Ten Grand, Ten Turbocharged Tearaways

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Chris Pollitt

The internet, so we’re reliably informed, loves a list. Which is why we have exactly that right here for your reading pleasure. But it’s a good list, one that celebrates one of the greatest things to happen to the automobile – the turbocharger. 

Today, the turbocharger is a common automotive feature. Boffins have realised that it’s more than a performance tool, and is in fact a great way to lower emissions. By adding in forced induction to help shove a car along, the actual engines need only be tiny. This is why you can buy a three-cylinder Ford Focus 1.0-litre or a massive Skoda Octavia with a 1.2. The turbo gives them more pickup and more torque, but without the need for more, you know, engine. Clever. 

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Back in the day, however, back when all this was just fields, the moniker of ‘turbo’ on a car was something that gave petrolheads ‘the fizz’. It meant power, it meant performance and it meant that the car with the spooling snail was just… better. The RS Turbo, the 911 Turbo, Lotus Esprit Turbo, the Renault 5 Turbo. They were all deeply exciting. But they’re also now deeply expensive. But don’t fret. If you’ve got ten grand to spend, you can still get yourself a turbocharged car from a time when turbocharging was truly exciting. 

1) Celica GT-4

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One thing that pulled the turbo into the world of mainstream cars of course motorsport. If road cars that you or I could buy from the dealership had a turbo, then the manufacturers could rally them. And by them, we mean cars like the Toyota Celica. The GT-4 version, with four cylinders of turbocharged fury and all-wheel drive, was an animal. In the stages, piloted by the likes of Carlos Sainz, it would go on to be the world championship winner. And it would also become a legend because of some weapons-grade motorsport cheating, but it’s up to you whether or not you see that as a good thing!

2) Saab 9000 CS

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When it comes to turbocharged cars, your mind is of course going to wander over to Sweden. The Swedes love a bit of forced induction. And normally, on an internet-based list such as this, you would expect to see a 900. But not here, add a zero. We’re celebrating the Saab 9000. In particular, the later 9000 CS. The CS means ‘combi sedan’. Looks of a saloon, sort of, with the huge boot of a hatch. Perfect, then, for family duties. Get yourself an Aero model with the 2.3 and you’ll have 225bhp on tap. Nice. 

3) Volvo 850 T5

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Staying in Sweden, we have the Volvo 850, or more specifically the T5. Fitted with a 20-valve five-cylinder engine, this Swedish bruiser was responsible for Volvo being seen in a new light. Before this, the cars were staid, sensible things. The T5 changed all that, as did the R, especially if ordered in yellow (the best colour). Add in the history-making 850 estate that shook up the British Touring Car Championship and you’re left with a legend of a car. 

4) Fiat 20V Coupe

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There was a time when the Fiat Coupe was at the bottom of the depreciation curve. You could buy a minter for a couple of grand. Now though, times have changed and the Coupe is a hot little item. The five-cylinder 20v Turbo model is the one to have. Oodles of power and a clever Viscodrive limited-slip differential meant it was, and still is, a brilliant way to tear up the tarmac. Plus, let’s be honest, the Chris Bangle design is stunning. Reason enough to buy one.

5) Subaru Impreza

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Ten grand is, somewhat depressingly, pushing it for getting an Impreza. Like all past rally legends, cars that were once cheap are now on the up. However, sub £10k are out there, but they won’t be for long. The distinctive ‘wobwobwob’ of that flat-four engine is too much to resist for many, so they sell fast. If you do get one, though, you get all-wheel drive, you get glorious amounts of power and you also get a thriving aftermarket that will support you on your ownership journey. Just don’t put ‘555’ graphics on it. You’re better than that.

6) Bentley Turbo R

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Everybody loves a bit of bargain posh, and there are few posher than the Bentley Turbo R. A turbocharged V8 delivering around 300bhp and near-as-dammit 500lb-ft, it might have been a big old hector, but it could hustle. Your £10,000 is going to get you an ‘80s Turbo R, which is a proper bit of old school posh. Powerful, but with impressive poise for a massive car (the suspension was heavily re-worked and stiffened), there are few finer ways to go fast. Just try and avoid fitting a dump valve. It’s not very becoming of such a regal machine.

7) Nissan Silvia S12

turbocharged, classic car, retro car, motoring, automotive, car and classic, carandclassic.co.uk, Toyota, Celica, Toyota Celica GT-4, GT-4, Saab 9000, Volvo, Volvo 850, T5, 850T5, Subaru, Impreza, Subaru Impreza, WRX, Bentley, Bentley Turbo R, Audi, TT, Audi TT, Rover 800, Rover Vitesse, Lotus, Elan, M100, Lotus Elan, Lotus M100

Okay, so you have to find one, but trust us, they are out there. When it comes to turbocharged JDM machinery, the mind often wanders to the aforementioned Impreza, or to offerings from Nissan like the 180SX, the 200SX and the 300ZX. All good cars, of course, but also a bit common in the JDM arena. So how about an S12 Silvia? The forgotten ‘80s legend. Fitted with a powerful CA18DET four-cylinder engine, it had 130bhp, which was more than enough to make the 1,170kg car come alive. Plus, it had pop-up headlights. And they’re always a winner.

8) Audi TT

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The TT was a car that, when it was launched, we were desperate to get our hands-on. So much so that importing left-hand drive cars was a huge thing. Soon though, we got proper, bona fide RHD cars and with them, the love affair started. The TT was a design icon, it was beautifully built and of course, it was fast. The now-legendary 1.8 20V turbo engine was available with 185bhp or 225bhp. The Quattro all-wheel-drive was and still is excellent and, well, it was just a brilliant little car. Early machines are still cheap, but they are on the rise for really tidy examples. Get one while you can. Definite future classic fodder, this. 

9) Rover 800 Vitesse

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This may be biased, given we have one (pictured) but don’t scoff. The Rover 800 Vitesse, by which we mean the later T Series engine cars, was a seriously powerful bit of kit. The twin-cam, 16-valve engine was fitted with an intercooled T25 turbo. The transmission was a five-speed manual with Torsen limited-slip differential. It developed near as dammit 200bhp and was a riot to drive. You got top-level kit, too, like climate control on later cars, Recaro trim, big 17-inch alloy wheels (again, on later cars). It was a beast. It’s now a rare thing though, so if you see one, snap it up. You won’t regret it. 

10) Lotus Elan M100

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Lotus, the father of ‘adding lightness’, didn’t disappoint with the Elan M100. it was a big car for the company, the one that would put it back on the map. The Elan name carried serious responsibility though, so they had to get it right. Imagine, then, what we thought when we found out it was going to be front-wheel drive? We needn’t worry though. The 997kg two-seater was a proper Lotus. A chassis to die for, a 160bhp turbocharged four-cylinder engine from Isuzu of all people gave it speed aplenty. It was, make no mistake, a belter. One of those cars you simply need to experience first-hand.

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