As the weather seems to be picking up a bit, I've been trawling the classifieds yet again!

I have around £5500 to play with, possibly a touch more for the right car.. Requirements are fairly relaxed, I'm getting around 20mpg out of the T5 so fuel isn't an issue, I only do between 4 and 6k a year, definitely petrol, definitely manual, not too fussed on what wheels are the driving force but I'd quite like to move away from FWD for a change!

I've found a few FD RX7's around this price but that seems proper bottom of the market with little proof of a rebuild/compression checks.
JZX81 Chasers are cool, especially manual 1JZ's but would need to import really.

Fire some ideas my way!

Ben.

 

Jag XKR.

 

There's definitely some cheap performance Jags around, have looked at XJR's too.

Preferably needs to have some tuning capabilities too.

 

I've seen evo 6s sell for that sort of budget, most being imports, bit of a risk getting a tired car but there are some nice ones out there.

 

You could also consider skyline GTSTs, silivas, celica GT4s, BMW m3s (is it the E36 shape?), saab turbos, pretty sure there are some big engine'd mercs at about that price, an mr2 turbo etc etc.

 

You could get a very good example of an S14 200sx and enough money to spend on improving the performance...

 

Audi S4? 2.7 litre V6 bi turbo, loads of tuning options.

 

Focus st.

 

Really? I've seen a few 4's around this price but not even a 5 or 6!
Pretty much all the above have been considered too, have you any experience with them?

Not a fan of them to be honest, I'd have an S13 though!

Now that's a good shout, looked at them before but didn't quite have the funds.

Definitely won't be a Ford G man, nothing this side of a Cosworth will cut the mustard!

 

Go and road test a mk 2 ST. A fair few people on here have had them.

 

I may as well stick with my T5 considering it's the same engine

Found a very nice Nagaro Blue S4 Avant today, in Peterborough too! Porsche brakes, HR coilies and RR'd at 320bhp.

 

Sounds like a nice car.

 

Another vote for an MR2, a guy at work has a MK1 with a MK2 engine in it, It's an absolute beast

 

Had a remaped S4, went well, handled well, poor rear legroom

 

Just because I have one as wel,. I'd suggest a classic Impreza. Such an awesome alround car and for that budget you could possibly find a 2dr type R which will hold its money well, in fact the classics are starting to go up slightly in price now.

 

One of the most fun cars I've driven are the old imprezas

 

You don't give up do you, said he doesn't want FWD, but you're straight in there with another Ford

Tough budget this. If you want something bordering on sensible, maybe a MK5 Golf GTI, an Astra VXR or a Mazda 3 MPS.

If you don't, an Impreza or Evo. Don't think I'd want to be driving an RX-7 every day, even 5-6k a year, they take a lot of looking after. Cool cars though.

 

Would and E39 M5 be inside your budget?
Awesome cars to drive and IMHO great looking big saloon too.

Rich

 

Isnt the mk5 golf gti fwd also the Astray vxr is fwd too.

 

I do have a soft spot for MR2's, it'd have to be a turbo though!
I'm looking at slightly earlier stuff, the MPS is a cracking car but don't they have an enormous road tax?
I saw a white Evo 5 today and it looked fantastic, I don't need sensible!

Man alive, I'd absolutely love an M5, E34 or E39 but I think they're a little out of budget these days, they've rocketed in the last couple of years

 

I keep being drawn to silly things like a 3000GT, you don't see many of those around!

 

My money would be going on an 06-07 Mazda 6 MPS.
You should get a good one with your budget, four wheel drive and loads of tuning options with the 2.3T Duratec.

 

Funny you should mention that actually as one popped up on my suggestions the other day, didn't realise they were Duratecs! Bit new for me usually and they look a bit rep mobile, don't you think?

 

I'm looking at the Mazda 3 MPs as well after sling my mk1 frs.
The wife's dad had two of them, their great cars so understated it's unreal. Just make sure the timing chain tensioners have been changed as they start to rattle really badly. It was a common fault on them (bad design) and should be changed with updated parts.
They are £490 a year to tax unless you go for the 2009 model which has slightly lower emissions.

 

Another vote for an Mr2 turbo. 300bhp near enough with not much effort if you get a Rev3+ (94 onwards). Sky's the limit lining wise and reliable. I've got a mate with one with 650+ bhp and it is unbelievable.

 

My mate also had a black mr2 turbo was putting out about 300bhp but he had 50hp nitrous kit fitted as well.
Gave death all day every day and the only thing that went wrong was the gearbox blew up on the motorway at 50mph.