Is fast and reliable possible for £20k?
Discussion
Jayho said:
Audi TT RS is incredibly quick point and shoot. But like a lot of the other suggestions you may end up lacking the engagement you have with the Cayman.
Maybe something which adds lightness to increase speed? So even though it is bloody quick, it doesn't need all that much power? Something like a VX220 Turbo / Lotus Elise / Cateram?
I would absolutely love an Elise but I really don’t think it’s viable as an only car.Maybe something which adds lightness to increase speed? So even though it is bloody quick, it doesn't need all that much power? Something like a VX220 Turbo / Lotus Elise / Cateram?
ChevronB19 said:
Define quick, and the roads you will be using it on. There’s a world of difference between performance figures and actual usability.
99% of the time I drive from home to work and back. 15 mins of dual carriageway bookended by 5 mins of 30 limit.The 1% is cross country to see family and then I’ve done a couple of longer trips (last year I drove to Italy).
Everything I’ve owned before has been pretty quick but nothing which you’d pick out as a fast car. That’s what I want, for once.
I know the ideal car would be a frugal hatchback but the idea of something which does the job well but is borderline glacial doesn’t appeal at all.
Robmarriott said:
99% of the time I drive from home to work and back. 15 mins of dual carriageway bookended by 5 mins of 30 limit.
The 1% is cross country to see family and then I’ve done a couple of longer trips (last year I drove to Italy).
Everything I’ve owned before has been pretty quick but nothing which you’d pick out as a fast car. That’s what I want, for once.
I know the ideal car would be a frugal hatchback but the idea of something which does the job well but is borderline glacial doesn’t appeal at all.
TT-RS fits the bill.The 1% is cross country to see family and then I’ve done a couple of longer trips (last year I drove to Italy).
Everything I’ve owned before has been pretty quick but nothing which you’d pick out as a fast car. That’s what I want, for once.
I know the ideal car would be a frugal hatchback but the idea of something which does the job well but is borderline glacial doesn’t appeal at all.
What do you value as traits for your next car, a Tesla Model 3 Performance is going to be the quickest thing for £20k ish as has already been mentioned. But it's not a drivers delight.
List what you value, steering feel / ride / looks / preferred body shape / etc and we can recommend more cars.
I owned a 987 Cayman S for about 3 years, probably the best balance of performance vs handling and drivers appeal of any car I've every owned or driven (and I've owned a 997 GT3 for 8 years after the Cayman). One thing I will say is that I was quite underwhelmed with the base 2.7 Cayman and also I did have your spec 2.9 Gen two as a courtesy car once which was better than the 2.7 987.1, but not as good to drive as a 987.1 Cayman S.
List what you value, steering feel / ride / looks / preferred body shape / etc and we can recommend more cars.
I owned a 987 Cayman S for about 3 years, probably the best balance of performance vs handling and drivers appeal of any car I've every owned or driven (and I've owned a 997 GT3 for 8 years after the Cayman). One thing I will say is that I was quite underwhelmed with the base 2.7 Cayman and also I did have your spec 2.9 Gen two as a courtesy car once which was better than the 2.7 987.1, but not as good to drive as a 987.1 Cayman S.
If you want powerful straight line fast with reliability you won’t beat a B58. As mentioned above you’ll sacrifice some ‘driving dynamics’ compared to the porker though.
My M140 has been running 500bhp for over 2 years, very quick did 173 on a 1.25 mile runway, it’s my daily, done 4/5 track days a year for the last 4 years, does over 40mpg on long motorway trips, and it’s not had a single issue with it except a window mechanism breaking coincidently a couple weeks after a van reversed into the door.
Some suspension upgrades and a remap you’ll have 420+bhp rather capable hot hatch.
My M140 has been running 500bhp for over 2 years, very quick did 173 on a 1.25 mile runway, it’s my daily, done 4/5 track days a year for the last 4 years, does over 40mpg on long motorway trips, and it’s not had a single issue with it except a window mechanism breaking coincidently a couple weeks after a van reversed into the door.
Some suspension upgrades and a remap you’ll have 420+bhp rather capable hot hatch.
Glenn63 said:
If you want powerful straight line fast with reliability you won’t beat a B58. As mentioned above you’ll sacrifice some ‘driving dynamics’ compared to the porker though.
My M140 has been running 500bhp for over 2 years, very quick did 173 on a 1.25 mile runway, it’s my daily, done 4/5 track days a year for the last 4 years, does over 40mpg on long motorway trips, and it’s not had a single issue with it except a window mechanism breaking coincidently a couple weeks after a van reversed into the door.
Some suspension upgrades and a remap you’ll have 420+bhp rather capable hot hatch.
