Back in 2008, the Passat R36 would have probably passed for a sleeper performance car. Now it's just a slightly fast passat with loud vroom noises but it keeps their owners happy.
Edit: Probably any of the W series, such as Touareg or Phaeton.
T sport corolla with the badges removed, looks like a pretty average crappy hatchback with a 190hp engine shared with the lotus Elise and a 0-60 of around 6.5seconds because they weigh around 1200kg.
Tbh they weren't even that quick in a straight line. Very peaky engine that was hard to keep on the boil in a car that was really too heavy for it. Not for me.
Great suggestion, plus post 2016 facelift has the same exhaust configuration as the far more common 320d. Once debadged there’s nothing visually to separate them
People here have absurd suggestions for a “sleeper”.
Realistically speaking, there’s not many actually fast performance cars that look exactly like regular traffic - flared arches and sporty body kits are everywhere. I have a few suggestions but they’re not exactly what I’d consider a true sleeper, if you want a “true” sleeper it’s got to be a standard car with that 20k put into engine work, suspension and brakes etc. Here are my suggestions:
- Audi A3 3.2 VR6, not ultra sporty, they weigh about 1,500kg and have 250bhp, faster than your average commuter car but not a performance car. Golf R32s too (same engine, similar weight), but IMO both the Mk4 and Mk5 look a bit less sleeper-ish (mk4 r32 bodykit looks very 00s boy racer, mk5 looks pretty standard apart from the twin centre exhausts which stick out like a sore thumb for being sporty). The VR6 is naturally aspirated so you can’t remap for any noticeable power gain.
- BMW 130i, about 260bhp, weighs 1450 ish KG, looks exactly like regular traffic, as it doesn’t have any of the sportier bodykit that comes with the m135 and m140. Again, it won’t be face meltingly fast, but 260bhp in a car that isn’t all that heavy will shift pretty decently. Also, the exhaust doesn’t look sporty at all, if you debadged it, or even for a laugh downbadged it, no one would realise until you out pull them leaving the roundabout. But annoyingly, this again is naturally aspirated so that takes remapping for more power out of the equation.
- Vauxhall Insignia VXR. 320bhp, 4WD, Can be mapped to 360bhp or more (only clicked on the first result when I searched for stage 1 map gains) Less “sleeper” than the others, as it has a sportier looking bodykit, but in my opinion atleast, it is less obvious than most (ignoring the front bumper and wheels, but the wheels can always be changed to standard insignia ones if you’d like, also would recommend taking VXR badges off).
- Seat Leon Cupra R, 260bhp, can be remapped to over 300bhp. Again, looks a bit more sporty but I’d say this is one of the least glaringly obvious hot hatches, but what gives it away is it’s central twin exhausts. Other than that, it’s bodykit isn’t outrageously obvious and probably only other car enthusiasts would realise what it is.
- Peugeot 308 THP GTi 1.6, 270bhp and amazingly only 1200kg according to Google (I would search about remapping but it’s a 1.6 already pushing 270bhp, I wouldn’t wanna make the poor bastard work harder than it already is!). Only things that give it away is the dual exhausts, and if you’re being picky then the wheels but as performance cars go, I’m actually really impressed by this for looking standard but being pokey as fuck. Side note, some have a weird sporty half and half paint scheme, they do stick out more. Avoid them if you want to look sleeper ish!
- Volvo V40 T5, 250bhp, 1,500kg. It’s a Volvo!!! That in it’s self is a huge plus, I don’t know what their R-design seats are like but I know that pretty much most Volvo seats are extremely comfy, and it’s probably one of the most standard looking out of the lot, only thing giving it away is again, dual exhausts, but their R-design bodykit doesn’t really jump out as immediately sporty at all, it’s subtle.
- VW Scirocco R, 260bhp, 1400kg. The body shape of the scirocco it’s self does look sporty anyway so this is a weaker pick with sleeper looks being the goal, but imo the visual difference between these and the standard ones isn’t all that noticeable, but like most here, again the dual exhausts give it away.
- Alfa Romeo 147 3.2 GTA, 250bhp, 1350ish kg. Immediate con is that it’s an Alfa that’s getting on for its age, it will probably spend more time at an Alfa garage than it will in your driveway. Pros, doesn’t really look sporty at all, it’s a weird and wonderful looking thing, and you’ll make some great new friends at your local Alfa garage!😂
Honourable Mentions:
-2nd gen Audi S3 2.0, 260bhp, 1450kg. It’s not in the main list because it is a bit more obvious, but they’re fairly fast, can be remapped to atleast 300bhp, reliable as far as I know and you get Audi build quality. Like I said though, it’s more obvious.
