New Cars 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS

As standard, the Porsche 911 Carrera GTS has a six-speed manual gearbox and the seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK), is available as an option. Compared Carrera S. The upper speed GTS with manual transmission increases 2mph to 190 mph. In general, the acceleration from zero to 62mph is improving, 0.1 seconds; for GTS Coupé with PDK and Sport Chrono Package Plus Sport Plus mode, the source sprint takes only 4.2 seconds.

Special attention was paid to charge exchange in the 3.8-litre flat engine delivering 408 hp: In a special resonance intake manifold, six vacuum-controlled tuning flaps switch between power- and torque-optimized geometry whereas in a Carrera S power unit there is only one tuning flap. Thus, maximum torque of unchanged 420 Nm is already available at 4,200 rpm, 200 rpm earlier compared with the Carrera S. Add to that a sports exhaust system with two dual tailpipes. Their outer shells are painted in black and their inner tubes are polished on the outside and nano-coated.

Unique within the 911 Carrera family, the GTS combines the 44 millimetre wider body of the all-wheel drive Carrera 4 models – including widened rear track – with a classic rear-wheel drive configuration. The Porsche 911 Carrera GTS sits on 19-inch centre-locking RS Spyder alloy wheels, painted in black with high-gloss finished rims, with 235/35 ZR 19 tyres on the front axle and 305/30 ZR 19 tyres on the rear. Further features include the SportDesign front apron with spoiler edge painted in black, special side skirts also in black, and the Carrera GTS logotype on doors and rear lid, in black or silver depending on the body colour. The area between the two tailpipes on the rear apron is also finished in black.

The new Porsche 911 Carrera GTS will have its global debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show on October 2 and goes on sale in the UK in December, priced from £76,758 for the Coupe and £83,493 for the Cabriolet.

Audi TTS Coupe 2011

Audi TTS Coupe Turing

Audi TTS Coupe 2011 με 2.0 liter TFSI turbo pumps out 272 HP and 350 Nm torque from 2,500 to 5.000 rpm. With the optional six-speed electronic S, the Audi TTS Coupé sprints from zero to 100 km / h (62,14 mph) in 5.2 seconds and accelerates all the way to an electronically limited top speed of 250 km / h ( 155.34 miles / hour). The Coupé with the electronic S consumes an average of only 7.7 liters of fuel per 100 km (30.55 U.S. mpg).

Audi TTS Coupe Front

Audi TTS Coupe Side

Audi TTS Coupe Back

Audi TTS Coupe Interior

The Audi TTS, in both the Coupé and Roadster body styles, combining an exciting sport with cultured comfort. two-liter TFSI with a supercharger and the large number of additional amendments pumps 200 kW (272 hp) and 350 Nm (£ 258.15-ft) of torque, the last from 2,500 to 5.000 rpm. With the optional six-speed electronic S, the Audi TTS Coupé sprints from zero to 100 km / h (62,14 mph) in 5.2 seconds and accelerates all the way to an electronically governed top speed of 250 km / h (155 , 34 mph). The Coupé with the electronic S consumes an average of only 7.7 liters of fuel per 100 km (30.55 U.S. mpg).

Alloy 18-inch tires 245/40-series, the Audi magnetic ride adaptive damper system, the Sport button and a powerful braking system with internally ventilated discs four make the Audi TTS extremely dynamic. The agency, which has been lowered 10 mm (0,39 in) compared to the model size was an array of design updates. The most striking of these is a single-part grille with aluminum-look horizontal double bar and guard.

A new color, Panther Black, Crystal result is available for the exterior, the new spectral color combination silver / black available for the interior. The instruments are gray boards. Xenon plus headlights with LED lights coming days as a model.

Reasons to be happy in '09 - small, fun cars

In the midst of economic gloom and worries about the environment easing us into 2009, at least some car manufacturers still know how to have fun. First to take a bow is Fiat, who bring us news of something we've all secretly been hoping for since the demise of the Barchetta and the reinvention of the Abarth marque - a small sports car. This news comes via Auto Express, who give us pictures (albeit artists interpretations, as far as I can gather) of an agressive looking small coupe/roadster based on the Fiat 500.

