Steve Interesting Davis cars?

[garethj]

The font of all automotive knowledge is here, admittedly the bias is towards the Talbot Tagora but it's still impressive.

 

I'm wondering about cars like the Ginger Magician in the title, mostly boring but with just a tiny hint of something special.  If it's mostly boring there's a chance it'll be reliable and cheap, if there's a little spark of interest it might stop the driver from nodding off on the commute.

 

I'll start us off, the Suzuki Baleno GSR.

 

The Suzuki Baleno GSR was introduced in 2000 to compete in the sporting hatchback market. Suzuki fitted a Mazda-supplied 1.8 Twin Cam 16-Valve engine with 120hp and 112lb-ft of torque as also used in the Mazda 323 GT.

 

Anyone know anything else about them?  The one above looks quite good on chavvy wheels I think.

 

Next we have the Proton Satria GTi

 

Looks like a boy-racer's wet dream, I read that Lotus did some good things for the handling (HBL badge stands for Handling By Lotus) but otherwise it's the Mitsubishi 1.8 engine and of course the whole thing is the old Mitsubishi Colt anyway.

 

Suzuki Ignis Sport.  These are well over a grand so more than I'd want to throw at a car but it's also the car that looks most like a Honda Z PA1 (which I dream of)

I think they make about 110bhp which seems a lot in something so tiny.  It's also got Recaro seats with fishnet headrests like Capris used to have.

 

Toyota Starlet Glanza makes 130bhp which is lots and lots, but they're very expensive so probably beyond the scope of us here.

 

 

Any others?  I'm sure there was a warm Nissan Micra but I can't remember how it was badged.

[Faker]

Never even knew that the Suzuki gsr existed! Micra was a super s.

[tooSavvy]

Boring Alert.... Boring alert....

 

In their home market - Proton SAVVY [aka Mine..] are being force fed the guts of 'ChoppieShoppie' jockie >> Glanza T.

 

 

+

 

 

*other colours available....

 

 

Zero 2 Death [ wot brakes??] in less than a Singapore Sling downing....

 

I wantee

 

tooSavvy

[Jim Bergerac]

Daihatsu Sirion Rally would be my shout. 0-60 in 8 secs and wrapped in the attractive bodyshell of the Sirion:

 

 

Sticking with Daihatsu the YRV Turbo was quick but seems to be strong money and looks like it has been already boy-racered. I always liked those mid-nineties Charade GTis but can't recall if they were any good.

[warren t claim]

Steve Davis drove a Porsche 928 with the registration number SD147 although he did win a Lada in a competition for the highest break.

 

He must be watching the pennies cos SD147 is now on a 2008 VAUXHALL DIESEL 3 DOOR HATCHBACK (CORSA BREEZE CDTI).

[tooSavvy]

Daihatsu Sirion Rally would be my shout. 0-60 in 8 secs and wrapped in the attractive bodyshell of the Sirion:

 

 

Sticking with Daihatsu the YRV Turbo was quick but seems to be strong money and looks like it has been already boy-racered. I always liked those mid-nineties Charade GTis but can't recall if they were any good.

..... re-routing the turbo oil feed pipe [from factory route] helped the turbo see several Sundays.  Hard life, though, at "change around 8-1/2k M8"...

 

troostories

 

tooSavvy

[Cavcraft]

He's not watching his pennies, he's going up in the world.

 

 

+1 on the Satria, great fun them. I will just add Honda Ballade into the mix, anyone who's driven a 1.5 manual will I'm sure testify how quick those old mans cars are.

[skattrd]

As most are aware I'm a big fan of little Daihatsu's, they are gr9 at interesting little cars imo.

 

Daihatsu Sirion Rally2 and rally4. 2=2wd 4=4wd. These were UK only models.

Similar 1.3l engine to the Toyota Yaris, but tweaked a bit so it produces a touch over 100bhp, not bad in a car that weighs a bit over 800kg.

I've seen these sell from £600 for a scruffy 2wd to over £2k for a very tidy 4wd.

[Junkman]

[Junkman]

[skattrd]

Suzuki Swift Gti's are supposed to be gr9. Popular with the rally boys, so can command a premium.

Another Daihatsu if you're feeling brave is the YRV turbo, 130bhp from a 1.3, but only available with a temperamental semi-auto gearbox.

Theres always the Charade GTti, if you can find one that hasn't been thrashed. 3-pot 1.0 turbo that produces 100bhp at stock, but can easily be tweaked for 130+bhp

[tooSavvy]

Suzuki Swift Gti's are supposed to be gr9. Popular with the rally boys, so can command a premium.

Another Daihatsu if you're feeling brave is the YRV turbo, 130bhp from a 1.3, but only available with a temperamental semi-auto gearbox.

Theres always the Charade GTti, if you can find one that hasn't been thrashed. 3-pot 1.0 turbo that produces 100bhp at stock, but can easily be tweaked for 130+bhp

...err.... GTti....re: Oil feed pipe mod ;<)

 

tooSavvy

[dollywobbler]

 

I was amazed when I drove a Maxi 2 HLS. Actually a really decent motor, with a nice bit of oomph. Only 91bhp but brisk enough for sure.

[cort16]

Die Hat Sue YRV 130 Turbo.  A YRV with 130bhp and a turbo just like it says in the name. I'm sure they did a 4x4 one too.

Very subtle turbo decals.

 

 

[Junkman]

[Junkman]

[Junkman]

[Junkman]

[Junkman]

[Junkman]

 

Special* enough to make a young Jörg Haider get his Claudia pregnant in it.

[skattrd]

Seat Ibiza/Cordoba GTi.

These came with the 2.0 16v VW ABF engine, which makes about 150bhp stock in the mk3 goof gti or allegedly 160bhp if you remove the cat

[Ghosty]

Any late '90s Civic 3dr or Coupé with a VTEC, 1.5, 1.6VTi etc. My old man's after one, as an upgrade from his giffer-spec 1.4iSE.

[Junkman]

SEAT Ronda Crono 2.0 120ps. Would also be well at home in the 'extinct' thread.

 

[Junkman]

[barefoot]

 

I was amazed when I drove a Maxi 2 HLS. Actually a really decent motor, with a nice bit of oomph. Only 91bhp but brisk enough for sure.

 

 

 

I was amazed when I drove a Maxi 2 HLS. Actually a really decent motor, with a nice bit of oomph. Only 91bhp but brisk enough for sure.

 

Steve Davies also drove a Maxi - I know this for a fact because he writes a chapter in "WHY? - 25 years of the Austin Maxi"

 

And you are correct, a twin carb Maxi is a very nice place to be, apart from the 'wrestler' gearbox.

 

Probably not ideal to be taking your test in, but I did

& lived to tell the tale.

[overrun]

 

This the Micra you were referring to in your original post, mate?

[Faker]

This the Micra you were referring to in your original post, mate?

That's pretty cool, however it's a grey import Nissan March turbo.

[overrun]

Indeed it is, on both counts. Super Turbo to be exact.

Twin charged decades before VW attempted to claim this crown.

 

I was pretty tired when I posted that, so didn't read the stipulations I am afraid.

I should re-read it now that I can actually see.

[John F]

The Toyota Starlet Glanza Turbo is a pretty potent piece of kit.

 

 

I once 'drove alongside one up to a steady and law-abiding 70 mph' in my V6 Calibra on a long motorway incline and was only able to pull away above a speed of 69 mph*. The oik driving the Glanza was awarded a thumbs-up for his car's spirited performance.