Cheap, decent sized and rwd?
Discussion
Now, this isn't going to happen anytime soon 
But, in a year and a bit when (hopefully) I have a bit of no-claims bonus and a reliable income, I would be looking to change cars. I was thinking, rwd is what I would like really. However, due to my music gear it can't be any smaller than Focus-ish sized, but by the same token won't be able to be anything to massive and thus expensive to insure. That got me thinking, apart from the BMWs Mercs etc, are there actually any family-sized hatches/estates that are still rear-wheel drive, or even have been in the last 15-20 years? 
The only things I could think of were Scorpios/Omegas etc, which as much as I'd love would probably be a bit too big (and even these aren't exactly recent models). Sierras are the latest family-sized rwd car I could come up with Am I missing any options that are blindingly obvious? 
But, in a year and a bit when (hopefully) I have a bit of no-claims bonus and a reliable income, I would be looking to change cars. I was thinking, rwd is what I would like really. However, due to my music gear it can't be any smaller than Focus-ish sized, but by the same token won't be able to be anything to massive and thus expensive to insure. That got me thinking, apart from the BMWs Mercs etc, are there actually any family-sized hatches/estates that are still rear-wheel drive, or even have been in the last 15-20 years? The only things I could think of were Scorpios/Omegas etc, which as much as I'd love would probably be a bit too big (and even these aren't exactly recent models). Sierras are the latest family-sized rwd car I could come up with
Am I missing any options that are blindingly obvious? Quite fond of the 340 actually 
I think I'm on my own in that I think they're quite good looking
Considered MK5 Cortina estates, very tunable and when done right look the nuts
Somewhere down the distant pipeline though undoubtedly... love the Legacys.
I think I'm on my own in that I think they're quite good looking Matt UK said:
Get an e36 BMW, or go proper old-skool with a Cortina / Escort
Always had wanted a mk2 Escort, but then someone decided they were worth something Considered MK5 Cortina estates, very tunable and when done right look the nuts
chevy-stu said:
How bout a jap 4wd... Scooby Legacy or Mitsi Legnum, like I've got (get all my music gear with no probs)
I'd have no chance of insurance at 19, in Dagenham, on one of them Somewhere down the distant pipeline though undoubtedly... love the Legacys.chevy-stu said:
At 19, I'd go old school, Omega, old E34 5 series, or as suggested if you can find an old Hillman Hunter or Cortina.. you should get classic insurance at not silly money and less lack of NCB issues.
I think it will have to be really. Not that that's a bad thing 
Racking my brains, the more mainstream companies really just don't bother with rwd at all nowadays do they?
SDxsi said:
I quite like the 340, lowered with a splitter and on a set of minilites they look ace! Go for it, be original
I see an ace rat-look one rattling about sometimes. Only rat-car I've seen in the flesh that the look actually works for. Reading around on them, they seem to have a wee bit of a cult following Definitely one to consider that I wouldn't have even thought of 
Matt UK said:
Entry-level Porsche 924's can be had for notalot
Not really 'decent dized' though are theyHow about something like this:
http://carandclassic.com/car/C185742/#
Maybe not in that colour though (although I quite like that colour on Dolomites if I'm honest...)
vit4 said:
Quite fond of the 340 actually I think I'm on my own in that I think they're quite good looking
Noooo! I like 'em too (and I'm just down the road from you, and they're quite reasonable to insure for me). I think I'm on my own in that I think they're quite good looking A young guy on here just bought one, his thread is in the Readers' Rides section somewhere.
I can think of cheap and RWD but nothing that's particularly modern or conducive to load-carrying!
Old Volvo estate perhaps? Probably too large...
Egg Chaser said:
Matt UK said:
Entry-level Porsche 924's can be had for notalot
Not really 'decent dized' though are theyHow about something like this:
http://carandclassic.com/car/C185742/#
Maybe not in that colour though (although I quite like that colour on Dolomites if I'm honest...)
And a saloon wouldn't be doable unfortunately. Wouldn't be able to get the music gear in at all twazzock said:
vit4 said:
Quite fond of the 340 actually I think I'm on my own in that I think they're quite good looking
Noooo! I like 'em too (and I'm just down the road from you, and they're quite reasonable to insure for me). I think I'm on my own in that I think they're quite good looking A young guy on here just bought one, his thread is in the Readers' Rides section somewhere.
I can think of cheap and RWD but nothing that's particularly modern or conducive to load-carrying!
Old Volvo estate perhaps? Probably too large...
