Most boring car you've owned?
Discussion
TheBanjo said:
snuffy said:
I owned an Aston Martin V8 Vantage for 18 months - looks the part but my god it's so bloody boring to drive.
You've piqued my interest. How does an Aston Martin Vantage actually become boring? Isn't this a bit like saying "yeah, my girlfriend's Jessica Alba, but I find her a tad plain."andybu said:
Technically not owned, but I was in the position of "having to have it" for 11 months...
I'd just changed jobs & become the MD of a small software company. A set of wheels was to be part of the package. I negotiated my way into an E34 BMW 5 series (their current product at the time).
Turned up on day one - and was handed the keys to a two-tone blue Toyota Camry automatic. It was one of their existing company cars, and, as the newbie, I was now expected to use it until its term came up, when I'd then get my own choice of wheels. I raised objections but was in a weak negotiating position. With the feeling of having been shafted over this, I headed across the car park at end of day. Driving 100 yards in the thing was quite enough distance to learn why the previous user had quit the company; the Camry featured a 2 litre, 4 cylinder petrol engine(allegedly), mounted transversely in the front of a large saloon body and deploying FWD.
The default handling mode was copious under-steer and body-roll. Acceleration was asthmatic; it rolled so much on the corners you could easily develop seasickness. Any passengers complained - constantly. Clearly developed for the US market, it was a complete fish and utter out of water on UK roads.
The only possible redeeming feature was the sheer number of gadgets it had that I'd never driven before; climate control (not just your humble air-con), cruise control, automatic wipers, auto-dipping headlamps, etc, etc. The kids christened it "the Wurlitzer". After 6 months of trying to rag it to death the cylinder-head gasket started to leak, producing a chuffing noise under acceleration but now at an even more lethargic rate of increase in discernible speed. Being a Toyota of course it doggedly refused to die. We both endured the 11 months together until it was 3 years of age and I finally got swapped in to my new 6 - cylinder & RWD 5 series. It was like coming out of a dark, dark, endless tunnel into the wonderful sparkling sunlight of a lovely day........
The Camry nightmares stopped a few years later and I'm all normal again now........
I'd just changed jobs & become the MD of a small software company. A set of wheels was to be part of the package. I negotiated my way into an E34 BMW 5 series (their current product at the time).
Turned up on day one - and was handed the keys to a two-tone blue Toyota Camry automatic. It was one of their existing company cars, and, as the newbie, I was now expected to use it until its term came up, when I'd then get my own choice of wheels. I raised objections but was in a weak negotiating position. With the feeling of having been shafted over this, I headed across the car park at end of day. Driving 100 yards in the thing was quite enough distance to learn why the previous user had quit the company; the Camry featured a 2 litre, 4 cylinder petrol engine(allegedly), mounted transversely in the front of a large saloon body and deploying FWD.
The default handling mode was copious under-steer and body-roll. Acceleration was asthmatic; it rolled so much on the corners you could easily develop seasickness. Any passengers complained - constantly. Clearly developed for the US market, it was a complete fish and utter out of water on UK roads.
The only possible redeeming feature was the sheer number of gadgets it had that I'd never driven before; climate control (not just your humble air-con), cruise control, automatic wipers, auto-dipping headlamps, etc, etc. The kids christened it "the Wurlitzer". After 6 months of trying to rag it to death the cylinder-head gasket started to leak, producing a chuffing noise under acceleration but now at an even more lethargic rate of increase in discernible speed. Being a Toyota of course it doggedly refused to die. We both endured the 11 months together until it was 3 years of age and I finally got swapped in to my new 6 - cylinder & RWD 5 series. It was like coming out of a dark, dark, endless tunnel into the wonderful sparkling sunlight of a lovely day........
The Camry nightmares stopped a few years later and I'm all normal again now........
Very funny - reminded me of when I and a couple of friends started a new company, and having come out of company cars decided to lease a couple of cars.
For some unknown reason (cheap?) we leased a couple of Honda Accords, 2002, 2.0 VTEC petrol engine. My God it was a dull car. At least my mates arrived and was blue, mine turned up and was British Racing Green (what? On a bloody Honda?), wiht a beige interior. It was hateful. Of course, well screwed together, but sooooooo dull...
It was so awful driving round in the "pensioner special" that I just tried to rag the thing to death - at every opportunity used every last rev, thrapped the thing silly at each chance I had, and it was still deathly boring.... Damn thing also utterly refused to die...
