Could be in the Market for a BRM.....

200SEI · Post by **200SEI** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 8:41 pm

Hello people....

Haven't been on here for ages!

Anyway, as the Fiesta Zetec-S is now becoming rather common with the rudeboys round here (and im getting bored) and i want a car that handles and drives aswell but a little rarer, BRM fits the bill!

Im just after advice really, im gathering info on that and the other possibility the peugeot 306 GTi-6.

What goes wrong, things to look out for..

Im aware of head gasket issues with the K and i know the PG1 dosen't do to well in the T16 Turbo if its been driven hard, im guessing it lives well with the little VVC unit.

PS....The fiesta is exibiting allergic reactions to the atmosphere in the form of rust (on a 3 1/2 year old car). Pleeeeeaaasse don't tell me the 200 is the same.

Post by **MarkCoupe** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 9:00 pm

Yeah they all rust, my mate paid 4.5k for his which was (i believe) a 52 plate, with 31k, it was rusting under some of the seals which is appalling.

Anyhoo, BRM is a sweet car, they dont suffer from rust so long as theyve been cleaned regularly, same as any other mk3. Also you get the torsen B which is always a bonus, just remember to don some sunglasses when driving as the interior is a little loud!

Sheaf · Post by **Sheaf** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 9:40 pm

You could always go for a turbo one...

http://www.rovertech.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=42610

C2K · Post by **C2K** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 10:27 pm

Out of the two, i'd take the GTi6 in all honesty and pocket some cash. You get a great handling car straight out the box (167 brake too), and they respond well to tuning. Test drive one, but get as late as you can afford.

chris620ti · Post by **chris620ti** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 12:33 pm

Sheaf wrote:You could always go for a turbo one...

http://www.rovertech.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=42610

Very off topic I know, but I have been thinking about jazzing up my engine bay with those hose cover thingys. Look quite effective I think with the avantage of being dead easy to fit.

ryan_220 · Post by **ryan_220** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 2:43 pm

If your going to get a GTI-6. Get the RALLYE !!! as there lighter and have the same engine, only prob is they tend to hold there money the rallye does. My sisters boy friends got a 306 rallye a red one, cool car. I drove it once for about 10mile on B roads its quite rapid, but then again my BRM is as well

How old are you mate ever thought of a 220 turbo. Iam only 20 and they ent that expencive just depends on how much you put your foot down and the running cost ent that fun. But i get a big fat

when i drive it.

BRM`s are cool, light weight and are different, the trim dont look that bad you get used to it after a short time. Not that i would know i never drive mine :roll:

You can get 158bhp quite easy out of them and are easy to tweek and work on

And are rapid just like the GTI-6. Just dont put a body kit on it, its just rong.

C2K · Post by **C2K** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 8:37 pm

I thought the idea of the Rallye's were to have feck all in them though, it's just a gutted GTi6 in honesty. Depends what you fancy I suppose.

Tahiti · Post by **Tahiti** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 4:55 pm

If you get a good BRM, you'll be laughing. A good friend of mine had a GTi-6 and it wasn't any faster than my old BRM point to point. The red leather is a bit bright to start with but grows on you, however the front seats aren't as grippy as you might hope when tearing around.

Things to look out for: -

* Missing trim. It never fails to amaze me how many of them are missing odd shiny bits from inside the car
* Head Gasket - as you mentioned
* Noisy VVC mech - they go on for a while like it, but cost a small fortune to sort if they do go wrong
* Whiney gearboxes (even low mileage ones). Before I found mine, I saw two others with this issue
* non matching panels (paint colour)

Hope that helps.

Rob

Post by **Stu** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 5:15 pm

The good thing is that a minter should cost no more than Â£1500 max.

They are always being advertised at silly money, but hardly ever sell easily and end up going for an absolute steal.

Jonny 5 · Post by **Jonny 5** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 5:22 pm

Woa crazy cheap

The BRM has the torSen too

C2K · Post by **C2K** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 8:04 pm

Tahiti wrote:If you get a good BRM, you'll be laughing. A good friend of mine had a GTi-6 and it wasn't any faster than my old BRM point to point.

Not being funny, but having driven both a bubble 200 and a 306 - i'd take the 306 anyday of the week. He should have had no trouble leaving you in the twisties even if it was close in a straight line. Either yours is well modded, or he couldn't drive for $hit.

Jonny 5 · Post by **Jonny 5** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 8:11 pm

BRM is a totally different kettle of fish to a boggo bubble.

LSD will make a huge difference.

C2K · Post by **C2K** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 8:13 pm

As will 6 gears and a sorted chassis.

Jonny 5 · Post by **Jonny 5** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 8:53 pm

6 gears? Not really.

200 and 306 are pretty damn similar setups TBH. Mcfront and a swing arm type rear. Anyway your comparing totally different price brackets here. Pug like any PSA has well valved dampers and good long travel suspension, the chassis is nothing remarkable tho.

LSD is what makes a FWD car go from handling well to having impressive corner exit speeds, the BRM was pretty much a development mule for what became the ZR's.

C2K · Post by **C2K** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 9:14 pm

I never brought the two price brackets into it.

I know which i'd have.

Sheaf · Post by **Sheaf** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 10:41 pm

I've been in a lowered coupe turbo following a middle aged woman in a 306 round twisty devon roads... it was only a 1.6 but boy did it fly round the corners.
The coupe was staying with it, but only because it was so much quicker on the straights.

Although the fact that the woman is a bit of a nutter driver may have come into it.

Either way, the 306 definatley handles well. I'd imagine the Gti-6 is a very fun car.

Jonny 5 · Post by **Jonny 5** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 11:29 pm

C2K wrote:I never brought the two price brackets into it.

I know which i'd have.

Yeah an Integra Sir-G

200SEI · Post by **200SEI** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 6:12 pm

I think ill have to test drive both cars to make a decision.

A 306 dosen't have the greatest chassis in the world, but neither does my fiesta and although less powerful than my last coupe, it would destroy it down the twisties. Its go kart ness is enough to keep up with my mates RS focus (apart from straights).

ryan_220 · Post by **ryan_220** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 7:24 pm

I have drove both

306 Rallye, a light weight GTI-6. It was lowered and had a De-cat.
200 BRM LE, with only 2k on the clock. So brand new and un-modded.

I wouldent say there is much in it at all. The Pug being faster! but tweek the BRM to 158bhp and i wouldent say theres anything in it, then Lower the BRM with it haveing 160ish BHP and with the LSD and i would be sat on the pugs donkey boy. But then again it depends on the driver and how well you know the roads to be honest.

200SEI · Post by **200SEI** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 6:33 pm

Whats the trick for 158 Bhp then?

The ECU inlet manifold and Throttle body? Or is the head itself different?

ryan_220 · Post by **ryan_220** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 8:54 pm

You dont need the 160ps head to get 160ps or 158bhp just De-cat and s/s exhaust, clean the welds out on the exhaust manifold with a file works a treat. Then a 52mmTB and a better filter and you should be around that mark. Get your fly lightend and a piper exh cam and you should be above 158bhp with a bit of luck

But i could be rong.

darwin · Post by **darwin** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 9:33 pm

No less than 3 BRMs on eBay at the mo.