Most disappointing car you've driven?
Discussion
Both are VW I'm afraid.
Back when I was 21 I did a rally day. I had a Swift GTi at the time and was really excited to try the latest Mk3 Golf GTi 16V. I was expecting a faster more fun version of my car. Instead... It was so heavy and full of understeer and felt a lot slower than my 1.3!
Current generation Passat. We have a few of them as pool cars. OK so I wasn't expecting a sports car but in my mind before driving one, I thought they would be better than the Vectras of the world and maybe a bit below the Premium C Class/3 Series and A4. I can't think of a saloon car I've driven that I dislike more.
On the flip side, cars I was expecting to be utter rubbish but was actually pleasantly suprised by...
Rover 216
Toyota Corolla!
Back when I was 21 I did a rally day. I had a Swift GTi at the time and was really excited to try the latest Mk3 Golf GTi 16V. I was expecting a faster more fun version of my car. Instead... It was so heavy and full of understeer and felt a lot slower than my 1.3!
Current generation Passat. We have a few of them as pool cars. OK so I wasn't expecting a sports car but in my mind before driving one, I thought they would be better than the Vectras of the world and maybe a bit below the Premium C Class/3 Series and A4. I can't think of a saloon car I've driven that I dislike more.
On the flip side, cars I was expecting to be utter rubbish but was actually pleasantly suprised by...
Rover 216
Toyota Corolla!
E46 M3. I'm not saying it's a bad car, far from it, but it didn't feel that distinct from the E46 330ci. If you pushed it, then the performance, handling and LSD traction were all noticeably better, but the actual feel, feedback and driving experience at all other times were extremely 330ci like - refined, quiet and comfortable.
Peugeot 407. I was a big fan of the 406; it was a cohesive and smooth car to drive, extremely comfortable and reliable. The 407 was a big wallowy barge with probably the worst controls I've experienced on any car. It's also the only car I've driven to make me car sick whilst driving - the throttle and brake were so uncontrollable that it was like being a passenger to a bad driver the whole time.
Porsche Cayman S. Again, like the M3, I expected more of an interactive driver's car. The steering was extremely accurate and well engineered, but lacked feel. The refinement on the car was equivalent to the very best "prestige" saloons. The steering wheel was also set about 4/5 inches too far away, and only adjusted for reach by about 2 inches max. Only the performance, handling and the subtle flat six engine note seeping into the cabin hinted at the car's reputation and heritage. I actually wanted to buy one
I even test drove another just to make sure, but it was just the same, and in fact highlighted even more issues that, instead of boring me, I actually didn't like (variable steering for instance).
Peugeot 407. I was a big fan of the 406; it was a cohesive and smooth car to drive, extremely comfortable and reliable. The 407 was a big wallowy barge with probably the worst controls I've experienced on any car. It's also the only car I've driven to make me car sick whilst driving - the throttle and brake were so uncontrollable that it was like being a passenger to a bad driver the whole time.
Porsche Cayman S. Again, like the M3, I expected more of an interactive driver's car. The steering was extremely accurate and well engineered, but lacked feel. The refinement on the car was equivalent to the very best "prestige" saloons. The steering wheel was also set about 4/5 inches too far away, and only adjusted for reach by about 2 inches max. Only the performance, handling and the subtle flat six engine note seeping into the cabin hinted at the car's reputation and heritage. I actually wanted to buy one
I even test drove another just to make sure, but it was just the same, and in fact highlighted even more issues that, instead of boring me, I actually didn't like (variable steering for instance).Edited by RobM77 on Wednesday 26th October 10:30
Again BMW 318d. Same reason as its my worst ever car, the engine was truly terrible and the worst engine I have ever experienced.
I've ridden 2-stroke 50cc mopeds with wider powerbands that needed less gearchanges and never before (even while learning) have I stalled a car so many times or experienced anything with the total and utter lack of *any* go at tickover. Any other vehicle I've driven if you're driving at tickover in 1st and you put your foot down it *goes*. This pile of crap just slowly made its way up the revs to about 1200rpm before it got started doing anything other than making noise. Speed bumps in 2nd it stalled. Motorways it had no go at all in 6th so had to be 4th or 5th and trying to make any progress and it just got tiring having to make 9 billion gear changes.
Oh and don't get me started on the traction control that if you tried to make a fast getaway (such as pulling into a small gap in traffic) and in doing so to get around the total lack of low down torque floored it, then if there was *any* wheelspin it would kill the revs and drop it out of what power it had. At which point you the person you'd just pulled out in front of ends up right up your chuff as you effectively pulled out quick and stopped.
At least things like micra's, corsa's, Vauxhall's/GM's etc you can expect to be sh*t because they're cheap and/or nasty, I expected *far* better out of a brand spanking 2007 3 series and put me off BMW.
I've ridden 2-stroke 50cc mopeds with wider powerbands that needed less gearchanges and never before (even while learning) have I stalled a car so many times or experienced anything with the total and utter lack of *any* go at tickover. Any other vehicle I've driven if you're driving at tickover in 1st and you put your foot down it *goes*. This pile of crap just slowly made its way up the revs to about 1200rpm before it got started doing anything other than making noise. Speed bumps in 2nd it stalled. Motorways it had no go at all in 6th so had to be 4th or 5th and trying to make any progress and it just got tiring having to make 9 billion gear changes.
