Cars that shouldn't be good/fun but are!
Discussion
What car have you recently driven that has surprised you and turned out better than expected.
I recently borrowed a basic spec VW Up and really quite enjoyed it. Loved the simplicity and the fact you could really work the engine without going too fast. Reminded me of my first car, a 4 speed Peugeot 106.
I recently borrowed a basic spec VW Up and really quite enjoyed it. Loved the simplicity and the fact you could really work the engine without going too fast. Reminded me of my first car, a 4 speed Peugeot 106.
Similar sort of car to the Up!, I recently bought a 2013 Honda Jazz off my dad as I needed to replace my elderly Passat with something vaguely practical yet frugal for commuting, he offered it to me for a very good price as he wanted an estate car, so I jumped at it, although it would never have been my first choice if I was given free reign.
Spec is just right, leccy windows and aircon, USB socket on the stereo, cruise control and that's it, no fancy sat nav etc.
The little 1.4 16v Vtec lump is smooth and revvy, although it has pretty much no low down torque. Brakes are good and surprisingly little body roll. Also amazed at how much grip the relatively narrow tyres generate although the steering is a bit light compared to older cars I normally drive with hydraulic PAS. Had quite a laugh on my B-road alternative route home last night. Don't understand why it has such a granddad reputation in this country? It's miles better than a corsa/fiesta and you can fit loads of stuff in it.
Spec is just right, leccy windows and aircon, USB socket on the stereo, cruise control and that's it, no fancy sat nav etc.
The little 1.4 16v Vtec lump is smooth and revvy, although it has pretty much no low down torque. Brakes are good and surprisingly little body roll. Also amazed at how much grip the relatively narrow tyres generate although the steering is a bit light compared to older cars I normally drive with hydraulic PAS. Had quite a laugh on my B-road alternative route home last night. Don't understand why it has such a granddad reputation in this country? It's miles better than a corsa/fiesta and you can fit loads of stuff in it.
Edited by lufbramatt on Thursday 23 March 13:07
) I agree on the VW up! thing.
One i recall fondly may well get sneered at on here...but here goes....
2008 VW Fox 1.2.
Look at the on-paper figures of 55PS (54bhp!) and 0-62 in 17.5s......it doesn't tell the story,
Wanging it around it would give you all of it's mighty 54bhp at any revs, at any time and the little 3cyl engine had a great thrum to it too.
Yes there was body roll and in may ways it was flawed...but it was such a fun little car to drive!
One i recall fondly may well get sneered at on here...but here goes....
2008 VW Fox 1.2.
Look at the on-paper figures of 55PS (54bhp!) and 0-62 in 17.5s......it doesn't tell the story,
Wanging it around it would give you all of it's mighty 54bhp at any revs, at any time and the little 3cyl engine had a great thrum to it too.
Yes there was body roll and in may ways it was flawed...but it was such a fun little car to drive!
I was loaned a CVT Jazz for a few days in New Zealand and once I got over the fact it never changed gear, it wasn't a bad little thing to drive. Also on the Honda tip, an 08 Integra 2.4 iVTEC... well put together, made quite a nice noise for a 4banger, a fair amount of torque (unlike smaller VTEC engines I have driven that required the car to be revved to near redline all the time) and pleasingly weighted, feelsome steering. Only downside was even though it had a decent looking leather interior, the driving seat was really uncomfortable after an hour or two
Edited by vsonix on Thursday 23 March 14:17
lufbramatt said:
Similar sort of car to the Up!, I recently bought a 2013 Honda Jazz off my dad as I needed to replace my elderly Passat with something vaguely practical yet frugal for commuting, he offered it to me for a very good price as he wanted an estate car, so I jumped at it, although it would never have been my first choice if I was given free reign.
Spec is just right, leccy windows and aircon, USB socket on the stereo, cruise control and that's it, no fancy sat nav etc.
The little 1.4 16v Vtec lump is smooth and revvy, although it has pretty much no low down torque. Brakes are good and surprisingly little body roll. Also amazed at how much grip the relatively narrow tyres generate although the steering is a bit light compared to older cars I normally drive with hydraulic PAS. Had quite a laugh on my B-road alternative route home last night. Don't understand why it has such a granddad reputation in this country? It's miles better than a corsa/fiesta and you can fit loads of stuff in it.
I'm sorry but you can't seriously be saying that a jazz drives better than a fiesta? Utter nonsenseSpec is just right, leccy windows and aircon, USB socket on the stereo, cruise control and that's it, no fancy sat nav etc.
The little 1.4 16v Vtec lump is smooth and revvy, although it has pretty much no low down torque. Brakes are good and surprisingly little body roll. Also amazed at how much grip the relatively narrow tyres generate although the steering is a bit light compared to older cars I normally drive with hydraulic PAS. Had quite a laugh on my B-road alternative route home last night. Don't understand why it has such a granddad reputation in this country? It's miles better than a corsa/fiesta and you can fit loads of stuff in it.
