Not sure what car to buy.... Road going rally car or....

[mboon]

or something a bit more grown up...

I am currently running around in a E36 M3 Evo Convertible which is nice, goes like stink, looks nice and has some creature comforts.

My old car was a saloon E36 M3 3.0 and again, great car. I have just sold my Evo and now looking to replace it.

I had a Escort RS Cosworth before the two M3's and loved it. She only had 50,000 on the clock when I bought it, spent a bit of cash getting it how I wanted and sold it for a profit a year later which was perfect timing as I was made redundent shortly after.

I wanted another Cosworth and have been to look at one local to me. A 4x4 Sierra, the owner was great and mechanicly it was good but the bodywork was passed its best.

The power the engine gave (running 350bhp) was plenty for what I needed but the clutch was very hard. It had a AP 6 paddle clutch and it was the heaviest clutch I have felt.

Anyway, I have been looking around for anything Cosworth related.. Not a keen fan of the 2wd saph as the looks dont really do it for me and the inside is not my interest. The 4x4 with the black leather and the dark dash is OK and the Escort would be fine again. The 3 door is really dated inside but... I can deal with that due to how they look etc.

Finding a good one for sensible money is looking like a loosing battle!!! I have spoken with many owners and they all seem to have issues which are going to cost lots. Rust, runngin 205 engines and rwd escorts etc. If they are not in need of work they are well out of my price range.

I have found a couple escorts but all seem to be high miles which is fine, but then its high miles with rust and a price that does not warrent it.

Anyway.... My budget is £10,000 ish. I could stretch a bit more for the right car.

I wouldnt want to spend anymore than 6 ish for the right 4x4 sierra but again will stretch for the right car.

I am starting to loose hope in finding something worth while buying that is not rotted to hell. So starting to think of other cars...

I have a 330i E46 M sport and not sure I would want a E46 M3 due to how much feel has been lost compared to the E36 M3.

Never been a fan of Scoobies etc but a Evo 6 Tommy Mak would be something I could look at...

Can anyone else think of anything else that might suit my needs?

I want something old school turbocharged so you get a massive kick in the back, can hear the turbo spool up and suck the air in like the Cosworth.

Any ideas?

[v8will]

R32 GTR?

[Fittster]

Lancia Delta, before the all get stupidly expensive.

http://pistonheads.com/sales/3880052.htm

[VR46]

Supra twin turbo, nissan skyline, both good choices

Celica gt4 also a classic

[OldSpeed]

Fittster said:

Lancia Delta, before the all get stupidly expensive.

http://pistonheads.com/sales/3880052.htm

Dry stored by a 'collector', yet it has Runway tyres?

[Cemesis]

I have to say, and I'm not being a troll, I don't understand why people would spend such huge money on one. An E46 M3 for example is a much better car and for £10k you could get a really good one.

Alternativley there's a RS4, RS6, M5, Monaro, EVO, 911 (996 or 993), Caterham, Westfield...the list goes on.

I've encountered just two Cosworths on the track (both Sierras) and although they had lots of power, they had no brakes and no handling. As such they were both very much 'in the way' and refused to move over for anyone.

[mboon]

Lancia Delta, I would always be thinking about the Evo 1 or 2. Not sure I can deal with left hand drive as well.

GTR, One for sale local to me so might take a closer look but again unsure, I know nothing about them so would need to look into that.

[mboon]

Cemesis said:

I have to say, and I'm not being a troll, I don't understand why people would spend such huge money on one. An E46 M3 for example is a much better car and for £10k you could get a really good one.

Alternativley there's a RS4, RS6, M5, Monaro, EVO, 911 (996 or 993), Caterham, Westfield...the list goes on.

I've encountered just two Cosworths on the track (both Sierras) and although they had lots of power, they had no brakes and no handling. As such they were both very much 'in the way' and refused to move over for anyone.

RS4/RS6/M5/911 will have running costs out of my league, the cheap part is buying them cars. Keeping them on the road is another thing.

Monaro is not my thing and the Evo if a 6 and tommy mack then maybe.

As for the Fords, you either get them or you dont. I like what they did, what they bought to the masses. On track in standardish form (ie suspension etc) its not going to match a newer car. Spend a bit of money on some good coilovers and setup, get some front and rear strut braces on and get the engine running well and add some decent brakes and it will keep with some serious kit as it is so light.

Not too bothered about the whole track thing though as it will never see one.

I want it for what it represents, how it looks and it just shouts out This is a bad ass car lol. I know I shouldnt like that but I do.

E46 M3 for me is a stunning car but not as raw as the older E36 and not a massive difference in pace. Modding is expensive and getting extra power is not really an option unless spending big money. You can make them handle so well but will I ever push a Cosworth to its limits on the road let alone a tuned and setup M3.

The M3 will be my sensible all rounder if I cannot find anything else that gets my blood flowing

[Cemesis]

A friend has just turned up in his 2006 M3 CS that he bought for £10k. It has lots of nice toys on it and seems in good nick (rust of course but hoping the paint warranty takes care of that).

I found the E46 a good compromise between something raw and a 'modern' car. I know what you mean about running costs though as although these cars are all quite cheap now (compared to new prices) it costs many thousands a year in tyres, fuel, insurance and everything else to keep enjoying them.