I would keep the hawk m8

Z4M coupes are awesome; properly sorted chassis, the last M car to use the sublime six pot engine. I'd forgotten about them; get one!!

The OP could go retro and get a proper drivers car... :norty:

Integrale

and it fits in a standard garage

:thumb:

The tuners are sussing out M135i out now too (similar cost to the R).
400bhp is now attainable with reliability but the trump card is torque; it's already 350lbs-ft (a mate has dyno'd about 20) but well over 400 is easy to obtain. Stick a louder exhaust on it and lower slightly then fit and LSD (under £2k) and you have a genuine supercar worrier.
Even standard, the torque helps it punch well above its weight.

You have to spend big bucks to get a sound better than this;

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AQupAA7LhgU

A lairy, 4wd, 350+bhp+ motor, that can fit in the garage - A45 AMG?

Or there is the financially obvious choice of something like a CSL. Perfect for a weekend blast and something that won't lose a penny whilst sat in the garage.. You will need to be quick though as most decent ones are well over £30k now.

Been reading about these DTUK tuning boxes to fit to my mk7 Golf R, 360bhp and 0-60 in 3.9seconds:eek: and £499 quid fitted i'm led to believe!! I'll have some of that.:luvlove:

I understand the new Golf R/Audi S3 or any new car sub £50k will never excite you as much as a modified Impreza, but there a different car all together, you can use the R/S3 everyday and be comfortable, they have all the gadgets, DSG/S-tronic gearbox so no need to change gear(probably why there boring:D) and you can park it in the supermarket car park and it kind of blends in with the rest of the cars(yes its just a golf:D)

But if you want to go fast, something that excites you, loud, and something that gets lots of attention(good or bad) then the Impreza is the perfect car, I've always tried to move on from Impreza's for years and I always end up coming back, so maybe the Golf R will be short lived(or until I pine for another Impreza) But the Golf R ticks all the same boxes that the Impreza did 10 years ago(4wd, turbo, fast, tuneable:D)

Dont forget the new Golf R is a 6 months waiting list!!:brickwall

What else have you looked at Shaun?
You have a few usual suspects like the Renault Megane 275, one of the best handling FWD cars out there and more than a match for the Golf R in real world situations.
There is the Seat 280, again gives the Golf R a run for its money for far less cost.
The Peugeot RCZ R, 270ps from its fully forged 1.6ltr engine, great fun and again, handles better than the Golf R (even in the wet).
You will also find the above will be cheaper to run than a Golf R (and probably more reliable ;)) plus the likes of the RCZ R will happily give you 40mpg+ at 70-80mph but its gearing is a little short (its geared for around 158-160mph but is electronically restricted at 155mph).
You could always wait till the Honda Civic R comes out next year, will take something pretty special to better the Renault Megane.

Tony:)

Doesnt the RCZ R use a twin scroll set-up??? :wonder:

Seat leon cupra 280, quicker then a Golf R in a straight line, but FWD, so unless its a dry day your not going to get to use the 280bhp very often, but looks quite nice to be fair!!

what's happened to the Focus RS - they where the dogs danglies a few years ago

what price to they command 2nd hand these days

I recently looked at a Mazda 3 MPS as a left field choice - 2.3L 260 BHP

MK2 Focus RS has serious rust issues on the rear arches and to pay £18-22k for a used one with arches as bad as a 15 year old impreza classic is a big no no!!:nono:

If you do a search its quite a common problem!!:brickwall

I have had 911's and a Z3M coupe......M3's,B10 and M5..

But i absolutely adore my Z4M Coupe...

Proper quick (standard 4.8s 0-60 and 11 secs to 100mph). You can supercharge them for mental power if you wish.
They are lairy,twitchy and take proper concentration to get the best out of them.

Prices are firm and are going nowhere fast with there only being around 500 in the uk...

Win win..

b3nmw,
Don't say that...... I've come back to that conclusion on more than one occasion in the past. The hawkeye has so much going for it....... but I can't keep it forever.

Matteeboy,
Mmmmm.... I've done some research on the M135i and it's a good package isn't!? Styling doesn't grab my **** though at the moment.

pacenote,
Already been there with retro cars...... it's not me unfortunately.

Tony,
I wouldn't drive a Peugeot even if it was given to me. :D Hate them with a passion (unless it's a 205 GTi).

Cyber monday deal so I picked it up for £405 posted and fitted it myself in about hour, you need a torque screw to get the undertray off to get to the bottom boost pipe and to adjust the map settings :thumb:

£420 xmas offer now so still a saving to be had, get it done lol

I have a very similar dilemma, after owning my hawkeye Spec C for just over 3 years I fancy something a bit newer/different.

I have tried all of the new mega/hot hatches M135i, A45 AMG, S3, Golf R and although the are all very fast/efficient/capable none of them felt as exciting or as engaging as the Spec C. I personally wouldn't change my Spec C for any of them.

I also have tried the C63 and the E92 M3, for me the M3 just edges it and would probably be the one if I was to sell the Spec C :thumb:.. Although a mate of mine has just got a Z4M and let me have a go and I was quite impressed :confused:

Yup, all the petrol RCZ's are twin scroll :D

Dont knock it until you tried one Shaun ;) its not like the 2000's now where they went off the boil, this car is properly equipped and sorted by Peugeot Sport, different camber set up, different suspension, Mahle forged pistons and rods, polymer coated race bearings (a first in a road production car), 380mm Alcon 4 pots :eek: though they dont feel as effective as you would expect, you need to work them and get heat into them for them to do their work properly ;)
Also handles like a dream, short ratio 6 speed box is very precise once its loosened up, they have done this car properly and even at 6'6" you can fit in one, its just not very practical :lol1: but the boot is a good size ;)
Plus Peugeot are taking the RCZ out of the range :cry: and there are only 138 registered RCZR's in the country, running costs are actually good for them :)

Tony:D

I thought that, i just got to the point where having 4 cars was a little too much so had to down size, having a version 5 STI type R, a 2003 Spec C limited, a Citroen C3 and a Peugeot RCZ 156GT it was time to sort my life out.

First to go was the type R, then the RCZ was getting part ex'd (only had the car 6 months but it was nice, just not that fast), so I didnt need the Spec C, a very hard choice to sell this car :( and I thought i would regret it until I purchased the RCZ R, just as quick, smaller engine, handles better, has stupid fuel consumption (or should i say even on a normal run out, it does 40+mph :eek: ), cheaper to insure, cheaper to run than the Spec C, not quite as practical due to only having 2 doors and fitting anything bigger than a bag on the rear seats.... it also looks good and isnt a target for thieves as they cant get anything into it :lol1:
Tyres are a little expensive at nearly 200 quid a shot though for the 235/40/19's but I dont regret selling the Spec C, even though it was nagging me when doing so.
You do need to work the RCZR a little harder than the Spec C though but that isnt really a problem, it likes it :D and I did a trip from Manchester to Anglesea then down through Wales and refuelled in Crickhowell and on to Slough (I could have actually done the full journey on one tank but it would have been cutting it a little fine), that was done at the speed limit, none of this 56mph crap and going through mid Wales, passing cars where safe to do so and stopping once for a piss stop (and once for fuel), got out the other end and still felt refreshed, something I wouldnt have done if I was in the Spec C (and only 5ltrs difference in fuel tank sizes).
Its a little rocket across country, brilliant car and not regretting selling the Spec C for it :D

Tony:D

I tested it as well as the S3.

If your coming from a 2.5 youll think Gutless, BUT it does fly in fact they are very fast.
Pound for Pound the S3 gets you more toys and a better inside, but its an A3 and in my book you cant polish a turd, they cant even make the RS3 look good..

So back to Golf, nice car Longs waiting Lists though and x demo are a chuffin fortune, nearly as much as my A45.

I just needed that edge and the 45 had it just, but great Cars mate its prob what I,ll get misses once her people carriers out of negative equity...

Revo/DTUK stage 1 and it gives a 420 BHP A45 a run for its money.

Littleted,
Could you give me an objective view on the A45 please (fun factor, power, excitement and handling)?

I assume you've had yours tuned - what and who by?

Google "soundaktor" and you'll laugh even more at the lengths VAG go to try and make the R sound better. :lol1:

:lol1:

Ours have a symposer but it's only a mild sound boost; of the hatches, the M135i kicks the others into the weeds for sounds from the engine and exhaust.

Not sure I'd agree with that. ;)


Fast forward to 2:50..... that things sounds proper chav nuts. I LIKE IT ALOT! :D :D

I know what you mean, sounds a bit like rapid farting when using the launch control!!!:D

First I heard of one was when I plugged VAG-COM into a MK6 GTi and saw it in the installed modules list.

Oh, "hello, whats this?" I thought, so naturally I clicked on it to have a nosey. Doing an output test is quite amusing with it making all sorts of weird and wonderful "Woop, Woop" and "Vrrrrroooooom" and "Mwwwwaaaaa" noises. :lol1:

The irony is the car had an aftermarket exhaust. :D

Even as a Mk7 Golf R soon to be owner, I think that the A45 AMG sounds the nuts(sounds like a rally car) but shame it was out of my price range!! Maybe in a few years when there a bit cheaper if I can pick up a used one up!!!:luvlove:

I give you:



Even standard its good.

The beemer sounds good I'd agree, but just not as "rally slag" good as the A45. It almost sounds like the A45 is running antilag.

The A45 appears to be a perfect chavmobile. It would suit me down to the ground. :D :lol1:

Errrm ok I,ll try.

So as you know I wanted something with better MPG lower TAX and as fast if not faster than my old 320r 2010 saloon, I went with what I could afford and narrowed it down to M135 S3 and Golf, on the last day I placed my last call to MB and they gave me a deal that I could just about swallow...

The cars above were all great, Mattys M135 was by far the best for sheer response and speed, Golf I never drove as none were out, S3 was nice but felt flat as a fart, but consider I'd come from a 2.5 torque was less.

As a car then motorway I get mid 30s or 400 to a tank, play with it and your into mid 20 ps, but it's not too much dissimilar to my wife's petrol zafira in fuel economy motorways 30s round town or messing 20s, not that I mess must have in hers but I did have a stint of no car for 3 months.

Internally so far it's rock solid no rattles nothing wrong, I did have an issue with DAB being ****e but it seems to have got better harmon kardon stereo upgrade is a must I think, I know Renny thought it was tinny, but he later found his speaker wasn't working, the harmon system when pumped up sounds amazing, my dad commented last night he's 82 that it sounded good.

Extras if you ever buy one is subjective as everyone is different, but if I had to pick one it would be steering wheel and gear knob upgrades. Aftermarket of these are expensive, and worth the 500 quid.

Aero kit I love it, wife said last week as we drove into Leeds for German market so many people looked and pointed, its kinda a nice feeling, not many about...

Driving it is good, needs winding up though not low down like Mattys 135, takes some getting used to, gearbox is great no issues with responses, but I think by the time I got mine MB had that but sorted, it's not as perfect as the DSG from Vag but it's still very nice, VAG tend to have issues with there's too, I was advised by honest john technical that if I did go vag to get manual and leave Dsg, nice advice, but if had gone vag I'd still get dsg cos I was auto...

Don't like haldex much I can still feel the wheels slips before backs kick in, but it does its job. I launched the other night with 4 of us in first time I'd done a 420bhp launch and only second ever, Jesus car was spinning all four wheels for ages as it clambered for traction but man it was fast...

Becker map pilot of great command system is too expensive and way overpriced, had it in my old merc, apart from the bigger screen rest is a waste of money....

Glass roofs nice in summer it tilts and goes right back, also lowers itself when you gun it to help with dynamics...

Exhaust is great when you really gun it you get the fart sound, but also backfires and pops sounds mega lol, proper backfire loud

I got the piggy back box from Luke at RENNtech Germany, they have been going the longest and have th best REP, rebellions is good too, but I don't like there followers all anchours, plus RENNtech know it much better than them, can't gamble when your using a hand built AMG block, cost could be 20k for it if I get it wrong, I run settings 5 which is around 410 420 but it will go to 435 if I use 102 Ron and setting 9 but I won't lol

Enough room in back for 3 but 2s better.

Handling I find it good, Renny doesn't like the way it goes round corners compared to his old car, he can probably elaborate on it, but I like it sticks to the rd..

Insurance for me at 44 in Leeds is 270 a year fully comp protected which for group 43 it's great...

I'll edit when I think of more iPads going flat;)

Good review Ted!

Do hope all these great cars age well lol

M135i X drive would be nice!