Suggestions for a practical british sports car
Discussion
So having sold my Scimitar SS1, I miss the lightweight, RWD driving experience.
I need something more practical, ideally 4+ seats and a usefull boot.
British, RWD, independant suspension all round, and not really expensive (sub 5k for a useable daily)
The Lotus Excel springs to mind, although prices may have risen too much these days?
I need something more practical, ideally 4+ seats and a usefull boot.
British, RWD, independant suspension all round, and not really expensive (sub 5k for a useable daily)
The Lotus Excel springs to mind, although prices may have risen too much these days?
You're going to struggle a bit with that brief, on your budget.
If you're coming from a Scimtar SS1, then apart from the live rear axle, a Scimitar GTE would be an obvious option, but a nice (and reliable) example will be more than £5k these days.
There's the Jaguar XK8, but the rear seats are tiny and the running costs not cheap.Within your very limited budget is possible, though, and you get a lot of car for your money.
If you're coming from a Scimtar SS1, then apart from the live rear axle, a Scimitar GTE would be an obvious option, but a nice (and reliable) example will be more than £5k these days.
There's the Jaguar XK8, but the rear seats are tiny and the running costs not cheap.Within your very limited budget is possible, though, and you get a lot of car for your money.
I've been looking for similar for years and have tried many
I had a V8 Excel many years ago and have been looking for another - not sure I'd rely on one as a daily though
I also fancy an Elan +2 but anything usable is usually south of £10k
I think the closest I'll get as a usable daily RWD 4 seater is an IS200 better than a BMW IMO as it's lighter and the Sport has an LSD a decent E30 is too much IMO the odd E36 crops up in budget
The other obvious candidates are Scimitar or Dolomite but again there's not many that are decent circa £5k
Some of the others I've tried are 325 Compact, RX8, GT86...
I had a V8 Excel many years ago and have been looking for another - not sure I'd rely on one as a daily though
I also fancy an Elan +2 but anything usable is usually south of £10k
I think the closest I'll get as a usable daily RWD 4 seater is an IS200 better than a BMW IMO as it's lighter and the Sport has an LSD a decent E30 is too much IMO the odd E36 crops up in budget
The other obvious candidates are Scimitar or Dolomite but again there's not many that are decent circa £5k
Some of the others I've tried are 325 Compact, RX8, GT86...
KTMsm said:
I also fancy an Elan +2 but anything usable is usually south of £10k north of £20K
EFA.I've been looking at Elan +2's again, as well (I've had a couple in the past), but properly nice examples are now in the mid-£20K bracket, and for that money an Aston Martin Vantage V8 is looking awfully good value (and a lot more reliable!).
Equus said:
I've been looking at Elan +2's again, as well (I've had a couple in the past), but properly nice examples are now in the mid-£20K bracket, and for that money an Aston Martin Vantage V8 is looking awfully good value (and a lot more reliable!).
I prefer usable to mint and I'm happy with modified tooI've considered the Aston and the Maserati but they're just too heavy and insulated - I like to grab things by the scruff of the neck and love it when 70 feels fast
I've just stumbled onto a nice looking excel, not a V8 but we'll see
Thanks all.
Yes, had considered a GTE, love the looks, dont like the essex V6 lump, so would go for a Rover V8 swapped one. A few people have used bits of the back of an XJS Jag to convert them to IRS, but its a whole lot of work...
As for the other Jag suggested, its available only as an auto, which is a shame.
Lexus IS200 is somewhat tempting, but ideally I was hoping for something a bit smaller and lighter. At that size and weight I think I would have another subaru.
Yes, had considered a GTE, love the looks, dont like the essex V6 lump, so would go for a Rover V8 swapped one. A few people have used bits of the back of an XJS Jag to convert them to IRS, but its a whole lot of work...
As for the other Jag suggested, its available only as an auto, which is a shame.
Lexus IS200 is somewhat tempting, but ideally I was hoping for something a bit smaller and lighter. At that size and weight I think I would have another subaru.
KTMsm said:
I prefer usable to mint and I'm happy with modified too
You still won't find anything much below £18K, even for a scruffy one. £10K would be a resto, these days.I wouldn't get a Plus 2 if you want something you can throw around by the scruff of its neck: the 2-seater Elan is better for that (I've had those too). The Plus 2 is a lot 'softer', quite a bit slower, and physically a lot bigger than the 2-seater, and works better as a GT than an out-and-out sports car.
As a 'proper' sports car, you'd be better off with a Ginetta G15 (I've got one myself, at present), which can be had in nice spec. and condition for ~£12K, but of course wouldn't meet the OP's needs as it's a pure 2-seater (and well over his budget).
What about an MGB GT, Spitfire or maybe even a Ford Capri? These were the mainstay of "affordable sports car" in Britain for the majority of the 70s and 80s.
Although only the Capri of those has rear seats you can use. A 20.s or similar will be very reasonable to run. Parts aren't horrendous to aquire, and the pinto can be tuned relatively easily if the standard 110bhp is too low
Although only the Capri of those has rear seats you can use. A 20.s or similar will be very reasonable to run. Parts aren't horrendous to aquire, and the pinto can be tuned relatively easily if the standard 110bhp is too low
Edited by Vsix and Vtec on Monday 19th June 10:39
Equus said:
You still won't find anything much below £18K, even for a scruffy one. £10K would be a resto, these days.
