sulli

Agree with Paul - Mitsi Galant/Legnum VR4. 280 bhp (standard), V6 2.5l twin-turbo, with 4WD and AYC.
I had one, and whilst it attracted a lot of admirers, not the same type as a lairy Evo.
It was quick enough to surprise almost anything, including Boxsters, and gripped very well.
Same set up as Evo with the AYC, smoother power delivery, but a bit heavier.
Only downside is servicing and running costs. But they can now be got for next to nothing - and they're very highly specced.
My Old VR4

_RIP_

BrettC

GrahamG

R31 thanks mate but a bit too old...completely agree about sleeper looks though.

Sulli

Yep, I'm looking around. I agree good car with understated looks.
Any other links to your VR4, would like to have a look but I'm not a member of that forum.

Reading through this thread again it sounds like I'm being reet negative about everything...I don't mean to be its just that I dont want to make another car buying mistake....££££ouch
and definately appreciate everyones efforts.

sulli

Loads here

BrettC

Thanks sulli.

Good looking car. You know what though, I agree that as an estate it is a bit of a sleeper but you wont find much more of an aggresive looking estate!!
Lovely interior!

I am assuming that you can actually get a manual. Autos seem to be far more common.

sulli

Very few manuals, though i think there may be a couple on Club VR4 - worth registering for a look.
The auto (the only auto i've ever had) is a peach - Porsche developed tiptronic gearbox, learns your driving style for full auto mode, and tiptronic option - only downside for me was inability to double-de-clutch/heel and toe - apart from that very good surprisingly. However, if the auto goes, it's pricey to fix.

Scumbag

Agree the B4s are tricky to find - I got mine imported (and serviced) by Park Lane - but they arent in that game any more. Ian Litchfield will import - and may have some older stuff, but I looked earlier today at their stock, and they didnt have any...other than keeping your eyes on AT, I'm not sure where else I would go

BrettC

Thanks SB. I am having trouble. I guess I will just have to be good and wait in case one comes up.

Sulli. Thanks mate, I'll register on the forum and have a look around. I really like the galant vr4. But I suspect finding a manual low mileage car in my limited budget may prove to be a problem. Typical...just typical!! I guess I will just have to put up with the clio a bit longer while I save some more money.

mmmmm.....supercharged 1.2 oasis..that would do the trick!

sulli

For £8k you should be able to find a manual - there aren't as many, but they are around, i'm sure I saw one on there a couple of weeks ago for a lot less than £8k.

sulli

This is in Autotrader:


var picTest = document.getElementById("picArea"); if (!picTest){ document.getElementById("details").style.width = "85%"; }1997 MITSUBISHI LEGNUM VR4,
30,000 miles, twin turbo 4wd estate, rare manual, dark green, fsh, kenwood cd player, privacy glass, climate a/c, twin airbags, abs, ew, em, pas, ayc, recently seviced, excellent condition. £6,700. ono Email:
Telephone: 01752 771723
Email: Email Advertiser
Distance: 178 miles
Price: £6,700 ono

robertdon777

Audi A4 S4 circ 1998-2001

You will be able to get hold of an early one for about £8000

Spec: 2.7 Twin Turbo V6, 265bhp (£500 remap takes it to 310bhp)

4WD, 6 speed box, lots of electric goodies

Great build quality, very discreet, great image, fairly cheap to insure when compared to evos etc. Take a look at one you should like these as they are a class up in terms of image/make from evos.

lowlander

How about an Audi S4 Avant?

265 bhp, 4 wheel drive and subtle but classy looks.

All the best.

Martin.

Brendan Hughes

What about an older M5? The 3.8 looks like any other 5-series, more or less, with only an M5 badge and a quiet boot spoiler to show the difference.

There are a couple on AutoTrader with about 90k miles, E34, for 8-10k.

Maybe a bit big, but hey...

dazdavies

iTrader: (22)

My Mate had just bought a brand new Volvo V70R.
I have a well sorted scoob and another mate has a Norris designs Evo and while the Volvo is no where near as quick in a straight line its handling is absolutely superb. It out handles both my scoob and the Evo on the twisties and before you say its all about the driver blah blah blah, we have all driven each others cars and we are all agreed.

