What is the most nicely surprising car you've driven.

[Nigel Worc's]

I thought of this thread, because of a mixture of other threads on being disapointed with cars.

For me it has to be my daughters bog standard 1.8 four pot BMW Z3.

It was delightful to drive in every way, (I'd have preffered a bit more power and a six cylinder exhaust note, but I'm old enough to afford the insurance).

[krisdelta]

A 1.4 Fiesta of the 2004 ish vintage - fantastic gearchange, handled pretty well and great visibility.

[MethylatedSpirit]

Ford focus drives much better than most other cars of similar age.

[22Rgt]

Just taken in a Rover 400 auto (Honda engine) with 29K miles, only an old V reg Rover but literally runs like a new car, surprisingly comfortable very easy to drive, would happily drive it any distance..

[kambites]

Probably the MGF. It's really rather a good drivers' car, but you wouldn't believe it from the flak it gets.

[CubanPete]

Nissan Primera pool car at work a few years ago.

Not the quickest, but hustled beautifully along the B roads.

[Omaruk]

E36 328i 4 door big standard with LSD as standard. Fluid, engagingl lovely engine and hoot on tight corners.

[Omaruk]

E36 328i 4 door big standard with LSD as standard. Fluid, engagingl lovely engine and hoot on tight corners.

[KarlMac]

1.0 3 cylinder VW Up. Nasty cheap interior but was a hoot to sling around. So little power you couldn't get in trouble but the engine had loads of character.

[161BMW]

New Porsche Boxster Manual
Vauxhall Adam
BMW 118d

[rouge59]

161BMW said:

New Porsche Boxster Manual
Vauxhall Adam
BMW 118d

You're surprised that a Boxster drives well?


Christ on a bike.

[Pvapour]

kambites said:

Probably the MGF. It's really rather a good drivers' car, but you wouldn't believe it from the flak it gets.

+1

I remember when they were new, as part of a drive day at thruxton this was the car you were given before Boxster & 355, I think it stood up really well and felt far more 'fun' than the other two, always thought one with a supercharger would be interesting.

[Hitch78]

I did some car collecting (end of lease type stuff) as a spotty yoof in the mid 1990s and was surprised at how together the Mk1 Mondeo 1.8 LX was compared to the wide variety of other contemporary stuff I was driving every day.

I picked up a 6 cylinder LR2 HSE (Freelander 2) for the wife once and was so impressed I bought another for me and we ran them for a couple of years. Great cars on and off road and the 3.2 picks up its skirt pretty well.

[budfox]

Nissan Leaf.

Quick enough, quiet of course, roomy, well equipped, great visibility, decent enough to look at and a doddle to drive.

Had I not had nagging doubts about battery replacement costs and big depreciation I'd have bought one.

[VinceFox]

Ford puma 1.7

[type-r]

1994 Honda Civic LSi. Hawaii Edition.

Lightweight, superb handling, bulletproof engine and pretty nippy given it's 1.5L engine.

[blearyeyedboy]

A hired Ford Fiesta in Jersey this summer. Not much steering feel but I had fun punting the thing around and it's not too big for their narrow roads.

[DUMBO100]

I inherited a 318d 61 plate company car last week and I'm surprisingly impressed, it's not as much fun as my Type R but is economical and I'm actually quite enjoying it

[nagsheadwarrior]

Mk1 Focus- Hardly a shock but a great drive.

02 Suzuki Alto 1.0- Took in px at work,liked it that much i bought it,great fun to hustle along n bombproof reliable.

[hoegaardenruls]

Had a Renault Megane 1.6 as a hire car a couple of years ago, didn't expect much but enjoyed my time with it.