Pistonheads vehicles you don't "get"
Discussion
[quote=Nickbrapp]E46 csl. It's a tarted up reps saloon with a few bits removed to save some weight, then the owners had refitted on the options list. Then the drivers are overweight anyway.
Same with the m135i. It's a glorified hot hatch. It's ulgy and soulless.
I''m guessing by your comments that you have never driven a E46 CSL?
Same with the m135i. It's a glorified hot hatch. It's ulgy and soulless.
I''m guessing by your comments that you have never driven a E46 CSL?
In common with many others, the MX5 was the car I just didn't get.
Every now and then we end up with too many cars, and decide to ditch two and buy one. Back in 2008 the cars that were for the chop were a Nissan Micra and a Bertone (Fiat) X1/9. After much research I thought that the MX5 would be the car that would combine the good points of both with the bad points of neither.
We took the thing out for a test drive, and it seemed to be OK. I managed to swing the back out while exiting a roundabout without even trying. But somehow it just didn't seem right. When we got back to the showroom, the saleswoman told us it was the world's best selling roadster, and that put my wife off. Why would we want the same as everyone else?
Anyway, to cut a long story short we ended up with an Alfa Spider that we both "got" straight away, and which was more reliable, more economical and better to drive than both the cars it replaced.
Every now and then we end up with too many cars, and decide to ditch two and buy one. Back in 2008 the cars that were for the chop were a Nissan Micra and a Bertone (Fiat) X1/9. After much research I thought that the MX5 would be the car that would combine the good points of both with the bad points of neither.
We took the thing out for a test drive, and it seemed to be OK. I managed to swing the back out while exiting a roundabout without even trying. But somehow it just didn't seem right. When we got back to the showroom, the saleswoman told us it was the world's best selling roadster, and that put my wife off. Why would we want the same as everyone else?
Anyway, to cut a long story short we ended up with an Alfa Spider that we both "got" straight away, and which was more reliable, more economical and better to drive than both the cars it replaced.
F40LM said:
Nickbrapp said:
E46 csl. It's a tarted up reps saloon with a few bits removed to save some weight, then the owners had refitted on the options list. Then the drivers are overweight anyway.
Same with the m135i. It's a glorified hot hatch. It's ulgy and soulless. I''m guessing by your comments that you have never driven a E46 CSL?
Dear PH management, please update the membership criteria, things are slipping
911's are mega, that's why they've sold a few, are these posters serious/driven any variant at all??
E46 CSL's are fantastic, that's why you can't afford one. The M135i is a great drive, you're wrong.
Standard PH crap. People with no experience usually fuelled by jealously get ahead of themselves
I knew it wouldn't be long before someone played the "jealousy" card. 
TurboHatchback said:
I on the other hand can't see why you'd pick any version other than the big V8? You get a lovely noise, lots of oomph, no nasty dieselyness and the fuel economy is hardly different enough to pay much attention to. My big V8 barge quite happily does over 30mpg on trips of 10 miles or more, I've seen over 35 on some journeys. A smaller petrol would be no better and a diesel would offer maybe 10-15% lower fuel costs at the expense of performance, diesely unpleasantness and complexity.
I sort of agree about the MX5, they are too small for me to physically fit in and very lacking in gumption. On the other hand the Mk3 MR2 roadster I tried was excellent whilst following a fairly similar recipe.
+1 with regards to the V8. My 650i is lovely to drive with the nice noise a huge bonus and is so close to the mpg I was getting in my E46 323ci a few years back. I sort of agree about the MX5, they are too small for me to physically fit in and very lacking in gumption. On the other hand the Mk3 MR2 roadster I tried was excellent whilst following a fairly similar recipe.
Edited by Shane330 on Monday 27th July 23:12
ORD said:
braddo said:
From what I have read in recent years, compared to front engine/RWD and mid-engined layouts (assuming the cars are otherwise like for like), the rear-engined layout boils down to two things:
1. Can brake later and harder - the weight transfer onto the front wheels is reduced, i.e. weight distrubition under braking is more even, so rear brakes can do more work and overall braking potential for the 4 tyres is therefore increased.
2. Can get on the power earlier out of turns - more weight over the rear wheels gives better traction out of corners.
The downside is increased risk of lift-off oversteer and trickier trail braking.
