the Z4M Roadster that I had though, and that was a spiky so and so for me in comparison to the 200SX/Cerb for sure.

Edited by cerb4.5lee on Tuesday 14th March 11:54

[CABC]

You need 2 cars.
It’s what I did and didn’t stop at 2.

[KTMsm]

As I said, and has been confirmed by others, none of the cars have snap oversteer

Any rear wheel drive car can catch out someone who can't drive

The more power it has and particularly if it has an LSD, the easier it is for a bad driver to crash it

[CM2020]

cerb4.5lee said:

CM2020 said:

cerb4.5lee said:

CM2020 said:

FHCNICK said:

cerb4.5lee said:

I was only saying it as a bit of fun, and I was just alluding to the Cerb staying straight and not crashing, whereas the 2 seater binned it that's all.

that is from one of the crazy dutch tvrcc infamous Zolder track days I believe

I think it does show how much of a hand full these cars are though?

I remember mine snapping out on me once in the rain on my way back from work. Hardly any throttle and it just decided that it wanted to go sideways on me! I'd been driving it for about 18 miles so it wasn't like the tyres were cold or anything like that. You do have to respect the throttle and they definitely keep you on your toes at times. They involve you in the driving experience even at slow speeds, and there aren't many cars that do that I reckon.

I love driving involvement. But at which point it stops being involvement and becomes just you desperately trying to compensate for the car's incompetence?

The longer wheelbase/very quick steering still makes it controllable in the Cerb if you have some experience with RWD cars though I think(plus the chassis is predictable generally and you can mostly feel what it is going to do). I had 4 years in a mildly tuned S14 200SX before the Cerb so that helped loads for me as well. I did however struggle to get used to the Z4M Roadster that I had though, and that was a spiky so and so for me in comparison to the 200SX/Cerb for sure.

Edited by cerb4.5lee on Tuesday 14th March 11:54

I see what you mean now. Unfortunately a Cerbera and its engine is not something I really want to run.
Huge part of my initial no TVRs was exactly thinking about the speed6 and other non Rover TVRs.

[CM2020]

CABC said:

You need 2 cars.
It’s what I did and didn’t stop at 2.

Actually I only need one. A V8 manual 2 seats.

Although this will be car number 2 anyways.

[Shifter1]

CM2020 said:

CABC said:

You need 2 cars.
It’s what I did and didn’t stop at 2.

Actually I only need one. A V8 manual 2 seats.

Although this will be car number 2 anyways.

Give the C4 idea a shot then. They are fun and will be way more reliable and easier to run than any TVR. If that doesn't do it, you can always decide to go for a TVR later. But the Corvette exists exactly for this reason. They are the perfect fit for needs like yours. V8, manual, not heavy and no European car can match the performance for the money. They mop the floor with European cars costing twice what they do.

[KTMsm]

Shifter1 said:

Give the C4 idea a shot then.


no European car can match the performance for the money.

They mop the floor with European cars costing twice what they do.

That's just rubbish

I prefer Japanese cars but there are plenty of European cars that offer similar performance per pound

On an NSL if I was in BMW 330i I'd be surprised if a typical C4 stayed with me, there is no way it would lose me and a 330 probably costs half as much as a C4

[Zumbruk]

CM2020 said:

coldel said:

CM2020 said:

Ok, but how will it solve they sounding so unexciting? And if turbo, only makes it sound worse IMO.

All this just makes me think of how fun it could have been if Mercedes made a V8 R171 with a manual and a rag top. Just goes to confirm germans don't know how to party. They have been spoiling the party since the 80s now, with all but just the very expensive cars being any kind of fun lately.

They do plenty of non turbo upgrades, the BBR 200 option for the mk3 MX5 adds around 45bhp and a decent exhaust can add some sound. Yes its not a V8 but in terms of driving nirvana its a good way to take the already good MX5 up another level.

I need a V8 or at the very least a very satisfying V6. Pity the Alfa V6 was never in anything worthwhile.

Rocketeer.

[Shifter1]

KTMsm said:

Shifter1 said:

Give the C4 idea a shot then.


no European car can match the performance for the money.

They mop the floor with European cars costing twice what they do.

That's just rubbish

I prefer Japanese cars but there are plenty of European cars that offer similar performance per pound

On an NSL if I was in BMW 330i I'd be surprised if a typical C4 stayed with me, there is no way it would lose me and a 330 probably costs half as much as a C4

You need to first, compare like to like. BMW from C4's time. Second, obviously compare new prices. Used car prices have zero credibility. Or rusty old Fords would never cost what they do. And it was also clearly obvious I was talking about Corvettes, rather than only C4, which should have made even more clear I was talking new prices. And new prices, there is nothing from Europe that gives you the same performance for the price. This has always been the Corvette's thing.

Edited by Shifter1 on Wednesday 15th March 10:53

[CABC]

OP said V8, cheapest and added sports car driving appeal.
I know Chimearas are not the last word in sports car handling, but what cheap V8 beats it??

irreconcilable requirements.
Answer is a Chimeara and an MX5.

[Shifter1]

CABC said:

OP said V8, cheapest and added sports car driving appeal.
I know Chimearas are not the last word in sports car handling, but what cheap V8 beats it??

irreconcilable requirements.
Answer is a Chimeara and an MX5.

He's clearly concerned about the possible nightmare which could be running a TVR. In his OP he also clearly said he didn't want a TVR. It's his choice is it not?

MX5 was never a V8 and not everybody likes to deal with swaps and they don't have to.

[KTMsm]

Shifter1 said:

You need to first, compare like to like. BMW from C4's time. Second, obviously compare new prices. Used car prices have zero credibility. Or rusty old Fords would never cost what they do. And it was also clearly obvious I was talking about Corvettes, rather than only C4, which should have made even more clear I was talking new prices. And new prices, there is nothing from Europe that gives you the same performance for the price. This has always been the Corvette's thing.

Edited by Shifter1 on Wednesday 15th March 10:53

We are talking about C4s

We are talking about cheap used cars

If you suddenly wish to change that to new cars then perhaps you should mention it

American cars have generally been about cheap performance - it's why my father dealt in them

[Shifter1]

KTMsm said:

Shifter1 said:

You need to first, compare like to like. BMW from C4's time. Second, obviously compare new prices. Used car prices have zero credibility. Or rusty old Fords would never cost what they do. And it was also clearly obvious I was talking about Corvettes, rather than only C4, which should have made even more clear I was talking new prices. And new prices, there is nothing from Europe that gives you the same performance for the price. This has always been the Corvette's thing.

Edited by Shifter1 on Wednesday 15th March 10:53

We are talking about C4s

We are talking about cheap used cars

If you suddenly wish to change that to new cars then perhaps you should mention it

American cars have generally been about cheap performance - it's why my father dealt in them

Please read my post which you quoted again.

Meaning the whole post, without quoting it out of context.

[KTMsm]

Shifter1 said:

Give the C4 idea a shot then. They are fun and will be way more reliable and easier to run than any TVR. If that doesn't do it, you can always decide to go for a TVR later. But the Corvette exists exactly for this reason. They are the perfect fit for needs like yours. V8, manual, not heavy and no European car can match the performance for the money. They mop the floor with European cars costing twice what they do.

Mentions the C4 and then spouts rubbish

Never mentions new cars

Now read the thread title and the content

[ChocolateFrog]

Belle427 said:

They are perfectly fine in the dry with good tyres, they can become a bit sketchy in the wet but that’s understandable.
I’ve seen instances of people saying the cars can snatch a little when they get out of shape and grip again maybe due to weight/diff behaviour.
I’ve owned both a Chimaera and a Mk 1 Mx5 and if you offered me the keys of both for a spirited b road drive I’d be in the Mazda every time.

Edited by Belle427 on Tuesday 14th March 07:25

So have I.

MX5 for 10/10ths driving.
Chim for everything else.

[KTMsm]

ChocolateFrog said:

So have I.

MX5 for 10/10ths driving.
Chim for everything else.

Me too, I bought my Griffith 500 to replace my MX5 but I preferred my MX5

Supercharged MX5, then it had 180bhp, now its 240

[Belle427]

KTMsm said:

ChocolateFrog said:

So have I.

MX5 for 10/10ths driving.
Chim for everything else.

Me too, I bought my Griffith 500 to replace my MX5 but I preferred my MX5

Supercharged MX5, then it had 180bhp, now its 240

Bet that moves a bit, how do they cope with the extra power?