Need some advice. £8-9k to spend

[benjo83]

Evening all,

I was hoping to get some advice as there seems to be quite a lot of knowledge on here. I'm looking to buy myself a new(ish...maybe) car and I am set on something Japanese. Ideally, I dont want something that will cripple me on insurance (thinking anything in the Evo range) but I'm not ruling it out.

I've thought about various models of type-r civics, integra's, RX-7's, RX-8's and 200SX's but I dont know if I'm missing a trick.

I dont do a whole lot of driving, only about 250 miles a week and a lot of it is on A-roads.

Does anyone have any ideas for me? Any help is appreciated.

Thanks.

Ben

[nottyash]

I think RX 8s are really good value at the moment. I just got my dad a 231 2004 one in red for just £5000, with FSH and 32000 miles. absolute bargain. Shop around as they sell really quick when priced like this, most are over 7 grand for similar car so be aware, prices vary. buyers market!
Need to be revved though, but solid to drive with sharp handling.

I really like the RX7 but the engine problems puts me off.

The old Integras i think are overpriced and ive seen a lot of tatty examples, the newer shape imports are nice, again prices vary. i cant comment as never driven one.

Civic type rs can be had at decent prices, really need to be revved, Drive any turbo car and you will know what i mean. The Jap import (white) ones are 220bhp and have a LSD as standard.

For your budget, UK Impreza STI or possibly a nice Evo if you can find one.

[benjo83]

Thanks for this. The RX-8 had jumped to the top of my list as I've seen some really nice ones around. I didn't realise you could snap them up that cheap though. The one I'd seen was down for £8500 with 34k on the clock. Sounds a bit over priced now.
I'd really love to get an Evo but it's the insurance that's putting me off. Still, it'sworth looking I suppose.
Truth be told, I'd like for whatever car I get to be turbo'd but I need to be realistic, hence looking at type-r's and the rx-8.

[Wadeski]

S15 Sylvia or a late-model RX7 at that budget...or a rally rep, as you said. If you go a bit older you can get a nice twinturbo supra too.

[drgoatboy]

You could get a 350z for that kind of money, OK it may have to be an import or a high miler but they are great cars...

[CrammyJay]

If you look hard enough you might be able to find a Mk1 Mazda 3 MPS. Perfect sleeper car, most people havent a clue about them, yeah they are fwd, but they are lots of fun

[youngsyr]

Evos are very expensive cars to insure, but in my opinion they are worth it.

It's easy to compare them to other cars and be scared off by the relatively high running costs, but then when you look at the cars that actually compare to it in performance terms (especially once you've spent a couple of grand "fine-tuning" their base spec.) you see they're actually a bargain.

You could probably pick up an 04/54 plate Evo VIII 260 (commonly referred to as GSRs, even though they're not a GSR) for around your budget, there's one here on an 05 plate 3k miles for £9k.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

The VIII 260 was the most watered down Evo ever released (with only 260 bhp, surprisingly) and is nothing special in performance terms, but the cars are extremely easy to modify, an exhaust and remap would have that car up at around 350 bhp, some people have taken that model to over 600 bhp with significant engine work and a larger turbo!

There are quite a few specialist insurers around who do reasonable premiums for them as standard or modified as well, although some require you to be over 25 and/or have a history of driving performance cars for at least a year.

Servicing is every 6 months or 4,500 miles though, so that's a bit of a pain although not that expensive if using an independent and they may not be as cheap on parts as some other cars, but they're generally reliable.

There is also an excellent car club for Evos, which organises track days, competitive sprint competitions, the infamous 30-130mph competition, dyno days, driver training and so on. It also produces a glossly quarterly magazine and annual calendar.

[300bhp/ton]

benjo83 said:

Evening all,

I was hoping to get some advice as there seems to be quite a lot of knowledge on here. I'm looking to buy myself a new(ish...maybe) car and I am set on something Japanese. Ideally, I dont want something that will cripple me on insurance (thinking anything in the Evo range) but I'm not ruling it out.

I've thought about various models of type-r civics, integra's, RX-7's, RX-8's and 200SX's but I dont know if I'm missing a trick.

I dont do a whole lot of driving, only about 250 miles a week and a lot of it is on A-roads.

Does anyone have any ideas for me? Any help is appreciated.

Thanks.