The 911 having rear seats should also not be underestimated. If you have young kids/grandkids, being able to put kids in the back is a big practicality bonus. For those without kids, it's a lot easier to fit in golf clubs/camping gear/the wife's holiday luggage etc.
The 911's engineering 'concept' isn't just being rear engined, but includes the horizontally opposed alloy engine configuration. Amongst other things that adds the benefit of low CofG, low frontal area, decent frontal crumple zone, driver comfort (straight legs), good NVH, simple gear linkage, no heat transfer, etc. as well as packaging.1. Can brake later and harder - the weight transfer onto the front wheels is reduced, i.e. weight distrubition under braking is more even, so rear brakes can do more work and overall braking potential for the 4 tyres is therefore increased.
2. Can get on the power earlier out of turns - more weight over the rear wheels gives better traction out of corners.
The downside is increased risk of lift-off oversteer and trickier trail braking.
The 911 having rear seats should also not be underestimated. If you have young kids/grandkids, being able to put kids in the back is a big practicality bonus. For those without kids, it's a lot easier to fit in golf clubs/camping gear/the wife's holiday luggage etc.
SS7
This. Plus 911s haven't been tail heavy for years; nor are they remotely skittish. Oh yeah, and the 911 is nearly mid-engined.
Gotta love PH for people spouting stuff they heard in the pub 20 years ago.
BMW 320d Even thou is has ‘great throttle response’, and driver by PH’S biggest BMW 320d fan boy racing driver, I just see it as a car which the user convinces himself it is the best compromise since the xfactor, when in reality a bit dies inside ever time you go on about how good it is, and makes all other cars obsolete.
The Spruce goose said:
BMW 320d Even thou is has ‘great throttle response’, and driver by PH’S biggest BMW 320d fan boy racing driver, I just see it as a car which the user convinces himself it is the best compromise since the xfactor, when in reality a bit dies inside ever time you go on about how good it is, and makes all other cars obsolete.
Have you been drinking Sir?yonex said:
Even worse the E90 M3, just a 3 series with a big engine
Dear PH management, please update the membership criteria, things are slipping
911's are mega, that's why they've sold a few, are these posters serious/driven any variant at all??
E46 CSL's are fantastic, that's why you can't afford one. The M135i is a great drive, you're wrong.
Standard PH crap. People with no experience usually fuelled by jealously get ahead of themselves
Why do you have to have driven a car to be able to say whether you 'get it' or not?Dear PH management, please update the membership criteria, things are slipping
911's are mega, that's why they've sold a few, are these posters serious/driven any variant at all??
E46 CSL's are fantastic, that's why you can't afford one. The M135i is a great drive, you're wrong.
Standard PH crap. People with no experience usually fuelled by jealously get ahead of themselves
Output Flange said:
Anything with a single-clutch paddle shift gearbox. Because they're all properly s
t.
I think the twin clutch systems that I have driven(DCT)/owned(S-Tronic) are the same too...its fashionable in this day and age though to have one so for some reason most think that they are great. t.cerb4.5lee said:
I think the twin clutch systems that I have driven(DCT)/owned(S-Tronic) are the same too...its fashionable in this day and age though to have one so for some reason most think that they are great.
I disagree there. Currently own a PDK Porsche, and think it's great. It's not a manual vs auto vs paddle debate for me, purely that I've never driven a decent single clutch box'd car.Output Flange said:
cerb4.5lee said:
I think the twin clutch systems that I have driven(DCT)/owned(S-Tronic) are the same too...its fashionable in this day and age though to have one so for some reason most think that they are great.
I disagree there. Currently own a PDK Porsche, and think it's great. It's not a manual vs auto vs paddle debate for me, purely that I've never driven a decent single clutch box'd car.The Nissan Juke
Nissans answer to a question that nobody asked.
Nooooo we aren't going to revive the Silvia or the Skyline.
But good news! There's another hot Juke coming!
Bllleeuuurrghhhh!
Also don't agree on the MX5 hate , as others have said already , it was inspired by the likes of the Lotus Elan and Austin Healey sprite.
And they where hardly thoroughbred powerhouses where they?
Nissans answer to a question that nobody asked.
Nooooo we aren't going to revive the Silvia or the Skyline.
But good news! There's another hot Juke coming!
Bllleeuuurrghhhh!
Also don't agree on the MX5 hate , as others have said already , it was inspired by the likes of the Lotus Elan and Austin Healey sprite.
And they where hardly thoroughbred powerhouses where they?
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