They are much faster than they appear! Meet the popular sleepers
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Do you think that a fast car should have a sporty look and show what's under the hood at a glance? In this case, the category of "sleeping" cars, which we call "sleeping" in Polish automobile slang, will often surprise you. Because when modern motorization tries to emphasize the speed of the car with details on each side of the body, the sleepers are modest and look like any ordinary car on the road.
In the article, you will learn more about what sleepers are and get acquainted with the most interesting car models in this category.
Sleepy - what does it mean?
In the automotive industry, we are used to the fact that every car with a more powerful engine is clearly different from the cars we drive on a daily basis. Not surprisingly, we immediately associate power with a sporty look.
However, this is not always the case.
On the market, you will find cars that, at first glance, do not differ much from the cars that serve as a transport for a wife or a friend to and from work. Sometimes they only have a different emblem, engine designation, or some minor changes to the body. Subtle differences that only a dedicated and longtime car fanatic will notice.
These are sleeping cars, that is, cars with a lot of power, which, in fact, is hidden under the standard body.
You can read about the most interesting models of this genre below.
Sleeping cars - the most interesting examples
If you're interested in powerful cars at an affordable price, you're in trouble because sleepers aren't that popular. On the one hand, because a modest appearance and a powerful engine are not what buyers often aspire to. On the other hand, the paranoia associated with modern environmental protection and the growing number of environmentalists is getting stronger, so manufacturers rely less and less on powerful engines.
Sleepers were more popular about a dozen years ago, and it is during these years that you can easily find interesting models of this genre.
Read on and we'll tell you some of the more interesting suggestions.
Cadillac Sevilla STS
The car was produced in 1997-2004 and is little known in Poland. However, many traders import it from Germany or other Benelux countries, which makes it regularly appear in sales advertisements on the Vistula River.
The Cadillac Seville STS is an E-segment limousine with a rugged look. However, sharp lines without unnecessary decoration suit many drivers.
What's under the hood?
8-liter V4,6 engine, which in the best version reaches 304 hp. Thanks to this, the Seville STS accelerates from 100 to 6,7 km / h in 241 seconds and reaches a top speed of XNUMX km / h.
Unfortunately, this Cadillac model has some drawbacks. It can hardly be called reliable, and due to its low popularity, you will not find a mechanic who could handle it.
However, at this price (can be bought for less than 10 PLN) it is one of the most powerful cars.
Volvo V50 T5 all wheel drive
The combo of the Swedish brand has found many fans in Poland, but mostly in a weaker version - diesel or with a 4-cylinder gasoline engine. Not everyone knows that Volvo released a version of this model with a much more powerful unit - a 5-liter 2,5-cylinder engine.
What performance can it boast?
It has 220 hp, thanks to which it accelerates the station wagon to 100 km / h in just 6,9 seconds, and on the clock it reaches a maximum of 240 km / h. Moreover, the Volvo V50 is equipped with all-wheel drive, which is another big plus. ...
Not bad for such an inconspicuous look, right? That's why the Volvo V50 T5 AWD is the ultimate sleeper car.
You can buy it for less than $ 20k. zloty. In return, he will reward you with high durability, versatility and, of course, speed. The fact that most Polish mechanics know this unit and know how to use it is also a big advantage.
Audi A3 3.2 BP6
Body from a traditional German compact with a 6-liter VR3,2 engine and 250 hp. gives an amazing effect. Some will say this bike is too big for - after all - a small car, but that's the beauty of it.
And performance.
The Audi A3 3.2 VR6 accelerates to 100 km / h in 6,4 seconds and has a top speed of 250 km / h. Even a modern sports hot hatch would not be ashamed of such results. However, this version of the A3 looks different from today's powerful compacts.
Why? Because nothing stands out. At first glance, it looks the same as the traditional 1.9 TDI model.
Moreover, the Audi A3 3.2 VR6 has four-wheel drive and, due to its small size, is ideal as a city car.
That perfect 2004-2009 dream is still worth a lot. You will pay just under $ 30 for this. zloty.
Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 V8 HEMI
Will the roadster work as a sleeper? The Jeep stable car boldly replies that it is.
And he has good arguments for this, because under the hood of the most powerful version of this model, you will find a 8-liter V5,7 gasoline engine. It has 321 horsepower and can accelerate the car from 100 to 7,1 km / h in about 2,2 seconds. This is an excellent result when you consider that the Grand Cherokee weighs XNUMX tons.
Appearance is also an advantage of the model.
The Jeep, produced in 2004-2010, has rather serious scratches, thanks to which it visually practically does not age. It has good looks and also works great as a family roadster.
However, it also has disadvantages.