This means the car will be front-wheel drive, but equipped with the 1.4 turbocharged motor from the 500 Abarth, exciting performance should be readily available, amplified by the lightweight body and low centre of gravity. Not only that, it's anticipated to deliver 45mpg, so whilst not a smart Roadster in terms of green fun, it's more than adequate. Unlike the Roadster it should also be inexpensive - Fiat are aiming for a £12,000 starting tag. Given that the Fiat 500 shares it's platform with the Ford Ka, could we be in for a possible StreetKa replacement in the future?

Abarth Coupe (Image: Auto Express)

Also bringing us a small and economical sports car is Volkswagen. VW have tempted us with small roadsters before, but appear more serious this time, touting their BlueSport concept as a cut-price Porsche Boxter. Whilst not exactly svelte at 1200kg, this is still relatively light by Volkswagen standards and the 178bhp, 350Nm 2.0 TDI engine should have no problem propelling it along, especially through VW's DSG dual-clutch transmission feeding power to the rear wheels.

Unfortunately, though somewhat predictably, you pay VW prices for a VW roadster and it's expected to start at over £22,000, over ten grand more than the Abarth. That said, by Boxter standards it's a steal and you're unlikely to get 42mpg and 113g/km of CO2 from a Boxter.

Volkswagen BlueSport (Image: Volkswagen)

Giving us open-air fun in a different form is Kia, who presented the Soul'ster at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The Soul'ster is based on the new Kia Soul so isn't a dedicated sports car like the others, instead presenting us with a kind of pickup/roadster hybrid. Being based on the normal hatchback, practicality is still a strong point with room for four plus luggage, according to Auto Express. With the 1.6 litre turbodiesel available in the UK-bound soul it should be capable of close to the 55mpg that Kia claim for the regular Soul. Alas, as yet the 'ster is only a concept, but it should raise interest in the production Soul.

Kia Soul'ster (Image: Kia Motors)

£1500, fun and 30mpg plus... what would you buy?

It's a good question, isn't it? Particularly if, like me, you happen to have that budget, and those requirements from a car. £1500 gets you a surprising amount these days, anything from tidy superminis, MPVs and third-hand family cars to classic roadsters, hot hatches and sports saloons. Some will make great runarounds or first cars and others fun weekend toys.

But, if you're like me (young, skint, and like a bit of fun from your car now and then) you might find your choice rather more limited. Sure, you can find plenty of old hot hatches at this price, but unfortunately many have been ragged to within an inch of their lives by now, and insurance is still very expensive even with a few years no-claims behind you. Such is the plight of the young driver.

However, hope is in store. There are still choices out there, if you look hard enough, that will provide you with fun and reliable motoring, but importantly, not emptying your wallet come renewal time or at the pumps. With fuel prices as they are, easily doing more than 30mpg is virtually essential nowadays. Below is a selection of cars that meet the above criteria. What would you buy?

BMW 316i/318i (E30)

The E30 3-series is slowly becoming a collectors' item. Partly due to it being an important model for the marque, and partly to ensure the survival of original cars before they're all snapped up by the tuning brigade. The 316i and 318i aren't the fastest, but they are both cheap to run and the £1500 budget will get a model in very nice condition. A bit of rear-wheel drive fun to start the list.

Honda CRX ESi (3rd gen)

Having seen the success of Mazda's MX5, Honda decided to make their own sports car based on the Civic. It wasn't as light and loony as the model that preceded it, but it has it's own character and roof-out fun. The ESi has roughly 120bhp, does almost 40mpg and is much cheaper to insure than the screaming VTi.

Honda HR-V

A choice from way out at left-field here. You might not have expected to see a small 4x4 here - after all, they're not known for their great fuel economy or fun. Yet Honda were singing from a different hymn book with the HR-V - not only does it do at least 33mpg, but it's also supposed to be good fun to throw about.

Mazda MX-3 V6

Mazda's coupe has managed to avoid the general public's consciousness thus far (thanks to more popular choices like Ford's Puma and Renualt's Megane Coupe), making it a great second-hand choice with low prices. The V6 engine sings yet manages mid-thirties mpg, and the cars seem generally well built and reliable.

Mazda MX-5 mk1

Another small Mazda, but one you've heard of this time. £1500 is remarkably little to buy a classic, but it's achievable with the MX5, and it's going to buy you a whole bundle of affordable fun. Ignore the hairdresser jibes - anyone who's driven one will tell you it's impossible to have perfect coiffure after five minutes with the hood down...