Ben

Think it depends what you want. An RX-7 is anything but a new car though as they haven't been sold in the UK for a long time.

That said they are probably one of the best looking cars to ever come out of Japan. But they'll probably want a bit of TLC.

Now - is insurance an issue or not? An Evo or similar is quite dependant on this.

Personally I quite like these:



As something easy to live with and sensible running costs. But I do admit I prefer the DC2.

I've also owned a 200SX, an S13. It was a good car, but I wouldn't want to spend £8-9k on such a car.

RX8 I like and if you really need 4 seats then its not a bad bet. Not massively quick and likes a drink.

I'm also a huge fan of Impreza's, although all but the classics do look ugly.

But is there another option??

Yes I believe there is. After having had a 200SX, my brother having had a Pulsar and a Celica.

I bought this:



What is it? Well its a Euro spec Camaro z28. Which means it'll be listed as a UK car for insurance.

It has a 5.7 litre V8 which makes around 320hp in stock trim. Will sprint to 100mph in 13sec or under and a limited top speed of 160mph.

Most come fully loaded too.

4 speed auto or 6 speed manual available.

A lot of fun, fast and pretty descent in the bends too. Also cheap to run.

Mine does 22-24mpg on 95 RON fuel and will do 26mpg+ on a run. Compare that to an Evo doing 22-24mpg on 99 RON and it's like the V8 is doing more like 25-30mpg in terms of pence or cost per mile.


Jap performance cars are good and I'd have another, but there's no denying that for the most part the American performance cars outperform the Jap stuff on ever level.

If you want more hp - no probs. Simple bolt ons will take power to 400-430hp easily enough and over 600bhp isn't hard.

This is what mine sounds like!
[URL=http://s132.photobucket.com/albums/q11/300bhpton/Dyno%20Day%2016-08-08/?action=view&current=16082008006.flv][/URL]
http://s132.photobucket.com/albums/q11/300bhpton/D...

[Shinobi]

DC5 or 350Z

[300bhp/ton]

Gaz. said:

300bhp/ton said:

Jap performance cars are good and I'd have another, but there's no denying that for the most part the American performance cars outperform the Jap stuff on ever level.

That's a mighty bold claim.

I guess it is.

Let me re-phrase it and say at least level with most Japanese performance cars.


I suppose the angle I’m coming from is in terms of stock performance vs costs.

But I can fully accept that awesome cars like a MK IV Supra TT take some beating.

But I’ve ran against a mildly modded one in my Camaro and there was nothing in it really to the other side 150mph. Maybe them slight adv down low and me slight adv at higher speeds. But it was really close (and judging by the look on their face, far too close for them).

Last year I was looking at Impreza’s as a daily driver. Went and looked at a lovely STI IV but the deal didn’t come off.

But I did do some figures and it seems the Impreza would have cost more per mile to run than the Camaro by a fairly noticeable amount. And while in the wet I’m sure it would have been quicker, it probably (or definitely) wasn’t as quick in a straight line as the Camaro, didn’t sound as good and wasn’t actually as comfortable and arguably maybe not as much fun either, the Camaro you can chuck about, light the tyres up and powerslide when you want. But an Impreza is almost too well behaved to have any sort of fun on the right side of the speed limit.

And I think its fuel that is the crux with many other Jap cars. I loved my 200SX but despite being of lesser spec, hp and weight than the Camaro it wasn’t really any more economical.

And if you factor in running superunleaded and maybe even an additive the running costs change quite dramatically.

And there is no denying the Camaro is a far nicer and more fun car to drive than the 200SX was.


The ITR’s and the like, I do think they are very good in what they offer, hence why I posted a DC5

But when it comes to things like an RX8, 300ZX, 200SX, Skyline GTS or similar then I feel a Corvette, Mustang or Fbody offer equal or better bang per buck!






EDIT:

And what Jap performance cars offer up stats like these stock for £8k yet still a usable daily driver with running costs similar to a Ford Focus?

[nottyash]

Back on topic after 300BHP/Ton went off on his Yank plastic spaceship tangent..........again.

