Words: James Wilson
Honda Integra Type R v Mazda MX-5 SP Turbo v BMW E36 M3 v Audi Avant RS4 v Subaru Impreza WRX STi
Surviving the recession we had to have and forging majestically through a baker's dozen of the best years the Australian economy has ever seen, baby boomers are in the pink.
Not only did their peak earning years coincide with this bountiful economic miracle, but now the government has tweaked the superannuation laws. This means the last-of-the-line baby boomers have even more opportunity to flood their super funds with cash and be able to pluck out their fortunes tax-free when they do finally hang up their boots and kick back.
Of course, then the really challenging work will then begin in earnest. How to spend the lucre (filthy or not)...
The early birds have queered the pitch somewhat, driving the price of home-grown dream muscle cars well beyond the bounds of sanity.
With $525k the going rate for a white Falcon of 1971 vintage (okay, it was an XY GT-HO Phase III, but come on!) and when Toranas of no special history pull the price of a round-the-world cruise, the question is: what will be left for the retirees-come-lately, or worse still, uber hard-working Gen Xers?
Anyone who volunteered "Sunbird" may quietly leave the room.
So for those who grew up on a diet of high-revving Japanese buzz boxes, the concept of a V8 front-engined rear-driven four-door sedan may not exactly set your hearts aflame when it comes to choosing a sunset seeking retirement cruiser.
So what will? Well, here's a quintet of fine notables from the recent past you should consider laying down and polishing for the next 15 years. Find a barn and put them up on bricks along with a supply of (now) readily available spares.
It's not hard to work out which crucial bits you need to look out for. Interior trim's always a killer to source; replacement exterior panels are much easier. Non-original matching tin work is available over the Web if you can get (or afford) the genuine article. Watch for tricky model-specific mechanicals though, and buy a factory workshop manual/parts CD now while they are around.
Our five key cars to consider are (in random order): The 1999 Honda Integra Type R; 2002 Mazda MX-5 SP Turbo; 1996 BMW M3 (E36 3.2); 2001 Audi Avant RS4 and the two-door 1999 Subaru Impreza WRX STi.
What these cars all have in common is that they are the highest performance models of very exciting cars. These over-amped models have engine enhancements that extract even more horsepower without fundamentally changing the recipe.
The catch will be tucking them away and leaving them -- ie: not having a play every weekend. You don't want them within reach of moronic SUV drivers who reverse park by ear.
When launched they were respected and potent driving machines, imbued with a sporty spirit. All are the products of companies who kept more than a weather eye on durability, reliability, build quality and desirability. Equally important, they were made by companies who prize driving fast.
Although the Subaru, Mazda and Audi were only available in limited numbers, examples will be up for sale in reasonable numbers on a regular basis. At this stage in their lives they are all nearing the lower end of their depreciation cycle. Guide prices are drawn from www.carpoint.com.au
And as each of their replacements are either much more expensive or have switched to different engine or body configurations (or are no longer available at all) we won't see their like again...
Honda Integra Type R
On sale: 1999-2001
Price new: $39,950
Price now: $11,000 - $18,400
Numbers sold in Australia: In excess of 1000
Why: All round race-bred car with fabulous driving experience (for track days).
Honda's Superman car -- the vanilla Clark Kent Integra became something of a feisty track-friendly beast in Type R form. Pin-sharp steering, nailed suspension, unburstable engine and MX-5 rivalling gear change 'snickety-snickness', evolved into a dream package for go-faster drivers.
Australia was slow to get access to this model with its red badging and red seats, but when it finally arrived in 1999, its 141kW/178Nm 1.8-litre DOHC VTEC engine was significantly breathed upon. It sat seductively lower (15mm) on its sportier suspension, and offered modest 15-inch alloys and a somewhat immodest high-rise tail spoiler.
Weighing in at 1087kg (with a 7.7kg/kW power-to-weight ratio) and 27kg lighter than the VTi-R it replaced, the R boasted a high-flow sports exhaust, close-ratio five-speed gearbox and beefed-up brakes. Crucially, a tricky limited slip diff helped rein in any mid-corner rowdiness.
A MOMO steering wheel, figure-hugging Recaro sport seats, titanium gearshift, and carbon-fibre interior trim panels all made the R's interior especially racy, and coupled with firm suspension it was a joy on the track if a little wearing around town.
Honda sold around 600 in its first year on sale, so there should be plenty around... For a while.
Mazda MX-5 SP Turbo
On sale: 2002
Price new: $55,540
Price now: $25,000 - $34,000
Numbers sold in Australia: 100
Why: The ultimate, smooth, fast, joyful MX-5.
No one with a pulse needs telling the MX-5 is a sublime small sportscar that since 1989 has had drivers taking the long and winding way home.
Losing the evocative Lotus Elan-like pop-up headlights for Gen 2, the 1998 MX-5 scored with well-balanced chassis, sprightly performance and great quality. And it also drove Mazda Australia, presumably unimpressed with the factory's nonchalance in dealing with requests for more herbs, to grow its own in the form of a locally-engineered and Prodrive-installed turbo.
The result was the limited run 1119kg SP model in 2002. Around 8lb of boost pushed the 1.8-litre's output to 150kW at 6800rpm and 280Nm at 4600rpm, (up from 113kW and 181Nm), delivered in an ultra smooth and athletic manner.
A big bore exhaust, larger radiator, and new inlet manifold were some of the 215 new or replacement parts fitted to the SP -- tested as a prototype in Targa Tasmania. If it would have fitted up the aisle, you'd have married this motor in a flash.
External differentiation was limited to a subtle SP badge and polished alloy fuel cap, while alloy trim, and a polished alloy gear knob are the only give-aways inside. Aircon was relegated to the options list, to save weight.
Probably onto their third owners by now, now is the time to buy.
BMW M3 Coupe E36
On sale: 1996-1999
Price new: $131,750
Price now: $29,000 - $45,000
Numbers sold in Australia: In excess of 750 E36 M3 coupes 1994-99
Why: The pinnacle of hard-ass BMW performance.
The BMW M3 was already hailed as one of the best ever useable super coupes by the time the mid-life update for the E36 arrived in 1996. The earlier E36 M3 with the 213kW 3.0-litre engine was the first officially sold in Australia, but this update gained a new engine and a good deal more grunt.
With capacity increased to 3.2-litres and power hiked to 236kW at a heady 7400rpm (and an attendant 350Nm at just 3250rpm), the angry metallic scream of the straight six became etched into the psyche of every high-performance car nut.
This huge performance was made possible by Double Vanos -- BMW speak for electronically-controlled camshaft timing for inlet and exhaust valves. Coupled with the chiselled looks, taut chassis and beefier M5-derived brakes, the 1996 "Evo" model at 1554kg was light on its wheels and fast down the strip, posting 5.6sec 0-100km/h sprints thanks to a close-ratio six-speed box.
It didn't win the MOTOR magazine's Performance Car of the Year 1997 award just for its looks and equipment list.
On sale in Australia from 1996-1999, many hundreds were bought and cherished.
It is important to find a car with a full service history. When correctly maintained (and many owners have been fastidious, so buy one of these cars) they are gold-standard investments. And they can carry five in comfort.
It will be a test of courage to buy one and leave it locked away for 15 years. You must. Keep it pristine.
They are very affordable now, with parts easily available. Go a six-speed manual over the SMG for ease of maintenance and repair. Last of the line Motorsport Anniversary models are the rarest and most desirable.
Audi RS4 Avant
On sale: 2001
Price new: $165,000
Price now: $45,000 - $68,000
Numbers sold in Australia: 50
Why: Wagon looks anonymous, 'til you floor it.
Audi got into the hyper-sports market in a serious way for the first time with the RS4, uniquely as a wagon-only in this guise. Such was the success of the concept, the RS4 has evolved to take a regular place in the line up, and its potent power has spread to other models.
In all, more than 6000 were built and sold around the world, but only 50 came to Australia in 2001 -- all hand-built off line at quattro GmbH, Audi's version of BMW M GmbH. The first shipment of 30 cars had to be augmented by a further 20, such was the demand. The first cars were all finished in black.
Power was from a bi-turbo 2.7-litre five-valve V6, producing 280kW and driving all four gorgeous multi-spoke 18-inch wheels via a six-speed manual box. Suspension and brakes were uprated to cope with the RS4's tarmac melting torque of 440Nm and 0-100km/h time of 4.9sec.
In typical Audi style, the RS4 looks pretty much identical to a regular wagon with the exception of a new front apron, those huge wheels and a subtle aerokit. It does sit noticeably lower though. Inside, front passengers recline in Recaro sport seats, listen to a thumping 170W BOSE sound system and are protected by a collection of airbags.
The RS4 drives with determination. Grip is unbelievable and despite the usual smothering of engine noise effected by turbos, it still sounds seriously pissed off when nailed. Oh, and the wagon will give plenty of space for storing spares.
Subaru WRX STi Coupe
On sale: 1999
Price new: $60,000
Price now: $22,000 - $30,000
Numbers sold in Australia: 399
Why: Barely tamed rally champion for the road revs your pulse off the clock.
Like BMW's M3, the Subaru WRX STi can trace a direct lineage back to motorsport success. Subaru Technica International devised the WRX STI two-door to prove the "Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday" routine.
The initial STi offering in Australia was a limited edition run of just 200 two-door cars, the likes of which had never been seen here before.
Just when the early birds had snapped them all up, Subaru soured the deal by announcing a second run. But even with 399 of them in Australia, they're still rare and desirable. (Inexplicably one car never made it off the wharf in Japan and became the stuff of urban legend.)
The WRX STi was special because of its rally-bred 206kW flat-four 2.0-litre engine, complete with new cams, exhaust and spray-cooling system for the intercooler. It gave fearsome sub-six second sprints to 100km/h.
Racebred engines need to be kept on the boil and the STi is no different, so it gives its best between 4000rpm and the power peak at 6500rpm. Torque of 335Nm is laggy, but when it's kicking, stand back!
Beefed up five-speed transmission and all-wheel drive were matched with four-pot brakes with bigger discs, partly hidden by neat gold rally look alloys evoking the World Rally Championship-winning cars. Buy a blue car. Looks fast even parked.
Like the Honda, when selecting your pristine example for laying down and maturing, check it has not been thrashed to death. Feed it high-octane juice. And try not to be put off by the low-rent interior.
This is a rally car for the road. The thrill is all in the cornering speed and turbo thrust. High performance insurance is a must. As are secondary and tertiary immobilisers. Even if it's locked up all year, a tracking device might be a good investment. They go fast.
If you're feeling lucky, and more cashed up, a super special 22B is another world altogether.
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