Cheap Sports car/ sports coupe with a bit of character.
Discussion
As above, really.
Thinking about changing the car now I've had it 2 years. Gotta be a sports car as in low, sleek, good looking etc (imprezas, 3 series etc not 'sports' cars) and a bit of an event. I'd like something a little off the wall perhaps, been thinking about a number of older, rare-ish coupes.
I like to keep the fun-factor and diy-ability of my Roadster, while adding a bit of added practicality and a bit of long distance ability. I'd really want something with a 'characterful' engine as thats the one thing the MX5 doesnt have - so a turbo, or < 4 cylinders.
And it has to be cheap - about £2500 probably. And I dont mean "once i saw one in a field for £2500 even though every single one on autotrader is £8000+" which usually happens on here.
I mean, properly, a choice available for £2500 for something actually worth buying, MOT's and tidy.
Other important things - easy to work on, good tinkering opportunity. Not a garage queen, will be a daily driver and only car. Absolutely, 100% has to have a manual gearbox. Roofs, T bars or sunroofs that pop out are all very desirable.
Must have potential for something that you might call 'economy', I.E. begin with a 2 or 3, not a 1.
Must be hoon-worthy - IE can put up with some B-road maximum attack across the dales.
Any thoughts on the following things I like, but dont know masses about -
Mk3 Supra - bit big, but handsome, and a range of good engines, lots of tuning potential. Supposed good handling for size?
Ma61/(Mk2?) Supra/Celica - Same as above, but older?
Alfa GTV V6 - I would abolutley fall head over heels in lvoe with it. I 'get' Alfa'. The noise. The looks. But - bit optimistic at that price range? Front wheel drive? Bit modern? Hard to DIY?
S13/S14 200sx - Easy to DIY, loads of tuning bits etc. Good to drive - but they've all been 'yo drift JDM flush'd and wrecked.
Porsche 944 (2.5) Great handling, but expensive to run, parts and tune up bits, spares etc more expensive than Jap stuff? Rust!
Mitsubishi Starion - The one I've just recently become smitten with and would like to know more - Rare, Look fantastic, quick, loads of potential with the 2ltr 4Age (ie EVO engine), on paper all looks brill. Cheap too.
But gotta watch for Rust, steering box (vague?) parts availability?
What else can you think of?
FWIW things I dont want are Capris, TR7's Big fat Jags/Audis etc. Carburretors, autos, rusty British Leyland cars, tech riddled modern cars (lexus etc), kit cars, all a no-no.
Small, simple and fun, (and if its front wheel drive it must be very, very good for me to consider it).
And I like that middle ground of 80s into the 90's where cars had things like EFI and maybe ABS and a bit of crash protection, some rust protection etc, but were still easy to work on and mess with.
Other names I could drop as 'would like to know more' are Opel Mantas, Mitsubishi GTO's, Mk4 supras (too expensive?) Nissan ZX family, ST185 and 202 Celica GT4, Toyota MR2 Mk1 and 2, Dc2 Integra Type R, Fiat Coupe, etc etc...
Hit me with some ideas!
Thinking about changing the car now I've had it 2 years. Gotta be a sports car as in low, sleek, good looking etc (imprezas, 3 series etc not 'sports' cars) and a bit of an event. I'd like something a little off the wall perhaps, been thinking about a number of older, rare-ish coupes.
I like to keep the fun-factor and diy-ability of my Roadster, while adding a bit of added practicality and a bit of long distance ability. I'd really want something with a 'characterful' engine as thats the one thing the MX5 doesnt have - so a turbo, or < 4 cylinders.
And it has to be cheap - about £2500 probably. And I dont mean "once i saw one in a field for £2500 even though every single one on autotrader is £8000+" which usually happens on here.
I mean, properly, a choice available for £2500 for something actually worth buying, MOT's and tidy.
Other important things - easy to work on, good tinkering opportunity. Not a garage queen, will be a daily driver and only car. Absolutely, 100% has to have a manual gearbox. Roofs, T bars or sunroofs that pop out are all very desirable.
Must have potential for something that you might call 'economy', I.E. begin with a 2 or 3, not a 1.
Must be hoon-worthy - IE can put up with some B-road maximum attack across the dales.
Any thoughts on the following things I like, but dont know masses about -
Mk3 Supra - bit big, but handsome, and a range of good engines, lots of tuning potential. Supposed good handling for size?
Ma61/(Mk2?) Supra/Celica - Same as above, but older?
Alfa GTV V6 - I would abolutley fall head over heels in lvoe with it. I 'get' Alfa'. The noise. The looks. But - bit optimistic at that price range? Front wheel drive? Bit modern? Hard to DIY?
S13/S14 200sx - Easy to DIY, loads of tuning bits etc. Good to drive - but they've all been 'yo drift JDM flush'd and wrecked.
Porsche 944 (2.5) Great handling, but expensive to run, parts and tune up bits, spares etc more expensive than Jap stuff? Rust!
Mitsubishi Starion - The one I've just recently become smitten with and would like to know more - Rare, Look fantastic, quick, loads of potential with the 2ltr 4Age (ie EVO engine), on paper all looks brill. Cheap too.
But gotta watch for Rust, steering box (vague?) parts availability?
What else can you think of?
FWIW things I dont want are Capris, TR7's Big fat Jags/Audis etc. Carburretors, autos, rusty British Leyland cars, tech riddled modern cars (lexus etc), kit cars, all a no-no.
Small, simple and fun, (and if its front wheel drive it must be very, very good for me to consider it).
And I like that middle ground of 80s into the 90's where cars had things like EFI and maybe ABS and a bit of crash protection, some rust protection etc, but were still easy to work on and mess with.
Other names I could drop as 'would like to know more' are Opel Mantas, Mitsubishi GTO's, Mk4 supras (too expensive?) Nissan ZX family, ST185 and 202 Celica GT4, Toyota MR2 Mk1 and 2, Dc2 Integra Type R, Fiat Coupe, etc etc...
Hit me with some ideas!
Edited by snotrag on Tuesday 27th July 14:21
What about:
VW Corrado yes its not RWD but they handle very well and if you really want to get the back end out then yes you can provoke lift off oversteer. G60 is quite a buzz and can be tuned reasonably cheaply to 200+, VR6 is beautiful soundtrack, loads of torque and 150mph +
Fiat coupe 20vT - lots of torque steer fun an 5cylinder noise!
dave
VW Corrado yes its not RWD but they handle very well and if you really want to get the back end out then yes you can provoke lift off oversteer. G60 is quite a buzz and can be tuned reasonably cheaply to 200+, VR6 is beautiful soundtrack, loads of torque and 150mph +
Fiat coupe 20vT - lots of torque steer fun an 5cylinder noise!
dave
if you spent £2500 you'd have money for repairs on top - right?
if so then i vote earlyish jdm dc2.
from what i can tell these proper type rs seem to need new brakelines and stuff like that every 5 minutes and the gearbox might go...but still a brilliant car. it won't be tidiest at the money but could be worth a punt.
would would be tidy is a prelude but that's perhaps not the right thing for you.
pumas are ace and cheap to run..but much slower than what you list.
when i started reading i was going to say 'fiat coupe'. they are fast and 'cool'. and look ace in bright blue. that's all i know!
if so then i vote earlyish jdm dc2.
from what i can tell these proper type rs seem to need new brakelines and stuff like that every 5 minutes and the gearbox might go...but still a brilliant car. it won't be tidiest at the money but could be worth a punt.
would would be tidy is a prelude but that's perhaps not the right thing for you.
pumas are ace and cheap to run..but much slower than what you list.
when i started reading i was going to say 'fiat coupe'. they are fast and 'cool'. and look ace in bright blue. that's all i know!
Mitsi FTO fits your criteria fairly well. They sound good, handle well and are definitely fun around B roads. Lots of people don't like them and some seem to hate the looks but if you like the looks I think they offer a nice alternative to more common celicas etc.
Mine was £2500 and I really couldn't find anything else in that price range at the time that I felt could competed with it. 30mpg, big boot, 4 seats (just about big enough for adults), fairly rare, nice V6, nippy enough considering the age and price.
Mine was £2500 and I really couldn't find anything else in that price range at the time that I felt could competed with it. 30mpg, big boot, 4 seats (just about big enough for adults), fairly rare, nice V6, nippy enough considering the age and price.
excel/eclat
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1721301.htm
don't bother looking for m100s cos there aren;t any on here!
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1683328.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1721301.htm
don't bother looking for m100s cos there aren;t any on here!
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1683328.htm
Puma - no way, thats a retrograde step.
Puma would make an excellent daily driver if I were buying a TVR or kitcar aswell.
FTO - I got the impression these were a bit guff to drive. Fact is - it seems to have all the drawbacks of the Alfa, and Fiat, but not the positives. So I have to discount it!
Alfa - thats actually very appealing, and the pricing looks a little better than I thought they usually are. I like a LOT. See this gets away with being FWD because its beautiful, sexy, and has tan Leather. And the noise. An FTO doesnt get away with this.
S - series - seriously looked at those before, my worry is at that kind of price your buying something which you need to lay up over winter, do some welding, body off maybe even. If I were to be tempted by a 2 car garage again, then an S-series would be number one on the list for the fun car no doubt - I do like them an awful lot. Granted - That particular one you've spotted there JAYB looks like somebody got a cracking deal with all the difficult bits done.
Sometime I do think about buying a diesel hatchback and getting the biggest 0% credit card I can find and buying an 'S' over winter...
