The Elise 111S is going due to growing family (2 to 3 , and the wife has convinced me that the evo VII I have on order is just too expensive (€ 48000 here in Italy), given that we want to buy a new house in autumn, and it's time for me to (quote) "be responsible".
So, the brief is.....
1 - under € 30000
2 - 4 seats (not necessarily 4 doors)
3 - very racy, not excess luxury (we have a BMW330 as company car which I give to her as I find too soft)
4 - must be very fast and doesn't mind the odd track day
5 - reliable and comfy enough for daily commuting

I've narrowed it down to the following:

1 - FocusRS - must be good for sub-6 0-60, new practical and very well specced, should handle somewhat like an Integra-R, set me back € 28000

2 - Integrale Evo2 - beautiful and very fast, a mint latest one will only set me back € 15000 here in Italy, leaving me € 10000+ to make it perfectly reliable and even faster. Would be my choice 1 but afraid of reliability...can I get it fully sorted by spending some serious cash upfront?

3 - WRX MY01 - ugly but a great drive, and at € 28000 should leave me € 2000 for a few go-faster mods. Still, my last choice currently.

Help VERY appreciated, particoularly by Integrale owners.

Thanks,

Walter

 

Integrale would get my vote out of the three!


Focus RS just looks overpriced, and not convinced of a front-drive hatch getting sub-6sec 0-60? The Integra (another stunning choice?) only just manages a sub-6sec, and that is virually stripped to the shell - which will be a reason I think the RS will not handle as well

How big do the rear seats have to be? You get the GTV 2litre V6-turbo over there - supposed to be a stunning drive!

 

The Integrale would get my vote too.

Go for the Evo2, I've owned two in the past and enjoyed both.

Good luck.

 

Wall, The Grale is a great car (I had an EVO1) but be aware of its foibles. They are delicate and need lots of TLC. Its electrics aren't the best and its Interior squeeks and rattles and bits fall off. Servicing here in the UK was expensive (probably better in Italy) and for me the Cons outweighed the pros. I personally would go for something either Jap or German.

DazW

 

If I purchased a latest model low km grale and spent some serious cash upfront on it with the brief to a specialist of "make it perfect", could the electricals/rattles/wornbushes/etc be righted, or are they a "feature" I would have to endure forever?

Wall

 

Hi Wall,

Defo an Integrale, but I don't know much about them - always loved them!

Noticed you are in Milan - are you Italian of English etc etc??? Reason I ask is that I LOVE Italy and lived up in the mountains for two years

Cheers,

Mossman

 

Italian born from Austrian parents growing up in Australia and then working in Hong Kong, back in Italy since 2000.



Got to love those mountain roads

 

Wall, I think it would be a case of - oh they all do that sir! I used the 2 top specialists in the UK and the niggles still couldn't be ironed out. Theres a good buying guide in EVO magazine (issue9 july 99)and i think you can still order back issues:

 

PS. Have you considered a BMW E30 M3 or a Merc Cosworth 190E EVO2?

 

Wall,

I replied earlier saying I've owned two Integrales, but I've also owned two BMW E30 M3's and still own my E30 M3 EVO Sport. There is an Italian guy who advertises in EVO magazine who specilaizes in Integrale's and E30 M3's, he is based in Milan, the number is 0335 654 5564

Happy hunting

[This message has been edited by Andrew O'Hara (edited 31 May 2001).]

 

The grale is superb but the more I read about ownership the more I fear lots of "they all do that sir" ....
With the Integra-R no longer sold here (until the new model in 2002) I guess the FocusRS seems the smartest choice. Still, the head says Focus, the heart 'grale....

wall

PS Daz , would REALLY appreciate the scan+mail .... faster and cheaper than ordering the back-copy
Thanks!!


[This message has been edited by wall (edited 31 May 2001).]

 

Wall:

You are aware that the Focus is not due until the 4th quarter and at the recent Boreham RSOC visit the Ford spokesman refused to give any idea of price?

 

Wall, check your mail!

 

[edit - just checked my mail but nothing there....perhaps just taking some time to arrive ? ]

Thanks DAz!!!

Charlie, local dealer suggested the RS will be available straight after summer, in early september, at a price in Italy of Euro 28000 - Lira 56million approx, fully specced. That's about 21000 in UK money.

Wall

[This message has been edited by wall (edited 31 May 2001).]

 

Andrew, great tip, thanks! I'm giving him a call.

Wall