Rob4001 Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 I was thinking of buying one of these cars unless some has good alternative. I live in Aberystwyth in wales so plenty of winding narrow A & B roads. Anything will be a step up from S reg 1.4 honda civic. Budget 7k. Open to other suggestions of course. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teacake Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 I'd recommend the Spec B from that list. More compliant ride on bumpy roads than the Type R, more enjoyable drive than the IS300. Sharp handling, good performance, less wearing than the Type R when you're not in the mood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullett Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 MINI Cooper S? I had one, loved it very chuckable. Down sides, no space in the back but if it's mostly just you so what. Ride can be harsh although I never found this an issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 I was thinking of buying one of these cars unless some has good alternative. I live in Aberystwyth in wales so plenty of winding narrow A & B roads. Anything will be a step up from S reg 1.4 honda civic. Budget 7k. Open to other suggestions of course.Thanks Know it well. The road between Aber & Devils bridge (Not the main one - the 'back' one) is a cracker Fantastic area for mountain biking too up around the Hafod(sp?) trails etc. Spent many a happy night staying at the Duffryn Castell and then trying to convince myself to get back on my bike in the morning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mort Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 I have a legacy Spec B (2007) - Brilliant handling car and fast too. Proper car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 MINI Cooper S?I had one, loved it very chuckable. Down sides, no space in the back but if it's mostly just you so what. Ride can be harsh although I never found this an issue. Rob4001 and bullett go to a restaurant (stick with me on this!): Rob4001: "I need to choose one of the following main courses on the menu - beef, lamb or tuna steak. What do you reckon?" bullett: "I'd have the linguini..." Rob, of all three, I'd choose the Scooby. The Lexus is capable, but a bit bland and you've got to drive the nuts off the Type R to get the best from it. The Scooby has got torque everywhere and more room than the others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 For cruising, I'd get the Lexus IS300 - lovely sounding engine. For twisties - Scooby (eats up snow and wet roads) and then the Lexus (crap in the wet and snow) Type R - hard work to get it going properly, AND the engine note is not a patch on the other 2. Other suggestions - with £7K, you can get basically any marque! Audi quattros of sorts, BMWs, Alfa Coupes..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billy2shots Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 Mazda 6 MPS. Have a good look at them. 260bhp, 4 wheel drive, leather, bose and xenons as standard. Be interested to see what you think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullett Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 Open to other suggestions of course. Thanks Bullett points at this bit in OP... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 If you're quick, I have a Spec B for sale - a grand over your budget though. 06 plate, black saloon, manual, just under 35k miles. Eight grand, any less and it may as well go back to the dealer. If you do buy a Spec B, for God's sake get a manual - the auto box just isn't up to it. Now is a very good time to buy one - the market has killed them but seems to have levelled out. The IS300 is only available as an auto, and if anything is even rarer in the UK than a Spec B saloon. It's no back road charger though. If you're considering a Type R, forget the UK model. Go to somewhere like Litchfield Imports | New & Used Cars from Europe and Japan and get the much MUCH better Jap import. Finally, another word for the Mazda6 MPS - I actually considered one when I bought the Legacy. Very good car, and probably a tad quicker point to point than the Legacy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanterrier Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 Subaru is really tough to beat - I have variously owned an Impreza and Legacies (my wife had a Forester S Turbo), the last being the 3.0 Spec B and they were always a pleasure. I bought an Audi A4 3.0 soft top latterly , but that was only because Subau don't have a cabrio in the range! It's not a patch on the Legacy for performance. No contest I'm afraid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSkoO1 Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 Devils bridge is awesome road, scooby on that one for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 Welcome to TSN urbanterrier. Have you still got the Audi or have you gone for something more sporty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
330dcoupe Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 Why not got for a WRX STI for that price? you may have to settle for the one that looks like a dogs arse, whilst sh*tting - but hey, just buy yourself an elephant and get it to sit on it and make it look like something else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 Why not got for a WRX STI for that price? you may have to settle for the one that looks like a dogs arse, whilst sh*tting - but hey, just buy yourself an elephant and get it to sit on it and make it look like something else. You p*ssed already..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
