'Performance Car' < 2k

[ICB]

200sx RS13

cos:

it's RWD
a 2+2
properly quick
handles extremely well
it's jap so it'll give you less grief (as long as the bottom end has been done and the rot's controlled)
was deisgned from scratch as a performance coupé rather than being a heated version of a bog standard car, and you can tell
has good lines that have aged well (in most opinions, lots of women don't like pop ups though for some reason )

Not that easy to find anymore but for £2k you can get a very tidy one with uprated suspension and a few judicious tweaks such as exhaust, induction, etc. Get one in better nick with fewer mods rather than one with loads of mods but rust issues. If you were really lucky you could get something like mine which has been immaculately looked after and is a full stage 2 (250-270bhp depending on boost setting, 0-60 in around 6.0 and 160mph+ top speed).

Check sxoc.com for loads of helpful info + cars for sale.

 

[Iam]

2 Grand? Yep, you're totally way off the mark there!

Had a feeling it might be. Could be far warmer and comfy for less, then.

 

[Griff]

Had a feeling it might be. Could be far warmer and comfy for less, then.

Well here are some Caterham prices, and Morgans you can't really get near unless you're talking £14,000 minimum.

 

[Griff]

Well £2000 isn't much of a budget, but if you can stretch to another £700 This has to be what to go for.

 

[Iam]

Well here are some Caterham prices, and Morgans you can't really get near unless you're talking £14,000 minimum.

Wow.

I must have been thinking of something else. Maybe. Is there a cheaper version of the 7 knocking about, or am I having false imaginings again?

944's not a bad shout, though. Much, much better than the 924, which should be avoided.

 

[fen_boy]

Well £2000 isn't much of a budget, but if you can stretch to another £700 This has to be what to go for.

That's lovely

 

[Griff]

Wow.

I must have been thinking of something else. Maybe. Is there a cheaper version of the 7 knocking about, or am I having false imaginings again?

944's not a bad shout, though. Much, much better than the 924, which should be avoided.

Yeah there are cheaper versions of 7s, though looking at Westfield prices, not that much cheaper. Robin Hood kit cars are probably the cheeapest way of 7 motoring.



Yep, I'd feel a right cunt driving a 924.

 

[jd]

You lot are having a grin aren't you? A two grand 944 will cost you two grand a year to run, likely as not. Parts will never be cheap. And a 2k 944 will surely be a bit of a shitter.

A rule of thumb I often hear is that cars can any two of cheap, reliable and fast. But not all three.

I think the 205 is a good bet, cos there's a whole community around them which helps keep parts available and cheapish. Golf mk2 ditto, but less so.

106 gti would be a long shot, or maybe an AX GT? The GT is a frugal car but nippy on account of being made from kitkat wrappers and weighing 35kg.

Maybe something old but fun? I'm thinking classic mini (fantastic to drive) or maybe a midget or MGB? Personally I utterly and completely detest MGFs but that's just prejudice. At least an mx5 is rwd.

Japanese: the 200sx as ICB says, or maybe a celica - quite cheap these days, and actually fast unlike the fto. Or a 300ZX if you're feeling lary, dogs only for 2k though.

 

[Kanda]

I think you'll find that the MGF is RWD and mid engine, the way it should be.

MX5 engine is in the front isn't it??

 

[jd]

Double post: edited to say I like the Corrado idea too.

 

[jd]

Really? Apols if so.

You're right, my mistake. I still hate them (MGFs), but as stated, that's my personal prejudice.

 

[Griff]

You lot are having a grin aren't you? A two grand 944 will cost you two grand a year to run, likely as not. Parts will never be cheap. And a 2k 944 will surely be a bit of a shitter.

Maybe something old but fun? I'm thinking classic mini (fantastic to drive) or maybe a midget or MGB? Personally I utterly and completely detest MGFs but that's just prejudice. At least an mx5 is rwd.

Japanese: the 200sx as ICB says, or maybe a celica - quite cheap these days, and actually fast unlike the fto. Or a 300ZX if you're feeling lary, dogs only for 2k though.

There are plenty of older decent 944s about, and as they're a bit dated now have dropped a bit in price, also they needn't cost too much to run. Nowhere near 911 prices for the same year.

A 1275 Midget would be quite fun, but MGBs are pretty dull, and you can only really get a GT for two grand. An old Mini Cooper wouldn't be too bad, but hardly a performance car, even though they're fun to drive.

You're probably right about the Japenese things, but as I've said before they leave me cold really.

 

[jd]

It all depends what you like. Always a very subjective area. Perhaps I'm overdoing the running cost stuff, but having run an old car with a big list price I'm conscious that some of the costs don't really go down proportionate to the value. Eg, if your 205 engine goes bang you could probably replace it for less than a grand. Could you say the same for a 944 engine? Or gearbox even?

ETA, I agree, Griff, about the old car thing. Not fast, but perhaps fun was my thinking.

 

[Griff]

Here's a little 944 buying guide from the Times.

Even thinking about the old fun car thing rather than performance, £2000 isn't a lot of money really. I'm struggling to think of much really.

Dolomite Sprint? You'll be able to get a nice one for £2000 if you look hard enough.

 

[jd]

I love the Dolomite Sprint. To bits. God, I'd love a garage full of 70s cars.

 

[kyser_soze]

My votes with the Corrado, esp the VR6.

Pug 205 1.9...I'm another ex-owner and can testify as to the fun, altho I doubt you'd find one in original nick that was much cop these days.

Don't buy any 'premium' sports brands unless you're prepared to spend 'premium' money for parts. My stepdad know a bloke picked up a Porsche 911 for about £5k, took it into a VW garage who also had a couple of Porshe trained mechanics and ended up with a £2K bill for an oil filter and a few other easy and should-be-cheap parts. Even the skanky 924 (which isn't really a Porsche - buy one and be laughed at) is expensive to run...

 

[Griff]

My stepdad know a bloke picked up a Porsche 911 for about £5k,

That's something you just don't do. The cheapest 911 you could possibly get in RHD form would be a 1976 2.7. That would be about £7500. That's the cheapest way to own a 911, and not summat I'd really fancy.

Then about £14,000 for an '80s 3.2 Carrera or the cheapest '90s 964 3.6.

In other words there's no such thing as a cheap 911, even with over 150,000 miles on the clock.

 

[ICB]

There are plenty of older decent 944s about, and as they're a bit dated now have dropped a bit in price, also they needn't cost too much to run.

Not as quick or good drive as an SX tho, although obviously more solid with a better badge.

 

[ICB]

Don't buy any 'premium' sports brands unless you're prepared to spend 'premium' money for parts.

Quite, 928s look like good value until the sunroof stops working and it costs you £800.

 

[zoltan]

I know my Porsches and paying 2K a year to run is not the case.

A 944 will cost less than a focus to run, excluding petrol - yes I am being serious here - providing you get a good one that has not been rebiult by some toerag after being rolled into an essex ditch- the range of fully trained Porsche independants that will do an annual service for about £200 all in is quite astounding.

Parts for any German car expensive - but remember that these cars are biult to do half a million K's & short of normal service parts, you should likely not need any Big items.Providing you choose wisely.Thye are bettwe boult than Audis/ BMS of the same era - and as good as Mercs up to the mid '90s ( MB s started to go very bad after this point )

These are not tin foil ferraris - these are tanks.

I would not touch a Cossie/ 205/5 GT or any other turboed car for this money - you are a mug if you do so.

Dolomites will be unlikely to see you to the end of the road without breaking down

 

[zoltan]

That's something you just don't do. The cheapest 911 you could possibly get in RHD form would be a 1976 2.7. That would be about £7500. That's the cheapest way to own a 911, and not summat I'd really fancy.

Then about £14,000 for an '80s 3.2 Carrera or the cheapest '90s 964 3.6.

In other words there's no such thing as a cheap 911, even with over 150,000 miles on the clock.

A 87-89 careraa in A1 condition will cost about that granted - the C2/4 were problematicla but are OK now usually 0- the 3.2 carerra is just a big lump engine with no gimmickery - there isnt much to gor wrong really.

The mileage is seciondary to the condition and history- they all burn oil on startup after a long stand , pretty much from new.

 

[kyser_soze]

That's something you just don't do. The cheapest 911 you could possibly get in RHD form would be a 1976 2.7. That would be about £7500. That's the cheapest way to own a 911, and not summat I'd really fancy.

Then about £14,000 for an '80s 3.2 Carrera or the cheapest '90s 964 3.6.

In other words there's no such thing as a cheap 911, even with over 150,000 miles on the clock.

Hey, I'm remembering this from a ways back...the essential message was 'There's no such thing as a cheap Porsche'

 

[cybertect]

My votes with the Corrado, esp the VR6.

They are fab, but it would be tricky finding a good one for under £2k though. VR6s in good condition are going for £3k upward. Closer to £4k+ for mint examples and prices seem to be even heading upward a little for them.

Then again... there are some bargains around and if you're not that fussy...

16v and 8v models are comfortably within the price limit, but don't really offer the same experience (apart from the handling of the chassis).

 

[zoltan]

Hey, I'm remembering this from a ways back...the essential message was 'There's no such thing as a cheap Porsche'

you will however get near zero depreciation with a good cared for example anmd little comes close to the driving experience.

 

[ICB]

I would not touch a Cossie/ 205/5 GT or any other turboed car for this money - you are a mug if you do so.

Unless it's a Toyota or Nissan of course, in which case you'll be fine if you buy carefully

 

[zoltan]

Unless it's a Toyota or Nissan of course, in which case you'll be fine if you buy carefully

You are right of course.

 

[Griff]

Here's a lot of bang for yer buck. If you can handle the horrible after-market wheels and of course the breakdowns.

Sounds lovely though.

 

[Reg in slippers]

peruses autofarm classic porsche site

*daydreams

 

[Griff]

^^^Used to be my screen-saver at my old place.

 

[jd]

I know my Porsches and paying 2K a year to run is not the case.

A 944 will cost less than a focus to run, excluding petrol - yes I am being serious here - providing you get a good one that has not been rebiult by some toerag after being rolled into an essex ditch- the range of fully trained Porsche independants that will do an annual service for about £200 all in is quite astounding.

Parts for any German car expensive - but remember that these cars are biult to do half a million K's & short of normal service parts, you should likely not need any Big items.Providing you choose wisely.Thye are bettwe boult than Audis/ BMS of the same era - and as good as Mercs up to the mid '90s ( MB s started to go very bad after this point )

These are not tin foil ferraris - these are tanks.

I would not touch a Cossie/ 205/5 GT or any other turboed car for this money - you are a mug if you do so.

Dolomites will be unlikely to see you to the end of the road without breaking down

We're talking about a 2 grand car remember. I didn't say a decent 944 would cost that, and I maintain that a £2k 944 is asking for trouble. Fair point about a decent car running forever with attention, and about decent independents being available to service it for less. I still think a £2k porsche is not a car to run on a budget.

I agree with avoiding cossies and GTTs for similar reasons - a cheap one will be shite.

A dolomite isn't the same thing at all of course, but for 2 grand you'll at least have a decent one. But that was a bit tongue in cheek from me at least. I just like em.

Do you really think a good 944 can be had for £2k? Genuine question!