Leeroy

i personally like the saabs over the volvos

There isn't much in it is there, although I prefer the Volvo styling and from what I've read the chassis is better. I ran a GM900 Turbo shed (HPT version) for awhile and it was a quick thing, but sadly the ditchfinders and crap suspension limited the experience somewhat

It's time to get a more practical second car and after weighing up the options the Volvo V50 T5 is topping the list, I like the semi Q-Car status.

The brief that I gave myself is to get as much new car as possible for £6K-ish, that is also a decent steer.

My preferred option would be an E91 BMW 335i or B7 Audi S4 but that'd mean selling the Zed, and despite it making sense to do that I'd like to keep it awhile. So, for me, it's boiled down to Vovo T5's, SAAB Aero's and Octavia VRS's.

I'm aware that the V50 T5 is a decent car, being based on the Focus chassis and all, but does anyone here have experience of them? Part of the attraction of the low cost is that I could make a few choice mods to the exhaust, suspension and engine....

The alignment and links should make a noticeable difference, it's quite possible that the bushes might need attention too. If you have the re040's then you need 050's at least, as ekona said there are other options but the RE050a's are a good tyre

Of course not but the number of people who have ever owned a 350z and ONLY put in super won't be anywhere near 99%. Therefore as a huge number of people will have used 95ron fuel

 

Hmmmm. I feel a poll coming on

I agree 1000000% that that the current hysteria over a car's fuel history is crazy. It seems to be getting worse too.

I'm not saying that engines haven't blown, or that the experts who have discovered that it may be related to low octane fuel are wrong, just that it's been 'blown' out of all proportion.

I mean how on earther can ANYONE know the fuel history of ANY car. It ridiculous, based on current scaremongering no one will ever want to buy a Zed. That'd be a shame for people who might miss out on a great car, and a shame for people who want to sell one.

The poll should be :

"Have you regularly run your car on sh*t fuel, and if so did it go pop?".

I think that might calm the situation down.

Midnight blue is a fine colour, I'd much prefer it to grey

Do you have any pictures of the 'whelks'?

Have you thought about the M6? More barge like than the lower M numbers but competent nonetheless. And that V10

It would be foolish to rule out cars that have done 40k plus, a good 70k miler will give you less trouble than a poorly maintained 35k'er

How about an Exige?

I'm not normally a fan of aftermarket rims but they look awesome

Guys been on there for ages trying for a zed... I say welcome hime along... Dont laugh dude lol he may be lurking.. Infact i think he is haha

It's YOU!

I would rather have a reliable datsun with no wood in sight

+1, badge snobbery is for losers

I used to hate Japanese cars, I always thought they were soul-less and cheap and nasty. I've seen the light though - now I know that one isn't true and one is only a bit true

Reg. VU61, looking nice

I like the Bilthamber stuff

G'day!

The oem exhaust is quiet anyway - I'd even say it's far too quiet and doesn't match the cars image at all. I also reckon that you'd be hard pushed to find a pattern exhaust quieter than the oem one.

The old welds might have been gradually failing hence you've had a more fruity exhaust note for awhile and thought that this was the norm?

If you want a bargain performance car I can't see a problem with the lower cost end of the price range, as other have said (and I'm sure you are aware) they will either be imports, high mile and /or low spec uk cars. The other option is cat D's which are a different story, some don't mind them.

At £5.5k I'd imagine the value won't go down by a massive amount over the next couple of years, maybe a grand or so?

There are members on here with high mile cars (some over 100K) which are going very strong and are in great condition.

Just be aware that older cars will need bits replacing soon, and 350Z's do between 20-30mpg dependent on how much lead is in your feet

What's your budget?

Here's a few ideas from a couple of thousand to 10K that you might be happy to drive too ;

MKV Golf GTi

Suzuki Swift Sport

Civic Type R

Fiat 500 Abarth (not sure of cost actually)

Fabia VRS

Seat Cupra

A BMW of some flavour.....

The Pug 205 has been mentioned but what about a Pug 306 GTi-6? This ones a bit overbudget at 900 notes but you should be able to get one that needs love for a lot less?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p

I looked at 106 / 306 Rallyes for you but they look out of budget....

Also, what about something like an Almera GTi? Shouldn't be hard to work on either?

You're a hard man to please docwra

Am I right in thinking that there are sub-options of each processor? Is it possible for a high spec i5 to be better than a crap i7?

Looking good Zugara, I think you missed your vocation in life

that wont handle very well. His tyres the wrong way round...

 

As for the picture. Just looks like a mini in front of a wall taken with a good camera. Can anyone explain exactly what editing has been done?

The only place to check the handling will be in Gran Turismo - the image is a 3D rendering of a car. And a wall. And some floor. Add in the sky and a whole lot of other environmental variables and you have a virtual mock-up of a Mini

I have the offset bushes and don't think there are special fitting instructions, someone more knowledgable should be able to confirm. It should just come down to the setup afterwards?

You no likey?

 

I think he is shrugging because there is no animation. Its photorealistic rendering. VERY time consuming to produce something with that amount of detail. Impressive though

Ah, my bad, I meant rendering.

Its a CGI visual Zugara....