The most over-rated and under-rated cars?
Discussion
A very personal choice thing, of course. But are there cars out there which you feel get either far too much coverage and praise...or else go under the radar of the average car fanatic and are a real steal, perhaps?
My choices are:-
Over rated. Fiat Twin Air, in any model. Nowhere near the bhp they claim and the fuel consumption is even further out.
Toyota/Subaru 2.0 litre coupe brothers. Great idea with an engine which feels weak after driving my partner's BMW X3 diesel! A wonderful idea ruined by 75 bhp too little.
Ferrari F40. Two separate drives totalling over 200 miles have not convinced me that the car deserves anything like the hero worship it gets. For a road car, it's hopelessly gutless low down and laggy, has a heavy gearbox on a par with a 1980s 4x4 in action, a clutch which is heavy and grabby, panel fit and finish which is frankly a disgrace for the money and an empty interior which looked like it was thrown together by some drunks one night. The wide ratios of the 5 speed gearbox (it needs 7 at least) mean gear selection has to be spot on or modern cars just disappear from view in real driving situations. Only it's 1,100 kgs dry weight save it's bacon. Some say it's really a track car. Well, if so, look at the comparison below.
Ferrari F40. 478 bhp. 1,100 kgs. £750,000 today.
A friend's Ultima. 707 bhp. 1,000 kgs. £140,000 to buy today.
Under-rated. Corvette Z06 from 2006. 7 litres of high revving small block V8. Fantastic handling, performance, well equipped, many race-type lightweight engine internals as standard, 505 bhp and nigh-on 200 mph top speed, with sub 4 seconds to 60 mph. Immaculate from £40,000, an absolute bargain. It's why I have one, with a little nudge up to 560 bhp for good measure.
Subaru 330 hatchback. Disliked by most but 400 bhp (inc upgrade) and 4WD in a hot hatchback can be yours from £20,000 all in. Under 4 seconds to 60 in a car which is ace in all weathers.
What's your choices, under and over rated cars?
My choices are:-
Over rated. Fiat Twin Air, in any model. Nowhere near the bhp they claim and the fuel consumption is even further out.
Toyota/Subaru 2.0 litre coupe brothers. Great idea with an engine which feels weak after driving my partner's BMW X3 diesel! A wonderful idea ruined by 75 bhp too little.
Ferrari F40. Two separate drives totalling over 200 miles have not convinced me that the car deserves anything like the hero worship it gets. For a road car, it's hopelessly gutless low down and laggy, has a heavy gearbox on a par with a 1980s 4x4 in action, a clutch which is heavy and grabby, panel fit and finish which is frankly a disgrace for the money and an empty interior which looked like it was thrown together by some drunks one night. The wide ratios of the 5 speed gearbox (it needs 7 at least) mean gear selection has to be spot on or modern cars just disappear from view in real driving situations. Only it's 1,100 kgs dry weight save it's bacon. Some say it's really a track car. Well, if so, look at the comparison below.
Ferrari F40. 478 bhp. 1,100 kgs. £750,000 today.
A friend's Ultima. 707 bhp. 1,000 kgs. £140,000 to buy today.
Under-rated. Corvette Z06 from 2006. 7 litres of high revving small block V8. Fantastic handling, performance, well equipped, many race-type lightweight engine internals as standard, 505 bhp and nigh-on 200 mph top speed, with sub 4 seconds to 60 mph. Immaculate from £40,000, an absolute bargain. It's why I have one, with a little nudge up to 560 bhp for good measure.
Subaru 330 hatchback. Disliked by most but 400 bhp (inc upgrade) and 4WD in a hot hatchback can be yours from £20,000 all in. Under 4 seconds to 60 in a car which is ace in all weathers.
What's your choices, under and over rated cars?
