mozzaITA

Hi all, unfortunatly after only 7 months i have to sell my nissan 200sx s13, after only a couple of months i found out that the engine wasnt in good shape and needs a rebuild which would be approx £1000 so ive decided to shift it rather than pay out all that dough for a car thats worth £1800!

The cars i would rather own would be an integrale or a sunny gtir but they are more likely to cost £3k plus and will be unreliable and could need engine unexpected engine work again!!! I havnt totally ruled them out but for now im thinking more about the cars which i mentioned above.

My mate owns a Vr6 so im pretty clued up on them and apart from the handling i think that they are great cars and good value for money. How would they compare against a 306 gti-6? French cars are generally more flimsey but are great handling right?

The civic i would consider would be the 158 bhp v tech one, how would it compare to the others ive mentioned?

thanks in advance, any opions and feedback wopuld be much appriciated!

moz

Rich D

iTrader: (12)

The 306 is easily the best handling car of the bunch... in fact on of the best handling hot hatches ever, the Civic is average, the Golf is a soggy old lump.

Performance wise, there's not much in it on the road, all 3 cars are quick, but the Golf has most torque so can be driven lazily, the Civic needs screwing everywhere and the GTi-6 is a good blend of both, nice spread of power.

I very nearly bought a Civic 1.8 VTi a few years ago, but ended up with a 306 Rallye (basic spec GTi-6) as it was a better drive. Great car, never had a problem with it, my mate has it now.

Got a cheap GTi-6 now after my CTR and it's a cracking car, the 306 is a nicer drive than the Civic, lovely steering feel, great chassis, less peaky engine.

R1916v

A friend has a pre cat VR6 and it's average up to 60ish, but when that wave or torque hits you in third it just flies up to illegal speeds very quickly, top end is defnitely it's forte.

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Ive owned 2 GTi-6's and can say that they are an excellent car, if you can find one thats been cared for that is.
The GTi-6 is probably the pick of the bunch but has one major downfall, that being its turning circle but thats about the only thing that does let it down and anyway, out of the 3 cars, 2 are 16v and ones a 12v, now who wants to be seen in a 12valve car nowerdays

Tony

16vmarc

Ive been in a Xsara VTS which is essentially a GTi-6 but with one less gear! I was quite impressed with its performance.

Recaro

GTi-6. For £3K you get a lot of car.

I was stuck between a VR6 and the GTi-6. Went for the GTi-6 in the end as a mate bought 1 and i really liked it. Had it 2 years now and still loving it.

Dave1980

gti 6 for 3k!!!, they are still my favourite hot hatch. used to cost loads when i wanted to get one about 4 years ago.

pete1977

Is it the bottom end thats gone.Is rebuilding it yourself an option?should only cost £200-£300 in parts.

Rich D

iTrader: (12)

There are some about for even less... I know, I bought one...

The Chief

I've toyed with this idea myself.

O.k. i know a pug would easily out handle a vr6 but what about straight line performance - and i've heard vr6's can be a little unreliable, is this true??

kammy

You can just change (I think) the big end bearings if you have not damaged your crank, otherwise its a re-grind etc. You can get it done from a feller sxoc'er. Have a look around on the site. But there is always the chance you do the big end bearings and then put it all together for it still to be screwed.
Kam- Go for the VR6 if you do change, relaxing yet pacey and classy motoring.

mozzaITA

Thanks for all your replys!!... firstly concerning my car, it not the big ends that have gone or any sort of valve problem, basically the engine isnt making compression very well, one cylinder is ultra low and another 2 are low and one is very good.

My 'trustly' mechanic has told me that the bores are ok and the problem is that the engine is worn out, although the car doesnt produce any blue smoke and the only visual problem would be on starting the car cold the engine shakes alots for approx /24 minutes until its heated up and then perofrms well. It would need a full rebuild pistons etc... and whiles its in bits things like the big end bearing and valve seats might as well be replaced too.... The thing is that wen i bought it i did remember that there problem (didnt know it was one) was present so mayby thats why the previous owner sold it? ahhhh never mind the car otherwise is quite nice, 94 m plate, 17" alloys, big exhaust FSH....

