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

^ looks like:

:)

I love MX5s, but prefer honda S2000s.
They are, admittedly, less nice to look at, as most have been drifterised...
Still haven't sorted my car...
thoughts keep jumping between:
Volvo (because i need the space really)
206 GTi- because I fucking love them(as girly as they are) (maybe a golf GTi)
Renault 182/172 Clio
Subaru Legacy (because they're beasts)
And a big f'off van/camper thingy...
I can actually afford the insurance on these things too which is amazing!

I still reckon I'd do it all with change from about €6,000 including buying the car. It would be so sweet though, there's something about looking at a car from behind and seeing the Bride logo on the back of the seats. Gives me chills even thinking about it.

Going to test drive the little lady's Alfa Giulia Spyder tomorrow in Andover after some extensive work to sort the chassis and engine. Yay.

I know what you're saying. Brides and Takatas are the perfect combo for japanese cars. That MX is perfect and exactly the look I'd go for ! get it done.

Still haven't sorted my car...
thoughts keep jumping between:
Volvo (because i need the space really)
206 GTi- because I fucking love them(as girly as they are) (maybe a golf GTi)
Renault 182/172 Clio
Subaru Legacy (because they're beasts)
And a big f'off van/camper thingy...
I can actually afford the insurance on these things too which is amazing!

I love pugs. Probably more than most/more than I should and I've owned more of them than any other car (205 Gti, 106 XSi, 106 Rallye). However, 206 GTi was one of the biggest disappointments in driving terms. Felt cheap, nasty, not particularly quick (at the time I drove one, I had a 205 1.9 GTi and it felt asthmatic by comparison) and for me signalled the demise with hot pugs. They've never made a good hot hatch since the 106 GTi/306 GTi/Rallye.

^ looks like:

I love MX5s, but prefer honda S2000s.
They are, admittedly, less nice to look at, as most have been drifterised...
Still haven't sorted my car...
thoughts keep jumping between:
Volvo (because i need the space really)
206 GTi- because I fucking love them(as girly as they are) (maybe a golf GTi)
Renault 182/172 Clio
Subaru Legacy (because they're beasts)
And a big f'off van/camper thingy...
I can actually afford the insurance on these things too which is amazing!

Absolutely loving my Legacy Spec B - awesome flat 6 noise and amazing handling, shame about the economy however - thankfully I don't do many miles.

Would certainly recommend the Legacy - particularly the twin turbo earlier versions which are just bonkers and can be had pretty cheap. There is also a very good (if small)
community at uklegacy.com

ha ha! It does look like cars, but it has been very nicely put together though, can't fault them for that!

Inspirational

(Full set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/300tdorg/collections/)

That Merc is incredible !

I'd agree with Danb. Legacy's are pretty unassuming and a bit bifferan to all the usual Impreza's that you see. I'd love an original quad cam Legacy turbo like McRae used before the Impreza's came in !

ohhhhhhhhh yessssssss !!!

So I've decided to fuck off the uprated 6 speed Getrag 'box and just sell the car with a re-con 5 speed to go JDM. I have been hankering after a MK1 1.8 JDM Roadster (MX5) with an LSD for a long time after selling my MK1 1.6 V Spec Roadster many years ago, but I think I might just be boring and go for an S13.

Any suggestions from you guys?

Current car is a broken Mini One making 123 hp and can lap Brands in under a minute, and 'Ring in 9:45

I'm looking for something small, light (not a massive issue since it will be stripped anyway), handles extremely well, RWD, and most importantly is quicker than the Mini. I think I've only realistically got £4k to play with after I've fixed the Mini and sold it.

All signs point to the MX5 but it will be no quicker than the Mini. I'm sure I'll be able to hustle it round tracks just as quickly, if not quicker, than the Mini but since I've borrowed my dad's 911 a few times recently, I want a bigger shove in a straight line. Hence my leaning to an S13. With 200 hp and fettled handling, I could start looking at some quicker lap times. The thing with the Mini is, it still has the One badge on the back and sitting on G60 steels it's such a sleeper on track. It's so much fun having people force you to open the bonnet to prove it's not supercharged. With an S13, no-ones going to underestimate the car. I'm also worried it's just not cut out to be a fast track car. Coilovers, camber/castor, ARBs, bushes, braces, and tyres will only take you so far on a big coupe.

So... suggestions?

i was about to say s13. what about a E30??

Hope this will serve you as an inspiration, but I assume you'll be going for an older version?

JC Viggen got an 8 minute run around the ring out of his T5-R.

Just thought I'd mention it.

944 Turbo, E30 325, RX7, Westfield, Merc 190

Out of those ^ I'd chose the BMW and the Merc. Not a fan of the Porsche

I've got a 1/4 share in a 924 drift car, and while I like the 944 tubby, I don't have 944 maintenance money.

E30 325 is a good option and I do like them. Could go for the "more doors, more whores" choice too.

RX7 - The FC is one of my all time fave cars but I don't have shares in an oil company and most well maintained FCs I've seen go for over 4k.

Westfield is something I've been considering but it's not ideal to leave parked on the side of the road in Tottenham, and I thought they were quite expensive 2nd hand?

Merc 190 is something else I have been mulling over, I've always liked them since my dad had a really nice 2.0E when I was younger, and since I chased a DTM spec 190 round the 'Ring.

Keep the suggestions coming!

Friend of mine uses an A8 as a track car. Fully stripped with its aluminium body, 4.2l V8 and 4wd it makes a very useful piece of kit. Picked it up for peanuts. Auto box less than ideal though.

Friend of mine uses an A8 as a track car. Fully stripped with its aluminium body, 4.2l V8 and 4wd it makes a very useful piece of kit. Picked it up for peanuts. Auto box less than ideal though.

I was looking at an S8 as an alternative when I bought the Rangie.

Honestly mate. NOT WITH A BARGE-POLE in a cost of ownership point of view. Had I gone the S8 route I fully expect to have spent a considerable amount more keeping that healthy than I have my Range, and don;t think that hasn't been a wallet buster.

Also they are very, very, very long. Although 1 of the coolest cars out there IMO.

Nurse. Just steal a Noble, you'll be fine. There is one living up n Hampstead if you want an address! ;)

It's got to be the MG Rover V8 75, whatever they ended up calling that thing.

Mustang V8 so almost limitless cheap tuning stuff available, and no-one, but no-one, will expect you to out corner and out drag them.

are you looking for something for everyday use as well or just for bombing round tracks?

I was looking at an S8 as an alternative when I bought the Rangie.

Honestly mate. NOT WITH A BARGE-POLE in a cost of ownership point of view. Had I gone the S8 route I fully expect to have spent a considerable amount more keeping that healthy than I have my Range, and don;t think that hasn't been a wallet buster.

Also they are very, very, very long. Although 1 of the coolest cars out there IMO.

Nurse. Just steal a Noble, you'll be fine. There is one living up n Hampstead if you want an address! ;)

Fortunately one of the co-owners is a VAG specialist mechanic, but so far the car has been very relible for them. Suspension, brakes and engine are all standard, just sticky tyres and liberating a shed load of weight. Upgrades will be undertaken when the standard stuff gives up

It's got to be the MG Rover V8 75, whatever they ended up calling that thing.

Mustang V8 so almost limitless cheap tuning stuff available, and no-one, but no-one, will expect you to out corner and out drag them.

MG ZT 260

completely stupid idea for a company that was on its last legs to completely re-engineer the chassis of their car for RWD, buy the rights to an engine, and build a car that nobody ever bought.

pretty cool though

are you looking for something for everyday use as well or just for bombing round tracks?

My Mini was my DD too, but like all the track bike riding fools we are, I suffered a track car as a DD. This does rule out something like a Westy or a Caterham though just through wet weather practicality. The Mini was bad enough, my students used to go apeshit when I pulled in to school.

BBC ferrari 360

http://jalopnik.com/#!5792518/awesome-1000-horsepower-chevy-powered-ferrari-360-is-awesome

Think I may finally have got the last motor issues sorted! Engine builder set my motor up with a dual plane manifold, despite us discussing that I wanted to run port injected EFI...No way to drill the dual plane for injector bungs as the runners are massively diferent height.

Then, I discover the only single plane intakes, that are EFI ready AND match up with the head porting, are nearly 7 friggin inches tall and will not fit under the stock hood! ARSE.

Cue one day phoning around every friggin mopar tuner in the US to fortunately discover Mopar Performance themselves make just the thing I need! I'll end up with a double valley plate because of the different heads but no biggie. Just need to get it shipped and machined and I shold be ready to rock and roll!

Awesome.

Now 644hp @ 5800 and 638lb/ft @ 3800.