Have you got a thread running on it? Sounds great!My M140 has been running 500bhp for over 2 years, very quick did 173 on a 1.25 mile runway, it’s my daily, done 4/5 track days a year for the last 4 years, does over 40mpg on long motorway trips, and it’s not had a single issue with it except a window mechanism breaking coincidently a couple weeks after a van reversed into the door.
Some suspension upgrades and a remap you’ll have 420+bhp rather capable hot hatch.
Bit of a left field choice and very different from a Cayman but these V10 RS6's were also available in saloon form and were very rapid with 572bhp. Watched a few Youtube videos of them recently and they're still quick by today's standards, and with a few mods you'd be knocking on the door of 650bhp+.
Start from around £18k ish, not a huge amount for sale at moment though.
Start from around £18k ish, not a huge amount for sale at moment though.
S1MMA said:
List what you value, steering feel / ride / looks / preferred body shape / etc and we can recommend more cars.
Other than not being keen on SUVs or convertibles which weren't designed that way from the outset (ie. 4 series etc), I'm easy. I've had hatchbacks, coupes, saloons, estates and convertibles (MX5s) before.Engine I have no preference, nor gearbox.
I'm 6'2" tall and the Cayman is just on the edge of being too small. I could do with an extra inch of legroom but it's manageable. The rest of the space is perfect though. I can load it up with enough stuff for a week+ away with nothing inside the car. Anything bigger is a bonus but not a necessity.
Sounds stupid to say, given the thread, but I'm not actually that fussy, I just want inspiring.
carguy45 said:
Bit of a left field choice and very different from a Cayman but these V10 RS6's were also available in saloon form and were very rapid with 572bhp. Watched a few Youtube videos of them recently and they're still quick by today's standards, and with a few mods you'd be knocking on the door of 650bhp+.
Start from around £18k ish, not a huge amount for sale at moment though.
Ooof. I would LOVE one, but I just don’t think I can bring myself to risk the bills.Start from around £18k ish, not a huge amount for sale at moment though.
Robmarriott said:
Other than not being keen on SUVs or convertibles which weren't designed that way from the outset (ie. 4 series etc), I'm easy. I've had hatchbacks, coupes, saloons, estates and convertibles (MX5s) before.
Engine I have no preference, nor gearbox.
I'm 6'2" tall and the Cayman is just on the edge of being too small. I could do with an extra inch of legroom but it's manageable. The rest of the space is perfect though. I can load it up with enough stuff for a week+ away with nothing inside the car. Anything bigger is a bonus but not a necessity.
Sounds stupid to say, given the thread, but I'm not actually that fussy, I just want inspiring.
Ok, Audi TT RS has been mentioned - might be cramped for you at 6ft 2 but try one.Engine I have no preference, nor gearbox.
I'm 6'2" tall and the Cayman is just on the edge of being too small. I could do with an extra inch of legroom but it's manageable. The rest of the space is perfect though. I can load it up with enough stuff for a week+ away with nothing inside the car. Anything bigger is a bonus but not a necessity.
Sounds stupid to say, given the thread, but I'm not actually that fussy, I just want inspiring.
For hot hatches, you can consider an A class AMG 35 for that money, and a 2016-2018 Audi S3 with 300bhp is within budget but neither might not be as quick as you are looking for. Audi RS3 has the 2.5l engine and TT RS performance - there was an engine revision from 362bhp to 400bhp odd I think around 2018, but you can get in the older model for £20k. They are the same engine as the TT RS and very tunable, so you can be going very quickly in one of these.
I would also look at a Cayman S - might be enough for you. If you can squeeze in a Gen 2 3.4S for £20k then that's also a great car, and with a new louder exhaust it would put a smile on your face. Ultimately speed is great, but it wears off on any car - engaging you with a positive driving experience and nice sound and handling is much more long term engaging for me.
SLK55 is a fun suggestion.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/17466422
Is there a turbo-6 Z4 in budget?
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/17466422
Is there a turbo-6 Z4 in budget?
I have a 981 Boxster S 3.4 and I know what you mean OP - it's a fast and nimble car and handles brilliantly, but it's not fast fast. Took a drive in a friend's Jaguar XJ 5.0 and that felt blisteringly fast. A local dealer let me take a Cayman GTS 4.0 for a spin. That feels MUCH faster than my Boxster S. But then it would, and if I could have had it for even £40k I would have torn his arm off. Which is why I'm looking for something with a V8/V10/V12 motor and plenty of torque to either join my Boxster or potentially replace it. I have a thread about it at https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
braddo said:
SLK55 is a fun suggestion.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/17466422
Is there a turbo-6 Z4 in budget?
I like the idea of an SLK55 but I think that's all I'd like, just the idea. I think the reality would let me down.https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/17466422
Is there a turbo-6 Z4 in budget?
35i Z4 would be well within budget (you can almost buy two) but I'm not keen.
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