Cheap Automatic RWD to practice car control

[JoeR1988]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 20 January 2021 at 16:19

[bennno]

JoeR1988 said:

Hi all,

I'm looking to purchase a RWD Automatic (Disability Reasons) to practice rear wheel drive car control and for no more than £3,000.

I've been looking at E36/E46 328i's and equivalent Z3's, MX-5's, Mercedes C230 Komp etc etc. Looking for something ideally around the 200bhp mark. Obviously I'll be fitting a LSD

What I'm looking for is 2 pieces of advice as I can't find a single other topic about this on the internet;

Are these cars going to be hindered when it comes to oversteer because of the gearbox? will it be shifting up or down randomly etc?

And what cars would you recommend I look at?

Thanks in advance.

Kind regards,

J

Not sure if this is a wind up, if you drive an automatic already you will know you can select a gear to leave it in.

328i or 330i possibly best bet for money.

[culpz]

JoeR1988 said:

Hi all,
I've been looking at E36/E46 328i's and equivalent Z3's, MX-5's, Mercedes C230 Komp etc etc. Looking for something ideally around the 200bhp mark. Obviously I'll be fitting a LSD

Lexus IS200 is a popular one. Could even get an IS250, GS300 or LS400/430 for your budget. Not sure how big you'd want to go though. I think keeping the weight and size down would be more ideal but you've got options.

MK3 MR2 with the SMT 'box? Apparently, they're prone to going bang though and cost a fortune to replace/fix when they do.

Vauxhall Omega? Chrysler Crossfire? Jaguar S-Type? MGF/TF? Smart Roadster? Maybe not quire the power requirements but lots of choice if you're flexible.

[joropug]

As you pointed out some automatics will be ruled out, in fact most if you want to hold a gear properly.

I only have experience with BMW and mercedes but neither will hold a gear past the rev limiter it will upshift.

The performance stuff will let it bounce and stay in gear if you hit the redline.

I almost lost my E60 530d, it was in sport mode and I did an enthusiastic pull out of a corner and it shifted to second way too soon as the wheels spun and the torque nearly caught me out.

[HustleRussell]

Pick something which allows you to choose your own gears and override gear changes because a normal Auto will hold too high a gear in general and will shift up at exactly the wrong time.

Will you be going on a skid pan or low grip surface? If not you will be surprised how much commitment it takes to unstick the rear axle of cars such as the ones you are considering, especially in an Auto with their long final drive ratio.

[HustleRussell]

If learning car control is your objective and you don't need the car to do anything else, check out kit cars with sequential gearboxes which you may be able to drive with a hand clutch. A lightweight car will teach you more about car control in one day than an automatic saloon will in a year.

[culpz]

JoeR1988 said:

culpz said:

Lexus IS200 is a popular one. Could even get an IS250, GS300 or LS400/430 for your budget. Not sure how big you'd want to go though. I think keeping the weight and size down would be more ideal but you've got options.

MK3 MR2 with the SMT 'box? Apparently, they're prone to going bang though and cost a fortune to replace/fix when they do.

Vauxhall Omega? Chrysler Crossfire? Jaguar S-Type? MGF/TF? Smart Roadster? Maybe not quire the power requirements but lots of choice if you're flexible.

Hi,

Thanks for your feedback. I was literally just looking at IS300/200's.

My main concern of all of the cars mentioned above in both my post and your comment is the gearbox though.

Respectfully, at this price point, you haven't really got much choice. Most of the above have very dated torque-converter or single-clutch 'boxes, but should come with a manual mode to keep them in the gear you want. That's not to say that they won't kick down and override your actions though. You'll just have to drive a few and see which works best. Whatever car you get, learn the traits of the gearbox and work round it. It might not be easy, but should be do-able. A few tweaks, as you already mentioned, may help with this too.

[HustleRussell]

JoeR1988 said:

HustleRussell said:

If learning car control is your objective and you don't need the car to do anything else, check out kit cars with sequential gearboxes which you may be able to drive with a hand clutch. A lightweight car will teach you more about car control in one day than an automatic saloon will in a year.

Yeah I've been taking weight into consideration when I've been looking. Is one of those kit cars available for £3,000? It's not something I've come across.

No, but it's worth looking at. You might be able to find something to start with for £5k.

The cars you are considering are pretty heavy, not particularly high powered and will be entirely benign unless modified quite heavily.

[ZX10R NIN]

Go for an IS250 they will not change up & will stay bouncing on the limiter until you hit the paddle, they have a decent chassis too.

Haggle hard & you'll get one with sensible miles on budget, also factor in a gearbox fluid & filter change.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010034...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011216...