Unicorns we will never see the likes of again...

[Gatefold]

Mr Tidy said:

cymtriks said:

It depends what you call small. Just compare wheelbases for example:

1 Series - 104.7
XJS V12 - 102
Aston V8 (original) - 102.8
Morris Minor - 86
Skoda Estelle / Rapid - 94.5

Compared to todays cars the 1 Series is closer to medium than genuinely small.
Compared to even big cars of 20 years ago it is big.
Compared to RWD cars that are actually small it is planet sized.

Sorry, but what point are you trying to make exactly?

1 Series was never meant to be a small car AFAIK, it was a Focus/Astra/Golf alternative - which is why I bought one (because it wasn't FWD)!

An XJS may have had a shorter wheelbase, but it was 191.2 inches long whereas the E87 1 Series was only 166.4 inches long! So that may be why the XJS only had room for 2 usable seats and was a barge with massive overhangs......

Why was the XJS wheelbase so short when the car could have surely had the wheels nearer to the corners, which may have allowed it to handle less like a barge and more like a go-kart?

Just to add onto this (with recent 130 purchase), the 1 series does have quite a long wheelbase, but is only 11 inches longer than a new MX5 (or a 3dr Vauxhall Chevette hatchback). Complaints of it being cramped inside are well founded, though it has comparable space inside to a golf/astra/other. And its got a lovely engine. Not the prettiest thing, but it shows the restrictions of styling a shorter hatchback over the top of a saloon chassis.

[selym]

Gatefold said:

Just to add onto this (with recent 130 purchase), the 1 series does have quite a long wheelbase, but is only 11 inches longer than a new MX5 (or a 3dr Vauxhall Chevette hatchback). Complaints of it being cramped inside are well founded, though it has comparable space inside to a golf/astra/other. And its got a lovely engine. Not the prettiest thing, but it shows the restrictions of styling a shorter hatchback over the top of a saloon chassis.

I must be a midget at 5'9" as I have recently bought a 130i and it feels massive; much bigger on the inside than it looks from the outside (TARDIS). There is even ample space for the kids in the back, because they are also midgets!!




I did come from a VX220 of course!!

[B.J.W]

300bhp/ton said:

Hitch78 said:

They're just old fashioned cars. You're right, we'll never get old fashioned cars again!

So what rugged off road capable 4x4's are there today?

Jeep Wrangler
Suzuki Jimny

That's about it. Neither utility biased.

None of the Jap trucks, certainly for the UK/EU market get close.

You can import a fully EU approved new Lada Niva into the UK for about £12,000. There is a bloke in Northant's who will sort it for you. Left hookers, but apparently the rural types/estates that buy them prefer left hand because they can get properly tight into a hedge when they meet a tractor coming the other way down a single file lane.......

It doesn't get any more utility based or rugged than a Lada Niva.

I'd say a Dacia Duster is also a good (albeit slightly toned down) shout?

[coppice]

Evolved said:

Thread started well, promised goodness and descended into crap fairly rapidly.

To bring it back on track and away from the god awful boxes that in no way could ever be classed as special and a 'unicorn' I propose this beauty.. |http://thumbsnap.com/U5ikqypV[/url]

Had one, hated the gearbox but my god it was and still is a special car, BMW have yet to beat it visualy.[url]

If that's a Unicorn then the buggers must be breeding again....I've only seen about a hundred 3 series today - I know, I know , it's a special one....

[anothernameitist]

300bhp/ton said:

Yes, they are nice, my Uncle had a red 3 door years ago. Don't think they are available in the UK and never as a 5 door that I've seen.

They can be got here.
Search mark Key.


I'd also add Trabant, built for the masses in e Europe. In fact add anything from the old commie block.

[s m]

cymtriks said:

It depends what you call small. Just compare wheelbases for example:

1 Series - 104.7
XJS V12 - 102
Aston V8 (original) - 102.8
Morris Minor - 86
Skoda Estelle / Rapid - 94.5

Compared to todays cars the 1 Series is closer to medium than genuinely small.
Compared to even big cars of 20 years ago it is big.
Compared to RWD cars that are actually small it is planet sized.

New rwd twingo comes in at 98" wheelbase, 142" overall length

[Vocht]

A little random but the Toyota Sera is a unicorn in my eyes. I think they only made around 15-16,000 with presumably not many of them still around today. It's essentially an Aygo with gullwing doors!

I've been looking for a clean, manual version for a while now and they simply just don't come up.




I never understood why they were'nt more popular?

[ChilliWhizz]

This maybe shouldn't qualify as it's not OME but I remember these appearing...

One of Jeff Uren's Cortina Savage's

[ikarl]

Vocht said:

A little random but the Toyota Sera is a unicorn in my eyes. I think they only made around 15-16,000 with presumably not many of them still around today. It's essentially an Aygo with gullwing doors!

I've been looking for a clean, manual version for a while now and they simply just don't come up.

I never understood why they were'nt more popular?

Probably because they were essentially an Aygo with gullwing doors!

[QuantumTokoloshi]

Pommygranite said:

300bhp/ton said:

vtecyo said:

So you're basically saying "poverty spec off roader"

That'll be a hilux then.

Or perhaps a unimog.

Hilux just no. Not enough off road credentials, not simple enough, too much wanting to be like a car inside.

Utter bullst.

It's the vehicle of choice for mine sites (along with Land Cruisers) and a mine site will kick the st out of a car and push it across terrain way more than some muddy hill in Wales.

100 % correct. Worked on a good few mines all over the world, and Land cruiser (mainly), Nissan Patrols and Hilux are the predominate vehicles. It is odd that exploration geologists on these mines, 300 miles in the middle of the African rain forest or Sahara Desert use the Hilux. I guess they did not get the memo about "no off road credentials". Utter tripe.

Edited by QuantumTokoloshi on Wednesday 1st June 17:27

[swansea v6]

The v6 engined mx-3! May not have been the best 'warm' hatch ever but I can bet we will never see a small hatch back with a tiny free revving v6 again...