What is the most nicely surprising car you've driven.
Discussion
Toyota Yaris T Sport, on my second one now - both bought as inbetween cars but they actually drive really nice. MPG is always 40, got great torque so you're not always changing gear and comfortable too. I drive this current one more than I ever thought I would. Fell lucky this time, the car came with FSH, 3 keys, factory fitted parking sensors (!) and the original T Sport mats.
MethylatedSpirit said:
Ford focus drives much better than most other cars of similar age.
You've been watching too much top gear mate 
I got a diesel Kia Sportage hire car a few weeks ago (smallish SUV type thingy) - was very impressed with the power, handling, levels of equipment and build quality which was a huge surprise to say the least
krisdelta said:
A 1.4 Fiesta of the 2004 ish vintage - fantastic gearchange, handled pretty well and great visibility.
I've got a 54-plate Fiesta 1.2 LX as a runaround currently and it's really rather good. More fun to drive than the mk1 Focus I had previously (which frankly I've always thought to be a tiny bit overrated) and very nearly as refined despite being a class smaller.
If only it had a slightly more lively handling balance - it resists understeer beautifully but oddly fails to do anything more exciting when you lift off, unlike a lot of older superminis. On which note, I'd have to say the basic 106/Saxo was surprisingly entertaining to drive.
A '98 Vauxhall Vectra B V6 SRi bought for £600.
It was the single most 'fun' car I have ever owned. Bought as a stop gap & lasted much longer!
It must have been the low expectations but it was a hoot to drive, fast as you need on the public roads, made a rorty sound, cornered okay, was comfy, was nice to be it, could forgive it many faults as it charmed me.
Clarkson was right when it was £26k new, but as cheap transport went it was great!
It was the single most 'fun' car I have ever owned. Bought as a stop gap & lasted much longer!
It must have been the low expectations but it was a hoot to drive, fast as you need on the public roads, made a rorty sound, cornered okay, was comfy, was nice to be it, could forgive it many faults as it charmed me.
Clarkson was right when it was £26k new, but as cheap transport went it was great!
Sticking with the Ford theme:
The OH ran a W reg 1.25 fiesta for a few years - handled fantastically and the little 1.25 was the most free-revving engine I've ever driven. Sadly I didn't really fit in it so having one of my own wasn't an option.
We've just bought a 2008 1.8 diesel Mondeo estate at work. I was expecting it to be a bit of a rattly gutless affair but it's the complete opposite. Plenty of shove as long as you use the gears properly and it handles like a car half its size. It has disgraced itself slightly though in that the bonnet catch has packed in - apparently there's a common fault which causes them to stick open however ours is stuck closed and will probably be responsible for skinning some poor mechanic's knuckles later this week...
The OH ran a W reg 1.25 fiesta for a few years - handled fantastically and the little 1.25 was the most free-revving engine I've ever driven. Sadly I didn't really fit in it so having one of my own wasn't an option.
We've just bought a 2008 1.8 diesel Mondeo estate at work. I was expecting it to be a bit of a rattly gutless affair but it's the complete opposite. Plenty of shove as long as you use the gears properly and it handles like a car half its size. It has disgraced itself slightly though in that the bonnet catch has packed in - apparently there's a common fault which causes them to stick open however ours is stuck closed and will probably be responsible for skinning some poor mechanic's knuckles later this week...
Continuing the Ford theme - the Ka I rented in Majorca about 12 years ago. Massive fun through the mountains, handling reminded me of the early 205.
Which is a neat French segue to the 1993 ZX Diesel Mrs PB had for about 4 years and 100,000 miles. Not fast, but light easy box and great handling/ride combo meant it could be fun, even with about 4 turns lock-to-lock - you just learn to drive with these things when the basic package is good. Spacious, simple, never less than 40mpg no matter how it was driven, usually 50mpg on a run, would cruise at 85-90 all day, and totally reliable throughout.
Which is a neat French segue to the 1993 ZX Diesel Mrs PB had for about 4 years and 100,000 miles. Not fast, but light easy box and great handling/ride combo meant it could be fun, even with about 4 turns lock-to-lock - you just learn to drive with these things when the basic package is good. Spacious, simple, never less than 40mpg no matter how it was driven, usually 50mpg on a run, would cruise at 85-90 all day, and totally reliable throughout.
PomBstard said:
Continuing the Ford theme - the Ka I rented in Majorca about 12 years ago. Massive fun through the mountains, handling reminded me of the early 205.
+1 - I bought a Ka for my daughter to learn to drive in and I loved driving it myself, great handling.Another that suprised me (just for the engine) was a Ford Fusion 1.4TDi. Not a nice car overall but the engine worked surprisingly well on motorways for a 1.4 and did 200 miles on a thimble of fuel.
E93 320D - On Holiday in Tuscany and it was a hire car. Was a brilliant mile muncher and way better economy than our 330. swallowed bikes, suitcase and hussled with aplomb. On the narrow winding roads from Pianella to San Gimignano it was confidence inspiring and nippy enough to not be a chore.
Not fast enough to keep up with Italian traffic but I doubt anything short of an F22 would be.
Not fast enough to keep up with Italian traffic but I doubt anything short of an F22 would be.
2005 Honda Accord estate.
Leather interior. Really comfortable, very quiet, refined. Just a superb car for doing commutes. Used it to drive to Scotland and back and by far the most comfy car I've used for such a journey.
Prius also surprised me. Didn't want to like it, couldn't help it - it was a good, annonymous car.
Leather interior. Really comfortable, very quiet, refined. Just a superb car for doing commutes. Used it to drive to Scotland and back and by far the most comfy car I've used for such a journey.
Prius also surprised me. Didn't want to like it, couldn't help it - it was a good, annonymous car.
Ibiza Cupra Sport 2.0 8v.
Kiwi Yellow (puke green) bought as a temporary car from a friend who was offered a lousey trade in deal on it - punchy motor, small car handling, relived my Mk1 Golf GTI memories.
Also Ford Ka (later non-pushrod motor), loan car from a customer, he was taking the pee out of it but if only many of our first cars were as OK to drive.
Kiwi Yellow (puke green) bought as a temporary car from a friend who was offered a lousey trade in deal on it - punchy motor, small car handling, relived my Mk1 Golf GTI memories.
Also Ford Ka (later non-pushrod motor), loan car from a customer, he was taking the pee out of it but if only many of our first cars were as OK to drive.
Another vote for the Nissan Note/Renault Modus with the 1.5dci engine.
I got stuck with it for a week as a pool car for work and wasn't expecting much. I didn't mind much though because the alternative was a Vauxhall Astra (previous gen.) that I had driven before and was terrible in every way.
While the Modus does feel like a whole lot of car for the chassis it handled pretty nicely and wasn't as slow as I expected. It feels very similar to a slightly heavier mk2 Clio, which isn't too surprising given the underpinnings.
I got stuck with it for a week as a pool car for work and wasn't expecting much. I didn't mind much though because the alternative was a Vauxhall Astra (previous gen.) that I had driven before and was terrible in every way.
While the Modus does feel like a whole lot of car for the chassis it handled pretty nicely and wasn't as slow as I expected. It feels very similar to a slightly heavier mk2 Clio, which isn't too surprising given the underpinnings.
I bought an 11 plate Jazz 2 weeks ago. It's the right tool for my particular job and I was expecting a rather dull, soul-less but worthy car. What I have found out though is that it is a chuffin' brilliant little car and drives way better than I ever thought it would that's wasted on the old duffers that normally pilot them.
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