Pistonheads vehicles you don't "get"

Pistonheads vehicles you don't "get"

Author
Discussion

nunpuncher

Original Poster:

3,364 posts

124 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
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Reading these pages I frequently see 2 particular car manufacturer mentioned and always praised and i just don't get them. Am I just not ph enough? What am i missing?

The first is Land Rover. That's a broad brush I suppose. I get the discovery as a capable off roader which is luxuries, I get the new ones less than the earlier ones as they just seem ridiculously over opulent for their intended use now. Going to the other extreme are the Defenders. If they were really cheap i'd get why farmers loved them but they aren't really cheap and i hear their praise being shouted by devoted petrolhead who also happen to not be farmers. I know that they aren't built fantastically well so are they just really amazing to drive or something? What am i missing?

The other is Volvo. They have always been the maker of safe but never exciting cars to me. "Good in a crash" seemed to be what they were known for when i was growing up (in the 80s) and the only one I can really remember thinking "that's verging on interesting" was the v90 turbo because the traffic police used them so they must have been quick. I then see lots of praise for older models, both petrol and diesel on here and I think "what the hell have I missed?"

So, can someone enlighten me?

or

Share your "don't gets" and hope someone comes along and enlightens us all.

soad

32,829 posts

175 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
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MX-5. Woefully under powered... getmecoat

walm

10,609 posts

201 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
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Defenders are absolutely terrible to drive.
I really want one and I have no idea why.
Terrible economy, slow, unreliable, expensive but for some reason I think they are very very cool.

Troubleatmill

10,210 posts

158 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
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soad said:
MX-5. Woefully under powered... getmecoat
Yes... for those 50mph speed limited country twisty roads, and designed to be a modern MGB.... it is totally underpowered.


They aren't my cup of tea - but what they do - they do it very well.

Engineers hit the nail on head with the brief.


KarlMac

4,457 posts

140 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
quotequote all
Porsches.

They're good looking cars and some of them are quick, but I don't understand the cult that follows them.

I'd love a 996 at some point (the dream is a GT2).

berlintaxi

8,535 posts

172 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
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walm said:
Defenders are absolutely terrible to drive.
Steering which in no way feels connected to the wheels, a gearbox which is just awful and nowhere for your right arm, yet still there is something about them that makes you want one.

V88Dicky

7,302 posts

182 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
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Modern(ish) Alfa Romeos, ie FWD hatchbacks confused

Especially the common 4 pot diesels

TommoAE86

2,659 posts

126 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
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I have a giant Golf R chip on my shoulder, I don't get it and I don't see the worth in compromising. If I want something fast I want it to look fast, if I want something to ferry life around with me I'll get something that does that job.

Captain Muppet

8,540 posts

264 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
quotequote all
VWs. Designed and marketed to be average. Even more so now they have to be slightly better than Skoda and Seat while being slightly worse than Audi. Like Toyota, but somehow with a hugely passionate fan base.

berlintaxi said:
walm said:
Defenders are absolutely terrible to drive.
Steering which in no way feels connected to the wheels, a gearbox which is just awful and nowhere for your right arm, yet still there is something about them that makes you want one.
Yep. I often borrow one and it's an adventure, driving something so terrible.

walm

10,609 posts

201 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
quotequote all
berlintaxi said:
walm said:
Defenders are absolutely terrible to drive.
Steering which in no way feels connected to the wheels, a gearbox which is just awful and nowhere for your right arm, yet still there is something about them that makes you want one.
Exactly!!
It's very odd!

Moonhawk

10,730 posts

218 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
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Alfas. I have never liked the styling.

andy-xr

13,204 posts

203 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
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The volvo thing, I've never sat in a more comfy car. There's downsides to them, quite a few infact, but there's a lot of upsides. They can be quick (2.4/25.t and T5/T6) but overall they're just nice unobtrusive places to be. Nothing offensive. And comfortable.

I dont get the MX5, I've no desire to buy one and the oft trotted out reply to something where an MPV is more appropriate grates a little. It's not that I'm viewing from afar, I've driven one, found it completely uninspiring in many ways

Rawwr

22,722 posts

233 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
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KarlMac said:
Porsches.

They're good looking cars and some of them are quick, but I don't understand the cult that follows them.

I'd love a 996 at some point (the dream is a GT2).
Did you just undo you own point in a mere three sentences?

Dannbodge

2,160 posts

120 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
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Mazda Bongo

Captain Muppet

8,540 posts

264 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
quotequote all
andy-xr said:
The volvo thing, I've never sat in a more comfy car. There's downsides to them, quite a few infact, but there's a lot of upsides. They can be quick (2.4/25.t and T5/T6) but overall they're just nice unobtrusive places to be. Nothing offensive. And comfortable.

I dont get the MX5, I've no desire to buy one and the oft trotted out reply to something where an MPV is more appropriate grates a little. It's not that I'm viewing from afar, I've driven one, found it completely uninspiring in many ways
I hated volvos (knee-jerk cliche biker reaction) until I drove one, 850R. So comfy and fast, and sensible in so many clever ways. Terrible as a driving machine, but a wonderful piece of transport.

I hated MX5s until I drove one, but that was on a track at an event to teach drifting, which was massively more fun than any test drive in one has ever been.

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
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I'll defend Volvo and say they are PH but in quite a subtle way. They aren't exciting and even the quick ones go about their business in quite an aloof way, but they are good at practically everything and truly bad at nothing that is really important in an everyday/family car. They're just... competent. This doesn't make for an exciting car but it does make for an excellent daily driver, which then gives you the freedom to have something as stupid as you want for a 2nd car.

They also don't have any particular dhead image, they're generally engineered and built very well, the engines are very good and have enough character to be enjoyable without having any foibles that irritate and the ergonomics and human interface aspects are absolutely spot on.

That said I had no idea what the appeal was until I owned one for a while, and I was very surprised to find out how much I came to like and respect the thing.

I'm going to suggest VW/Audi and that lot. They have this marketing image as being really premium with amazing German attention to detail and then release cars with crap design features like a handbrake you can't use with the arm rest down, or speedos where the most useful range (0 - 80) only occupies a third of the dial. I expect that lack of attention to detail from some half arsed French crap. If your car is an everyday thing that drives like a pudding then at least make sure it's never irritating.

Riley Blue

20,915 posts

225 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
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Troubleatmill said:
soad said:
MX-5. Woefully under powered... getmecoat
Yes... for those 50mph speed limited country twisty roads, and designed to be a modern MGB.... it is totally underpowered.


They aren't my cup of tea - but what they do - they do it very well.

Engineers hit the nail on head with the brief.

I went to Le Mans and back in one, sharing the driving all the way. Hugely disappointing, it just didn't have 'it' for me.

Muzzer79

9,806 posts

186 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
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Alfa Romeos. They're OK looking, but don't do a lot for me.

Big engined petrol 'every day' cars. Sure, a V8 powered sports car or similar is great but I can't understand some people who's affinity to petrol is so great that their 5 series/Range Rover/Mercedes has to be a big V8....

To an extent, sheds. Whilst I understand the love of the cheap barge, for a forum related to the love of cars and motoring, there sure is a lot of people who are happy to drive around in a Japanese/Korean total st-box and be proud of it. confused

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
quotequote all
Riley Blue said:
Troubleatmill said:
soad said:
MX-5. Woefully under powered... getmecoat
Yes... for those 50mph speed limited country twisty roads, and designed to be a modern MGB.... it is totally underpowered.


They aren't my cup of tea - but what they do - they do it very well.

Engineers hit the nail on head with the brief.

I went to Le Mans and back in one, sharing the driving all the way. Hugely disappointing, it just didn't have 'it' for me.
Yeah, I don't think 1000 mile road trips are really what they had in mind when they designed it. I used mine for regular 4/5 hour trips to Scotland and it was very tiresome.

JockySteer

1,407 posts

115 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
quotequote all
KarlMac said:
Porsches.

They're good looking cars and some of them are quick, but I don't understand the cult that follows them.

I'd love a 996 at some point (the dream is a GT2).
I'm part of that cult and always find it amazing when people hate on them so much. Of course it's all subjective, but I think the 911 is the most classic and iconic shape a car ever could be, not to mention the flat-6, particularly the Mezger and 991 GT3... ear nectar.

GT2 is the king smile