Pistonheads vehicles you don't "get"
Discussion
RichB said:
Took my Griff for it's MOT last Monday, passed with no warnings. Drove it to the PH meeting at The Peacock on Tuesday evening, most enjoyable. Nothing else happened. 
Why didn't you let us all know this amazing feat on the TVR forums Kept my mot last month with no advisories a secret too
Porsche 924 / 944. No matter how good or bad they may have been I never managed to get past the seating position.
In fact I've never been truly comfortable in any Porsche I've driven, although 911's aren't too bad for me they're not perfect.
And as for the Boxter, if ever there was a car that I felt like I was sitting ON rather than IN then that's it! And that includes high-riding 4x4's!
In fact I've never been truly comfortable in any Porsche I've driven, although 911's aren't too bad for me they're not perfect.
And as for the Boxter, if ever there was a car that I felt like I was sitting ON rather than IN then that's it! And that includes high-riding 4x4's!
jamieduff1981 said:
I'll try again.
Do you think a TVR would be more enjoyable to drive after welding more steel to the chassis?
I suggest that you're pre-supposing what they drive like without any actual experience, certain that you'd hate it for the want of a few more tubes.
I don't want to weld more steel into the chassis, I want the steel that's already in there to have been welded in there properly - the way it was designed to work to start with, rather than what some production manager and accountant decided would save a few minutes of welding.Do you think a TVR would be more enjoyable to drive after welding more steel to the chassis?
I suggest that you're pre-supposing what they drive like without any actual experience, certain that you'd hate it for the want of a few more tubes.
jamieduff1981 said:
Show me any TVR aged car that doesn't have rusty bits
Exactly. I don't want to buy one and then spend 3 weeks stripping and welding the frame and recoating it just because TVR decided to save £5 per chassis by doing a terrible job of powdercoating them in house. I love the idea of them, I hate the way they were executed.
A wonderful design that's got it's reliablity reputation through penny pinching on things that shouldn't have been touched.
Edited by PhillipM on Saturday 25th July 14:47
macky17 said:
cerb4.5lee said:
Its not a pistonhead type of car though and anything weighing 1800kg with a diesel engine and auto gearbox is going to be pretty awful and unexciting to drive but as a car to cover big miles in comfort with relatively good mpg it has its place I think.
Err... My dd is a 3.0d S XF jag which weighs 1800kg, is a diesel and an auto. It's bloody terrific to drive - responsive, quick with accurate steering and a great chassis. Your sentence needed the word 'German' in there somewhere.PhillipM
You are right in what you say,but when the work is carried out you will see that when time comes to selling the car that 60-80% of the costs are put on the price of a refurbished car. TVR's are also creeping up in value and you then end up with a car better than when it left the factory.
Not a PH car but my run around is a 2001 Nissan 48k that the tail gate is very rusty,also rust under the door handles and the cross members are not a pretty sight. Just about passed the mot last month but advisories are rusty chassis added to the list,so I'm pretty sure that a 2001 car with few miles on the clock will have to be scrapped because it will be beyond economical repair.
Apart from the fact the TVR will be off the road for a few months when the work is carried out you end end up with a car that should out live me and increasing in value. (Also I personally think one of the best bangs for buck you can buy)
But totally agree with what you say regarding cost cutting in the first place.
You are right in what you say,but when the work is carried out you will see that when time comes to selling the car that 60-80% of the costs are put on the price of a refurbished car. TVR's are also creeping up in value and you then end up with a car better than when it left the factory.
Not a PH car but my run around is a 2001 Nissan 48k that the tail gate is very rusty,also rust under the door handles and the cross members are not a pretty sight. Just about passed the mot last month but advisories are rusty chassis added to the list,so I'm pretty sure that a 2001 car with few miles on the clock will have to be scrapped because it will be beyond economical repair.
Apart from the fact the TVR will be off the road for a few months when the work is carried out you end end up with a car that should out live me and increasing in value. (Also I personally think one of the best bangs for buck you can buy)
But totally agree with what you say regarding cost cutting in the first place.
Edited by TVRJAS on Saturday 25th July 15:38
Yes, there is that I suppose - I guess I don't get why you'd buy one and have it in for work for so long instead of driving the thing, I've 3 friends who've gone through the TVR phase, in every case they've spent so long in the garage having bits chopped out, new tubes let in, recoating, etc - you could have just build a brand new spaceframe and dropped all the good bits in 
I love the ethos, I don't 'get' the bit where you have to play russian roulette with what the factory happened to bugger up on the one you're buying I suppose :grin:
I love the ethos, I don't 'get' the bit where you have to play russian roulette with what the factory happened to bugger up on the one you're buying I suppose :grin:
Clio172/182. Wanted to love it so much, but two test drives didn't convince. Only felt quick when absolutely leathered, cramped inside (more than the 205 GTI I had at the time) and felt distinctly wobbly when the sales person tried to max it around a roundabout. The 197 felt a far superior car overall when I drove it, albeit even more gutless low down!
Buying Any different car whether it be classic or high performance vehicle is a bit like playing Russian roulette.
But we do it because we like the fact it's not quite the norm,also many owners love the challenge and getting the hands dirty and is a hobby and satisfaction. This is not my policy
I what to jump in and drive it as you say.
