Bland Cars

Author
Discussion

podgeorge

Original Poster:

75 posts

144 months

Sunday 15th July 2018
quotequote all
iphonedyou said:
podgeorge said:
Even the Golf has a decent character in comparison.
Really.
Really! It’s a base spec 90hp, it’s just one of those lovely cars that never pretends to be anything it’s not.

I can see your angle though, I had a Mk4 GTI 1.8T previously and that was the most characterless thing I’ve ever owned. I can’t really explain it but there is just something about it.

podgeorge

Original Poster:

75 posts

144 months

Sunday 15th July 2018
quotequote all
WaferThinHam said:
podgeorge said:
laugh sounds good to me
What about

Anti-Fun
Reactive
Sensible
Eco

The brand new ARSE rating.
Almost as good as

Lots
Of
Trouble
Usually
Serious

laugh

lord trumpton

7,320 posts

125 months

Sunday 15th July 2018
quotequote all
Manufacturers are prepping us for the totally soulless EV's that are on their way in.

TheInsanity1234

740 posts

118 months

Tuesday 17th July 2018
quotequote all
lord trumpton said:
Manufacturers are prepping us for the totally soulless EV's that are on their way in.
hehe

Pommy

14,229 posts

215 months

Tuesday 17th July 2018
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Focus RS

Not bland to drive but bland to look at. Compared to previous RS its a non event.

Chestrockwell

2,624 posts

156 months

Tuesday 17th July 2018
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podgeorge said:
I recently drove a new top of the range, Discovery Sport.

I don’t think I have ever driven such a soulless, boring and bland car in all my life.

Is it me or have car manufacturers really perfected the art of the soulless car?

It makes me sad that character seems to a a word absent from many major manufacturers specification these days.
I’d say it’s the drivetrain that gets us, here’s an example, I’ve driven a F10 520d, 14 plate, 180 bhp automatic, comfortable, spacious, good on fuel and premium, one of the most boring cars I have ever driven, can’t imagine what a Passat or Mondeo would be like !

Anyways My brother bought a basic E39 523i manual BMW and it is so much more fun, not that fast, only a 2.5 with 170 bhp but it is brilliant to drive, so much better and it has character compared to the 520d. Small wheels, simple dashboard, straight 6 noise without 19inch wheels on runflats that break your spine when you hit a pothole.

I highly doubt the 523i would have been considered characterful back in its day, probably another premium tool used by accountants and doctors.

Downsizing, turbo charging and high fuel costs are taking away the pleasure of driving.

The year 2001, you go into BMW and pick the cheapest 5 series, 2.2 straight 6 170 BHP manual.

The year 2018, cheapest 5 series is a 520d auto only and if you want a straight 6 it’s the range topper at 55 grand with 340bhp you’ll never even use.

That being said, I don’t think a car like the discovery sport is meant to have character, typical 2.0 diesel 4x4 intended to give you 50 mpg and show up the other school mums in their Tiguans and GLC’s.

DJP

1,198 posts

178 months

Tuesday 17th July 2018
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Anodyne
Understeery
Diesel
Ignominy

wink

Hungrymc

6,642 posts

136 months

Tuesday 17th July 2018
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Modern cars are all about being competent. There are still some models that aim at fun, or some exotic stuff that has (engineered in) character, or some smaller manufacturers that can’t polish every aspect and leave some character (rough edges).

But what were you hoping for from a family bus? What didn’t it do that would have added ‘character’?

I get why you like the 182. It’s a car I test drove many times a few years ago but wasn’t quite for me. But the Golf? That has no character, it’s just pretty flawed (very course engine and very soft chassis).

M1C

1,832 posts

110 months

Tuesday 17th July 2018
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Cars that are like...so good...and so complete....can be boring!

I've not driven the MK7 Golf R but i had the MK6 Golf R for a weekend. Yes it was very fast...and a great 'all rounder'...but it left me cold!

By contrast - the similarly powered but much 'inferior' Leon Cupra R of the same era - was an absolute, absolute blast to drive. SO much more fun.

