Do you grow out of certain types of car?

[beko1987]

I've done the Puma thing, and again loved it at the time, but now I'm in the XM, my future car criteria is auto, wafty, bargey and semi quick. Don't need stupid speed, just enough to keep pace on the motorway really.

Will wait until my daughter is getting into her first car and have a hoon around in whatever little hatch she gets and decide if I should have a mid life crisis.

But 3 doors, clutch, tiny seats and little sound deadening doesnt appeal to me anymore.

Also agree on the massive boot. Don't think its possible to get a bigger boot than an XM Estate, so I've ticked that one off my list, and it is a handy thing to have! Couldnt live with the boot of the 206 or Puma (as big as the Pumas was, there was no space once I had a sub and amp in there...)

[BT52]

DanielJames said:

Theres a guy on here drives one of those millennium pumas, the bright yellow ones.

I'm sorry but there's a car no man should drive. If you want a Puma, it has to be performance blue with graphite Esco Cosworth alloys to stop you starting menstruation. Unless of course its an FRP.

In fact, it needs to be an FRP.

Yep they are sold for exactly the same amount of money as the Milleniums.

No difference in expense whatsoever, it's a completely valid point.

[rb5er]

DanielJames said:

Theres a guy on here drives one of those millennium pumas, the bright yellow ones.

I'm sorry but there's a car no man should drive. If you want a Puma, it has to be performance blue with graphite Esco Cosworth alloys to stop you starting menstruation. Unless of course its an FRP.

In fact, it needs to be an FRP.

The Puma never came in performance blue. And the Racing Puma only ever came in imperial blue.

[MuZiZZle]

rb5er said:

The Puma never came in performance blue.

I wonder why......

Edited by MuZiZZle on Friday 18th October 13:35

[TB Rich]

Interesting topic, I would agree with those who say you grow into cars. The "perfect" car for me would be a 320d Estate for example, I do moderate mileage compared to what I did but all of it is motorway, and I have 3 kids too.

So, what did I buy last month, a 4-seat bright yellow Clio 200! I think it's taken 5 years off me personally (I'm 30 now). When I'm 40 i'll up the ante and go for the 2-seater - thinking Exige. That's got to take at least 10 years of me

Personally I love parking the LY Clio in customer car parks amongst the sea of silver/grey/black Audi's and BM's etc.

[Cotty]

Jasandjules said:

Uh, well I've never had a hot hatch so didn't grow out of that.

I just never found one I really liked enough to buy it.

[Garvin]

I had hot hatches when they were relatively new on the market - they offered very quick motoring in their day for an affordable amount yet offered practicality as well. The advent of offspring and the associated reduction in revenue and increase in expenditure meant a period of sensible pragmatism but I'm now in the fortunate position of being able to afford to run a modest fleet which enables me to have a 'chariot for all seasons' but no hot hatch amongst them!

Would I have another hot hatch now - hell yes, currently got the hots for the latest version Fiesta ST and if I could find a half decent Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9 I don't think I could help myself

[MuZiZZle]

TB Rich said:

Interesting topic, I would agree with those who say you grow into cars. The "perfect" car for me would be a 320d Estate for example, I do moderate mileage compared to what I did but all of it is motorway, and I have 3 kids too.

So, what did I buy last month, a 4-seat bright yellow Clio 200! I think it's taken 5 years off me personally (I'm 30 now). When I'm 40 i'll up the ante and go for the 2-seater - thinking Exige. That's got to take at least 10 years of me

Personally I love parking the LY Clio in customer car parks amongst the sea of silver/grey/black Audi's and BM's etc.

I don't know if you could get 3 kids in the back, mine's cramped with 2!

[AudiWurst]

LuS1fer said:

it's funny how many people fail to spot that the 3 series is the modern Cortina

Yep.

2 door, 4 door, and estate body styles, but no hatchback (until the 3 GT came along recently).
Rear wheel drive.
Wide range of engines.
Conservative styling.
Consistent stong performance in the sales charts.

Sad for Ford that the Sierra/Mondeo was/is not the new Cortina.

LuS1fer said:

I look at "premium" saloons to be cars for people seeking to establish an image

How about ignoring all the image nonsense and just appreciating them on their merits?

Edited by AudiWurst on Friday 18th October 13:51

[DanielJames]

BT52 said:

Yep they are sold for exactly the same amount of money as the Milleniums.

No difference in expense whatsoever, it's a completely valid point.

Don't buy a Puma then!

Performance blue whatever, this is what I meant;


but they do actually look not so bad in silver;



at a push in black



Just so long as its not this

[BT52]

DanielJames said:

Don't buy a Puma then!

Performance blue whatever, this is what I meant;


but they do actually look not so bad in silver;



at a push in black



Just so long as its not this

You may not like the colour but the implication is that the image is unsuitable for a male.

