Just what has happened to cars?

[cazzer]

So having just won a lucrative contract for the next few years, I thought I would treat myself by leasing a new car.
Makes a change from old Discos etc.

So, all excited I went to the Business leasing sites and had a look.
I, err, don't want any of them...

None. There isn't a new car available to lease in this country that I want. (Well, Astons et al excepted)

What happened to the interesting mid range motor?

Where are the MR2s, the Supras, the cosworths, the celicas, the RX7s......the fun?

Why are they all shopping cars with slightly breathed on engines?

[otolith]

Because if a company goes to the trouble of building something proper, it gets compared unfavourably on price to shopping cars with the power turned up.

[kambites]

An obsession with safety and economy "happened to them".

You can still buy Imprezzas, etc. if that kind of thing floats your boat.

[5lab]

because when toyota reveal the details of just that, the whole of PH bursts into tears about the cost and the fact you could get something 10 years ago with the same power

[Skylinecrazy]

Alfa 159?
MX5?
Mazda MPS'
DS3 racing?

I can think of loads of other 'different' cars, what's your budget? What do you class as 'mid range'?

[kambites]

Indeed. Get a Toyota GT 86.

Out of interest, in what way does the Elise/Z4/Boxster/... not meet your criteria?

[david_h]

5lab said:

because when toyota reveal the details of just that, the whole of PH bursts into tears about the cost and the fact you could get something 10 years ago with the same power

Have you seen the Yen exchange rate since 2008!

[cazzer]

Boxter I don't like.
Elise, with a shoe horn

Z4, now thats a possibility.

But by god its a thin crop isn't it these days?

[Alfanatic]

There's also the 370Z. Shortly to be joined, hopefully, by the Alfa 4C and the aforementioned Toyota FT-86.

Choice might be a bit limited right at this moment but the next 12 months might change everything.

[cazzer]

I take it all back, I've just looked at the Alfa 4C.

OMFG.

Right, the skanky old disco has to hang hold on for another few months.

[thinfourth2]

What you don't find a golf diesel in resale grey pant wettingly exciting

[DanielC4GP]

thinfourth2 said:

What you don't find a golf diesel in resale grey pant wettingly exciting

Jesus I'm getting a semi from the thought.

[F1GTRUeno]

cazzer said:

I take it all back, I've just looked at the Alfa 4C.

OMFG.

Right, the skanky old disco has to hang hold on for another few months.

Likely to be above 50k...

Not really a modern day mid range fun car.

[cazzer]

F1GTRUeno said:

Likely to be above 50k...

Not really a modern day mid range fun car.

Lalalalaaaa...not listening.


(But yer right, it's not)

[Alfanatic]

Oh yes, and there's the 1M perhaps? That's keeping the journalists happy. I might be optimistic about that being affordable too, though.

[jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj]

cazzer said:

So having just won a lucrative contract for the next few years, I thought I would treat myself by leasing a new car.
Makes a change from old Discos etc.

So, all excited I went to the Business leasing sites and had a look.
I, err, don't want any of them...

None. There isn't a new car available to lease in this country that I want. (Well, Astons et al excepted)

What happened to the interesting mid range motor?

Where are the MR2s, the Supras, the cosworths, the celicas, the RX7s......the fun?

Why are they all shopping cars with slightly breathed on engines?

Yep there is not a lot out there - has not been for a good while. If I ahd 65 K and they would sort the build quality out I'd buy an Evora S but seen as neither is likely to happen...

[jbi]

manufacturers forgot about RWD and thanks to the EU there aren't many proper engines about either

Purely on styling, I find most modern cars have that "explosion blasted" face typically found on looney toon characters

[thinfourth2]

jbi said:

manufacturers forgot about RWD and thanks to the EU there aren't many proper engines about either

Purely on styling, I find most modern cars have that "explosion blasted" face typically found on looney toon characters

So you want a car which is RWD, unusual styling and an old school engine


I'm sure i can think of something

[jbi]

RWD, modern N/A V6 or V8 handsome styling thanks

like this...

[PHuzzy]

thinfourth2 said:

So you want a car which is RWD, unusual styling and an old school engine


I'm sure i can think of something

Does it begin with Toyota and ends in GT-86 by any chance?