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My 2 peneth. This is IMO and is ‘real world’ advice. Especially as you’re parting with some serious wedge..
Evo 6 – Evo 5 onwards (regardless of what is said, isn’t really a major change from what you have now.. as you’re considering the ones below.. it seems to me you want a different experience altogether.. ZM Roadster – You’re drawn to German engineering.. Loads of go but pig ugly and not very practical. Dirty football bags, balls etc? Supra Twin Turbo 6 Speed – Quick but too dated.. Don’t fall for the twin turbo moniker, the kudos is low.. M3 Evo Convertible – OK. Slightly newer than the shape I’ve seen you look at, but I have to agree & disagree with Sticky in some areas. I am seriously looking at the SMG E46 (02/03) myself at the mo (possible promotion and spending the vehicle money already!). Conv or Coupe? I’m not sure yet. It is expensive (30k) but you get a bloody well built car with a quality engine. It does not FEEL as quick as a Scoob, but it does have ~340 horses and in the real world is only marginally slower. I agree that over a decent back road it would be killed by a well driven STI/EVO but IMO this would have to be at 10/10ths. I think it would look better with the top down. The image/kudos is debatable. I don’t want to look like a rep tosser, but I think the new shape is not affected by this wheras the older shape maybe.. I test drove a SMG conv the other day and it was a joy to use. Not as turbo explosive as the scoob, but the speedo said it all (on the way to Fenay Bridge, so I knew the road). The SMG box has a dozen options, but planting my foot from that lovely mini roundabout back to Wakey was fantastic as the Sport change allowed me keep my foot planted and to paddle change up in a split second just off the 8k limit, changing down was brilliant at the top of the hill with a dab of brake... trust me.. I was going just as quick as I’ve done in my Scoob. It is heavier and therefore does not feel so ‘sharp’, but again it felt secure and handled well. The other advantage is that on lazy day crawl to work.. you can knock it into Auto and just let it do its thing.. as you can tell.. I enjoyed the drive.. It was sunny too and that made it all the better.. The older EVO may not have the power or finesse of the newer E46, so this is a little tougher. You may be disappointed in the power/handling area.. drive one first.. Escort Cosworth – Ageing and as Sticky says, are you likely to find a mint one that you can say is as reliable as the R? Don’t think so.. also, much more likely to be nicked? S3 (with sensible head on!) – I looked at the RS4 too. Bloody quick (380) but too staid and ‘family’ for me.. Drinks like a fish.. S3 is better, but gain you may be disappointed in the heavier handling and lack of perceived power... R34 / Type 25 – Now. These are seriously challenging my M3 choice. I’m feeling like a change and these two may just be what is needed.. You can get an R34 for 30k,not sure about a 25 though.. Not in you list, but I thought I’d add it in for comment anyway! :D |
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Flattering angle..
Try it from the side with a hardtop.. |
Evo 6
Have you actually driven one - go for a test drive and you'll think twice......... they dont feel like they have any power, you dont even notice that it has a turbo - you cant hear it, the driving position is uncomfortable, its fuel hungry and the suspenion is awful - good for handling but TOO hard I owned at Evo 8 for 6 months in the States on lease - gave it back when I left the job - was happy to see it go........ ZM Roadster Girls car image but quite rapid - had fun with one of these racing me around Aylesbury a few mths back - they are faster than the stats make out!! - but still a girls car Supra Twin Turbo 6 Speed Er - horrible - expensive repair bills when things go wrong M3 Evo Convertible Hmm - nice with lowering springs these handle very well, look nice but are'nt quite fast enough - plus they are overpriced - if they were £10k cheaper than a defo Escort Cosworth Owned one for 4 years so should know a bit about these......... mine was modded to 420bhp...... got rid back in 1999 as they are too 'old image' - they are well overpriced which I always found strange as I could'nt get rid of mine which was a minter - gave it to a mate at a bargain basement price....... instead of offloading to a car performance type place I preferred it to my Scoob initially but wouldnt go back.....too old and driven now by a lot of kev boy racers But it is Ford so its easy to sort when things go wrong - like the woefully inadequate gearbox............ and clutch........ you'd want an already modded one as they feel painfully slow as standard..... your Scoob would leave a standard Escort Cossie for dead....... thats if there are any std ones left? - oh and I would be very wairy of a standard one..... as they will undoubetedly have had a bleed valve added at some point - lots of boost but the misfiring caused is terrible.................. one was fitted on the car I bought - which I took off immediately Oh - and most are clocked - its pretty easy to do - You've been warned - personally I'd stay away and rust will be a problem on them these days........... S3 Yes great car, have also owned, great performance, especially chipped, great handling, rapid (I'm talking about the A3S3)........indestructible..... had a head on collision in one at 60mph (probably about 120mph combined) - the car was almost driveable afterwards - amazing front impact protection!! Servicing seems to be at long intervals -........ which is a bit odd.......never had any major issues apart from coil pack failure which happenend to nearly all audi's from 2000-2003.......... and was sorted under warranty I actually preferred the audi to the Scoob (a little more cramped though for passenger carrying but the standard stereo was great - sub as standard in rear!!!)- but another company car which went when I left job......... erm did I.... cough......... say it was chipped......cough.......... Ah well...... |
Once again thanks guys. Thought of another option.
