Wolves in sheep's clothing: sports versions of ordinary cars - how many use them?

Many conventional compact or mid-range cars are also available in sporty versions that feature powerful engines, aggressive styling and rich equipment. We check how much you have to pay for such cars in the secondary market.

Sporty versions of regular cars have been created to offer customers a reasonably priced replacement for the rally experience. Such cars have critics who point out that only a car built from scratch as a sports car can give a truly exciting experience, everything else is ersatz.

But there are supporters of such cars, and there are probably more dissatisfied ones, since many brands offer just such cars. We will look at some of them and check their position in the secondary market. We have selected several popular models from the compact and middle class segment.

In a pumped up body

Almost every production car from these segments in a sporty design seduces with a well-tuned body. Stylists add spoilers, overlays, larger alloy wheels and other visual elements to make the exterior more attractive and stand out from other versions of this model.

The same goes for the cab. At the same time, in addition to sporty accents and better finishing materials, there is also richer equipment.

There are other features as well, such as a sports suspension (often lowered), a sports exhaust system, bodywork details and eye-catching paintwork.

Ford Focus ST and RS

The Ford Focus ST was first introduced in 2004 with the second generation of this compact (although its ancestor was an earlier generation Focus - a version of the ST 170 with a 173 hp gasoline engine).

The 2004 Focus ST featured a 2,5-liter Duratec turbocharged petrol engine with 225 hp. In addition, it also differed from the regular Focus in a sports body, limited slip differential, rims and exhaust system.

The third generation Ford Focus ST is equipped with a 250-liter EcoBoost petrol engine with XNUMX hp. and is available as a five-door hatchback or station wagon.

The offer of used Ford Focus ST is not overwhelming, but interesting offers can be found. Prices range from about 15 thousand. PLN (2004) to about 99 thousand. (2013).

View offers of used Ford Focus ST

More powerful engines and a three-door body with an aggressive design were the hallmarks of the Ford Focus RS, created on the basis of the second generation of this compact MPV. A real wolf in sheep's clothing appeared in 2009. The car had a 2.5 turbo engine from the Focus ST under the hood, but here it reached 305 hp. However, the drive was still only forward. The limited version of this car - Focus RS500 - had a 350 hp engine. These cars are a real rarity, rarely seen in advertising. Prices range from around PLN 70 (2009) to almost PLN 90. złoty (2010) 

View offers of used Ford Focus RS

Opinions on used cars:

Ford Focus II - driver reviews of used cars

Ford Focus III - driver reviews of used cars

Ford Mondeo ST

A sports version of the Mondeo ST has been offered since 1997 (one year after the premiere of the second generation Mondeo). The car with a four-door body was equipped with a 6-liter V2,5 gasoline engine with a capacity of 170 hp. Two years later, the ST250 version was launched with a boost to 6 hp. 2.5 liter V205 engine.

In the third generation Mondeo (since 2000), the ST220 version was offered, under the hood of which there was already a 3-liter V6 engine with 226 hp. Bodies: four- and five-door and station wagon.

Although the Ford Mondeo ST version was also sold by the Polish dealer network, the supply on the secondary market is very scarce.

See used Ford Mondeo ST offers

Opinions on used cars:

Ford Mondeo Mk 2 - driver reviews of used cars

Ford Mondeo Mk 3 - driver reviews of used cars

Honda Civic Type R

The production of this car began with the sixth generation of the Japanese compact (2001). Under the hood was a 1,6-liter VTEC gasoline engine with 185 hp. However, soon a 2-liter i-VTEC engine with 200 hp was used for the drive. It is one of the few naturally aspirated engines in its class.

The third version of the Civic Type R was introduced in 2007. First as a sedan (rare in Europe) and then as a hatchback. Both versions had a 2-liter engine - the sedan had a power of 225 hp, and the hatchback had 201 hp. There was also a limited edition Mugen RR with a 2,2 VTEC engine with 260 hp.

The offer of "erek" in the secondary market is not too large. Prices are not rigid. Since the same year, for example 2004, you can find a car for 27 thousand. zlotys and for 33,5 thousand zlotys.

View offers of used Honda Civic Type R

Opinions on used cars

Honda Civic VI - driver reviews of used cars

Honda Civic VII - Used Car Driver Reviews

Honda Civic VIII - Used Car Driver Reviews

Opel Astra OPC

The car under this name first appeared in 1999. It was an Astra II model with a 160 hp petrol engine. in the hatchback version. Three years later, a wagon was added, equipped with a 2.0 hp 192 engine, the power of which was soon increased to 200 hp.

Soon this power unit was also installed in three- and five-door versions.

The third generation Astra OPC (since 2005) received a two-liter engine with 240 hp.

There are probably not very many OPC asters on the secondary market, but if you choose this model, you will definitely find something. Many used cars came to Poland as part of private imports. Prices - from approx. 12 thousand. złoty (2003) to about 55 thousand. złoty (2011)

View offers of used Opel Astra OPC

Opinions on used cars

Opel Astra II (G) - driver reviews of used cars

Opel Astra III (H) - driver reviews of used cars

Opel Vectra ORS

Vectra OPC appeared in 2005, that is, in fact, almost at the end of the production of this model (Vectra was produced until 2008). The car appeared both in a sedan and in a station wagon body.

