Cheapskate Alternatives to Rally Cars: A Driver's Delight

If you want to experience the thrill of rallying without breaking the bank, you're in luck! With options starting from just $1,000, these cheapskate alternatives offer Rorty engines, grippy handling, and special stage styling. For those who can't afford Tiff and Jason's $100,000-pound Porsche 911 rally car, these affordable options provide a taste of the real deal.

The Peugeot 106 Rally is one such alternative that has become a collector's car. Initially created as a stripped-down version of the 106 GTI, it boasts a different engine compared to its bigger brother. Instead of a 1.6-liter engine, this variant comes with a 1.3-liter unit, making it far from an underpowered shopping cart. This compact French car is surprisingly tough and has been designed for international rallying. However, it's not perfect – weak engine mounts are known to be a problem. When taking it out for a test drive, keep an eye on the gearstick and floor the throttle; if the car jolts or vibrates heavily, it could indicate that at least one of the three engine mounts needs replacing (budgeting around $350). While not as potent as its counterpart, this Peugeot 106 Rally is still a fun-to-drive machine. For an additional $3,000, you can boost power without breaking the bank.

The Subaru Impreza RB5 is another sought-after option, particularly among rally enthusiasts. This shaker and pretzel of a car was made famous by Colin McRae when he won the World Rally Championship in 1995. However, this specific model was produced as a tribute to another legendary British rally driver, Richard Burns, on his return to Subaru. With its flat-4, 2-liter turbocharged engine, this Impreza is an absolute riot to drive – quick, agile, and handling superbly. Despite being tough enough for international rallying, it's not immune to rust, particularly around the rear wheel arches. Be cautious when buying from owners who claim they've replaced the arch; it may have cost $400 to weld in a new one, only for the problem to return quickly.

For those looking for even more rally stage credibility and power, the Mitsubishi Evo 6 Tommy Mackinnon is an excellent choice. Based on a humble Lancer saloon, this car has become perhaps the most revered of all modern rally cars – but also the most sought after. With its lowered suspension, quicker steering, and titanium turbo, this Evo is a beast to drive. The engine is fantastic, urging you to put your foot down and floor it again and again. While reliable, some special rally hardware requires checking over. First, ensure that the Active Your Control (AYC) light comes on when you turn the ignition and goes off after a couple of seconds. Then, take it out for a spin around a tight roundabout and listen for any unusual grinding noises or whining – these could signify differential trouble.

If you're ready to experience the thrill of rallying without breaking the bank, these cheapskate alternatives are sure to deliver. Whether you opt for the Peugeot 106 Rally, Subaru Impreza RB5, or Mitsubishi Evo 6 Tommy Mackinnon, you'll be in for a treat.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enif you want your own taste of rallying but can't afford tiff and jason's 100 000 pound porsche 911 rally car then you're in luck i've got some cheapskate alternatives rorty engines grippy handling and special stage styling these are the best cheapskate alternatives to rally car and they start from just a thousand pounds my cheapest rally refugee is a bargain-hot hatch that's fast become a collector's car the peugeot 106 rally yours from just a grand many people think this is just a stripped-down version of a 106 gti and it is to a point but they have got very different engines instead of a 1.6 liter this has got a 1.3 liter now that doesn't make it an underpowered shopping cart far from it this is a driver-focused rally car for the road this rare series one was created to compete in international rallying and of the 1000 that were made only 300 now grace our roads like a lot of small french cars the 106 rally is surprisingly tough but it's not perfect these are known to have weak engine mounts so when you're out on a test drive put your hand on the gear stick and floor the throttle if it jolts or vibrates heavily then it's a telltale sign that at least one of the three engine mounts is on its way out and you'll need to budget around 350 pounds to replace all three you won't get more fun for a thousand pounds but an extra three thousand gets you a lot more power the subaru impreza rb5 from four thousand pounds this shaker and pretzel was made famous by colin mcrae when he won the world rally championship in one in 1995. but this special rb5 edition was produced for another legendary british rally driver richard burns on his return to subaru tragically neither colin nor richard are with us today which is why this car has a very special place in history it is an absolute riot to drive it's fitted with a flat 4 2-liter turbocharged engine and it feels really quick it's such a great package it looks good and it handles superbly it's a worthy car to carry such an amazing name impretters are tough rally bread machines but even they need a careful once-over before you buy rust is quickly becoming one of the rb5s worst enemies particularly around the rear wheel arches so check for any bubbling here and beware of any owners who say that they have replaced the arch they may well have spent 400 pounds welding in a new one but this rust can come back very quickly the impreza rb5 is a superb tool but our top buy has just as much rally stage credibility and even more power the mitsubishi evo six tommy mackinnon from 7 000 pounds the evo based on a humble lancer saloon is perhaps the most revered of all modern rally cars but this one is the most sought after the tommy mackinnon edition it was built as a tribute to the driver who won four world rally championships for mitsubishi compared to a normal evo it's got a lowered suspension quicker steering and a titanium turbo the engine is fantastic and it just eggs you on to put your foot down and down and down it's so short-footed it's incredibly agile i really want one based on a japanese saloon the evo 6 is very reliable but some of the special rally hardware needs checking over let's talk active your control a system that electronically controls a car's differential to increase grip and cornering speed so first of all check that the ayc light comes on when you turn the ignition and goes off after a couple of seconds secondly when you're out on a test drive go around a really tight roundabout and listen for any weird granting noises or whining because that could signify diff trouble so if you want a taste of a rally stage but can't stretch to your own specially made rally car get one of these brilliant cheapskate alternatives instead youif you want your own taste of rallying but can't afford tiff and jason's 100 000 pound porsche 911 rally car then you're in luck i've got some cheapskate alternatives rorty engines grippy handling and special stage styling these are the best cheapskate alternatives to rally car and they start from just a thousand pounds my cheapest rally refugee is a bargain-hot hatch that's fast become a collector's car the peugeot 106 rally yours from just a grand many people think this is just a stripped-down version of a 106 gti and it is to a point but they have got very different engines instead of a 1.6 liter this has got a 1.3 liter now that doesn't make it an underpowered shopping cart far from it this is a driver-focused rally car for the road this rare series one was created to compete in international rallying and of the 1000 that were made only 300 now grace our roads like a lot of small french cars the 106 rally is surprisingly tough but it's not perfect these are known to have weak engine mounts so when you're out on a test drive put your hand on the gear stick and floor the throttle if it jolts or vibrates heavily then it's a telltale sign that at least one of the three engine mounts is on its way out and you'll need to budget around 350 pounds to replace all three you won't get more fun for a thousand pounds but an extra three thousand gets you a lot more power the subaru impreza rb5 from four thousand pounds this shaker and pretzel was made famous by colin mcrae when he won the world rally championship in one in 1995. but this special rb5 edition was produced for another legendary british rally driver richard burns on his return to subaru tragically neither colin nor richard are with us today which is why this car has a very special place in history it is an absolute riot to drive it's fitted with a flat 4 2-liter turbocharged engine and it feels really quick it's such a great package it looks good and it handles superbly it's a worthy car to carry such an amazing name impretters are tough rally bread machines but even they need a careful once-over before you buy rust is quickly becoming one of the rb5s worst enemies particularly around the rear wheel arches so check for any bubbling here and beware of any owners who say that they have replaced the arch they may well have spent 400 pounds welding in a new one but this rust can come back very quickly the impreza rb5 is a superb tool but our top buy has just as much rally stage credibility and even more power the mitsubishi evo six tommy mackinnon from 7 000 pounds the evo based on a humble lancer saloon is perhaps the most revered of all modern rally cars but this one is the most sought after the tommy mackinnon edition it was built as a tribute to the driver who won four world rally championships for mitsubishi compared to a normal evo it's got a lowered suspension quicker steering and a titanium turbo the engine is fantastic and it just eggs you on to put your foot down and down and down it's so short-footed it's incredibly agile i really want one based on a japanese saloon the evo 6 is very reliable but some of the special rally hardware needs checking over let's talk active your control a system that electronically controls a car's differential to increase grip and cornering speed so first of all check that the ayc light comes on when you turn the ignition and goes off after a couple of seconds secondly when you're out on a test drive go around a really tight roundabout and listen for any weird granting noises or whining because that could signify diff trouble so if you want a taste of a rally stage but can't stretch to your own specially made rally car get one of these brilliant cheapskate alternatives instead you\n"