Unpopular automotive opinions...
Discussion
So with a new week starting, I have a few long-held automotive opinions that are probably unpopular/controversial to get off my chest. So whether it be styling, driving or just outright desirability, what are your unpopular/controversial automotive opinions. Going from mild to heinous in no particular order:
1) Modern Audis look better than modern BMWs and Mercedes and I would have a modern Audi RS over a modern BMW M/Mercedes AMG car.
2) Most BMWs are overrated.
3) Toyotas/Lexuses are boring and overrated.
4) The MINI Cooper S is a better hot hatch than the RS Clio 172/182.
5) The Peugeot 205 GTi 1.6 drives better than the 1.9.
6) I'm at best ambivalent about Porsche Boxsters/Caymans/911s and would rather own a Macan/Panamera/944/928.
7) I have no want for a modern supercar (Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren etc).
8) The Bugatti Veyron is ugly.
9) The best fast Golf is the mk4 Golf R32.
10) I would rather own a VW T6 Transporter than a Range Rover.
11) I have always disliked Teslas and would rather own a worse/harder to charge EV than own a Tesla (apart from perhaps a Chinese EV).
12) I prefer "classic" Beetles to "classic" Minis.
13) Having driven all three, the mk4 Vauxhall Astra drove better than the mk1 Focus and Peugeot 306.
14) I always preferred the mk3 Vauxhall Cavalier/Vectra B to the contemporary Ford Mondeo.
15) I think that Vauxhalls current range are quite good-looking.
16) The early 2000s Impreza WRX drives better than the Mitsubishi Evo 8 and the Impreza WRX is nicer to drive than the Impreza WRX STI.
17) I quite fancy an Ineos Grenadier.
18) I don't like 3 cylinder engines.
19) I like diesels.
20) I owned an NB (2nd generation) Mazda MX5 and I didn't care for it.
and possibly the most heinous of all
21) I don't hate the Nissan Juke/Qashqai!
So what are your controversial/unpopular automotive opinions?
ETA
22) I miss 3 door hatchbacks/coupes.
23) The removal of CD players in new cars is the single most retrograde step in the last 10 years!
24) I don't like the mk4 (90s) Supra (but quite like the "blocky" mk3).
25) The best "Bond" car is not the DB5 but the "Living Daylights" Vantage and the producers should have left the DB5 in the 1960s.
1) Modern Audis look better than modern BMWs and Mercedes and I would have a modern Audi RS over a modern BMW M/Mercedes AMG car.
2) Most BMWs are overrated.
3) Toyotas/Lexuses are boring and overrated.
4) The MINI Cooper S is a better hot hatch than the RS Clio 172/182.
5) The Peugeot 205 GTi 1.6 drives better than the 1.9.
6) I'm at best ambivalent about Porsche Boxsters/Caymans/911s and would rather own a Macan/Panamera/944/928.
7) I have no want for a modern supercar (Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren etc).
8) The Bugatti Veyron is ugly.
9) The best fast Golf is the mk4 Golf R32.
10) I would rather own a VW T6 Transporter than a Range Rover.
11) I have always disliked Teslas and would rather own a worse/harder to charge EV than own a Tesla (apart from perhaps a Chinese EV).
12) I prefer "classic" Beetles to "classic" Minis.
13) Having driven all three, the mk4 Vauxhall Astra drove better than the mk1 Focus and Peugeot 306.
14) I always preferred the mk3 Vauxhall Cavalier/Vectra B to the contemporary Ford Mondeo.
15) I think that Vauxhalls current range are quite good-looking.
16) The early 2000s Impreza WRX drives better than the Mitsubishi Evo 8 and the Impreza WRX is nicer to drive than the Impreza WRX STI.
17) I quite fancy an Ineos Grenadier.
18) I don't like 3 cylinder engines.
19) I like diesels.
20) I owned an NB (2nd generation) Mazda MX5 and I didn't care for it.
and possibly the most heinous of all
21) I don't hate the Nissan Juke/Qashqai!
So what are your controversial/unpopular automotive opinions?
ETA
22) I miss 3 door hatchbacks/coupes.
23) The removal of CD players in new cars is the single most retrograde step in the last 10 years!
24) I don't like the mk4 (90s) Supra (but quite like the "blocky" mk3).