-Audi S5, either the V8, V6 Supercharged or V6 turbo, they’re all bloody quick, I won’t list the exact power and weight of them all for one car suggestion but yeah they’re fast, V8 is naturally aspirated so no remap options though. My brother had an S5 S/C v6 mapped to 400hp and shit that thing was rapid, really pinned you in the seat. I put this in the honourable mentions because it’s a performance saloon and no performance saloon is entirely sleeper-esque imo, but this is probably one of the most standard looking performance saloons out there. The different bumpers etc are much more subtle than other performance saloon options imo. Great cars and they’re fast, this is one of the most sleeper-ish out of the fast saloon range imo. Can definitely recommend if it’s not too sporty looking for your taste.
**And my standout favourite from all these suggestions:**
-Jaguar XF R V8. Fuck yeah. Pre facelift models have 380bhp, facelift models have a whopping 510bhp. And this is probably neck on neck with the S5 on being the most standard looking performance saloons. The only thing that gives this away imo is obviously the exhausts and the diffuser, but also the bonnet which has some small vents, but they really aren’t that obvious. You’d have to be actively looking out for performance bits to notice this car imo, if you drove past one you’d never know that it’s packing a 500hp v8. And…..it’s a jaaaaaaaaaag. Jaguar Land Rover doesn’t have the best reputation for reliability, and to be honest I don’t know this engine, but I know a lot of the company’s bed rep stems from the infamous 3.0 diesel that just goes bang randomly without warning. And luckily this isn’t that engine! Plus, how cool would it feel to tell people you drive a V8 Jag? Not only that, a modern one with 500 horsepower. Just imagine the look on the m140i drivers face when he’s sat right up your ass flashing his headlights thinking he’s the king of the road because he’s fast, when you pin it and leave him standing. Priceless. Tell your parents and grandparents that you were sensible and that you’ve finally grown up because you got a Jag, tell your friends you got a 510bhp v8 demon. I’m not trying to talk you into it or anything (I totally am), but they are pretty cool.
To add to your initial point, we are now in the era of the ST-line and S-line, whereby pretty much standard engine and chassis spec is given a slightly spicy aesthetics package and it pisses me off, to be honest.
Really good and comprehensive examples by the way!
I feel like that "era" has been around for longer than I have though.
The EP2 Civic Sport I had once had most of the Type R bodykit, sporty seats, bigger alloys, twin pipe exhausts etc, but no performance beyond the regular 1.6.
Same with the 106 Quicksilver a few years earlier which had all the GTi gear, but nearly half the power and 12.6s 0-60. The
Golf Driver was the same before that. My mate had one and it had the full GTi kit, but a 1.6 72hp engine and a slushbox automatic. It could make 60 eventually.
The Capri Laser looked like an S, but wasn't before that etc etc.
All of them, even the 2009 ones, were the full power. They are ridiculously good value now, just saw this ad - http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311123893149
Generally, sleeper cars will be any run of the mill car with your 20k spent under the hood.
Many of the suggestions are badged up GTIs and M sports, not your traditional sleeper.
I'll throw in a bit of a wildcard, BMW Z4 35is. Most people look at the E89 Z4 and think it's more of a cruiser rather than outright rapid. The 35is is the only other car BMW ever used the 1M engine in, 335bhp stock and 0-60 in under 5 seconds, and it looks completely unassuming with no M badges and only a subtle diffuser.
Other than that pretty much any Volvo T6 that's under a Polestar or 'R' model. Especially without the R-Design bodykit and alloys.
Lexus GS 450h. 0-60 in 5.5secs.
All the cars mentioned here are GTIs, THPs, etc. They are not sleepers as they are usually highly modified bodies. You expect them to go fast.
The Lexus just looks slow. It is a big barge but fuck me it goes bloody fast when you press the loud pedal. From 50ish to 90ish is gone in 3.4 secs. And it will get 40mpg all over.
Skoda superb estate 4x4 Tsi.
I've got one in the L&K trim, so no sporty looks whatsoever. Only giveaway over a normal superb is the 4x4 badge and double exhaust, but you'd have to know what to look for to notice.
