Best 4 Door Petrol 150+ Car For Under 2-3K
Best 4 Door Petrol 150+ Car For Under 2-3K
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Discussion

andykao

Original Poster:

10 posts

93 months

Sunday 29th September 2019
quotequote all
i'm not from the UK but still, this forum is usually my go to resource when it comes to real car talk.

I'm looking for a 4 door car (sedan or hatch, not a wagon), with decent horsepower (or decent horsepower potential, like a good stage 1 or cheap turbo / supercharger upgrade). I'm looking for at least 150 bhp, although closer to 200 would be ideal.

Budget 2-3k (GBP) - might be able to go a bit over budget if there's something good just outside my budget...

Most important things :
1) engine size : up to 2.0 (tax and insurance related)
2) age : no older than 2001 (can be 1999, but no lower than that)
3) must be EURO4 or at least EURO3

I currently drive a 2001 Saab 9-3 AERO Coupe (stage 1+ getting about 250 bhp). The car is absolutely lovely, but i need something with 4 doors (but i'm still keeping the Saab).

Ideally a hatchback (but a sedan would be ok too). I don't really care about fuel consumption.

I don't want a BMW (not reliable), Audi, Opel or Pug.
Also the Mazda RX8 is out of the question (has 4 doors but not really)

What i'm looking at so far :
- Lexus IS 200 (just missed one at a decent price) - cool car, reliable, RWD
- Ford Focus ST 170
- Renault Megane 2 RS (225 R25)
- Honda Accord
- Merc C200 (or C180) Kompressor
- Skoda Octavia 1.8T (don't really like it's looks)
- Golf 4 / Seat Leon 1.8T (kinda old and kinda common)
- Can't afford a Civic Type R
- Alfa Romeo 159
- Mazda 3 and 6 (both 2.0 engine)

Any other ideas?


Edited by andykao on Sunday 29th September 19:33


Edited by andykao on Sunday 29th September 19:37


Edited by andykao on Sunday 29th September 19:38


Edited by andykao on Sunday 29th September 20:04

andykao

Original Poster:

10 posts

93 months

Sunday 29th September 2019
quotequote all
I'm in Greece, everything above 2.0 gets takes like hell (5-10 times more than 1.8 or 2.0).

The Laguna GT looks great.
And the 2.5 Focus ST and Lexus IS250 or IS300 were on top of my wanted list (but unfortunately can't afford the tax and insurance).

Chromegrill

1,140 posts

115 months

Sunday 29th September 2019
quotequote all
Rover 75 (if you want auto) or MG ZT (for manual). Easily find a good one for £1000. 190 horsepower if you go for the 2.5 litre. Several excellent support forums. The one you want is a (relatively rare) 2 litre V6. The 1.8 four cylinder had head gasket issues unlike the V6 and is less powerful, the more common V6 is 2.5 litres so possibly too big for you. The 2 litre V6 is supremely smooth if a little less powerful than the 2.5 and was available between 1999 and 2002. All petrols are Euro3.

Edited by Chromegrill on Sunday 29th September 23:10