This is quite ironic since it implies you rate colour over having Recaro seats. Not exactly a demonstration of machismo....

[300bhp/ton]

M3DGE said:

I'm not aware of any classic policies that will insure people under 21 - if they did, classics would become the cars of choice for new drivers, who would of course crash and burn them as regularly as they do Clios today (don't argue, the facts are clear, and I did it myself!)

You do realise you can still insure a classic car on a non classic policy

[Bibbs]

BT52 said:

It is very sad that some people are insecure enough that they would feel uncomfortable driving a hot hatch / Evo / Impreza in their 40s even though they know they would be great to drive.

Are people really this pathetic?

I'd feel uncomfortable driving one as I'm not a fan of that type of car. My peers would think I was a tool for driving something along those lines.

It's fine to drive a buzz box when young, but now I'm in my mid 30s I want a proper car to enjoy, which a diesel, FWD hot hatch or a 2.0 turbo isn't going to provide.

Different strokes and all that.

[rb5er]

MuZiZZle said:

rb5er said:

The Puma never came in performance blue.

I wonder why......

Edited by MuZiZZle on Friday 18th October 13:35

Performance blue was first used on the mk6 Fiesta ST and Mondeo ST220 as well as later the 2.5 Focus ST.

Its a later colour that took over from the imperial blue as used on the mk5 fiesta zetec-s, Mk1 Focus RS and FRP etc.

[TB Rich]

MuZiZZle said:

TB Rich said:

Interesting topic, I would agree with those who say you grow into cars. The "perfect" car for me would be a 320d Estate for example, I do moderate mileage compared to what I did but all of it is motorway, and I have 3 kids too.

So, what did I buy last month, a 4-seat bright yellow Clio 200! I think it's taken 5 years off me personally (I'm 30 now). When I'm 40 i'll up the ante and go for the 2-seater - thinking Exige. That's got to take at least 10 years of me

Personally I love parking the LY Clio in customer car parks amongst the sea of silver/grey/black Audi's and BM's etc.

I don't know if you could get 3 kids in the back, mine's cramped with 2!

You can't it's only 4 seats (no middle rear belt like in a 197).

But 3 kids + me = 4 anyway so it's all good.

edit: realised you were referring the 320! doh!, well make it a 520d then and mandate some parking sensors!

Edited by TB Rich on Friday 18th October 14:59

[sawman]

DanielJames said:

Don't buy a Puma then!

Performance blue whatever, this is what I meant;

Thats Melina blue. Err indoors had one just like that in 1998

[MuZiZZle]

TB Rich said:

You can't it's only 4 seats (no middle rear belt like in a 197).

But 3 kids + me = 4 anyway so it's all good.

edit: realised you were referring the 320! doh!, well make it a 520d then and mandate some parking sensors!

Edited by TB Rich on Friday 18th October 14:59

yeah the 320, it's snug with 3 in the back!

[DaveMcC1967]

Not sure what my car buying history says about growing in or out of cars.... So far I've gone:

MG Metro
Escort cab 1.6i
Rover Metro GTa 16v
Pug 205 1.9GTI
VW Corrado G60
Caterham 7 (still own)
Nissan Sunny GTiR
Classic Impreza Turbo (bought when I was 32)
Pug 205 Mi16
Nissan 350z roadster
Escort Cosworth (still got - project car)
Audi B7 RS4 Avant (current daily)

I'm now 45 and keep being drawn to the new Fiesta ST as I quite fancy a decent hot hatch again for its blend of practicality and fun (I've got the Caterham for the full on sports car experience!). We've got no kids so I don't need a sensible car, but do regularly visit clients - I do worry slightly that turning up in a hot hatch might not give the right impression....

Dave

[300bhp/ton]

DaveMcC1967 said:

I'm now 45 and keep being drawn to the new Fiesta ST as I quite fancy a decent hot hatch again for its blend of practicality and fun (I've got the Caterham for the full on sports car experience!). We've got no kids so I don't need a sensible car, but do regularly visit clients - I do worry slightly that turning up in a hot hatch might not give the right impression....

Dave

Curious, but how would you feel about the GT86? Slightly longer than a Fiesta, but still not a big car. Similar money too if you could buy used vs a new ST.

But I'd have thought practicality would be fairly similar between them and both should offer simple fun.

[DaveMcC1967]

I was quite excited about the GT86 when details were first released, but having seen it, sat in it and seen the specs I'm not so sure.
- slower than the Fiesta: check
- less economical: check (I do about 13k miles pa)
- less secure / surefooted in bad weather: check (got the Caterham for tail out fun)
- more expensive: check (even 2nd hand ones are still more than a brand new ST)

Bottom line is I think they're overpriced for what they are.

Dave