RE: PH Carpool: Range Rover Evoque SD4

[FWDRacer]

Agree 100% on the front 3/4 visibility issue due to the mirrors.

[Agoogy]

One of the few cars that looks better as a 5 door (and cheaper!)
rear privacy glass though....I really hope this idea dies a very quick death..

[300bhp/ton]

goron59 said:

I'm sure it's a lovely motor, but I really dislike the styling, especially the pillar box windows at the back. One of the big deals about an SUV is the high position and visibility and this doesn't have it.

I like the colour and shinyness though

erm I think it's likely very good rear visibility, as you see in any other SUV you get the rear seatback and lower tailgate/door in the way. It's not as if you are going to airplane spotting from the drivers seat via the rear window is it.

[pilchardthecat]

ewenm said:

mrdemon said:

It's 100% a fashion item

No more or less so than many popular cars, the MINI for example.

I disagree. Lots of people buy MINIs because of how they drive.

Read the article above again - hardly anything is said about how it drives, it's all about
- how other people like it
- how lucky he feels to have it
- how it feels "quality"
- how good it looks

Hardly a word spoken of how it behaves dynamically

[ewenm]

I think you're confusing "lots of PHers" with "lots of people"

[Dave Hedgehog]

some peeps on PH really need to take a step back when someone posts a differing opinion to themselves

[Flood]

Prefer the 2 door personally, beautifully proportioned car either way though.

[anonymous-user]

pilchardthecat said:

I disagree. Lots of people buy MINIs because of how they drive.

Read the article above again - hardly anything is said about how it drives, it's all about
- how other people like it
- how lucky he feels to have it
- how it feels "quality"
- how good it looks

Hardly a word spoken of how it behaves dynamically

According to pretty much all of the motoring press it drives very well indeed!

[goron59]

300bhp/ton said:

goron59 said:

I'm sure it's a lovely motor, but I really dislike the styling, especially the pillar box windows at the back. One of the big deals about an SUV is the high position and visibility and this doesn't have it.

I like the colour and shinyness though

erm I think it's likely very good rear visibility, as you see in any other SUV you get the rear seatback and lower tailgate/door in the way. It's not as if you are going to airplane spotting from the drivers seat via the rear window is it.

I'm talking about the rear passenger windows.. for passengers to look out of. Having actually sat in one, the visibility is very poor. Prob ok for small children, but it can get very tiring on long trips.

[LuS1fer]

300bhp/ton said:

However it makes you wonder how many people buy a Ferrari, Lambo, Porsche, Maserati for the "looks and status" and never take them to a race track.

Slightly different as you can enjoy those cars on public roads whereas a normal hatch will generally do what an Evoque does and probably better in many ways. However, I have nothing against people who buy cars for the way they look or even for the status - especially if the car happens to drive well.

I have nmore of an issue with Figaros....

[300bhp/ton]

goron59 said:

I'm talking about the rear passenger windows.. for passengers to look out of. Having actually sat in one, the visibility is very poor. Prob ok for small children, but it can get very tiring on long trips.

ok, my mistake then.

[ewenm]

pilchardthecat said:

I disagree. Lots of people buy MINIs because of how they drive.

Read the article above again - hardly anything is said about how it drives, it's all about
- how other people like it
- how lucky he feels to have it
- how it feels "quality"
- how good it looks

Hardly a word spoken of how it behaves dynamically

And lots (lots more IMO) buy them because they like the looks. There's nothing wrong with that, it is nothing new and certainly not restricted to the Evoque (or the MINI).

However, this article is ONE PHer talking about his recent purchase, not a professional review of a car. Given that he has another "fun" car for "fun" driving, it's probably less important to this ONE PHer how the Evoque behaves dynamically.

[pilchardthecat]

MonkeyMatt said:

pilchardthecat said:

I disagree. Lots of people buy MINIs because of how they drive.

Read the article above again - hardly anything is said about how it drives, it's all about
- how other people like it
- how lucky he feels to have it
- how it feels "quality"
- how good it looks

Hardly a word spoken of how it behaves dynamically

According to pretty much all of the motoring press it drives very well indeed!

But you'd think if that was a part of the buying decision, it might get a mention. Hence the accusation of a "fashion accessory" from some quarters seems not unreasonable to me given the reasons above.... that's exactly why you buy a fashion item

[ewenm]

pilchardthecat said:

But you'd think if that was a part of the buying decision, it might get a mention. Hence the accusation of a "fashion accessory" from some quarters seems not unreasonable to me given the reasons above.... that's exactly why you buy a fashion item

This one person might have bought it as a fashion item but that does not mean the Evoque is "100% a fashion item" (as the accusation went). Just like the MINI. Some people buy them because they drive well, many people buy them because they are fashionable.

[David87]

My Dad has one just like this, except it's an Si4 and has a black roof and seats. I have been seriously impressed by it, to the point where I've questioned if a Range Rover Sport or big Range Rover would really be necessary for the majority of their buyers. It is that good.

Agreed about the wing mirrors, though. They are obstructive to the point of being dangerous. Something for the facelift!

[DaveZT260]

I personally think white with black rims looks st hot on these.

Couldn't give a toss what impression it might give re drug dealer etc cos I ain't one but love cars...

[Trommel]

David87 said:

Agreed about the wing mirrors, though. They are obstructive to the point of being dangerous. Something for the facelift!

Blame the EU:

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?...

[Paul O]

We've bought one too as our family car (lower spec than this, but same colour).

Love it, probably the best car we've ever owned and will hopefully be a keeper for many years!

[so called]

I just bought my Wife one.
Reasons -
Drives fantastic.
Wanted to replace her current Nissan Murano with as modern a looking SUV/Crossover (or whatever you want to call it) as possible.
Wanted good quality.
I can watch TV while she drives

I'm not interested in other peoples opinions of me.
I buy and drive cars the I like and not what other people try to push me to or away from.
Each to there own.
No car is to everones taste.
I love my TVR Tuscan.......the Hamster hates it, so what.

[TheDeadPrussian]

pilchardthecat said:

But you'd think if that was a part of the buying decision, it might get a mention. Hence the accusation of a "fashion accessory" from some quarters seems not unreasonable to me given the reasons above.... that's exactly why you buy a fashion item

The car behaves well on the road. It drives nicely, but it is not my first choice for 'spirited driving'. It stays relatively flat in the corners, but you can't defeat the laws of physics and it doesn't handle, stop or go like a sports car.

It does all I want of it to be honest. I didn't specifically mention the driving dynamics as trying to compare it to something with less mass and more power is pointless - physics always wins.

Of its kind however, I think it drives really well (and most motoring journalists I believe concur with this view). The seats are very supportive laterally, so no need to hang on to the wheel in corners for instance and the seating position and wheel are fine. It’s not a sports car, but it does feel ‘sporty’ if you push on a little.