I have been charged with helping a friend of mine with buying a new car and was looking for any suggestions.

Requirements are:

not new, but no older then 2 years old.

MUST be robust, and reliable cant stress that enough, this car will have a life harder than most of you could/would want to imagine.

Fuel economy is not an issue, repair costs are what they are etc.

MUST be a hot variety, eg Vrs, GTI etc. (badge is almost important as the performance)

2 seaters are of no interest to him, and dont have enough space for all his tools etc.

Budget not sure but I would work on no more than

If it needs to be indestructible, I'd be looking to the far East!

Impreza WRX/STi, Evo, Honda CTR/ITR, Mazda 3 MPS?

Chris

Mazda 6 MPS fits into this bracket as well.

Civic Type-R ....

Dc5?

Mazda 3 MPS?

Chris

:lol: not if he doesn't want the engine to fall out- there seem to be some "teething" troubles with the 3MPS/Mazdaspeed3

what about this?

for 5 grand

v reg subaru sti - santa pod 0-60 in 5 sec flat

brand new 2.0 STi7 engine, - fitted a few months ago - cost 6k - all reciepts etc

Turbo from a an STi Type R

Feral Racing headers with helix up pipe,

Exedy clutch,

Decat exhaust,

Vortex Back Box

walbro fuel pump,

uprated oil pump,

new timing belt, idle pulleys, water pipe, oil catch can, lambda sensor, MAF sensor (Sensors are uprated)

Full ECUTek tune on STi6 map.

lad at my brothers place is about to trade it in

i'm tempted!!!!

With all those mods it should be capable of doing 60 in under 5 seconds! As standard, a V-reg STi will do it in 4.3 seconds

Chris

If he wants reliable, I'd go civic type/r or subaru impretza......

Yeah, if reliability is paramount, then he'd be a fool to ignore the Japanese motors!!

And if it's gonna have a 'hard life' then boy does he need a VTEC!!

I vote Civic Type-R!!

What's the budget Starch?

What's the budget Starch?

15k max, closer to 10k if possible, according to the first post

Chris

isn't it true that Honda have never had a faliure of a v-tec engine? now thats impressive.... (unless you forget to top them up with oil that is! lol..)

isn't it true that Honda have never had a faliure of a v-tec engine? now thats impressive.... (unless you forget to top them up with oil that is! lol..)

Hmm not sure on that, my mates CRX gave up a few years back..lol.

I think the stat was a bit sneakier than that and they said there had never been a warranty claim on the VTEC engine.....

Chris

I thought the wording was never had a failure on a vtec system, or possibly warranty claim, but only on the top end, not the whole engine.

As for car hunt, the goal posts have apparently moved, new criteria, are it must have rear doors if possible.

must be capable of towing trailer and rally car as well.

And budget has also gone up a bit.

Verdict is so far, doesnt like the looks of the Golf, is being a (self confessed) badge snob, so no to either Seat or Skoda.

Doesnt want a civic either.

Currently likes the look of the Mazda3 MPS, but i suspect handeling may put him off, mazda6 MPS is a possible.

If i can stretch him though I think a s4 avant would be a good option.

He's not bothered about an Evo (he already has one he is trying to get rid of) or an impreza, they just arnt what he wants really. Cant pin down why though.

I would be interested in an other options that you can think of.

S4 or S6. I think either will fit the bill.

Honda engines do fail. What Honda claimed was, they never had a fail on the VTEC system, rather than the engine itself.