RE: Prior Convictions: sensible supercars
Discussion
I'm banged to rights & am doing the same (albeit i don't own a £300k Supercar & am unlikely to ever be in that position).
Collected a new A8 Black Edition (on a very cheap lease) a few weeks back & it's sublime at dismissing my weekly/fortnightly 500 mile commute. However having had several M's & RS's, the A8 doesn't offer up any giggles ever (although it is fairly brisk), so although my lengthy commute is comfortable, even luxurious, i miss the few miles either side of the mundane motorway & dual carriageway sections where playtime can be had.
To this end i ordered one of the said Golf R's (albeit an estate) & will use this as the 'can do anything' vehicle, whilst at the same time delivering some amusement even when not required. Can also chuck my bike/s or dog in the back & not care if it gets covered in Labrador snot, a bit of mud or gains an occasional blemish to its paintwork or wheels.
Of course, like any car in my possession it will get extremely well looked after, i just won't with the Golf feel a compulsion to treat it like a newborn baby.
Collected a new A8 Black Edition (on a very cheap lease) a few weeks back & it's sublime at dismissing my weekly/fortnightly 500 mile commute. However having had several M's & RS's, the A8 doesn't offer up any giggles ever (although it is fairly brisk), so although my lengthy commute is comfortable, even luxurious, i miss the few miles either side of the mundane motorway & dual carriageway sections where playtime can be had.
To this end i ordered one of the said Golf R's (albeit an estate) & will use this as the 'can do anything' vehicle, whilst at the same time delivering some amusement even when not required. Can also chuck my bike/s or dog in the back & not care if it gets covered in Labrador snot, a bit of mud or gains an occasional blemish to its paintwork or wheels.
Of course, like any car in my possession it will get extremely well looked after, i just won't with the Golf feel a compulsion to treat it like a newborn baby.
StottyGTR said:
If I walked past my Aston Martin to get in a Mini, I'd wonder what the f
k am I doing and have a word with myself.
So you would think... however, most weekdays I'll walk past my fancy-pants motor (Lexus SC430) and jump in the family 1.1L Panda for the drive in to town/work.k am I doing and have a word with myself.Sometimes, small, nippy cars just feel more ....appropriate.
I think the problem is that just trying to luxuriate an ordinary little car doesn't tend to end up with a Radford or Hooper Mini.
It tends to bring about a Cygnet, or indeed some of the later Vanden Plas cars.
Perhaps more interesting is the sort of trim speccing that people like Ford started doing 10-15 years ago. Dealers noticed that people were going into showrooms after a people carrier, ticking every option box and asking why there was no option for leather. Sometimes even stinking rich people need ordinary cars. Doesn't mean they want goofy radiators and picnic tables.
It tends to bring about a Cygnet, or indeed some of the later Vanden Plas cars.
Perhaps more interesting is the sort of trim speccing that people like Ford started doing 10-15 years ago. Dealers noticed that people were going into showrooms after a people carrier, ticking every option box and asking why there was no option for leather. Sometimes even stinking rich people need ordinary cars. Doesn't mean they want goofy radiators and picnic tables.
Edited by suffolk009 on Friday 22 September 14:34
aaron_2000 said:
Closest you'll get to that for a while will be a Fiesta Vignale if they make one
Or a fully loaded Audi S1, maybe?But yeah, I can agree with this. It's struck me that regardless of how rich I was, my daily would always be something practical and easy to live with that still had a bit about it. Some kind of hot hatch or smaller sport saloon, I'd expect.
Trouble with having that stuff made by the proper high end brands, though, is that it's hard to see what they really have to add. I guess you could cram a load of carbon fibre and F1 tech under the skin, but would that really be enough?
StottyGTR said:
If I walked past my Aston Martin to get in a Mini, I'd wonder what the fk am I doing and have a word with myself.
Fully agree. k am I doing and have a word with myself.I have no love whatsoever for small cars, possibly a result of psychological scarring being in the absolute worst cars growing up. I like to be cocooned, pampered and arrive at my destination feeling fresh, at all times. A small car to me, particularly when sat in a traffic jam, is like flying in Coach/Economy Class - if I can afford First Class, why in Gods name would I want less space and worse amenities??
And that's before I even mention the safety element; not that I'd wish it upon myself or anyone else but if I had to choose, I'd much, much rather be in an accident in say a Mercedes S-Class than have that same accident in a Mercedes A-Class for example...