25) The best "Bond" car is not the DB5 but the "Living Daylights" Vantage and the producers should have left the DB5 in the 1960s.
Edited by Starsky80 on Sunday 31st May 19:54
Edited by Starsky80 on Monday 1st June 08:05
Edited by Starsky80 on Monday 1st June 08:10
Crumbs, this a brave thread.
But you know what? Why not?
1) I was looking at a 911 not so long ago, a hero car as it was the first sports car I drove in the early 90's (993? ) and blew me away (compared to my very tired 205 1.6 GTi). So I thought right, I've done the 6 Cylinder Cayman, time to try the Daddy! A 992.1 C2S.
What a disappointment, it just felt meh, there's wasn't any excitement and it didn't feel overpowered like that Cayman GTS 4.0 does.
I'm sure the GT3 feels like the car that might have met my needs but the uplift didn't feel worth it
As they've moved the 992.2 GTS to T-Hybrid its not appealing to me. So unpopular view
Bizarrely the Taycan Sport Turismo GTS felt way more potent and special.
Left the flaming commence.
But you know what? Why not?
1) I was looking at a 911 not so long ago, a hero car as it was the first sports car I drove in the early 90's (993? ) and blew me away (compared to my very tired 205 1.6 GTi). So I thought right, I've done the 6 Cylinder Cayman, time to try the Daddy! A 992.1 C2S.
What a disappointment, it just felt meh, there's wasn't any excitement and it didn't feel overpowered like that Cayman GTS 4.0 does.
I'm sure the GT3 feels like the car that might have met my needs but the uplift didn't feel worth it
As they've moved the 992.2 GTS to T-Hybrid its not appealing to me. So unpopular view
Bizarrely the Taycan Sport Turismo GTS felt way more potent and special.
Left the flaming commence.
150 - 200 BHP is enough power. You might want a lot
more, but that amount of power will get you cruising
easily at 200 kmh (where permitted) and that's about
as fast as is practical in a car.
Alan Clark MP said his Land Rover Discovery, with the diesel
engine, was the fastest car he owned. This from a man
who owned many cars, including various Bentleys and Porsches.
Lotus sports cars are so narrow in purpose that they are rubbish.
Only two seats, not four, hard to get into and out of, no luggage
space for any shopping and the ride is rock hard. Why bother ?
A Fiat Panda would be far more useful.
never mind a few seconds on the 0-60 mph.
You can't measure safe driving in mph, since you can get it
right at 90 mph and wrong at 60 mph.
more, but that amount of power will get you cruising
easily at 200 kmh (where permitted) and that's about
as fast as is practical in a car.
Alan Clark MP said his Land Rover Discovery, with the diesel
engine, was the fastest car he owned. This from a man
who owned many cars, including various Bentleys and Porsches.
Lotus sports cars are so narrow in purpose that they are rubbish.
Only two seats, not four, hard to get into and out of, no luggage
space for any shopping and the ride is rock hard. Why bother ?
A Fiat Panda would be far more useful.
- 2 extended: the car with the best fuel consumption and the
never mind a few seconds on the 0-60 mph.
You can't measure safe driving in mph, since you can get it
right at 90 mph and wrong at 60 mph.
Starsky80 said:
So with a new week starting, I have a few long-held automotive opinions that are probably unpopular/controversial to get off my chest. So whether it be styling, driving or just outright desirability, what are your unpopular/controversial automotive opinions. Going from mild to heinous in no particular order:
1) Modern Audis look better than modern BMWs and Mercedes and I would have a modern Audi RS over a modern BMW M/Mercedes AMG car.
2) Most BMWs are overrated.
3) Toyotas/Lexuses are boring and overrated.
4) The MINI Cooper S is a better hot hatch than the RS Clio 172/182.
5) The Peugeot 205 GTi 1.6 drives better than the 1.9.
6) I'm at best ambivalent about Porsche Boxsters/Caymans/911s and would rather own a Macan/Panamera/944/928.
7) I have no want for a modern supercar (Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren etc).
8) The Bugatti Veyron is ugly.
9) The best fast Golf is the mk4 Golf R32.
10) I would rather own a VW T6 Transporter than a Range Rover.
11) I have always disliked Teslas and would rather own a worse/harder to charge EV than own a Tesla (apart from perhaps a Chinese EV).
