mike_330

Starting to look for my next car having sold the 330d, went to the bmw dealers today, drove a m3 e46 and was quite pleasant but didnt leave me wanting to buy it. Then looked at a 540, too slow but alpina did a e39 I think but are hard to come across. Another option was a 550 but rare again and only in the latest model??? Dont want abig 750 or old 850, so bmw could be out

Would like a jap car but not many options available, supra too old, r34 maybe but too daft looking on the road, 350z maybe with supercharger bolted on

I know its 4wd but am going to testdrive a rs6 on saturday, good spec engine but handling maybe poor

Have upto 25k but would like money left over for upgardes, any more to put on my list?

Matteeboy

Does it need room for extra people/luggage?

993 Porker is possible, BMW ZM3 Coupe with loads to spare, TVR Cerbera (just), older AMG Merc, and others.

Plums!

Vauxhall Monaro VXR springs to mind?

Plums.....

mike_330

would need space for 4 people and a boot so the porker and tvr are out, had thought about the monaro, will write it in pencil on the list

RobEvo5

iTrader: (9)

Just about do an old RS4 for 25K, or the E39 M5 good example for 15-20K.

Or if Jap then EVO MR.

All depends in whether you want jap or german.

scooby_matt

RX8?

I know it's not ballistic in terms of straight line performance, but it's Japanese, has great handling and seats 4.

DJ Dunk

iTrader: (5)

If you want seating for 4 then the 350 is out too. I'd agree with the Monaro.

jonc

Toyoya Chaser? RWD, 4 doors, big boot, same engine as the Supra (therefore massively tuneable!), admitedly not much to look at in standard form, but there are many descrete kits available and very much a stealth machine. Apparently one of the better cars used for drifting in Japan.

Failing that a BMW E39 M5

SJJ84

As a couple of others have mentioned, you seem to have considered all of the bmw range except the M5, surely that's the one you want if the 540 is too slow and the 550 to new.

mike_330

yes the m5 e39 should be on the list, first I dismissed it for the same reason as the m3, great car but not much potential for upgrade without a vast investment, but having thought about it again there should be power gains with the simple exhaust, filter, ecu changes

still like the look of the alpina 540, anyone got the specs, 4.6, manifold, external changes etc, anybody got one forsale

Matteeboy

Some here:

Auto Trader UK - Used Car Search - Used Cars for sale online.

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www...arch_full.y=15

RobEvo5

iTrader: (9)

Modify A M5......... - Would have thought you would never need to consider it apart from say a short shifter and a perhaps a noisey exhaust if thats your thing.. 400 reliable BHP out the box is one of the major appeals (to me anyhow).

MJW

If you're looking for tuning potential, as others have said, have a look at the Monaro - plenty of off the shelf stuff for it.

chippy17

Mustang, you can tune those,

james spencer cars : FORD MUSTANG SALEEN 281 SUPERCHARGED

don't know your price range but standard cars are under £20k and add the mods as and when you can

mike_330

just had a look on trader and they must not have made a manual with the v8

any car needs tobe modified to get rid of the daft noise and emmissions gear they have to load them up with now, so a m5 would have to breathe better and possibly slight ecu change

had a look at a monaro today, nice lump under the bonnet but it was the standard v8 type, whats the difference with the vxr and is it worth holding out for one?

billythekid

VXR has the newer 6000cc engine (400/400) over the old LS1 5.7 (350/350).

Mike123

Also, probably won't bother you, the boot is much smaller on the VXR version.

RobBBB

I guess you already thought about a 535d? One of those with a bit of tuning s/b pretty quick.. Depends if you want another diesel I guess..

RobBBB

Ah yes you said petrol.. Ill be quiet now

Edcase

That's what I've done, short shift, noisy exhaust.

The car is amazing, I love it. Comfortable cruiser but also mental when you want it to be. Having such a long wheelbase, and such good f / r balance, you can drift it at will and even when it lets go at high speeds (ie. unprovoked) its never brown trousers if you know what you are doing.

As the price has dropped considerably on these cars, and brought them within range of people who would perhaps like to modify them, there are now some serious options available.

Remap with full exhaust will get you 30bhp and a delimit, but will also make the car so much more responsive.

Personally I just don't think it needs any more power. So I'm spending my money on the chassis on the only two weakspots...AP 6 pot brakes, and uprated rear ARB and mounts.

Truly excellent car.

Here are a couple of clips of mine:

YouTube - E39 M5 with H&S Exhaust at Bedford Autodrome
YouTube - BMW E39 M5 In Car at Bedford Autodrome

Your budget will get you a great example, poss with extended warranty, and enough left over for the above mods.

MJW

That's one beast of a 'stang ! First one I've seen with the Saleen kit, looks awesome

rossi_p

iTrader: (26)

I'd say the VXR Monaro..

However if you fancy something a little different, how about importing something like:

eBay Motors: Plymouth : Barracuda (item 190074140139 end time Jan-24-07 11:50:27 PST)

I know it hasn't rear seats and would be pants on the bends.... but lots of rwd fun!

davegtt

RX7 No contest

Jap2Scrap

What sort of 4 people would that seat?

Jimpreza

Rx8's are a bit different and handle like a dream

DanTheMan

Monaro - huge car - massive tuning potential - you could have the VXR500 supercharger fitted for the money you are talking about - so that's 500BHP and huge sideways fun !!!!

The early ones had the bigger boots and the 5.7 engines, I had a LSV stage2 kit & decat on mine plus a Wortec tune up to about 410BHP and that was awesome, huge flames when changing gear and 2.8mpg when putting your foot down !!

Used to get over 30mpg on the motorway too, a good all round car.

mike_330

thats sounds fun, how come the 5.7's had a bigger boot?

am leaning towards one for the money though

DanTheMan

The earlier cars had a huge boot, but the revised model had a relocated petrol tank up behind the passenger seat which makes 1/2 the boot gone, on the plus side there were twin exhausts on the new model and as far as I know a few more BHP too. Don't take my word for it check out the Monaro & HSV forum at HSV & Monaro Forum (the forum is also on Pistonheads).

Tuning wise look at these sites, 5-600BHP can be done easily and reliably especially as supercharger kits are now readily available.

Wortec - Specialist Monaro, HSV, Holden tuners
Linden Special Vehicles
Welcome to monkfish - the big fish is always right!!
WRC Technologies Ltd. - We Build Excitement

There is a Linden tuned Monaro on Pistonheads for £16K which could be bought and supercharged to over 500 horses with change from £20K - time to start leaving black 11's everywhere

davegtt

Those under 5'9" Done it and done a fair journey doing it too.

wrxcraig

supras maybe old but they still fetching good money and cant wait to get one, test drove a m8 supra with twin hybrids and was hitting 100 without knowing the power delivery is so smooth and its a drivers car, everything is based on and around the driver.