Overrated: GT86, BRZ
Spent afew days with my boss' GT86 earlier this year. Really wanted to love it, being a bit of a Toyota fanboy and having owned a couple of Supras and Celicas. The car was nice, well-sorted chassis, lovely gearchange, looked smart in white. Engine was utterly underwhelming unfortunately, and Im no power snob. Pretty gutless lowdown and midrange, sounds thrashy and unpleasant when given the revs it needs. Interior shonky by modern standards, cloth seats were poor, entertainment system felt and looked like a cheap halfords job. I enjoy a sweet RWD chassis, and can chuck a car around to a reasonable standard. While it was very competent, it didnt engage me like I hoped it would, and handing the keys back was easier than it should have been. Wants a turbo or more cylinders, and an interior facelift.
Underrated: Z3(!)
Mainly because of how utterly hated/ unloved they are. Also have a serious image problem, even outside of petrolhead circles. The pre-facelift, narrow-bodied cars are fairly depressing looking things. The 1.9 four feels weirdly soulless, particularly given how much I enjoyed the 318is E36 that I owned afew years back. Post facelift cars got the wide rear arches and nicer rear lights- you don't see many of these, but to my eye they've aged brilliantly, the body looking well-resolved, tight and muscular (!). It's also a cheap 2 seater roadster with a range of strong 6 cylinder engines. Not sure what else at the price point gives you a top-down experience with that engine sound and a good slug of torque (in comparison to its largely 4 cyl contemporaries). Plenty of kit, refined cruisers- if you can put aside the pathological hatred for them and 'image', they're great value cars.
Spent afew days with my boss' GT86 earlier this year. Really wanted to love it, being a bit of a Toyota fanboy and having owned a couple of Supras and Celicas. The car was nice, well-sorted chassis, lovely gearchange, looked smart in white. Engine was utterly underwhelming unfortunately, and Im no power snob. Pretty gutless lowdown and midrange, sounds thrashy and unpleasant when given the revs it needs. Interior shonky by modern standards, cloth seats were poor, entertainment system felt and looked like a cheap halfords job. I enjoy a sweet RWD chassis, and can chuck a car around to a reasonable standard. While it was very competent, it didnt engage me like I hoped it would, and handing the keys back was easier than it should have been. Wants a turbo or more cylinders, and an interior facelift.
Underrated: Z3(!)
Mainly because of how utterly hated/ unloved they are. Also have a serious image problem, even outside of petrolhead circles. The pre-facelift, narrow-bodied cars are fairly depressing looking things. The 1.9 four feels weirdly soulless, particularly given how much I enjoyed the 318is E36 that I owned afew years back. Post facelift cars got the wide rear arches and nicer rear lights- you don't see many of these, but to my eye they've aged brilliantly, the body looking well-resolved, tight and muscular (!). It's also a cheap 2 seater roadster with a range of strong 6 cylinder engines. Not sure what else at the price point gives you a top-down experience with that engine sound and a good slug of torque (in comparison to its largely 4 cyl contemporaries). Plenty of kit, refined cruisers- if you can put aside the pathological hatred for them and 'image', they're great value cars.
tI recently bought an Mg Zr (I think...the rover 45 based car anyway)....and was quite shocked at the handling and performance from the V6. The sound was pretty addictive too. I thought I can't be the only one who thinks so and did a search on the car to fond that everyone who has had one rates them very highly. Sort of similar to the Citroen Xantia Activa really....a little known hot hatch that will surprise anyone who drives one.
I agree on the e36 bmw cars..I've had loads and just bought a 325i convertible as a project as I think they are one of the best looking soft-tops that a male can still get away driving. Most of the stuff I deal with is on the classic-retro side and my old Mercedes 450 SLC was also a great car that are under-rated and under-priced. Better proportions that the SL because of the extra length between the rear of the door and the rear wheel arch and the fluted rear window looks great...even if it was only put there because they couldn't get a bigger rear window in that would drop down.
I also have a Mercedes 190E 2.3 16...which surely has to be one of the most over-rated cars. Slow, noisy, crap seating, questionable build quality......I just taxed and MOT'd our one and now wish I hadn't.
I agree on the e36 bmw cars..I've had loads and just bought a 325i convertible as a project as I think they are one of the best looking soft-tops that a male can still get away driving. Most of the stuff I deal with is on the classic-retro side and my old Mercedes 450 SLC was also a great car that are under-rated and under-priced. Better proportions that the SL because of the extra length between the rear of the door and the rear wheel arch and the fluted rear window looks great...even if it was only put there because they couldn't get a bigger rear window in that would drop down.
I also have a Mercedes 190E 2.3 16...which surely has to be one of the most over-rated cars. Slow, noisy, crap seating, questionable build quality......I just taxed and MOT'd our one and now wish I hadn't.
CorvetteConvert said:
A very personal choice thing, of course. But are there cars out there which you feel get either far too much coverage and praise...or else go under the radar of the average car fanatic and are a real steal, perhaps?
My choices are:-
Over rated. Fiat Twin Air, in any model. Nowhere near the bhp they claim and the fuel consumption is even further out.
Toyota/Subaru 2.0 litre coupe brothers. Great idea with an engine which feels weak after driving my partner's BMW X3 diesel! A wonderful idea ruined by 75 bhp too little.
Ferrari F40. Two separate drives totalling over 200 miles have not convinced me that the car deserves anything like the hero worship it gets. For a road car, it's hopelessly gutless low down and laggy, has a heavy gearbox on a par with a 1980s 4x4 in action, a clutch which is heavy and grabby, panel fit and finish which is frankly a disgrace for the money and an empty interior which looked like it was thrown together by some drunks one night. The wide ratios of the 5 speed gearbox (it needs 7 at least) mean gear selection has to be spot on or modern cars just disappear from view in real driving situations. Only it's 1,100 kgs dry weight save it's bacon. Some say it's really a track car. Well, if so, look at the comparison below.
Ferrari F40. 478 bhp. 1,100 kgs. £750,000 today.
A friend's Ultima. 707 bhp. 1,000 kgs. £140,000 to buy today.
Under-rated. Corvette Z06 from 2006. 7 litres of high revving small block V8. Fantastic handling, performance, well equipped, many race-type lightweight engine internals as standard, 505 bhp and nigh-on 200 mph top speed, with sub 4 seconds to 60 mph. Immaculate from £40,000, an absolute bargain. It's why I have one, with a little nudge up to 560 bhp for good measure.
Subaru 330 hatchback. Disliked by most but 400 bhp (inc upgrade) and 4WD in a hot hatchback can be yours from £20,000 all in. Under 4 seconds to 60 in a car which is ace in all weathers.
What's your choices, under and over rated cars?
Technology has come on a long way since 1987 My choices are:-
Over rated. Fiat Twin Air, in any model. Nowhere near the bhp they claim and the fuel consumption is even further out.
Toyota/Subaru 2.0 litre coupe brothers. Great idea with an engine which feels weak after driving my partner's BMW X3 diesel! A wonderful idea ruined by 75 bhp too little.
Ferrari F40. Two separate drives totalling over 200 miles have not convinced me that the car deserves anything like the hero worship it gets. For a road car, it's hopelessly gutless low down and laggy, has a heavy gearbox on a par with a 1980s 4x4 in action, a clutch which is heavy and grabby, panel fit and finish which is frankly a disgrace for the money and an empty interior which looked like it was thrown together by some drunks one night. The wide ratios of the 5 speed gearbox (it needs 7 at least) mean gear selection has to be spot on or modern cars just disappear from view in real driving situations. Only it's 1,100 kgs dry weight save it's bacon. Some say it's really a track car. Well, if so, look at the comparison below.
Ferrari F40. 478 bhp. 1,100 kgs. £750,000 today.
A friend's Ultima. 707 bhp. 1,000 kgs. £140,000 to buy today.
Under-rated. Corvette Z06 from 2006. 7 litres of high revving small block V8. Fantastic handling, performance, well equipped, many race-type lightweight engine internals as standard, 505 bhp and nigh-on 200 mph top speed, with sub 4 seconds to 60 mph. Immaculate from £40,000, an absolute bargain. It's why I have one, with a little nudge up to 560 bhp for good measure.
