4wd turbo nutter
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Discussion

drgoatboy

Original Poster:

2,027 posts

235 months

Saturday 2nd January 2021
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I am currently musing about my car choice.
I currently have an Evora S, which is just an epic car. But it doesn't get used much, partly because I don't really have anywhere to go and partly when I do go places I tend to go with the rest of my family.
I can get 3 people in no problem (part of the reason for getting an Evora in the 1st place) but not 4 I am too tall and there is basically no legroom behind my seat.
With the car sitting a lot it ends up having a flat battery every now and then, so I end up using it less.
It's not really cost me anything as depreciation is exceedingly slow and has had no real faults to fix. But I am thinking about it's replacement.
Only thing I have on my list of genre I want to try is some sort of turbo AWD car.
My thinking would be maybe something like
Focus RS
gla45
Evo X 360
Not a fan of anything Vag...

Just wondering if any of these are stolen a lot? (I know golf R is for example)
Are they reliable? Fun?
Depreciation good or bad? They all seem to be holding prices pretty well.

Anything I should be considering instead?

Am I just daft?

Cheers all!

PrinceRupert

11,631 posts

113 months

Saturday 2nd January 2021
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What about a Forester STI?

bangerhoarder

784 posts

96 months

Saturday 2nd January 2021
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Turbo and AWD can cover many bases, even outside of VAG. Age and budget are big factors. Toyota (Celica, it has back seats)? Nissan (Sunny GTi-R)? Ford? Mazda (323 GTX ftw) The obvious, Subaru?

Personally, I’d want rally pedigree without too much weight, which limits you to 90s stuff somewhat. Theft wise - it seems to be the five door stuff that’s more of a target. Even so, maybe an Evo wagon is the answer - boxy brilliance.

InitialDave

15,068 posts

147 months

Sunday 3rd January 2021
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Budget?

anonymous-user

82 months

Sunday 3rd January 2021
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Second generation GDB 2.0 JDM STi Impreza from the widetrack blobeye 2004 to the hawkeye 2007 just before the hatchback, even stock power the twin scroll turbo equipped 280bhp engines are brilliant. You get a fantastic transmission system and very good brakes and loads of room in the Saloon body. They are much more solid a chassis than the first shape GC8 and the JDM engine and 6 speed box are very strong. Far safer for a family than the GC8 too.

An basic remap will give you 360BHP and 390LbFt reliably.

drgoatboy

Original Poster:

2,027 posts

235 months

Sunday 3rd January 2021
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Thanks all, sorry a bit more detail may have been useful!

Budget -anything up to the value of my Evora which is somewhere around £30k but I think I would like to spend as little as possible

Age - I don't really want 90s vintage stuff, let's say 2005 onwards

Size - 4 usable seats is essential, would prefer to avoid anything too big as it limits b road fun too much in my mind.

nickfrog

25,183 posts

245 months

Sunday 3rd January 2021
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Would a Yaris GR work or is that too small?

ChrisH72

3,070 posts

80 months

Sunday 3rd January 2021
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New Yaris GR?

I would.

drgoatboy

Original Poster:

2,027 posts

235 months

Sunday 3rd January 2021
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I think the Yaris would be too small from the reviews I have seen. I am 6ft 5 so it wouldn't work for the family for sure. They are tempting though!

Deep Thought

40,027 posts

225 months

Sunday 3rd January 2021
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drgoatboy said:
I think the Yaris would be too small from the reviews I have seen. I am 6ft 5 so it wouldn't work for the family for sure. They are tempting though!
Out of curiosity you mentioned GLA45 but not A45?

drgoatboy

Original Poster:

2,027 posts

235 months

Sunday 3rd January 2021
quotequote all
Deep Thought said:
Out of curiosity you mentioned GLA45 but not A45?
I like the look of the Gla, less so the A. Other than that no reason...

Belle427

11,815 posts

261 months

Sunday 3rd January 2021
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Merc C43 Amg?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011105...

Edited by Belle427 on Sunday 3rd January 09:41

drgoatboy

Original Poster:

2,027 posts

235 months

Sunday 3rd January 2021
quotequote all
Belle427 said:
Merc C43 Amg?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011105...

Edited by Belle427 on Sunday 3rd January 09:41
Good shout! Didn't even know that was a thing.

However.... Feels a bit dull to me though. Guessing depreciation would be massive on that? I know you can't dodge depreciation but some are better than others?

Belle427

11,815 posts

261 months

Sunday 3rd January 2021
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Just an example really, I’m no expert on Mercs but as you say if depreciation is a factor they are all probably out of the question.

anonymous-user

82 months

Sunday 3rd January 2021
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I had similar criterea and went for a Focus RS and an impreza, they are both fantastic with the impreza. I feeling much older and the focus having the newer tech. Neither cars are really depreciating now but tHE Focus is needing bits upgraded or replaced less often as it is 10 years newer.

I drove a lot of the competitors and the A35 does not excite, VAG stuff likewise. The evo X feels too bloated having driven an evo 9 or hawkeye impreza. RS or WRX STI for me.

Deep Thought

40,027 posts

225 months

Sunday 3rd January 2021
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drgoatboy said:
Deep Thought said:
Out of curiosity you mentioned GLA45 but not A45?
I like the look of the Gla, less so the A. Other than that no reason...
We ran an A45 facelift model from new for 3 years from 2016.

Incredibly fast point to point. Very very capable car. We did the performance exhaust option for added pops and bangs just to complete the effect. It had a Race mode which was just nuts.

Not without its faults though - almost undriveable in comfort mode, "manic" almost all of the time - great when you're in the mood, not so great on the daily commute, hard to bond with. Glad we did it - for the full "AWD turbo nutter" experience, but we wouldnt have another of that ilk i dont think.

We now have an M140i which is a much better all rounder IMHO, but wouldnt be the car you're looking for at present.


bangerhoarder

784 posts

96 months

Sunday 3rd January 2021
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Focus RS (mk3)
Insignia VXR (not really a nutter!)
xDrive equipped BMW - not sure if these meet your requirement - an M135 xDrive is more than £30k
Late Evo or Impreza

drgoatboy

Original Poster:

2,027 posts

235 months

Sunday 3rd January 2021
quotequote all
Deep Thought said:
We ran an A45 facelift model from new for 3 years from 2016.


Not without its faults though - almost undriveable in comfort mode, "manic" almost all of the time - great when you're in the mood, not so great on the daily commute, hard to bond with. Glad we did it - for the full "AWD turbo nutter" experience, but we wouldnt have another of that ilk i dont think.
That's very interesting, thank you. What made it "undriveable" in comfort mode? Or do you mean it was undriveable in every mode but comfort?

Salmonofdoubt

1,413 posts

96 months

drgoatboy

Original Poster:

2,027 posts

235 months

Sunday 3rd January 2021
quotequote all
Salmonofdoubt said:
Didn't realize these were that fast! Might be a bit too family friendly though 😃
I know, I know, fussy git right? Still worth a look.