One of them is the price (less than PLN 40). The second soft suspension, not always coping with engine power. And finally, the joy from this sleeper is worth a lot, because the combustion is huge.
The norm should be considered 20 liters of fuel per 100 km when driving in the city.
Volvo S80 4.4 V8
Another Volvo on our list, but this time in a luxury limousine version. The S80 has an engine under the hood, which the Swedes also put into their first XC90 SUV, but this unit is undoubtedly better suited for a limousine.
What makes the bike you find under the hood stand out?
It has 8 cylinders and a displacement of 4,4 liters, which is a great achievement considering the rather compact engine compartment. As a result, the Volvo S80 4.4 V8 boasts 315 hp. and accelerate to 100 km / h in less than 6,5 seconds. And the maximum speed is 250 km / h.
All this is hidden in an inconspicuous and austere body.
The last model Volvo S80 4.4 V8 rolled off the assembly line in 2010 and today is a real treat for fans of the brand or collectors. First of all, because at present the Swedish brand practically does not install engines with a volume of more than 2 liters in its cars.
You can buy the S80 model with 4.4 block for less than 50 pieces. zloty.
Opel / Lotus Omega
The time has come for the 1990-1992 car, which from 1990 to 1996 was called the fastest sedan in the world. The Lotus Omega was simply a redesigned version of the Opel Omega A.
It is true that the car betrayed a little factory spoiler and slightly sporty line, but still hardly anyone would expect such stunning performance from this sedan.
What will you find under the hood?
6 liter 3,6-cylinder engine with 377 hp that accelerates from 100 to 5,3 km/h in less than 160 seconds and to 11 km/h in 283 seconds. The maximum speed of the Lotus Omega is 30 km/h. Even today, XNUMX years after the premiere of the car, such results are impressive.
Unfortunately, the model also has disadvantages.
One of the biggest is fuel consumption, which can be as high as 30 liters in heavy driving, but averages around 18 liters per 100 km. In addition, the owner may have problems with the details for this model, because many of them are unique. Will not do without tailoring and substitutes.
The Lotus Omega is collectible today and it is very difficult to find any piece for sale in Poland. Abroad, its price ranges from 70 thousand rubles. up to 140 XNUMX converted to PLN.
Ford Mondeo ST220
Are you wondering what the Ford Mondeo is doing here? Well, this popular limousine comes in its third generation with a 6-liter V3 engine. Thanks to this, it provides the owner with a lot of driving pleasure thanks to its characteristics.
How are they presented?
The engine develops 226 hp. and accelerates the car to 100 km / h in less than 7,7 seconds, and the counter only stops at 250 km / h. Pretty good for a simple Mondeo, right?
The ST220 is a sporty version, but at first glance it doesn't look much different from its standard counterparts. The manufacturer replaced alloy wheels with larger ones, added sports tires and added spoilers to the body. Moreover, the suspension is slightly lower than the original, and the headlights are xenon.
However, a non-motorization layman cannot tell a sports version from an unsportsmanlike one.
How much will you pay for this 2000 to 2007 car? Depending on the year of production, the Ford Mondeo ST220 costs up to 20 thousand today. zlotys.
GMC Typhoon
The other SUV on our list is less popular than the Jeep, but car enthusiasts are well aware of its potential. The standard version of the GMC Typhoon, without any sporting variations, features a powerful engine.
What?
This is a 6-liter V4,3 engine with 285 hp. Thanks to this, the car accelerates to 100 km / h in 5,5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 200 km / h. Acceleration is decent. Even today, no production car can match the GMC Typhoon in this respect.
Moreover, the exterior does not reveal the power hidden behind the hood at all.
You are dealing with a standard 3-door 1992WD SUV. Rough, sharp scratches on the body were quite popular during the production years of the car (1994-XNUMX) and do not offer such good performance. Thanks to this, GMC Typhoons fit perfectly into the category of "sleepers".
How much is this model worth today? Price up to 40 thousand. zloty.
Interesting fact: GMC also released the same unit in a pickup version. It's called the Syclone, and it's even faster, hitting 100 km/h in 4,5 seconds.
Mazda 6 MPS
Mazda "six" is a fairly popular car model of a Japanese company. However, in the MPS (or Mazdaspeed 6) edition, it packs a punch we didn't expect at first glance.
What is it?
Under the hood, the Japanese have placed a 2,3-liter turbocharged engine that achieves power close to 260 hp. (280 hp in the US market). Thanks to this, the sleeper accelerates to 100 km / h in 6,6 seconds and moves at a maximum speed of 240 km / h.
However, car users and journalists unanimously argue that with good grip, the time to a hundred can be reduced to less than 6 seconds.
A good result for the "regular" Mazda 6, because it does not stand out from the outside with anything special. Only a few details show that this is an MPS model. In addition, the car has four-wheel drive (AWS).