Edited by lufbramatt on Thursday 23 March 13:07
M1C said:
I agree on the VW up! thing.
One i recall fondly may well get sneered at on here...but here goes....
2008 VW Fox 1.2.
Look at the on-paper figures of 55PS (54bhp!) and 0-62 in 17.5s......it doesn't tell the story,
Wanging it around it would give you all of it's mighty 54bhp at any revs, at any time and the little 3cyl engine had a great thrum to it too.
Yes there was body roll and in may ways it was flawed...but it was such a fun little car to drive!
Are you kidding me? I'm currently pottering around in my mum's one as a stop gap as my dad can no longer drive so she uses his car. It is the worst car I've ever had to suffer and this is a 1.4. Slow, bouncy, flat uncomfortable seats with zero support, steering so vague I don't think the wheel is connected to the rack. I cannot wait to see the back of it.One i recall fondly may well get sneered at on here...but here goes....
2008 VW Fox 1.2.
Look at the on-paper figures of 55PS (54bhp!) and 0-62 in 17.5s......it doesn't tell the story,
Wanging it around it would give you all of it's mighty 54bhp at any revs, at any time and the little 3cyl engine had a great thrum to it too.
Yes there was body roll and in may ways it was flawed...but it was such a fun little car to drive!
You must be insane or I'm missing a trick
My Alfa 147 JTD (115bhp).
Bought as a cheap shed runaround whilst my Z4MC was off the road. Some things came up that meant the Z4MC has been off the road longer than I'd have liked, so the Alfa has stood in at Cadwell and the 'Ring.
It's nowhere near as fast (about a minute slower than my mate in his 330ci), but (at the Ring at least) you're not on the brakes very often and can just turn in with a shed-load of squealing Michelin Cross-Climates. The worst bit is the climb up to Steilstrecke as it doesn't matter what feat you use, it will not go over an indicated 85mph. Although it does indicate 120mph through Fuchsrohre.
All the time delivering an average of 50mpg (over the last year). Still on the tyres, pads & discs that I fitted when I bought it, and done 20,000 road miles in it too.
Bought as a cheap shed runaround whilst my Z4MC was off the road. Some things came up that meant the Z4MC has been off the road longer than I'd have liked, so the Alfa has stood in at Cadwell and the 'Ring.
It's nowhere near as fast (about a minute slower than my mate in his 330ci), but (at the Ring at least) you're not on the brakes very often and can just turn in with a shed-load of squealing Michelin Cross-Climates. The worst bit is the climb up to Steilstrecke as it doesn't matter what feat you use, it will not go over an indicated 85mph. Although it does indicate 120mph through Fuchsrohre.
All the time delivering an average of 50mpg (over the last year). Still on the tyres, pads & discs that I fitted when I bought it, and done 20,000 road miles in it too.
V12 Virgin said:
lufbramatt said:
Similar sort of car to the Up!, I recently bought a 2013 Honda Jazz off my dad as I needed to replace my elderly Passat with something vaguely practical yet frugal for commuting, he offered it to me for a very good price as he wanted an estate car, so I jumped at it, although it would never have been my first choice if I was given free reign.
Spec is just right, leccy windows and aircon, USB socket on the stereo, cruise control and that's it, no fancy sat nav etc.
The little 1.4 16v Vtec lump is smooth and revvy, although it has pretty much no low down torque. Brakes are good and surprisingly little body roll. Also amazed at how much grip the relatively narrow tyres generate although the steering is a bit light compared to older cars I normally drive with hydraulic PAS. Had quite a laugh on my B-road alternative route home last night. Don't understand why it has such a granddad reputation in this country? It's miles better than a corsa/fiesta and you can fit loads of stuff in it.
I'm sorry but you can't seriously be saying that a jazz drives better than a fiesta? Utter nonsenseSpec is just right, leccy windows and aircon, USB socket on the stereo, cruise control and that's it, no fancy sat nav etc.
The little 1.4 16v Vtec lump is smooth and revvy, although it has pretty much no low down torque. Brakes are good and surprisingly little body roll. Also amazed at how much grip the relatively narrow tyres generate although the steering is a bit light compared to older cars I normally drive with hydraulic PAS. Had quite a laugh on my B-road alternative route home last night. Don't understand why it has such a granddad reputation in this country? It's miles better than a corsa/fiesta and you can fit loads of stuff in it.