330dcoupe Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 You p*ssed already..? Believe it or not, I don't drink. LOL That elephant comment is making me chuckle now - remembering that genius Pug add a few years back. :rotflmao: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D1MAC Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 Just to be different, I'd recommend the Civic out of those three. The Scooby is an alternative (depending on likes/dislikes & circumstances) but I suspect that unless you want to slope down those A & B roads @ 45mph everywhere then the Lexus isn't what you're after. A long daily motorway commute maybe but not one on back roads. The sound is fine (if you tweak a bit without going over the top, sounds good IMO, especially at the more interesting end, but some people have a negative thing about fours), reliable (if you can get one that hasn't had front suspension issues), a seriously great gearbox for the money (which if you're on the twisties you will be using) and practical. Handling - Yes it is firm (it was set up with more of a track bias after all) but it isn't the end of the world and is fairly predictable as long as things don't get seriously bumpy. Steering works okay but isn't the most feelsome - understatement. Again though, it's a personal preference - I used to have a Civic and now have something somewhat softer and personally I miss the Honda in quite a few respects (inc firm suspension actually). Performance - There's often a lot of crap talked about how difficult it is supposed to be to extract performance out of a Honda VTEC and thus how horrid they are compared to torquier cars. In reality, it comes down to 2 or 3 things - a change in attitude (changing down where you might expect to change up), do you want silence or a bit of engine noise (and can/do you want to use the volume button on the stereo) and finally, are you prepared to learn the idiosyncrasies of the car (and they all have them, it's just that the Honda's are very focussed). It isn't really all that tuneable (if that's your thing, if it is, go for the Subaru) and at your price point I would suspect that the JDM model might not be the best idea. Better, yes, but at £7k ish it's going to have had a hard life given that they were around £3-4k more to start off with. Alternatives -- As people have said, many alternatives at that price point, depending on what you want. On the Honda theme, how about an Integra Type R? It is for the fairly committed though (but look at what Evo think of them, plus they are a potenital classic). Another alternative, if you are prepared to wait a few months, can stick the fuel costs and are prepared to buy at auction/private, might be the Focus ST. Residual values are on the slide at the moment thanks to stupid hysteria but you might pick one up next year for £7 - 8k and despite what some on here will try and tell you, it's a good, reliable and fun thing and well designed for A/B roads for most people. It isn't the hottest of hot hatches in the extreme sense but it makes a decent fist of just about all conditions. Can be wound up to anywhere between 260bhp and 300 bhp without fear as well, if you want. Others might be the Impreza (which is suffering from the same issues as the ST) and the Mazda 6 is a good shout for an underrated sleeper If you're prepared to go older and want the German thing then it looks like an E46 328i or even £6 - £7k of real fun and a £500 - £1000 shed :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelwind101 Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 D1MAC, i thought that was really well said, esp with regard performance. I have had plenty of Vtec's though not a CTR and its just a case of readjusting your mind that when your heading towards 5000RPM you just stick with it. As you keep you keep your foot there you just get this massive build up of power like your plane on the runway at take off and and shoot ahead of other cars! Plenty of fun and a system that works and in all the Hondas i have had never had a problem. I think if your budget is set then and you dont want to be dipping in to your pockets anytime soon to get repairs you *should* be better off choosing one from your selection. One thing i thought of, Lexus servicing isnt cheap, though its often very good and normally they collect your car if your in 25mi and get back to you in 3hrs if its just an MOT or service. Honda are not cheap either and i highly suspect that Subaru are not either! Geoff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 Spec B servicing isn't too bad. If you plan for £300 each 10k service you won't be far out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D1MAC Posted October 26, 2008 Report Share Posted October 26, 2008 D1MAC, i thought that was really well said, esp with regard performance. I have had plenty of Vtec's though not a CTR and its just a case of readjusting your mind that when your heading towards 5000RPM you just stick with it. As you keep you keep your foot there you just get this massive build up of power like your plane on the runway at take off and and shoot ahead of other