Dullest "popular" car

[Ozzie Osmond]

Inspired by the VW Golf thread I'm wondering what is the dullest car that seems to be lapped up by the mass market. Certainly when I thought I might fancy a Golf a couple of test drives soon demonstrated that, to my taste, they are crushingly dull.

Recently I had reason to pick up a cheap hire car and had a go in a new Corsa for the first time. I just couldn't believe how an apparently up-to-date car could be so lacklustre in every department.

I've also driven one or two Audis which appeared incapable of offering significant driver involvement.

And any variety of 4x4 SUV monster irrespective of engine size.

[roverspeed]

Toyota Corolla/Auris or Avensis, good god, why do people buy them.

This is coming from someone that used to work for Toyota!

[ArosaMike]

I tend to think the previous generation Civic. Just so lacking any style and excitement! (Type R and perhaps S excluded)

[Liquid Knight]

Aren't they all?

Popular because it's all people can afford. Nothing inspirational or asperation has been sold as a family car since the Rover 216 VDP of the 80's.

[DatsunDave]

Ozzie Osmond said:

And any variety of 4x4 SUV monster irrespective of engine size.

Depends what you enjoy about driving. I have spent many enjoyable hours behind the wheel of a large 4x4. You don't get much more involved driving than negotiating mountainside tracks in a blizzard, for example.

I recently drove a large Renault MPV, it was pretty sleep inducing. Generally speaking, anything with over soft suspension and under powered tends to send me to sleep!

Edited by DatsunDave on Monday 2nd January 21:13

[ArosaMike]

Liquid Knight said:

Aren't they all?

Popular because it's all people can afford. Nothing inspirational or asperation has been sold as a family car since the Rover 216 VDP of the 80's.

I don't think all 'popular cars' are dull. Mk1 Focus was generally very good even in it's most asthmatic form. Fiats as well tend to be amusing in a sort of alternative way. The Stilo had some quirky aspects that made it slightly entertaining even in it's dullest form, and my mates Punto Mk2 7 or so years ago had an hilariously over specced stereo as standard with an 8in sub in the back!

[Baryonyx]

Surely it must be the Golf? I'm sure there are many cars out there that are just as dull but the Golf epitomises mass market dullness, especially with it's woefully out of step adverts. Mind you, VW have done pretty well into fooling a lot of people into either thinking they want a Golf, or thinking that a Golf is still a market leading product!

[ArosaMike]

Baryonyx said:

Surely it must be the Golf? I'm sure there are many cars out there that are just as dull but the Golf epitomises mass market dullness, especially with it's woefully out of step adverts. Mind you, VW have done pretty well into fooling a lot of people into either thinking they want a Golf, or thinking that a Golf is still a market leading product!

Any more threads you feel like bringing this up in?! LOL

[SambaS]

All new cars are dull, Focus ST for instance. What a forgettable experience that was. I'll stick to my old sheds thanks! Just being in a modern car makes me yawn. Given, it must be nice when everything works, and that when it rains you stay dry. But other than that

[Negative Creep]

Has to be the current shape Astra. It's the kind of thing you'd forget you owned and get the bus instead, wondering why the trip to work seemed so enjoyable all of a sudden

[Chrisw666]

MK2 Ford Focus, class leading chassis but utterly forgettable in every way.

Feels cheaper than many cars around the same price point, mostly has engines that perform less well by most measures than the competition, even the ST is too thirsty to be relevant to many people.

[kambites]

Not much to choose between them, they're all pretty dull.

[the_scorpion]

Focus

[VX Foxy]

the_scorpion said:

Focus

+mundaneo

[diddles]

Baryonyx said:

Surely it must be the Golf? I'm sure there are many cars out there that are just as dull but the Golf epitomises mass market dullness, especially with it's woefully out of step adverts. Mind you, VW have done pretty well into fooling a lot of people into either thinking they want a Golf, or thinking that a Golf is still a market leading product!

What cars do you reckon are the market leaders in the mid sized family hatchback range?

[Baryonyx]

Chrisw666 said:

MK2 Ford Focus, class leading chassis but utterly forgettable in every way.

And yet it was nowhere near as good as the mk1 Focus, in terms of handling or pretty much anything else!

[Chrisw666]

Baryonyx said:

Chrisw666 said:

MK2 Ford Focus, class leading chassis but utterly forgettable in every way.

And yet it was nowhere near as good as the mk1 Focus, in terms of handling or pretty much anything else!

Another reason for its inclusion in this thread IMO. The MK3 is actually a good car, but not the game changer the MK1 was.

[KennyGT]

Focus, Astra, Civic, Golf.

Only exceptions, current RS, and Golf GTI/Ed 30s

[DanielC4GP]

Chrisw666 said:

MK2 Ford Focus, class leading chassis but utterly forgettable in every way.

Feels cheaper than many cars around the same price point, mostly has engines that perform less well by most measures than the competition, even the ST is too thirsty to be relevant to many
people.

I had a MK1.5 and it's been one of the best cars I've owned. Utterly dependable, in 5 years the only thing it needed was an alternator belt.

Best thing though was the handling. Stuck to the road like glue and if you lifted off whilst it understeered you'd get a little very predictable lift off oversteer.

I know it won't set the world on fire with it's looks but it was a lot better than a lot of other stuff at the time.

Agree Ford got it totally wrong with the MK2 though. Boring to look at and they seem to have screwed the reliability up too. Neighbours just bought one and in the few months she's owned it it's gone back because of an oil leak and this morning she was struggling to start it.

[Allyc85]

Mk4 golf!