Recommendation (handling)

Tobias

Tobias

Tobias

Associate
Joined
19 Oct 2009
Posts
119
Location
Reading
Good evening all,

I am after a cheap winter runner that I can thrash to within an inch of its life. My main car is a motorbike, so im not after the quickest car, but it has to handle exceptionally well. I used to race classic minis, but these need to be highly modified to be good.

Max is £1500

I have thought of either a clio 16V, clio williams (a bad one can be had for 1.5k) though condition isnt important. I will most likely strip whatever I get to save ~100 kg's. It wont be resold so thats not an issue. Other ideas are pulsar/sunny gti, or possibly a cheap clio 172 (one creep under 1.5k)

Possibly an mx-5? I have never been in any of these suggestions, hence why I need some advice!

I am open to cars requiring light modification to perform well, though I dont have as much time as I used to. Thanks,
 
Tobias said:
Good evening all,

I am after a cheap winter runner that I can thrash to within an inch of its life. My main car is a motorbike, so im not after the quickest car, but it has to handle exceptionally well. I used to race classic minis, but these need to be highly modified to be good.

Max is £1500

I have thought of either a clio 16V, clio williams (a bad one can be had for 1.5k) though condition isnt important. I will most likely strip whatever I get to save ~100 kg's. It wont be resold so thats not an issue. Other ideas are pulsar/sunny gti, or possibly a cheap clio 172 (one creep under 1.5k)

Possibly an mx-5? I have never been in any of these suggestions, hence why I need some advice!

I am open to cars requiring light modification to perform well, though I dont have as much time as I used to. Thanks,
Click to expand...

I've just spent that on servicing and refurbing mine. I'd run miles away from one that cheap.
 
Ah, didnt see that highlight at first! OK, williams is out of it then. Surely an fto / mr2 isnt going to out handle a clio 16V / pulsar? Remember its not about bhp, I dont care if it only has 100!
 
My theory on the FTO is that its widely agreed that as far as brilliant handling FWD cars go the Honda Integra Type-R was always one of the, if not the, best in its time. Now your budget wont get anywhere near this but it will get an FTO - a car around at the same time as the Integra, pitched at the Integra, and in the press at the time, came close but fell a little short.

Therefore in the 1500 quid budget surely its going to be one of the best handling FWD cars you can get?

I was always hugely impressed with the way the FTO handled and I've driven 182's etc.
 
A valver would do alright, and you can pick up the necessary components to fit a wider 'Williams' track to it for fairly cheap if you were that way inclined. Given that you want one for the winter you may have a hard time finding one in decent condition for the price in a short space of time. Clio's of that age wouldnt be my choice on your budget :)
 
[TW]Fox;15361570 said:
My theory on the FTO is that its widely agreed that as far as brilliant handling FWD cars go the Honda Integra Type-R was always one of the, if not the, best in its time. Now your budget wont get anywhere near this but it will get an FTO - a car around at the same time as the Integra, pitched at the Integra, and in the press at the time, came close but fell a little short.

Therefore in the 1500 quid budget surely its going to be one of the best handling FWD cars you can get?

I was always hugely impressed with the way the FTO handled and I've driven 182's etc.
Click to expand...

So what you are saying is that an FTO out handles a 182? Or that due to the budget constraint, an FTO is pretty damn good - close to a 182? Thanks
 
Smokey McPot said:
A valver would do alright, and you can pick up the necessary components to fit a wider 'Williams' track to it for fairly cheap if you were that way inclined. Given that you want one for the winter you may have a hard time finding one in decent condition for the price in a short space of time. Clio's of that age wouldnt be my choice on your budget :)
Click to expand...

What would be your choice then?
 
The latter :)

Obviously for amazing handling FWD you want a Clio 182 Trophy or a Teg Type R etc but obviously this isn't dooable. An FTO, however, is.
 
I dont have any experience of the other cars so can't really offer much suggestion.

I'd maybe err towards the MX5 given the number of them around and comparitive easy maintenance.
 
Tobias said:
Ah, didnt see that highlight at first! OK, williams is out of it then. Surely an fto / mr2 isnt going to out handle a clio 16V / pulsar? Remember its not about bhp, I dont care if it only has 100!
Click to expand...

Pulsars dont handle well at all without quite a bit of money spent. They grip well but understeer like mad. I had one as a second car when a mate needed to get rid quick and although quick was nowhere near as fun or pointy as my teg. Got rid of it as i was doing 80 miles to a full tank :/

Another vote for an fto from me, better looking exterior but not as quick both in a straight line and in the twisties as the teg. Not a huge amount in it though.
 
The FTO was always in the Tegs shadow as a drivers which which is a shame - the Teg was exceptional, so the FTO being merely 'very good' was seen as second best.

Today a ropey Teg is £4k, a mint FTO is £3k and a ropey FTO is a grand..
 
You wouldnt think that either the teg or fto would handle as well as they do with the way they look! Certainly a lot of FTO votes though. I keep coming back to the clio 16V, is an fto really much better or is there not a lot in it? If the fto would whoop a little clio (which at least looks like it will handle adequately) then I think a decision has been made!
 
[TW]Fox;15361648 said:
The FTO was always in the Tegs shadow as a drivers which which is a shame - the Teg was exceptional, so the FTO being merely 'very good' was seen as second best.

Today a ropey Teg is £4k, a mint FTO is £3k and a ropey FTO is a grand..
Click to expand...

Very true.

You can have mine which is well looked after for 2 grand. But would hate to see it ragged to death :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom