Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

If it were me with such a budget I'd buy a Subaru or mitsubishi evo and live my childhood fantasy. And likely an Evo VII at that.

Celiac GT4 and 20k on restoration

Sounds like you might want an RS3!

A long time ago, I had a bug eye wrx sti. It was my dream car, but tbh it really wasn't that much fun.

In day to day mode, it was just a fairly dull, crashy and not very comfortable plasticky japanese saloon that did 22mpg.

In weapon mode (keeping the tacho at 4k plus), it was amazingly quick and competent, so competent that you didn't really feel like you were going that fast. The number of a and b roads that are open enough and sufficiently free of traffic, even in Scotland or Wales, where it could be fun to drive a car like this are very few. And then there's always the chance that you get unlucky and get booked or run out of talent and end up in a hedge / field.

In the end, I couldn't really see the point of it.

"Sometimes crashes can’t be avoided."
driving slower can help with this.

Ford Focus RS?

My friend had one, the closest to being on a motorbike in a car was how i described it. Saying that he drove like a lunatic on a road that a motorbike wouldn’t have stayed on.

Either way the proper answer is only slightly different; 997 2S or 997 4S

I did not realise these had back seats and spent last night looking. The bit that scares me is nearly all at or around 70k miles have ‘full engine rebuild’ in the description. That sounds Dammit expensive.

Ford Focus RS?

I’m not sure I can live with the ‘Fisher Price’ dash. But there are a couple local to me for sale. Sounds like I might need a test drive when my shoulder heals up and I can change a gear…

a Subaru or mitsubishi evo

10 years ago absolutely, yes. It’s unfortunately just not my thing now.

RS3

I’d enjoy the extra cylinder for sure. But they’re all pre facelift :( Maybe I’ll save more cash, but having just lost a bunch in this incident I’m inclined not to.

"Sometimes crashes can’t be avoided."
driving slower can help with this.

This is true, but not in this case. I was driving to the conditions and well within the speed limit, low revs - oil temp wasn’t even there yet and I’ve taken this seriously since ownership. Literally left the house 5 minutes before and drive through town.
Now to that point; everything was cold. Including the tyres. Was that a factor? Perhaps. But I’m not going to dwell on it.

The M140i I bought because it ultimately wasn’t a ‘point and squirt’ car. I wanted something at the time that required some thought when being driven not just mashing the accelerator at exit of a corner or an overtake. My view having had an accident has changed…

Sounds like it would be perfect here, in northern Spain.

yes, maybe it would.

Your right though, dreams never live up to the hype!

I'll just pretend my outback is one.

Golf R then?

Let's say you were in a fwd hot hatch, particularly a tail happy one, lifting off while turning into the verge of or clear lane could well have had the same result. I wouldn't dwell on any particular type of car helping you avoid it, apart from one with all current safety tech and nanny systems to keep you out of trouble. Although those BMW 1 series coupes are pretty unstable in the wrong circumstances.

Just thinking, the most unflappable car I've ever driven was a golf R. To the point of total boredom!

That sounds Dammit expensive.

It needn’t be if you do your research. There’s a repair cost risk in any performance car. Newish Audis and Golfs that have been owned on 3 year leases will have been mercilessly ragged and VAG cars are both unreliable and massively expensive to repair these days. Every little electronic thing that fails, and they do fail, costs >£1k to fix.

What there isn’t with an old 911 is significant depreciation. Your £30k golf or BMW will be £12k in 3 years. Your £30k 911 will be £25k.

Financially speaking only a fule would drive anything other than a 15+ year old 190mph Porsche.

I have no idea what my 25 year old, 72,000 mile 911 is worth. Given I’ve fucked about with it so extensively probably £5

I'm thinking about swapping my 986 Boxster for a 997 and would be specifically looking for one with an engine rebuild - preferably by Hartech.

no offence but this is the definition of small dick energy

rather than banning dog and bell crew we need to keep check on this sort of thing IMO, given how many cunts drive fast in narrow lanes esp around cyclists

If that was no offence, what do you say when you mean to offend?

I follow your thread specifically so I can low ball you when you’re ready to sell, but even I would go more than £5.

Sometimes to give myself a shock I look at how much similar 996 are here in SG.

Umm... Offence taken, I think.

Whatever. I just wouldn't buy another one.

And to be clear, I never drive (drove, considering this was best part of two decades ago) fast around cyclists or on narrow lanes as that's just downright dangerous.

Used to drive my brothers bug eye WRX regularly and loved it, Impreza's have been my favourite since I was a kid though. He only sold it recently as he needed something more practical to use everyday and not worry about the fuel costs all the time.

It had a few mods and was around 300bhp and honestly it was so quick. Everything was just right on it, especially the noise. launch control was great as well. They are so light that BHP per tonne was really good.

If I had the spare change for a nicer one, I would still go for it.

I love them too. The first time I drove one I couldn’t believe how good it was. It steered and changed direction unlike any other non-sports car I’ve driven before or since.

I want another one now.

I know you/anyone here doesent :)