Anyway back to the cars, Vr6 is pretty reliable, my mates one done 150 000 miles and nothing has really gone on it. I do like the 306's but put off by the looks, im finding it hard to decide as i feel that ive been and done the hot hatch thing yeras ago.... i dont know! saw an integrale today it looked amazing, wow not sure to risk it but ive not been lucky wiv cars lately!

cheers moz

cong

well i have owned a civic vti and have liked the fuel econemy when your not reving it, the car behaves like a 1.6 engine unlike the gas guzzling vr6 and gti6, civic can be easily tuned to upto 180bhp by a decat and some minor mods, i have done a indicated 141mph on the speedo, i would say the handling is quite good, go for a civic vti if you can find one they are really hard to find, ive done 125000 miles on my civic and it was still going strong

ScoobyJawa

Gas guzzling GTi-6? Mine did 30mpg, I'd say that was pretty good considering.

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Yup both of mine usually did mid to high 30's on the fuel front (GTi-6) and the advantage its got over the civic is that its got guts, ie torque available from low down, unlike the civic which is a gutless car in gear, you need to rev it all the time to get the best out of it, and my last GTi-6 was quite happily pushing 177bhp in standard form

Tony

Rich D

iTrader: (12)

Was just about to say I've had 37mpg out of mine on a steady motorway run... they're hardly a "guzzler" now are they...

micared

Hmm, owned a Corrado VR6 for 5 years until recently, wouldn't call it a gas guzzler, especially if you remove the cat....30 mpg, even the way I drive! Probably the only thing that did save me any money though. Engine out twice in 9 months to solve a bore glazing issue ( common problem on these engines above 90k) and it displayed every other fault that is known to be common at some point or another ( busted sunroof mechanism and motor, fuel pump relay, seized rear calipers, collapsed hydraulic tappet, etc, etc ).

It's a measure of how good it was when it was right that I loved it so much, despite all of the above. Until I bought the Evo, it was the best handling car I'd ever owned.

mozzaITA

I too owned a corrado, it was a g60 but i did encounter many problems like you have with the vr6... good handling cars but eventually they do fall apart.

micared

Yeah, it taught me a hard lesson about supposed German build 'quality'. That, and crap local dealer service finished off the experience nicely for me.

vindaloo

If you can find one, try a Bora VR6. Golf with a boot, probably better balanced and cheaper...

200sxsimon

vr6's are lovely cars used to have a mk3 myself. Up to 60 a jap crx vtec 160bhp is identical performance but after that the torque kicks in and the vr is gone. 306 always strikes me as a bit girly (my opinion) and as for who wants 12v rather than 16v a vr6 with any cone filter on and the sound is awesome you can tell straight away its a six thats why most people buy them. Fuel is the same compared to a 16v as you dont need to rev them as much due to all the torque. Had mine for 20k miles and when i sold it it had just over the 100k and was sweet as a nut. Best of doing timing chains at 100k but apart from that it was strong as an ox.

simon

RB5_180

Had a corrado vr6 and sound was awesome. Loved the car but the golf doesnt handle so well (based on a mk 3 gti I had). Use to get 33mpg out of the vr6 but 2/3rds motorway. Never had less than 30mpg across a whole tank tho regardless. Doesnt directly compare to the gti-6 I now have IMO. However, while the 'specialness' of the corrado is in a different league, the performance and handling of the gti6 are top. To me, it needs to be revved to feel quick and the gear ratios are all over the place so sometimes feels very quick, other times less so. To get v close ratios 1st and 2nd are long and then it all comes thick and fast. Handling is the best you will get without buying a specialist car - no question. It'll grip to nigh on impreza levels (rb5) and is far more adjustable and fun to play with. You can adjust the rear with the throttle, mine usually just tightens the line significantly but the xsi I had would do controlled lift off oversteer that would put a smile on any car enthusiast face.
I get about 34mpg out of the gti6 (again 2/3 motorway) and often prefer driving it to the impreza - its that good. Make sure the cambelt/tensioners/waterpump have been done as this is a common weakness. Also, as with any car, test one with 4 same make performance tyres on it as I have been disappointed with others in the past.
Im bias, but I think its as fun as a 205 handling wise, more practical and better put together. Have only test driven a civic (1.6) vti - awesome engine, but handling acceptable but nowhere near a gti6 and interior a generation prior. Believe 1.8vti was even less of a drivers car

crazybri

get the civic VTi!!

Much better car than any of them, i used to own 1....

they are reliable as hell, and u'll love the vtec! i regretably writen mine off (took 2 attemts tho!)

I think if i hadnt, i'd still have it today! brilliant car!!

Bri