Cars that dont win road tests but are great to own..!
Discussion
Anyone got an Audi TT RS? Just thinking that this must surely be a great car to own, 335 BHP, Audi Quattro sound track, brilliant build quality, 4 WD traction, compact size and fff ing quick. Slated in road tests as it understeers around the track and supposedly doesnt "involve" the driver like the ubiquitous M Badge BMW (but is still fast), right now in freezing britain this is one great all rounder. Any other contributions for cars that the road testers dont rate highly but make good to live with cars? Im thinking Lexus, Maserati Gran Turismo, Scirocco R, maybe even McLaren MP4-12c!!
Mr2 spyder (the mk3 version)
Always spanked by the mx5 in road tests but miles better to drive in my humble. Worse thing was, nearly all tests praised its handling but slated its practicality for its lack of boot, something which was just not the reality in my experience.
Loads of space behind the seats & under the roof in the storage bins plus a wee bit more under the bonnet.
Always spanked by the mx5 in road tests but miles better to drive in my humble. Worse thing was, nearly all tests praised its handling but slated its practicality for its lack of boot, something which was just not the reality in my experience.
Loads of space behind the seats & under the roof in the storage bins plus a wee bit more under the bonnet.
the problem is most jurnos are close to or are professional race drivers (like monkey boy), what they can achieve and look for in a car on a track is not attainable by 99.9% of people or relevant 99.9% of the time in a road car
i don't take much notice of car reviews in terms of what's best, i drive cars i might buy and make my own mind up
otherwise we would all be driving 911's or bmw oil burners ...
i don't take much notice of car reviews in terms of what's best, i drive cars i might buy and make my own mind up
otherwise we would all be driving 911's or bmw oil burners ...
cragswinter said:
Mr2 spyder (the mk3 version)
Always spanked by the mx5 in road tests but miles better to drive in my humble. Worse thing was, nearly all tests praised its handling but slated its practicality for its lack of boot, something which was just not the reality in my experience.
Loads of space behind the seats & under the roof in the storage bins plus a wee bit more under the bonnet.
im not so sure on thisAlways spanked by the mx5 in road tests but miles better to drive in my humble. Worse thing was, nearly all tests praised its handling but slated its practicality for its lack of boot, something which was just not the reality in my experience.
Loads of space behind the seats & under the roof in the storage bins plus a wee bit more under the bonnet.
when the MR2 S came out i remember it won just about all of its group tests even beating the elise for having a better balance of performance v usability in either TG or EVO
this always surprised me
This thread dovetails with a thread a long while back on motor journalist clichés. Turbolag is a great one. As if fitting a turbo to a car is suddenly going to mean it will have full boost at all RPMs.
Been in the Audi TT RS thingy. F-ing mental! My mate was driving and he's a psychopath.
Been in the Audi TT RS thingy. F-ing mental! My mate was driving and he's a psychopath.
Gixer said:
Alfanatic said:
Yeah, funny how the Corvettes never seemed to get so much flak for not having a boot.
No boot? Have you ever seen the vast amount of boot space a vette has? Easy 2 sets of golf clubs apparently.....Sorry if I'm wrong again.
Dave Hedgehog said:
in terms of losing
just about ever audi S/RS model against its BMW equivalent and often its Merc equivalent
mostly because they wont POOOOOOWWWWAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH slide around a track for the compulsory masturbation shots
Every test I have read with Audi S/RS models other than last RS4 marks them down for poor steering and damping.just about ever audi S/RS model against its BMW equivalent and often its Merc equivalent
mostly because they wont POOOOOOWWWWAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH slide around a track for the compulsory masturbation shots
The C3 from 1967-1981 had no boot lid but the trunk could be accessed from behind the seats in the car. In 1982 for one year only, it got a lifting glass hatch. This photo shows the space available:
The C4 had quite a large boot though the targa panel went in at 45 degrees which made it look like it was full but in reality you could still fit a tent and weekend capming gear under it.
The C4 had quite a large boot though the targa panel went in at 45 degrees which made it look like it was full but in reality you could still fit a tent and weekend capming gear under it.
Edited by LuS1fer on Sunday 12th February 13:56
I know I'm biased, but I'd be tempted to suggest the 924. When they were considered current sports cars the fact they were overpriced and a little slow was an issue.
Now the prices have hit rock bottom, the spares are cheaper than you'd think and the performance is perfectly adequate for what's drifting into classic status. Plus it's still got the sublime balance, exploitable grip levels, feelsome steering and superb practicality it had 30 years ago.
Now the prices have hit rock bottom, the spares are cheaper than you'd think and the performance is perfectly adequate for what's drifting into classic status. Plus it's still got the sublime balance, exploitable grip levels, feelsome steering and superb practicality it had 30 years ago.
Edited by Chris71 on Sunday 12th February 12:01
Alfanatic said:
Lotus Esprit and Elan M100?
Alfa (all of them)?
We think in the same way, the M100 was a fantastic front wheel drive. I remember driving a used silver one for the first time, handled like no other FWD...fantasticAlfa (all of them)?
Of course the Alfa's as well, never really understood why because for me they are a better overall package.
Alfanatic said:
Gixer said:
Alfanatic said:
Yeah, funny how the Corvettes never seemed to get so much flak for not having a boot.
No boot? Have you ever seen the vast amount of boot space a vette has? Easy 2 sets of golf clubs apparently.....Sorry if I'm wrong again.
Dave Hedgehog said:
the problem is most jurnos are close to or are professional race drivers ...
The word you were looking for is "few". Not that a car's on track performance is really of any value for cars that will never be driven on track...which is very nearly all of them.Motoring journalists are in general utter sheep. As soon as one hits upon a vaguely valid description/criticsm of a car, it sticks.
I'm old enough to remember just about every reviewer criticising the Porsche 944 for having handling that was too good. WTF was that supposed to mean?
Staying with Porsche, the 991 is now being subjected to inhalations of breath past the teeth about its "electrical steering". As if you can tell from the driver's seat exactly how the steering is power assisted.
(Of course the PH lot are all paragons of the driving arts and just as talented as wordsmiths and hence escape my 'in general' criticsm.)
bikemonster said:
Staying with Porsche, the 991 is now being subjected to inhalations of breath past the teeth about its "electrical steering". As if you can tell from the driver's seat exactly how the steering is power assisted.
You know what, I think steering is one of the few things that all enthusiastic drivers can appreciate. Even my girlfriend commented on how nice the steering was in my Evora when she drove it for the first time last week.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff