Performance on a budget.

ultralaser

ultralaser

ultralaser

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7 Sep 2014
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Hi,

I'm looking for a quick(ish) car which isn't tiny that can be had for around 2,800. By quick I'm looking at a sub 8 second 0-60. I'm not too bothered about looks but would prefer nothing too old fashioned (E.g no Jags). Preferably something wont break down immediately.

I understand that I might not be able to have all of that on 2,800 GBP but I thought I'd ask if there any options?


Thanks

David
 
look at JAP
dont know what style you want, but celica t sport. corrola tsport, lexus is 200, clio 182, lots of old a3's / golfs out there
 
Thanks for replies (interesting a z4 is in budget!). Clio's are too small for my liking though I do respect they are quick and cheap. I'm willing to work with 18+ MPG ish, insurance,service and tax I'm not bothered about.
 
Straight line performance or performance around the twisties? Plenty of stuff with low 0-60s which just fall over around the corners (Saab tbh if you just want straight line, but I'm a Saab fanboy) or there's other cars which will be quick around twisty roads with relatively high 0-60 times (mx5 as a good example)

Only use the 0-60 time as a benchmark if you're only bothered about straight line performance - but decide what sort of performance you want/need first
 
Thats a very specific budget - most people have a budget of 'about 3k' rather than '£2800'.

If this is because it's genuinely the total amount you have available be careful because you are incredibly likely to buy into a money pit by getting a performance car at this end of the market.
 
iaind said:
Straight line performance or performance around the twisties? Plenty of stuff with low 0-60s which just fall over around the corners (Saab tbh if you just want straight line, but I'm a Saab fanboy) or there's other cars which will be quick around twisty roads with relatively high 0-60 times (mx5 as a good example)

Only use the 0-60 time as a benchmark if you're only bothered about straight line performance - but decide what sort of performance you want/need first
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So twisty stuff I'm not overly bothered about (don't read that as I want a boat, but that twisty stuff is not my primary requirement). I'm only using 0-60 as a reference point as I believe its more useful than BHP. Mainly looking at A road / motorway performance. Something with a fair bit more power than a VW group 2.0 TDI is that helps?
 
[TW]Fox;29148412 said:
Thats a very specific budget - most people have a budget of 'about 3k' rather than '£2800'.

If this is because it's genuinely the total amount you have available be careful because you are incredibly likely to buy into a money pit by getting a performance car at this end of the market.
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So it's just what I've been budgeting. Is there a "entry level" budget for decent performance?
 
ultralaser said:
So twisty stuff I'm not overly bothered about (don't read that as I want a boat, but that twisty stuff is not my primary requirement). I'm only using 0-60 as a reference point as I believe its more useful than BHP. Mainly looking at A road / motorway performance. Something with a fair bit more power than a VW group 2.0 TDI is that helps?
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A Saab 9-3 Aero is pretty much what you want to be looking at then. With a Noobtune map you are looking at 250HP.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...ge=1&onesearchad=used,nearlynew,new&logcode=p
 
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Audi TT
BMW 328/330
Lexus Soarer/GS300/IS200
Toyota MR2
Celica
NA Auto Supra
A rough s13/s14
Mitsubishi GTO
Mitsubishi FTO
Honda Civic Type R
Fiat Coupe
RX8
MX5 Turbo
VW Corrado

Im sure i could think of more
 
ultralaser said:
So twisty stuff I'm not overly bothered about (don't read that as I want a boat, but that twisty stuff is not my primary requirement). I'm only using 0-60 as a reference point as I believe its more useful than BHP. Mainly looking at A road / motorway performance. Something with a fair bit more power than a VW group 2.0 TDI is that helps?
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I did wonder if that was the case - in which case you don't want to be looking at hot hatches and 2 seaters - they're designed to attack the corners so tend to suck, relatively, on the motorway.

I'm actually off tomorrow to (hopefully) buy a Saab 9-5 aero which is advertised at £2500 - they are a 2.3 turbo with 250bhp. They're fwd so scrabble a bit off the line and the handling is...nonexistent. But remember you rarely do 0-60, you do 30-70 and I genuinely don't believe you'll find something with as much midrange clout for that sort of money. They're extremely well appointed, wonderfully comfortable and pretty reliable too. Much of that can also be said about the smaller 9-3 which has a 2.0 turbo with 210bhp or a 2.8V6 turbo with about 250bhp.

Otherwise, a mondeo ST220 would be worth looking at - the BMW 330i would also be a great choice but be mindful of running costs. A Volvo v50/s40 T5 might be doable too
 
iaind said:
I did wonder if that was the case - in which case you don't want to be looking at hot hatches and 2 seaters - they're designed to attack the corners so tend to suck, relatively, on the motorway.

I'm actually off tomorrow to (hopefully) buy a Saab 9-5 aero which is advertised at £2500 - they are a 2.3 turbo with 250bhp. They're fwd so scrabble a bit off the line and the handling is...nonexistent. But remember you rarely do 0-60, you do 30-70 and I genuinely don't believe you'll find something with as much midrange clout for that sort of money. They're extremely well appointed, wonderfully comfortable and pretty reliable too. Much of that can also be said about the smaller 9-3 which has a 2.0 turbo with 210bhp or a 2.8V6 turbo with about 250bhp.

Otherwise, a mondeo ST220 would be worth looking at - the BMW 330i would also be a great choice but be mindful of running costs. A Volvo v50/s40 T5 might be doable too
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Thanks for this, I had considered the ST220 but they are rare near me. I'll check out the 9-5 and the v50/s40 T5 too.

* Sorry one quick question on the Saab's, how is servicing and replacement parts due to, well you know ;)
 
How close are you looking? It's not a huge budget but it's stuff several thousand pounds of cash, don't just look on your front door. Getting the right car has to be worth a day off and a 50 quid train ticket - the one I'm seeing tomorrow is 4 hours away. Higher performance cars are nowhere near as common as normal versions so cast your net wide enough, don't risk for settling on something just because it's close
 
iaind said:
How close are you looking? It's not a huge budget but it's stuff several thousand pounds of cash, don't just look on your front door. Getting the right car has to be worth a day off and a 50 quid train ticket - the one I'm seeing tomorrow is 4 hours away. Higher performance cars are nowhere near as common as normal versions so cast your net wide enough, don't risk for settling on something just because it's close
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I'm looking about 80 miles from my current location. Quite willing to travel for the right car, but assumed 80 -> national wouldn't be too much different, happy to be corrected :D.
 
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