3 things you Love & Hate about your car..
Discussion
'59 1.4 Ibiza SportCoupe
Love
Reliability - only a battery and 3 tyres have required replacing in 3 years
Economy - Good on fuel
Comfort
Hate
Boring to drive
Stereo - Although generally good, bass above 0 leads to distorted sound
Colour - My first black car, and also my last (looks brilliant clean, but that lasts a couple of days)
Love
Reliability - only a battery and 3 tyres have required replacing in 3 years
Economy - Good on fuel
Comfort
Hate
Boring to drive
Stereo - Although generally good, bass above 0 leads to distorted sound
Colour - My first black car, and also my last (looks brilliant clean, but that lasts a couple of days)
Elise S2 111r
1) Tactility from input actions (steering and gearbox)
2) Exterior design
3) With smart packing, there's enough luggage space for 2 people for 2 weeks
1) Any coins or lose bits will get under the seat and will haunt you until you can be bothered to take the seat out
2) Changing a front light bulb requires taking off the wheel
3) It's so low, people keep on reversing into me
1) Tactility from input actions (steering and gearbox)
2) Exterior design
3) With smart packing, there's enough luggage space for 2 people for 2 weeks
1) Any coins or lose bits will get under the seat and will haunt you until you can be bothered to take the seat out
2) Changing a front light bulb requires taking off the wheel
3) It's so low, people keep on reversing into me
BMW 2009 E92 M3
Love
1. The v8 engine is just beautiful from the way it just screams to the noise.
2. DCT gearbox is a stunning bit of kit
3. Waking up on a lovely morning and being 20 mins away from thrashing about in the highlands.
Hate
1. The technology is just a bit out of date for the car.
2. At times the DCT can be a bit jumpy when dropping down from 2nd to 1st
3. The state of scottish roads so i have to drive around the pot holes as the M doesn't soak them up well.
Love
1. The v8 engine is just beautiful from the way it just screams to the noise.
2. DCT gearbox is a stunning bit of kit
3. Waking up on a lovely morning and being 20 mins away from thrashing about in the highlands.
Hate
1. The technology is just a bit out of date for the car.
2. At times the DCT can be a bit jumpy when dropping down from 2nd to 1st
3. The state of scottish roads so i have to drive around the pot holes as the M doesn't soak them up well.
2008 FN2 Civic Type R
Love:
Engine – VTEC!
Interior – Still one of the best dashes around and great seats
Load capacity with rear seats down
Hate:
Suspension too hard, especially with 19”
Radio / stereo is terrible
Front seats don’t remember position when titled for access to rear seats, very annoying
Love:
Engine – VTEC!
Interior – Still one of the best dashes around and great seats
Load capacity with rear seats down
Hate:
Suspension too hard, especially with 19”
Radio / stereo is terrible
Front seats don’t remember position when titled for access to rear seats, very annoying
2001 Jaguar XJ8:
Love:
1) The interior, particularly the seats. Best car sears I've ever sat in for sheer comfort.
2) The looks of the car. Low and sleek like an XJ should be.
3) The ride. So soft and supple, yet with body control and a low COG which means handling is great for a big saloon.
Hate:
1) The lazy gearbox. I'm used to faster autos and prefer manuals. It does the job well enough, I suppose.
2) The top loading filler cap looks cool but is a faff to use and makes your hand ache. A four litre V8 and a big tank mean long times at the pump.
3) that's about it.
Love:
1) The interior, particularly the seats. Best car sears I've ever sat in for sheer comfort.
2) The looks of the car. Low and sleek like an XJ should be.
3) The ride. So soft and supple, yet with body control and a low COG which means handling is great for a big saloon.
Hate:
1) The lazy gearbox. I'm used to faster autos and prefer manuals. It does the job well enough, I suppose.
2) The top loading filler cap looks cool but is a faff to use and makes your hand ache. A four litre V8 and a big tank mean long times at the pump.
3) that's about it.
2003 EP3 Civic Type R
Love:
1. VTEC (Yo)
2. Gearbox, swapping cogs is a joy
3. Boy racerness of it (a phase?)
Hate:
1. Laughable turning circle not helped by it being lowered
2. Every alloy is in need of a major refurb, corrosion mainly I think
3. Cruising on motorway at around 70 at 4k rpm. 6 Hours in one day left me feeling broken
1998 A3 1.8t
Love:
1. Its so far been utterly reliable and had an oil change every year of its life
2. It was totally different to what I was used to, I've only ever had much newer cars with much lower mileage
3. Its stripped out and with the funds will be turned into something trackable
Hate:
1. Maintenance costs! Cambelt etc, Thermostat, Clutch & Flywheel. The engine is still standard because this has cost my budget
2. It looked fine when I bought it but its covered in marks, grime in all the crevices/rubbers and the alloys were poor. Majority of nuts and bolts are very tight/seized in most cases
3. Airbag light. I couldn't care less but it's an MOT fail. Its an 17yr old car, they'll be crap anyway and even the service book says they should be changed after 10yrs. Either massive PITA to put right or annoying bodges. Currently SORN because of a silly little light!