12) I prefer "classic" Beetles to "classic" Minis.
13) Having driven all three, the mk4 Vauxhall Astra drove better than the mk1 Focus and Peugeot 306.
14) I always preferred the mk3 Vauxhall Cavalier/Vectra B to the contemporary Ford Mondeo.
14) I think that Vauxhalls current range are quite good-looking.
15) The early 2000s Impreza WRX drives better than the Mitsubishi Evo 8 and the Impreza WRX is nicer to drive than the Impreza WRX STI.
16) I quite fancy an Ineos Grenadier.
17) I don't like 3 cylinder engines.
18) I like diesels.
19) I owned an NB (2nd generation) Mazda MX5 and I didn't care for it.
and possibly the most heinous of all
20) I don't hate the Nissan Juke/Qashqai!
So what are your controversial/unpopular automotive opinions?
I agree with you on points 7, 8 and 17. 1) Modern Audis look better than modern BMWs and Mercedes and I would have a modern Audi RS over a modern BMW M/Mercedes AMG car.
2) Most BMWs are overrated.
3) Toyotas/Lexuses are boring and overrated.
4) The MINI Cooper S is a better hot hatch than the RS Clio 172/182.
5) The Peugeot 205 GTi 1.6 drives better than the 1.9.
6) I'm at best ambivalent about Porsche Boxsters/Caymans/911s and would rather own a Macan/Panamera/944/928.
7) I have no want for a modern supercar (Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren etc).
8) The Bugatti Veyron is ugly.
9) The best fast Golf is the mk4 Golf R32.
10) I would rather own a VW T6 Transporter than a Range Rover.
11) I have always disliked Teslas and would rather own a worse/harder to charge EV than own a Tesla (apart from perhaps a Chinese EV).
12) I prefer "classic" Beetles to "classic" Minis.
13) Having driven all three, the mk4 Vauxhall Astra drove better than the mk1 Focus and Peugeot 306.
14) I always preferred the mk3 Vauxhall Cavalier/Vectra B to the contemporary Ford Mondeo.
14) I think that Vauxhalls current range are quite good-looking.
15) The early 2000s Impreza WRX drives better than the Mitsubishi Evo 8 and the Impreza WRX is nicer to drive than the Impreza WRX STI.
16) I quite fancy an Ineos Grenadier.
17) I don't like 3 cylinder engines.
18) I like diesels.
19) I owned an NB (2nd generation) Mazda MX5 and I didn't care for it.
and possibly the most heinous of all
20) I don't hate the Nissan Juke/Qashqai!
So what are your controversial/unpopular automotive opinions?
Let me try and think of some and I’ll get back to you
Blimey, this thread could be a bit of a hornets nest. So, for me, here goes...
- I wouldn't have a Land / Range Rover even if it was given to me free...and its nothing to do with reliability.
- Manual gearboxes are a pain in the arse. Auto's every day and the Porsche PDK is almost telepathic.
- Black wheels are the work of the devil. Mrs E's car has them and I struggle to even look at it sometimes.
- Lexus aren't boring, quite the opposite, they're extremely idiosyncratic but not in a good way. I wouldn't have another, but they're not boring.
- The Vauxhall Zafira was a great car and was all a family with 3 kids ever needed.
- Any base engine Cayman/Boxster/911 is a better road car than the S, GTS, Turbo etc models.
- I wouldn't have a Land / Range Rover even if it was given to me free...and its nothing to do with reliability.
- Manual gearboxes are a pain in the arse. Auto's every day and the Porsche PDK is almost telepathic.
- Black wheels are the work of the devil. Mrs E's car has them and I struggle to even look at it sometimes.
- Lexus aren't boring, quite the opposite, they're extremely idiosyncratic but not in a good way. I wouldn't have another, but they're not boring.
- The Vauxhall Zafira was a great car and was all a family with 3 kids ever needed.
- Any base engine Cayman/Boxster/911 is a better road car than the S, GTS, Turbo etc models.
I've got almost zero desire for anything Lamborghini post Gallardo Balboni and Murcielago SV.
I like oddball cars, things like Audi A2, Honda Insight, Citroen C6.
I also like proper ladder chassis 4x4 despite having almost no need for them.
