I CAN HAZ WANKER

[Pillock]

These all seem to have been leased by quirky business types when new which means they were thrashed to death until they were three years old, then were sold to anyone desperate for a sports car but too cheap to service it.

 

That's why they're all fucked or almost fucked.

 

Pure platinum autoshite. Looks nice, designed-in failure. It could almost wear a Renault badge with pride.

[cort16]

An 06 350z, which was its direct competition would probably still be about 6 grand.

[Lacquer Peel]

Deffo popcorn thread! Always loved the way these looked, but always been put off by the obvious!

 

Top buy, these are probably in their beginnings as shite, let alone future shite when the only ones left running have random engines in.

 

Would some sort of horribly reliable N/A derv fit? Bonus shite points if it has to come froma KAor similar

 

Supercharged diesel out of the super obscure early 90s 626 would be best. I'm sure wuvvum owned one of those too!

 

I think RX-8s were criticised for being twitchy but a good steer when new. I've been watching the very cheap ones too. Could be LIVING THE DREAM like my dad with his RX-4 in the early 80s.

[dugong]

Can you run a Vauxhall V6 on chip fat? This is all coming together.

[cort16]

I've seen a few if them with that sr20det motor out of the 200sx in them. It's quite compact in size and makes similar power.

[Albert Ross]

Isuzu sourced 3.0 V6 Diesel., as used by Renault.... sounds like a winning formula to me.

[beko1987]

Any update on this? A girl in our office has expressen an interest in one... I've already made teeth sucking noises, and walk around her going tick, tick, tick...

[cort16]

I think they're great as long as you understand you don't want to pay more than 1000 quid for it, you know it'll be terrible on fuel and understand at some point it'll explode and you'll need to push it into a scrappies.

[Station]

I might actually buy one of these in a couple of months and do what everyone says to avoid the rotors carbon'ing up and thrash the absolute JEEZUS out of it. Have you seen how simple these engines look? It's like being able to take a head out and take it apart in sections, and no heavy block to contend with (I've only saw one in bits briefly so I'm more than likely incorrect).

Then sell it with 'was toled the engine had bin rebillt but have lost orijinil respecit'.

[beko1987]

That's my reasoning too, however she sees this as a step up from her 06 Clio 1.4, and showed me a £6 fugging grand one from auto trader.

 

Basically don't want her regretting her choice, as we will all hear about it in the office and it will never end.

 

Just about persuaded her to get a pretty 2006 example due to cheaper tax, and pointed her at one for 3k but with a new engine (and 1 year warranty on that)

 

Plus she only drives 7 miles each way to the office, don't these have massive issues if run cold for long?

[cort16]

It's warm starting they suffer from. When the rotors wear out it starts to lose compression so it becomes a bitch to start. The later cars have a more powerful starter that cranks at some crazy speed to get componsate for the problem so they don't suffer as badly from it.

There's no way I'd spluff 3 grand on one as when you get fed up of the oil and fuel consumption and lack of torque you'll never be able to sell it.

The place for these is in sub 1000 quid fuck it territory so you can smoke about in it safe in the knowledge you're driving a mega car for the money and okay with the fact it may shit itself at any moment.

[beko1987]

Pointed her at this thread, seems a good real-world review of them.

 

Told her if she does buy one she can take me out for a drive in it as I've always wanted a go in one!

[Station]

Best thing (as mentioned) is buy one with a knackered engine, and swap for an Isuzu 1.7 diesel non turbo (or something).

[wuvvum]

Mine is still running as well as when I bought it (touch wood).  It'll be getting a set of plugs in the relatively near future to try and clear up an intermittent slight missfire, but I'd still jump into it and drive it anywhere (except I wouldn't, because the Carina uses half the fuel and I'm tight).

 

These don't like very short journeys from cold as it can make them flood up, but 7 miles would be fine.  As others have said though, certainly wouldn't want to spunk 3 bags on one, let alone 6.

[cort16]

You can't beat a car that has both hot and cold start issues. I think you got a right barg' there I think.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

A mate had an 08 one from 6 months old until last November, he didn't have any problems,but he only used it at weekends and thrashed the shite out of it. It was horrendously thirsty though,he's got a V8 M3 now and reckons the fuel savings almost cover the bank loan!

[dugong]

I'd roll a cheap one. 

ATCNBE.