Pistonheads vehicles you don't "get"

Pistonheads vehicles you don't "get"

Author
Discussion

rohrl

8,743 posts

146 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
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yonex said:
Tony Starks said:
Why do you have to have driven a car to be able to say whether you 'get it' or not?
Because you are coming from a position of ignorance otherwise?
This doesn't hold up. We all have an opinion on the McLaren F1, Porsche 959 and Ferrari F40 yet how many of us have actually driven them? Less than 1% for sure.

"Getting" a car is nothing to do with whether you've driven it or not, it's about whether the car catches your imagination, whether you'd seek one out if you won the lottery, whether you'd stick the poster on your bedroom wall if you were a small boy.

anonymous-user

55 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
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Nickbrapp said:
So voicing a opinion makes you jealous?

Typical.
What is typical is someone calling an E46 CSL a 'tarted up reps car', what would that make a Golf exactly?

Ares

11,000 posts

121 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
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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.
True. The paddle systems are getting better and better. Porsche has had the best system for years. I had a then new 1998 M3 SMG (non-Dual Clutch IIRC) for a while and it was awful, took a second between gear changes and was noticeable slower than the 'proper' manual. The latest M3/M4 offering is a peach and a match for the 991 PDK in it's use. Modern systems are now quicker for average joe than the best 'H' gate manual operator. Jump into a manual after using a good DCT/PDK/etc system and it feels slow and ponderous. I had a day in Audi RSs are while ago. After driving the R8 V10 with paddles, the V8 manual was just dire.

kambites

67,593 posts

222 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
quotequote all
yonex said:
What is typical is someone calling an E46 CSL a 'tarted up reps car', what would that make a Golf exactly?
A tarted up family car?

The M3 and by proxy the CSL is a tarted up reps car but that's not an insult - that fact that they take a cheap(ish) mass-produced rep-mobile and improved the bits which can make it drive better is precisely why the M-division are able to produce such good cars at the prices they do.

e21Mark

16,205 posts

174 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
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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.
They're really not though. Admittedly, although I have only been a passenger, they're pretty special and certainly greater than the sum of the parts. They sound awesome too!

I worked for Mazda UK when the MX5 was released and it's easy to forget just how good they were compared to what else was available at the time. An early MX5 is a terrific little car, that rewards being driven hard and loves to revs. The gear change is one of the best. When you consider just how cheaply they can be bought nowadays, they're an absolute steal. Even better with a hard top fitted!

S10GTA

12,688 posts

168 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
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FIREBIRDC9 said:
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?
I wasn't aware a Juke was a PH car of choice...

RobinBanks

17,540 posts

180 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
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200Plus Club said:
budfox said:
911 in any guise. Looks horrible, don't car how good it is.

MX-5 obviously.
Seriously, all 911s look horrible? Have to disagree there with ya. Peugeot 308cc s look horrible, this is a stunner!
It may be a good car, but it doesn't look especially nice to my eyes. It looks very average to me.

skyrover

12,674 posts

205 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
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200Plus Club said:
Seriously, all 911s look horrible? Have to disagree there with ya. Peugeot 308cc s look horrible, this is a stunner!
Have to disagree, it's not particularly special to look at at all.

Maxwell Jay

14 posts

107 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
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walm said:
Defenders are absolutely terrible to drive.
I really want one and I have no idea why.
Terrible economy, slow, unreliable, expensive but for some reason I think they are very very cool.
I had the great pleasure of driving ours from Birmingham to Dorset for a show. At the start of the journey I was scared to say the least but after 400 or so miles in her, I'd fell in love! biggrin

I started out driving from Brum to Walsall to pick up my colleague as we were off to classics at the castle, as we were sponsoring the show this year. I thought I was crazy, the wee beastie didn't want to go anywhere over about 60-70 without complaining. The deafening din coming from under the bonnet provided by the screaming 200TDi from a disco which now resides inside the heart of our trusty Land Rover 110.