Edited by sidesauce on Friday 22 September 15:06
I must be getting old
Neil1300r said:
No it wasn't, that is just an internet fallacy
Which highlights another issue with the Cygnet. It's marketing was awful. But not as awful as the execution and the cost to AM. They had to buy in the Toyota complete, strip the interior out and most of the bodywork. Chuck it all in the bin and then start again.
Dr Bez needed shooting for such a piss poor strategy, marketing and execution of the project.
I didn't know that, the whole manufacturers having to lower average emissions thing was just an anti-CC lie?Which highlights another issue with the Cygnet. It's marketing was awful. But not as awful as the execution and the cost to AM. They had to buy in the Toyota complete, strip the interior out and most of the bodywork. Chuck it all in the bin and then start again.
Dr Bez needed shooting for such a piss poor strategy, marketing and execution of the project.
Personally I think an Aygo/C1 etc. with the supercharger kit and a high end interior would probably be fun if you wanted a complement to an expensive GT. Then again make it a RWD Twingo and it would be even better.
cookie1600 said:
I still think a Wood and Picket Mini covers all eventualities, when the Aston is in for a service or you need to go down to Tesco's for more Grey Poupon :
I agree with the later comment about a Redford or Hooper Mini, the above just doesn't look classy....or right.This is more like it, an Innocenti Mini, which to my teenaged eyes at the time seemed to exemplify that certain Latin panache despite altering very little at all from the original design;
Vee12V said:
The problem of the Cygnet wasn't the idea, it was the execution. The fact it was slower than the original, as it was heavier with identical oily bits, says enough.
The Aston Martin Cygnet has quite a cult following among the London and Berkshire la-dee-da set. Nice local runaround for the little lady or uni daughter.The Cygnet sold for £30-32k brandnew in 2011-2013, and they still sell for £30-40k today in 2017.
Toltec said:
Neil1300r said:
No it wasn't, that is just an internet fallacy
Which highlights another issue with the Cygnet. It's marketing was awful. But not as awful as the execution and the cost to AM. They had to buy in the Toyota complete, strip the interior out and most of the bodywork. Chuck it all in the bin and then start again.
Dr Bez needed shooting for such a piss poor strategy, marketing and execution of the project.
I didn't know that, the whole manufacturers having to lower average emissions thing was just an anti-CC lie?Which highlights another issue with the Cygnet. It's marketing was awful. But not as awful as the execution and the cost to AM. They had to buy in the Toyota complete, strip the interior out and most of the bodywork. Chuck it all in the bin and then start again.
Dr Bez needed shooting for such a piss poor strategy, marketing and execution of the project.
StottyGTR said:
If I walked past my Aston Martin to get in a Mini, I'd wonder what the fk am I doing and have a word with myself.
Did walk past the Aston to take the wife's Mini to the shops, But it is a Cooper S spec'ed to the max, cost was nearly 30k when new,. Luckily we didn't buy it new. It's a hoot around town and easier to park than an Astonk am I doing and have a word with myself.I happily walk past my Aston Martin to drive my bugeye, slightly sheddy Impreza WRX most days of the week. I also have a daily driver (old-ish Merc wagon) but I find myself using the Subaru as an alternative very regularly; the Aston doesn't get much use outside of the odd weekend or when I have a few days off work.
I like to use the Aston for fun. It's no fun if you feel "forced" to drive it.
I like to use the Aston for fun. It's no fun if you feel "forced" to drive it.
Interesting comments on the Cygnet. There is a Toyota IQ in our driveway and if you've ever driven one its easy to see why it was chosen as a base for the Cygnet. The car is built and spec'd more like a Lexus than an entry Toyota, and admittedly was priced as such. Saying an old mini would do the same job as the Cygnet was tasked with is madness - thats a classic car without 9 airbags, ability to cruise quietly at 70mph, 50mpg, rattle free etc. IQs are as refined and can be spec'd to a level of cars several classes up of similar age.
Great value second hand now too if you fancy something a bit different. Excellent town / 1st car and superbly engineered if thats your thing. With a small driver, we've had 4 adults in ours for a short trip too. Can't really fault them and would buy one over an Aygo any day.
If i had a supercar and needed a NEW small car I think I'd go 500 Abarth.
Great value second hand now too if you fancy something a bit different. Excellent town / 1st car and superbly engineered if thats your thing. With a small driver, we've had 4 adults in ours for a short trip too. Can't really fault them and would buy one over an Aygo any day.
If i had a supercar and needed a NEW small car I think I'd go 500 Abarth.
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