Do you grow out of certain types of car?

Do you grow out of certain types of car?

Author
Discussion

strummerville

1,016 posts

129 months

Friday 18th October 2013
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One of biggest priorities for me is comfort. Comfortable seats and ride quality.

It's also interesting to see the inverted snobbery of age of driver and 'age' of car... It's cool for a young lad to drive a Volvo estate, but we ridicule a silver haired, 50 year old gent in an Evo...

JM5

367 posts

158 months

Friday 18th October 2013
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Yep.

Had a little Peugeot when I was 17 that looked like something out the badly modified thread on here. I thought it was brilliant at the time but quickly grew out of that one!!!

Had an impreza sti hatch which I loved at first but started to feel a bit silly pulling up to appointments with customers in it and swapped it for a diesel c class merc.

I have a bright yellow elise which I'm yet to grow out of though biggrin

Heathwood

2,570 posts

204 months

Friday 18th October 2013
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Yes, you do. 10 years ago I wanted a civic type r. Now I've got a strange urge for a Skoda yeti, despite not really needing one. Weird!

mike9009

7,057 posts

245 months

Friday 18th October 2013
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During my younger years, i loved a mid engined/ rear engined cars. I don't know why? But i owned an AW11 MR2 then a vx220 and then a smart roadster. Since then I have changed to hot hatches.

When younger I never gave anyone a lift really. We always used to catch the bus to go out to the pubs in town.

Now I have two kids, I need a little more practicality but will not succomb to a people carrier or Volvo estate. Probably clinging onto the lasts shreds of my youth. Probably another sign of that is owning an old T25 VW camper at the moment....

Mike

LaurasOtherHalf

21,429 posts

198 months

Friday 18th October 2013
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I turn 37 this year & I suspect that the mini GP will be my last hot hatch.

Unless Renault bring out another R26.r smile

Jurgen

228 posts

157 months

Friday 18th October 2013
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I love sportscars and coupe's because they tend to feel a bit more special. I nowadays drive an S2000 as my only car. That isn't much of an issue, since I mostly cycle to work, but the lack of comfort and the noise does get on my nerves sometimes! I also feel a bit odd at birthdays where most people seem to drive some ecothingy or something very family friendly. The work carpark is the same, about 300 cars and about 2 of them I actually like.

But I suppose my age does start to show (34 now) and I'm looking at something a bit more refined after this. I'm not ready yet for something sensible, so will probably be a 350Z, Z4 coupe or if I feel brave an E39 M5 :-)

Rickyy

6,618 posts

221 months

Friday 18th October 2013
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Heathwood said:
Yes, you do. 10 years ago I wanted a civic type r. Now I've got a strange urge for a Skoda yeti, despite not really needing one. Weird!
Skoda Yeti is also on my list of potential next car, along with a Ford Kuga!

My driving style has changed aswell, I suppose its called growing up. But I'm quite happy to waft around as opposed to thrash around.

I have an MX-5 for when I need to blow off some steam, but I rarely drive that in anger either. I'd need something more focused as a main car if I didn't have the Mazda though.

JulesB

535 posts

161 months

Friday 18th October 2013
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I've always loved hot hatches, between 17-20 I always had Fiesta's and Saxo's but loved the idea of having a Focus ST having driven one a few times.. I had the chance to get myself into an RX8 quite cheap when I was 20 which I could not turn down, after breaking the bank I sold it a year later and bought the Focus ST I had wanted for so long, turns out it is my biggest regret and I can't wait to sell it on. I'm now looking at getting an Estate with no desire to return to a hot hatch!


The estate I am looking at is a Subaru Legacy mind so not entirely dull!

RGambo

850 posts

171 months

Friday 18th October 2013
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I was always into my small cars. 325 compact, golf gti's now, got a nice big a6 quattro. comfy, quiet, smooth. perfect for wafting back and for to work and running the family around. the fun car is in the garage.

Cyrus1971

855 posts

241 months

Friday 18th October 2013
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Yes - I think taste definitely changes with time and I imagine that is true even given an unlimited budget. Circumstances also have an impact, probably more so than taste - E.G kids.

u05je7

154 posts

172 months

Friday 18th October 2013
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Imprezas appear to be cropping up a fair bit here.

I agree with the previous depictions that it isn't a young person's car though and is more for early thirties. I have a 2006 hawkeye sti and when I dropped the engine off to be rebuilt the specialist garage either seemed to be populated by people too young to have a licence or in the early thirties age bracket. It was a charity open day at the time.

I am quite young at just twenty four to have one I feel. The car is a gimmick and is fun but it lacks any refinement or comfort to live with daily. So I suspect I will grow out of it. I also echo previous statements that they don't exactly look professional. It is unfortunate but true.

I never really liked hot hatches when I was younger hence why I have a Volvo 850 estate as my first car. V70 T5 as my second (still have it). I can't see myself growing to like hot hatches in the future.

I'm not sure what I can really "mature" to after consecutive Volvos. Maybe naturally aspirated as opposed to turbocharged?

LuS1fer

41,168 posts

247 months

Friday 18th October 2013
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When I was younger, I did grow out of hot hatches and had some semi-sensible saloons and numerous coupes.

Now, at 54, though I actually last wanted to buy a BMW in the 70s (a nice 1502),I have never less wanted a BMW than I do now and have bought a Fiesta ST because it's about the perfect car - compact, quick, good-handling, foldable rear seats to fit stuff in, why would I want a saloon? The only reasone we have a Mondeo is to fit all the kids and junk in for longer journeys (including cases to the airport).

I look at "premium" saloons to be cars for people seeking to establish an image (I did once when I bought an Alfetta and then a Saab 900). Funnily enough, my sister had the 3 series for years and moved to a Mini Cooper S and far prefers it. She is 52.

My mother is 73 and has had a series of saloons and large MPVs and has just bought a Focus 1.6.

I think I've grown out of my Mustang, if I'm honest.


RB5Bird

502 posts

197 months

Friday 18th October 2013
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I've got an RB5 that I love to bits, so after 5 and a half years of it being a daily driver I have bought a second car as a run-about.
I thought about a diesel fiesta, but ended up getting a zetec s, and it is really fun.

I do feel like a bit of a kid driving it, but as a daily snotter it's fine, and cheap.

Am I going backwards? I'm 34 BTW, and still have no desire for a "family car / estate", probably due to not having kids.

Art0ir

9,402 posts

172 months

Friday 18th October 2013
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u05je7 said:
Imprezas appear to be cropping up a fair bit here.

I agree with the previous depictions that it isn't a young person's car though and is more for early thirties. I have a 2006 hawkeye sti and when I dropped the engine off to be rebuilt the specialist garage either seemed to be populated by people too young to have a licence or in the early thirties age bracket. It was a charity open day at the time.

I am quite young at just twenty four to have one I feel. The car is a gimmick and is fun but it lacks any refinement or comfort to live with daily. So I suspect I will grow out of it. I also echo previous statements that they don't exactly look professional. It is unfortunate but true.
Mine (WR Blue STI) is my daily so I take it to client sites all the time.

If it's something very important or the proverbial fecal matter has hit the cooling aid, I'll try to park it out of sight but more times than not it has elicited a positive response from anyone that has seen it, particularly those in the 40-50 year old bracket believe it or not.

Refined and comfortable it is not. With little to no sound deadening and a big bore exhaust it's a bit of an assault on the senses.

lowdrag

12,940 posts

215 months

Friday 18th October 2013
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At an age where reactions are slowing, I look back on cars such as the M6, 325 sport, GTi 16 valve, my first E-type, SL 380, just to name a few and really it's a case of "been there, done that". Now I drive a diesel Merc C class and find it adequate, especially with the radar everywhere. I still have two toys in the cupboard, but even then I don't drive them as I used to. Sad really, but anno domini and all that.

CrutyRammers

13,735 posts

200 months

Friday 18th October 2013
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I bloody hope not. Conformism is for the weak.

LuS1fer

41,168 posts

247 months

Friday 18th October 2013
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CrutyRammers said:
I bloody hope not. Conformism is for the weak.
Yes, it's funny how many people fail to spot that the 3 series is the modern Cortina, the single most popular conformist choice in the sector. Welcome to middle age. wink

Tom8

2,197 posts

156 months

Friday 18th October 2013
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I changed my mind as the joy of driving has gone a bit due to masses of traffic, very poor roads and incompetent drivers. It used to be great going out for a blat now it is just annoying. Maybe that is another sign of aging!!

I sold a Tuscan to buy my Audi, I wanted a great sounding car but I wanted an auto so when sat in traffic I am not on the clutch all the time. There are many cars I would not consider now as they are youngster cars, some of the jap sports stuff is also very plebby these days with the barryboys getting hold of them.

Challo

10,314 posts

157 months

Friday 18th October 2013
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Since passing my test 15years ago I have had a Nova, 2 Escorts, Fiesta, 205, 206, Astra and now running a R53. I am one month away from turning 32 and im now looking to change my current car for something automatic, 5dr, decent boot and abilty to waft around.

I love the Cooper S but that love is slowly getting less and less. The ride is rubbish, boot is too small, rubbish for taking passengers, and to be honest I now want something comfy that i can stick in 'D' and cruise around.

LimaDelta

6,567 posts

220 months

Friday 18th October 2013
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Recently went through this when choosing a cheap second car. Fancied an Impreza as it is an itch I never did scratch when younger, but ultimately went for the more subtle but similar performance Saab 9-5 Aero because of the image. 35 and 1 1/2 kids. Nobody looks twice at the Saab.

I do prefer my cars to have a more 'grown up' feel nowadays.