Oh and don't get me started on the traction control that if you tried to make a fast getaway (such as pulling into a small gap in traffic) and in doing so to get around the total lack of low down torque floored it, then if there was *any* wheelspin it would kill the revs and drop it out of what power it had. At which point you the person you'd just pulled out in front of ends up right up your chuff as you effectively pulled out quick and stopped.
At least things like micra's, corsa's, Vauxhall's/GM's etc you can expect to be sh*t because they're cheap and/or nasty, I expected *far* better out of a brand spanking 2007 3 series and put me off BMW.
Ferrari 355. It was my first ever "supercar day" type experience. I drove an Impreza first which blew me away and the Ferrari just didn't give me the same level of thrills - maybe it was down to the sour, grumpy instructor who made me change up about 2,000RPM short of the red line and stuff but.. wasn't the experience I thought it'd be!
finlo said:
MK1 Golf GTI after all the hype i found it slow and dull.
This was when it was new so its not like driving one now when you would'nt expect it to be upto much.
Surprising. This was when it was new so its not like driving one now when you would'nt expect it to be upto much.
I had a new 1.8 GTI in 1983 and at the time it was one of the fastest cars you could buy (for around £8K).
What were you driving at the time to make these appear slow and dull?
Fastdruid said:
Again BMW 318d. Same reason as its my worst ever car, the engine was truly terrible and the worst engine I have ever experienced.
I've ridden 2-stroke 50cc mopeds with wider powerbands that needed less gearchanges and never before (even while learning) have I stalled a car so many times or experienced anything with the total and utter lack of *any* go at tickover. Any other vehicle I've driven if you're driving at tickover in 1st and you put your foot down it *goes*. This pile of crap just slowly made its way up the revs to about 1200rpm before it got started doing anything other than making noise. Speed bumps in 2nd it stalled. Motorways it had no go at all in 6th so had to be 4th or 5th and trying to make any progress and it just got tiring having to make 9 billion gear changes.
Oh and don't get me started on the traction control that if you tried to make a fast getaway (such as pulling into a small gap in traffic) and in doing so to get around the total lack of low down torque floored it, then if there was *any* wheelspin it would kill the revs and drop it out of what power it had. At which point you the person you'd just pulled out in front of ends up right up your chuff as you effectively pulled out quick and stopped.
At least things like micra's, corsa's, Vauxhall's/GM's etc you can expect to be sh*t because they're cheap and/or nasty, I expected *far* better out of a brand spanking 2007 3 series and put me off BMW.
The downsides of diesel BMWs are that the gearing is quite high (sounds like you just needed to go into first over that speed bump, or at least dip the clutch; and regarding flooring it in 1st - think of 1st as the same as second in any other car and that explains that one), the engine loves to quietly stop at low revs, and there's a delay on the clutch which makes very low speed driving and gearchanges tricky. You can learn to get round these things by changing the way you drive. Once you've got over that, you'll find the handling is class leading and everything else about the car is just right. I've not driven a better small car to be honest. The Golf is my next favourite small car, but at the end of the day the bloody thing's FWD and I'd rather put up with BMW's eccentricities than be dragged around everywhere.I've ridden 2-stroke 50cc mopeds with wider powerbands that needed less gearchanges and never before (even while learning) have I stalled a car so many times or experienced anything with the total and utter lack of *any* go at tickover. Any other vehicle I've driven if you're driving at tickover in 1st and you put your foot down it *goes*. This pile of crap just slowly made its way up the revs to about 1200rpm before it got started doing anything other than making noise. Speed bumps in 2nd it stalled. Motorways it had no go at all in 6th so had to be 4th or 5th and trying to make any progress and it just got tiring having to make 9 billion gear changes.
Oh and don't get me started on the traction control that if you tried to make a fast getaway (such as pulling into a small gap in traffic) and in doing so to get around the total lack of low down torque floored it, then if there was *any* wheelspin it would kill the revs and drop it out of what power it had. At which point you the person you'd just pulled out in front of ends up right up your chuff as you effectively pulled out quick and stopped.
At least things like micra's, corsa's, Vauxhall's/GM's etc you can expect to be sh*t because they're cheap and/or nasty, I expected *far* better out of a brand spanking 2007 3 series and put me off BMW.
In my experience, the greater the hype, the greater the disappointment. Everyone knows that rubbish cars are rubbish, but the good ones get hyped well beyond what they actually deliver.
So for me, I think the answer is the 997C2S. It's one of the best modern cars I've ever driven, but it's still nowhere near as good as everyone makes out. I don't think any car could live up to the hype that the 911 gets.
So for me, I think the answer is the 997C2S. It's one of the best modern cars I've ever driven, but it's still nowhere near as good as everyone makes out. I don't think any car could live up to the hype that the 911 gets.
Edited by kambites on Wednesday 26th October 10:47
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