Cars that punch above their weight
Discussion
I've been touring some of the local dealerships to get some inspiration for upcoming change of fleet. First observation was obviously the ridiculous prices, second was that a fe of the models from premium brands do not really live up to the pretense of superor engineering, quality or luxury to justify their pretentions. So this got me thinking if there are still cars that do more than you'd expect.
Some examples:
-Citroen Xantia and the C5 that both rode way better than a lot of high end barges
- Golf 7 that I had as a loanar that was shokingly refinef.
- Recent Mazda interiors that at least on a first glance are above many "premium" competitors .
Would be interested to hear some more examples of cars from non "premium" brands that exceed expectations.
Some examples:
-Citroen Xantia and the C5 that both rode way better than a lot of high end barges
- Golf 7 that I had as a loanar that was shokingly refinef.
- Recent Mazda interiors that at least on a first glance are above many "premium" competitors .
Would be interested to hear some more examples of cars from non "premium" brands that exceed expectations.
flatso said:
I've been touring some of the local dealerships to get some inspiration for upcoming change of fleet. First observation was obviously the ridiculous prices, second was that a fe of the models from premium brands do not really live up to the pretense of superor engineering, quality or luxury to justify their pretentions. So this got me thinking if there are still cars that do more than you'd expect.
Some examples:
-Citroen Xantia and the C5 that both rode way better than a lot of high end barges
- Golf 7 that I had as a loanar that was shokingly refinef.
- Recent Mazda interiors that at least on a first glance are above many "premium" competitors .
Would be interested to hear some more examples of cars from non "premium" brands that exceed expectations.
I cannot answer you with any great sum of practical experience, but I agree that modern cars are horribly cheap from some marques. An acquaintance of mine turned up in a Rolls Royce Spectre last week. The trim around the driver's seat was loose, so I clipped it back together. It was the flimsiest plastic they could have used. I have other experience with modern Rolls Royces and the quality in some areas is not what you'd expect from the "finest motor car in the world".Some examples:
-Citroen Xantia and the C5 that both rode way better than a lot of high end barges
- Golf 7 that I had as a loanar that was shokingly refinef.
- Recent Mazda interiors that at least on a first glance are above many "premium" competitors .
Would be interested to hear some more examples of cars from non "premium" brands that exceed expectations.
What we do with our more premium cars is to buy the "old model". Often they are made better than the current crop.
I hired a Ford Focus estate on holiday over the summer and was actually quite impressed with it as a cheapish workhorse. But if I were going new car shopping today I would probably look first at the non-glamorous marques and probably avoid the Germans entirely.
flatso said:
I've been touring some of the local dealerships to get some inspiration for upcoming change of fleet. First observation was obviously the ridiculous prices, second was that a fe of the models from premium brands do not really live up to the pretense of superor engineering, quality or luxury to justify their pretentions. So this got me thinking if there are still cars that do more than you'd expect.
Some examples:
-Citroen Xantia and the C5 that both rode way better than a lot of high end barges
- Golf 7 that I had as a loanar that was shokingly refinef.
- Recent Mazda interiors that at least on a first glance are above many "premium" competitors .
Would be interested to hear some more examples of cars from non "premium" brands that exceed expectations.
The most recent Mazda's are quite good, go back a few years and maybe not so much.Some examples:
-Citroen Xantia and the C5 that both rode way better than a lot of high end barges
- Golf 7 that I had as a loanar that was shokingly refinef.
- Recent Mazda interiors that at least on a first glance are above many "premium" competitors .
Would be interested to hear some more examples of cars from non "premium" brands that exceed expectations.
We have a 2018 Mazda 3 that is starting to show it's age and miles but we have a 2023 CX-60 diesel that is just immense. Rides nicely, good all round visibility, relatively frugal - ours is the base spec RWD version - and most importantly for my dodgy back, is comfortable.
I rate it above the old Sportage and also the current range of X3 or Q5 offerings both of which i've driven and don't like at all which is a surprise as i've always been a big fan of Audi's
Have to agree about the Fiesta; mine is a 2019 ST3. It is huge fun to drive, more than quick enough for our roads and even sounds good. However, I expected all those things.
What has pleasantly surprised me is the fit and finish: there's no rattles or squeaks, nothing is falling apart and everything works just fine. Better, in fact, than my 2015 Aston V8 Vantage which had a few rattles and, in my opinion, some poor quality trim. The Aston's infotainment was miles behind the Fiesta's, although I appreciate one doesn't buy an Aston for that reason.
What has pleasantly surprised me is the fit and finish: there's no rattles or squeaks, nothing is falling apart and everything works just fine. Better, in fact, than my 2015 Aston V8 Vantage which had a few rattles and, in my opinion, some poor quality trim. The Aston's infotainment was miles behind the Fiesta's, although I appreciate one doesn't buy an Aston for that reason.
Corsa C. A low spec car but above average quality for its bracket. The larger engined SXis or SRis are fun, and the trim & attachment material is sturdier and more durable than the high specification but below average quality Mercedes CL that I own.
It makes sense why they were so popular.
It makes sense why they were so popular.
I do love a topic like this as it’s a regular discussion that I have with mates. When I was at university 12 yrs ago, my aged fiesta was taken away for repair and the accident- repair company loaned me a 2012 207 1.6 Diesel and it was bags of fun to drive . I absolutely loved the handling and agility. It was fairly quick off the mark but anything was quicker than my 2001 1.25 fiesta
Edited by bmwhaz on Sunday 25th August 11:07
Hants PHer said:
Have to agree about the Fiesta; mine is a 2019 ST3. It is huge fun to drive, more than quick enough for our roads and even sounds good. However, I expected all those things.
