REPRINT FROM #16 1976
USED CAR REVIEW: THREE SPORTS CARS
THE CHEAP SPORTS CAR: A DISASTER OR PURE JOY?
Three good representatives of what a wallet-friendly used sports car could look like: A 1965 Mayster triumf (yellow), a 1969 Keystone Q2600 GP (dark green) and a 1970 RAUK PM3 (light green).
For most people, a sports car is of no use as a daily driver. Sure, if you don’t have a family, don’t care about practicality at all, and is willing to abuse yourself a bit to get that pure driving experience, it may be fine. Most of us won’t apply for that, though, and most of us aren’t made of money either. That means that a sports car is something that is out of reach, because it is simply too much money for something that is just a toy for adults. That is, of course, if you buy a new one.
But what if you are willing to sacrifice some of the new car smell and get one as a second car that might fit your budget? Is that actually a sane thing to do, or will it end up as a disaster? After searching through some used car lots, we found three good examples of what an used sports car could look like. A six year old RAUK PM3, a seven year old Keystone Q2600 GP, and the veteran of the gang, an eleven year old Mayster Triumf. How do they stand up when looking at them today?
Mayster Triumf: Sporty but sane
Thanks to minimalistic and timeless design, the Mayster still looks modern despite its old roots.
Despite its 11 years, our Mayster looked great on the outside. The reason is simple - its fibreglass body means that it simply can’t rust. Of course, nothing lasts forever, not even fibreglass, but repairs can be done quite easily, should for example a crack occur. It is also resistant for minor dings, since the material more or less springs back.
The fibreglass body covers a chassis that is of a space frame design, which is also quite resistant. Another interesting thing is that even the rear axle carries a double wishbone suspension. Other than that, it is more or less tried and true technology chassis wise. And results for the annual safety inspection shows results that are about average - except for better than average results on rust and steering related components.
The engine is a flat four, 1.6 litres and 87 hp. It is important that the twin carburetors are properly synchronized for the engine to run like it should, it should also be noted that since it features overhead camshafts, there should be no rattling noises from the valvetrain - that can be an expensive thing to fix.
Overall reliability is about average - the car is old and anything can happen, but on the other hand it is generally a simple car to work on. Our test example still felt fresh and could sort of be a testimony to a not too shabby build quality. It is not a very risky bussiness to buy an used Mayster Triumf, as long as you buy the right car.
For its time, the Triumf had impressive driving dynamics, being able to corner 1.03 G. It is a bit tail happy at slow speeds but can be driven very hard before something serious happen, and then it will be warning you in time by understeering. Brakes (discs up front, drums in the rear) stops the car in a short 35.6 metre distance from 100 km/h but are somewhat (not seriously) fading sensitive.
Top speed is 172 km/h, 0-100 is done in 10.6 seconds and it does 18.07 second times on the quartermile. On our test track, it managed a time of 2:42.07.
Comfort is not amazing but adequate for a sports car. It is not too cramped, seats 2 adults and 2 kids, 467 litres of luggage. Fuel economy is not too shabby either, 14 litres per 100 km, servicing and purchase price not the cheapest for an old car, but still not alarming for a competent sports car either.
If it is as nice as our example - not even an 11 year old Mayster Triumf is something you should be afraid of buying.
Keystone Q2600GP: Rusty but fast
Not everyone accepted the futuristic looks of the Keystone when it was released, but today they make the car look newer than what it is.
Unfortunately, we could already find rust on our Keystone. That is not too uncommon either. There is a regular steel body, on a steel unibody chassis and no efforts were done at all to improve the rust protection. If you are looking at an example, check it through for rust. Twice.
Other than that, the Keystone might not be the worst buy possible. Except for chassis rust, the annual safety inspections says that the results are about average. The feeling of build quality is quite average too, and it probably won’t fall apart in your hands. The six cylinder engine is a bit above 2.5 litres in displacement (2600 being a stretch for marketing), and is quite an ordinary lump, probably won’t cause any major troubles but the 90 degree V6 layout makes for a rough running engine.
