Can a car BE 'over-rated'?

[fourwheelsteer]

cobra kid said:

I think E-Types are damn ugly. Too long a bonnet and wheels too narrow track.

Drive an early 3.8-litre E-type, they have their faults but they have an undoubted special-ness.

Thinking of the cars I've driven there have been a few that struck me as over rated.

Ford Focus Mk1 - A good car, certainly, but I think the road tests set my expectations so high that the car was always going to have a tough job living up to its reputation.

Porsche Cayman (the one before the current model, I think) - Again, the dangers of putting too much store in road tests; everything I'd read suggested the Cayman was a better car than the Boxster. But when I drove them back to back I preferred the 'hairdresser car'.

Porsche 911 Carrera (1980s) - Tricky to drive, very odd driving position and yet I'd love another go in one. I think it takes time to get the hang of a classic 911.

BMW 320d (new about 10 years ago, whatever version that was) - harsh and unpleasant to drive, not my idea of 'The ultimate driving machine'.

[cerb4.5lee]

fourwheelsteer said:

BMW 320d (new about 10 years ago, whatever version that was) - harsh and unpleasant to drive, not my idea of 'The ultimate driving machine'.

You wont be surprised to hear that the current one isn't much different either! a crappy engine usually makes for a crappy car.

[Animal]

leonintegra36 said:

I defy any car enthusiast to drive my dc2 and not agree it is a very special car indeed.

Challenge accepted! (I actually think they're fantastic cars, I just want a go in one!)

[greygoose]

leonintegra36 said:

I defy any car enthusiast to drive my dc2 and not agree it is a very special car indeed.
I have never had a bad integra type r dc2 just degrees of excellence. Maybe you just drove a tired one or one with a neglected drivetrain/transmission. My cherished example drives spot on and would receive admiration from any car enthusiast at any level. Unfortunately it sits more than it drives as I want to preserve the car which pains me greatly. I've driven my current example only the once in fact and a good dc2 is strong and tactile enough to not even need to access vtec, but when it does it is truly spectacular. Raw for some, but the special occasion feeling of driving a good example has only been enhanced with age, especially in comparison with the latest lard infested euro boxes. The handling balance and control weights are all harmonious.

So why don't you actually drive it then?

[TB303]

The M135i has been mentioned a few times here, and I'm inclined to agree.

I have one at the moment and got it on a lease deal. It's incredibly quick, has numb steering and is just a bit boring somehow.

It is actually a good car overall, but it's not a Petrolhead car by any stretch other than it being fast and RWD. I'd never get up on a Sunday morning to go driving in it. Ever.

I won't miss it much when it goes back next year, but equally am not quite sure what to replace it with.

[TB303]

vetteheadracer said:

Ferrari 360 spider and Porsche 911 GT3, was only a passenger in both but did nothing for me, especially the Ferrari as it appeared to be a bit gutless, was expecting it to pack much more of a punch. Probably because I am used to driving cars with lots of torque.

I love my 360 spider but it's not a car for those who like torque - I'm probably able to be quicker around London in my M135i!

The engine is only alive from about 4k rpm up (but wonderfully alive, in my opinion). It's not a relaxing car to drive, but a very engaging one.

[drpep]

vetteheadracer said:

Ferrari 360 spider and Porsche 911 GT3, was only a passenger in both but did nothing for me, especially the Ferrari as it appeared to be a bit gutless, was expecting it to pack much more of a punch. Probably because I am used to driving cars with lots of torque.

I agree, GT3s are really overrated. Especially in England. Especially ones near London. In fact, if you own one you should probably put it up for sale soon. As they're overrated, you should sell it for about £40k. If you do, please drop me a PM.

GT3s. Are. fking. Awesome.

End of. Driven properly, that thing will light your tits on fire.

[RobinBanks]

I've never been a big fan of 911s (even as a child the styling didn't interest me at all, for instance).

But I reckon the GT3s are pretty great.

[RoverP6B]

BMW F10/F11 5-series. Lived with one for a month. The screen washers were excellent, as was the ZF 8-speed auto. The rest was utter dogst.

[Escort Si-130]

+1

bobtail4x4 said:

VW, nuff said?

[Escort Si-130]

??????

Housey said:

Never liked any of their music.

[Escort Si-130]

PMSL at point 16 - farting subs!!!

PHMatt said:

My nomination is the E46 BMW non M3.

I've owned a 330 sport convertible for the last 5 years between the miles of 62k and 82k. Considering people hark on about German build quality, I have replaced:

1) Thermostat - failed
2) Inlet pipe - perished
3) Rocker gasket. Twice. Leaked.
4) Front wish bone. Knocking ball joint- failed MOT.
5) Front wishbone rear bushes Rubber perished.
5) Front drop links. Rattled.
6) Steering coupler - tramlinned
7) Glovebox lock - Had to break in.
8) Satnav drive - Disc jammed
9) Multichanger - Laser stopped.
10) Front Wings from rust
11) Front ARB bushes - 5mm gap all round.
12) Battery keeps going flat. Don't know why.
13) ABS Sensor(s) stop - no speed, revs, ABS, traction control etc until it comes back.
14) EML light on most of the time.
15) Uses oil - crank case ventilation unit needs replacing.
16) Harnon Kardon farting subs - x 2
17) Convertible roof sometimes opens on it's own. (When parked unattended, not when driving thankfully)

I'm sure there's been more and they're ALL common.

[robm3]

First generation of Impreza WRX's.....



I had Peugeot Mi16 at the time and took a new WRX for a drive, yes it was quicker in a straight line than the Mi16 but the understeer, suspension compliance and gearshift was horrendous!!
At the time the press was saying it was faster than any supercar point to point, yeah right. Big let down for me.

[anonymous-user]

turbo-ww said:

suffolk009 said:

Can only really comment on cars I've driven.

Top of the list are 911s. I've driven a few, but the 964RS was the worst. Terrible. Admittedly I was driving it on English roads and not around a race track - it might be better there.

But the idea that it is worth, what £200-250k is plainly absurd.

Now you're confusing the issue.

The 964RS was designed for the track. The value is based on rarity, as in they didn't make many.

Is a Ferrari 250GT worth several million because of how it drives or how many were made??

Imo the RS is massively overpriced and if anything underated. Only a few of us anoraks even know what it is. Other cars have come and gone, including a 993 gt2 but I will never sell the RS.

[Pesty]

Amusing thread.

To answer the ops question, no. It's all subjective. For instance one of the single most impressive cars I have ever been in Was an m3 CSL. Car was amazing I was literally shocked at its abilities and even impressed by the gear box.

I personally would call it under rated. The things are brilliant.

Several other shouts are way off too IMO. But that's all it is my opinion.

[sh33n]

EP3 Civic Type-R. Awful, awful thing, just under-steered everywhere. Admittedly I had downgraded from a DC5, so my opinion was always going to be skewed.

While we're on under-steer though, first Astra VXR, really did not like these to drive or be in at any time. Mate bought one as I bought a R26, made me very happy with my purchase.

[SuperHangOn]

A lot of the 'disappointing' cars may have had worn out parts. The difference a new set of shocks & springs, alignment, good tyres etc can make is often dramatic.

Edited by SuperHangOn on Wednesday 9th September 09:04

[Baz Tench]

SuperHangOn said:

A lot of the 'disappointing' cars may have had worn out parts. The difference a new set of shocks & springs, suspension realignment, good tyres etc can make is often dramatic.

I was just thinking the exact same thing!

It's well worth mentioning, but some cars can be very tyre-sensitive too. The rubber may be new and of good quality, but the chassis may still say no.

[crbox]

CorvetteConvert said:

Over-rated (and yes there are thousands of fans of these out there, I know, who will disagree) are first the BMW M3 CSL. Impossible to drive 40-50% without letting the world know about it via the induction scream (nice WHEN you want it) and poor performance unless you thrashed it. In cut and thrust driving on a car run out the CSL could easily be left by less powerful cars unless you held low gears the whole time waiting for that top-end rush of power and noise. Also it had very poor brakes for a £60,000 (nearer £70,000 in today's prices) car and the gearbox was

I agree. When new, I tried so hard to like this car, I test drove to three times. Each time I couldn't get away from the awful semi auto gearbox. A huge arrogance by BMW to showcase their flawed SMG gearbox on customers, most who felt blackmailed. I resisted, bought an RS6 Avant which had a similar paddle box, but was far more intuitive.
I also thought the vulnerable blips of carbon fibre on the front spoiler and elsewhere a further smug marketing gimmick of no engineering benefit. Such distain undermined what could have been one of BMWs finest hours.

[anonymous-user]

S2000. I drove pretty much every variant of these and although the suspension improved over the years it was still a very flawed car. Very disappointing for a Honda fan.