No comments on Starions?
Puma would make an excellent daily driver if I were buying a TVR or kitcar aswell.
FTO - I got the impression these were a bit guff to drive. Fact is - it seems to have all the drawbacks of the Alfa, and Fiat, but not the positives. So I have to discount it!
Alfa - thats actually very appealing, and the pricing looks a little better than I thought they usually are. I like a LOT. See this gets away with being FWD because its beautiful, sexy, and has tan Leather. And the noise. An FTO doesnt get away with this.
S - series - seriously looked at those before, my worry is at that kind of price your buying something which you need to lay up over winter, do some welding, body off maybe even. If I were to be tempted by a 2 car garage again, then an S-series would be number one on the list for the fun car no doubt - I do like them an awful lot. Granted - That particular one you've spotted there JAYB looks like somebody got a cracking deal with all the difficult bits done.
Sometime I do think about buying a diesel hatchback and getting the biggest 0% credit card I can find and buying an 'S' over winter...
No comments on Starions?
snotrag said:
FTO - I got the impression these were a bit guff to drive. Fact is - it seems to have all the drawbacks of the Alfa, and Fiat, but not the positives. So I have to discount it!
Alfa - thats actually very appealing, and the pricing looks a little better than I thought they usually are. I like a LOT. See this gets away with being FWD because its beautiful, sexy, and has tan Leather. And the noise. An FTO doesnt get away with this.
No comments on Starions?
i'll be honest i am the same but the reality is that the fto whilst being 'chav' does sound brilliant. really brilliant. and actually i think they have a reasonable reputation for the driving experience. it's werid because it's not what you'd think. i have seen them on track and they seem to be very composed. too many dodgy tit-tronics though.Alfa - thats actually very appealing, and the pricing looks a little better than I thought they usually are. I like a LOT. See this gets away with being FWD because its beautiful, sexy, and has tan Leather. And the noise. An FTO doesnt get away with this.
No comments on Starions?
starion widebodies are obviously cool but surely a good one isn;t within budget... and do you want a jap capri because that's what they are - they are really quite crude.
briSk said:
snotrag said:
FTO - I got the impression these were a bit guff to drive. Fact is - it seems to have all the drawbacks of the Alfa, and Fiat, but not the positives. So I have to discount it!
Alfa - thats actually very appealing, and the pricing looks a little better than I thought they usually are. I like a LOT. See this gets away with being FWD because its beautiful, sexy, and has tan Leather. And the noise. An FTO doesnt get away with this.
No comments on Starions?
i'll be honest i am the same but the reality is that the fto whilst being 'chav' does sound brilliant. really brilliant. and actually i think they have a reasonable reputation for the driving experience. it's werid because it's not what you'd think. i have seen them on track and they seem to be very composed. too many dodgy tit-tronics though.Alfa - thats actually very appealing, and the pricing looks a little better than I thought they usually are. I like a LOT. See this gets away with being FWD because its beautiful, sexy, and has tan Leather. And the noise. An FTO doesnt get away with this.
No comments on Starions?
starion widebodies are obviously cool but surely a good one isn;t within budget... and do you want a jap capri because that's what they are - they are really quite crude.
t whatever you tell them but....mine sounds considerably better than my friends V6 gtv (he agreed so he's just uprated his exhaust) and all the magazine reviews when they came out were very positive about handling and drive in general, the main downside being that it could do with a bit more power. The people who slag them off generally haven't been in or driven one.
They do (sadly) have a chav image but if you get a nice clean example then you can stay away from that and the prices tend to be a lot better than equivalent integras, fiat coupes and gtvs.
Anyway, won't change your mind and the Alfa is a lovely car so you may as well go for one of those
I'd go for the Alfa myself, just for the V6 sound.... but, regardless of whether you think it'll go wrong or not (it may do, it may not...!) the V6 is heavy up front and IMO the 4 pot twin spark would be better for wellying down a B road... that may in fact lead you to the Fiat Coupe (with the 5cyl turbo soundtrack of course).
....a proper Alfa V6 though, and a good FWD rather than spinny, spinny, skip, wobble, ahh st I wish it was RWD etc etc.
....a proper Alfa V6 though, and a good FWD rather than spinny, spinny, skip, wobble, ahh s
t I wish it was RWD etc etc.1998 ALFA ROMEO GTV 3.0 V6 24v Lusso
Trade Seller: Select Performance Limited
1998 (S reg)Coupe
61,000 miles
Manual 3.0L
2 Doors, Manual, Coupe, Insurance Group:19, Last owner 7 years finished in silver with full black leather sports trim. Extras include Factory Aero kit, 17" Tele dial alloys, glass electric sunroof, air con, electric windows and mirrors plus remote locking alarm. Great looking car runs like a dream PX to clear sorry no offers hence only, £2,195
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