Fast Four Door.... nominations please

[MikeyMike]

So, I am faced with a dilemma that has troubled many a PH'r. With a baby due to arrive at any moment I find myself looking for that elusive catch-all car that mixes excitement with practicality.

At present I have access to 5 cars, 3 owned by myself and 2 owned by better half.
I have;

1992 Toyota MR2 Turbo
1998 BMW 520i
1990 Vauxhall Cavalier GSi

She has;

2000 Suzuki Vitara
1989 Ford Fiesta XR2

As you can clearly see the combined ages of our cars rival that of the Rolling Stones. Generally speaking this hasn’t been an issue as I’m relatively competent with a spanner but of late they’ve started giving me grief. Of my 3 cars only the Cavalier is currently in working order and that is up for sale. The MR2 has let me down yet again (alternator) and this is a car that I’ve maintained with a no expense spared approach since taking ownership in 2005, including a recent engine rebuild. The BMW currently has a mystery windscreen wiper issue that I’ve so far been unable to diagnose and fix and I’m reluctant to seek professional attention as the car is worth bugger all, it also has a head-gasket leak so is due a major engine failure anyway.
The Cavalier is currently for sale, it’s at an age now where it really isn’t suitable for daily duties and needs to go to someone who’ll enjoy it.

So, I find myself looking at the prospect of selling my 3 cars and replacing them with an all-rounder. The criteria I’m laying down is;

Must seat 4
4 Doors
Petrol
Preferably RWD or 4WD but willing to make an exception
Responsive chassis
“Characterful” engine (performance to rival or exceed the MR2 Turbo)
Rarity or something special about it (i.e. Alpina, grey import, limited run or suchlike)
Generally reliable
Not a fan of modern hot hatches, just don’t float my boat.

Budget wise, now this is tricky. I would say up to £8k although roughly half of that would be credit.

I would potentially be open to the idea of financing a greater sum, but the car would have to be very special.

My current considerations are;

Alfa Romeo 156GTA (Q2 Dif)
E39 Alpina B10 V8 (tend to be quite leggy within my budget)
E46 Alpina B3.3
E39 M5 (see note on B10)
Honda Accord Type-R (Import only model circa 2005/6, not last UK Type R model)
Subaru Legacy Spec-B Saloon (not sure on the handling stakes?)

There are some obvious omissions from that list, notably the Subaru Impreza and the Mitsi Evo. I was really quite keen on the idea of an Impreza but (and here enters the cat amongst the pigeons) I’ve been put off by tales of spectacular engine failures. As for the Evo, well they’re cool in a cold, clinical, purposeful sense but they’re a bit too spartan for me. I’ve been spoiled by the comfort of the e39 so having a nice interior has I’m afraid become a consideration.

Well, I open the floor to the PH masses…..

[GAjon]

Mazda MPS

[balls-out]

Holden GTS?


ticks your boxes and with around 20-30 left in the UK (guess) its certainly different. just get ready for the vauxhall "jokes"

I regret selling mine

[hornetrider]

Very left field that Holden but not a bad shout at all.

There's lots of V8 BMWs and Mercs in budget, too many to list really!!

[hornetrider]

S4 Avant



550i Sport Touring (disclaimer I have one of these)



C55 AMG

[balls-out]

hornetrider said:

Very left field that Holden but not a bad shout at all.

There's lots of V8 BMWs and Mercs in budget, too many to list really!!

Very left field would have to be this:


with the exception of the responsive chassis it does appear to meet the criteria, but possible not what the OP had in mind

[ali355]

When my little one was born I had an X350 Jaguar XJ - 4.2 litre engine- 300bhp, tonnes of comfort, air suspension for wafting down the road with the little monster but didnt half shift when I was on my own. For 8k you will be able to get your hands on an XJR I should think. Quite well appointed interior- Sat Nav, Bluetooth etc etc, there are options for rear picnic tables and headrest DVD screens- a lifesaver on longer journeys to keep my son entertained.

Other than routine servicing etc in four years I had a niggly heater issue which was down to a fuse and the air suspension compressor needed a refresh. Thats about it. After that I traded up to an XF SV8 - very rare, I think they are in the £10k-£12k bracket now,so a stretch in terms of budget but they have the 4.2 supercharged engine from the XJR and XKR of the time with no external clues to that fact that it has 420bhp. ZF 6 speed box with paddles, different modes for the shifts etc - it was an absolute riot.

Both had big boots, swallowed up prams and bags etc with no fuss.

Only other alternative I can think of if Evos/Imprezas put you off are Mitsubishi and Subaru's offerings from the class above -the Galant VR4 - twin turbo 2.5 V6 with triptronic box, or the Legacy which I did look at a couple of times but never really found one in price/budget.

[dai1983]

I assume you meant the CL7 Euro R Accord? I'd love one myself but good luck finding one. Or up the budget and go fd2?

[R2T2]

S Type R?
+1 for the Monaro.
or a 335i?

[anonymous-user]

The Spec B Legacy is a lovely package. The chain-cam engine is a peach and the handling is good. I miss mine.

[LordGrover]

Jaaag.

[kambites]

balls-out said:

Very left field would have to be this:


with the exception of the responsive chassis it does appear to meet the criteria, but possible not what the OP had in mind

It doesn't appear to have four doors and I'd be impressed if it will keep up with an MR2 turbo.

[R8VXF]

kambites said:

balls-out said:

Very left field would have to be this:


with the exception of the responsive chassis it does appear to meet the criteria, but possible not what the OP had in mind

It doesn't appear to have four doors and I'd be impressed if it will keep up with an MR2 turbo.

With an LS Chevy V8 you could seriously up the power in it

+1 for a VXR8.

[Poopipe]

Impreza sti and either keep three grand to have the engine rebuilt properly when the bottom end goes Or buy one thats already been done.

Youd get a lovely classic with that budget and beyond the well known engine issues and tinworm they're pretty well indestructible, easy to work on and cheap to maintain - just try not to think about mpg

[balls-out]

R8VXF said:

With an LS Chevy V8 you could seriously up the power in it

+1 for a VXR8.

It had a Chevy V8 (albeit LT1 not LSx) and was surprisingly quick off the mark making a lovely burble - alas single digit mpg was the result of such enjoyment.

[joe_90]

As a family car we have a 03 2.4 Accord Type-S .. It just keeps going and never ever brakes down. Bar the standard (one clutch/Tyres/service/pads) its cost me £15 in a drop link in 160K miles.

I keep getting temped to by a newer car, However, the wife likes driving into solid objects and I know, if I spend 15-20k on a car and it brakes down I will get it in the neck - "Why did we need to buy that, the one I had worked perfectly well".

They are cheap as a chips (no credit needed for you), have about 190bhp and handle well enough to get shouted at

Also, they are really 'roomy' and durable with the kids leaping around all the time, and the boot can swallow both the kids bikes.

There you go..

Edited by joe_90 on Tuesday 3rd March 12:44

[Daston]

How about a Toyota Aristo. Its the JDM Lexus GS but has the 2JZ-GTE lump in it.

Nearly all of them are automatics but people have converted them to Manuals using the 6 speed Getrag from the Supra.

[justanother5tar]

balls-out said:

Holden GTS?


ticks your boxes and with around 20-30 left in the UK (guess) its certainly different. just get ready for the vauxhall "jokes"

I regret selling mine

Never seen one of those before. I like that, it's much nicer than the coupe.

[Fleckers]

Lotus Carlton
VXR8
S type Jag V8 R

[mp3manager]

Fleckers said:

Lotus Carlton
VXR8
S type Jag V8 R

For £8K???