It was a blessed relief when the lease terms finally came up - it felt like a life-sentanced prisoner crossing off the days in teh diary until parole....
snuffy said:
I've just bought a Fiat 500 1.2 and I really like it and I think that's because it's not pretending to be something it's not.
I ran a 1.2 Panda for a year to do some cheap and cheerful motoring, rekindled my liking for FWD something I didn't think would happen. Trail brake your 500 into corners to kill the understeer then plant the throttle and be prepared to make some steering corrections. On the Panda the tiny little wheels and tyres made this hilariously tyre squealing fun at relatively low speeds. Quite a lot to be said for spanking basic cars without a care in the world.snuffy said:
TheBanjo said:
snuffy said:
I owned an Aston Martin V8 Vantage for 18 months - looks the part but my god it's so bloody boring to drive.
You've piqued my interest. How does an Aston Martin Vantage actually become boring? Isn't this a bit like saying "yeah, my girlfriend's Jessica Alba, but I find her a tad plain."It's interesting how it's not just about "the numbers" [acceleration, torque etc.] per se, but how the experience of the car matches our expectation. I've got an E92 M3, powerful enough although you have to rev it high to get the torque, and MANY years ago I had a Porsche 924... and I enjoyed the old Porsche as much as I've done the M3. The 924 was underpowered, compared to today's cars, but its balance and handling matched my expectations at the time. I imagine this is why many Toyota 86 drivers have a smile on their face.
Like the Fiat, last week I drove a friend's Polo and found it quite a lot of fun. As you said, it's not pretending to be very much, and it was much more than what I expected..
A Vauxhall Corsa C. Everything about it was just dull and lifeless, with no character. The Toyota Corolla I owned used to lift off oversteer for fun, and I respected it for being utterly unburstable; which in turn gave it character. But the Corsa? Just so utterly grey and uninspired. A car for people who don't like driving and view a motor vehicle as nothing more than an appliance on wheels.
In order of appearance:
1) MK 1 Sierra. Had the get up and go of a glacier. Hated driving it, or being seen in it. Smelled nice, because it was new. Its only saving grace.
2) Vauxhall Cavalier estate, 1985 or so. Had air suspension. My company swapped it for my lovely Granada 3.0 litre (?) V6 estate. I left shortly afterwards. Even more sluggish than the Sierra. Bounced, like it had been fed carrots. Awful sh*tbox.
3) Toyota Avensis 2005
I made the mistake of buying a RAV4 in 2004 after my C230 Sport Kompressor fell to pieces. The RAV4 sucked all the joy out of motoring; dead steering, Marks & Spencers approved design, Pleblon interior, every last gram of emotion removed by Toyota engineers with tweezers. The Avensis, I thought, would at least be brisk. Not a hope. It was like driving a car designed by a valium addict. Awful, awful thing. Gave you constipation, just looking at it.
4) Passat Estate, 1.8 turbo 20v auto
Sprightly, but heavy and thirsty. Only slightly less boring to drive than the Avensis. Designed for overweight German beer salesmen. Like driving a horse and cart, without the horse. No saving graces at all.
Most fun: Fiat Panda 1.2 2003, Merc C230 Kompressor 2000 or so, with sport pack. Porsche Cayman 2008 round Thruxton, MkV Golf GTD with Revo Teknic tune, then Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.4L 4x4: country lane ruffian and continental road trip cruiser.
Next car: Cayman, I hope, but likely to be another 4x4.
1) MK 1 Sierra. Had the get up and go of a glacier. Hated driving it, or being seen in it. Smelled nice, because it was new. Its only saving grace.
2) Vauxhall Cavalier estate, 1985 or so. Had air suspension. My company swapped it for my lovely Granada 3.0 litre (?) V6 estate. I left shortly afterwards. Even more sluggish than the Sierra. Bounced, like it had been fed carrots. Awful sh*tbox.
3) Toyota Avensis 2005
I made the mistake of buying a RAV4 in 2004 after my C230 Sport Kompressor fell to pieces. The RAV4 sucked all the joy out of motoring; dead steering, Marks & Spencers approved design, Pleblon interior, every last gram of emotion removed by Toyota engineers with tweezers. The Avensis, I thought, would at least be brisk. Not a hope. It was like driving a car designed by a valium addict. Awful, awful thing. Gave you constipation, just looking at it.
4) Passat Estate, 1.8 turbo 20v auto
Sprightly, but heavy and thirsty. Only slightly less boring to drive than the Avensis. Designed for overweight German beer salesmen. Like driving a horse and cart, without the horse. No saving graces at all.
Most fun: Fiat Panda 1.2 2003, Merc C230 Kompressor 2000 or so, with sport pack. Porsche Cayman 2008 round Thruxton, MkV Golf GTD with Revo Teknic tune, then Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.4L 4x4: country lane ruffian and continental road trip cruiser.
Next car: Cayman, I hope, but likely to be another 4x4.
I was going to say my current daily beater - Mazda 6 diesel.
Thinking about it however, it's tendency to light up its engine warning and DPF lamps on a frequent basis gives me a shiver of adrenaline every time I turn the key in the ignition.
So I guess it has to be a W reg Astra SRI whose only redeeming feature was the odometer that kept packing in.
Thinking about it however, it's tendency to light up its engine warning and DPF lamps on a frequent basis gives me a shiver of adrenaline every time I turn the key in the ignition.
So I guess it has to be a W reg Astra SRI whose only redeeming feature was the odometer that kept packing in.
Stenn said:
snuffy said:
I owned an Aston Martin V8 Vantage for 18 months - looks the part but my god it's so bloody boring to drive.
You know you're doing ok in life when that's the most boring car you've owned!I went for a Cayman S Tiptronic a couple of years ago. An elegant thing but like driving a sponge. A real granddaddy car.
Made me rely on my own judgement not endless five star reviews.
andybu said:
Technically not owned, but I was in the position of "having to have it" for 11 months...
I'd just changed jobs & become the MD of a small software company. A set of wheels was to be part of the package. I negotiated my way into an E34 BMW 5 series (their current product at the time).
Turned up on day one - and was handed the keys to a two-tone blue Toyota Camry automatic. It was one of their existing company cars, and, as the newbie, I was now expected to use it until its term came up, when I'd then get my own choice of wheels. I raised objections but was in a weak negotiating position. With the feeling of having been shafted over this, I headed across the car park at end of day. Driving 100 yards in the thing was quite enough distance to learn why the previous user had quit the company; the Camry featured a 2 litre, 4 cylinder petrol engine(allegedly), mounted transversely in the front of a large saloon body and deploying FWD.
The default handling mode was copious under-steer and body-roll. Acceleration was asthmatic; it rolled so much on the corners you could easily develop seasickness. Any passengers complained - constantly. Clearly developed for the US market, it was a complete fish and utter out of water on UK roads.
The only possible redeeming feature was the sheer number of gadgets it had that I'd never driven before; climate control (not just your humble air-con), cruise control, automatic wipers, auto-dipping headlamps, etc, etc. The kids christened it "the Wurlitzer". After 6 months of trying to rag it to death the cylinder-head gasket started to leak, producing a chuffing noise under acceleration but now at an even more lethargic rate of increase in discernible speed. Being a Toyota of course it doggedly refused to die. We both endured the 11 months together until it was 3 years of age and I finally got swapped in to my new 6 - cylinder & RWD 5 series. It was like coming out of a dark, dark, endless tunnel into the wonderful sparkling sunlight of a lovely day........
The Camry nightmares stopped a few years later and I'm all normal again now........
You've reminded me of a company car I had when I worked in the states. It was a Mazda 626 with one of those odd, oversized 4 pot petrol engines. And those weird hard plastic tyres that seem to get specced for the US market. I'd just changed jobs & become the MD of a small software company. A set of wheels was to be part of the package. I negotiated my way into an E34 BMW 5 series (their current product at the time).
Turned up on day one - and was handed the keys to a two-tone blue Toyota Camry automatic. It was one of their existing company cars, and, as the newbie, I was now expected to use it until its term came up, when I'd then get my own choice of wheels. I raised objections but was in a weak negotiating position. With the feeling of having been shafted over this, I headed across the car park at end of day. Driving 100 yards in the thing was quite enough distance to learn why the previous user had quit the company; the Camry featured a 2 litre, 4 cylinder petrol engine(allegedly), mounted transversely in the front of a large saloon body and deploying FWD.
The default handling mode was copious under-steer and body-roll. Acceleration was asthmatic; it rolled so much on the corners you could easily develop seasickness. Any passengers complained - constantly. Clearly developed for the US market, it was a complete fish and utter out of water on UK roads.
The only possible redeeming feature was the sheer number of gadgets it had that I'd never driven before; climate control (not just your humble air-con), cruise control, automatic wipers, auto-dipping headlamps, etc, etc. The kids christened it "the Wurlitzer". After 6 months of trying to rag it to death the cylinder-head gasket started to leak, producing a chuffing noise under acceleration but now at an even more lethargic rate of increase in discernible speed. Being a Toyota of course it doggedly refused to die. We both endured the 11 months together until it was 3 years of age and I finally got swapped in to my new 6 - cylinder & RWD 5 series. It was like coming out of a dark, dark, endless tunnel into the wonderful sparkling sunlight of a lovely day........
The Camry nightmares stopped a few years later and I'm all normal again now........
I'd gone over to work for a few months in the early 90's and was disappointed to find that the V6 and V8 US barges had all but disappeared and were being replaced by these sorts of things. There were so many nearly-identical Camry's and 626's all in the same dark grey metallic that it was a nightmare to find in an airport car park.
It was really really really dull.
AC43 said:
You've reminded me of a company car I had when I worked in the states. It was a Mazda 626 with one of those odd, oversized 4 pot petrol engines. And those weird hard plastic tyres that seem to get specced for the US market.
I'd gone over to work for a few months in the early 90's and was disappointed to find that the V6 and V8 US barges had all but disappeared and were being replaced by these sorts of things. There were so many nearly-identical Camry's and 626's all in the same dark grey metallic that it was a nightmare to find in an airport car park.
It was really really really dull.
That's what these were designed for:I'd gone over to work for a few months in the early 90's and was disappointed to find that the V6 and V8 US barges had all but disappeared and were being replaced by these sorts of things. There were so many nearly-identical Camry's and 626's all in the same dark grey metallic that it was a nightmare to find in an airport car park.
It was really really really dull.
Have only owned 2 MX-5s and a 2001 Grand Vitara so not too much choice to find the worst! However the one time I have really enjoyed the Vitara was on a day when we had a huge amount of snow (so much so that they couldn't keep up with it and so cleaned the main roads, and that's here in Norway). Just remember coming home from a friend's house and 50-60cm of fresh snow on the road. Just stuck it in 4WD and gunned it with the result of snow flying everywhere. That's the one time I've had big smiles from it. Most of the time it's just a boring engine, just makes lots of noise when you use the throttle and terrible steering feel.
NailedOn said:
For me it's the relative disappointment - IE what you got vs what you expected.
Exactly. It's all about your perception as opposed to what the car is actually like (or rather, how you yourself find it). People can't believe it when I say my Vantage was underpowered and boring to drive - I even had one chap at work say "but it's an Aston!" as if I must be wrong simply because of its name. TheBanjo said:
snuffy said:
TheBanjo said:
snuffy said:
I owned an Aston Martin V8 Vantage for 18 months - looks the part but my god it's so bloody boring to drive.
You've piqued my interest. How does an Aston Martin Vantage actually become boring? Isn't this a bit like saying "yeah, my girlfriend's Jessica Alba, but I find her a tad plain."It's interesting how it's not just about "the numbers" [acceleration, torque etc.] per se, but how the experience of the car matches our expectation. I've got an E92 M3, powerful enough although you have to rev it high to get the torque, and MANY years ago I had a Porsche 924... and I enjoyed the old Porsche as much as I've done the M3. The 924 was underpowered, compared to today's cars, but its balance and handling matched my expectations at the time. I imagine this is why many Toyota 86 drivers have a smile on their face.
Like the Fiat, last week I drove a friend's Polo and found it quite a lot of fun. As you said, it's not pretending to be very much, and it was much more than what I expected..
andybu said:
Turned up on day one - and was handed the keys to a two-tone blue Toyota Camry automatic. It was one of their existing company cars, and, as the newbie, I was now expected to use it until its term came up, when I'd then get my own choice of wheels. I raised objections but was in a weak negotiating position. With the feeling of having been shafted over this, I headed across the car park at end of day. Driving 100 yards in the thing was quite enough distance to learn why the previous user had quit the company; the Camry featured a 2 litre, 4 cylinder petrol engine(allegedly), mounted transversely in the front of a large saloon body and deploying FWD.
Shame it wasn't the V6 they really go some 
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