Initially, a version with a supercharged 2,8-liter engine with 255 hp was offered. A little over a year later, the unit received another 25 horses.

In Poland, deliveries of this car are small. We found only a few copies of 2006-2008. Prices from 21 thousand to 38 thousand zlotys. zloty.

See offers for used Opel Vectra OPC

Opinions on used cars

Opel Vectra C - driver reviews of used cars

Renault Megan RS

The French brand started producing the RS version only after the second generation Megane hit the market in 2002. A little later, the RS was offered in a three- or five-door body.

A 2-litre 224 hp petrol engine was used as a power plant, the power of which was soon increased to 230 hp. To this was added the RS with a diesel engine. The two-liter turbocharged unit develops 173 hp.

Renault Megane RS III debuted in 2009. This time it was only a three-door version, and a 2 hp 250-litre engine was used to drive.

Used Mégane RSs start at around 24. zloty. (2004) to over PLN 88 (2013).

View offers of used Renault Megane RS

Opinions on used cars

Renault Megane II - driver reviews of used cars

Renault Megane III - driver reviews of used cars

Seat Leon Kupra

Seat started producing the Leon in 1999. Soon the most powerful version of this model, Cupra, appeared on sale. Under the hood is a 1,8 turbocharged petrol engine with 180 hp. Soon this unit was increased to 210 hp. (Cupra R), and later up to 225 hp.

In some countries, the Leon Cupra 4 TDI was briefly offered - a 4 × 4 version with a 1,9-liter turbodiesel with 150 hp.

In 2005, the Leon II appeared, which was also offered in the Cupra version. This time, a 2-liter TSI petrol engine with 241 hp was used to drive. In the Cupra R version, this unit had a power of 265 hp. There was also a limited edition Cupra 310, in which the engine of the same size developed 310 hp.

In the secondary market, the Cupra is not a very common version of the Leon. Prices range from about 15 thousand. PLN (2000), up to about 55 thousand. złoty (2010).

See used Seats Leon Cupra

Opinions on used cars

Seat Leon I - driver reviews of used cars

Seat Leon II - driver reviews of used cars

Skoda Octavia RS

The RS version entered the offer with the introduction of the second generation Octavia (since 2004). The offer included both available body styles (liftback and station wagon). Two engines have been proposed. The top is a 2-liter TSI petrol engine with 200 hp. A weaker unit is a 2-liter TDI turbodiesel with a power of 170 hp. (on sale since 2006).

Octavia is a very popular car in Poland. This also applies to the RS version, although, of course, in the correct proportion. The advantage is that most of the cars offered on the secondary market come from Polish car dealerships.

Prices in the secondary market range from about 24 thousand. złoty (2005) to 84 thousand. złoty (2012).

View used Skoda Octavia RS

Opinions on used cars

Skoda Octavia I - driver reviews of used cars

Skoda Octavia II - driver reviews of used cars

Volkswagen Golf GTI

Among sports versions of ordinary cars, this model has one of the longest histories - it has been on the market since 1976. However, we are interested in the two penultimate generations of this car - V (2003-2009) and VI (2009-2012).

The Friday generation Golf GTI is available with a 2 or 200 hp 230 TSI petrol engine. The sixth generation Golf GTI may have a 2.0 TSI engine with 210 hp under the hood. or 2.0 TSI with 235 hp

The aftermarket offer of the Golf GTI is great, but we advise you to look into the V and VI models. The earlier ones are already quite exploited. Prices for the Golf GTI V range from about PLN 20. PLN (2-005) up to 36 thousand. złoty (2008). Prices for copies of the next generation range from 34 thousand. złoty (2009) to about 80 thousand. zloty.

View used Volkswagen Golf GTI offers

Opinions on used cars

Volkswagen Golf V - driver reviews of used cars

Volkswagen Golf VI - driver reviews of used cars

According to the expert

Piotr Gurawski, mechanic from the Tricity.

Sports versions of regular cars entice many potential buyers, but most of them do not consider that the operation of such a car is more expensive. It's not just about fuel consumption, it's also about maintenance. The engines of these vehicles are built to last, but only if they are serviced regularly and properly. These units operate under heavy load, so they should be filled with branded oil, preferably one recommended by the car manufacturer. Also, these tend to be turbocharged engines and the turbocharger is a delicate device. Any neglect can avenge its failure or even complete ruin. Therefore, it must be remembered that immediately after a long drive, especially at high speeds, do not turn off the engine, but wait at least a minute until the compressor cools down. If you are going to buy a sports car from a compact or mid-range class, you should also remember that although they are built on a scale design, some components may differ. For example, some body parts, suspension and brakes, like Brembo. When buying such a car, you also need to be sensitive to emergency vehicles, because, unfortunately, there are a lot of them. This is the main disadvantage of such cars. 

Wojciech Frölichowski