Engaging Performance Car that Absorbs Potholes Well?

[ldub]

I've had various performance cars, including fwd, rwd & awd, usually not more than 10 years old, including:

205 Gti, 306 Gti, R32 Mk5, S2000, MX-5 Mk2.5, Civic Type R EP3, Clio 182 Trophy and have recently bought a 2nd hand Fiesta ST-3

The Fiesta is brilliant to drive but I'm finding the ride far too firm (getting older, back is weak)

I remember the Renault Megane R26R has softer suspension due to being lighter-weight than the R26 and it's meant to be an amazing drive. They're very costly though (20k for a good low miler). Then I thought, what else is out there that drives as well and absorbs the bumps and holes so well?

Was very close to buying an Integra Type R DC2 but was finding it difficult to find a low mileage, non-rusty one and not sure of their pliancy?

I'd like to invite sensible opinions on finding a car that I can live with everyday on our rubbish roads but can still enjoy driving everyday as well as weekend blasts and the odd trackday. Preferably lower mileage and sub £20k, although that's really a stretch budget: £10-15k is more realistic!

Edited by ldub on Saturday 16th January 15:37

[ldub]

The Crack Fox said:

Lotus cars always ride beautifully, and a 944 on standard suspension might be an idea, perhaps? Are these too old for you?

I tested an Elise and the steering/handling was amazing! Alas, I'm 6ft and used to visit the gym regularly so it was a bit of a squeeze!

Before I bought the S2000, I was very close to buying an E46 M3 but the expensive potential engine, suspension, diff and bodywork issues put me off, reason I mention is that I was also considering a Boxster or Cayman but was similarly scared off by the potentially devastating engine failures. I think a 944 would be a bit too old for me and I think I'd be similarly be scared off by potentially expensive repairs.

Thanks for these options though, very much welcomed input!

[Jazoli]

Impreza Turbo is a very compliant car when not saddled with silly sized wheels.

[anonymous-user]

Lots of Lotuses available for below 20K. Forget baby Elans at that price, but you could get a spiffy Elan Plus Two, maybe a scruffy Europa (maybe too small for you), the best Excel in existence with change, and maybe a slightly iffy Esprit, or a good non turbo one anyway. You could even get Colin Chapman's own Elite at that money.

Or try a Jag XJS, if that is not too wafty and not quite sporty enough. Rides smoothly even on bad roads. 20K would get a mega good one, 10-15K a very good one, perhaps a convertible.

Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 16th January 19:02

[Kawasicki]

Lotus Elise just swallows potholes whole, it's amazing...no huge bang, with a really sharp impact, or anything

[anonymous-user]

Mega left field choice and fairly cheap, but hard to find - Talbot Matra Murena, if you don't mind LHD. Amazing grip, good ride. Three seats in a row! Parisian style: Bloke, wife, and Mistress all off on their holibobs together, obvs.

[awooga]

Jag XK8 perhaps? Good ride, still more than enough ooomph.

ETA - the prices you're looking at would allow you to look at boxster S, possibly even a cayman. Definitely a monaro VXR, especially with fuel prices as low as they are and likely to stay low for a year or two yet. BMW Z4 without runflat tyres? Does it have to be practical?

Edited by awooga on Monday 18th January 03:20

[anonymous-user]

A rare factory built Murena S.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C620396

Many Murenas for sale have much higher mileages than are typically seen on old sports cars. This is because they are rugged and reliable, well built, and almost rust proof. I used one as a daily for a couple of years, with few problems. The one thing to note is that the car must NEVER be allowed to overheat, because the mid mounted engine is so tight in its bay and airflow to it is so marginal that the head gasket WILL blow and the head WILL crack if the coolants get too hot. So, do not try to limp home even four miles with a broken belt. Don't ask me how I know this!

Fast, rorty, great roadholding. Kids love the middle seat and the huge pop up headlights (these knacker the MPG, but whatevs). For overtaking, sight down the inside of the lorry, then goooooooo!

Here is that French dude off for a dirty weekend. Or maybe the women are having the dirty weekend, and the dude is just their driver.

Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 17th January 09:25

[blueg33]

Renault Alpine GTA turbo. Rare, pretty quick especially for its age, comfy and decent handling.

[Kickstart]

Maybe Golf GTI or SL500 Merc but not so clever on a track

[paulmnz]

ldub said:

Was very close to buying an Integra Type R DC2 but was finding it difficult to find a low mileage, non-rusty one and not sure of their pliancy?

Edited by ldub on Saturday 16th January 15:37

For comparison, I have an S2000 and a DC2. The integra rides significantly better than the s2000 does on bumpy roads. You want to find a 'standard' car with the original 15" wheels with a 195/55r15 tyre (most are on 195/50 as it's a more popular/cheaper size) and on the original showa suspension. the original has progressive springs at the back and the dampers are quite expensive (£800 for a set to replace them) so many cars are on aftermarket suspension which is very hard to get right and mostly far too stiff - the original setup is very very good for road driving. I've had the car to scotland, wales, the alps, corsica etc a lot of those roads are actually very bumpy - it's absolutely perfect.

I wouldn't be too worried about mileage - mine has 140,000 - I bought it with 57,000 and most of the miles in between have been on a race track or in the alps / driving across europe. the engine is completely untouched and still making good power. pretty much nothing has gone wrong with it other than the rusty arch problem all the UK cars have. I have had to do a fair amount of age-related maintenance (gearbox syncros, bushes, hub bearings etc) but considering the (ab)use it has had (been through more than ten sets of front brake pads), it's been fairly light work and quite cheap relatively speaking.