What has pleasantly surprised me is the fit and finish: there's no rattles or squeaks, nothing is falling apart and everything works just fine. Better, in fact, than my 2015 Aston V8 Vantage which had a few rattles and, in my opinion, some poor quality trim. The Aston's infotainment was miles behind the Fiesta's, although I appreciate one doesn't buy an Aston for that reason.
Likewise my 2015 Flying Spur can’t remotely match the fiesta’s infotainment. Pleasantly surprised how much you get for a trim that’s low on the hierarchy. Only thing that the fiesta needs is a slightly tighter shorter shift gear change.What has pleasantly surprised me is the fit and finish: there's no rattles or squeaks, nothing is falling apart and everything works just fine. Better, in fact, than my 2015 Aston V8 Vantage which had a few rattles and, in my opinion, some poor quality trim. The Aston's infotainment was miles behind the Fiesta's, although I appreciate one doesn't buy an Aston for that reason.
Louis Balfour said:
I hired a Ford Focus estate on holiday over the summer and was actually quite impressed with it as a cheapish workhorse.
I'm driving a MHEV Focus roun Majorca and am really impressed with the drivetrain (the electric boost make a huge difference) and the ride quality which is expectational.AC43 said:
Louis Balfour said:
I hired a Ford Focus estate on holiday over the summer and was actually quite impressed with it as a cheapish workhorse.
I'm driving a MHEV Focus roun Majorca and am really impressed with the drivetrain (the electric boost make a huge difference) and the ride quality which is expectational.I could be persuaded. Also I see that they can be bought new sub-£30k.
Boom78 said:
Another bump for the humble fiesta zetec. Fabulous little cars, way way better than their peers. I’ve had a few as hire cars over the years and they’re brilliant.
And another one, I drive the little things long distance regularly, usually 1.0 ecobangs, and they are small but impressive cruisers.Nothing wrong with the engine itself, and if you look after it, use the right oil, and assume a belt change is needed at lower miles than expected, and will cost more than an external belt, a very good, very frugal engine with enough power.
Just don,t assume the later version with a timing chain is any better, still has a wet belt for the oil pump, and the chains do not last any longer than a cared for wet belt.
Not as much fun as my old Volvo ST3 though, love that car.
Already mentioned, 2011 on Focus are very good cars, as long as Powershift is not plastered on it.
I know the B-max well, which is a Fiesta wearing ugly drag (my father had one). The chasis is in deed great ( Ford are specialists ) but the small 1.0 ecoboost is good around town. The intetior is a letdown on the older versions. It is an interesting proposition in the Vignale trim.
Keep the suggestions coming.
Keep the suggestions coming.
Mk1 Ford Focus, specifically the 1.6 Zetec, from which my experience stems.
Steering feel, handling and to some extent, the gearchange, was far, FAR better than you'd expect of a bog standard family car. At the time, I also had a really nice example of a Mk2 MX5, and I never felt short changed stepping out of the MX5 and into the Focus.
Steering feel, handling and to some extent, the gearchange, was far, FAR better than you'd expect of a bog standard family car. At the time, I also had a really nice example of a Mk2 MX5, and I never felt short changed stepping out of the MX5 and into the Focus.
Edited by TheJimi on Monday 26th August 10:41
anyoldcardave said:
Boom78 said:
Another bump for the humble fiesta zetec. Fabulous little cars, way way better than their peers. I’ve had a few as hire cars over the years and they’re brilliant.
And another one, I drive the little things long distance regularly, usually 1.0 ecobangs, and they are small but impressive cruisers.Nothing wrong with the engine itself, and if you look after it, use the right oil, and assume a belt change is needed at lower miles than expected, and will cost more than an external belt, a very good, very frugal engine with enough power.
Just don,t assume the later version with a timing chain is any better, still has a wet belt for the oil pump, and the chains do not last any longer than a cared for wet belt.
Not as much fun as my old Volvo ST3 though, love that car.
Already mentioned, 2011 on Focus are very good cars, as long as Powershift is not plastered on it.
These are now bigger cars than say a MK2 Golf so not really needing to make the compromises that the earlier versions required, my mate had a mk1 Fiesta, it was pretty tiny and being a 950 cc, painfully slow, things moved on.
The engine is impressive, been mapped for 10 years, just do the oil once a year and exercise a little mechanical sympathy, of course they can fail but if it does it will get flogged and she will get a new car.
Not bad on fuel for the performance it now has, usually late thirties to early fifties if you do a longer run and keep your speed down.
No rust on it, all its had is oil and a set of front disks and pads, an air filter, set of plugs and a cabin filter. Cleaned it recently and apart from a little laquer peel on the hatch edge it comes up very nicely.
I had a mk1 Citroen C1 and that was pretty much the modern day Mini, winding windows and all. 800kg and six grand new. Pretty much bulletproof, simple mechanicals and silly economy.
It punched above it's weight because it was a niche defining car returning to something that had been lost previously, as the traditional Fiestas and Corsas had gentrified and grown.
It punched above it's weight because it was a niche defining car returning to something that had been lost previously, as the traditional Fiestas and Corsas had gentrified and grown.
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