You will pay below 20 thousand for this model. zloty.
Saab 9 5 Aero
The model was produced in sedan and station wagon versions. In the second, in addition to a solid engine, it also has a spacious trunk, which together makes up an ideal package.
The Aero unit is a 2,3-liter four-cylinder engine with 260 hp. It accelerates to 100 km / h in 6,9 seconds, and the meter does not stop until 250 km / h.
However, the Saab 9-5 Aero stands out for something else.
From 40 to 90 miles per hour accelerates faster than the Porsche 911 Turbo of the same period. Not bad for a regular and production station wagon - because most reviewers would appreciate the Saab at first sight.
The car was produced until 2009. It can be purchased today for less than 10 pieces. zloty.
Volkswagen Passat W8
The list would be incomplete without at least one Passat – and not any, because the W8 version is a sleeper car, whatever you want to call it. At first glance, it looks pretty much the same as the standard versions of the series, but don't let that fool you. Under the hood you will find a really solid engine.
What?
The W8 unit has a volume of 4 liters, eight cylinders and 275 hp. (The name W8 is also not accidental - the engine consists of two interconnected V4s). This gives acceleration to 100 km / h in less than 6,8 seconds and a top speed of 250 km / h. All-wheel drive is also pleasing.
Unfortunately, off-road driving is quite fun, as the Passat W100 burns up to 8 liters of fuel per 13 km.
The body is not much different from weaker versions. Of particular note are the four chrome-plated rear mufflers and the oversized brake discs.
VW Passat W8 was produced in 2001-2004, and today you will find it at a price even below 10 thousand. zlotys.
BMW M3 E36
This time an offer from a production car of a slightly higher class. The BMW M3 E36, despite its great age (depending on the model, the years of production took place in 1992-1999), has a really powerful engine under the hood.
In the most powerful version, it was a 3,2-liter 321 hp engine, which accelerated the car to 100 km / h in less than 5,4 seconds. And the maximum speed reaches 250 km / h.
The BMW M3 E36 has appeared on the market in three versions: coupe, convertible and sedan. None of them show such performance outwardly. Of course, we are dealing with a sporty BMW, but the German manufacturer in those years did not yet design the body in a clearly sporty way.
The price of this bed ranges from 10 thousand. up to 100 PLN (depends on the version and of course the condition of the vehicle).
Opel Zafira OPC
The next sleeper is an almost unheard of combination because you're dealing with a sporty version of a minivan. Opel undertook such an experiment, and it succeeded well.
Under the hood of this 7-seater car is a 2-liter turbo engine with 200 hp. It accelerates from 100 to 8,2 km / h in 220 seconds and has a top speed of XNUMX km / h.
Will you see it from the outside?
Unless you're a die-hard car fanatic, this won't be easy. Opel Zafira OPC differs from the standard model only in wider wheel arches, bumpers and larger rims.
Today, the average price for this car hovers around 20-25 thousand rubles. zlotys.
Launch Thema 8.32
This is the most prestigious and powerful version of Thema. Why? Because under the hood is a Ferrari engine.
What statistics are typical for them?
This is an eight-cylinder unit with a volume of 3 liters, which in the original version (produced in 1987-1989) had a power of 215 hp. However, in later models (from 1989 to 1994), the manufacturer reduced the power to 205 hp.
The first Lancie Thema 8.32s accelerated to 100 km / h in 6,8 seconds, and their maximum speed was 240 km / h. After the power reduction, the indicators slightly decreased (6,9 seconds to hundreds and a maximum speed of 235 km / h).
Version 8.32 differed from standard, including Ferrari alloy wheels, different mirrors (electrically folding) and a spoiler protruding from the tailgate. Despite this, at first glance, it is difficult to distinguish it from a regular Theme.
Price today? About 60-70 thousand zlotys (the cost is added to its collector).
Rover 75 V8
It was the first Rover with an eight-cylinder engine after a long hiatus - and, as befits such a beast, there is much to be proud of.
Under the hood is a 4,6-liter Ford Mustang 260 hp engine. This means that the car accelerates from 100 to 6,2 km / h in less than 250 seconds, and the meter does not stop until XNUMX km / h.
This version is indistinguishable from the standard Rover 75. Only four tailpipes reveal its appearance.
It was produced in 1999-2005, and today at least 10 thousand zlotys will pay for it. zlotys.
Sleeper - a car with character for everyone
Although the list could be much longer, we will focus on the 15 models listed above. For him, we have selected the most interesting (in our opinion) variants of serial cars, which hide great power behind their inconspicuous appearance.
Do you think we missed out on a car that deserves a spot on the list? Share your font in the comments!
