Possible new car, which one?

[Dolly]

M52 with a M50 inlet manifold wont make 220. ( also thats a flywheel figure now wheels )

having said that i had a 1992/93 325 coupe with mtec kit, alpina reps. looked the nuts, sounded awesome and went well. not bad for £300...

[VW BUSH]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2771409.htm


fits your budget, ugly as sin but rapid in a straight line (not sure if this one is auto)

[AlanD]

Quite possibly the most hideous looking car EVER.

[gixer1400]

i think you meant to say this was the most hideous lookig car ever 



and people can see you driving it too   

[MrBounce]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2771409.htm

fits your budget, ugly as sin but rapid in a straight line (not sure if this one is auto)

My ex's Dad had one of these as a company car back in 1998. Fast as fook and very comfortable but 27mpg? Don't think so! He was getting 22 on a good day. Oh, and they weigh about the same as a small frigate. And rust like a gate hinge on a neglected house 

[The Doc]

BMW for me ;-)

[Cov golf]

to be fair, any of those for that budget will be a nail, and will need cash spending to make it half decent again

+1 your goner need more cash to get a descent one

[PenguinGTI]

Of those I'd go for the BMW too.

The Celica will have been hammered so you're likely buying problems.

As for the Volvo - yeah it's great that it maps to 280/300 hp but it's not a Focus RS. It's a barge. Power isn't the only way to get speed or fun.

The BMW has a nice balance of naturally aspirated power, RWD and a good chassis.

[DOA]

to be fair, any of those for that budget will be a nail, and will need cash spending to make it half decent again

Not really true, they are very cheap as you just cant shift them (same for 323's) due to their thirsty habits. As long as the rear arch rust isnt too bad, the wishbone bushes arent shot, the brake lines arent rusty as hell (the one over the fuel tank is a b!tch to replace!) and the Vanos system is working properly theres not much that goes wrong with them. Try and find one with an LSD if you go for it (and dont get put off if its been fitted with one from an M3, the final drive is a much better choice) and fit an X brace from a cabrio under the engine bay, makes the handling a LOT more positive.

[AlexMozza]

Has to be the celica, I used to have one, epic cars.
Old ones will have been ragged but you could still find a good one within budget