Disappointing cars
Discussion
I can relate to this, I recently bought a E36 323 coupe to replace my old focus 2.0, I expected the BM to be massive improvement over the ford from a dynamic point of veiw, but to be honet it aint much better, might even say I regret buying it. 
Although this might be due to the fact this is my first RWD and yet to learn the car's abilities.
Although this might be due to the fact this is my first RWD and yet to learn the car's abilities.deveng said:
Doesn't the mk4 SRi also feature traction control that cant be switched off?
But honestly buying a mk4 astra then being upset about the way it drives is like buying a chrysler grand voyager and wondering why it's so slow for a 3.3
most Mk4's had the non switchable TC my Coupe doesn't have a switch jut the fuse that takes out the PAS, TC and ABS if you take it out.But honestly buying a mk4 astra then being upset about the way it drives is like buying a chrysler grand voyager and wondering why it's so slow for a 3.3
A switch can be fitted though.
Turbo's , 888's and later 2.2's had switches.
I had a mk4 Astra, 1.6 16v and it was a very good car. I am pretty sure Lotus helped design the chassis and the suspension - mine certainly drove very well. Brakes had a lot of "feel", probably because there was no ABS as it was only an SXI model.
I liked the car a lot, shame so much went wrong!
I liked the car a lot, shame so much went wrong!
I do really like the 2.2 astra. When u put the same engine in a vx220 you find the engine is good, it's just the chasis + weight let's the astra down.
Thinking about it I'd prefer:
A vectra B 2.5 v6 over a vectra C 3.2
A corsa B 1.6 sport/gsi over a corsa C 1.8 Sri
2004 civic type r over a 2007 civic type r
Thinking about it I'd prefer:
A vectra B 2.5 v6 over a vectra C 3.2
A corsa B 1.6 sport/gsi over a corsa C 1.8 Sri
2004 civic type r over a 2007 civic type r
One of my faourite cars growing up was the E30 BMW M3.
That was the absolute holy grail for me ,outstanding handling, revvy, powerful engine, light and responsive, great steering.
I got a go driving a very good condition one on track.
I honestly thought it was a 318is with a noisier engine, it was such a let down I could have cried as I handed the keys back trying to look impressed while really it felt as if I had been gutted.
Not a bad car by any means but so over hyped.
That was the absolute holy grail for me ,outstanding handling, revvy, powerful engine, light and responsive, great steering.
I got a go driving a very good condition one on track.
I honestly thought it was a 318is with a noisier engine, it was such a let down I could have cried as I handed the keys back trying to look impressed while really it felt as if I had been gutted.
Not a bad car by any means but so over hyped.
adycav said:
Try a Ford Focus next time. Or a SEAT Leon.
Seriously, Astras often come out quite badly in the car press when compared to the competition for driving enjoyment.
We usually drive new Astras at work, turbo diesel models to be precise. Last night I went out in a 60 plate Diesel Corsa 4 door and I was blown away at how much better it was than the Astra. Seriously, Astras often come out quite badly in the car press when compared to the competition for driving enjoyment.
As for cars that have disappointed me, it would probably have to be a Saxo VTR. I made the mistake of paying a £100 deposit on one that looked good on paper, as my friends had so strongly recommended them. I went for a drive in it and found there were a lot of things I didn't like about it.
- the gearbox felt extremely soft and sloppy. I prefer a short, heavy throw but this was just outrageously poor, very long and inaccurate in feel. Probably the thing I disliked most.
- It felt extremely plasticky. I know French cars of this era were pretty much all like this but even then, it felt cheap. I didn't think much of the seats, but the driving position was alright.
- It was relatively nippy and easy enough to thread through B roads, but it was nowhere near as thrilling as I'd been told, and it wasn't anywhere near as raw and full of feedback as my MkV Fiesta Zetec S had been.
- I wasn't overly enamoured with the chavvy image either.
Looking back, I try to see it for what it was, an old-skool French warm/hot hatch. It's definitely lukewarm by today's standards, but you can see that it's not far removed from the efforts of old. I suppose I expected a lot more from it, more than it could deliver. I had just come from the Fiesta, which was simply superb. Certainly, the Saxo was far better than the C2 that replaced it.
Luckily, the dealer gave me back my deposit. I was prepared to settle for the Saxo and keep it for a little while, but since it was the kind of car likely to have had a hard life I got an independant mechanic to come and check it over after it got a new MOT. He stuck it on a jack and found that you could spin the back wheels with the handbrake on. The dealer tried to fluff some excuse about having just replaced the back brakes but that was it, I wasn't happy with the car. He gave me back my £100 and that was that. I did later to get to drive a friend's VTS, which wasn't much different at all!
L555BAT said:
Low mileage late-model Astras are available for around £1.5k less than a comparable ST170. I don't think there was anything else I considered in the sub-4k price band which would be dependable.
eh??? WTFThere are loads of good cars, especially for £4000!!!!!!!!
No idea what you need exactly, but presuming 4 seats and some sort of boot and not crippling mpg. There's a host of MG cars you could have had, Subaru's, Honda's, BMW's and that's just for starters.
There is no reason to pick an Astra if you wanted a drivers car.
I went from an E36 325i to an E46 330ci and regretted it. The E46 did eventually become a better car after some revisions, but the very first ones circa year 2000 where awful and very much inferior to the E36.
One the flip side, I downgraded from a Celica Carlos Sainz to a mk1 MR2, and much preferred the MR2.
One the flip side, I downgraded from a Celica Carlos Sainz to a mk1 MR2, and much preferred the MR2.
300bhp/ton said:
L555BAT said:
Low mileage late-model Astras are available for around £1.5k less than a comparable ST170. I don't think there was anything else I considered in the sub-4k price band which would be dependable.
eh??? WTFThere are loads of good cars, especially for £4000!!!!!!!!
No idea what you need exactly, but presuming 4 seats and some sort of boot and not crippling mpg. There's a host of MG cars you could have had, Subaru's, Honda's, BMW's and that's just for starters.
There is no reason to pick an Astra if you wanted a drivers car.
I just purchased this for £3300, 2001 330ci M Sport Auto, 144k, two owners, Mint condition, full BMW history, 8 months tax and Mot, all the bells and whistles, bought from a chap who just retired and has bought a brand new one
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