Slidey fun, big engine noise, £25k?

[ldn_mx5]

Hi all
I’ve owned several nice cars and have driven supercars on a few occassions; but as many others I’m increasingly coming to the conclusion that outright speed isn’t something that can be enjoyed any more on public roads.
I do trackdays (NC MX5 in the past, Boxster now) but for public roads I’d like something that would make nice noise, and which I’ll be able to put sideways a bit coming out of junctions etc on empty contryside roads. On that, I must say I’ve found MX5 not that easy to achieve consistent slides (only did it on track, to begin with) and I wouldn’t dare turn off stability control on the Boxster on a public road.

I’m thinking SLK55, C63, M3/4 - the usual suspects. Ideally something with a V8 engine & reliable.
Finally, I know modern cars like latest RS3 or M3 have various “drift modes” which provide a halfway house between full stability control and it being completely off. This sounds desirable as I’d like to avoid ending up a ditch first day after purchase - just not sure if such things existed on cars 7-10 years ago?

[mat205125]

E92 M3 manual. Love mine

Get a good one for this budget whilst you can

[Jamescrs]

Vauxhall Monaro VXR would do the trick, in my opinion looks great and is different from the normal German stuff

[georgeyboy12345]

Another vote for an E90 M3
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109237...


Nissan 370Z
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110128...


Will the car be your daily driver? If not, how about a TVR?

Cerbera 4.5
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107315...

Chimaera 5.0 HC
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110238...

Griffith
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111099...


A couple of antipodean Vauxhalls

Monaro 6.0
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105122...

VXR
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110088...


Finally - Mercedes C63 AMG
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111019...

Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Tuesday 21st December 13:39

[TheAlastair34]

As much as having a big engine makes it easier you might soon get bored of the cost of running something like a c63!

Id be going for a GT86 and leaving it on the original eco tyres, they made this car exactly for what you are wanting.

[ldn_mx5]

Thanks all. Some very good ideas here. I’ve added the Vauhxall to the list. C63 I’ve read about costs, I’d love a car with a 6.3 V8 engine but the costs and the difficulty in finding one without dodgy mods put me off a little. How much are we talking about in terms of annual costs, realistically? And would the M3 be much cheaper?

Is manual on the M3 a must for what I want to do?

[Pixelpeep 135]

ldn_mx5 said:

Thanks all. Some very good ideas here. I’ve added the Vauhxall to the list. C63 I’ve read about costs, I’d love a car with a 6.3 V8 engine but the costs and the difficulty in finding one without dodgy mods put me off a little. How much are we talking about in terms of annual costs, realistically? And would the M3 be much cheaper?

Friend of mine has a c63s, running 700hp ish - puts in around £120 a week in fuel, uses it to go to work, 5 miles from his house, and the occasional trip to a restaurant, again, within 5 miles of his house.

He's done less than 3000 miles in it since buying and he's already had to replace the rears, which are not cheap.

[stinkyspanner]

Vauxhall VXR8, sounds awesome, does skids for fun.

[ldn_mx5]

Thanks all once again for replies.
Of all the cars mentioned here - and I’ll say M3, C63 and VXR are my short list at the moment - do any stand out as particularly easy to control when the rear tyres lose grip, or perhaps the contrary - particularly tricky?

[croyde]

Mustang GT!

[Panamax]

Yes, American is the way to go - which includes Mustang and VXR8 already mentioned above. Should keep you out of expensive, hi-tech stuff to go wrong.

[KTMsm]

A Monaro is a big heavy, dull bus hampered by it's gearing

I recently bought a much modified supercharged GT86 which is hard to keep in a straight line - soon for sale as it's useless for passengers (which I need) the noise isn't bad but not a V8

Most of the cars listed are too heavy to really throw around IMO

[Xcore]

Tvr.

[ldn_mx5]

KTMsm said:

Most of the cars listed are too heavy to really throw around IMO

What I was wondering to be honest. This is why I initially thought SLK55 would be a good choice, due to its compact dimensions. Then again, aren’t longer cars easier to control in a slide?

[ZX10R NIN]

ldn_mx5 said:

What I was wondering to be honest. This is why I initially thought SLK55 would be a good choice, due to its compact dimensions. Then again, aren’t longer cars easier to control in a slide?

If you want to slide you'll want something with a proper LSD (something that not a lot of C63's have) & then book yourself a drift course because once you do this you'll be able slide any RWD in a controlled manner.

With that budget the worlds your oyster.

370Z Nismo a cracking drivers car & they can slide well too you'll get a good one with your budget:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110048...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111169...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108096...

Gen2

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111119...

6.0 Manual VXR8

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110088...

6.2

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109287...

SLK55 great cars & well worth a look:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107165...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110188...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111109...

[Tall_Blk]

Pixelpeep 135 said:

Friend of mine has a c63s, running 700hp ish - puts in around £120 a week in fuel, uses it to go to work, 5 miles from his house, and the occasional trip to a restaurant, again, within 5 miles of his house.

He's done less than 3000 miles in it since buying and he's already had to replace the rears, which are not cheap.

That’s been modified though. Also, unless the restaurant is miles away, your saying he gets less than 100 miles from a tank! With that kind of range, nobody will buy one and I do have a c63

[cerb4.5lee]

ldn_mx5 said:

Is manual on the M3 a must for what I want to do?

The DCT arguably suits the engine better in the V8 M3, but I prefer a manual for sideways antics. The 2009 V8 manual M3 that I had did have a halfway house set up with MDM(M dynamic mode) for the traction control. It gives you some slip, but the nannys are still there if you get too excited. I drove mine with everything off for most of the time though.

The E9x M3 loves going sideways I reckon, it even used to want to do it under heavy braking too!

[Brett748]

C63 is an awesome bit of kit I don’t think I will ever sell mine.

Running costs are fine if you accept it does 19mpg.

[cerb4.5lee]

georgeyboy12345 said:

Another vote for an E90 M3
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109237...


Nissan 370Z
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110128...


Will the car be your daily driver? If not, how about a TVR?

Cerbera 4.5
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107315...

I've had all 3 of those!

[fflump]

cerb4.5lee said:

georgeyboy12345 said:

Another vote for an E90 M3
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109237...


Nissan 370Z
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110128...


Will the car be your daily driver? If not, how about a TVR?

Cerbera 4.5
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107315...

I've had all 3 of those!

How did they compare? Did the Cerbera need greater skill or care or could it just not be driven at >80%. Genuinely interested as I love TVRs from afar.