Pre-2001 fast/interesting cars with RR potential

[BellyBuilder]

Does anyone have any suggestions for fast and/or interesting cars that can squeeze in before the car tax hike of 2001 onwards for bigger engined cars kicks in?

Under £3k

No diesels due to imminent tax pillaging possibilities!

I'm thinking Audi TT, Bmw 3-series inc. convertible, Audi A3/s3 etc, basically as new as possible to get in before 2001.

Cheers.

[b3nson]

Audi A8/S8 or BMW 7 series with much lows and nice wheels

[joem83]

Not a massive difference until 2006 as it stops at a max of £305.

So don't rule out some newer stuff without checking the ved rate first.

[BellyBuilder]

Thanks guys.

This sort of thing looks like it won't go much lower in price and still looks fresh imho...

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201711161310136?

[Jez]

I was going to suggest a 330i! Partly because I daily one myself (I know, I know, buy what I've got!). But seriously, they make a great daily for the retro car enthusiast. It's modern enough to be safe and convenient (ABS, airbags, A/C, ISOfix, remote locking etc.) and can still look respectable in good condition. They're also very reliable. But the driving experience is very analogue and far removed from new cars (communicative controls, awesome handling, that noise). Mine is on 170k, uses lots of oil, average 29mpg over 18 months (calculated, not what the display says) and I love it.

Other suggestions - Audi TT (225bhp), mk1 Octavia vRS, Seat Leon Cupra R, Mondeo ST220, would a Clio 2.0 16v meet the criteria?

[flutterfeatures]

Accord type r

[flutterfeatures]

Impreza

[welshpug]

saab turbo.

[Battenberg]

XK8

[adam73bgt]

Saab 9-3 Aero, 2.0 turbo which is easily mappable to around 250bhp as a start.. I had a love/hate relationship with mine as I bought a bad example to start with so it was an uphill battle, but a well sorted one would be a bit of a riot. Not the most refined chassis by any means but when the boost came on, it put a grin on your face


Or seek out a 3 door Viggen model for extra future classic points, these got the 2.3 engine from the 9-5 so offer even more power

[dbizzle]

Nov 22, 2017 13:16:35 GMT flutterfeatures said:

Accord type r

This is a great shout. Absolutely amazing cars to drive, that LSD means you can take any corner at any speed. Hell of a lot of car for the money.

[VIP]

Nov 22, 2017 8:24:21 GMT BellyBuilder said:

No diesels due to imminent tax pillaging possibilities!

Irrelevant, pre-2001 falls into PLG tax bands which can't be separated into Petrol and Diesel as the data isn't there regarding emissions.

Any VED changes will be solely for new build vehicles which aren't compliant with the latest Euro(x) spec.

[ChasR]

I'd go with a good 9-3 myself or something Toyota based if you can escape the tinworm.

As dbizzle can confirm you'll need more than £3k to get a TT that's not a moneypit. I had a budget of £2.5k not too long ago and almost every one I saw drive worse than my Mondeo V6 at the time with 250k on the clock and that's before I hit the other issues they had ; the people were getting rid of them for precisely that reason ; they had neglected them.

E46 328i or 330i is a great shout. The engines are generally good as is the drivetrain. Subframe & boot floors can give issues but there are plenty of kits out there to alleviate this.

As for others?

-306 GTi-6 ; IMHO these are one to watch
-Clio 172/182 ; 205 GTi performance and fun with more solidity and more toys for a better day to day experience. Your budget will get you a very good one.
-Mondeo ST220


FWIW £60 a year separates the tax difference between my W124 250D & my M3.

[fad]

Saab 900 turbo

Skoda Octavia VRS

[dbizzle]

Nov 22, 2017 14:44:28 GMT ChasR said:

As dbizzle can confirm you'll need more than £3k to get a TT that's not a moneypit. I had a budget of £2.5k not too long ago and almost every one I saw drive worse than my Mondeo V6 at the time with 250k on the clock and that's before I hit the other issues they had ; the people were getting rid of them for precisely that reason ; they had neglected them.

True - I paid £3,500 for a 2001 TT 225 recently and I've had to spend another couple of grand on it since just getting it all up to snuff (cambelt, water pump, service, tyres, suspension, brakes etc). It's easily possible to find a TT under £3k, but that won't be all you'll be spending.

[fad]

Nov 22, 2017 14:51:44 GMT dbizzle said:

Nov 22, 2017 14:44:28 GMT ChasR said:

As dbizzle can confirm you'll need more than £3k to get a TT that's not a moneypit. I had a budget of £2.5k not too long ago and almost every one I saw drive worse than my Mondeo V6 at the time with 250k on the clock and that's before I hit the other issues they had ; the people were getting rid of them for precisely that reason ; they had neglected them.

True - I paid £3,500 for a 2001 TT 225 recently and I've had to spend another couple of grand on it since just getting it all up to snuff (cambelt, water pump, service, tyres, suspension, brakes etc). It's easily possible to find a TT under £3k, but that won't be all you'll be spending.

TT that price is good for donor and breaking, that's it. The engine will have survivied and isn't too bad to rebuild if you are going to chuck it into another car anyway, but to run one? No ta!

[BellyBuilder]

Very interesting suggestions so far guys, thank you very much.

Other than the beemer of that shape/year the only car that tickled my fancy was the Accord Type R as I used to own that model Accord (not Type R) and it was a good car - very Q.car other than the rear spoiler iirc?

Buying anything other than N/A is a bit scary for me if I'm honest with myself. The Beemer is faster than anything I've owned before in standard mode and would be a great 0-70mph motorway car as I do quite a few 50 mile round trips on an A-road.

I'm not looking to modify anything - standard or not at all for me.

[dbizzle]

Get an Accord Type R and win at life, simple answer.

[fad]

Nov 22, 2017 16:29:38 GMT BellyBuilder said:

Very interesting suggestions so far guys, thank you very much.

Other than the beemer of that shape/year the only car that tickled my fancy was the Accord Type R as I used to own that model Accord (not Type R) and it was a good car - very Q.car other than the rear spoiler iirc?

Buying anything other than N/A is a bit scary for me if I'm honest with myself. The Beemer is faster than anything I've owned before in standard mode and would be a great 0-70mph motorway car as I do quite a few 50 mile round trips on an A-road.

I'm not looking to modify anything - standard or not at all for me.

Out of interest why does a forced induction motor scare you?

[ChasR]

With the 330i I wouldn't underestimate the Rear Axle Carrier Panel (RACP) not cracking. But to be fair, once it is reinforced you are good. There are guides on how to check for it too with a few decent specialists who can do the job.

It happened on my M3 and BMW gave it the all clear.

theleylandlegends.wordpress.com/2017/08/12/spring-lows-highs-m3-ownership-part-3/