But we do it because we like the fact it's not quite the norm,also many owners love the challenge and getting the hands dirty and is a hobby and satisfaction. This is not my policy
I what to jump in and drive it as you say.
Most Audi's. I understand the top spec ones. Either luxury wise or RS models. I don't like many of them, but I get them. What I don't get is the lower and mid range ones. Why would anyone buy a basic A1 or A3 when you can buy Golf or Polo that is exactly the same car to all intents and purposes, for a significant saving?
Kamox said:
MX-5. Not so funny to drive, underpowered. If your previous cars have been cheap city cars, I can see why you may find it nice. Otherwise, go seek a cheap Boxster.
People say this all the time about the MX5. "Why buy one? You should buy x which costs twice as much to buy and run". The MX5 is well built, has a soft top roof, good handling and at least enough power to not make it driving a chore. There are many subjective reasons to like it, but objectively you get all of those for the price and running costs of a small family car. As a car for someone with no kids it is ideal for most people. Saying "go buy a boxter" is like saying "why buy a Polo. Go buy a BMW 135 instead".Edited by SteveSteveson on Sunday 26th July 08:35
SteveSteveson said:
People say this all the time about the MX5. "Why buy one? You should buy x which costs twice as much to buy and run". The MX5 is well built, has a soft top roof, good handling and at least enough power to not make it driving a chore. There are many subjective reasons to like it, but objectively you get all of those for the price and running costs of a small family car. As a car for someone with no kids it is ideal for most people.
I was driving a small family car yesterday, and I would say that in no way, shape or form would I compare the expereince to the MX5 I owned years ago.I have a Boxster now (for some reason I've always had a penchant for hairdressers cars
) - stap me the MX5 was better built. They do compare - they both perform much the same function, I think the MX5 was more feelsome to drive, you got more feedback, but the Boxster is that bit faster, overtaking is easier, it makes a much nicer noise, is a nicer place to sit and carries more luggage and fuel. It's more grown up.
I'd struggle to say it's a whole lot more fun than my MX5 on a B road though.
SAAB 95 Aero
I had a mint, low mileage full history 2002 95 Aero Complete with a stage 1 tune, uprated brakes and premium rubber. Sure it was quick in a straight line, it flew under the radar etc BUT it was not at all inspiring or rewarding to drive on anything other motorways (which are boring at normal speeds IMO)
At the time, I was very happy with my purchase but it hasn't left me wanting another, unlike the lowly high mileage 1998 523i that followed it, which was better in almost every way other than straight line speed but at least when it was as sat at high speed it just felt so more adapt and happy at that speed than the Saab ever did
I had a mint, low mileage full history 2002 95 Aero Complete with a stage 1 tune, uprated brakes and premium rubber. Sure it was quick in a straight line, it flew under the radar etc BUT it was not at all inspiring or rewarding to drive on anything other motorways (which are boring at normal speeds IMO)
At the time, I was very happy with my purchase but it hasn't left me wanting another, unlike the lowly high mileage 1998 523i that followed it, which was better in almost every way other than straight line speed but at least when it was as sat at high speed it just felt so more adapt and happy at that speed than the Saab ever did
Edited by wolfy1988 on Sunday 26th July 09:11
Tastyweat said:
Digby said:
MX-5.Plenty fast enough when the road suits.If you don't think so, you are not trying hard enough.
Volvo.No love here for the new ones, but the old ones are funny because you can buy one for a grand, spend a few hundred more and be in to 300 bhp territory.
Have you tried a charged on though?Volvo.No love here for the new ones, but the old ones are funny because you can buy one for a grand, spend a few hundred more and be in to 300 bhp territory.
They're hilarious
It certainly made things more enjoyable going uphill or when joining motorways etc, but in the twisty bits, It certainly didn't make me think any less of a n/a version.A PH run to the coast a few years back showed how good they are when worked hard.There were a few MX's on that day having no trouble at all keeping up with and leaving behind more powerful machines.
paralla said:
I don't get how just about all JLR aluminium cars seem to be about 200kg heavier than they should be.
They always seem to have an excuse, the latest being that "we invested the weight in heavier suspension".
The figures quoted when the Range Rover switched to alloy were laughable.
Seem to drive at least as well if not better than the opposition though. Maybe they know more than you think?! They always seem to have an excuse, the latest being that "we invested the weight in heavier suspension".
The figures quoted when the Range Rover switched to alloy were laughable.
For me it's Porsches and the old Volvos. I have spent rather a lot of time in a 996 C4S, feels more than a sports car but less then a supercar whilst only being as quick as an M3 and without the sense of occasion of an Aston etc. It just doesn't add up for me, of course they have the much hotter editions, some of which I love, but I just can't see the appeal of the more "normal" cars. Now the old Volvos, I think it's the V70 D5 that everybody loves on here - not fast, not particularly good on fuel, not good to drive, not superbly reliable, yes built well, but so is an E39 5 series?
I never "got" the MX5 following, until I spent time in one on a roadtrip from the Midlands to Scotland, loved them since!
I never "got" the MX5 following, until I spent time in one on a roadtrip from the Midlands to Scotland, loved them since!
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