I do like the idea of an old Volvo estate, but it probably would be a smidge on the large side 
Out of interest whereabouts are you? Not sure if it's because we've had a fair few cars stolen from this exact postcode, house included
twazzock said:
vit4 said:
Quite fond of the 340 actually I think I'm on my own in that I think they're quite good looking
Noooo! I like 'em too (and I'm just down the road from you, and they're quite reasonable to insure for me). I think I'm on my own in that I think they're quite good looking A young guy on here just bought one, his thread is in the Readers' Rides section somewhere.
I can think of cheap and RWD but nothing that's particularly modern or conducive to load-carrying!
Old Volvo estate perhaps? Probably too large...
The 340 OTOH is not so much fun; the 1.4 engines sound terrible (an early 2.0 will have an engine-driven fan to give that wonderful "charging rhino" sound under full acceleration), and the 1.7s aren't much better. A 360 GLT would be a good bet.
They're really quite solid, pretty practical, and usually have very comfortable seats! The steering wheel is positioned far too low, however, so finding some way to lower the seat may help.
There was even a 360 rally programme - Grp A in the low countries IIRC. One of the cars was then entered into the RAC back in the late 80s / early 90s - nicknamed "The Slunger", it featured in an entertaining piece in CCC, I believe. So, yes, out there somewhere there are quick racks and close ratio gearboxes available.
In terms of tuning, the 1.4 and 1.7 are Renault engines, so the turbo equivalents can fit. As others have said, a 2.3 Turbo Volvo engine can be put in the 2.0 models (the floorpans are different between 1.4/1.7 and 2.0 cars, so up-sizing isn't all that easy).
All in all great fun, and can be made to look very cool with the right colour / trim / accessory combinations. You will learn a lot about RWD from one if you try hard, that's for certain!
A final thing: manual steering (especially on 360s) is heavy, but the large castor angle gives a lot self-centring (very useful in a tricky situation - just let go of the wheel if all else fails...) and a lot of feel as to the grip available under the front tyres; the later, power-assisted set-up is pretty lifeless, however, and lacking in feel. IMHO if you're going to drive one quickly, I'd muscle-up and choose the manually-steered versions.
vit4 said:
twazzock said:
vit4 said:
Quite fond of the 340 actually I think I'm on my own in that I think they're quite good looking
Noooo! I like 'em too (and I'm just down the road from you, and they're quite reasonable to insure for me). I think I'm on my own in that I think they're quite good looking A young guy on here just bought one, his thread is in the Readers' Rides section somewhere.
I can think of cheap and RWD but nothing that's particularly modern or conducive to load-carrying!
Old Volvo estate perhaps? Probably too large...
I do like the idea of an old Volvo estate, but it probably would be a smidge on the large side Out of interest whereabouts are you? Not sure if it's because we've had a fair few cars stolen from this exact postcode, house included
(plenty before that though)My insurance quotes were something like £1200, £1300 and £1500 for the 1.4, 1.7 and 2L respectively. All with Admiral, assuming licence held for a year, 0 NCB, mum and nan as named drivers, parked on street, etc.
Skwdenyer, cheers for the detailed post Definitely given me a bit of direction on the matter, and to be honest, a lot of the posts here and googling around on them and I do feel my self swaying towards the Volvo . Regarding manual/power steering, I'm used to manual. Not sure if it's just the cars with PAS I've driven but they all feel a bit disconnected in comparison. I guess I need to keep my eye out for one at the right price come new year; they don't seem to be exactly commonplace! 
That's doable, with NCB would hope not any more here sadly, hope being the operative
Definitely given me a bit of direction on the matter, and to be honest, a lot of the posts here and googling around on them and I do feel my self swaying towards the Volvo . Regarding manual/power steering, I'm used to manual. Not sure if it's just the cars with PAS I've driven but they all feel a bit disconnected in comparison. I guess I need to keep my eye out for one at the right price come new year; they don't seem to be exactly commonplace! twazzock said:
Rainham! We haven't had a car stolen or broken into in at least a decade (plenty before that though)
My insurance quotes were something like £1200, £1300 and £1500 for the 1.4, 1.7 and 2L respectively. All with Admiral, assuming licence held for a year, 0 NCB, mum and nan as named drivers, parked on street, etc.
Ah wicked (plenty before that though)My insurance quotes were something like £1200, £1300 and £1500 for the 1.4, 1.7 and 2L respectively. All with Admiral, assuming licence held for a year, 0 NCB, mum and nan as named drivers, parked on street, etc.
That's doable, with NCB would hope not any more here sadly, hope being the operative Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff