Choice of 3 but which would you buy?
 

I've got 11k max!! to spend on a car.

I want something fairly new no more that 5 years old would be ideal.

My choices

Integra Type R DC5 (220bhp)
Seat Leon Cupra R (210bhp)
Megane renaultsport 225 (225bhp)

Is there anything else i'm maybe missing/overlooked (Done the scoob thing dont fancy another at the moment.

Which would you buy given the choice.

Rob

Cupra R, much easier to tune!

Cupra R for me too.

M5 Bmw? :norty:

There's a lot of choice at 11k but I'd be test driving all of them and deciding. You could end up with 3 different recommendations on here but no-one really knows what you're looking for in a car

The DC5 and Megane are special, in standard form they will reward you in ways the LCR can only dream of. Having experienced both cars the DC5 really does generate a mind boggling amount of grip for a fwd car and that vtec at 8500rpm sounds unreal. The megane while not as 'clinical' through the corners as the DC5 serves up cheshire cat grins and has you wondering what the hell renault did so badly wrong with the standard 225.

The LCR can be easily tuned and 270-280bhp will make it fast when rolling but show it a corner and compare it to the other two it simply does not cut it.

You want something that will reward you and smile then go for the DC5 or megane, if you want something to go fast in a straight line get the LCR.

Remember LCR fan boys I am comparing like for like, not how your 280BHP LCR with different shocks, tyres, wheels or whatever the else you have had done to it 'kept up with a scoob'

I would go for the Integra type R every time

Stretch the age a little (6yo) and get an S3 - different class to the above and still easy to get more out of.

I`d go for the Cupra too, there`s just something about them. Or just to be different the Megane. The Integras look boring to me, though I`ve never driven one the looks put me off :)

Another for LCR:)

For £11k, you can get the 225 version, any reason why you want the 210 engine? 225 has a nicer steering wheel but that was about the only difference.

Remapped 270bhp/300lbft will cost you £500

Integra.

Most unique
Will depreciate less
Economical if not revved so can be cheapish commuter (although hardish ride)
Fastest, certainly round a track
Probably the best built.

You need to drop it 2 gears to get it to go, meaning you can be caught out a lot of the time. I wouldn't say its the fastest in straight line either, the other 2 cars mentioned will easily match it. Its also hard and very costly to tune.

£500 on the turbo cars will get you 50bhp/80lbft
£500 on the integra will get you 10bhp/10lbft

This thread is a good example of people who like driving cars, and people who like spending money on "tuning" or pub talk :)

lots of track days - Integra
Road - Leon
Road and the odd track day- Renault

dc5

In a % term of all cars and drivers in the UK, how many of them do you think take their cars onto a race track/track day?

At a complete guess i would say well under 1%, if not around 0.1%. I like tuning cars and going quick but i've never taken my own car onto a race track. If you want a track car, but an elise or something lightweight:)

Integra or any high revving car for that matter is going to be a complete arse on the motorway. (I am an ex CTR owner;) )

A remap of 50bhp/80lbft is not pub talk, its reality;)

I would say for that budget,get the LCR and with a few tweeks they become really fantastic.

The remaps etc are a well trodden path and well worth doing,however,i would say that IMO the best "first"mod you should do is get a set of Eibach springs fitted,as they totally transformed mine,and really made it the car it should have been from the outset.

Once remapped you really will have a fantastic all round car and to top it off,i saw 36mpg a couple of times,and never less than 25mpg even when enjoying it!!

If you are tempted by the Megane,remember that it has only just become a proper drivers car with the new R26(out of your budget),although the cup packs do apparently make a difference if you can find one within your budget with it fitted.Also,have a look in this months Performance French Cars mag as the have a load doing a RR day,and TBH,the figures don't stack up for the money some people have spent on their cars..................although they are tuneable,it's does not look all that easy to get an increase from them compared with the LCR.

Yeah i'd prob agree, i'm someone who would never attend a track day as the nearest track to me is best part of 300miles away (Knockhill) and i just couldn't be bothered with the travel.

The Leon is certianly looking to be the fav car out of the list and modifying/tinkering is always fun. Again tho i have the problem of travel, engine mapping isn't like the old cossie days where you could order a chip over the phone and plug it in. Chances are the only tunner for a megane/leon remap session will be somewhere in england. And so everyone can understand where i am - John 'o Groats.... kind of far eh!!

I did have a test drive in a friends S3 a few mths back.... and didn't like it i'm not that keen on the looks either but cheers for the input "HankScorpio"

The pig is i'd love to test drive all 3 on the same day.... but that just isnt going to happen, whats the chances of these 3 cars being in the same place at once.:cry:

Rob

There are numerous people that remap these cars all over the country................although some travelling is probably inevitable.

Just look for your nearest Revo or Custom Code Remapper.................also,you may find one of the more friendly ones willing to travel to you,especially if there are a couple of you wanting it done at the same time.

I just spent 11k and bought a 2 year old LCR 225 bhp which is Revo'd to about 265bhp. Really good fun car. I'm very pleased. Bought it as a compromise car as I needed something that wouldnt cost the earth to run but would still be fun to drive.

Cheap Insurance, good MPG and enough poke to surprise some quite quick cars. You wont be dissapointed,.

Seat Leon Cupra R
but u cant beat the scooby:norty:

For 11k it'd be at best a standard 225 with a cup option pack added on.

The 225 isn't a bad car, but it's only the ones with the revised chassis that are the ones with the better, highly praised, handling.

Either try and get a Trophy, F1 (not the latest incarnation as that's still 14,800 new), cup or one with cup packs.

Out of the choices though a DC5 would probably be my choice, tricky one though.

p1, evo, civic type r etc etc. :wonder:

Out of interest which out of the 3 do you think, ITR dc5, Leon cupra r or megane 225 will loose its value the most in the next year

ITR on 02 plate 10,650 48k
LCR on 53 plate 10,495 40k
225 on 04 plate 10,500 27k

These figures are taken off the autotrader site this evening. Now considering the the ITR is the oldest car with the highest millage its the most expensive.

Would i then get away with buying one of those, selling it before August (second sprog due then) and the buying a LCR or Megane without really lossing any money.

Rob

DC5

Not driven any of them, but out of the 3 I'd take the DC5.

Megane will probably lose the most, just cos it's French ;)

You've got to drive them all then decide for yourself. Out of all the testdrives, I'd look fwd to the DC5 most - doesn't mean I'd buy one to use every day though!