Fantasy shopping - up to 20k for something from the early 90s
04 March 2009, 09:43 PM
#1
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,848
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Fantasy shopping - up to 20k for something from the early 90s
What do you go for? Heart or head?
Been having a look around PH and conflicted between:
Mint Escort RS Cosworth
Honda NSX
Lancia Integrale Evo 2
Lotus Esprit S4
Lotus Carlton
Or a boring old 993 Carrera...?
Been having a look around PH and conflicted between:
Mint Escort RS Cosworth
Honda NSX
Lancia Integrale Evo 2
Lotus Esprit S4
Lotus Carlton
Or a boring old 993 Carrera...?
04 March 2009, 11:04 PM
#6
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Trending Topics
05 March 2009, 08:58 AM
#8
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Northants. 22B sold, as-new Lotus Omega instead.
Posts: 2,027
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was faced with this terrible dilemma late last year (but it had to have 4 seats). I'd already owned a mint Integrale 16V, which is in fact no slower in a straight line than an Evo 2, so I couldn't reconcile with myself shelling out 2.5x the price for a similar condition Evo 2 and I also remember how fragile they are.
The Lotus Carlton was also on my short-list. Prices seemed to be on the rise again for them when I was looking, but very few mint low mileage cars for sale. The other one I had in mind was the mad Cosworth Merc 190-2.5 Evo 2, but these are very hard to find and seem to have risen into the mid 20's (and are not all that fast), so out of my budget.
It had to be a rarity, so I eventually plumped for a mint low mileage FSH 22B, which is obviously 5 years newer than the other cars mentioned. So far so good
Compared to my previous JDM Bug, it feels so tight and sharp and as if it is welded to the road from the moment you set off. Oh and it don't half shift, but I guess that's the same for all STi's.
The Lotus Carlton was also on my short-list. Prices seemed to be on the rise again for them when I was looking, but very few mint low mileage cars for sale. The other one I had in mind was the mad Cosworth Merc 190-2.5 Evo 2, but these are very hard to find and seem to have risen into the mid 20's (and are not all that fast), so out of my budget.
It had to be a rarity, so I eventually plumped for a mint low mileage FSH 22B, which is obviously 5 years newer than the other cars mentioned. So far so good
Compared to my previous JDM Bug, it feels so tight and sharp and as if it is welded to the road from the moment you set off. Oh and it don't half shift, but I guess that's the same for all STi's.
Last edited by Turbo2; 05 March 2009 at 08:59 AM.
05 March 2009, 09:06 AM
#9
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,848
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ooooh....
05 March 2009, 09:21 AM
#11
Scooby Regular
05 March 2009, 09:48 AM
#12
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Chesterfield
Posts: 2,939
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ah yeah!
Auto Trader UK - AUDI QUATTRO 2.1 Turbo UR RR 2.5 20v NOTHELLE 300 BHP
or
Auto Trader UK - DODGE VIPER RT10
or
Auto Trader UK - FERRARI MONDIAL 3.4 t 2dr (RARE 3.4 T, ONE OF ONLY 45 IN UK)
something cool
Auto Trader UK - ALFA ROMEO SZ 3.0 V6
Bit different
Auto Trader UK - BMW Z1 Convertible 2-Door 2494 cc 2.5
Auto Trader UK - AUDI QUATTRO 2.1 Turbo UR RR 2.5 20v NOTHELLE 300 BHP
or
Auto Trader UK - DODGE VIPER RT10
or
Auto Trader UK - FERRARI MONDIAL 3.4 t 2dr (RARE 3.4 T, ONE OF ONLY 45 IN UK)
something cool
Auto Trader UK - ALFA ROMEO SZ 3.0 V6
Bit different
Auto Trader UK - BMW Z1 Convertible 2-Door 2494 cc 2.5
05 March 2009, 10:31 AM
#13
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Northants. 22B sold, as-new Lotus Omega instead.
Posts: 2,027
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ah yes, I'd forgotten that the Mondial was in my shortlist. I was keen on getting a Convertible (not a fan of the Coupé, which is pretty much the runt of the Ferrari litter together with the 308GT4), but they only have lap belts in the rear, so no good for the required baby seats. Nevertheless, they are astounding value for money. I was watching the prices drop on an almost weekly basis last November. You could get a mint 3.2 or 3.4t drop-top for anything from 16k to 19k. The 3.2 is reasonably quick and looks nicer than the old 8 and QV. The run-out 3.4t has the longitudinal engine layout of the 348 and all subsequent V8 Ferrari middies. With its 300BHP, it's the quickest model produced, but suffers from very high servicing costs in comparison to all of the others, which I guess it what keeps the prices down at the same level as the older cars.