I wouldn't get a Plus 2 if you want something you can throw around by the scruff of its neck: the 2-seater Elan is better for that (I've had those too). The Plus 2 is a lot 'softer', quite a bit slower, and physically a lot bigger than the 2-seater, and works better as a GT than an out-and-out sports car.
As a 'proper' sports car, you'd be better off with a Ginetta G15 (I've got one myself, at present), which can be had in nice spec. and condition for ~£12K, but of course wouldn't meet the OP's needs as it's a pure 2-seater (and well over his budget).
I've got loads of 2 seaters - and I'm not selling them (Supercharged MX5 and RX7)I wouldn't get a Plus 2 if you want something you can throw around by the scruff of its neck: the 2-seater Elan is better for that (I've had those too). The Plus 2 is a lot 'softer', quite a bit slower, and physically a lot bigger than the 2-seater, and works better as a GT than an out-and-out sports car.
As a 'proper' sports car, you'd be better off with a Ginetta G15 (I've got one myself, at present), which can be had in nice spec. and condition for ~£12K, but of course wouldn't meet the OP's needs as it's a pure 2-seater (and well over his budget).
Trying to find a fun 2+2 for taking the kids to school etc is proving impossible (ideally 4 doors) I'm looking for either an Altezza RS200 or another IS200 V8 - I've looked up to £20k and just can't find anything I want. Last attempt was a GT86 Turbo but the rear seats are useless
Vsix and Vtec said:
What about an MGB GT, Spitfire or maybe even a Ford Capri? These were the mainstay of "affordable sports car" in Britain for the majority of the 70s and 80s.
All of those have solid rear axles (not sure about the spitfire? But its a 2 seater anyway)Edited by Vsix and Vtec on Monday 19th June 10:39
KTMsm said:
LotsOfLaughs said:
Lexus IS200 is somewhat tempting, but ideally I was hoping for something a bit smaller and lighter.
At that size and weight I think I would have another subaru.
Me too !At that size and weight I think I would have another subaru.
Which one ?
Mine was in really crap condition so I only kept it a few months. Not sure what Id have this time, WRX is still a bit too chavvy, so either another spec.b or a Forester XT. Have considered the earlier twin turbos but since theyre imports theyre a bit tricky to insure
LotsOfLaughs said:
Well I had a legacy (3.0 manual R spec.b)
Mine was in really crap condition so I only kept it a few months. Not sure what Id have this time, WRX is still a bit too chavvy, so either another spec.b or a Forester XT. Have considered the earlier twin turbos but since theyre imports theyre a bit tricky to insure
I had a Forester XT - following all the praise they got on here and not wanting the Impreza imageMine was in really crap condition so I only kept it a few months. Not sure what Id have this time, WRX is still a bit too chavvy, so either another spec.b or a Forester XT. Have considered the earlier twin turbos but since theyre imports theyre a bit tricky to insure
So Dull - I upgraded to impreza suspension, brakes, decat stainless exhaust and remap - still dull
On fast bumpy roads the ABS wouldn't apply the brakes - which was the only interesting thing about it
I'd suggest a live axle isn't an issue - Escorts / Mantas / Capris can all hussle along with the best of them
KTMsm said:
I had a Forester XT - following all the praise they got on here and not wanting the Impreza image
So Dull - I upgraded to impreza suspension, brakes, decat stainless exhaust and remap - still dull
On fast bumpy roads the ABS wouldn't apply the brakes - which was the only interesting thing about it
I'd suggest a live axle isn't an issue - Escorts / Mantas / Capris can all hussle along with the best of them
Yeah, the subaru wasnt the most fun car to chuck about, hence why it was replaced by the SS1. But then I bought a Skoda Octavia Scout, which was about as much fun as eating carpet underlayer, and really highlighted how good the subaru was. Ditto the brakes, although I did a little test on an empty road and my 54-plate spec.b stopped about 4 car length shorter than a 63-plate passat, even though the VW Passat had wider tyres. (Both on the same road, in the dry, at 60mph)So Dull - I upgraded to impreza suspension, brakes, decat stainless exhaust and remap - still dull
On fast bumpy roads the ABS wouldn't apply the brakes - which was the only interesting thing about it
I'd suggest a live axle isn't an issue - Escorts / Mantas / Capris can all hussle along with the best of them
If I decided a solid axle wasnt a problem, I would probably find myself a tidy Rover V8 swapped GTE. A useable, slightly scruffy one can be had well within my budget.
Another option is a 1st gen legacy turbo. Really rare, they predate the first impreza, so could be good fun.
LotsOfLaughs said:
If I decided a solid axle wasnt a problem, I would probably find myself a tidy Rover V8 swapped GTE. A useable, slightly scruffy one can be had well within my budget.
^^^ There's your answer I've looked at a few but they were just too tatty for me and nice ones were too much - I saw a lovely Lexus V8 one at a show (it wasn't for sale) I'd have happily owned
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