Cygnet?

[dictys]

Does anyone own them and if so what is to be expected of the ownership experience?

I previously had an IQ2 as a runaround and it was great to use to nip to and from the office.

I am expecting the Cygnet to be exactly the same experience but a little bit nipper.

I like quirky things and a 2nd hand Cygnet appeals, despite being an extra few k's over a new IQ.

[X7LDA]

I have test drove one and it's no different in terms of speed to an IQ. Aston simply change body panels, add a body styling kit and put in a plush new interior.

If anything, it's heavier (and therefore slower) due to the extra weight of the above.

Nice cars though.

[Speedraser]

It's one of the most horrific abominations to ever blight the history of the automobile.

[michael gould]

Speedraser said:

It's one of the most horrific abominations to ever blight the history of the automobile.

Why ?

[George H]

Speedraser said:

It's one of the most horrific abominations to ever blight the history of the automobile.

I don't think it's that bad. The idea was good, the execution maybe not so good. They should have based it on a hot hatch, Mini Cooper S, Polo GTI etc etc instead imo.

[LordBretSinclair]

[Neil1300R]

Speedraser said:

It's one of the most horrific abominations to ever blight the history of the automobile.

I think you are giving it too high a rating!

[yeti]

dictys said:

I am expecting the Cygnet to be exactly the same experience but a little bit nipper.

I think right there is the Cygnet's biggest problem - its no faster. At least a change of air filter and a rorty exhaust would differentiate it, but it's bog standard Toyota with a trim-job

I want to like it, but can't because of that.

[michael gould]

I don't think it's that bad......I don't want one and I'm not so stupid to pay a 25k premium over the Toyota but it has some merits as a city car .

[George H]

michael gould said:

I don't think it's that bad......I don't want one and I'm not so stupid to pay a 25k premium over the Toyota but it has some merits as a city car .

I think it would have more merits as a city car if it was congestion charge exempt (doesn't bother me, but I hear it's a pain for Londoners).

[AMDBSNick]

yeti said:

I think right there is the Cygnet's biggest problem - its no faster. At least a change of air filter and a rorty exhaust would differentiate it, but it's bog standard Toyota with a trim-job

I want to like it, but can't because of that.

BR ????

[Murph7355]

michael gould said:

...but it has some merits as a city car .

Over and above the Toyota? What are they? (I bet your list is somewhat shorter than mine for disliking the AM Cynical).

[peterr96]

yeti said:

At least a change of air filter and a rorty exhaust would differentiate it, but it's bog standard Toyota with a trim-job

I want to like it, but can't because of that.

Surely you're the ideal candidate to turn it into what it should have always been then!
Get it bought man.

[Jockman]

peterr96 said:

Surely you're the ideal candidate to turn it into what it should have always been then!
Get it bought man.

Unleash the beast Yeti !!

If nowt else it would give Mike and his team a bit of a giggle.

The main area of interest for me in this car is as an indicator of future partnering / direction of Aston as a Company but, hey, that's maybe for a different thread

[Lunablack]

It really is the car for those with more money than sense

Similar to those who pay £60 quid for a grade 1 at a designer hair dressers

[michael gould]

Murph7355 said:

michael gould said:

...but it has some merits as a city car .

Over and above the Toyota? What are they? (I bet your list is somewhat shorter than mine for disliking the AM Cynical).

Murph......thats what I said.....i wouldn't be so stupid to pay the 25k premium over the Toyota........I just disagree that the Cygnet is a bad car......its badly priced and certainly does nothing to enhance the AM brand

[dictys]

BTW There are performance kits for these cars which raise the HP to between 130-180 BHP (which I was quite surprised).

The reason I like them, is that it is an IQ but not an IQ, if that makes any sense.

A 2nd hand Cygnet with with less than 5k on is not that more expense than a normal IQ (well about 7k more).

[Neil1300R]

[quote=dictys]

The reason I like them, is that it is an IQ but not an IQ, if that makes any sense.
/quote]
No, makes no sense whatsoever. Nothing wrong with the IQ, but chucking a pig ugly bodykit onto it and adding to its weight with lots of leather, not increasing performance and trying to charge an outrageous premium for it makes no sense whatsoever. Oh, and then having to chuck all the Toyota interior and body panels away just add to the sheer stupidity of the whole project.

[michael gould]

Neil1300R said:

dictys said:

The reason I like them, is that it is an IQ but not an IQ, if that makes any sense.
/quote]
No, makes no sense whatsoever. Nothing wrong with the IQ, but chucking a pig ugly bodykit onto it and adding to its weight with lots of leather, not increasing performance and trying to charge an outrageous premium for it makes no sense whatsoever. Oh, and then having to chuck all the Toyota interior and body panels away just add to the sheer stupidity of the whole project.

I have some sympathy with this comment

[yeti]

dictys said:

BTW There are performance kits for these cars which raise the HP to between 130-180 BHP (which I was quite surprised).

I'm guessing we're into turbocharging then, that isn't going to be cats and manifolds! 180bhp in a car designed for a third of it... Did you ever see the 'Elk Test' on the old Merc A-Class..?