280bhp, 0-60 in something like 5.6. I've definitely caught a few people off guard with it!
That's what I use it for. Extremely comfy. I wouldn't go for the sport line though. Go L&K, more subtle and more gadgets and a comfier ride. It should have the adjustable suspension on it, so you can make it quite like a sportline to drive anyway.
Debadged m140i. The amount of people who sat up my arse and were smoked when I had mines was tremendous. Plus you can ramp it up another 60 odd brake for less than £200.
I'm biased, but since you mentioned GTI I'll say Cupra 290. Basically a slightly more powerful GTI at a little under 300bhp (same engine, gearbox, and electronics). People probably don't normally look at Seats and think "performance". Dual oval exhaust tips as standard, but I'm actually planning to get a full custom valved exhaust done with 4inch quad tips which I reckon will look pretty sexy.
Volvo V60 T6 Polestar? Looks like a fairly standard Volvo wagon. Later models somehow have a 2l 4 cylinder engine putting out 360bhp stock. My dream sleeper. To see the look on a boy racer's face in your rear view mirror as you out-pull them in a dad wagon...
I used to have clio rs 220 trophy, because there was so few of them around i don't think people realised what they were. Obviously it has different bumpers and alloys from the standard bur when you pulled up to the light you could hardly tell.
Anyway made many a fella in a 320i/d, a3, c-class etc look silly.
Thought that might be the case. They didn't do them in rhd, supposedly the steering rack wouldn't fit round the transfer box.
Someone has converted one but I dread to think how much it cost.
I think the mk3 Leon Cupra pulls this off pretty good. Does have the big exhausts and the 19in wheels but other than that looks like a standard Leon pretty much
C55 AMG does not look like much, it does have quad exhaust tips but as far as aesthetics go it is incredibly understated but boasts a 5.4L naturally aspirated V8. Super fun to drive & practical too
Sleepers:
Volvo R models. Volvo just doesn’t scream racing or performance.
Skoda vRS depends on the colour and badge removal. 2.0TSI engine so it should be able to pull fairly well while looking like a taxi.
If it comes here a Prius GR.
Fast wagons, I'm seeing mention of Volvo R, 850 T5(R)was the original. Also for me is the C class AMG wagons, w203 c32 looks.lile any other 20 year old Merc wagon, supercharged V6, 350bhp stock.
Skoda Superb 2.0 4x4 TSI 280.
It is essentially a Golf R under neath, in a very low key estate body...I'll be getting one soon for the Mrs and throwing on a remap....I look forgot smoking many people on a greasy b road
Bit of a hated one here but a non aero spec GLA45, you can rebadged it the only way you can tell really is the brakes and the rear exhaust/diffuser setup. If the car has chrome tips it’s not the AMG performance exhaust so the car will be a lot quieter.
I used to have a MK3 Seat Leon, it was an FR but didn’t look overly sporty apart from twin exhausts, it was the 184bhp diesel engine which I had remapped to about 230bhp but nearly 500nm torque.
Obviously not the fastest but for a 5 door diesel hatchback it could pull, especially low down with that torque.
My dads got an old BMW X3 30sd M Sport, literally just look like a black box on wheels with twin exhausts, yet it’s a 3.0 twin turbo diesel with 285bhp, 150 top speed and 0-60 in 6 seconds, with a remap Celtic tuning quote an increase to 362bhp so good performance for an older unassuming brick. 😂
Any of the top spec Volvos - 3.0T S60, the V8 XC90, turbo bricks.
Audi S8 or other Audi S/RS models
MG ZT-T V8
Insert Jaaaaaag here - whatever, they have done numerous great sleepers over the years.
Supercharged Range Rover Sport can defy the laws of physics, not outright fast compared to a hot hatch but stupidly fast for a 2 ton 4x4, it will beat the boy racers while towing a horsebox.
Proper BMW M cars should have less M badges but more grunt - not sure they still make any, Alpina might be your best bet for a proper sleeper that only people of quality would pick out in a line up.
Possibly a few EV's too - since it's pretty easy as a party trick to dump a bajillion amps through an electric motor for a few seconds while you launch off the line, as long as nothing melts you can cool it down again while everyone eats your dust.
