Likeable but crap!
Discussion
What cars do you find likeable but you know are not very good, perhaps because they have a reputation for poor reliability or aren't very good to drive. Perhaps there is another reason (awful packaging?)
Here are mine.
Poor reliability:
Land Rover Freelander
Land Rover Discovery
Renault Megane II
Alfa Romeo 156
Citroen BX/Xantia/XM
Rover 800
Not very good to drive:
Cavalier/Calibra/Vectra B (by all accounts not as good to drive as the equivalent Ford to drive but I always preferred the styling of the Vauxhalls and the perceived build quality felt better - I universally hate all new Vauxhalls now though!)
1989 Ford Fiesta (I gather the oval-shaped grilled Fiestas from 1995 onwards were better to drive but I still like these for some reason)
Land Rover Defender
Suzuki Jimny
2003 Suzuki Alto (Suzukis all have an honest, unpretentious feel that I find enduring, although the Swift is the only one that actually drives well)
Volvo 240/940 (unquestionably bad to drive but feel like they will go on forever)
I imagine the classic Beetle would also fall into this category but I have neither driven or been a passenger in one so can't really comment.
What are your crap but likeable cars and why?
Here are mine.
Poor reliability:
Land Rover Freelander
Land Rover Discovery
Renault Megane II
Alfa Romeo 156
Citroen BX/Xantia/XM
Rover 800
Not very good to drive:
Cavalier/Calibra/Vectra B (by all accounts not as good to drive as the equivalent Ford to drive but I always preferred the styling of the Vauxhalls and the perceived build quality felt better - I universally hate all new Vauxhalls now though!)
1989 Ford Fiesta (I gather the oval-shaped grilled Fiestas from 1995 onwards were better to drive but I still like these for some reason)
Land Rover Defender
Suzuki Jimny
2003 Suzuki Alto (Suzukis all have an honest, unpretentious feel that I find enduring, although the Swift is the only one that actually drives well)
Volvo 240/940 (unquestionably bad to drive but feel like they will go on forever)
I imagine the classic Beetle would also fall into this category but I have neither driven or been a passenger in one so can't really comment.
What are your crap but likeable cars and why?
Mk2f polo, 1993 vintage. Bought for £150 as a birthday present for an old friend (few of us chipped in). Had to get it roadworthy and MOT'd before I handed it over so I did a lot of work on it and drove it about for 7 weeks. Pants handling, 45bhp and four speeds but I grew quite attached after doing a load of work on it and enjoying tooling about in it for a while. It reminded me how much I like back-to-basics motoring after 2 years of mk3 mondeo...
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