OH's 2001 Yaris T Sport:
Love:
1. Straight through exhaust with 4" (I think) bean can on, it never fails to make you grin. If I'm in it I can garantee I'll be making the following noises - pop pop pop, bang, pop, snap crackle & pop
2. Its just so fun!
3. Cubby holes, loads of drinks holders, sliding rear seats, sunroof. Its just so well thought out!
Hate:
1. Had accident damage and the repair is poor. Whole body and paintwork is in very shoddy condition which makes me sad when I clean it
2. EML due to dodgy cat in the exhaust probably, it looks like a cat but is it?? Hmmm
3. Graunching noise if you rush 2nd gear, common syncro wear I believe
My own hate:
I find myself forever struggling to get comfortable in most cars.
There you go
Love:
1. VTEC (Yo)
2. Gearbox, swapping cogs is a joy
3. Boy racerness of it (a phase?)
Hate:
1. Laughable turning circle not helped by it being lowered
2. Every alloy is in need of a major refurb, corrosion mainly I think
3. Cruising on motorway at around 70 at 4k rpm. 6 Hours in one day left me feeling broken
1998 A3 1.8t
Love:
1. Its so far been utterly reliable and had an oil change every year of its life
2. It was totally different to what I was used to, I've only ever had much newer cars with much lower mileage
3. Its stripped out and with the funds will be turned into something trackable
Hate:
1. Maintenance costs! Cambelt etc, Thermostat, Clutch & Flywheel. The engine is still standard because this has cost my budget
2. It looked fine when I bought it but its covered in marks, grime in all the crevices/rubbers and the alloys were poor. Majority of nuts and bolts are very tight/seized in most cases
3. Airbag light. I couldn't care less but it's an MOT fail. Its an 17yr old car, they'll be crap anyway and even the service book says they should be changed after 10yrs. Either massive PITA to put right or annoying bodges. Currently SORN because of a silly little light!
OH's 2001 Yaris T Sport:
Love:
1. Straight through exhaust with 4" (I think) bean can on, it never fails to make you grin. If I'm in it I can garantee I'll be making the following noises - pop pop pop, bang, pop, snap crackle & pop
2. Its just so fun!
3. Cubby holes, loads of drinks holders, sliding rear seats, sunroof. Its just so well thought out!
Hate:
1. Had accident damage and the repair is poor. Whole body and paintwork is in very shoddy condition which makes me sad when I clean it
2. EML due to dodgy cat in the exhaust probably, it looks like a cat but is it?? Hmmm
3. Graunching noise if you rush 2nd gear, common syncro wear I believe
My own hate:
I find myself forever struggling to get comfortable in most cars.
There you go
Ford Fiesta ST-3
Love
1. The way it drives. It's an absolute riot.
2. Heated recaro seats, the most comfortable seats I've ever been in. Feel like I'm being hugged.
3. The looks, I think it is a great looking little thing!
Hate
1. Hate is a strong word, but I want more noise. Needs to be more ASBO, it is too quiet the way it comes in stock.
2. Rattles, oh god the rattles are increasing now, beginning to grind on me.
3. It's hard, as a daily it is bearable, but only just.
Love
1. The way it drives. It's an absolute riot.
2. Heated recaro seats, the most comfortable seats I've ever been in. Feel like I'm being hugged.
3. The looks, I think it is a great looking little thing!
Hate
1. Hate is a strong word, but I want more noise. Needs to be more ASBO, it is too quiet the way it comes in stock.
2. Rattles, oh god the rattles are increasing now, beginning to grind on me.
3. It's hard, as a daily it is bearable, but only just.
Monaro VXR
Love:
1) That bloody great 6 litre engine and resulting noises
2) The driving experience / feel. Heavy clutch, heavy gearchange, ease with which it'll spin the wheels, it feels like you're play fighting with a big friendly bear and it's great fun.
3) You can still drive it 4 up over long distances and be comfortable wafting along in 6th at tickover
Hate:
1) Replacement body panels (front / rear bumpers) are hugely expensive, and from Australia...
2) Driving it in rush hour surrounded by people who don't care and aren't paying attention. Basically the only time I get stressed.
3) The arrangement of things in the engine bay, almost everything is on one side and it looks messy
GTV V6
Love:
1) That busso V6 and the associated noises through a Ragazzon exhaust
2) It looks gorgeous
3) It's so much fun to drive
Hate:
1) It scrapes its belly on bits of gravel
2) It can't complete a 3 point turn within county borders
3) Based on the driving position, I'm clearly not the species it was designed for
Love:
1) That bloody great 6 litre engine and resulting noises
2) The driving experience / feel. Heavy clutch, heavy gearchange, ease with which it'll spin the wheels, it feels like you're play fighting with a big friendly bear and it's great fun.
3) You can still drive it 4 up over long distances and be comfortable wafting along in 6th at tickover
Hate:
1) Replacement body panels (front / rear bumpers) are hugely expensive, and from Australia...
2) Driving it in rush hour surrounded by people who don't care and aren't paying attention. Basically the only time I get stressed.
3) The arrangement of things in the engine bay, almost everything is on one side and it looks messy
GTV V6
Love:
1) That busso V6 and the associated noises through a Ragazzon exhaust
2) It looks gorgeous
3) It's so much fun to drive
Hate:
1) It scrapes its belly on bits of gravel
2) It can't complete a 3 point turn within county borders
3) Based on the driving position, I'm clearly not the species it was designed for
2000 MX5 1.8s
Love:
1. The seating position, it just feels right every time i get in
2. The engine, it loves to be revved and makes a great noise near the limiter
3. The handling, its super grippy and balanced a joy to drive on a country road
Hate:
1. Rust! Its currently at a local garage having some sill work done
2. Temptation to drift, a wet roundabout is far too appealing!
3. Image, everyone calls them a hairdressers car
Love:
1. The seating position, it just feels right every time i get in
2. The engine, it loves to be revved and makes a great noise near the limiter
3. The handling, its super grippy and balanced a joy to drive on a country road
Hate:
1. Rust! Its currently at a local garage having some sill work done
2. Temptation to drift, a wet roundabout is far too appealing!
3. Image, everyone calls them a hairdressers car
Peugeot 206 GTI (138)
Love:
Love:
- Big panoramic sunroof
- Decent size boot for a small, very "parkable", car
- Good MPG
- Seating ergonomics - what shape human was this designed for? And if like me you've got wide size 12s most shoes can result in you braking AND accelerating at the same time!
- The painful reverberating air presssure in the cabin when said sunroof is open, has to be equalised by cracking open a rear window slightly.
- The lack of a sixth gear. I could live with the motorway engine buzzing in the Puma because it had so much verve but this thing sounds like it's still in fourth at cruising speeds. The fuel economy would be out of this world too!
Jag XF 2.7D
Love-
How it just wafts along the road
The gadgets – a world of difference compared to my old A4, heated seats, heated steering wheel, reverse camera, sat nav, list goes on!
The colour, Indigo blue I think it’s called, really suits the car.
Hate-
Worrying about leaving it when I park up. Horror stories where people dink a car and leg it don’t help!
It’s a diesel :/
Love-
How it just wafts along the road
The gadgets – a world of difference compared to my old A4, heated seats, heated steering wheel, reverse camera, sat nav, list goes on!
The colour, Indigo blue I think it’s called, really suits the car.
Hate-
Worrying about leaving it when I park up. Horror stories where people dink a car and leg it don’t help!
It’s a diesel :/
Golf R (Mk7)
Love:
1. The Powerrrr. The way it puts down it's 300 turbocharged ponies through it's haldex system is addictive.
2. The crisp white light bi-xenon headlights. When you switch the car on, they do this cool calibration thing where they pop up and then back down again ( Video Example). They also 'look' into the corner as your about to turn which is handy on unlit roads.
3. The sound! I love that it can be pootling along in eco-mode, silent as anything, and then when put in race mode, the valves in the quad exhausts open up and it's got a deep rumble reminiscent to Subarus of old. I know it has the 'Soundaktor' (synthetic sound actuator) to help but it does a great job and for me does'nt matter that it isn't organic as it still feels special when working.
Hate:
1. There is a little sensor or something on the dash close to the window that pretty much permanently reflects up onto the windscreen. Really drives me mad.
2. The volume/power button symbol for the media system doesn't stay in a fixed, vertical position. A gripe which a lot of lightly OCD VW owners face, so much so, there is a company which actually sells 'block-out' stickers to hide the button.
3. The door hinge opening points seem to be at an either stupidly narrow, or far too wide, so you have to watch the doors from popping open too wide when in carparks etc.
Love:
1. The Powerrrr. The way it puts down it's 300 turbocharged ponies through it's haldex system is addictive.
2. The crisp white light bi-xenon headlights. When you switch the car on, they do this cool calibration thing where they pop up and then back down again ( Video Example). They also 'look' into the corner as your about to turn which is handy on unlit roads.
