Soldato
- Joined
- 24 Sep 2007
- Posts
- 6,291
I'd probably get the Audi S4 though ... look good and German reliability.
Rgds
Radderfire
Rgds
Radderfire
18k to spend,2nd car,must be fast
- Thread starter Neo4
- Start date
Depending what sort of driving you do, Impreza's can be most irritating. Hard suspension, turbo lag, noise, lots of mechanical grip but not much handling afterwards, there are loads of reasons why an impreza may not be suitable for you, that could make the car seem hard work.
What it sounds like the OP wants is a fast cruiser, rather than anything else. In that regard, a 330i or 3.2 A4 would probably be a better choice than an M3 or S4, the Saab isn't a bad choice either, or you could consider a X-type or S-type jag, or a C class merc...
I cant see any real BMW drivers giving the advice that a remapped 320 is possibly in any way comparable to an M3! 
Personally, after having a bit of unintentional rear end slipping action in my e46 M3 a month ago, has told me that to go alongside an engine producing a MASSIVE amount of power, you need equally competant brakes, suspension, tyres, differentials, stability and traction control (if your into that etc) to actually keep you on the road if your doing anything other than driving in a straight line down an empty motorway ..... Even if a 320 got a big boost in power from a remap, i'd be worried id put it in a ditch with vastly inferior '320 spec kit' that you still have in that car. Its hard not to get caught up in playing online numbers games where people look at BHP figures and remaps and exhausts trying to take a bog standard cheaper spec car and bolting on bits in some kind of effort to bring them up to spec with their pricier cousins. Granted theres a lot you can do with aftermarket kit but with this advice about remapping beemer 330's or doing screw modifications on old peugeots and wonder what the end product car actually is like to DRIVE? Can a 335i with the same kind of engine output as an M3 actually do the same thing on a track or a back road that the M3 can?
Im a huge alfa fan, having come from a GTV before my M3, but until they bring out a RWD car i can only ever think of them as very stylish everyday cars ... not 'weekend motors' i dont think.
Personally, after having a bit of unintentional rear end slipping action in my e46 M3 a month ago, has told me that to go alongside an engine producing a MASSIVE amount of power, you need equally competant brakes, suspension, tyres, differentials, stability and traction control (if your into that etc) to actually keep you on the road if your doing anything other than driving in a straight line down an empty motorway ..... Even if a 320 got a big boost in power from a remap, i'd be worried id put it in a ditch with vastly inferior '320 spec kit' that you still have in that car. Its hard not to get caught up in playing online numbers games where people look at BHP figures and remaps and exhausts trying to take a bog standard cheaper spec car and bolting on bits in some kind of effort to bring them up to spec with their pricier cousins. Granted theres a lot you can do with aftermarket kit but with this advice about remapping beemer 330's or doing screw modifications on old peugeots and wonder what the end product car actually is like to DRIVE? Can a 335i with the same kind of engine output as an M3 actually do the same thing on a track or a back road that the M3 can?
Im a huge alfa fan, having come from a GTV before my M3, but until they bring out a RWD car i can only ever think of them as very stylish everyday cars ... not 'weekend motors' i dont think.
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Ugh. And he said fast.
The Saabs will be quick but I dunno if it's what he's after. The XKR will be very fast indeed
yup. the whole 'must be fast' thing is a joke as well
'i really want it to be fast, but i want it to be pretty, comfortable, practical, cheap to run, easy to service, safe to crash, easy to park..'
in short, you want a sensible car for £18k
I gave a list of cars that fulfilled that criteria earlier on. The problem is people taking "fast" to mean "Nutcase fast and focused", although in fairness, the OP did that with his thoughts.
Various more standard BMW, Merc and Audi saloons all fit the criteria for fast with comfort, practicality etc etc... Sure they aren't quite as good on a B road blast as their sporty cousins, but most of the time that doesn't matter.
Caporegime
- Joined
- 18 Oct 2002
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and not every drug dealer drives one...
Oh yea thats right, they do!
but if you do want 4 seats and fast;
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/316780.htm
You beat me to it.BMW M5, what more could any one want or need
An E39 M5 fulfills all of the above criteria, it's the first car I thought of after reading the OP.
PistonHeads
BMW M5, what more could any one want or need
Lower running costs? The M5 is a lovely, fantastic, amazing piece of kit, but it's supercar performance comes with supercar running costs to keep well maintained. Given some of the other things discussed in this thread, it might not be the answer in this case.
Exactly why I'd be wary of getting an M3/S4 as they are going to be pricey to run, but they'd still need to be considered