You should be able to buy almost any car for your budget, I'd be looking for a freshly imported 1998 JDM - they shouldn't be rusty. I would have thought less than £10k would buy a really good one. finding one that hasn't been modified might be hard, but I'm sure you can get all the standard bits in the UK from all the cars which have been modified here! any car over 100,000 miles will either be an obvious shed or had most of the wear and tear items done on it (suspension, clutches, bushes, gearbox syncros all last around 70-90k miles in my experience) I've had to do very little since about 110,000 miles other than routine servicing.

[Jollyclub]

An integrale on standard wheels/suspension handles potholes/imperfections in the road as well as anything I've ever driven.

[anonymous-user]

The Crack Fox said:

Breadvan72 said:

A rare factory built Murena S.http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C620396

I love these. As I recall they have a steel 'frame' clad in GRP, and if the steel gets damp then they rot from the inside out. Is that right, or am I addled?

Gratuitous pics of one I snapped in France;



The money shot...

Nope, there is no steel inside the body, AFAIK, or if there is then it does not rot. The body is a form of polyeurethane, IIRC. You may be thinking of a Lotus Excel, which has a steel roll over bar and also steel door beams. The door beams in an Excel can rot. On a Murena, the only part that rots is the rear suspension arms. The chassis is galvanised (as it is on an Excel). The Murena was killed off early because the galvanised chassis line was needed for the first generation Espace (a Matra that was badged as a Renault). Also, the Murena was showing up the Fuego, so Renault wanted it gone. They never gave it a Douvrin engine, which is a pity.

[ldub]

paulmnz said:

For comparison, I have an S2000 and a DC2. The integra rides significantly better than the s2000 does on bumpy roads. You want to find a 'standard' car with the original 15" wheels with a 195/55r15 tyre (most are on 195/50 as it's a more popular/cheaper size) and on the original showa suspension. the original has progressive springs at the back and the dampers are quite expensive (£800 for a set to replace them) so many cars are on aftermarket suspension which is very hard to get right and mostly far too stiff - the original setup is very very good for road driving. I've had the car to scotland, wales, the alps, corsica etc a lot of those roads are actually very bumpy - it's absolutely perfect.

I wouldn't be too worried about mileage - mine has 140,000 - I bought it with 57,000 and most of the miles in between have been on a race track or in the alps / driving across europe. the engine is completely untouched and still making good power. pretty much nothing has gone wrong with it other than the rusty arch problem all the UK cars have. I have had to do a fair amount of age-related maintenance (gearbox syncros, bushes, hub bearings etc) but considering the (ab)use it has had (been through more than ten sets of front brake pads), it's been fairly light work and quite cheap relatively speaking.

You should be able to buy almost any car for your budget, I'd be looking for a freshly imported 1998 JDM - they shouldn't be rusty. I would have thought less than £10k would buy a really good one. finding one that hasn't been modified might be hard, but I'm sure you can get all the standard bits in the UK from all the cars which have been modified here! any car over 100,000 miles will either be an obvious shed or had most of the wear and tear items done on it (suspension, clutches, bushes, gearbox syncros all last around 70-90k miles in my experience) I've had to do very little since about 110,000 miles other than routine servicing.

Thank you @paulmnz - Reassuring to hear the ride is good on standard suspension, wheels and tyres. JDM seem more the way to go re: avoiding rust issues, but JDMs run on 16's and I've heard their suspension is a bit firmer as standard. Ideally a mint UK example; I saw one, may be two, last year but wasn't in a position to buy. They seem to have shot up in valve in the last 12 months as well, doh!

Someone's put a deposit on the Newera one: 98 with 55k & freshly trimmed leather recaros for £10k! Was tempted but was right at the top of the market.
May be is worth it as could drive for a few years before all the refreshing work is needed. May be it's a waiting game again.


Thanks others for your more left-field suggestions, never heard or seen of that car - looks more cramped than a Mac F1 three-seater!


Integrale was a good shout @Jollyclub - Meant to be amazing, unsure I could afford the upkeep though.


May be the Golf GTi is the sensible choice on std size wheels @Kickstart - I had a MK4 GTi (don't laugh!) & Leon Cupra (much younger when harsh ride wasn't such a problem) so my view is a bit one-sided that they will understeer and aren't so engaging to drive. Mk5+ Gti's have a good reputation though, so should consider one I guess, think having had the R32 makes me want something different again though.


E46 M3 is very enticing, as long as bought carefully with subframe, vanos, diff issues etc. Anyone have further opinions on ride comfort?

Edited by ldub on Monday 18th January 23:05

[anonymous-user]

A Murena isn't quite as cramped as that photo above suggests - it's fine for two adults and a child. This was my one. The seat fabric was made from 1980s porn knickers.

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 19th January 07:56

[vernonderby]

Maserati Biturbo- if you dare

[anonymous-user]

This one doesn't float my boat, but it might float some people's. I don't know it it floats over potholes.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C700314

[V8 Fettler]

Do Jag saloons do track days? Avoid pram wheels and the potholes will be mere undulations.

[anonymous-user]

Jags are for chavs. Daimler anyone?


http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C659522

[v8250]

Breadvan72 said:

Jags are for chavs. Daimler anyone? http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C659522

If that's relatively rust free it would make for a fine gentleman's classic barge.

Re' absorbing pot holes, looks like this one's already proven its ability...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...