Return of the hot rod?
Discussion
I've seen three separate hot rods recently, after seeing none for years. Are they back "in"?
I hope so, they look fantastic and are so much more original than the chavved up Saxo/Subaru/Civics that seem to pass for modified cars these days.
This was the one I spotted last night, how cool is that?
I hope so, they look fantastic and are so much more original than the chavved up Saxo/Subaru/Civics that seem to pass for modified cars these days.
This was the one I spotted last night, how cool is that?
Modern cars however powerful are mostly bland, and samey, sorry there are exceptions but, your Golf GTi ( other cars are just as guilty ) is only recognised from the number plate in Sainsburys car park.
The appeal of classic/different looks combined with more modern/reliable mechanicals or more suited to the home mechanic, really appeals, and these Hot Rods and Kitcars have a huge following, see many threads on PH, with Kitcar or Hotrod in the title.
A little sunshine brings them out from their winter nests.
Proof of this is, you have spotted this one, gorgeous Ford and not mentioned all the other cars in the background.
Is that a Zafira parked next door. . . . . . . .MMMMMM
The appeal of classic/different looks combined with more modern/reliable mechanicals or more suited to the home mechanic, really appeals, and these Hot Rods and Kitcars have a huge following, see many threads on PH, with Kitcar or Hotrod in the title.
A little sunshine brings them out from their winter nests.
Proof of this is, you have spotted this one, gorgeous Ford and not mentioned all the other cars in the background.
Is that a Zafira parked next door. . . . . . . .MMMMMM
Head down to the Chelsea cruise last Saturday of te month you will see five or six similar cars.
Last month there were 4 there along with a few 1500+ bhp road legal yanks.
If you like your hot rods and yank stuff it's te place to see things like this on the road.
Next ones the 25th going to be quite a large event apparently
Last month there were 4 there along with a few 1500+ bhp road legal yanks.
If you like your hot rods and yank stuff it's te place to see things like this on the road.
Next ones the 25th going to be quite a large event apparently
S2Mike said:
Modern cars however powerful are mostly bland, and samey, sorry there are exceptions but, your Golf GTi ( other cars are just as guilty ) is only recognised from the number plate in Sainsburys car park.
The appeal of classic/different looks combined with more modern/reliable mechanicals or more suited to the home mechanic, really appeals, and these Hot Rods and Kitcars have a huge following, see many threads on PH, with Kitcar or Hotrod in the title.
A little sunshine brings them out from their winter nests.
Proof of this is, you have spotted this one, gorgeous Ford and not mentioned all the other cars in the background.
Is that a Zafira parked next door. . . . . . . .MMMMMM
Yet as soon as a modern car does look different it gets completely slammed. A prime example the PT Cruiser, which when you compare to the Pop in the op would seem to take many of that era's styling elements and modernise them. The appeal of classic/different looks combined with more modern/reliable mechanicals or more suited to the home mechanic, really appeals, and these Hot Rods and Kitcars have a huge following, see many threads on PH, with Kitcar or Hotrod in the title.
A little sunshine brings them out from their winter nests.
Proof of this is, you have spotted this one, gorgeous Ford and not mentioned all the other cars in the background.
Is that a Zafira parked next door. . . . . . . .MMMMMM
Ari said:
The PT Cruiser is like the new Beetle, just a rather nasty and tasteless pastiche.
Altohugh at least the Beetle is a reasonable car, the PT Cruiser is terrible (and yes I have driven one, unfortunately).
Funny how every review pretty much always praises the PT Cruiser though. Not sure how it's tasteless either. But ho hum, perfectly reinforces my previous point, so thanks Altohugh at least the Beetle is a reasonable car, the PT Cruiser is terrible (and yes I have driven one, unfortunately).
Engineer1 said:
Yes check my profile I have had one for 70 odd thousand miles and it isn't something to set the world on fire but it is awesomely practical
In the US you could also get a sports suspension package and there was even a 2.4 litre turbo charged one, probably quite a nice alternative to a Focus ST in ability and pace.I think this looks fab:
Watch this and tell me they hated it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E95cW8kQBRQ
300bhp/ton said:
Funny how every review pretty much always praises the PT Cruiser though. Not sure how it's tasteless either. But ho hum, perfectly reinforces my previous point, so thanks
Praises?? I'd be interested to read these highly positive reviews. Look, just because it's Yank, doesn't mean you need to mindlessly jump all over any criticism. Some American cars are great, some are horrid. The PT Cruiser is one of the latter.
Papa Hotel said:
Praises?? I'd be interested to read these highly positive reviews.
Look, just because it's Yank, doesn't mean you need to mindlessly jump all over any criticism. Some American cars are great, some are horrid. The PT Cruiser is one of the latter.
As posted in the reply above yours, try this link for starters: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E95cW8kQBRQLook, just because it's Yank, doesn't mean you need to mindlessly jump all over any criticism. Some American cars are great, some are horrid. The PT Cruiser is one of the latter.
If you want I can find other reviews from Motor Trend, Car & Driver and several other publications. All with pretty much the same tone as the vid above.
But ignoring all of that - what exactly is so wrong with them?
-engines. Well the diesels are Mercs and are as frugal and powerful as anything else of similar money/segment.
Petrols, ok the 2.0 isn't great, but neither is a MK1 Focus. The 2.4 might seem big for the power, but remember this is an American car so bigger engines are more common. Also the 2.4 makes around 10% more torque than most Euro 2.0 litres, this is the main reason. Sadly the UK never got the sporty models
-Ride. Well they ride as well as most other cars, suspension design is similar to many other hatchbacks. I admit not the most sporty setup, but neither is an Astra, or a Kia, or many normal Honda's. And again the UK never got the sporty models.
-Looks. Well I love them and if you watch the vid you'll see I'm not alone. As of yet PistonHeads and a few UK mags seem to be the only people to hate it's looks, but I've not yet seen anything convincing that doesn't base this 100% on the fact it's just bold and different and is American. Seems highly prejudice to me.
-Spec, equal or better than similar priced rivals.
-Interior. In terms of style I think they are brilliant, so much more fun and interesting than most Euro/Jap cars in the same sector. I admit the plastic are not £50k BMW spec, but they are no worse than your average Astra or Hyundai.
-Space. Here they are very unique, as a foot print they are not much bigger than a current Corsa believe it or not, yet somehow they seem to have as much space inside as a Focus. It doesn't end here, the rear parcel shelf has 5 or 6 different positions, so it can be used as lower shelf, a divider and can be load bearing too. I don't know of any other car that can do this. But wait, there's more. Not only do the rear seats fold completely flat offering a huge load area, but the front passenger seat also folds flat (forward towards the dash). This means that despite it's Corsa sized length, you can actually load 8 foot long planks into and still close the boot lid. I think this is rather impressive myself.
So based on the above I think in EVERY area it is at least as good as any Euro or Jap rival in terms of actual ability. So how does this make it a terrible car?
Oh the looks? But hating them still doesn't make it a terrible car, it makes it just as good, just one you don't like the appearance of.
300bhp/ton said:
As posted in the reply above yours, try this link for starters: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E95cW8kQBRQ
If you want I can find other reviews from Motor Trend, Car & Driver and several other publications. All with pretty much the same tone as the vid above.
But ignoring all of that - what exactly is so wrong with them?
-engines. Well the diesels are Mercs and are as frugal and powerful as anything else of similar money/segment.
Petrols, ok the 2.0 isn't great, but neither is a MK1 Focus. The 2.4 might seem big for the power, but remember this is an American car so bigger engines are more common. Also the 2.4 makes around 10% more torque than most Euro 2.0 litres, this is the main reason. Sadly the UK never got the sporty models
-Ride. Well they ride as well as most other cars, suspension design is similar to many other hatchbacks. I admit not the most sporty setup, but neither is an Astra, or a Kia, or many normal Honda's. And again the UK never got the sporty models.
-Looks. Well I love them and if you watch the vid you'll see I'm not alone. As of yet PistonHeads and a few UK mags seem to be the only people to hate it's looks, but I've not yet seen anything convincing that doesn't base this 100% on the fact it's just bold and different and is American. Seems highly prejudice to me.
-Spec, equal or better than similar priced rivals.
-Interior. In terms of style I think they are brilliant, so much more fun and interesting than most Euro/Jap cars in the same sector. I admit the plastic are not £50k BMW spec, but they are no worse than your average Astra or Hyundai.
-Space. Here they are very unique, as a foot print they are not much bigger than a current Corsa believe it or not, yet somehow they seem to have as much space inside as a Focus. It doesn't end here, the rear parcel shelf has 5 or 6 different positions, so it can be used as lower shelf, a divider and can be load bearing too. I don't know of any other car that can do this. But wait, there's more. Not only do the rear seats fold completely flat offering a huge load area, but the front passenger seat also folds flat (forward towards the dash). This means that despite it's Corsa sized length, you can actually load 8 foot long planks into and still close the boot lid. I think this is rather impressive myself.
So based on the above I think in EVERY area it is at least as good as any Euro or Jap rival in terms of actual ability. So how does this make it a terrible car?
Oh the looks? But hating them still doesn't make it a terrible car, it makes it just as good, just one you don't like the appearance of.
I stand corrected, it's an awesome piece of kit. If you want I can find other reviews from Motor Trend, Car & Driver and several other publications. All with pretty much the same tone as the vid above.
But ignoring all of that - what exactly is so wrong with them?
-engines. Well the diesels are Mercs and are as frugal and powerful as anything else of similar money/segment.
Petrols, ok the 2.0 isn't great, but neither is a MK1 Focus. The 2.4 might seem big for the power, but remember this is an American car so bigger engines are more common. Also the 2.4 makes around 10% more torque than most Euro 2.0 litres, this is the main reason. Sadly the UK never got the sporty models
-Ride. Well they ride as well as most other cars, suspension design is similar to many other hatchbacks. I admit not the most sporty setup, but neither is an Astra, or a Kia, or many normal Honda's. And again the UK never got the sporty models.
-Looks. Well I love them and if you watch the vid you'll see I'm not alone. As of yet PistonHeads and a few UK mags seem to be the only people to hate it's looks, but I've not yet seen anything convincing that doesn't base this 100% on the fact it's just bold and different and is American. Seems highly prejudice to me.
-Spec, equal or better than similar priced rivals.
-Interior. In terms of style I think they are brilliant, so much more fun and interesting than most Euro/Jap cars in the same sector. I admit the plastic are not £50k BMW spec, but they are no worse than your average Astra or Hyundai.
-Space. Here they are very unique, as a foot print they are not much bigger than a current Corsa believe it or not, yet somehow they seem to have as much space inside as a Focus. It doesn't end here, the rear parcel shelf has 5 or 6 different positions, so it can be used as lower shelf, a divider and can be load bearing too. I don't know of any other car that can do this. But wait, there's more. Not only do the rear seats fold completely flat offering a huge load area, but the front passenger seat also folds flat (forward towards the dash). This means that despite it's Corsa sized length, you can actually load 8 foot long planks into and still close the boot lid. I think this is rather impressive myself.
So based on the above I think in EVERY area it is at least as good as any Euro or Jap rival in terms of actual ability. So how does this make it a terrible car?
Oh the looks? But hating them still doesn't make it a terrible car, it makes it just as good, just one you don't like the appearance of.
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