I'm generally quite excited about the Chinese invasion and particularly their gift of ludicrous performance for the masses.
Road tax or whatever you want to call it isn't high enough for regular cars but should taper off much quicker for 20 or 30 year old cars. I'd have a flat fee and then a surcharge based on weight that becomes particularly punitive above around 2.5t maybe with business exemptions that require larger vehicles.
There should be no leniency around driving without insurance. Car confiscated immediately, you don't get it back. I've managed to not drive uninsured for the last 26 years, not difficult at all.
I like oddball cars, things like Audi A2, Honda Insight, Citroen C6.
I also like proper ladder chassis 4x4 despite having almost no need for them.
I'm generally quite excited about the Chinese invasion and particularly their gift of ludicrous performance for the masses.
Road tax or whatever you want to call it isn't high enough for regular cars but should taper off much quicker for 20 or 30 year old cars. I'd have a flat fee and then a surcharge based on weight that becomes particularly punitive above around 2.5t maybe with business exemptions that require larger vehicles.
There should be no leniency around driving without insurance. Car confiscated immediately, you don't get it back. I've managed to not drive uninsured for the last 26 years, not difficult at all.
I agree re the Veyron, I'd say all Bugattis aren't good looking. Also who cares about multi million pound hypercarsike Bugatti, Koenigsegg, Pagani etc, most people will probably never see one never mind drive one and those lucky enough to buy one only drive it for Instagram posts or just keep it in temperature controlled storage.
1) Manual gearbox cars are easier to drive than cars fitted with automatic transmission.
2) BMWs are boring.
3) Nissans are better than Toyotas.
4) Mazdas are better than both the above, but can be a bit cheap and nasty round the edges.
5) A light, front-wheel-drive car is the best thing for day-to-day and a bit of fun driving on the roads of Great Britain.
6) Ford is best.
2) BMWs are boring.
3) Nissans are better than Toyotas.
4) Mazdas are better than both the above, but can be a bit cheap and nasty round the edges.
5) A light, front-wheel-drive car is the best thing for day-to-day and a bit of fun driving on the roads of Great Britain.
6) Ford is best.
A number in that list I can agree with wholeheartedly.
1) Modern Audis look better than modern BMWs and Mercedes and I would have a modern Audi RS over a modern BMW M/Mercedes AMG car.
5) The Peugeot 205 GTi 1.6 drives better than the 1.9.
7) I have no want for a modern supercar (Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren etc).
10) I would rather own a VW T6 Transporter than a Range Rover. Though quite like the new Defender
11) I have always disliked Teslas and would rather own a worse/harder to charge EV than own a Tesla (apart from perhaps a Chinese EV). Definite No to Chinese EVs, complicated reasons.
16) I quite fancy an Ineos Grenadier.
17) I don't like 3 cylinder engines. Non wet belt in small light cars are OK, but a small highly stressed 1.2 in big heavy barges are just wrong
18) I like diesels. Especially simple large capacity atmo diesels that can run several times round the world without issue, won't do it quickly but that's ok
Mine, the last decent car Rolls Royce made was the Phantom III. Phantom IV is acceptable but as only a few were made for Royal Family and heads of State that excludes itself. Silver Shadow is OK. As for the modern stuff, yuck.
1) Modern Audis look better than modern BMWs and Mercedes and I would have a modern Audi RS over a modern BMW M/Mercedes AMG car.
5) The Peugeot 205 GTi 1.6 drives better than the 1.9.
7) I have no want for a modern supercar (Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren etc).
10) I would rather own a VW T6 Transporter than a Range Rover. Though quite like the new Defender
11) I have always disliked Teslas and would rather own a worse/harder to charge EV than own a Tesla (apart from perhaps a Chinese EV). Definite No to Chinese EVs, complicated reasons.
16) I quite fancy an Ineos Grenadier.
17) I don't like 3 cylinder engines. Non wet belt in small light cars are OK, but a small highly stressed 1.2 in big heavy barges are just wrong
18) I like diesels. Especially simple large capacity atmo diesels that can run several times round the world without issue, won't do it quickly but that's ok
Mine, the last decent car Rolls Royce made was the Phantom III. Phantom IV is acceptable but as only a few were made for Royal Family and heads of State that excludes itself. Silver Shadow is OK. As for the modern stuff, yuck.
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