If you had 25,000 to spend, would you...

[Fr0dders]

I know you avoid the 2.5 like the plague, I was merely commenting on Robbies post saying how urgh the hatch impreza was when he's posting up a pic of pretty much the worst model.

My point was at least put a pic up that represents what the op would be looking at, not that he should buy one

This would do fine if he wanted a hatch

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1873204.htm

 

[Dolph]

Hard to say, because having the purchase price is far from the only criteria when buying a car. (This is especially true when looking at the 'If I had £25k I wouldn't get x' posts).

If I wanted a hot hatch, I wouldn't get a Focus RS or an Evo, but it's somewhat hard to know what to buy. When I was in the position to put down that much on a hot hatch a few years ago, I bought a new Audi S3, which was the perfect car at the time, but I wouldn't buy a new one now as they are a few years old now and that shape A3 is rapidly coming up for replacement. The Evo has horrendous running costs, the Focus is, well, a focus, and to be honest, there's nothing really that sticks out in the market at the moment, and the new top end of the market is rapidly heading for £40k with the RS3 and 1M.

 

[Jonny69]

£25K ought to buy a fully rally prepped Mk1 Escort with a bit of change. Most packing Zetecs these days so no difficult starting issues. I think I'd have that

 

[Gaijin]

The Evo has horrendous running costs, the Focus is, well, a focus, and to be honest, there's nothing really that sticks out in the market at the moment, and the new top end of the market is rapidly heading for £40k with the RS3 and 1M.

The evo X has "normal" service intervals and as such isn't too bad to run. Sure consumables aren't cheap but no more expensive than alternative performance cars mentioned. It does benefit from a large aftermarket scene though.

I'd probably look around for a grey or white evo 9 MR and spend some money on tuning:

Leftfield would be a 335i, but totally dependent on purpose and whether it shares the vague steering that the E60 5 series has.

 

[neocon]

That evo 9 is beautiful, I love the look, it's my dream car.

 

[Fr0dders]

I saw an Evo 8 the other day - Registration G15 Evo. It was an Evo 8, with an "MR" badge and an "Xtreme" badge.

Is that an official model ? Never heard of it ?

 

[Amoeba]

http://pistonheads.com/sales/2296433.htm

With £50 change

 

[Joshy]

there's nothing really that sticks out in the market at the moment

I think you're right.

It's an odd part of the market, it obviously buys you an awful lot of performance car but nothing really stands out and screams "Buy me".

Personally I'd be looking at something that'd warp time with a prod of the throttle but was still completely civilised 95% of the time, so most probably something Large, German, Turbo/supercharged + a remap with whatever change I had (RS6/E55 AMG/perhaps a XJR).

I certainly wouldn't consider a "Hot Hatch" for more than a second.

http://pistonheads.com/sales/2296433.htm

With £50 change

I wanted to support something Jap but something like a R34 GTR just doesn't make sense unless you're a die hard enthusiast. In this sort of company it is slow, dated, the interior is horrid and it is generally terrible value for money.

I could see the argument for a highly tuned R32/R33 that has had ££££££ spent on it previously bringing it upto standard, but a completely standard R34? No thanks .

This on the other hand...

http://pistonheads.com/sales/2298160.htm

 

[Participant]

http://pistonheads.com/sales/2296433.htm

With £50 change

I know the handbrake is engaged in the 8th picture in that link...but why is the handbrake between the driver and the gearknob?! Does it not get in the way?

 

[Fr0dders]

I think you're right.

It's an odd part of the market, it obviously buys you an awful lot of performance car but nothing really stands out and screams "Buy me".

Personally I'd be looking at something that'd wrap time with a prod of the throttle but was still completely civilised 95% of the time, so most probably something Large, German, Turbo/supercharged + a remap with whatever change I had (RS6/E55 AMG/perhaps a XJR).

I certainly wouldn't consider a "Hot Hatch" for more than a second.

what in the market would scream "buy me" given that you can have an E55 or XJR in this budget ?

 

[Fr0dders]

I know the handbrake is engaged in the 8th picture in that link...but why is the handbrake between the driver and the gearknob?! Does it not get in the way?

here's a better angle

http://www.smcars.net/forums/attach...85465-nissan-skyline-r34-gtr-bnr_interior.jpg

doesnt look to be a problem.

 

[Deleted member 66701]

I'd buy a Ford Sierra RS500 and use the rest of the money to insure/restore/maintain it.

 

[Will Gill]

The evo X has "normal" service intervals and as such isn't too bad to run. Sure consumables aren't cheap but no more expensive than alternative performance cars mentioned. It does benefit from a large aftermarket scene though.

I'd probably look around for a grey or white evo 9 MR and spend some money on tuning:

Leftfield would be a 335i, but totally dependent on purpose and whether it shares the vague steering that the E60 5 series has.

leave some cash over for an awesome numberplate too, thats essential

 

[Amoeba]

snip

You say

Personally I'd be looking at something that'd wrap time with a prod of the throttle but was still completely civilised 95% of the time

and then show me this:

This on the other hand...

http://pistonheads.com/sales/2298160.htm

I know what you saying, although personally I would still prefer an R34 GTR to everything posted so far even if it doesn't perform the best (although it can be modified to!).

 

[Joshy]

what in the market would scream "buy me" given that you can have an E55 or XJR in this budget ?

I know they've got some way to go, but a GTR would be my personal 25k no brainier.

 

[DM]

This on the other hand...

http://pistonheads.com/sales/2298160.htm

Im getting old because i wouldnt drive that if was given away free with cornflakes and BP paid for my petrol, what a revolting car

 

[ashrobbo]

My money wouldn't go on a focus rs? why?

Its far too aggressive looking, I love aggressive looking card but for me this says mid life crisis more then say an evo or a scooby.

Great to drive.

Id be buying a used m3

 

[MikeHiow]

Im getting old because i wouldnt drive that if was given away free with cornflakes and BP paid for my petrol, what a revolting car

Its not age, its taste.

 

[Dolph]

I think you're right.

It's an odd part of the market, it obviously buys you an awful lot of performance car but nothing really stands out and screams "Buy me".

Personally I'd be looking at something that'd warp time with a prod of the throttle but was still completely civilised 95% of the time, so most probably something Large, German, Turbo/supercharged + a remap with whatever change I had (RS6/E55 AMG/perhaps a XJR).

I certainly wouldn't consider a "Hot Hatch" for more than a second.

To a large extent, that's the decision I made switching from my S3 to my R36. The problem with the RS6/E55 AMG/XJR grouping is that the running costs rise again, as does the age of the vehicle which generally means you're going to be spending more keeping it in fine trim.

I'd love an XJR, but I'd probably want a bigger budget for one.

 

[Joshy]

Hey, if you're going to support Jap cars at this end of the market you've got to go big or go home .

The way I see it Jap performance cars should be all about the bang for buck. At £25k a stock R34 GTR just doesn't have it, but the R32 is a different story. Come on, that thing will be worrying veyrons all day long this side of 200MPH+, and for a fraction of the price. Now that's what I call value for money... Until it blows up .