Most over-hyped car on PH

[Olivera]

These are all good cars which are frequently mentioned on PH. However, one could also argue they are also hyped on PH way beyond their actual ability.

Alfa 156 GTA - Legendary V6 engine and handles like a go-kart when fitted with a Quaife diff.
BMW E30 M3 - Drives so well the M division should simply have closed shop afterwards.
Honda NSX - Every car was hand built by Ayrton Senna and it can't be bettered 20 years later.
Mazda Mx-5 Mk1 - Handling nirvana.

So which is the most over-hyped?

[dvance]

As far as I am concerned the Alfa has not received nearly enough hype

[anonymous-user]

Why no "335d" option? Surely easily the most hyped by the fact that just the mention of "335d mapped" is enough to cause laughter/rolled eyes/coughing up flem??? (delete as appropriate)

[minimatt1967]

The Merc 190E Cosworth, the best chassis'd saloon car of the late 80's/early 90's, or the thinking man's E30 M3.

[Kong]

E30 M3, people go on about this car like its the second coming, but how many have actually driven it? (not me either). It's a relatively slow, 4 cylinder 3 series in LHD only, even if it's the finest drivers car ever made (which i doubt), it still falls short in those areas.

[anonymous-user]

Option 5, BMW 320d - it's just a 4 door diesel saloon with a 4 pot dag-dag engine, who cares if it has RWD and does 77mpg

[ManOpener]

Where's the Focus ST?

[Rich_W]

Kong said:

E30 M3, people go on about this car like its the second coming, but how many have actually driven it? (not me either). It's a relatively slow, 4 cylinder 3 series in LHD only, even if it's the finest drivers car ever made (which i doubt), it still falls short in those areas.

The LHD only makes it a winner on that alone. All performance cars are better as the maker intended. Not bastardised for those funny little brits. As for speed. It's equal to a Type R and that 4 cylinder block is derived from the BMW Turbo lumps of nutter 80s F1. There's a lot right about the E30M3. As a owner I can tell you that it does get mythical status. And I'm not sure that's too deserved. Good car. But no McLaren F1.

Can I add McLaren Mp4-12C to the list of overhyped?

[falkster]

Kong said:

E30 M3, people go on about this car like its the second coming, but how many have actually driven it? (not me either). It's a relatively slow, 4 cylinder 3 series in LHD only, even if it's the finest drivers car ever made (which i doubt), it still falls short in those areas.

I love it when people talk negatively about it even after saying they have no experience.
The fact is the cars are coming up to 25 years old and, by modern standards, are slow but have a fantastic chassis.
However, the car 'they' rave about was driven by steve soper, frank sytner, roberto ravaglia etc and not the car you would buy at your local dealer. Not many of them produced the 300+bhp that the touring cars produced - some say 195bhp (early spec) was optimistic.
Given a few mild tweaks (without becoming a max power fan) you can release some of that ikonic power and handling to get a step closer to what the car was meant to be and the benchmark that everyone compares.
I have this conversation regular with other M3 owners and we didn't buy the touring car we bought a massively watered down road car.

[55allgold]

Any TVR.

[George H]

NSX definitely, I really don't see what the fuss is about.

Can the Ferrari 458 be added to the list too?

[GreigM]

55allgold said:

Any TVR.

definitely missed from the list

[castex]

One of the four doesn't handle especially well. Nice alloys, though

[theironduke]

55allgold said:

Any TVR.

I thought this till i bought one and although they are far from perfect they are damn good in the smiles per miles stakes.

[Kong]

falkster said:

Kong said:

E30 M3, people go on about this car like its the second coming, but how many have actually driven it? (not me either). It's a relatively slow, 4 cylinder 3 series in LHD only, even if it's the finest drivers car ever made (which i doubt), it still falls short in those areas.

I love it when people talk negatively about it even after saying they have no experience.
The fact is the cars are coming up to 25 years old and, by modern standards, are slow but have a fantastic chassis.
However, the car 'they' rave about was driven by steve soper, frank sytner, roberto ravaglia etc and not the car you would buy at your local dealer. Not many of them produced the 300+bhp that the touring cars produced - some say 195bhp (early spec) was optimistic.
Given a few mild tweaks (without becoming a max power fan) you can release some of that ikonic power and handling to get a step closer to what the car was meant to be and the benchmark that everyone compares.
I have this conversation regular with other M3 owners and we didn't buy the touring car we bought a massively watered down road car.

I wasn't talking negatively about it! At least I admit I haven't driven one, it's the people who denounce modern BMW's and say "it's not as good as an E30" having not driven one either which makes me think it's overhyped. I'm sure it's still a great car.

[S3000]

MX-5,MX-5,MX-5,MX-5,MX-5...

[The Pits]

911 GT3 RS

Plastic windows, fabric door handles that weigh no less than the plastic ones, tasteless stickers, pointlessly stubbornly rear engined (without the rear seats there's absolutely no excuse not to shunt the engine ahead of the rear axle).

Only porsche could get away with this. BMW, Ferrari, anyone would be absolutely lambasted for bringing a rear engined car in 2011.

And rightly so.

[GreigM]

The Pits said:

911 GT3 RS

Plastic windows, fabric door handles that weigh no less than the plastic ones, tasteless stickers, pointlessly stubbornly rear engined (without the rear seats there's absolutely no excuse not to shunt the engine ahead of the rear axle).

Only porsche could get away with this. BMW, Ferrari, anyone would be absolutely lambasted for bringing a rear engined car in 2011.

And rightly so.

All those flaws and its still a contender for the best drivers car of all time

[VeeFour]

minimatt1967 said:

The Merc 190E Cosworth, the best chassis'd saloon car of the late 80's/early 90's, or the thinking man's E30 M3.

Erm, did you have a problem understanding the question?

[VeeFour]

yellowbentines said:

Option 5, BMW 320d - it's just a 4 door diesel saloon with a 4 pot dag-dag engine, who cares if it has RWD and does 77mpg

This. Only they don't do 77mpg, or anywhere near it, no matter how gentle you are with the throttle.