Could keep the Type R and throw some more serious wedge at it (only problem with this is I'll lose even more when I finally decide to sell it!!) Suprised that the S3 is proving so popular. Out of interest how much to does it cost to up the power on an S3 to a mor respectable figure and how does it affect the day to day reliability? Ta J4CK50N |
Has anyone noticed, this thread has gone way OT.
Apologies to James, this is what happens when you let Al have free-rein ;) |
Yeah second that - soz mate!!
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Have owned a Civic Type R as well.......... greedy aint I (I have an sti5 and a wrx04 at the moment)
Well it was the wifes........ Theres not so much you can do to these, exhaust/filter....... looking at a tuning company - think it was 'spoon' something or other Too noisy on the road, crap brakes, poor handling and a very narrow power band........ BUT we got in for £12.4k all in from France and sold it for £14k 6 months later......... so I aint complaining Re S3 - well add an exhaust/filter and chip (Superchip) or get it properly done and it will go up to circa 270-280bhp........... and the power is deceptive..... I only had a chip on mine so about 20-30bhp less, but if you put in Optimax you felt the difference straight away Fairly indestructible........... if I could go back in time I'd probably not go for the Scoob but an S3 (which I had as a CC)........ they have a much nicer interior, much better build quality and I think they only weighed 1280kg (may be wrong though) Back to the Thread Huddersfield.......... which side My parents are on the South side nr Middlestown..............(about 6 miles south down the A642)....... I miss being able to thrash the car on the country lanes now that I live Darn Sarth |
Sod Huddersfield, back to the cars! :D
At least James knows what were about.. a touch interested in cars :D Fangoria, J4CK5ONS car is a STI TYPE R, WR Blue.. Nice (when it's clean :D Long story, we won't go there...) Martyn, S3 is too staid. I can't see you driving it mate.. next best seems the M3. This appears more your style. But Sticky's comments are valid. Especially as we all agree that it's a little overpriced. But this is good if you want to keep some money from depreciation.. Throwing tuning money at your motor? Won't help if you really want to change it.. My heart is settling on a change now.. I brought this up with YorkshireSimon months back..and the Type 25 was the car.. maybe still is.. but it comes down to what you want to do with it? 1. Look good and go quick with the top down in a well built car? (you have mentioned the various creaks and knocks from the Scoob) Is this in keeping with what you see yourself doing in a future job ro position? Kudos and image.. hence my promotion means that a M3 suits me better for turning up in the car park (shallow maybe, but all relative as I go for the CSO's job!) .. keeps me in the WYIOC too! (that's important) 2. Go much quicker in a car you know and can live with? You know the ins and outs, know how it drives etc.. so tuning it up will just put a bigger smile on your face! :D (baggies first go when you get down to the meet BTW) A proper debate with no sex, fnaars, crudeness & tittering creeping in! :D |
Ooops got carried away.............. with these 'Type R' joobies - read dodgy gearboxes........................... :p
Dont agree with the S3 looking staid......... they are a nice car Best advice is really to get out and drive them............. M3 is nice - if you can afford it - I could but then I'd be skint..... could pick one up abroad much cheaper or buy nearly new fully loaded for a largish discount from the car supermarket types places but I'd always be worried that It'd be clocked as most 2nd hand cars are these days......... Looked at Type 25 cars but who will insure them - LV wont........ unless thats changed......... |
No probs mate.. easy done.. though maybe I should give you a harder time seeing that you disagreed with me! :razz:
:D BTW.. Definition of Staid... http://www.autointell-news.com/europ...sicht-80mm.jpg Not Staid.. http://www.bmwworld.com/images/cars/m3/motion6.jpg |
:p
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Martyn - Almondbury have a 2nd hand - or should I say pre-owned - M3 for under £30k....
There again, there is the R34 to consider. Did I mention that before??? :D:D:D |
I'm now more confused than ever!! :idea: :Whatever_
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Ooh can I join in...........
Had similar dilemma last Sept.
Was looking at a whole plethora of options: TVR Cerbera 4.5 - Jesus, looks, noise, speeeeeeed. Wow, but too fragile & impractical. Note to self; I will have one someday. Mitsubishi Evo6 to 8 - Love the 6, esp the Tommi but all the garages wanted circa £22K for one of those & lots of suspicious £15K 6's. Test drove the 8 in FQ300 guise in York but couldn't justify the full £30K (we don't do discount sir!) which was £4.5K over a STi PPP. Then I went & spent the difference anyway!!!!!!!Go figure. BTW, Evo 6 Extreme's are getting cheaper:) Escort Cosworth - Had 2 saff cossies & loved them both even though the 4x4 broke a lot! Always wanted an escort but they're just too expensive & too old now. Porsche 911 - Would have to be a Turbo but where the hell do you start. Dodgy misleading ads, LHD's, Turbo lookalikes, complex expensive servicing, exhausts that cost the GDP of Guatamala (Aplologies for any scoobynet Guatamalans!). Vauxhall VX220 Turbo/Lotus Exige/Renault Clio V6 (Mk2) - No kids? then why not? Lotus Esprit V8GT - Go on, you know you wanna! or of course: MY03 JDM STi or Spec C or Type 25.;) |
Steve,
No M3? |
Originally Posted by Sticky Stuff
Has anyone noticed, this thread has gone way OT.