The various traction control and supsension settings are just awesome. He paid £500 for a mapping device that gives the car 350 bhp / and around 400 ft/lbs of torque. Food for thought take one out you will be totally suprised I know I was.

Daz

Brendan Hughes

Really? All that for £8000?

BrettC

Thanks guys. I'm going to be a busy chap with all these test drives.

R1916v

I'd have to go with a despoilered M3 Saloon.

Got an Evo mag here somewhere that has an M car guide in it, they say the E36 saloon is technically a better drive than the coupe I guess due to weight distribution etc.

BrettC

Thanks R1916v. Would like to read the article. What date evo mag is it? I might be able to order a back issue.

Do E36 M3s Saloons, coupes and Evos handle large mileages well if well documented service history? or are they prone to major things failing? Other than the notorious Vanos system.

cheers
Brett

PS I know its not one of the clever suggestion on this thread but.....What do you reckon, this standard scooby wagon seems very subtle? I know not a match for an Evo but still a nice practical car with some performance. I have got a soft spot for scooby wagons after all.
http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/showthread.php?t=475237

R1916v

I've only ever kept two issues of Evo, one being the Clio Cup shootout thingy (where it beat the WRX to 100 :P ) and the other just happens to have the article on buying a BMW, it was something like "Instead of a 1 series you could get these beemers".

October 2004

It's only a half page bit on the M3 Evo, I'll see if I can scan it in. they do say "The vast majority of E36 M3s were coupes, but saloons like you see here have a slight handling edge and cost no more".

Look very nice in silver with no spoiler

BrettC

R1916v

If you could scan the article and email it to me that would be most appreciated.

Cheers

Brett

PS YHPM

Paul_M

Possibly Although thankfully I haven't had anything go wrong yet . On the whole they're actually pretty reliable cars, but have to be maintained properly and parts can be very expensive (remember it's a £64,000 car when new). For example, brake discs are 320mm front and rear so quite expensive, and the exhaust is a separate system for each bank (one each side of the car), this costs megabucks to replace.

The V8 engine and 6-speed box are pretty bulletproof, engine has duplex chains and is the same one fitted to the E39 540i. They do 200k+ without too much trouble. There are some minor known issues such as the cam cover gaskets can leak oil, parts are cheap but it takes a few hours labour.

I think a lot of the horror stories come from the earlier 850i with the V12 (it's actually no faster due to being an older, 24 valve low-compression engine - about 20 extra BHP but a corresponding increase in weight. Very torqey though). They have drive by wire, with two electronic throttle bodies which can fail costing c. £1000. Also the inlet manifold gaskets can leak causing idle problems, and it's a big job to remove and replace on the V12. These don't affect the V8.

I'm certainly a lot less worried about having a major repair than I would be if it were an auto! The 6-speed box just doesn't break, although you can destroy the clutch pretty easily if you're brutal with it due to the weight and torque!

Cheers
Paul.

R1916v

That evo mag also has a bit in the same section on the 8 series (they go through what you can get for near 1 series money including E30 M3, E36 M3, Alpina B10, 8 series_.

They too said their choice was the 840 as it was technically a better engine and drive.

www.GT4oc.com

If you want a "bit" of a sleeper
Guy off the GT4OC is selling this. Totally kills any competition (ive been in it!)
Fast as hell but not so common that people know what it might do. Shame about the colour though

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...romZR41QQfviZ1

madwrx

iTrader: (2)

mmmmmmm. tuned gt4 nice

scoobyvsm3

E36 M3 EVO COUPE.. everytime..just make sure the vanos unit has been changed and/or is not noisy as they are £££ to replace

Castrol

Whilst being far from the fastest thing on the road, the Saab 9-5 Estate with Hirsch kit (210BHP/320Nm/0-60 in 7.5secs/30-70 in 7) makes a pretty good case for itself, particularly with 2 Labradors, driver and 4 passengers, and huge amounts of gear in the back. Looks totally standard.

Ralph Wiggum

factory built sleeper, that i'd have in a shot

e34 m5 touring

for the uneducated, basically a 3.8 m5 estate not massively fast that said will do sub 6 0-60 and more importantly 0-100 in around 13 and a bit 1/4 mile in 14 dead