What other “raw” cars have you owned ?

[DJW]

One major downside of Radicals is the need to rebuild engine every 40 hours of race use or 100 hours track use, at £3-6k !! Cheap in terms of race use but not so for road use. I did plan to swap out race engine for a stock engine, but never got around to it.

 

[Lankan]

To be honest, most cars are only kept 4 months or so. Just want to experience ownership and if bought sensibly they are usually sold for same when moved on. Nothing like free motoring

This is latest one that has just been sold and probably rawest of the lot. Definite need for earplugs and at first until GEO was sorted it was trying to chuck me in the hedge at the earliest opportunity

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Radical SR3, with the this being a rare road registered car. Had a Suzuki Hyabusa engine tweaked by Radical to 260bhp. Pretty mental in a car around 500kg, but the more impressive feature is the downforce. They’re actually being banned from quite a few track days now as so much faster than other road cars.

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Road presence was beyond anything else I’ve owned , but always had positive if not startled reactions from Joe Public.

If I had the garage space I would keep it. Such a cool car.

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Cool!

I remember when the SR3 first came out - they became an instant hit.

Are they as popular now that there are many alternatives to choose from?

Interesting to hear that the engine needs to be rebuilt ever so often, but then again if it is a highly-strung motorbike engine then that is understandable.

 

[Johnson]

I used to have a Toyota MR2 (SW20). My first experience with mid-engine layout... absolutely loved the sound coming from behind my head.

 

[Lankan]

I used to have a Toyota MR2 (SW20). My first experience with mid-engine layout... absolutely loved the sound coming from behind my head.

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Cannot agree with you more - nothing like having a screaming V6 engine inside the cabin with you,:


Renaultsport Clio V6 255 - unique driving experience (10 years and counting):

 

[DJW]

Bonkers car. Great to see . Friend has the mk1 and loves it.

 

[Lankan]

Bonkers car. Great to see . Friend has the mk1 and loves it.

Indeed it is. Not very fast, but due to the short wheelbase. heavy engine sitting fairly high (so high centre of gravity), and being quite light up front, makes for a fun experience, which certainly keeps you focused, especially in the wet.

I have upgraded the suspension to adjustable KW V3's to keep body roll in check, so it is manageable. Not raw as the others, but fun nevertheless.

Now, the one shown below was a raw, old-school experience. Based on the race car that won the European Touring Car Championship in 1970, this is an Alfa Romeo GTAm replica, which was built and raced during the 1990s by its then owner:


Full of character though it was, especially with those twin-Webers at full chat, I found it a tad too uncompromising for road use.

 

[DJW]

Loving that Alfa Would love to own one but strong prices vs something like the Elan Plus 2 I’ve got. The Top Gear video of the Alfaholics car is intoxicating

 

[Jl51]

Had quite a few bonkers cars but my latest one is pretty amazing ! komotec 460 Lotus exige V6. This replaced an even more bonkers car, my Superformance GT40, unfortunately just too hardcore to use enough to warrant keeping it.

 

[TXEMIRA]

Had quite a few bonkers cars but my latest one is pretty amazing ! komotec 460 Lotus exige V6. This replaced an even more bonkers car, my Superformance GT40, unfortunately just too hardcore to use enough to warrant keeping it.

#Bonkers is right! Like a childhood matchbox starter collection!

 

[DJW]

Had quite a few bonkers cars but my latest one is pretty amazing ! komotec 460 Lotus exige V6. This replaced an even more bonkers car, my Superformance GT40, unfortunately just too hardcore to use enough to warrant keeping it.

What about the TR7

 

[Lankan]

Loving that Alfa Would love to own one but strong prices vs something like the Elan Plus 2 I’ve got. The Top Gear video of the Alfaholics car is intoxicating

Indeed, that Alfaholics GTA-R is rather special.

Mine did have a few of Alfaholics' trick parts, but not to that extent, especially the carbon bits, but the engine was epic. The tyres on mine were Toyo R1Rs.

It is all about the lightweight nature of the thing. This is the biggest bugbear that I have with modern cars, Emira included, but it is forgiven due to its epic design and styling.

 

[Sheldon]

Here’s my Shelby GT350. It can ne docile around town but becomes a screaming animal from 5-8k rpms. I’ve a had blast on canyon runs and at the track with it but can also go straight to pick my kids up at school. I think the Emira will be a great smaller, lighter and mid engined alternative.

 

[SemiF19]

2015 Camaro Z/28. The most pure/raw driving experience I've ever had. Still kicking myself that I sold this car........got rid of it to get a Porsche Cayman GT4, which was great but just couldn't match the fun of this car.

 

[DJW]

997 GT3 club sport spec with ceramics. The metzger engine was magical and absolutely mental when it got near the redline. Handling was sublime with incredible mechanical grip.

For road use however I found it to be disappointing. Don’t get me wrong, when absolutely on it , the car was immense but it was the only time it came alive and your license was at serious risk due to speeds attained. Definitely one for track use only. For road use I would take a Lotus every time.

 

[1500 GT]

997 GT3 club sport spec with ceramics. The metzger engine was magical and absolutely mental when it got near the redline. Handling was sublime with incredible mechanical grip.

For road use however I found it to be disappointing. Don’t get me wrong, when absolutely on it , the car was immense but it was the only time it came alive and your license was at serious risk due to speeds attained. Definitely one for track use only. For road use I would take a Lotus every time.

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I had exactly the same slight disappointment with my 997 GT3 in that finding a quiet road to get it properly singing was a real challenge. Loved the noise and the handling but ultimately just no where near as much fun as a Caterham, especially around a local track such as Oulton Park.

 

[DJW]

I had exactly the same slight disappointment with my 997 GT3 in that finding a quiet road to get it properly singing was a real challenge. Loved the noise and the handling but ultimately just no where near as much fun as a Caterham, especially around a local track such as Oulton Park.

100%

 

[Lankan]

I had exactly the same slight disappointment with my 997 GT3 in that finding a quiet road to get it properly singing was a real challenge. Loved the noise and the handling but ultimately just no where near as much fun as a Caterham, especially around a local track such as Oulton Park.

Cannot agree more.

My thoughts on newer 911s are much the same, the 997 being the cut-off point.

 

[richbrown]

Morgan 3 wheeler, 100hp, 525kg, no power assisted anything, no stereo, no windscreen wipers, no doors, air cooled, great fun to drive especially at legal speeds

I’ve got 2 I can put into this category. Found a picture of this my Fisher Fury V8. Fantastic kit car I bought in 2002/3 already built. Rover V8 no filters on the carb other than sieve mesh. Rear live axle and a great fun on hillclimbs and track days. Sold it in 2006 and bought a TVR Griffith 5.0 in BRG (no photo on my phone). Another raw and brutal machine but lots of fun and noise!

 

[TXEMIRA]

I’ve got 2 I can put into this category. Found a picture of this my Fisher Fury V8. Fantastic kit car I bought in 2002/3 already built. Rover V8 no filters on the carb other than sieve mesh. Rear live axle and a great fun on hillclimbs and track days. Sold it in 2006 and bought a TVR Griffith 5.0 in BRG (no photo on my phone). Another raw and brutal machine but lots of fun and noise!

There’s that green!

 

[DJW]

Very jealous of the other air cooled 911s on here

Enjoyed my basic 3.2 Carrera until the head studs went . Something special about an air cooled porker . Would love a 993, but not paying silly prices at the mo.