Big engine, low spec - where have you gone?
Discussion
Still looking for a new(ish) car, and was just thinking that you used to be able to buy low spec cars with the higher powered engines.
Say, a Mk3 Mondeo LX with the 2.5V6, Mk4 Astra Envoy with the 2.2 petrol, etc? All rare but obtainable in the past.
Now it seems you're stuck with buying the top spec to get a "decent" engine, and all the low spec cars have the hairdrier engines.
I don't care about spec, I just want a reasonably quick engine, good brakes, a seat and steering wheel. I don't need 300kg of pointless electric gubbins weighing the car down.
Does anyone make pauper spec with sleeper engines now?
Say, a Mk3 Mondeo LX with the 2.5V6, Mk4 Astra Envoy with the 2.2 petrol, etc? All rare but obtainable in the past.
Now it seems you're stuck with buying the top spec to get a "decent" engine, and all the low spec cars have the hairdrier engines.
I don't care about spec, I just want a reasonably quick engine, good brakes, a seat and steering wheel. I don't need 300kg of pointless electric gubbins weighing the car down.
Does anyone make pauper spec with sleeper engines now?
What car has 300kg worth of electrical gubbins? 
People want economy. Those that can afford the running costs on bigger engines want the luxuries to make up for it
For example, I've had 2 Omegas, one base spec (GLS) and currently a top spec (Elite). Both had the same engine and there's pretty much nothing in it between them (negligible weight difference etc.), however the Elite is a much much nicer place to be in.
People want economy. Those that can afford the running costs on bigger engines want the luxuries to make up for it
For example, I've had 2 Omegas, one base spec (GLS) and currently a top spec (Elite). Both had the same engine and there's pretty much nothing in it between them (negligible weight difference etc.), however the Elite is a much much nicer place to be in.
HellDiver said:
Dracoro said:
What car has 300kg worth of electrical gubbins?
Add electric motorised seats, leather, climate control, electric windows all round, sunroof, it soon mounts up. Maybe 300kg was a bit excessive, it was just a figure pulled from the air.Of course the GLS was lighter (65kg difference) but in that type of car, I doubt you'll notice that much difference. Besides, in that type of car, the luxuries go a long way towards making it a more pleasurable car to drive.
Edited by Dracoro on Thursday 24th February 13:36
I think it has a lot to do with british importers speccing up cars to British taste. And giving better deals to a customer buying a car from this stock rather than having a car specially ordered. I have a volvo 850 t5 S which is basically the most powerful engine in the lowest spec of car. Back in those days certainly with Volvo you would buy the engine and the spec of the car separately so you could have a top spec cd model with a 2.0litre 10valve engine or a poverty spec s trim model with a hot 20v t5 engine - shame really as perversely Im actually a fan of the big engine minimal spec cars
I must admit, I think most company's are missing a trick only offering top sep / styling on the bigger engined cars.
Audi, you can get a 1.2 A1 in S Line spec. There must be a huge market for this.
I've never heard of anyone wanting a big engined barge without toys!
Sod it, buy an XJR and strip it? Rip out all the lovely leather n wood, stick in some Recaro's and you have a tool.
Audi, you can get a 1.2 A1 in S Line spec. There must be a huge market for this.
I've never heard of anyone wanting a big engined barge without toys!
Sod it, buy an XJR and strip it? Rip out all the lovely leather n wood, stick in some Recaro's and you have a tool.
it's not even 'big cars'.
why do i have to have auto frigging wipers/lights/...?
I have got fingers.
Why do i have to have 'sporty fog lights'?
Why do I have to have 'milanese style couture bodystyling'?
when you useless effing car manufactureres can;t give me heated washer jets, brakes that're sufficient for the car's performance, a spare frigging wheel (let alone one that's the right effing size).
About the only thing i can think of that's kind of getting there is the 335i. and even then you have to have SE spec which no doubt aloows me to illuminate puddles, make one corner of the car cooler than another, change the colour of the lights in the clocks...
why do i have to have auto frigging wipers/lights/...?
I have got fingers.
Why do i have to have 'sporty fog lights'?
Why do I have to have 'milanese style couture bodystyling'?
when you useless effing car manufactureres can;t give me heated washer jets, brakes that're sufficient for the car's performance, a spare frigging wheel (let alone one that's the right effing size).
About the only thing i can think of that's kind of getting there is the 335i. and even then you have to have SE spec which no doubt aloows me to illuminate puddles, make one corner of the car cooler than another, change the colour of the lights in the clocks...
You can still get V8 Mustangs in base spec but think about it - Corvette have offered a humungous engine in a great chassis for many years at a bargain basement price and what is the first thing people always moan about? The interior.
Personally, I prefer a car with a big engine and no mod cons. I don't want i-drive, sat-nav and don't need electric seats. I have found that I DO need a/c with a big engine but can make do without the rest 9albeit electric windows etc seem to be standard on American cars who, unlike Ford UK, are not scabby with the standard spec.
Personally, I prefer a car with a big engine and no mod cons. I don't want i-drive, sat-nav and don't need electric seats. I have found that I DO need a/c with a big engine but can make do without the rest 9albeit electric windows etc seem to be standard on American cars who, unlike Ford UK, are not scabby with the standard spec.
LuS1fer said:
You can still get V8 Mustangs in base spec but think about it - Corvette have offered a humungous engine in a great chassis for many years at a bargain basement price and what is the first thing people always moan about? The interior.
aha but i think what a lot of people (well me anyway) is something that's built well (aka perceived as much as actual fall apartness). so like olde worlde (1980s.90s) german stuff. it's the trinkty tat that bores not fundamental quality.i mean nowadays you can go into a menu on a daft screen and choose, from 7 different options, how high you want the bootlid to lift when it automatically opens for you (FFS). i want 300bhp and 40mpg and a 10 year easy life. spend the r&d money here please!
briSk said:
when you useless effing car manufactureres can;t give me heated washer jets, brakes that're sufficient for the car's performance, a spare frigging wheel (let alone one that's the right effing size).
See Mitsubishi. They sell a tonne-and-a-half Lancer with a 140hp diesel engine, then sell you a factory remap to 170hp, and then have the cheek to fit it with 272mm front discs.Then they go and release the Lancer Ralliart, 200+hp petrol turbo, still the same s
tty brakes that melt the second time you use them.My old astra had bigger REAR discs than the Lancer Ralliart.
I just got me a second-hand 2006 A4 with a 2.0 turbo engine in it. Awesome car, but it has no s-line kit, tiny 16-inch wheels that barely clear the brakes and useless base-spec seats. It's kinda curious to me because every other one i've seen is either quattro or has the s-line kit! The original buyer obviously had the cash to only opt for one or the other - bigger engine or s-line kit. I know which one i'd go for!
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