My Dad loves the RX-8, after he had seen a couple at £7500 and i found this one for £5000 he is gobsmacked. Its actually the glasses guide trade in price so its all they are worth to people part exchanging them. I hear the story's about fuel and oil, but your only actually doing about 12000 miles a year. I think the fuel economy puts people off hence the low prices.
I would want nothing less than low milage 2006 car for £7500.(mind the tax bracket on this though)
Shop around

Edited by nottyash on Wednesday 10th February 16:06

[300bhp/ton]

nottyash said:

Back on topic after 300BHP/Ton went off on his Yank plastic spaceship tangent..........again.

My Dad loves the RX-8, after he had seen a couple at £7500 and i found this one for £5000 he is gobsmacked. Its actually the glasses guide trade in price so its all they are worth to people part exchanging them. I hear the story's about fuel and oil, but your only actually doing about 12000 miles a year. I think the fuel economy puts people off hence the low prices.
I would want nothing less than low milage 2006 car for £7500.(mind the tax bracket on this though)
Shop around

Edited by nottyash on Wednesday 10th February 16:06

I think I was still making a valid point. And as a direct comparison to an Rx8. I can seat 4 have a boot, 100hp more and still see better mpg. All for 190-200 VED and without the worry of an engine rebuild at 60k. Plus better short and long term residuals.

[craggers]

This look really cheap !! http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1450761.htm

[nottyash]

craggers said:

This look really cheap !! http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1450761.htm

It looks like a scam to me. The advert is old, if it was genuine it would of sold and there is no phone number;)
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1472332.htm
This is the one I found for my Dad. Remember to check the normal adverts at the end of the Premium ones that have been on over 15 days, (After page 8 in the classifieds)

What side is the steering wheel on these Yank tanks 300BHP/TON?

Edited by nottyash on Wednesday 10th February 16:49

[300bhp/ton]

nottyash said:

craggers said:

This look really cheap !! http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1450761.htm

It looks like a scam to me. The advert is old, if it was genuine it would of sold and there is no phone number;)

What side is the steering wheel on these Yank tanks 300BHP/TON?

left. But unless you frequent McDonald's drive tru's regulary on your own it's no big deal.

[nottyash]

300bhp/ton said:

nottyash said:

craggers said:

This look really cheap !! http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1450761.htm

It looks like a scam to me. The advert is old, if it was genuine it would of sold and there is no phone number;)

What side is the steering wheel on these Yank tanks 300BHP/TON?

left. But unless you frequent McDonald's drive tru's regulary on your own it's no big deal.

Overtaking??

[300bhp/ton]

nottyash said:

300bhp/ton said:

nottyash said:

craggers said:

This look really cheap !! http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1450761.htm

It looks like a scam to me. The advert is old, if it was genuine it would of sold and there is no phone number;)

What side is the steering wheel on these Yank tanks 300BHP/TON?

left. But unless you frequent McDonald's drive tru's regulary on your own it's no big deal.

Overtaking??

er how about such a thing as road placement and only trying to overtake when safe? So have you right back at you.

Just curious but have you driven many LHD cars in the UK to base your assumptions on?

[Mr E]

300bhp/ton said:

Jap performance cars are good and I'd have another, but there's no denying that for the most part the American performance cars outperform the Jap stuff on ever level.

At the risk of igniting a 'discussion' that the OP doesn't want;



The V8 powered muscle car never, ever saw which way the 2 litre turbo four went.

But people loved it and it made a good noise.

[300bhp/ton]

Mr E said:

300bhp/ton said:

Jap performance cars are good and I'd have another, but there's no denying that for the most part the American performance cars outperform the Jap stuff on ever level.

At the risk of igniting a 'discussion' that the OP doesn't want;



The V8 powered muscle car never, ever saw which way the 2 litre turbo four went.

But people loved it and it made a good noise.

but it is a road not a race track. And I do admit the stock suspension setup on an sn95 is rather soft. Nice GT-Four btw.

[nottyash]

300bhp/ton said:

nottyash said:

300bhp/ton said:

nottyash said:

craggers said:

This look really cheap !! http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1450761.htm

It looks like a scam to me. The advert is old, if it was genuine it would of sold and there is no phone number;)

What side is the steering wheel on these Yank tanks 300BHP/TON?

left. But unless you frequent McDonald's drive tru's regulary on your own it's no big deal.

Overtaking??

er how about such a thing as road placement and only trying to overtake when safe? So have you right back at you.

Just curious but have you driven many LHD cars in the UK to base your assumptions on?

An old 911 that was LHD. Not for me Im afraid