Unfortunately, it feels less like a sports car than the Mayster. Being front heavy, the front end is plowing when cornering hard. 0.83 G on the skidpad is a joke compared to the Mayster, even if it is by no means dangerous. The brakes could not be compared either. 47.7 metres to a stop from 100 km/h is only considered average nowadays, and there is some fading problems.
The Keystone does not feature some overly advanced technology that makes it hard to work on, but servicing is more expensive than for the Mayster. On the other hand, fuel economy is better at 12.6 litres per 100 km, but keep in mind that it requires premium. But you can get a Keystone that is a couple of years newer for the same price as a Mayster, that should not be forgotten.
Compared to the Mayster, the interior of the Keystone feels like a crypt, and even the luggage area is smaller at 258 litres. The interior is more well appointed than in the Mayster, but overall the comfort is not better in the Keystone. Also, the Keystone is a pure 2-seater.
Performance wise the Keystone is fast, though, so it is maybe more of a gran turismo than the Mayster. 213 km/h top speed, 0-100 in 9.43 seconds and a 17.1 second quartermile time. However, it does the test track a bit slower in 2:44.63.
Our warning is to watch out for rust, but other than that, the Keystone might be worth a look.
RAUK PM3: Sporty swede
The Swedish pride has a more classic look than the other two cars, but many people finds it handsome.
The RAUK with its fiberglass body, and being the newest car in the bunch, still looked fresh of course. The pressed steel unibody underneath was not showing any sign of rust, either. It should be said, though, that RAUK bodies are of lower quality than Maysters. Look for cracks and shoddy repairs.
RAUKs generally pass the safety inspection with flying colours. They are better than average regarding rust, brakes and suspension related problems. Watch out for cracked windshields, failing seatbelts and door locks, though. The feeling of build quality is a bit kit car like, but there are no more troubles with the RAUK than with the Mayster or Keystone.
The RAUK has absolutely no comfort at all, though, saving weight has been their only priority. There is no comfort equipment, not even a radio, and the passenger compartment is even more cramped than in the Keystone. At 366 litres it offers more space for luggage, too.
The B20 engine is known from the Volvo Amazon and 140-series. That might sound like a safe bet but keep in mind that the tuning from 82 to 125 hp done by RAUK has not made the reliability of the 2 litre inline 4 any favours. It’s loud, runs rough and is nothing like the humble Volvo in your driveway.
Also sourced from the Volvo Amazon is the suspension. A bit more primitive than in the Mayster, which limits the cornering ability to “only” 0.99 G, and the tuning has made it a bit unpredictable. It feels like if it’s gradually turning towards understeer but the tail can snap out at quite high speeds - the RAUK is best suited for the hands of an experienced driver. Especially considering that there is absolutely none of the passive safety of modern cars to be seen anywhere inside it. But the brakes are good. Only needing to stop a much lighter vehicle than the Amazon, there is no fading and the car stops in 37.8 metres from 100.
Accelerating to 100 in 9.66 seconds and with a top speed of 219 km/h, the PM3 is decently fast. Quartermile is done in 17.34 seconds. And around the test track, it is quite obvious that the RAUK is the real sports car of the trio, 2:34.58 is 10 seconds faster than the Keystone.
The RAUK can be had for about the same money used as the Keystone. Servicing is a bit cheaper, but don’t buy the “RAUKs are made of Volvo and Olsson parts so you can get them everywhere” talk. So much special tuning is done that in most cases you can’t buy Volvo or Olsson parts and expect the same performance. The fuel economy is the worst of the bunch, though. 16.9 litres per 100 km.
So here they are. Three affordable used sports cars that you can buy without risking any major disaster. Which one you choose is really up to you, since they are completely different personalities.
Thanks to @AndiD for the Mayster and @VicVictory and @HighOctaneLove for the Keystone!
- Mayster Triumf
- Keystone Q2600GP
- RAUK PM3
0 voters
) turning 81 in a month, is in a very bad state now and it’s going rapidly fast. And sorry, I just feel that I have to vent this here. Because I don’t know how soon this is going down the drain, and if the worst should happen, I know that I don’t want to hear “hey, why haven’t you reviewed my car yet???”.
