Ford St t5 250 bhp

Mazda 3 or 6 MPs although the 6 MPs was expensive on tax

I would be tempted to get something little and french,

 

Something with 250 - 300bhp, you arn't going to be able to stretch its legs very often,

 

Something like a clio 172 you can bang it down back roads everyday at less than licence loosing speeds and still have fun doing it,

 

You could always supercharge it if you get bored

this, except from th3 renault bit, is by far the most practical thing I've seen on here in ages, you are absolutely right, something with 300bhp is in a totally different league to a flimsy 1.8T or 2.0TFSI rattle box, ive owned an audi s4 with over 500bhp and you simply cannot use it practically on the road, its great for smoking Ferrari's at the traffic lights but as soon as you hit tripple digits you are constantly telling youself to go less fast.

Focus ST with abit of fettling?

Went in a 320bhp one and it was alright, not much to shout about, spins a lot, not that stable, not built very well... But its quick enough and sounds nice...

To be honest, I prefer reliability over out-and-out hooligan-ness.

 

- Honda Civic Type-R (plenty of tuning options, B-road fun, Bombproof)

- Remapped Golf

- Remapped vRS petrol (Mk1 / MK2 if lucky)

 

Oddball option - Have you looked at a convertible? (Honda S2000, Saab 9-5, etc)

For less than your budget and with a lot less BHP, but smiles per miles,

you can buy a very nice, 57 Plate or so VW Polo GTI 1.8.    There are some real crackers around.

For less than your budget and with a lot less BHP, but smiles per miles,

you can buy a very nice, 57 Plate or so VW Polo GTI 1.8. There are some real crackers around.

That is a car id like to own

Interiors abit bland mind, but theres things you can do to that isnt there

If you really want to **** yourself go get your bike license.

 

1000hp/T for ~£5k

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201505063233152

http://www.visordown.com/reviews/motorcycles/sportsbikes/yamaha-yzf-r1-2007---2008/364.html

 

You'll need a change of underwear every time you open the throttle.

Edited 22 May, 201511 yr by Aspman

Volvo S60R

 

300BHP;  AWD, uprated suspension and brakes.  Handles well, goes like stink but downside is 22-25mpg-ish.  Makes a great family car too and way more solid than dodgy used scoobies as S60Rs are usually bought by the more "mature" petrolhead and left standard which is a good thing.

 

Dont be tempted to buy standard late model 256BHP S60T5 then map it.  It'll eat the driveshaft bearings in no time and they're £720 a pop with no after market ones available (speaking from experience here!!). Same with under-rated (and quick) S60D5.  Whilst mild mapping keeps the reliability, anything serious will monster driveshaft bearings. The D5 in a straight line with economy map (220BHP and massive torque) has the torque to monster an Octy vRS.

 

Used earlier model BMW M3.  Buy with care as many are thrashed but should be within budget.

 

Used BMW 330 E46.  There's supercharger kits for these which take the engine well beyond 300BHP.  Standard, they're quick and handle well plus WAY more reliable than the newer models.

 

Curve ball would be something like a Nissan Skyline OR

 

(Drum roll please...not many will have thought of this one!):  Mk2 Lexus GS300.  It uses the bomb proof reliable and highly tuneable straight six used in the Supra and other models and can be tuned reliably to 1000BHP!  Turbo and super charger kits are available to take the standard 206BHP model to 350BHP with just a few other mods.  These once lowered and stiffened, with a brake upgrade will eat most modern hot hatches in a straight line and with the legendary Lexus build quality will outlast you.  Plenty of spares and tuning mods on the market, and they seat 5 in luxury.

 

Of all the above, the smart choice I reckon would be the GS300 on cost/reliability/performance potential.  A bit of an ugly duckling (unlike the Mk3/4 fastback models) but with a proven lump under the bonnet. Often used as drift cars!

Edited 22 May, 201511 yr by SEVrs

If you really want to **** yourself go get your bike license.

1000hp/T for ~£5k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201505063233152

http://www.visordown.com/reviews/motorcycles/sportsbikes/yamaha-yzf-r1-2007---2008/364.html

You'll need a change of underwear every time you open the throttle.

This is the way i do things. A bike and a hassle free car thats cheap to run.

