Which car best epitomises style over substance?
Discussion
When you think of a car that offers style over substance, this is the one that automatically springs to mind. It still looks great even today IMHO but sits on the rather soggy mk4 Golf chassis.
However, I've driven one and whilst it is no sports car, the 225 is pretty quick and is capable of getting from A to B very quickly cross-country at 8/10ths if not with much in the way of excitement. Not all the reviews that I have read are damning either. The limited edition Quattro Sport was apparently quite a gem.
Before I get criticised for nominating a car that I haven't driven, my biggest disappointment was a 2008 Fiat Grande Punto 1.2 rental that I had the misfortune to drive from Dundee back to Manchester after delivering a new Peugeot 207 GTi to Dundee (I had a summer job delivering new Peugeots around the country). I got to drive a lot of small rentals that summer: Peugeot 206s/207s, Renault Clios, VW Polos, Skoda Fabias etc, as well as some leggy mk1 Focus Estates that were being replaced by 307 SWs as part of a fleet deal but after being initially quite pleased to have a Punto for a change (OK, it's only a 1.2 supermini but was by far the best-looking one back then), it turned out to be by far the worst.
I love small Fiats and have owned two (a Cinq Sporting and a similarly engined 500) and although they're not perfect, they do tend to relish being driven hard and usually feel quicker than the figures suggest. This one had no brio whatsoever though. Wooden steering and brakes, a horrid gearchange and massive throttle delay. It didn't even ride well or achieve good fuel economy either. That was a pretty miserable 6 hour drive back to Manchester!
However, it's just a 1.2 litre shopping hatch, so maybe one shouldn't expect too much.
I'm sad to say it but my nomination would probably be another Italian, the Alfa Romeo 4C.
First up it looks gorgeous and on looks alone could easily hold its head high in Casino Square amongst the supercars and Bentleys. On paper it looks perfect too. A tiny kerb weight, non-assisted steering, mid-engined RWD, an Elise-rivalling PWR and one of the most evocative badges in the business. It's not even that expensive for something with those looks and rarity. OK, a manual gearbox would have been nice and possibly a V6 but it still had the ingredients to be a modern-day Ferrari Dino.
No, I haven't driven one but every review that I have read has slated everything about it (engine, steering, chassis, gearbox) and puts it even below FWD coupes based on more mundane machinery. Such a shame. Another great-looking but ultimately disappointing Alfa Romeo.
Which car for you best epitomises style over substance?
However, I've driven one and whilst it is no sports car, the 225 is pretty quick and is capable of getting from A to B very quickly cross-country at 8/10ths if not with much in the way of excitement. Not all the reviews that I have read are damning either. The limited edition Quattro Sport was apparently quite a gem.
Before I get criticised for nominating a car that I haven't driven, my biggest disappointment was a 2008 Fiat Grande Punto 1.2 rental that I had the misfortune to drive from Dundee back to Manchester after delivering a new Peugeot 207 GTi to Dundee (I had a summer job delivering new Peugeots around the country). I got to drive a lot of small rentals that summer: Peugeot 206s/207s, Renault Clios, VW Polos, Skoda Fabias etc, as well as some leggy mk1 Focus Estates that were being replaced by 307 SWs as part of a fleet deal but after being initially quite pleased to have a Punto for a change (OK, it's only a 1.2 supermini but was by far the best-looking one back then), it turned out to be by far the worst.
I love small Fiats and have owned two (a Cinq Sporting and a similarly engined 500) and although they're not perfect, they do tend to relish being driven hard and usually feel quicker than the figures suggest. This one had no brio whatsoever though. Wooden steering and brakes, a horrid gearchange and massive throttle delay. It didn't even ride well or achieve good fuel economy either. That was a pretty miserable 6 hour drive back to Manchester!
However, it's just a 1.2 litre shopping hatch, so maybe one shouldn't expect too much.
I'm sad to say it but my nomination would probably be another Italian, the Alfa Romeo 4C.
First up it looks gorgeous and on looks alone could easily hold its head high in Casino Square amongst the supercars and Bentleys. On paper it looks perfect too. A tiny kerb weight, non-assisted steering, mid-engined RWD, an Elise-rivalling PWR and one of the most evocative badges in the business. It's not even that expensive for something with those looks and rarity. OK, a manual gearbox would have been nice and possibly a V6 but it still had the ingredients to be a modern-day Ferrari Dino.
No, I haven't driven one but every review that I have read has slated everything about it (engine, steering, chassis, gearbox) and puts it even below FWD coupes based on more mundane machinery. Such a shame. Another great-looking but ultimately disappointing Alfa Romeo.
Which car for you best epitomises style over substance?
I thought that the turbo version was supposed to be pretty good actually?Nissan Figaro? A lot of style but not really very good at much.
That recent Renault thingy that was reminiscent of some sort of open top modern day Vauxhall Tigra?
Vauxhall Tigra come to think of it.
I'm on a roll now; Vauxhalls Calibra and Frontera.
Apologies to any Vauxhall fans. I didn't intend picking them out for criticism.
There was a small two seater soft top 4X4 type thing a few years back that was clearly style over substance. Was it a Suzuki X90?
That recent Renault thingy that was reminiscent of some sort of open top modern day Vauxhall Tigra?
Vauxhall Tigra come to think of it.
I'm on a roll now; Vauxhalls Calibra and Frontera.
Apologies to any Vauxhall fans. I didn't intend picking them out for criticism.
There was a small two seater soft top 4X4 type thing a few years back that was clearly style over substance. Was it a Suzuki X90?
TT isn't that bad in 'top spec' IMO. Plenty of substance- reasonable power in 225 form. AWD, good standard specification and a decent load area. Just isn't a sports car is the problem for some I reckon.
Something like a Rover Streetwise is the ultimate exponent of this IMO- just a 200/25 in drag with plastic cladding stuck to it.
Likewise a Polo Dune.
I'm sure people keeping up with modern motors will have some more recent examples to hit us with.
The problem with including the Brera is that it's not totally awful underneath it's achingly beautiful clothes.
edit to add: I remember seeing the prototype at the 2002 Paris motorshow and thinking I didn't give a f
k how it drove given it's looks.
Something like a Rover Streetwise is the ultimate exponent of this IMO- just a 200/25 in drag with plastic cladding stuck to it.
Likewise a Polo Dune.
I'm sure people keeping up with modern motors will have some more recent examples to hit us with.
The problem with including the Brera is that it's not totally awful underneath it's achingly beautiful clothes.
edit to add: I remember seeing the prototype at the 2002 Paris motorshow and thinking I didn't give a f
k how it drove given it's looks.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff