The Car Shopping Round (Round 64): Tears in Heaven

Yes (tho it could be made to argue that a car engineered in 1990 wouldn’t really hit production until 1995 :wink: )

Yes? I mean, i don’t want something crappylooking for my son…

1 Like

1998 Walcroft&Riley Sabre 6S


Built from 1996 - 2004, the Sabre was W&R’s entry in the upmarket portion of the compact segment. A fairly small car sporting a clear front row first, second row second, boot space third design philosophy, the brand whipped up a first and foremost driver’s car that offered easily enough space to drop the kids at school, but not much more, as the Sabre, due to its market position, was most likely to be bought as a secondary car anyway.

Premium interior and technological bells and whistles like a 6-speed gearbox or adaptive dampers were things some of the competitors offered, too, but the Sabre was special in being the only FWD hatch that could be ordered with a V6 engine.

The Sabre was a pricey model for people who know what they want and can pay, but with 20 years having passed since its launch, decent, well looked after examples are now starting to become easily affordable.

This one comes in the midrange “S” trim with the 2.2L V6 in its tamest state of tune, offering a healthy 155hp to endow the car with brisk, but not intimidating performance (0-100: 7.6s; 210kph). The seats are fabric, not leather, but the well thought-out cockpit, climate control and premium stereo make the driver’s seat a very pleasant place to be, and the slick gearshift and connected yet docile handling make the Sabre a genuine joy to drive. Oh, and with 7.7L/100km it offers great fuel economy, too.

The odometer shows 131,000km, it comes with full service history and is in very good nick for its age, both mechanically and cosmetically. For $15,000 o.n.o. you get get yourself a covetable little car that just so happens to be a very reasonable buy.

5 Likes

I was replying to what LordLetto posted :smile:

1 Like

1995 Montes Urban MRP 2.0 Turbo (Urban MK3)

That car was special for Montes MRP, because that is the street legal (detuned) version from the WRC model, that won 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995 WRC titles.


And about the safety of your son, do not worry: equip the latest in AWD, active and passive safety (structure with programmed deformation zones, non-deformable cabin, 4 airbags, ABS, TCS …). And a predictable but fun drive.

And, you might be asking, why a hatchback instead of a coupe.

Well, the answer is in the practicality: it has more space in the rear seats, as well as a more usable trunk. Besides being easier to park. So, you can park in more small spaces, and reduce the wrecks during parking.

And, about the engine, is the well-known 4-cylinder turbo G20TVi Montes MRP engine. Equipped with a twinscroll turbo, VVT, VVL and MPFI injection, combines low turbo lag, great fuel milleage (7.14L/100km), and excellent performance (170hp). And is a pretty reliable engine, and offer a reasonable yearly running costs for that kind of car. $1300.

And about the comfort and handling: sportive, but comfortable and predictable. It comes with 4-ventilated disk brakes, that brakes the car quickly in case you come across an unforeseen event, without fadding. And is a quiet car.
And, it comes very well equipped.

All that only for $14.300!!!

And, as special offer, Montes offers a wonderful, lightweight Enkei RPF1 rims as gift.

8 Likes

My entry for CSR57 was inspired by this:

I saw CSR57 as an opportunity to finally use the car (not the tuned trim, but the base model) I would have entered in the Great Automation Run instead of the Guardsman 3.0R, which meant that my backup plan of creating a new trim of my CSR39 entry specifically for the purpose of this round went out the window…

1 Like

For Sale - '99 LLA Bandit S Premium - $14,900



I bought this car brand new in '99, it has done me well, but it is time for me to let it go. I have done well over 100K on the clock yet the engine is still ticking like brand new. The engine itself is rather perky with about 72 Hp. The 5 speed manual shifts rather smoothly but the clutch may need replacing (It still has the original installed). I did get the premium version when I bought it, this includes some chrome accents and an electric sunroof. The car itself is rather easy to drive and manages 8.4L/100Km in the city, but that is thanks to it’s 1.5 inline 4. The only thing I wish I had done is get the vision model with the larger engine and a turbo.

As I said though I am selling this car as I need to move on, mainly due to a larger family and the fact that my wife told me it was the miata or the LLA - you can see my choice.

5 Likes

Oh, thanks for let us know it. I was worried! :neutral_face:

10 Likes
(An original Shromet Interval advert from 1995)

Go on an Interval of your own.

Doink

Same Philosophy, Different Car.

Finding a smarter way, that’s Shromet. That’s what we’ve been doing for over 20 years, and the new Interval GTX represents the culmination of our engineering and research. With advanced Thermoset polymer construction to keep the Interval under 1200kg, and advanced Shromet Airflow Plus :tm: exhaust system for increased power and decreased fuel consumption. This is how we make a sports coupe. Smarter, faster, better.
Doink

Hold on tight.

With its advanced 250 horsepower, 5.4 Liter V8 Engine, the Shromet Interval GTX accelerates from 0-60 miles per hour in under 5 seconds, combined with a curb weight of under 1200KG, and the Shromet Interval will give you the confidence to tackle the leaders of the sports car world.

Uncompromising in all aspects.

Despite its sports car performance, the Shromet Interval GTX achieves an EPA estimated 27.4MPG combined. With 4 seats and optional anti-lock brakes, the Shromet Interval is just as practical as it is fast.

Shromet. Always Looking Forward.

Shromet


8 Likes

11 Likes

The winner of CSR29 is back with a vengeance. I love it! So is it really unchanged from the version submitted in that round?

