Fast Powerful and Inconspicuous - car choices

Kurva

Alright, Ive been spending way too much time on pistonheads and parkers lately and its got me in the mood for a change

something fast powerful but Inconspicuous - not really into the jap cars with the 4" Wavin pipes for exhausts

My own shortlist includes
* Audi A3 - either the 1.8 T quattro petrol or the 1.9 TDi quattro

* Mondeo ST 2.2lTDCi ( still a bit expensive though - all 15k mark)

* Ford Cougar 2.5l V6 ( puma is faster but looks like a Tigra - not a good thing)

* and if i saved up (a lot) a BMW 520 or 523 M spec

Anything else I should consider? ( below Group 15)


all of the above come under the 8.5 second range - and I wouldn't mind at least 1 turbo charger

I know the easy option is a GTi Golf or the Seat Cupra or GTi versions - but i was never a VW person

besides i know 3 people with a VW that have serious problems with the central locking (98 to 03)

Anan1

Subaru Forester 2.5XT. In the words of my Spanish sister-in-law, it 'blends in with the ground', and it's easily faster than any of the cars on your list.

Philush

mondeos st's a savage machine altogether. much rarer car than the bmw's great drive too, what about an s line audi?id def have the mondeo out of your list anyway

the skoda octavia VRS is a nice machine also either diesel or petrol

Berty

What do you currently have?

Anan1

Philush wrote: »

what about an s line audi?

Isn't that just a sporty-looking trim level, ie the exact opposite of what the OP's looking for?

Philush

no the s line range in the audi is a much more performance orientated version of the car models, they're not just sportier trim,they have a lot more optional extras varying from both luxery to sporty as well as an upgraded engine.still look the same more or less as a normal audi :ie no crazy spoilers or huge exhausts

joeperry

Hey op none of those cars are fast,also it may need pointing out to you that quattro audis are heavier than the 2 wheel drive audis you've mentioned due to extra weight of the 4 wheel drive system.

NewApproach

How about a Volvo S60r?

Or failing that, the T5 version.

Both are quick and very inconspicuous!


edit:
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volvo/S60/T5/200840190270264/advert

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volvo/S60/T5/200833189697457/advert

Theres no R's on carzone, but 5 T5's.

Anan1

Philush wrote: »

no the s line range in the audi is a much more performance orientated version of the car models, they're not just sportier trim,they have a lot more optional extras varying from both luxery to sporty as well as an upgraded engine.still look the same more or less as a normal audi :ie no crazy spoilers or huge exhausts

Are you sure you're not confusing the S Line with the S4/S5/S6 etc? I always thought the S Line was just a trim pack, ie no changes to power output.

RobAMerc

Kurva wrote: »

Alright, Ive been spending way too much time on pistonheads and parkers lately and its got me in the mood for a change

something fast powerful but Inconspicuous - not really into the jap cars with the 4" Wavin pipes for exhausts

My own shortlist includes
* Audi A3 - either the 1.8 T quattro petrol or the 1.9 TDi quattro

* Mondeo ST 2.2lTDCi ( still a bit expensive though - all 15k mark)

* Ford Cougar 2.5l V6 ( puma is faster but looks like a Tigra - not a good thing)

* and if i saved up (a lot) a BMW 520 or 523 M spec

Anything else I should consider? ( below Group 15)


all of the above come under the 8.5 second range - and I wouldn't mind at least 1 turbo charger

I know the easy option is a GTi Golf or the Seat Cupra or GTi versions - but i was never a VW person

besides i know 3 people with a VW that have serious problems with the central locking (98 to 03)

none of these are particularly fast although the two fords and beemer would all be superb handlers - I would throw in the Mazda mps range of q cars, I dont see a budget mentioned.

I would go for cubes rather than a turbo too, but thats just my driving style

Philush

sorry my apologies thats what i meant, the s type variants, not the sports packages which as you rightly say is trim level stuff, apologies

tossy

The audi A3 will suffer from all the problems your mates car does such as central locking etc,the S3 is a cracker of a car though,as is the cupra R and VRS.

I would also nominate my own car (v6 4mo bora or to a lesser extent golf as the are more common) but i feel the engine size would rule it out,defo a good sleeper though.

-Chris-

Find yourself a Xedos 9, Alfa 156 V6, Fiat Coupe, Opel Omega or something similar - they're quick-ish, comfortable, inconspicuous to the untrained eye and good bang-for-your-buck.

What's your budget (max)? Are you buying for driving in UK or Ireland?

