MorayMackenzie

Try and get a test drive in an E30 M3...

Gordon is a ? Brown

Please mate - forget everything thats been said above. Buy a Legacy Turbo and put EBC greenstuff brakepads on to replace the standard Scooby stuff. You will not regret it. Good insurance group too (17).

Shark

Very good idea Gordon

But, finding a nice one will be hard, also a decent warranty is a must, some Subaru parts are very very expensive.

David

Gastro

DW, so you didnt see any G40's to try out then.......
GT4 would be my choice out those you suggested. The Civic VTi is a good suggestion too 1.6Vti was on the 3 door version (same engine 1991 or 1996) (158BHP) while the 5 door (which I used to have, but doesnt look as nice as the 3 dr IMHO) produces 169 BHP. Great reliability & good build quality - probably the best out of all your options for £4.5K.

Gastro

Dream Weaver

Edited cos images have gone

Sorry MrWood

[This message has been edited by Dream Weaver (edited 09 April 2001).]

[This message has been edited by Dream Weaver (edited 10 April 2001).]

mat-e-boy

Might I suggest a VW Corrado G60 160bhp std easily exceed 200bhp when tweeked or a scuffy Corrado VR6 190bhp std great gains also made here when fettled with! Much more rewarding drive than most good fuel economy on VR6 ave on G60 and great chasis. Both go very well and have very usable power. Unlike half of the cars you have shortlisted.
Hope you find a good motor!
All the best
Matthew

MrWood

DW - You have mail!

Pass me your phone number and i'll get him to phone you.

Weaver

G60's are good on juice <B>provided</B> you don't drive them on boost much.....which sort of defeats the object of having one if you ask me

I get 20mpg from my G60 Golf.....

Dream Weaver

Anyone got an opinion on the Rover?

DW

jason b

GTI-R is by far the best car i had one running 285bhp for 18 mths and it is still going strong 2 yrs down the road.
Best car for mods 400BHP possible but my old one keeps up with the P1.
You will wake up every morning with a big smile on ya face and you will be the hunter compared to the rest who are the hunted.
THERE IS NO F**KING CHOICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gastro

Yep - I've got an opinion on that Rover - its a bag of s****........Seriously - dont do it - your other choices are much better.

Gastro

polarbearit

Don't Buy the rover, you will loose half or more of the money and there are much better cars for £4k, and if it must be a Rover I bet you can get a much newer 620Ti for £4500 (last November I was offered a P reg genunine 23k miles Ti for £4300, nice car, bought a scooby instead, I could live with the torque steer).

Prelude 2.2 Vtec is probably my choice of those vehicles, it will do 30 mpg and has 190+bhp I think. I know it is front drive but honda's do handle well and you will probably retain most of your purchase price with out it costing you an arm and leg over the next year

Drove a GTiR and the brakes were cr*p, but nothing like as bad as the handling of the Rover's, sorry.

Buy a Prelude

Jon

Gordon is a ? Brown

Shark,

surely you wouldn't have too much trouble finding one, check autotrader website. There are usually some good looking ones on there. Only problem you mention would be warrenty which you obviously wouldn't get. I've got to sell mine now but it has quite a lot of modifications and 108,000 miles after six years. Look for one at about £3,500 with the best miles you can get.

MarkG

I've owned three Honda Civics, one of which is now owned by my dad and has covered 130k miles without any real problems. For £4500 you could get a very nice Civic or Prelude. They all seem to be totally reliable, straight forward to service and economical if driven sensibly. It will also be a a darn sight easier to sell than some of the more specialist stuff in a couple of years time.

Don't buy a Rover though, they've got to be one of the most troublesome cars on the road.

Dream Weaver

All - The decision has been made - hooray I hear you cry

Thanks to everyone for their help on this....and their influence

I did some research last night and out of 10 short-listed vehicles it came down to 3 clear winners. My research was based on cost, insurance, reliability, fun, power, servicing, and fuel econ.

In 3rd place was the 205 GTi 1.9, but however much fun they are it is just too small for a fat git like me.

2nd was an MR2 - look great, lovely interior, but just too slow.

In first place, and as my final choice (providing I can find one) is................................................ .........Toyota Celica GT4.

This was running quite low until I received the insurance quote today - £723 fully comp. Get in - I expected £1500+

Thanks all once again, I will get the piccies up if I find one.

DW

IWatkins

DW,

Nice one. If you need any help finding a good GT4, just let me know. The owners club members have a few up for sale at the moment and failing that can point you in the right direction for what to look for etc.

Cheers

Ian (GT4)

Dream Weaver

Nice one Ian, cheers.

Please keep an eye out for me - I need one before 29th April really (NM5)

I am in Lancs, so anywhere within an hour, or further for a really good one - have £5k waiting. Prefer standard one due to insurance.

DW

BOB.T

WHOOP! Blimey you change your mind about cars more than me! I'm glad you've decided on one!

I know it's a bit late now but I did reply to the RS2K question, it just didn't work for some reason! I've never driven one, sorry not much use really!

Bob

Dales

DW

Good choice - just make sure you stick with it...Jap stuff is the way forward for that sort of cash.

Remember, from now on if you mention the word R&&&&&, its £1 in the swear box.

Dream Weaver

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by BOB.T:
<B>WHOOP! Blimey you change your mind about cars more than me! I'm glad you've decided on one!

I know it's a bit late now but I did reply to the RS2K question, it just didn't work for some reason! I've never driven one, sorry not much use really!

Bob[/quote]

No worries Bob mate - insurance was crap anyway - wanted £1300 for a 96N RS2K, and they are slow in comparison.

I didnt bother with GT4 cos I thought insurance would be well up, but with quote that cheap it has to be done. Only worry now is finding a decent one....in time for NM5 You need a passenger ride Bob?

DW

Dream Weaver

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by Dales:
<B>DW

Good choice - just make sure you stick with it...Jap stuff is the way forward for that sort of cash.

Remember, from now on if you mention the word R&&&&&, its £1 in the swear box.[/quote]


LOL - nice one Dales. Where did Bully buy his? Shame he is being an **** or I could have gone for a look - oh well

DW