Wouldnt jump on an r1 as a first ride though. Many of middle aged folk have jumped straight out of a Mondeo tdci, onto an R1 cos they had a 125 when they were 17 (so they can hack it, right) then straight into a coffin on the first bend.

I wouldn't advise a superbike or large capacity bike to anyone of any age these days if they've been off one for more than 10 years.  Performance of modern bikes is bonkers and too much for public roads really (yes, the throttle goes both ways but if the performance is there, people will use it).  No-one who hasn't ridden one can possibly imagine the acceleration forces & braking forces involved when used in anger, let alone the handling  and defensive riding skills needed to stay safe.  It's certainly looking for a wooden overcoat jumping straight onto a modern sports bike.  Any idiot can go fast in a straight line once one gets accustomed to how rapidly these things accelerate but it's all the rest of the stuff you have to worry about.  Not recommended at all for the novice/born again biker without extensive training.  Mind you, roadcraft training and defensive driving courses also help massively with things like observation, hazard awareness, smoothness etc and that generally = faster and safer progress.  Now, track days are a different proposition.  £5K buys a good used track bike and trailer =  big grin factor and nothing coming the other way!

I would be tempted to get something little and french,

 

Something with 250 - 300bhp, you arn't going to be able to stretch its legs very often,

 

Something like a clio 172 you can bang it down back roads everyday at less than licence loosing speeds and still have fun doing it,

 

You could always supercharge it if you get bored

 

I've been mulling this over since my last post and came to the same conclusion.  It depends on what you're looking for, fun or power.  The two don't necessarily go hand in hand.  As Teflon Tom said, you'd have to be going silly speeds to make the most of a 300hp+ car and depending on where you live the opportunity may never happen. 

 

I enjoy driving the Vectra on a daily basis.  The V6 rumble is lovely, the low down grunt is very addictive and I get a lot from owning such a car.  However, if I want to have fun I go for a blast in the Ignis.  Lightweight, fantastic handling and a willingness to rev like a bugger is a great package.  I can exploit all it's power for a larger percentage of the time and it never fails to make me smile.

 

I still miss my 106 Rallye despite it only having 100hp.

 

I wouldn't advise a superbike or large capacity bike to anyone of any age these days if they've been off one for more than 10 years. Performance of modern bikes is bonkers and too much for public roads really (yes, the throttle goes both ways but if the performance is there, people will use it). No-one who hasn't ridden one can possibly imagine the acceleration forces & braking forces involved when used in anger, let alone the handling and defensive riding skills needed to stay safe. It's certainly looking for a wooden overcoat jumping straight onto a modern sports bike. Any idiot can go fast in a straight line once one gets accustomed to how rapidly these things accelerate but it's all the rest of the stuff you have to worry about. Not recommended at all for the novice/born again biker without extensive training. Mind you, roadcraft training and defensive driving courses also help massively with things like observation, hazard awareness, smoothness etc and that generally = faster and safer progress. Now, track days are a different proposition. £5K buys a good used track bike and trailer = big grin factor and nothing coming the other way!

Couldnt agree more.

I've caught up with many badly ridden thou's on bendy roads. Theyre all good in a straight line, but some people just cant get the bendy bits (and thats the fun bit! Aswel as the acceleration), dont know which line to take, let alone hold it.

Plus 90mph (apparently 100mph if you go into the redline on a s1000rr) in first gear is abit too much for the road isnt it. Reach the redline once n you could get banned. Astronomically fast though.

Agreed.  I had an RSVR Edwards Rep Aprilia until a few months back and sold it after having litre superbikes for 15 years.  Got fed up with bad roads, the amount of traffic and couldn't get on as many track days as I'd liked so bought a KTM Duke instead.  Not 100 in first, but 110 flat out!  I can still keep with any superbike on a B road or in the twisties so the fun remains plus it'll still out accelerate most cars with ease. Don't know why I didn't do it years ago.  Soz for thread hi-jack!

I've been mulling this over since my last post and came to the same conclusion.  It depends on what you're looking for, fun or power.  The two don't necessarily go hand in hand.  As Teflon Tom said, you'd have to be going silly speeds to make the most of a 300hp+ car and depending on where you live the opportunity may never happen. 

 

I enjoy driving the Vectra on a daily basis.  The V6 rumble is lovely, the low down grunt is very addictive and I get a lot from owning such a car.  However, if I want to have fun I go for a blast in the Ignis.  Lightweight, fantastic handling and a willingness to rev like a bugger is a great package.  I can exploit all it's power for a larger percentage of the time and it never fails to make me smile.

 

I still miss my 106 Rallye despite it only having 100hp.

 

 

I have a 220bhp Mk1 octavia vrs and have spent more money than i care to add up trying to make it something it never going to be,

 

I also have an old corsa b 1.4sport with a massive 90bhp and i actually enjoy driving that more because i can ring its neck down back roads all day long and not be overly worried if i pass a police car coming other way,

Could get a nice evo 4 for that money

Personally id much rather have another celica gt4, although the have went up in value youd still get a nice one for that

Sensible jap option would be to hunt down a nice standard(ish) imprezza wrx that has been well looked after as they didnt attract asmany bampots as the wrx sti does.

I owned a P2 V70R which was stage 2, so approximately 340 bhp. I've since bought an Audi S3 8p which is also stage 2 but 365 bhp. I doubt you'd get an 8p for £5k but you would get a decent S60R/V70R. I part exchanged mine for £5,500.

 

I would say however the Volvo was a bit boring, especially compared to the Audi. They are well built, have loads of equipment and a great family cars but like most cars suffer from some gremlins. For example the shock absorbers are close to £1,000 per corner from Volvo - they can be sourced a lot cheaper but any S60 or V70 of that age would need them by now if they haven't already been done. The rear brake shoes must be changed every 5 years, at the longest, otherwise bad things happen inside the drum. Thats £800 is to fix.

The angle gears are made from chocolate on pre 2007 ones so these need attention. The cylinder liners are also a common thing to crack.

Stay away from automatic ones, unless it is a 6 speed which I think were only put in the 2007 ones. 

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/alfa-romeo/147/alfa-romeo-alfa-147-v6-24v-gta----------------2004/3969728

 

I know its over £5k but just look at that engine.

Rather than start a new thread as I am thinking in the same vein as the OP how about a Jag as they loose so much of their original value?

 

Personally could do with an Auto due to my cattle trucked left knee, lucky to have a fuel card so MPG not so much an issue as pay fuel as BIK.

 

Want it to be a V6/V8.

 

Is the X type OK (Ford Mondeo chasis etc is it not?) or better to go for a "proper" one ie XJ or S type?

Honda civic type r are not as bomb proof as you are led to believe , guy at work went through 2 under 30,000 miles full history engines let go. Year 2009 now has mini cooper.

The old Lexus soarer was a 250-300 bhp V8 motor. Only one on auto trader currently...couldn't see one on PH. £2550 means you have cash to squeeze more out of it.

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201506254658064?sort=default&channel=cars&onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&radius=1500&model=soarer&make=lexus&page=1&search-target=usedcars&quicksearch=true&postcode=gu68qe&logcode=p

One of my colleauges says ignore the V6/V8 Jags of a few years ago as, when Ford owned it, they were down the bottom of the reliability charts.  MPG does not worry me too much but reliability and mechanical running cost would.

For some of the best Interiors / Seating for comfort, and an Autobox that works & a car that has all the bits and pieces that suits the UK, Good Heaters/ Demisters / AC, Heated Seats, Snow Button on Gearbox etc etc

maybe check out some Volvos.

Just avoid when  Ford owned Volvo! 

(there is a pattern there)

 

But a Heated Front Screen on a Ford is a wonderful thing, and so are Powershift Gearboxes IMO. (when working ok).

Honda civic type r are not as bomb proof as you are led to believe , guy at work went through 2 under 30,000 miles full history engines let go. Year 2009 now has mini cooper.

Maybe the new ones are different?

Ive got a few mates with older type R's and b16's etc etc

All of them redline em pretty much everywhere, all well above 100k on the clock n never seem to miss a beat.

Also know people who run b16's in banger cars. They just keep going and going and going.

Shame the new ones arent the same!

As Volvo has been mentioned, how about the actual most comfortable car on the planet? The Saab 9-5 Aero Hot. Bit heavy, bit thirsty, but very good at it's job.

S-type V8 and about 4 grand change?