So, what's next?

[Stuart]

I seem to remember starting a thread like this about February time.......can't believe I'm starting another so soon

I have a feeling my automotive diary is about to get another entry. My little Golf is still at the garage in a bid to get reliable starting, and it's been there over a week, not that I've chased them. The car has great potential and being fast, fun and cheap it ticked many of the boxes that I wanted. It's just that age old bloody triangle catching up with me


Anyway, assuming I get Grace back and they have not been able to perform miracles, I'll be looking for something different; another notch on the ownership bedpost.

I'd like rear wheel drive, I'd like near enough 200hp ( or 150hp per tonne) and I'd like something that won't destroy my tight arse reputation

I don't give a monkeys about how many doors it has (as long as they're all there) I don't care about auto or manual and I don't care about where it was made. The less rust the better so nothing from the 60's please.

My short list on a theoretical maximum 2k budget was

MR2 turbo
Nissan 200sx S13
BMW E34 5 series
BMW E36 328
Porsche 944

I would welcome any other suggestions, or things that I may have overlooked. It will need to cover daily duties and the occasional track day. The more reliable it is, the more it will get used

I'll update this in a moment with some examples of things that I've been looking at; it keeps me amused, if nothing else.

[Stuart]

328 with coilovers
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2231585.htm

S13 with most things including holes
http://www.driftworks.com/forum/drift-c ... xtras.html

E34 540 Manual
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2231678.htm

Boosted MR2
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TOYOTA-MR2-REV-3- ... 2c58988ff4

etc etc

[Mr Fletcher]

What are your plans for useage ? in other words do you want something to use out of the box or are you going to chuck a wedge at it on upgrades.

[Rob S]

The Nikasil 4.4 540's are epic, but you'll only get teens for gallon.
The 328's are a bloody good bet, but not original enough for you?
Off to think...............

[Stuart]

What are your plans for useage ? in other words do you want something to use out of the box or are you going to chuck a wedge at it on upgrades.

No wedge short term. I am fed with trying to polish turds (quote me on that)

The Nikasil 4.4 540's are epic, but you'll only get teens for gallon.
The 328's are a bloody good bet, but not original enough for you?
Off to think...............

I won't get original for the kind of money I want to spend. Most of the cars I have listed will produce poor fuel economy when thrashed, so I'm not that bothered with mpg. Spares must be abundant and reasonable though.

Thanks in anticipation of some help in the search for sanity.

[Mr Fletcher]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1545155.htm:gnorsi:

[Stuart]

I do quite like CLK's, but why did you pick one Jase? Have you had any experience with these? I've owned an SL and long termed a C class hatch back. Loved them both.....

[Ian200sx]

328 will be in the shadow of the m3. Can't Rob sort you out a s14 for 2k? better start point. Supra maybe don't know what they cost though

[Mr Fletcher]

I do quite like CLK's, but why did you pick one Jase? Have you had any experience with these? I've owned an SL and long termed a C class hatch back. Loved them both.....

My father has had a couple of newer one's but i was looking more at what you get for your money in these bigger cars .

[Tommy]

I've been looking at boosted MX5's should my M3 sell. Probably a bit too small for you though Stuart.

Don't know why, but I also have a strange itch for a Subaru Forester as a family wrecker with a turn of speed.