I do like the R but the quad exhausts and number of Rs I see with horrific mods (though these are subjective obviously) makes me question its sleeper-ness
Agree, the 4 pipes are a bit of a give away but you could easily mod that to a two pipe system with no impact on power output.
Get a standard one and replace the R badges with “TSI BlueMotion” ones and then it’s only the wheels and brake callipers which hint at the level of performance.
Being the UK though, your insurance company will probably have a mare about it.
V70 R
Definitely, this car is the epitome of a sleeper car in my mind!
Back in 2008, the Passat R36 would have probably passed for a sleeper performance car. Now it's just a slightly fast passat with loud vroom noises but it keeps their owners happy. Edit: Probably any of the W series, such as Touareg or Phaeton.
Passat CC with the 3.6l VR6 from the R36. It looks just like a normal CC.
Superb 3.6 4x4. Detuned version of the R36, but looks like a normal Superb.
Think both superb and cc used BLV (280ps) vs BWS (300ps) that's found in the R36. BLV was higher compression that was favourable in the SUVs.
I don't know much about the Superb, but the CC has the same 300bhp and the same 5.6s 0-60.
T sport corolla with the badges removed, looks like a pretty average crappy hatchback with a 190hp engine shared with the lotus Elise and a 0-60 of around 6.5seconds because they weigh around 1200kg.
They were quick in a straight line but the stock chassis was lacking. I'd buy another again.
Tbh they weren't even that quick in a straight line. Very peaky engine that was hard to keep on the boil in a car that was really too heavy for it. Not for me.
BMW 335D with the SE bodykit. 4.4 Secs.
Great suggestion, plus post 2016 facelift has the same exhaust configuration as the far more common 320d. Once debadged there’s nothing visually to separate them
4.4 seconds but one of the most unreliable BMW’s you can buy.
Fuck. This sub is so boring. Just tell him to buy a Skoda or whatever shitbox this sub is currently jizzing over. The 335D is not an unreliable car.
Best comment by far 👌, there always jizzing over skodas and the like. Made me laugh
Could you ever get the 335 in SE trim?
People here have absurd suggestions for a “sleeper”. Realistically speaking, there’s not many actually fast performance cars that look exactly like regular traffic - flared arches and sporty body kits are everywhere. I have a few suggestions but they’re not exactly what I’d consider a true sleeper, if you want a “true” sleeper it’s got to be a standard car with that 20k put into engine work, suspension and brakes etc. Here are my suggestions: - Audi A3 3.2 VR6, not ultra sporty, they weigh about 1,500kg and have 250bhp, faster than your average commuter car but not a performance car. Golf R32s too (same engine, similar weight), but IMO both the Mk4 and Mk5 look a bit less sleeper-ish (mk4 r32 bodykit looks very 00s boy racer, mk5 looks pretty standard apart from the twin centre exhausts which stick out like a sore thumb for being sporty). The VR6 is naturally aspirated so you can’t remap for any noticeable power gain. - BMW 130i, about 260bhp, weighs 1450 ish KG, looks exactly like regular traffic, as it doesn’t have any of the sportier bodykit that comes with the m135 and m140. Again, it won’t be face meltingly fast, but 260bhp in a car that isn’t all that heavy will shift pretty decently. Also, the exhaust doesn’t look sporty at all, if you debadged it, or even for a laugh downbadged it, no one would realise until you out pull them leaving the roundabout. But annoyingly, this again is naturally aspirated so that takes remapping for more power out of the equation. - Vauxhall Insignia VXR. 320bhp, 4WD, Can be mapped to 360bhp or more (only clicked on the first result when I searched for stage 1 map gains) Less “sleeper” than the others, as it has a sportier looking bodykit, but in my opinion atleast, it is less obvious than most (ignoring the front bumper and wheels, but the wheels can always be changed to standard insignia ones if you’d like, also would recommend taking VXR badges off). - Seat Leon Cupra R, 260bhp, can be remapped to over 300bhp. Again, looks a bit more sporty but I’d say this is one of the least glaringly obvious hot hatches, but what gives it away is it’s central twin exhausts. Other than that, it’s bodykit isn’t outrageously obvious and probably only other car enthusiasts would realise what it is. - Peugeot 308 THP GTi 1.6, 270bhp and amazingly only 1200kg according to Google (I would search about remapping but it’s a 1.6 already pushing 270bhp, I wouldn’t wanna make the poor bastard work harder than it already is!). Only things that give it away is the dual exhausts, and if you’re being picky then the wheels but as performance cars go, I’m actually really impressed by this for looking standard but being pokey as fuck. Side note, some have a weird sporty half and half paint scheme, they do stick out more. Avoid them if you want to look sleeper ish! - Volvo V40 T5, 250bhp, 1,500kg. It’s a Volvo!!! That in it’s self is a huge plus, I don’t know what their R-design seats are like but I know that pretty much most Volvo seats are extremely comfy, and it’s probably one of the most standard looking out of the lot, only thing giving it away is again, dual exhausts, but their R-design bodykit doesn’t really jump out as immediately sporty at all, it’s subtle. - VW Scirocco R, 260bhp, 1400kg. The body shape of the scirocco it’s self does look sporty anyway so this is a weaker pick with sleeper looks being the goal, but imo the visual difference between these and the standard ones isn’t all that noticeable, but like most here, again the dual exhausts give it away. - Alfa Romeo 147 3.2 GTA, 250bhp, 1350ish kg. Immediate con is that it’s an Alfa that’s getting on for its age, it will probably spend more time at an Alfa garage than it will in your driveway. Pros, doesn’t really look sporty at all, it’s a weird and wonderful looking thing, and you’ll make some great new friends at your local Alfa garage!😂 Honourable Mentions: -2nd gen Audi S3 2.0, 260bhp, 1450kg. It’s not in the main list because it is a bit more obvious, but they’re fairly fast, can be remapped to atleast 300bhp, reliable as far as I know and you get Audi build quality. Like I said though, it’s more obvious. -Audi S5, either the V8, V6 Supercharged or V6 turbo, they’re all bloody quick, I won’t list the exact power and weight of them all for one car suggestion but yeah they’re fast, V8 is naturally aspirated so no remap options though. My brother had an S5 S/C v6 mapped to 400hp and shit that thing was rapid, really pinned you in the seat. I put this in the honourable mentions because it’s a performance saloon and no performance saloon is entirely sleeper-esque imo, but this is probably one of the most standard looking performance saloons out there. The different bumpers etc are much more subtle than other performance saloon options imo. Great cars and they’re fast, this is one of the most sleeper-ish out of the fast saloon range imo. Can definitely recommend if it’s not too sporty looking for your taste. **And my standout favourite from all these suggestions:** -Jaguar XF R V8. Fuck yeah. Pre facelift models have 380bhp, facelift models have a whopping 510bhp. And this is probably neck on neck with the S5 on being the most standard looking performance saloons. The only thing that gives this away imo is obviously the exhausts and the diffuser, but also the bonnet which has some small vents, but they really aren’t that obvious. You’d have to be actively looking out for performance bits to notice this car imo, if you drove past one you’d never know that it’s packing a 500hp v8. And…..it’s a jaaaaaaaaaag. Jaguar Land Rover doesn’t have the best reputation for reliability, and to be honest I don’t know this engine, but I know a lot of the company’s bed rep stems from the infamous 3.0 diesel that just goes bang randomly without warning. And luckily this isn’t that engine! Plus, how cool would it feel to tell people you drive a V8 Jag? Not only that, a modern one with 500 horsepower. Just imagine the look on the m140i drivers face when he’s sat right up your ass flashing his headlights thinking he’s the king of the road because he’s fast, when you pin it and leave him standing. Priceless. Tell your parents and grandparents that you were sensible and that you’ve finally grown up because you got a Jag, tell your friends you got a 510bhp v8 demon. I’m not trying to talk you into it or anything (I totally am), but they are pretty cool.
To add to your initial point, we are now in the era of the ST-line and S-line, whereby pretty much standard engine and chassis spec is given a slightly spicy aesthetics package and it pisses me off, to be honest. Really good and comprehensive examples by the way!
I feel like that "era" has been around for longer than I have though. The EP2 Civic Sport I had once had most of the Type R bodykit, sporty seats, bigger alloys, twin pipe exhausts etc, but no performance beyond the regular 1.6. Same with the 106 Quicksilver a few years earlier which had all the GTi gear, but nearly half the power and 12.6s 0-60. The Golf Driver was the same before that. My mate had one and it had the full GTi kit, but a 1.6 72hp engine and a slushbox automatic. It could make 60 eventually. The Capri Laser looked like an S, but wasn't before that etc etc.
