GCollier

Simon,

What about an original RWD Toyota Corolla? They're great fun to drive, 1.6litre 16v engine from the MR2, and if my sister and mate's MR2 experiences are anything to go buy, they should be totally bomb-proof. Should also come in under budget, which would leave money to replace shocks/dampers/tyres etc which could well be shagged on a second hand car a few years old.

Other cars which are just about within budget and I've enjoyed driving are original Nissan 200SX, porsche 944 (though you would really be looking at an early 2.5lux). However, with these though they are generally very strong, as with a beemer or the legacy, if anything does go wrong you are probably looking at a big bill.

Regards,

Gary.

johnfelstead

simon, forget the GTiR.

if out breaks your buggered, it is a cracking car to drive, even with its interwarmer, but not practical for your requirements.

SDB

Hi All

OK, I've had the Lotus for about 3 weeks.

I love it like mad...

But...

You guessed it, I miss my scooby like crazy!

I don't want to get rid of the Lotus just yet and can't afford to buy a decent impreza. I am currently using a $h1t box in the shape of Vauxhall Senator to clock up the miles in and run about in, to keep the miles off the Lotus.. Also, I don't think the Lotus will stand many more trips to MIRA, So...

I'm thinking about getting rid of the Senator and buying a cheap car like Legacy Turbo. I've been looking in Autotrader and reckon I can pick up a not bad K / L reg for around £3000.

Anyone got any advice re this.

It doesn't need to be cool, confortable, etc. Just fairly reliable and pretty bomb proof (It's gonna get thrown around MIRA every weekend!!).

How Quick are they?
How What are the Diffs Like?
Handling Compared to the Impreza? (Avoiding heresay if pos!!)
Are they as bomb proof as the Impreza?
Is £3K the right sort of money?

I've driven a group A rally version about 5 years ago and it was fabulous (but then it would be!), I've never driven the road car.

Thanks in advance

Simon
(PS.. yes, I know you told me so!!!)

JON HUGHES

Hello simon
I had a legacy turbo estate for a couple of of years before I got my impreza.

They use the same running gear as the impreza but the wheel base is about 7" longer.compered to the impreza it seemed more stable(heavier as well)I wasn't able to induce lift off over steer like the scooby,but i'm sure you could LOL.

I fitted uprated impreza suspension and thicker rear anti roll bar from a legacy saloon,mongose full exh,induction kit,and a superchip!! it ran at 1.2 bar with no problems.

I did three track days in it and shocked my freind with a intergrale,his brother then bought a legacy estate!!!.

For the money you can't beat um.

cheers jon

HunterB

The old Legacy turbos are good cars - 197bhp and reasonably torquey. Not quite as quick as an Impreza in a straight line, but it's a bit heavier. Handling is safe and predictable and, like any Sub, feels better if you keep the power on through bends. Bit softer than the current Imprezas but on a par with the original ones, more comfortable touring car. More room in the back for the kiddies. Never had any problem with the diffs, my old one had a limited slip on the back (don't know if this was standard). They are bomb proof, I've a friend with a 93K with 150k miles on it and still going strong. You can't go wrong at £3k.

Be careful, though, because it's too easy to get hooked on Legacys - I'm now running a 96 twin turbo RS and it's a superb Q car, great if you prefer to travel incognito.

Brian

JON HUGHES

Oh
Nearly forgot,the brakes are not very good..
same as the old impreza,but you can fit the sti 4pots which do the job.
jon

pnebbs

Brian,

How does your RS compare with the older turbo, I have a GT-B and a friend wanted to know what it was like as he was thinking of buying the earlier Turbo Estate.

As far as peformance is concerned, I came up behind a RS500 last night on the way home and he couldn't get away from me by accelerating every time there was a gap on a dual carriageway, my Auto GT-B kept pace easily, not bad for a big, AWD, comfortable estate car.

Paul

[This message has been edited by pnebbs (edited 16-02-2000).]

NickM

Simon,

Question about the Lotus for you.

I test drove a Esprit V8 at the weekend (Bell&Covil) and it's a stunning car to look at, a fantasic drivers car (tricky with size 9 feet...!!) but how can you live with the build quality??

The car I drove had done around 20K and rattled and creaked more than a Y plate Fiesta. The windscreen wipers were starting to rust as were the screws securing the front indicators. I was very dissapointed, I'd heard the quality left alot to be desired but I wasn't expecting that!

