Best Bang for your Buck Production car

[garcon]

The latest Scooby STI (sadly no longer sold in the UK) is the quickest ever, with stock 300 to 340 bhp. The trouble is there are now several more refined, rounded and cheaper to run alternatives for similar money that are just as quick, such as the BMW M135i, hence there's just no longer a market for it here.

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by garcon

Not looked at a C7 yet - our local US importer will hopefully have one soon. It'd still need to be a big improvement over the C6 to compete with a 911 on refinement and quality of cabin materials. I am a bit of a Corvette fan though ... just a shame that the few available over here are so expensive and left hand drive.

Thanks for reading what I was trying to say. I was very tired when I posted that. It is a giant leap forward and what I really meant was that I believe it would be worth the substantial cost increase there. I am truly amazed by it.

Originally Posted by rwintle

Er... yes, I think so (is the current one a bit neutered by comparison)? I remember these as being stupidly quick for not a lot of money.

The Lancer Evo might be another option although I believe a tad pricier than the Scooby.

Yes, the second gen. Rough around the edges but great cars.

Originally Posted by garcon

The latest Scooby STI (sadly no longer sold in the UK) is the quickest ever, with stock 300 to 340 bhp. The trouble is there are now several more refined, rounded and cheaper to run alternatives for similar money that are just as quick, such as the BMW M135i, hence there's just no longer a market for it here.

What is up with yalls pricing? A similarly equipped 135i and STi are $10k apart here! We don't get the M135i yet... actually we will only get the M235i.

[garcon]

Final UK list price of the STi (before they discounted it by six grand to get rid of stock) was actually a couple of thousand MORE than the M135i.

Yen vs GBP exchange rates were mostly to blame (according to the importer at least...).

[Zico]

I guess it depends on what you regard 'bang' as.. power or handling? The Toyota GT86 is not quick by any means but is relatively cheap, driven from the correct end and has a very nicely balanced chassis... great fun and won't break the bank.

[Dragger]

Originally Posted by Zico

I guess it depends on what you regard 'bang' as.. power or handling? The Toyota GT86 is not quick by any means but is relatively cheap, driven from the correct end and has a very nicely balanced chassis... great fun and won't break the bank.

I love this car. Affordable, good gas mileage, lightweight, awesome handling, it's a great car. I was shocked when I 1st found out it was going into production. Sometimes It's criticized for being "under powered" but I think it's a great all around car. I considered it before getting my current car, but it had just been released and the dealers were marking them up.

[garcon]

It is under powered. It pains me to say that, when so many other manufacturers are pursuing a ridiculous power war, but it's true.

UK reports suggest the TRD version of the Toyota is better, using a revised suspension set up and performance tyres. The UK Litchfield Imports version of the Subaru BRZ is better still - with a supercharger taking it to 280bhp.

[Dragger]

Originally Posted by garcon

It is under powered. It pains me to say that, when so many other manufacturers are pursuing a ridiculous power war, but it's true.

UK reports suggest the TRD version of the Toyota is better, using a revised suspension set up and performance tyres. The UK Litchfield Imports version of the Subaru BRZ is better still - with a supercharger taking it to 280bhp.

Well, power is a relative term.

It's a cheap car with good gas mileage, kind of like a RWD Civic Si, but a bit quicker and better handling.

[garcon]

How much is it in the US?

It isn't all that cheap here. Better and quicker options (including other rwd cars) are available for only a few thousand GBP more.


Edit: I should add, I applaud Toyota and Subaru's intent with the GT86/BRZ, I'm just not really convinced by the product.

[Dragger]

Originally Posted by garcon

How much is it in the US?

It isn't all that cheap here. Better and quicker options (including other rwd cars) are available for only a few thousand GBP more.


Edit: I should add, I applaud Toyota and Subaru's intent with the GT86/BRZ, I'm just not really convinced by the product.

Low to mid $20k. About the same as a base V6 Mustang or Civic Si. It's sold under Scion as the FR-S rather than Toyota to keep price and expectations down. Selling real well so far.

[garcon]

That seems to fit well for the US market. It's around 25k GBP here for the base model...

[wnut]

Originally Posted by garcon

How much is it in the US?

It isn't all that cheap here. Better and quicker options (including other rwd cars) are available for only a few thousand GBP more.


Edit: I should add, I applaud Toyota and Subaru's intent with the GT86/BRZ, I'm just not really convinced by the product.

Why not Garcon?

Looked to be really good to me, have not driven one though!

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by garcon

It is under powered. It pains me to say that, when so many other manufacturers are pursuing a ridiculous power war, but it's true.

UK reports suggest the TRD version of the Toyota is better, using a revised suspension set up and performance tyres. The UK Litchfield Imports version of the Subaru BRZ is better still - with a supercharger taking it to 280bhp.

Turbo kits are pretty cheap here... but that goes back to your other point and the difference in our two markets.

[garcon]

Originally Posted by wnut

Why not Garcon?

Looked to be really good to me, have not driven one though!

Have to admit I've not driven one yet, but a few people I know have, and I tend to trust what Evo magazine say (they're the only magazine I do trust, mind you, and I don't always blindly agree with them...).

The package sounds ideal. Lightweight, rear drive, a chassis designed for great handling, a ridiculously low centre of gravity. It's all there in theory.

But then you find out they put the standard car on Toyota Prius tyres to try and force the power over grip equation. And you look at the performance and realise that most 2 litre diesel rep mobiles are actually quicker.

Also, maybe I'm getting old but the interior seems a bit tacky and not terribly well put together ... but at the same time woefully old fashioned!

But the biggest problem is, if you start spending money on one to correct its woes and turn it into the car it should have been you very quickly head north of thirty grand (UK) - and that is BMW M135i territory, a car that destroys the Toybaru in every department.

[Zico]

Originally Posted by garcon

But then you find out they put the standard car on Toyota Prius tyres to try and force the power over grip equation. And you look at the performance and realise that most 2 litre diesel rep mobiles are actually quicker.

I'll take your word for it that some diesel rep mobiles are quicker but I actually applaud Toyota for this refreshing handling over grip approach... especially in this day and age with so, so many over tyred sports cars on the market.

Edit- Oh, and EVO's Henry Catchpole actually quite likes it . See- http://www.evo.co.uk/videos/planetev...uick_test.html

Originally Posted by garcon

Also, maybe I'm getting old but the interior seems a bit tacky and not terribly well put together ... but at the same time woefully old fashioned!

I sat in one a couple of months back and quite liked the relatively old fashioned simplicity of the interior.. and it felt solid enough to me.

Originally Posted by garcon

But the biggest problem is, if you start spending money on one to correct its woes and turn it into the car it should have been you very quickly head north of thirty grand (UK) - and that is BMW M135i territory, a car that destroys the Toybaru in every department.

Yes, the recent M1 would be high on my list but I'd definately also be having a look at the M135i if looking at cars around the £30k mark.

[Barry Pomfret]

Interesting thread this but the GT-R can be easily improved. The GT-R is an amazing machine but it can be made better for a very small amount of money, the sweet spot for the GT-R is what the tuners call stage 4. You can buy a 2009 reasonably low mileage GT-R with this conversion on for about £38K, it will then have 630bhp and 630 ftlb of torque. The car exits corners like a rocket, I checked my dyno graph from Surrey Rolling Road and with the stage 4 conversion the engine produces 600ftlb at only 2750 revs!