MFR_TT

214 posts

84 months

Tuesday 17th July 2018
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Because the majority of cars are built for people who don't give a st about steering feel, they just want a nice shiny toy (similar to fancy handbag) to show off and prance around in, and mainly show everyone how well they are doing.

captain_cynic

11,873 posts

94 months

Tuesday 17th July 2018
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Certification of
Uninteresting
New
Transport

captain_cynic

11,873 posts

94 months

Tuesday 17th July 2018
quotequote all
Many modern cars are completely deadened to any feedback. Deliberately.

Its not that car manufacturers cant make a car interesting, some still do but the fact is most wont.

So much is the disconnect between driver and road they're having to add all kinds of computerised trickery to compensate. Automatic braking, lane assistance, all of it making the driver dumber and reassuring them in their lack of skill.

AEB is nothing like ABS, instead of taking a task that was rare and performed under stress it is taking away the basic task of paying attention to what you're doing. I think that if AEB is used, the car should send a message to the CPS and have an charge of careless driving drawn up, perhaps also taking a photo of the cabin to check if the steering wheel attendant was on the phone as well.


Silverbullet767

10,680 posts

205 months

Tuesday 17th July 2018
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How about the

Sodding
Hateful
Indicator
Test

How does your car compare on the st test?

cerb4.5lee

30,184 posts

179 months

Tuesday 17th July 2018
quotequote all
podgeorge said:
I recently drove a new top of the range, Discovery Sport.

I don’t think I have ever driven such a soulless, boring and bland car in all my life.

Is it me or have car manufacturers really perfected the art of the soulless car?
I think they're made to be that way, I've a GLC and its a lovely motor to cover miles in very effortlessly, you just sit there and it gets on with the job. Never once does it raise a smile or feel in anyway interesting to drive and I think that is the remit of that type of vehicle.

Baldchap

7,505 posts

91 months

Tuesday 17th July 2018
quotequote all
M1C said:
I've not driven the MK7 Golf R...
Ahhh, welcome to PH.

Tuvra

7,920 posts

224 months

Tuesday 17th July 2018
quotequote all
Pommy said:
Focus RS

Not bland to drive but bland to look at. Compared to previous RS its a non event.
I suppose you'd prefer something like this over styled mess? hehe


anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 17th July 2018
quotequote all
My Kia is the blandest thing on the menu. From a distance, in a car park, it could be any grey Astra/Focus/Hyundai/whatever. It is utterly forgettable, not dynamic, not fast. But it's reliable and economical and costs F all for a work hack.

I'd probably have a heart attack if I ever bought a 320d.

BRR

1,845 posts

171 months

Tuesday 17th July 2018
quotequote all
I doubt 'character' is high on the list of things the average consumer is looking for, they typically want it to be comfortable, look alright, be relatively frugal, have the various toys they want and some would like it portray a certain image which comes from the brand. With this criteria the Disco Sport does a great job of meeting the requirements which is why they sell so many.

I understand wanting character in a hot hatch or sports car but in a family bus it would be well down mine and i suspect most people's list of requirements

SaggyOstrich

392 posts

74 months

Tuesday 17th July 2018
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Pretty much every new car is bland now, it's depressing. Even the ones that are sporty versions are boring as hell.

Just drive around and you'll see all the same crap, just a sea of blandness.

E65Ross

34,944 posts

211 months

Tuesday 17th July 2018
quotequote all
SaggyOstrich said:
Pretty much every new car is bland now, it's depressing. Even the ones that are sporty versions are boring as hell.

Just drive around and you'll see all the same crap, just a sea of blandness.
My old man has a supercharged 5 litre V8 F Type R. That definitely isn't boring. Always puts a smile on my face every time I drive it or am even a passenger! Fun cars are certainly still out there! Isn't the gt86 meant to be good to drive? New mx5? New Lotus cars are meant to be good (exige for example).

I've also heard a lamborghini Huracan Performante is meant to be good too wink