Subaru 330 hatchback. Disliked by most but 400 bhp (inc upgrade) and 4WD in a hot hatchback can be yours from £20,000 all in. Under 4 seconds to 60 in a car which is ace in all weathers.
What's your choices, under and over rated cars?
You like Corvettes and don't like the F40. Your opinion is invalid 
The F40 is a special car, the Corvette is not. The F40 is well regarded by people who's opinion's I am more inclined to accept than yours!F40 overrated? Erm, OK.
Over 420 ft/lbs of torque in a 1200kg car & 480 brake?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MDTcXGsjuo
Over 420 ft/lbs of torque in a 1200kg car & 480 brake?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MDTcXGsjuo
Edited by e21Mark on Sunday 2nd November 07:33
General Zod said:
Just wondering- would a Subaru with 400 bhp be laggy at all? Or gutless low down?
Probably yes, the Cosworth Impreza suffers from turbo lag, that's the 2.5 lump.The degree any car like that will suffer turbo lag varies though, turbo size, supporting modifications etc, it all adds up to make a fair difference.
Axionknight said:
General Zod said:
Just wondering- would a Subaru with 400 bhp be laggy at all? Or gutless low down?
Probably yes, the Cosworth Impreza suffers from turbo lag, that's the 2.5 lump.The degree any car like that will suffer turbo lag varies though, turbo size, supporting modifications etc, it all adds up to make a fair difference.
e21Mark said:
Axionknight said:
General Zod said:
Just wondering- would a Subaru with 400 bhp be laggy at all? Or gutless low down?
Probably yes, the Cosworth Impreza suffers from turbo lag, that's the 2.5 lump.The degree any car like that will suffer turbo lag varies though, turbo size, supporting modifications etc, it all adds up to make a fair difference.
Boost threshold
[/Pedant]
terenceb said:
Gt 86-cant understand how so many people like this overweight-rough engined slug.Gearbox being about the best thing of the car.It is NOT a performance car-so why the following?
Much the same as the following for the MX5 perhaps - not a performance car but has other virtues (such as looks, handling) that elevate it above it's rivals?Overated
20d BMWs - latest reports im hearing on another forum im on - is that they STILL haven't fully addressed the timing chain issues of the N47 - unless of course they've done so VERY recently as they changed the engine AGAIN recently
There was a belief that because BMW made some changes around 2010/11 - that models after those changes WERE safe.
Still popping up with issues it seems.
Underated (imo)
Landcruiser/Shogun type vehicles in general - think about it - keep them some bit clean - and you can work them hard in the week - and take the Oh to dinner on Saturday night - incrediably verastile
20d BMWs - latest reports im hearing on another forum im on - is that they STILL haven't fully addressed the timing chain issues of the N47 - unless of course they've done so VERY recently as they changed the engine AGAIN recently
There was a belief that because BMW made some changes around 2010/11 - that models after those changes WERE safe.
Still popping up with issues it seems.
Underated (imo)
Landcruiser/Shogun type vehicles in general - think about it - keep them some bit clean - and you can work them hard in the week - and take the Oh to dinner on Saturday night - incrediably verastile
Sir Fergie said:
Underated (imo)
Landcruiser/Shogun type vehicles in general - think about it - keep them some bit clean - and you can work them hard in the week - and take the Oh to dinner on Saturday night - incrediably verastile
Spot on. Big old robust 4x4s can just do it all. Get one with decent extras/ leather etc and you've got as comfy a driving environment as you'll ever get.Landcruiser/Shogun type vehicles in general - think about it - keep them some bit clean - and you can work them hard in the week - and take the Oh to dinner on Saturday night - incrediably verastile
Not sure if they count as 'underrated' tho. People in the know love a Landcruiser.
If only the P38 RR had been even moderately reliable, I'd still love a looked-after P38, but don't have the mechanical knowledge or inclination for constant tinkering. Owners clubs do seem to show that the borkiness is overstated (as do the 996 911 owners), but its a question of sleeping soundly at night and I know I'd be worrying over every funny noise/ judder.
A £2.5-3K Landcruiser looks about as good a buy as any to me, even well into the 100K+ milers.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff