What car didn't live up to your expectations?
Discussion
Firtly this isn't a pop at Vauxhall owners as i'm fond of their current sporting models.I have been looking at midsize hot hatches and i had settled on a Mkv Golf GTI after a test drive. The golf was as quick as i expected..progressive in a smooth and unagressive manner,no drama.I supose as a refined gti should be. Today when passing the local Nissan dealer i spied an Astra VXR and i nipped in and i managed to wangle a test drive as soon as the salesman walked upto me.
Now i have watched and read a lot of reviews on the VXR and always wanted a try. In my mind it was going to be a bit of a monster (well for a FWD hatch). The salesman was in short..a sodding lunatic and nice chap asking me as soon as the road was clear to open it up and give it the beans.I duly obliged...and my dream of the VXR was pretty much shattered. It was brisk..but not a patch on what i would have thought.
I just expected a huge turbo shove in the guts and it never materialisd. I really thought 237 bhp in an astra would FEEL more urgent and akin to old school turbo hatches.
Has anyone else driven a car that they liked the look of or read lots about and it just felt deflating when behind the wheel be it in performance and/or handling?
Now i have watched and read a lot of reviews on the VXR and always wanted a try. In my mind it was going to be a bit of a monster (well for a FWD hatch). The salesman was in short..a sodding lunatic and nice chap asking me as soon as the road was clear to open it up and give it the beans.I duly obliged...and my dream of the VXR was pretty much shattered. It was brisk..but not a patch on what i would have thought.
I just expected a huge turbo shove in the guts and it never materialisd. I really thought 237 bhp in an astra would FEEL more urgent and akin to old school turbo hatches.
Has anyone else driven a car that they liked the look of or read lots about and it just felt deflating when behind the wheel be it in performance and/or handling?
My Saab 9-3 Tid.
It is a nice car, all the toys, nice to drive (especially with the remap), comfy, looks good (imo) but the niggly build quality lets it down such as the gear knob popping off (today).
I desparately want to like it but I won't miss it when it's gone. Maybe jumping from a supercharged MX5 didn't help.
It is a nice car, all the toys, nice to drive (especially with the remap), comfy, looks good (imo) but the niggly build quality lets it down such as the gear knob popping off (today).
I desparately want to like it but I won't miss it when it's gone. Maybe jumping from a supercharged MX5 didn't help.
Nissan 200SX (the 1st one), worst car I've ever owned, horrible bloody thing. Golf Gti Mk5 until I got used to it & learned to appreciate its many qualities. Also test drove an AM V8 Vantage 4.3 & was surprised that it didn't feel that quick - still a gorgeous car though but I'll have the V12 please!
Audi RS4 Avant (2000)
Very very quick no doubt about it but it was an effortless and numb feeling car.
You really had to be going some to get the thrill.
I traded a BMW X5 4.4i Sport and it was one of the only trade in regrets I had.
Thing is if I still owned that car today I would be truly happy with it's residuals.
Very very quick no doubt about it but it was an effortless and numb feeling car.
You really had to be going some to get the thrill.
I traded a BMW X5 4.4i Sport and it was one of the only trade in regrets I had.
Thing is if I still owned that car today I would be truly happy with it's residuals.
Golf VR6
Powerband pointlessly high,and when you got the needle there the bloody wheels span
and you stayed still.Terrible handling as well.
BMW E46 M3
Not enough power in the dry or torque around town.
Lethal in the wet,so for much of the year little more than a comfy seat.
Actually as I recall it was quite good at fast cross country-ers.
Powerband pointlessly high,and when you got the needle there the bloody wheels span
and you stayed still.Terrible handling as well.
BMW E46 M3
Not enough power in the dry or torque around town.
Lethal in the wet,so for much of the year little more than a comfy seat.
Actually as I recall it was quite good at fast cross country-ers.
Had an Astra for a week - 59 reg so not the latest model but still a "new" car. 1.8 petrol auto Elite. Fairly well equipped, but it felt so "agricultural". Rattles from the dash, front washer pipes badly routed so they knocked around the engine bay when operated, auto gearbox was a bit rough, seats felt like sitting on granite, took ages to kick down.
OK, so this isn't a BMW, but the Astra has been around long enough and Vauxhall R&D department should have had long enough to "polish" the thing a bit more.
OK, so this isn't a BMW, but the Astra has been around long enough and Vauxhall R&D department should have had long enough to "polish" the thing a bit more.
May get flamed for this but drove a 355 and just did not live up to expectations. Quick but not "wow thats amazing" and expected more feel as a driving car. Covered a few hundred miles in it but never quite 'got it' as I hoped I would.
On the other hand I would post in a thread about cars that surprised you, the NSX was just fabulous.
On the other hand I would post in a thread about cars that surprised you, the NSX was just fabulous.
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