3. The sound! I love that it can be pootling along in eco-mode, silent as anything, and then when put in race mode, the valves in the quad exhausts open up and it's got a deep rumble reminiscent to Subarus of old. I know it has the 'Soundaktor' (synthetic sound actuator) to help but it does a great job and for me does'nt matter that it isn't organic as it still feels special when working.
Hate:
1. There is a little sensor or something on the dash close to the window that pretty much permanently reflects up onto the windscreen. Really drives me mad.
2. The volume/power button symbol for the media system doesn't stay in a fixed, vertical position. A gripe which a lot of lightly OCD VW owners face, so much so, there is a company which actually sells 'block-out' stickers to hide the button.
3. The door hinge opening points seem to be at an either stupidly narrow, or far too wide, so you have to watch the doors from popping open too wide when in carparks etc.
Clio Sport 172 (Y Reg)
Love:
Love:
Love:
- The handling
- Being able to leave it absolutely anywhere and not care if somebody scratches/dents/nicks it. I don't even lock it. In nearly 4 years of ownership I've never washed it.
- The running costs. Tyres are peanuts, 38 MPG, Fully Comp Ins is less than £200. It was due a cambelt change 8 years ago but just keeps plodding on. A proper cambelt change is over £500, which is probably more than the car is worth. I've done over 40k mile in it, so even if it goes bang tomorrow I've already had my money's worth.
- It's as ugly as sin
- The interior has more rattles than Mothercare
- The steering wheel only has approx 5% of the original suede/alcantara still clinging to it.
Love:
- The NA engine is great at higher revs (but gutless below 4k)
- I like how it looks, compared to a lot of newer BMWs
- BMW UK paid the £4000+ to have the boot floor replaced when it cracked due to the well known e46 subframe problems.
- The breezeblock grey leather interior
- The PITA wheels. The polished finish constantly needs attention. They currently look like something that's been pulled out of the sea after years underwater. The missus manages to curb them every time she drives the car.
- The standard front brakes are rubbish! I fitted AP Racing discs & calipers but they were too much for road use and didn't last long. Now on Standard calipers with CSL discs (and caliper spacers), seems a decent compromise.
Edited by 4737Carlin on Tuesday 24th March 11:40
1968 Mini Cooper 1275S,
Love...
1. The fact that after owing over a dozen classic Minis I've finally got the one I really wanted, one that looks like a 'proper 60s popstar's Mini'.
2. The 'fizz factor' which comes on like a switch every time I drive it.
3. The smell when it's warmed up.
Hate...
1. The back ache when I get out of it.
2. The ear ache when I get out of it.
3. Putting it back in the garage.
1973 S2 SWB Jag XJ6 4.2 manual,
Love...
1. How long and low it looks.
2. The looks it gets at petrol stations.
3. How surprisingly chuckable it is for a forty year old car.
Hate...
1. The thirst.
2. The awkward umbrella handbrake.
3. The thought of it being nicked and bangered.
Love...
1. The fact that after owing over a dozen classic Minis I've finally got the one I really wanted, one that looks like a 'proper 60s popstar's Mini'.
2. The 'fizz factor' which comes on like a switch every time I drive it.
3. The smell when it's warmed up.
Hate...
1. The back ache when I get out of it.
2. The ear ache when I get out of it.
3. Putting it back in the garage.
1973 S2 SWB Jag XJ6 4.2 manual,
Love...
1. How long and low it looks.
2. The looks it gets at petrol stations.
3. How surprisingly chuckable it is for a forty year old car.
Hate...
1. The thirst.
2. The awkward umbrella handbrake.
3. The thought of it being nicked and bangered.
V8 Vantage Roadster
Love - too many to list - but....
1. The handling
2. The noise
3. The power
Hate:
1. Reverse gear ratio (it's geared like second making reversing very difficult - constantly stalls).
2. Some poor design decisions (like integrating the LED sidelights into the sealed headlight unit - meaning you have to replace the entire assembly at great expense if the sidelights go - which mine recently did).
3. Lack of blue tooth audio integration (it can blue tooth the phone's audio - but not the music).
Love - too many to list - but....
1. The handling
2. The noise
3. The power
Hate:
1. Reverse gear ratio (it's geared like second making reversing very difficult - constantly stalls).
2. Some poor design decisions (like integrating the LED sidelights into the sealed headlight unit - meaning you have to replace the entire assembly at great expense if the sidelights go - which mine recently did).
3. Lack of blue tooth audio integration (it can blue tooth the phone's audio - but not the music).
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