Fast, normally aspirated cars

jaydeeuk1

Mazda RX8, fiat coupe, toyota supra, really like all 3 of them although the turbo coupe and twin turbo supra's are the ones to have.

Why can't BMW or audi count? They're no longer prestige anymore, every council estate has an old m3 or s4 knocking about.

Tobster86

Volvo T5's (S60/V70), yes I realise they're turbo'd but deliver their power in a smooth and non-barryish fashion. Some very cheap but well serviced ex-bobby ones around, though those tend to have miserable cloth interiors.

E39 5-series, I know 'prestige' etc, but otherwise quite unassuming looking. 540i has the best part of 300bhp, does 0-60 in 6 seconds (sub for manual), very relaxed for normal driving with suprisingly ok fuel economy, but springs to life in shocking fashion when demanded and more nimble IMHO than the E36 3-series, probably thanks to more sophisticated suspension and finger-light recirculating ball steering (though 6-cyl ones use heavier rack & pinion).

As for parts costs, an alternator and (rather less straighforwardly) timing chain guides in 28 months / 30,000 miles; aside from usual servicing and MOT bits and pieces. Guess around £800-£1k/year maintenance if done yourself? (If not, buy some KY Jelly).

Horizon81

Turbo = more to go wrong, plus doesn't suit my extremely short daily commute, hence NA.

Mr_Mink

A Mazda RX8 or how about a Hyundai Coupe.

Ah, just seen you've said an extremely short commute, scratch the RX8.

Tobster86

Horizon81 wrote: »

doesn't suit my extremely short daily commute

A bicycle.

Horizon81

In an ideal world I'd have a car for the daily commute and one for the weekend but in reality I need a one size fits all. Spooling up a turbo for 10 mins twice a day is never going to be a good idea and as for the smart alec suggesting a bike, you don't know my circumstances.

I suppose it's the rule of forums, the OP requests help with one thing then without any shadow of a doubt, most people will make suggestions that are entirely out of scope.

Horizon81

Mr_Mink wrote: »

A Mazda RX8 or how about a Hyundai Coupe.

Ah, just seen you've said an extremely short commute, scratch the RX8.

There's no real fast Hyundai Coupes is there? I'm sure even the V6 one is pretty slow.

colino

"more nimble IMHO than the E36 3-series, probably thanks to more sophisticated suspension and finger-light recirculating ball steering (though 6-cyl ones use heavier rack & pinion)." Pretty much exactly opposite of the truth. If BMW could have got the lightweight, precise, "ordinary" rack and pinion steering shoe-horned into the bigger engined cars, instead of the vaguer, woollier steering boxes, they would. They are constantly trying to improve the problem, from Active Steer onwards.

Tobster86

Horizon81 wrote: »

for the smart alec suggesting a bike, you don't know my circumstances.

What's smart-aleccy about it? It's a really good means of short distance travel. Keeps you fit and avoids all the traffic. You say you'd ideally like a weekend car? For me, the bicycle facilitates a weekend car, and the weekend car becomes the commuting car if necessary when it rains.

If your circumstances genuinely prohibit cycling, I am sympathetic.

dannyrst

RX8...no no no no no. Please no.