Apologies to James, this is what happens when you let Al have free-rein ;) |
TVR!!
you DO NOT want to go there They break down all the time, are expensive to repair - and you will be repairing and in the wet the handling is scary Nxt door neighbour had one........ he found it very easy to flood the engine with fuel....... had the RAC out all the time...... I laughed one day when one of the inidicator lights just fell off.........and he had the hood which leaked all the time Took him out in my Scoob when it was standard.....he didnt keep his TVR for long - but then again didnt get a scoob either - he got a 328i bmw!! (second hand)- this was 3 yrs back!! You wouldnt get a RED S3 they look horrid - black or the best colour which is the Grey one - put some 18inch alloys on, lowering springs, chip, exhuast and filter and it will destroy a 300bhp Scoob - you have been warned!! Lotus V8 - too old - a pain to get in and out of....... very fast down the straight though - grandad image Porsche Turbo - yessss pleaseeeeee.......but the cost, the servcing, insurance, fuel......... Narh........... when I'm older with more money maybe - but for the money I'd rather have a Ferrari 360 - ok not as fast but they hold their value better than a £90k Porsche Turbo Vauxhall VX220/lOTUS Exige, clio.......... all girls cars........ Wife had a 172 Clio (yep been there done that with a lot of these cars) - Cilpacks failed, just after the oil pump!!!, electric windows and aircon.......... we sold it to get shut - heap of crap these Clio's!! |
I disagree about the VX220 girl car statement. They are a wolf in sheeps clothing, especially the turbo version - Would leave most scoobs for dead, handling is supposed to be brilliant. Basically they took an Elise, put it on steroids, altered a few panels and plonked a different badge on it!
Thought about one, but just not practical. Cheers J4CK50N |
I'd seriously consider a VX220 next. The Mk.2 Elise was made solely to modify the chassis for the use of GM to create the VX. What a combination, an Elise chassis without a K series engine :D . Add GM reliability :rolleyes: and dealer network servicing and support and what a great true sports car. They have a surprisingly large boot too, so not that impractical for non-family types.
The S3 somehow looks boring. I've always refered to it as a posh Astra. I know they're very good and very quick, but just too dull for my liking. From VAG I'd probably prefer an Octavia 4x4 tuned to 350bhp. Still ugly and boring, but a very subtle sleeper. |
Originally Posted by corradoboy
Still ugly and boring, but a very subtle sleeper.
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So we've concluded (except for fangoria) that the S3 is too boring and not in keeping with Martyn's style..
2 seater cars regardless of ability and reliability (VX, TVR etc) are inpractical for a single dude who plays football a lot.. What's left? 4 door High performance with decent looks& reliability. Running costs have not yet been discussed.. Therefore sub 30 grand M3 Evo, Evo 5-8, Escort Cossie & keeping his own but with some go faster bits.. So..:idea: |
Originally Posted by Alan C
Therefore sub 30 grand M3 Evo, Evo 5-8, Escort Cossie & keeping his own but with some go faster bits..
So..:idea: |
So we've concluded (except for fangoria) that the S3 is too boring and not in keeping with Martyn's style.. What happened to considering the Spec C or JDM STi10 ? It might be staying with the same marque, but it would definately be a change. Very different from classics. Evo worth considering. M3. hmmm! I just don't like beemers. I know they're very good 'n all that but... hmmm! We've laboured over the S3, what about the S4, or even better RS4. Plenty of room for the kit bag in one of those. Should get a 50-60k 2000/1 for £25-28K Cossie, too old. Already decided earlier. |
Originally Posted by corradoboy
I just don't like beemers. I know they're very good 'n all that but... hmmm!
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Soz Dave. Audi looks turgid to me.
M3 (especially the CSL!) looks taut, muscular, and every other animal-like analogy that I could think of.....:D:D:D |
Again though the Beemers angle is much more flattering, and both cars could be made to look much better or worse by various angles! :)
J4CK50N |
The M3CSL is a total rip off - a lot of people were cancelling their £500 deposits on these cars......as the astronomical premium was'nt worth it over the std M3.........
I personally would'nt own an M3 - I've driven the old and the new version and because they are so heavy they just dont feel fast enough - even thrashing through the gears............. VX220 - ok this car aint as bad as an Elise - nice and powerful...... I doubt I'd be able to fit in one - then ones I have difficulty getting into I call a girls car!!........ i.e. Lotus jobbies, MGF, and a few others............ if were talking girls cars I laugh when I see blokes in Audi TT's - now thats a proper Hairdressers car....... If I had a spare £30k in the bank account (which I do) but didnt own a car (I own 2) then I'd probably go for the Spec C - but sort it out properly as std they aint that good........... |
and I thought you liked estates Chris ?
Is the new pic any better ? |
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