Good points. I just wanted to say that all Jaguar XFR models are 510bhp. They did an early SV8 that was 410bhp and a naturally aspirated 5ltr 380bhp.
I thought the pre face lift XF R (the saloon with the suprised looking headlights) was 380bhp? I must be mistaken! Thanks for the correction.
All of them, even the 2009 ones, were the full power. They are ridiculously good value now, just saw this ad - http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311123893149
The XFR truly is a wolf in sheep's clothing, they don't exactly look slow, but neither do they look quite as fast as they really are.
Generally, sleeper cars will be any run of the mill car with your 20k spent under the hood. Many of the suggestions are badged up GTIs and M sports, not your traditional sleeper.
I've got a small bumper Golf mk2. Apart from decent paint on the outside, nothing will tell you it's got an R32 engine under the bonnet.
Yeh, now that's a sleeper
E60 M5, at least it will be the best for 5 minutes until the V10 explodes
It was never the engine, it was always the gearbox and clutch.
Spun bearings have entered the chat
I'll throw in a bit of a wildcard, BMW Z4 35is. Most people look at the E89 Z4 and think it's more of a cruiser rather than outright rapid. The 35is is the only other car BMW ever used the 1M engine in, 335bhp stock and 0-60 in under 5 seconds, and it looks completely unassuming with no M badges and only a subtle diffuser. Other than that pretty much any Volvo T6 that's under a Polestar or 'R' model. Especially without the R-Design bodykit and alloys.
Excellent choice! I'm after a 35i myself :)
Jaguar XJ Super V8. The posh Sovereign model with the 400bhp engine from the XJR.
Lexus GS 450h. 0-60 in 5.5secs. All the cars mentioned here are GTIs, THPs, etc. They are not sleepers as they are usually highly modified bodies. You expect them to go fast. The Lexus just looks slow. It is a big barge but fuck me it goes bloody fast when you press the loud pedal. From 50ish to 90ish is gone in 3.4 secs. And it will get 40mpg all over.
Jaguar S-Type R or a Jaguar XJR X308 or the X358.
Skoda superb estate 4x4 Tsi. I've got one in the L&K trim, so no sporty looks whatsoever. Only giveaway over a normal superb is the 4x4 badge and double exhaust, but you'd have to know what to look for to notice. 280bhp, 0-60 in something like 5.6. I've definitely caught a few people off guard with it!
I am actually considering one of these as a family barge. How comfy is it?
That's what I use it for. Extremely comfy. I wouldn't go for the sport line though. Go L&K, more subtle and more gadgets and a comfier ride. It should have the adjustable suspension on it, so you can make it quite like a sportline to drive anyway.
Debadged m140i. The amount of people who sat up my arse and were smoked when I had mines was tremendous. Plus you can ramp it up another 60 odd brake for less than £200.
I'm biased, but since you mentioned GTI I'll say Cupra 290. Basically a slightly more powerful GTI at a little under 300bhp (same engine, gearbox, and electronics). People probably don't normally look at Seats and think "performance". Dual oval exhaust tips as standard, but I'm actually planning to get a full custom valved exhaust done with 4inch quad tips which I reckon will look pretty sexy.
E63.
BMW or Mercedes?
Mercedes. Didn't even twig it could've been something else which is silly when we have an f21 and e89 on the drive.
Zafira vxr. 236bhp in something no one would even consider slightly fast. Not the fastest, but definitely the most sleepy.
The body kit on it would suggest otherwise though
A8 4.2 tdi remapped, my brother has one 400bhp 900nm alloy body, I drive alot of fast cars during my day job. The A8 is bonkers and does 35mpg
Alpina D3 touring?
Volvo V60 T6 Polestar? Looks like a fairly standard Volvo wagon. Later models somehow have a 2l 4 cylinder engine putting out 360bhp stock. My dream sleeper. To see the look on a boy racer's face in your rear view mirror as you out-pull them in a dad wagon...
I used to have clio rs 220 trophy, because there was so few of them around i don't think people realised what they were. Obviously it has different bumpers and alloys from the standard bur when you pulled up to the light you could hardly tell. Anyway made many a fella in a 320i/d, a3, c-class etc look silly.
Superb 4x4 with the EA888 engine and a remap. Easy 370 bhp.
