Cars with that special feel?

Cars with that special feel?

Author
Discussion

mike9009

6,917 posts

242 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
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Out of the cars I have owned/ driven

1. MK1 MR2 (AW11)
2. R53 Cooper S
3. VX220 (NA)

For me out and out speed is not special. Just little highlights within the handling and the touch on controls make it for me. With hindsight my MR2 was better than the VX220, despite being less capable on paper. I preferred the on limit handling/ finesse and the interior ambience was more pleasing (solid and not recognised from the Corsa parts bin!).

It is strange the allure of the R53 and how many people have mentioned it.

All these aspects are very difficult to quantify - hence the fun debating.

jamesbilluk

3,654 posts

182 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
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Slightly biased...... I wouid say the Clio V6, I have a Phase 1, it's not the quickest car, it's full of character though. I love the V6 sound right behind me, and all the little mechanical whines and sounds from the gearbox. I can see me holding on to it for a long time.

Edited by jamesbilluk on Wednesday 4th March 00:45

Roverload

850 posts

135 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
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Please don't laugh. Honestly, a fast transit van. Been driving them for years, still cant believe how something so big and heavy can corner like that. Truely special vans!

stain

1,051 posts

209 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
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Transits have always punched above their weight.

TheJimi

24,860 posts

242 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
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I'm amazed at the coments about the R53 Cooper S!

Not because I disagree, I don't have any experience of them, but I'm still kinda surprised.

morgrp

4,128 posts

197 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
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Personally for me, my 190 2.3-16 - the induction noise alone makes you realise it's special but the chassis rewards just as much - the other car I always found amazing was the mk2 CRX V-tec - always felt really special and engaged me in a way that other cars couldn't. In terms of super cars and the limited number I've driven, the Gallardo felt seriously involved to drive compared with the ferrari 430 and 911 turbo I've had the privilege of piloting - all were awesome but the Gallardo was the one that felt special

TheEnd

15,370 posts

187 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
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I'm going to say a Mazda RX-7.

I've only driven one once, but it really was a different experience.
The low seats and wide transmission tunnel made it stand out from the usual saloons and coupes.

It really felt more like a cockpit than a cabin.

PomBstard

6,728 posts

241 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
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stain said:
Transits have always punched above their weight.
Yep - they've always been entertaining to drive, esp in swb, low-roof guise with the 2.0 Pinto biggrin Yes, I am going back a few years...

One thing I find makes a car more interesting, esp as nowadays its not so common, is a high-revving engine. That probably means a redline the other side of 7000rpm, maybe a cut-off close to 8 or beyond. It just gives another feature to explore - there's something rewarding about having to work a bit harder for the pace/oomph/thrill rather than just mash the pedal, wait for the autobox to do its thing, and ride the wave of torque from 1000rpm. It also allows for the mechanical sound of the engine to come through for longer, unless its being piped in through tweeters, but you get my drift.

Captainawesome

1,817 posts

162 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
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lord trumpton said:
GravelBen said:
OP said:
The M3 CSL has it, but the M3 CS doesn't
...
lord trumpton said:
e46 M3
Might I suggest that sir endeavours to read the thread before posting?

Edited by GravelBen on Friday 27th February 04:50
Might I suggest that someone's opinion cannot be wrong as it is an opinion. I own an E46 M3 (albeit with an evolve carbon box) and it feels pretty special to me. I'm sure that there are many owners of Zondas and the like that would facepalm someone stating that a CSL felt special. They too would just be holding an opinion.

Edited by Captainawesome on Tuesday 3rd March 02:40

Jaguar steve

9,232 posts

209 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
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AW111

9,455 posts

132 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
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Mk1 MR2 is one for me.
Not very quick (in standard form), but high-revving and fun to drive.

I think a nice gearchange is part of the charm.


TroubledSoul

4,589 posts

193 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
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I actually think the E36 M3 has "it" in all honesty. I don't know why, but the rough as a badger's arse example I bought which needs everything doing to it still feels bloody brilliant to get in and give some stick....

kambites

67,460 posts

220 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
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It is an enormously personal thing. Most of the cars that people are saying feel special to them don't to me and probably vice versa. smile

Noble P4

232 posts

140 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
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poing said:
Landrover Defender. Slow, noisy, no handling as such, etc etc etc. It feels mighty special to drive though.
Never ever understood this till I got one...can't ever see me parting with it.

Bartlett

21,535 posts

241 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
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I was going to suggest a Caterham then read the bit about being a good road car.

How about the outgoing Merc C63 AMG? I'm really not a fan of go-faster saloons (even ones with two doors masquerading as coupes) but that car is so much more than a C-Class with a big engine. The higher spec F-Types also feel special - interior on the V8R is a lovely place to be, and it feels that little bit feral (in a good way) compared to its rivals.

Kozy

3,169 posts

217 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
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IMO the Accord Type R has 'it'. A FWD, 1350kg four door saloon with a torqueless 2.2 NA engine should not be that good to drive.

But it is.

Everything about it is spot on. The seats, the steering wheel, the weight and feel of the steering, the turn in and superb damping, the short ratio gearbox and that visceral screamer of an engine that just gets better the harder you push it...

It should be as good as it is, and they shouldn't be as cheap as they are!

ZX10R NIN

27,490 posts

124 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
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For me it's the C63 it just has that something which is why the new M3 only lasted 3 Months because it didn't have it

Zadkiel

Original Poster:

390 posts

145 months

Sunday 8th March 2015
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I have an SL63 with the old NA engine and that is a pretty special motor, I can see how those C63s have something going.

AmitG

3,272 posts

159 months

Sunday 8th March 2015
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Jaguar steve said:
Absolutely this.

Poor boot space, poor leg room, poor head room, too long to park easily (especially the LWB), dated even when it came out. But they have a special feel about them that (IMHO) the 7-series and S-class of the same era do not have.


AmitG

3,272 posts

159 months

Sunday 8th March 2015
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kambites said:
It is an enormously personal thing. Most of the cars that people are saying feel special to them don't to me and probably vice versa. smile
True. I was going to suggest the Range Rover P38, but I got scared boxedin