Kurva

Anan1 wrote: »

Subaru Forester 2.5XT. In the words of my Spanish sister-in-law, it 'blends in with the ground', and it's easily faster than any of the cars on your list.

and knowing my right foot it'll blend with the trees and the ditches too:D

I looked at the stats 5.8 secs - group 17 - but i doubt id pick one up for under 10k

But those 2nd gen Foresters are exactly what id be after


budget wise : €5 to €7k - so pre 03 and used

See Ill more then likely be moving to the uk for around 18 months where the likes of what im after will be a lot cheaper - and I wouldn't mind taking advantage of the vrt rules once i get home

I know I have the Mondeo ST on the list but I reckon in around 3 years they'll be selling for around the 7k mark

Also - the 3 cars on the list are all said to be under 8.5 secs 0-60 ( according to Parkers anyway ) which is faster then most things on the road

gofaster_s13

BMW e46 330d fantastic handling and shockingly fast !!

gofaster_s13

Kurva wrote: »

besides i know 3 people with a VW that have serious problems with the central locking (98 to 03)

Central locking would be the least of your worries if you fell for the VW=reliability lie!!

Kurva

AudiChris wrote: »

Find yourself a Xedos 9, Alfa 156 V6, Fiat Coupe, Opel Omega or something similar -

Are you buying for driving in UK or Ireland?

Studies and Training will be bringing me to the uk - so back and forth every month or so for the odd long weekend


those 156's are pretty classy alright - especially in the light blues and dark reds - must do more investigating

Always liked Mazdas too

-Chris-

You'll have to check it out, but I'd be nearly certain you'll find a better selection of cars in the UK for your budget. Certainly, don't buy here and bring it over there if you have the choice.

Kurva

Re: Mondeo ST maybe 3 years time was being optimistic

http://www.pistonheads.com/SALES/811039.htm

i love the white dials - reminds me of my Escort they glow green in at night with the lights on


http://www.pistonheads.com/SALES/784656.htm

id prefer cream seats - but those ST220's are perfect


it reminds you why James Bond wears a suit instead of dressing like Rambo

unkel

Folks, when making suggestions can you check here first please?

It is a database with UK insurance group details. Iirc when Irish insurance companies use groups, they use the same classification

Several of the suggestions I made are group 16 and higher unfortunately

@Kurva - why the restriction to group 15 and lower? Can you not get a quote at all for group 16? If you can, how much is the insurer asking you extra for group 16 over group 15?

unkel

The fastest by far I've come across is the Mazda RX-8 (190BHP). 0-100km/h in 7.2s. I'm amazed it is only group 15 tbh

Not very inconspicuous though, I'll admit

Edit: Mini Cooper S (7.1s) - not very inconspicuous either

I'd pick a Subaru Legacy 3.0 245bhp. Biggest engine, biggest power of the lot. 4WD and 0-100 in 8.2s.

Kurva

unkel wrote: »

@Kurva - why the restriction to group 15 and lower? Can you not get a quote at all for group 16? If you can, how much is the insurer asking you extra for group 16 over group 15?

I could but Im cheap

besides if the worse did happen I don't want to attract the wrath of the insurance investigators

my ex-girlfriend works for one of the big 3 insurers (starts with Hi) she always told me they'll try their hardest to avoid payouts on cars group 15 and above

Sqaull20

Cheap 2.5 diesel and remap it?

BMW 525?

tossy

I really don't think that by todays standards that 8.5 secs to 100kmph is that fast either,also the budget of the OP is the main thing to look at most of the cars suggested are out of his budget unfortunately.

Cyrus

Kurva wrote: »

I could but Im cheap

besides if the worse did happen I don't want to attract the wrath of the insurance investigators

my ex-girlfriend works for one of the big 3 insurers (starts with Hi) she always told me they'll try their hardest to avoid payouts on cars group 15 and above

sounds like nonsense, and none of the cars on your list are that fast

something like an old shape audi s3 or mkiv golf 32 would be nice, dunno if they fit in the criteria, also seat leon cupra

all relatively quick and understated enough

Kurva

Cyrus wrote: »

sounds like nonsense, and none of the cars on your list are that fast

Someone from Blackrock acting like a snob :eek: - never would have expected it

Be careful or you'll end up giving those fine people a sterotype

Besides i've the stories of someone I lived with for 3 years to go by

Anan1

Kurva wrote: »

Someone from Blackrock acting like a snob :eek: - never would have expected it

Be careful or you'll end up giving those fine people a sterotype

Besides i've the stories of someone I lived with for 3 years to go by

Your insurance story does sound like nonsense, and none of the cars on your list are that fast. Am I a snob too?

Holsten

That ST is yummy!

HJL

An older Saab is your best bet for something fast that isnt all spoilers and stuff.

pipsqueak

Something fast? sporty, luxurious? try mine!!
let us know.....http://www.carlist.ie/114795

Flesh Gorden

Hahaha, He has a point, not just about the blackrock thing

my last boss had a 95 RS2000 Escort that was broken into, someone tried to forced the door open with a crowbar and ended up doing serious damage to the frame work

insurance company refused to pay out, disputing the selling value the insured value and the cost of repairs needed