It's a shame because the car looks a million quid and drives like a billion but seems to be put together with evostick.


Nick

SDB

Thanks for the quick replies...

Bit concerned about the longer wheel base, the Impreza suffers from enough understeer as it is... I would image I could give it to RGS and get them to make it evil though!!

Nick...

You're right, the build quality is not that hot.. One of the first things I noticed was, driving down the M40 at around 70, I popped the head lights up which created enough wind buffeting to rattle the doors!!! Only slightly, but it amused me none the less.

I know this sounds weird, but I kinda like it... Everything about the car has been designed around the driver and performance. The skills required to drive one really quickly are advanced to say the least. But not because the handling is bad.. merely because they haven't engineered every day stability into to save inexperienced drivers from themsleves. I love the interior, it's cossetting and sporty (and actually about the best part in terms of build quality). The body work all seems to hold together. But it does rattle and creak, and make all sorts of other noises.

I don't know.. I like the fact that it has been built as a driving machine rather than a soft and cuddly every day car. I certainly wouldn't complain if the build quality was higher. But when you feel how good they are to drive, you can tell without doubt that no corners have been cut in terms of chassis, suspension, engine, handling, etc, so know that the rattles and creaks are there because they didn't see them as important. Not because they rushed them?

Personal preference maybe?

Cheers again

Simon

Mike Tuckwood

I have got a BMW Alpina (B3.5) for sale Simon that would easily accommodate both your bomb proof mileage requirements and be fun at MIRA also.

More than you were looking at but more car than you were looking at also

Mike.

mike_nunan

Simon,

Here's a top suggestion for you: Nissan Sunny/Pulsar GTi-R. Yes, a lot of them are mingers, but even a good one won't cost more than about 10 grand, absolute tops. Certainly no problem with an overly long wheelbase, either!

-= mike =-

SDB

Mike T
Nice one. How much are you asking? Is there a picture anywhere?

Mike_N
Thanks for the top tip. starting to get a bit pricey though. I only want to spend around 3-4K to get a car I can thoroughly abuse and put loads of miles on etc...
Gti-R is a cool suggestion though, I may start looking round. What are they like on reliability?

Cheers

Simon

Mike Tuckwood

I've sent you some info direct Simon.

HunterB

Paul,

The RS is much quicker than the old Legacy turbo - 280PS vs around 200PS. The twin sequential turbo set up (low pressure turbo comes in around 1500-2000rpm, followed by the high pressure turbo at 4000-4500 rpm) means that there's instant acceleration from any speed as long as you have 2000rpm up and, when the second turbo comes in, hang on! It's around 50Kg lighter than the estate and about 20PS more power so should be quicker, although I've not driven a GT-B.

The RS has inverted Bilstein dampers which means it handles and 215/45ZR17 Bridgestone S-02s means you stay on the grey stuff. It has torque-sensing limited slip diffs at the rear and in the centre (auto has a different system) which means that driving in snow (which is the only time I've ever managed to really break traction) is huge fun and very safe.

On paper, it's faster than the MY00 Impreza Turbo but, in practice, there's nothing between them in a standing quarter. On the road, though, I find the Legacy to be much more flexible than the Impreza. The Legacy has the WRX engine, so revs to 7500rpm. This means that the gearing can be a little lower in the middle ranges which means that there's more torque available at a given speed in a given gear than in an Impreza. This makes for more relaxed fast motoring. I drove a new Impreza the week before last and it felt slow in comparison to the Legacy (personal opinion).

The standard brakes are per the My00 Impreza and it stops in the same kind of distance. The longer wheelbase (and slightly heavier car) means that the back end doesn't go light as it can in an Impreza, so it's less scary under heavy braking.

I've a friend with a Carrera 4 and he can't get away from me If they haven't dulled the edges of the new RSK B4, that'll be my next car!

Mick

iTrader: (1)

Simon
Get a Legacy Turbo! I had a '94 MY Saloon. Slightly modded to 238 bhp with short shift box. Fantastic car absolutely loved it. Gripped like glue. I expected the Impreza to be better..., perhaps its a case of 'the grass is greener..' but for the money I think it was hugely better value.

Mick

EvilBevel

Simon,

Re: let you back in ? Sorry, no can do

I mean, you can't expect us to let you post posh pictures of that blue thing, and then come back here without some kind of punishment.

You'll have to sit this one out !

Theo

PS : OK, you could start with a Vivio, and work your way up from there again.