I'll perhaps look again in a few years, when the kiddies are bigger.
And no I'm not a hair-dresser!
I'll perhaps look again in a few years, when the kiddies are bigger.
And no I'm not a hair-dresser!
05 March 2009, 10:38 AM
#14
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: York
Posts: 1,029
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oooooo - Alfa's Il Monstro - yep that would be on my list. Not the fastest but one of the rarest, most charismatic cars of that era. Proper rear wheel drive, rear transaxle for 50:50 weight distribution. Fun and benign all at the same time.
If not that then an Integrale - wonderful, wonderful cars.
There was one for sale recently with delivery mileage (let's hope they moved it once in a while to keep it from seizing up!). I think it was one of a handful of cars given to loyal dealers when Lancia left the UK.
If not that then an Integrale - wonderful, wonderful cars.
There was one for sale recently with delivery mileage (let's hope they moved it once in a while to keep it from seizing up!). I think it was one of a handful of cars given to loyal dealers when Lancia left the UK.
05 March 2009, 07:42 PM
#15
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Wigan
Posts: 561
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I know it's not on your list but you can get a BMW 850CSI ( that's the V12 ) for well under £20K. It's the next car on my list !!!! A few years old but still looks fresh. Stick a private plate on it and most people would think you have won the lottery !!
05 March 2009, 08:16 PM
#19
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Mars
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Integrale Evo 2s are £20k?!! Flippin 'eck!
I'd look for:
993 Porker
928 S4
Audi Quattro uR (Dad had three - the last a full Treser version)
I'd avoid Ferrari at this price level.
I'd look for:
993 Porker
928 S4
Audi Quattro uR (Dad had three - the last a full Treser version)
I'd avoid Ferrari at this price level.
05 March 2009, 09:59 PM
#22
Scooby Senior
Well it is a 348 underneath 
It's still a Ferrari though.... it has to be a love affair to own one
Me personally, I'd probably go for the Integrale Evo 2, it would have to be mint though!
It's still a Ferrari though.... it has to be a love affair to own one
Me personally, I'd probably go for the Integrale Evo 2, it would have to be mint though!
05 March 2009, 10:30 PM
#25
Scooby Senior
348's are over-rated! the changes to the 348 to make it a 355 made a huge difference. If I was to buy an entry level Ferrari, I would go back one to a 328!
05 March 2009, 10:44 PM
#26
Guest
Posts: n/a
348's aren't rated highly though so they can't be over-rated!
Changes to it made a much better car in the 355 but the base platform had to be good in the first place.
They were known for being twitchy and difficult to handle on the limit but that's cause most drivers are mongs imo. I've driven 348's in snow and torrential rain and never had a problem...
I had a 328 and it couldn't keep up with a Fiat Punto with 4-5 lads in
328's do look
though.
Changes to it made a much better car in the 355 but the base platform had to be good in the first place.
They were known for being twitchy and difficult to handle on the limit but that's cause most drivers are mongs imo. I've driven 348's in snow and torrential rain and never had a problem...
I had a 328 and it couldn't keep up with a Fiat Punto with 4-5 lads in
328's do look
though.
05 March 2009, 11:29 PM
#27
Early 90's...sorry guys, I'm struggling here.
Bit of a dire era in mid range performance cars IMO. T'was the era of the joyrider. The recession and the hangover period after waking up when the 80's ended, when suddenly a white Carrera Targa was no longer cool....
Might be tempted by a TVR Griffith. That will be until something broke, and reminded how s**te the roads are in my area are.
So back to the safe choice of a luke warm 911, E34 M5 or another NSX....OK, I'll throw in a Lister Le-Man, even though it would be a rotten shed by now.
Thinking about the bumpy roads, I reckon I could bag an rough early 90's Bentley Continental R for shade over £20K, but as ludicrously fast it is for its size, its not my cup of tea. And it would be a pretty rough example So maybe a Brooklands would be a safer choice (same engine, just not as powerful).
Bit of a dire era in mid range performance cars IMO. T'was the era of the joyrider. The recession and the hangover period after waking up when the 80's ended, when suddenly a white Carrera Targa was no longer cool....
Might be tempted by a TVR Griffith. That will be until something broke, and reminded how s**te the roads are in my area are.
So back to the safe choice of a luke warm 911, E34 M5 or another NSX....OK, I'll throw in a Lister Le-Man, even though it would be a rotten shed by now.
Thinking about the bumpy roads, I reckon I could bag an rough early 90's Bentley Continental R for shade over £20K, but as ludicrously fast it is for its size, its not my cup of tea. And it would be a pretty rough example So maybe a Brooklands would be a safer choice (same engine, just not as powerful).
05 March 2009, 11:31 PM
#28
Guest
Posts: n/a