After reaching such speed should I dare to take my foot off the pedal with any amount of haste it sent the rear of the car rushing forward to try and overtake the front causing her to squirrel around like a stroppy child, caused I'm told by the lift kit fitted to it. The play in the steering was another battle, it was like steering a boat in the beginning... A good 6 inches of play left and right... You don't so much steer in a precise direction more roughly point it and hope it catches up with where you want it to go!

But then I remembered, I'm driving an almost 30 year old 4X4... It's not a modern car with ABS, Power steering (that works properly), electronic gadgets and wizardry (again, that work). It's a time worn piece of machinery which has it's quirks. It's not a modern, bland, anyone-mobile... It's a drivers car which wants to be driven, not just ridden in. You need to feel what the car is doing and respond, not just switch off and let the gadgets do the driving like you would with a modern car.

I quickly realized this was not going to be a quick journey, It wasn't, over 8 hours in the driving seat in total but still, felt more refreshed after that drive than I have on shorter journeys in a modern car. Must be something to do with all the mental stimulation involved ;O)...

Land Rovers have soul, an unbreakable soul which will thunder on... Forever... Any Land Rover fans here? You know what I mean!


FastRich

542 posts

201 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
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abitlikefiennes said:
Muzzer79 said:
Big engined petrol 'every day' cars. Sure, a V8 powered sports car or similar is great but I can't understand some people who's affinity to petrol is so great that their 5 series/Range Rover/Mercedes has to be a big V8....
The attraction is precisely because common sense says it doesn't make sense.

The difference in economy between my old 3 litre and current 4.2 litre was negligible, but there's now comfort, more toys, more room for passengers front and back, a boot that swallows everything I've thrown at it (so far), the car itself is cooler, scarcer and will be worth something when I sell it and above all this there's the lovely V8 burble.

I like the fact that it's a stupid car to potter to the shops in but then I like being slightly contrary.
This. OK, big engined petrol cars aren't as cheap to run as an ecobox diesel - who cares? The difference in cost over a month is £100ish and as we all know, there's very little one can buy for £100 these days which can be deemed a treat so why not treat yopurself every day? For me, the only annoyance with running a big engined car is the time stood at the fuel station twice a week.

FastRich

542 posts

201 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
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Squiggs said:
They may look the part but they're uncomfortable to sit in, uncomfortable on the ears, have badly fitting panels and are generally badly built in every other department.
....says the Smart Car lover. Oh dear.

ORD

18,120 posts

128 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
quotequote all
kambites said:
A tarted up family car?

The M3 and by proxy the CSL is a tarted up reps car but that's not an insult - that fact that they take a cheap(ish) mass-produced rep-mobile and improved the bits which can make it drive better is precisely why the M-division are able to produce such good cars at the prices they do.
Hardly fair. Bespoke engine (until now) and bespoke suspension. The bits that matter were far more than 'tarted up'.

FastRich

542 posts

201 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
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jshell said:
See, I'm on the other side of this. I see, for certain roads, a tall, well powered 4x4 as a faster car than most. I don't mean in outright power and handling, but in terms of front and rear visibility. I run a 59 plate diesel Cayenne and can drive it cross-country way quicker than I would have anything smaller, faster and with less long-range visibility. Front vis gives a clear view over cars, through corners (over walls, hedgerows etc) and the ability to better spot cameras, speed traps etc. It also lets see gaps for moving into after an overtake or over undulating roads. High, clear, rear vis gives the ability to quickly spot closing barges that may be cop cars or just way faster cars that may foul an overtake - as does the huge door mirrors. The suspension is 'good enough' and the comfort & load carrying are ace.

I think the ability to judge forwards conditions allows a much better flow or momentum whilst trying to cover point-2-point as quickly as possible.

Of course a faster, smaller car is much, much quicker on clear, traffic free open roads - but, how many of them are left?
This. I used to have a full fat Range Rover - ok, so not as quick as the Porker but in terms of safety and the ability to read the road ahead, it was fantastic. I'm sure that by seeing the brake lights come on 4 cars ahead and merely backing off, rather than not seeing the brake lights until they were on the car in directly front and then having to hit the brakes, I saved the nation many hours of traffic jams. bowtielaugh

kambites

67,593 posts

222 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
quotequote all
ORD said:
Hardly fair. Bespoke engine (until now) and bespoke suspension. The bits that matter were far more than 'tarted up'.
Meh, a matter of semantics I suppose. To me the M3, in all its incarnations, is a three series first and an M3 second.

And all the better for it because if it wasn't, it'd be twice the price. Fabulous car.

200Plus Club

10,773 posts

279 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
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RobinBanks said:
It may be a good car, but it doesn't look especially nice to my eyes. It looks very average to me.
Just Average or "horrible"?
Judging by the attention it gets generally (trust me not bought for that reason at all) I'd suggest a lot of people seem to think it looks decidedly non average. You get thumbs up from little kids and older guys in nice cars. So far a very good reaction to its looks.

Out of interest, what would you rate as a nice looking car if not a 911 carrera ?

200Plus Club

10,773 posts

279 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
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Personally i really don't get the Peugeot 307 or 308 cc at all. The one with the flat tray rear and arches way too big and wide for the wheels. It has an air of "wheelbarrow " about it and i just cant believe people buy them.

My other wouldbe the Fiat 500L. Just buy a huge 4x4 or large family hatch if you need a giant oversized vehicle. Its not a fiat 500 in any sense of the word i can see

GravelBen

15,698 posts

231 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
Maxwell Jay said:
...I thought I was crazy, the wee beastie didn't want to go anywhere over about 60-70 without complaining. The deafening din coming from under the bonnet provided by the screaming 200TDi from a disco which now resides inside the heart of our trusty Land Rover 110.

After reaching such speed should I dare to take my foot off the pedal with any amount of haste it sent the rear of the car rushing forward to try and overtake the front causing her to squirrel around like a stroppy child, caused I'm told by the lift kit fitted to it. The play in the steering was another battle, it was like steering a boat in the beginning... A good 6 inches of play left and right... You don't so much steer in a precise direction more roughly point it and hope it catches up with where you want it to go!

But then I remembered, I'm driving an almost 30 year old 4X4...
On the flipside, you could drive a Nissan Patrol of similar age which would also have character and be great off-road, but drive far better and not fall apart.

Maybe I just don't 'get' Landrovers. hehe

Edited by GravelBen on Wednesday 29th July 01:44

Nickbrapp

5,277 posts

131 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
yonex said:
Nickbrapp said:
So voicing a opinion makes you jealous?

Typical.
What is typical is someone calling an E46 CSL a 'tarted up reps car', what would that make a Golf exactly?
That makes a golf a company vehicle.

Are you getting touchy because you paid over the odds for a fancy 3 series with no air con?

skyrover

12,674 posts

205 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
GravelBen said:
On the flipside, you could drive a Nissan Patrol of similar age which would also have character and be great off-road, but drive far better and not fall apart.

Maybe I just don't 'get' Landrovers. hehe

Edited by GravelBen on Wednesday 29th July 01:44
Both will rot and fall apart.

The land rover however can be restored to like new for very little effort/cost and has a massive aftermarket.

S10GTA

12,688 posts

168 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
T
200Plus Club said:
Personally i really don't get the Peugeot 307 or 308 cc at all. The one with the flat tray rear and arches way too big and wide for the wheels. It has an air of "wheelbarrow " about it and i just cant believe people buy them.

My other wouldbe the Fiat 500L. Just buy a huge 4x4 or large family hatch if you need a giant oversized vehicle. Its not a fiat 500 in any sense of the word i can see
Or you could read the op