Classics dwarfed by moderns

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Discussion

PomBstard

6,729 posts

241 months

Sunday 21st February 2021
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a8hex said:
robemcdonald said:
Errr the 928 was designed to replace the 911.
But it was still designed to be a big GT as that appeared to be the direction the market was moving.
And I think a contemporary 911 from, say, 1978 would likely be quite a bit smaller than a 928...

Anyway, another GT next to a fat hatch...



lukeharding

2,934 posts

88 months

Friday 5th March 2021
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av185

18,434 posts

126 months

Friday 5th March 2021
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If ever a car could be guaranteed to win fugly gopper of the decade award that thing on the left has to be it.

Doofus

25,732 posts

172 months

Friday 5th March 2021
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av185 said:
fugly gopper of the decade award
Is this going to be on television, or online only?

PH User

22,154 posts

107 months

Friday 5th March 2021
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I wouldn't say that either of them are good looking.

a8hex

5,829 posts

222 months

Friday 5th March 2021
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lukeharding said:
OK, I know there are cars with a lower roofline but you do have to try quite hard to find cars which don't tower over the one on the right biggrin

lukeharding

2,934 posts

88 months

Friday 5th March 2021
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PH User said:
I wouldn't say that either of them are good looking.
Harsh! biglaugh

a8hex said:
lukeharding said:
OK, I know there are cars with a lower roofline but you do have to try quite hard to find cars which don't tower over the one on the right biggrin
Ha, yes it is very low, but also quite narrow compared to the GR and also not hugely longer (I'm sure someone will come along and prove me wrong with measurements). However, it is quite good at speed bumps despite being very low.

a8hex

5,829 posts

222 months

Friday 5th March 2021
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lukeharding said:
Ha, yes it is very low, but also quite narrow compared to the GR and also not hugely longer (I'm sure someone will come along and prove me wrong with measurements). However, it is quite good at speed bumps despite being very low.
I wonder what the ground clearance is like, my XJ6's ground clearance is apparently only about 4 1/2" and doesn't like speed humps, despite being nearly 5" taller. SWMBO vetoed the idea of an Alpine when she found the only way to get in was to crawl in, I don't think getting her skirt caught on the handbrake improved her mood.

lukeharding

2,934 posts

88 months

Friday 5th March 2021
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a8hex said:
I wonder what the ground clearance is like, my XJ6's ground clearance is apparently only about 4 1/2" and doesn't like speed humps, despite being nearly 5" taller. SWMBO vetoed the idea of an Alpine when she found the only way to get in was to crawl in, I don't think getting her skirt caught on the handbrake improved her mood.
Well, it is better at speed bumps than a sport pack XJS, if that helps rofl It probably isn't dissimilar to an XJ6 but with a shorter wheelbase.

randomeddy

1,430 posts

136 months

Sunday 7th March 2021
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Off topic but just a thought relating to another thread.

If modern cars are so much bigger than older ones why is it so difficult to do simple jobs like change a headlight bulb.

a8hex

5,829 posts

222 months

Sunday 7th March 2021
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randomeddy said:
Off topic but just a thought relating to another thread.

If modern cars are so much bigger than older ones why is it so difficult to do simple jobs like change a headlight bulb.
Back when classic cars were modern there was a lot more expectation of owners maintaining their own vehicle. The owners manual for the XK150 includes instructions on taking the head off etc.
These days manufactures expect everything to be done at the main dealer.
Main dealers charge by the minute.
So if a job which should take 2 minutes or less can be made to take 25 they can charge more for it. drink

PH User

22,154 posts

107 months

Sunday 7th March 2021
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It's more likely down to the better crash structures that modern cars have to have, making them more complex to design.

epom

11,400 posts

160 months

Sunday 7th March 2021
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This is a great thread, though the rule keepers are strong in their presence. Classics next to Moderns, simple.

a8hex

5,829 posts

222 months

Sunday 7th March 2021
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PH User said:
It's more likely down to the better crash structures that modern cars have to have, making them more complex to design.
I think you're taking this much too seriously biggrin
I was trying to replace a bulb on SWMBO Merc the other week. It's a "turning light" which a classic car wouldn't have, as PH user says, the crash survival structures make it harder to get to. Then there's all the extra gubbins under the bonnet we didn't used to have, then there are all the extra covers, some are there for cosmetic reasons but I suspect that the ones I had to get through to change the bulb are there to keep crap away from the lighting and connectors to improve reliability. The fittings are then more complex because the plastic moulding is more complex.
The in my case the problem was compounded because the previous owner had bodged things. There were bits of glass down around where the light fitting was, so I suspect it had been frontend sometime back before we bought it. Then they seemed to have broken the the bit at the back where the light fitting clips on and since you can't just just the reflector they'd just glued things on, the bulb had burnt/melted a part of the plastic reflector.
Still it's only a turning light so sod it.

Yertis

18,017 posts

265 months

Sunday 7th March 2021
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Changing a nearside headlamp bulb on a Quattro could not be easier. Changing an offside headlamp bulb could not be more difficult.

Rostfritt

3,098 posts

150 months

Sunday 7th March 2021
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Yertis said:
Changing a nearside headlamp bulb on a Quattro could not be easier. Changing an offside headlamp bulb could not be more difficult.
I think there is some modern French car that is like that. Which is amusing as by law in France you have to carry round spare headlight bulbs in case one of them blows, despite the fact that it would take a few hours and quite a few tools and some expertise to even attempt to do it yourself.

Chubbyross

4,537 posts

84 months

Tuesday 9th March 2021
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Ok so I’m stretching the rules a little as the 911 is only ten years old but this is for all those people who claim modern Porsches are now too bloated.


TR4man

5,208 posts

173 months

Tuesday 9th March 2021
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I suspect that if you park that next to an older 911, it will look bloated. The two cars on either side are hardly huge.

paulrockliffe

15,639 posts

226 months

Tuesday 9th March 2021
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Chubbyross said:
Ok so I’m stretching the rules a little as the 911 is only ten years old but this is for all those people who claim modern Porsches are now too bloated.

What are we looking at? I'm not sure arguing that it's only a little smaller than a 7 seat Zafira Tourer is going to win this one!

rodericb

6,663 posts

125 months

Wednesday 10th March 2021
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Deranged Rover said:
Funny, my father-in-law had an original Yaris and i could have sworn it was supposed to be a small car!
They were small in previous generations. Subcompact sized. I have a GR Yaris and it's not terribly small - the length is not that much longer than cars of yesteryear (3995mm or something) however it's much wider (about 300mm) and higher (300mm I would guess).