It is the MY1998 instead of 1996. The engine is a bit tweaked and it has a different safety package (US spec)

Gamma Nara STX (Sport Light eXperiment)



Engine:

  • Build as a project for a light and cheap sports car, the Nara STX is powered by a happy-revving 1.6L I4 DOHC 16V with an aggressive VVL allowing it to rev up to 8300rpm making 160hp@7800rpm and 155Nm@6700rpm, yet it has a good torque curve even before the VVL enters (at 4500rpm), delivering 136Nm at only 2500rpm, which makes it a great daily car, with good low-end torque and without turbo-lag.
    image

Body:

  • The Nara STX was project to be light and nimble, yet durable and comfortable, so the chassis is a monocoque and both chassis and body are made of corrosion rest. steel. The body is a 2-door coupe with 4 seats, weighting 1190kg. The front suspension is MacPherson while the rear is semi trailing arm, allowing better cornering numbers and better comfort.

Tyres/Wheels:

  • It uses 205/40 sport tyres fitted with 16’’ alloy wheels for better grip and cornering.

It’s a great daily car and an even better weekend car!

$11,400.00

8 Likes

1992 Ardent Smoke GT

(Excerpt from automotive magazine follows…)

Over the decades, nameplates come and go. Some are recognized universally, some pass into obscurity, while others end their storied careers with a tarnished reputation. This third category is particularly saddening all around. When representatives from Ardent showed up last month with another Smoke, we were worried.

Though last year’s debut of the third-generation Ardent Smoke was met with great apathy and even vitriol from enthusiasts, Ardent appears to be at least attempting to make amends this year with the new GT trim. Don’t get us wrong, this still isn’t the luxurious touring coupe that your parents owned in the 70’s. But it’s a definite nod towards its heritage, if not a big step in regaining the lost performance. We spent a week with this new tester, a Smooth Cherry Metallic Smoke GT.

The new Smoke GT boasts a bigger 2.2 liter engine, with twin cams and new variable valve technology. With 125 horsepower, it nearly doubles the flat-out anemic output of the 1.9 liter in the base and LS trims. 5-speed manual is standard, with an optional 3-speed auto available.

Just about every aspect of the GT is improved over the lower trim levels, as well. The interior includes charcoal cloth high-back buckets with red sport stitching. Both side and thigh bolsters on the front seats provide and added measure of comfort and sporty feel. Power windows, locks, and mirrors are standard on the GT, as is a 100 watt 4-speaker AM/FM cassette with equalizers.

Visually, the GT differs from its junior cousins by way of its “power bulge” hood, 15" alloy wheels, and front fender detailing.

Driving the Smoke GT is also much more fulfilling than the base model. The 2.2 liter revs willingly, and powers the coupe to 60 in under 11 seconds, while still averaging 29 MPG. 4-wheel antilock brakes, with bigger front rotors, also help assure quicker, straighter stops.

Of course, these improvements don’t come cheap. The Smoke GT’s list price of $10110 more than $2000 over that of a base Smoke. But as far as we’re concerned, that is money very well spent.

6 Likes

99’ XV Turbo

3 Likes

The 1996 Centauri Mauaruder V6 CPV Pack aims to challenge Domestic American pony cars as well as sport imports, with 214hp coming from it’s 3 liter 24valve SOHC V6, 6 speed manual transmission,and a thoroughly engineered and sorted chassis and suspension this 2750 lb 2+2 is the best of both comfortable touring cars and high performance sports cars. With a full premium interior and a high fidelity 6 speaker cd player you might forget that with a 0-60mph under 6 seconds and a quarter mile time in the mid 14’s this sports car will easily out perform the v6 mustangs and camaros, as well as the non boosted versions of the 300zx, and supra. But it doesn’t stop there, show this car some curves and get ready to be blown away, it’s 50/50 weight distribution, 4 wheel independent suspension with multi link rear arms, a limited slip rear differential, and precisely designed airflow allows the Marauder to corner like nothing else in it’s class, holding well over 1.1 G on the skid pad at speeds as high as 120mph, almost as high as it’s 146mph top speed. And it can do all this while still returning an average of 25MPG US. with all that performance we haven’t skimped on safety with driver and passenger front and side airbags, anti-lock brakes, and traction control to help keep you safe and in control.
Price $15,000 @ 0% markup.

7 Likes

1999 JHW Alsace 1.6L

Volkswagen Who? $10,500

3 Likes

Previously seen on CSR47…Recycling FTW!!!

FOA Trident S, base level variant, $13,700 @ 0%

…it stops being “cheap” when you add the markup :rofl:…but it will always be cheerful! :sunglasses:

6 Likes

Welcome to CM! We have a certified used car just for you…

The 2000 CM Erie EL!

It is a budget four-seat shooting brakes that can be yours for $12,960, so be assured that it is well within your budget. As you probably already know, most CM vehicles are either 4x4 or AWD, with this one being AWD, so it will get you around in all weather conditions and even off paved roads, should the need arise. You will find that for such a cheap car there is a surprising amount of above-average parts, especially in the engine.

Opening the hood here, you can see a longitudinal I4. It’s a 2.0L 16 valve OHC engine with VVT that produces 117 hp and 171 Nm. With the 6-speed manual transmission, the Erie will go from 0 to 100 in 9.8 seconds and to a top speed of 204 km/h. We don’t recommend you try that last one on anything other than a race track. Oh, almost forgot, it also achieves 7.3L/100 km, so it won’t be too hard on your budget in the long run.

Let’s take a look inside before going for that test drive… As you can see, everything is pretty standard in here, safety features are of good quality, and you’ve got a stock CD player. The shooting brake style doesn’t give all that much cargo space in this configuration, but the 50/50 split rear seat folds down to double the cargo volume when needed.

Now, how about that test drive? We can talk sales after.

8 Likes

Hi guys

There’s been some unfortunate events at work, so i have to either extend the deadline a few days ( i should be free sunday) or have you wait for the reviews a little longer than usual.

I hope that’s ok :frowning:

/gridghost

5 Likes