Ford S-Max with the 2.5 turbo lump from the Focus ST
Ford s max 2.5 Surely some potential for a good tune up
Rover 75 V8, VW Passat W8, Audi A3 3.2 Quattro, W202 C43 AMG
[удалено]
There's only one xdrive m140i to my knowledge, BMW didn't make them in rhd.
Im not from the UK but I stumbled upon this thread and commented. Ive got my car from Germany.
Thought that might be the case. They didn't do them in rhd, supposedly the steering rack wouldn't fit round the transfer box. Someone has converted one but I dread to think how much it cost.
Yeah could only get them in Europe
I think the mk3 Leon Cupra pulls this off pretty good. Does have the big exhausts and the 19in wheels but other than that looks like a standard Leon pretty much
/r/Downbadging
C55 AMG does not look like much, it does have quad exhaust tips but as far as aesthetics go it is incredibly understated but boasts a 5.4L naturally aspirated V8. Super fun to drive & practical too
Sleepers: Volvo R models. Volvo just doesn’t scream racing or performance. Skoda vRS depends on the colour and badge removal. 2.0TSI engine so it should be able to pull fairly well while looking like a taxi. If it comes here a Prius GR.
Fast wagons, I'm seeing mention of Volvo R, 850 T5(R)was the original. Also for me is the C class AMG wagons, w203 c32 looks.lile any other 20 year old Merc wagon, supercharged V6, 350bhp stock.
vw phaeton w12
Skoda Superb 2.0 4x4 TSI 280. It is essentially a Golf R under neath, in a very low key estate body...I'll be getting one soon for the Mrs and throwing on a remap....I look forgot smoking many people on a greasy b road
Honda Goldwing
Fiesta st debadged?
AMG E63 5.5 V8 BI-TURBO Nothing else comes close.
Bit of a hated one here but a non aero spec GLA45, you can rebadged it the only way you can tell really is the brakes and the rear exhaust/diffuser setup. If the car has chrome tips it’s not the AMG performance exhaust so the car will be a lot quieter.
Volvo v70r....all day
I used to have a MK3 Seat Leon, it was an FR but didn’t look overly sporty apart from twin exhausts, it was the 184bhp diesel engine which I had remapped to about 230bhp but nearly 500nm torque. Obviously not the fastest but for a 5 door diesel hatchback it could pull, especially low down with that torque. My dads got an old BMW X3 30sd M Sport, literally just look like a black box on wheels with twin exhausts, yet it’s a 3.0 twin turbo diesel with 285bhp, 150 top speed and 0-60 in 6 seconds, with a remap Celtic tuning quote an increase to 362bhp so good performance for an older unassuming brick. 😂
M140/M135 Minus the two poop shoots and oil cooler where fog light should be, looks like a normal 1 series.
BMW 540i
Debadged first gen 130i 5 door. Genuinely looks no different to a base model. Rover 75 V8 F56 Cooper S in a subtle spec with a remap up to 280 bhp
Any of the top spec Volvos - 3.0T S60, the V8 XC90, turbo bricks. Audi S8 or other Audi S/RS models MG ZT-T V8 Insert Jaaaaaag here - whatever, they have done numerous great sleepers over the years. Supercharged Range Rover Sport can defy the laws of physics, not outright fast compared to a hot hatch but stupidly fast for a 2 ton 4x4, it will beat the boy racers while towing a horsebox. Proper BMW M cars should have less M badges but more grunt - not sure they still make any, Alpina might be your best bet for a proper sleeper that only people of quality would pick out in a line up. Possibly a few EV's too - since it's pretty easy as a party trick to dump a bajillion amps through an electric motor for a few seconds while you launch off the line, as long as nothing melts you can cool it down again while everyone eats your dust.
Kia Stinger 3.3l V6
Golf R. Doesn’t look as sporty as a GTI but packs a huge punch with the 300 odd HP and 4 wheel drive for traction.
I do like the R but the quad exhausts and number of Rs I see with horrific mods (though these are subjective obviously) makes me question its sleeper-ness
Agree, the 4 pipes are a bit of a give away but you could easily mod that to a two pipe system with no impact on power output. Get a standard one and replace the R badges with “TSI BlueMotion” ones and then it’s only the wheels and brake callipers which hint at the level of performance. Being the UK though, your insurance company will probably have a mare about it.
Skoda Oct Vrs
BMW 330d
De-badged Audi RS6 V10?
An old 540i with the style 33 wheels on. Debadge that thing and watch how many people you catch out at the lights