Fast, normally aspirated cars

Horizon81

I know these are a dying breed in today's culture of turbos and superchargers but I'm considering fast-ish (say, sub 8 seconds 0-60) cars that have a NA engine, from say year 2000 onwards.

So far I can think of Honda's Type R VTECs, Toyota's aging VVTL-i engine in the Celica and Corolla, and Renault's RS Clios, but I'm sure there are more out there. Oh, and I'm not looking at BMWs and Mercs and other prestige brands, just your 'average' manufacturers. Did any other manufacturers make jekyll and hyde style motors?

motorguy

Nissan 350z

Nissan 370z (we've one and it is EXCEPTIONAL)

Alfa 156 2.5 V6

Alfa 156 3.2 GTA

Alfa 147 3.2 GTA

Alfa Brera 3.2

Alfa GT 3.2

Alfa 166 3.0

Alfa 166 3.2

MG ZS 180

MG ZT 190

Jaguar X Type 2.5

Jaguar X Type 3.0

Jaguar S Type 2.5

Jaguar S Type 3.0

Jaguar S Type 4.2

motorguy

One that is exceptional is the 3.0 litre straight six in BMWs.

Found in

1 Series
3 Series
3 Series Coupe
5 Series
6 Series
7 Series
X3
X5
X6
Z4
Z4 Coupe
Z4 Roadster

dannyrst

The old FIesta ST, which can be picked up cheap. Yes...it's underpowered. But depending on your budget, supercharge it!

motorguy

The bulk of big NA cars arent "Jekyl and Hyde" though - you really need a turbo or supercharger otherwise you end up with a lot of weight relative to power.

motorguy

dannyrst wrote: »

The old FIesta ST, which can be picked up cheap. Yes...it's underpowered. But depending on your budget, supercharge it!

Was he not trying to avoid blown cars?

dannyrst

motorguy wrote: »

Was he not trying to avoid blown cars?

he was avoiding prestige brands, like BMW, Jags....

Horizon81

Good list although those cars are all a bit shouty which is where the draw of the Clios and Corollas come in for me. To the untrained eye, they're just normal looking cars, although I suppose the same could be said of the Jags.

dannyrst

dannyrst wrote: »

The old FIesta ST, which can be picked up cheap. Yes...it's underpowered. But depending on your budget, supercharge it!

By supercharge...what I meant was individual throttle bodies....

motorguy

Oh, forget these - Golf R32

Golf V5
Passat 3.2
Passat v5

Horizon81

The Fiesta ST isn't a bad shout, nor the mk1 Focus ST170 but a bit long in the tooth now for a Ford.