Edited by lufbramatt on Thursday 23 March 13:07
Edited by lufbramatt on Thursday 23 March 14:16
lufbramatt said:
V12 Virgin said:
lufbramatt said:
Similar sort of car to the Up!, I recently bought a 2013 Honda Jazz off my dad as I needed to replace my elderly Passat with something vaguely practical yet frugal for commuting, he offered it to me for a very good price as he wanted an estate car, so I jumped at it, although it would never have been my first choice if I was given free reign.
Spec is just right, leccy windows and aircon, USB socket on the stereo, cruise control and that's it, no fancy sat nav etc.
The little 1.4 16v Vtec lump is smooth and revvy, although it has pretty much no low down torque. Brakes are good and surprisingly little body roll. Also amazed at how much grip the relatively narrow tyres generate although the steering is a bit light compared to older cars I normally drive with hydraulic PAS. Had quite a laugh on my B-road alternative route home last night. Don't understand why it has such a granddad reputation in this country? It's miles better than a corsa/fiesta and you can fit loads of stuff in it.
I'm sorry but you can't seriously be saying that a jazz drives better than a fiesta? Utter nonsenseSpec is just right, leccy windows and aircon, USB socket on the stereo, cruise control and that's it, no fancy sat nav etc.
The little 1.4 16v Vtec lump is smooth and revvy, although it has pretty much no low down torque. Brakes are good and surprisingly little body roll. Also amazed at how much grip the relatively narrow tyres generate although the steering is a bit light compared to older cars I normally drive with hydraulic PAS. Had quite a laugh on my B-road alternative route home last night. Don't understand why it has such a granddad reputation in this country? It's miles better than a corsa/fiesta and you can fit loads of stuff in it.
Edited by lufbramatt on Thursday 23 March 13:07
t- but the Mk6 and 7 are far superior cars. That jizz mobile is an abomination; I don't think I've ever seen one driven well. Agricultural 4x4s/pickups. Nothing more fun at less than the legal limit imo, the on/off binary throttle, commanding driving position and hilarious driving dynamics make for extremely fun 55mph hustles down b roads. The fact that the good ones are neigh indestructible on the road is an added bonus, pot holes, speed bumps and other road furniture can all be tackled at 40mph with minimal fuss or damage to wheels/suspension/spine.
The only downside being their lack of overtaking oomph.
The only downside being their lack of overtaking oomph.
Edited by caelite on Thursday 23 March 14:44
mmm-five said:
My Alfa 147 JTD (115bhp).
Bought as a cheap shed runaround whilst my Z4MC was off the road. Some things came up that meant the Z4MC has been off the road longer than I'd have liked, so the Alfa has stood in at Cadwell and the 'Ring.
It's nowhere near as fast (about a minute slower than my mate in his 330ci), but (at the Ring at least) you're not on the brakes very often and can just turn in with a shed-load of squealing Michelin Cross-Climates. The worst bit is the climb up to Steilstrecke as it doesn't matter what feat you use, it will not go over an indicated 85mph. Although it does indicate 120mph through Fuchsrohre.
All the time delivering an average of 50mpg (over the last year). Still on the tyres, pads & discs that I fitted when I bought it, and done 20,000 road miles in it too.
Mine was superb. It was also a 1.9 8V JTD. IMO they are the thinking man's Alfa; The Petrols are pricey to keep and own compared to even small 6 pots elsewhere and they are frugal and reliable.Bought as a cheap shed runaround whilst my Z4MC was off the road. Some things came up that meant the Z4MC has been off the road longer than I'd have liked, so the Alfa has stood in at Cadwell and the 'Ring.
It's nowhere near as fast (about a minute slower than my mate in his 330ci), but (at the Ring at least) you're not on the brakes very often and can just turn in with a shed-load of squealing Michelin Cross-Climates. The worst bit is the climb up to Steilstrecke as it doesn't matter what feat you use, it will not go over an indicated 85mph. Although it does indicate 120mph through Fuchsrohre.
All the time delivering an average of 50mpg (over the last year). Still on the tyres, pads & discs that I fitted when I bought it, and done 20,000 road miles in it too.
Yes, this car surprised me.
Other cars? Bar some of the cars I have owned and own a couple of others:
A friend of mine had a Triumph 2000 MkI. It was however a 2.5PI Clone in almost every way, down. All this except:
-It was on SuperFlex/SuperPro Bushes all rounds
-It had a 2.5 PI engine running 180BHP
-The car was fully rebuilt
-The exhaust is a now unknown "Mike The Pipe" Mike Randall Exhaust. It sounded gorgeous!
-It had a few Chris Wittor goodies on like his springs and KYB Dampers ; you may have noticed a theme here!
How did it drive? Amazing! The driveline was as smooth as silk as was the ride. It went through the gearbox very nicely! It's a car I'm gutted I didn't buy when I had the chance.
I'll have to get some shots of the car. As I have another car to speak of later.
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