The Pantheon of Affordable Performance Cars

[artdealer]

There's quite often threads along these lines, but Karlos's thread about the pre-eminence of the Trophy got me thinking of where it sits in the pantheon of ordinary to become performance cars.

Integras do not count because (I don't think!) you could get say a 1.1 60bhp version like you could a Clio Campus or something. Or in the past a Mk1 Cortina 1100L 2 door.

So, we need to end up with ten cars in about the right order. So, in no particular order

Mini Cooper S (Obvious)
Escort Twin Cam (Cosworth BDA)
Lotus Cortina (Mk1 & 2) Obvious enhancement
Clio Trophy (Sachs Dampers - virtually as simple as that!!)

[Your Vote] [enhancement that made them great]

Other cars that have come up recently Fiat 500 Abarth, but not always that good such as an Avenger Tiger! or flawed like a Dolomite Sprint

They must be ordinary cars that ended up iconic. I'm sure we can create the definitive list in the right order.

 

[DaveTrophy]

Lotus Carlton? :twisted:

 

[artdealer]

Good call. There were a few dodgy Carlton base models kicking around. A bigger car than first imagined, but that's the perfect fodder.

 

[Karlos]

Lancia Delta Integrale (Last of the line Evolution version)?

 

[oliie]

Mitsubishi Lancer [do you need to ask?]
Subaru Impreza [as above...]

...hopefully I go the idea right!

O.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

They do a lesser models of the DC5 availible in other countries Steve :?

I'd say MCS (Supercharged 1.6 4 pot & pretty good handling)

Focus RS (Turbo'd 2 litre lump, decent seats, good brakes & LSD)

 

[artdealer]

They do a lesser models of the DC5 availible in other countries Steve :?

I'd say MCS (Supercharged 1.6 4 pot & pretty good handling)

Focus RS (Turbo'd 2 litre lump, decent seats, good brakes & LSD)

Let's assume not a billy basic minimum cc model

I suppose where do we stop with fast Fords! Escort RS Turbo Mk 1 - I used to love those. But I fleetingly owned a new Mk2.

Golf GTi

205 GTi

We must be getting close to the ten.

Maybe I should have put a cap on the original retail price, the Lotus Carlton was a bit pricey new I'd imagine. As would be say a BMW 2002 Turbo.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Fair enough mate :wink:

Can you count Caterhams???
I know they do entry level cars & go way up to Supercar slaying beasties....but are they accessible to enough people even @ entry level?

 

[trophy176]

Escort Cosworth wanted one the first time I ever saw one in white big spoiler!!

MK 1 golf GTi Campaign model - started it all off!

Peugeot 205 GTi Miami version - my aunty had one and I loved it.

Peugeot 405 MI16 - took on the cavalier and won apart from 4x4 Cavalier.

Ford Escort mark 2 Mexico! Rear wheel drive fun for the masses!

 

[Cue]

Skyline GTR has to be the best shout, have you driven the bog standard one and compared it to the gtr? the difference is chalk and cheese.

Pug 205, Golf GTI MK1 & 2 also.

 

[Guest]

Ford Racing Puma - was once a mk4 Fiesta, but lots of changes turned it into something pretty good!

BMW M3 - quite different to a 318i.

 

[al]

Gotta say... Saxo VTS.

 

[H2XBY-397]

clio v6?

106 rallye?