Porsche 924

You what? A Porsche for how much? It was always designed to be affordable and now you can buy one for pocket money. It isn't, as you might have heard, equipped with a van engine - it was an Audi engine that was tuned for use in the 924 and detuned for use in a VW van. Owners report 30mpg, and £1500 should get a nice one.

Saab 900 T16

Turbo lag and torque steer. Right, now the stereotypes are out of the way, we can appreciate the car's unusual styling, great seats, bucketfulls of character and great performance. Not only that, but many insurers consider it a classic now, so you might be able to benefit from cheap classic insurance.

Toyota MR2 mk1

Rumor has it that the MR2 project was initially developed with Lotus, but Mazda took the project on fully when Lotus had financial issues and abandoned their share. So if you squint a bit, you're looking at an 80s Lotus Elise. Maybe. Either way, it's a brilliant drivers car which does mid-30s mpg. You may have to look hard for one untainted by rust, however.

Toyota Paseo

Even less known than the Mazda MX-3, and arguably not as special, but with 40mpg easily achievable it has it's own merit. And of course, being a Toyota, it'll last for ever, and ever, and ever. It enjoys a very low insurance group as well, and should be fun, if not up to Ford Puma levels.

Volkswagen Bora Tdi

Although a small saloon seems a bit incongruous next to small sports cars, coupes and hatches - especially a diesel one - the Bora represents brilliant value for money. It's cheaper than the equivalent Golf both to buy and insure, yet shares the same great engines and build. The diesels get an easy 50mpg and can be tuned very easily for much more power and torque.

Volkswagen Golf GTI mk1

My final suggestion is, undoubtably, a classic. If you want to spend £1500 on one, do it now because they're unlikely to stay at that price as they become more scarce and more popular for restoration. Manages 35mpg and faster to 60mph than the standard mk4 Golf GTI. Cheap to insure on classic insurance, too.

An eclectic mix then, and perhaps a bit more interesting than your average hot hatch, yet likely to provide many miles of reliable, economical and fun motoring. If you're lucky, you may even find a little practicality to add to the mix. £1500 really does get you a lot of car.

Classic Restoration Project Vehicles For Sale on eBay!

We have added a couple of vehicles that would be absolute choice classic car/truck restoration projects to eBay auctions... a 1950 Chevrolet 4100 split-windshield dump truck capable of hauling over 5 tons, and a 1969 Ford Thunderbird with a 429 Thunder Jet engine and a Positrack 9 inch rear end!

Both vehicles can be seen at the shop and are available online for bidding at eBay.

Or click on the photos of either classic to see its eBay listing:

1950 Chevrolet 4100 split-windshield 5.5 ton gravel dump truck with turn signal accessory kit and floor start pedal switch. I (Doug, the webmaster) was actually hoping to nab this for myself, but the owner has decided to put it up for auction. The cab body, doors, fenders, grill and front bumber assembly all seems to be in very good shape with only minor dents to bang out. Unfortunately, there is no title, though we might be able to get one as it had been abandoned for over 3 years.


1969 Ford Thunderbird with a 429 Thunder Jet engine and PosiTrack 9 inch rear end. This classic coupe is a rare find with what I view as considerably straight body lines. Most of the chrome trim appears to be there, including some of the more rare chrome trim parts. Although there is some rust, I honestly think that it is minimal for such a find. The trunk floor seems to be rotted out, but the rest of the body parts look restorable with a little muss and fuss. Plus, it has a clean title. It even starts (although we have no key), runs, drives and stops!

Looking For A Good Home...
Hopefully, these units will find a good home. We could have parted them out ourselves, but we are hopeful that someone will want to invest the time and money required in making them real show-stoppers, again. However, we have no restrictions on thier sale, as we know there are many Ford racers who might want that 429 Thunder Jet engine and 9 inch rear end, as well.

Other Vehicles For Sale:
Syd's Eastside Auto Parts always has a selection of used vehicles listed for sale online in the Used Cars & Trucks For Sale section of the website, if you aren't interested in investing a ton of money and time to restore an older classic car or truck, but would like to find a good running vehicle.

UPDATE (April 4th, 2008):
Although neither vehicle sold last week, there was quite a bit of interest in both of them. We might be selling the Thunderbird to a private party soon, and we are looking into getting a title for the abandoned Chevrolet 4100 dump truck.

Thanks to all who expressed an interest in these vehicles or even just checked them out!

-Syd's Eastside