Luxury Small Cars
Discussion
bigfatnick said:
Reading this thread, it seems that people seem to think a car to not be a luxury car unless it has lots of gadgets and bling.
Am I one of the few people who considers a luxury car to be one without a bone jarring ride, with very little tyre noise, comfortable seating, adequate power transmitted through a smooth auto gearbox, cruise control and enough interior space to not be bashing elbows? It seems most don't care about these points.
Road noise suppression and a comfortable ride, in my mind are the who things missing in most modern cars.
All that plus decent sized windows and a vantage point high enough to make travel through the landscape a pleasure.Am I one of the few people who considers a luxury car to be one without a bone jarring ride, with very little tyre noise, comfortable seating, adequate power transmitted through a smooth auto gearbox, cruise control and enough interior space to not be bashing elbows? It seems most don't care about these points.
Road noise suppression and a comfortable ride, in my mind are the who things missing in most modern cars.
Of recent cars I would say the Renault Avantime was a good shot at it.
northwest monkey said:
I'm pretty sure Peugeot did a 205 & 309 in "luxury" spec some years ago. Renault definitely did the Clio with leather & wood as a neighbour had one. I definitely think there's a market for an S-class type A-class. That Mini looks nice though - pretty much ticks the boxes for me.
The Peugeots were "Roland Garros" spec. The Renaults were "Monaco" spec in the 80s, "Baccara" spec in the 90s, and "Initiale" spec more recently. All very nice.Problem for me is that in my experience you can't really have a truly luxurious small car. Space is one thing, but ride (short wheelbase) and NVH are the big problems. I think D-segment cars are about as small as you can go before the compromises become too much. In my experience, even low spec larger cars are much more comfortable, even when journalists say that refinement has come on in leaps and bounds.
In my experience, for ride and NVH (random examples):
80s Ford Sierra > 90s Rover 400
80s Merc 190E > 00s VW Golf GTI V
90s BMW E39 5 Series > 00s Renault Laguna
90s Ford Mondeo > 10s Audi A1 (yes really!)
Surely small and luxury are not really compatible?
Luxury to me means a long wheelbase that can soak up bumps easily with a large unstressed engine that will idle along at 70mph without having to downshift for hills
I also want plenty of shoulder room and If i'm in the backseat I will also want plenty of legroom
Luxury to me means a long wheelbase that can soak up bumps easily with a large unstressed engine that will idle along at 70mph without having to downshift for hills
I also want plenty of shoulder room and If i'm in the backseat I will also want plenty of legroom
skyrover said:
with a large unstressed engine that will idle along at 70mph without having to downshift for hills
There aren't many hills the typical 100hp small hatch can't make it up at 70 without down shifting. The first 2.0l Sierras were only 90hp and you would have made it if you had one of those as a company car. Willy Nilly said:
Justin Case said:
To me a luxury car is one that wafts you around in total comfort and insulates you from the outside world. Does any small car actually do that?
probably all of themMy 20 year old W124 is a considerably nicer environment and far more "luxury" despite its most high tech feature being electric windows!
Willy Nilly said:
skyrover said:
with a large unstressed engine that will idle along at 70mph without having to downshift for hills
There aren't many hills the typical 100hp small hatch can't make it up at 70 without down shifting. The first 2.0l Sierras were only 90hp and you would have made it if you had one of those as a company car. It's not mine though
Of the era something like a jaguar would be more appropriate IMO
Going back a few decades, the Vanden Plas 1300 would have been the answer. Coincidentaly there's one due to be auctioned soon: http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C664123
kapiteinlangzaam said:
SidewaysSi said:
Why does luxury equal toys in so many people's eyes? Most of which will inevitably break.
Or, why doesnt it?Horses for courses. A 190E might have the best ride in the world, but if its got bodybuilder windows, then (to me) its just a nice riding, but spartan car - not luxury.
A nice ride (as in wafting) is not "luxury" but a function of suspension set up. Yes, it is easier to achieve this with a long wheel base, but most of it is down to how it is designed to ride. A 2CV has a ride that will soak up anything, but it is hardly luxury. Big German stuff like an M car, RS or stuff from AMG can be harsh but most people would define them as luxury cars. Small cars can be luxurious, but the current fashion is for cars to be stiffly sprung to seem sporting.
Edited by SteveSteveson on Saturday 10th October 08:21
SteveSteveson said:
A nice ride is not "luxury" but a function of suspension set up. Yes, it is easier to achieve this with a long wheel base, but most of it is down to how it is designed to ride. A 2CV has a ride that will soak up anything, but it is hardly luxury. Big German stuff like an M car, RS or stuff from AMG can be harsh but most people would define them as luxury cars. Small cars can be luxurious, but the current fashion is for cars to be stiffly sprung to seem sporting.
Agreed. Luxury is surely a combination of proper ride, toys, space and quality. Everyone's bar will differ depending on the balance of what's personally important to them. Most people will place more weight on the toy element.skyrover said:
Willy Nilly said:
skyrover said:
with a large unstressed engine that will idle along at 70mph without having to downshift for hills
There aren't many hills the typical 100hp small hatch can't make it up at 70 without down shifting. The first 2.0l Sierras were only 90hp and you would have made it if you had one of those as a company car. It's not mine though
Of the era something like a jaguar would be more appropriate IMO
All things being equal a big car will ride a bit nicer but meh, mine works properly.
Not sure Merc 190 had " best ride". Yes, it was good but those M Tex seats were a bit hard and the whole experience rather Spartan. French cars have usually had best ride, old 405 exec was good, as were even older stuff, now rusted away. C3 one of the few remaining new cars with co setting ride, but a dated and ordinary vehicle otherwise. If you miss comfort, blame the sporting obsession and rubber band tyres.
Just re-read all these " luxury " posts, mine included! Surely, though if you just want a wafting ride, leather and Wilton carpets ( are they really, all the classic ads - Charlotte and Tim Trumpington - Symthe say so ) but, semi seriously , proper Jags give a ride like no other. Just remembered Aston - Martin Cygnet, oh! That was posh inside, all seductive scents from natural fabrics and real time-served craftsmanship, yes I've seen a posh Aygo. £8995 all day long!
Edited by Lester H on Wednesday 14th October 21:11
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