cars! Plenty of fun and a system that works and in all the Hondas i have had never had a problem. I think if your budget is set then and you dont want to be dipping in to your pockets anytime soon to get repairs you *should* be better off choosing one from your selection. Geoff Just a little 'thing' of mine as many of the people who would have an opposing viewpoint have not spent much time behind the wheel of a fullish/full fat VTEC or have only been a passenger in one that probably isn't being driven properly. The thing about the revs and using them properly seems to be something that most people just can't get their heads around, even though in some respects it is a bit of a misnomer. If you actually look at things as a proportion of total power & rev range available, there isn't really that much difference between a VTEC and other engines in similar cars, it's just that the numbers on a dial are a bit bigger and there's a bit more (not entirely unpleasant IMO) noise. Fair enough, it isn't for everyone, but the principle is sound and more importantly, to have a car that races to it's redline with increasing zest as opposed to starting to feel a bit strained ought to be fun for any petrolhead. IMO, of course. Of course it always helps to know exactly what the lowest realistically available gear is at any given road speed - something that was imprinted on my mind with the Civic . Also helps to have a 'box that's an absolute joy to use. Having had a Civic and now having the total opposite in the diesel with a top end that is the Focus ST, I'd take a VTEC out of the two for equivalent power outputs. The five pot is easy to drive acceptably quickly and makes some nice noises but noise aside I find it just a bit dull by comparison, hence why I'm looking to get out of the ST and back into a N/A engine (probably a BM 6 actually as Honda seems to have changed it's approach to the world and I'm just not prepared to accept what an S2000 would cost me to run), even though as an overall package the ST is a good un. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted October 26, 2008 Report Share Posted October 26, 2008 I have to agree with the comments on VTEC, having had an import Prelude Type-s (220bhp) I love the VTEC engine. The way I describe them to most people, is that they drive like you would expect an N/A engine with 200 odd BHP to, they dont lack torque low down, they have the same as any 4 cylinder of similar size, but with the added bonus of then screaming round to silly RPM with no tail off in high rpm power. My Prelude had an induction kit fitted to it, and if I was driving in a 'spirited' maner, most people thought there was a motorbike coming down the road! I think every petrol head should experience a VTEC at some point, so they can make their own minds up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSkoO1 Posted October 26, 2008 Report Share Posted October 26, 2008 the v-tec engines are a lot of fun and are enjoyable to drive. I have 2 of the toyota variety. One was supercharged so you get plenty of movage low down and then the power cams screeming and surging higher up. The whine was nice too. You could have a lot of fun in a type-r too but i got fed up with it after a while. Its all to samey, hard ride, too loud at m-way speeds and you have to change gear a lot to stur up the power. Personally i prefer lazy power of turbo's or superchargers but a supercharged car was thirsty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D1MAC Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 I have to agree with the comments on VTEC, having had an import Prelude Type-s (220bhp) I love the VTEC engine.The way I describe them to most people, is that they drive like you would expect an N/A engine with 200 odd BHP to, they dont lack torque low down, they have the same as any 4 cylinder of similar size, but with the added bonus of then screaming round to silly RPM with no tail off in high rpm power. Exactly . Plus, if you actually look at the power delivery, it isn't that far away from most other engines, just done in a different way. The additional speed with which they pick up revs post the changeover point is fun, plus they then get to peak power at least as quickly as other engines as well. My Prelude had an induction kit fitted to it, and if I was driving in a 'spirited' maner, most people thought there was a motorbike coming down the road! My own favourite wasn't actually while I was driving but while I was on a night out in Manchester. An Accord Type R giving it the full works with the sound bouncing off the walls of the buildings. In one sense it was naughty but it did sound damn good - mini 355/360/430 - which effectively is what they are, engine wise. I think every petrol head should experience a VTEC at some point, so they can make their own minds up. Yep and I'm sure not all will like but they can be fun as combined with what are usually top noth gearboxes, which makes the more frequent changes less of a chore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanterrier Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 Welcome to TSN urbanterrier. Have you still got the Audi or have you gone for something more sporty. LOL Thanks for the warm welcome. With hindsight I really should have stuck with the Legacy...but my kids think the Audi is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.