Deal breakers
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The Pits

Original Poster:

4,290 posts

269 months

Wednesday 12th March 2014
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It struck me that we often rule out even considering some cars out there for seemingly trivial reasons. There are sometimes just things we can't get beyond, regardless of how good other people may think the car is.

For example, I'm not keen on electric spoilers in general they're just so naff but I simply couldn't entertain owning any car with such a pathetic excuse for a spoiler as the one you'll find on the back of a Boxster or Cayman. Being electric only draws more attention to its immasculating properties and you just know the guy inside is saying 'rear wing deployed!'. But seriously, the extra weight of electric motors for what? Precisely zero downforce. I'm with Duncan Banatyne on this one, "sorry but I'm out".

I've ruled out a few cars simply because of the typeface of their instruments before. I know many people who are profoundly irritated by electric handbrakes too. Any car that beeps at the redline - Renault Clio, Toyota GT-86?, even the magnificent Lexus LF-A I think does this. If so it shouldn't. If I couldn't switch it off the Euromillions would be going elsewhere.

Just goes to show how irrational we really are when it comes to buying sports cars!

mike-r

1,539 posts

220 months

Wednesday 12th March 2014
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If I can help it I'm not going to buy another car without cruise control.

vikingaero

13,268 posts

198 months

Wednesday 12th March 2014
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Spare tyre or at least a spacesaver spare as a minimum. Runflats or gunk can go and Foxtrot Oscar.

V8forweekends

2,501 posts

153 months

Wednesday 12th March 2014
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Anything with a BMW badge on it.

Mastodon2

14,324 posts

194 months

Wednesday 12th March 2014
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The Pits said:
For example, I'm not keen on electric spoilers in general they're just so naff but I simply couldn't entertain owning any car with such a pathetic excuse for a spoiler as the one you'll find on the back of a Boxster or Cayman. Being electric only draws more attention to its immasculating properties and you just know the guy inside is saying 'rear wing deployed!'. But seriously, the extra weight of electric motors for what? Precisely zero downforce. I'm with Duncan Banatyne on this one, "sorry but I'm out".
Those electric spoilers are designed to reduce drag by spoiling the airflow, not produce downforce. The clues in the name.

Jim AK

4,029 posts

153 months

Wednesday 12th March 2014
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V8forweekends said:
Anything with a BMW badge on it.
^^^This^^^ &/or Mini.

FredClogs

14,041 posts

190 months

Wednesday 12th March 2014
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mike-r said:
If I can help it I'm not going to buy another car without cruise control.
^ This, I suspect in a few years front radar and adaptive cruise control will be an absolute must for anyone doing motorway miles.

J3JCV

1,266 posts

184 months

Wednesday 12th March 2014
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I seriously don't like electronic handbrakes and therefore would not buy a car with one. I'm worried that they will become the norm, I really hope they don't.

isaldiri

24,786 posts

197 months

Wednesday 12th March 2014
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The Pits said:
For example, I'm not keen on electric spoilers in general they're just so naff but I simply couldn't entertain owning any car with such a pathetic excuse for a spoiler as the one you'll find on the back of a Boxster or Cayman. Being electric only draws more attention to its immasculating properties and you just know the guy inside is saying 'rear wing deployed!'. But seriously, the extra weight of electric motors for what? Precisely zero downforce. I'm with Duncan Banatyne on this one, "sorry but I'm out".
Are you seriously saying you would rule out a CGT just because of the rear wing being deployed at speed..? Or a Mclaren F1 for that matter as the rear spoiler pops up under braking as well...

Tribal Chestnut

3,001 posts

211 months

Wednesday 12th March 2014
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J3JCV said:
I seriously don't like electronic handbrakes and therefore would not buy a car with one. I'm worried that they will become the norm, I really hope they don't.
What contemporary performance and premium cars don't have them these days? I imagine Catehams and the like, but the bigger vehicles??

Rick101

7,189 posts

179 months

Wednesday 12th March 2014
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Anything that's 'trendy' like new mini

Anything on ste tyres

Anything from Evans Halshaw or similar

Anything with no paperwork

Anything serviced on mileage not time

I'm sure there's plenty more

J3JCV

1,266 posts

184 months

Wednesday 12th March 2014
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Tribal Chestnut said:
What contemporary performance and premium cars don't have them these days? I imagine Catehams and the like, but the bigger vehicles??
I drove a 2013 BMW 5 and 3 series and I don't remember them being electronic but can't be sure, how about Mercedes as well?

tony wright

1,042 posts

279 months

Wednesday 12th March 2014
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Ooop's, my car has both electric spoiler and handbrake, on the bright side it has cruise controlbiglaugh

The Pits

Original Poster:

4,290 posts

269 months

Wednesday 12th March 2014
quotequote all
isaldiri said:
Are you seriously saying you would rule out a CGT just because of the rear wing being deployed at speed..? Or a Mclaren F1 for that matter as the rear spoiler pops up under braking as well...
No I was specific about the Boxster/Cayman's limp meek appendage. But even on a CGT it's definitely the fly in the ointment for me. An air brake is a slightly different matter assuming it actually works, which is easier to believe on the McLaren P1 than it is on the F1. If it doesn't actually do anything then it's redundant and embarrasing. I will write the word 'sorry' on my F1 when I get one.

Isn't the electric spoiler a big part of what makes the 911 Carrera a bit metrosexual and conversely isn't the f-off fixed spoiler what makes the GT3RS cool? But the Boxster one takes the biscuit. What on earth is wrong with a nice, fixed RS ducktail to spoil the airflow?

See I told you people who like electric spoilers use the term 'deployed'!

richs2891

906 posts

282 months

Wednesday 12th March 2014
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Anything made by the French, any Vauxhall, any LR product without a full manufacturers warranty.

Timbergiant

995 posts

159 months

Wednesday 12th March 2014
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Kit cars.

bullitinhead

299 posts

198 months

Wednesday 12th March 2014
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Mastodon2 said:
The Pits said:
For example, I'm not keen on electric spoilers in general they're just so naff but I simply couldn't entertain owning any car with such a pathetic excuse for a spoiler as the one you'll find on the back of a Boxster or Cayman. Being electric only draws more attention to its immasculating properties and you just know the guy inside is saying 'rear wing deployed!'. But seriously, the extra weight of electric motors for what? Precisely zero downforce. I'm with Duncan Banatyne on this one, "sorry but I'm out".
Those electric spoilers are designed to reduce drag by spoiling the airflow, not produce downforce. The clues in the name.
Other way round, it produces drag, by spoiling the smooth air flow over the rear of the car

IntriguedUser

995 posts

150 months

Wednesday 12th March 2014
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The speedometer has to have the 'look'. Those silly audi speedo's with 1 mile gaps between 10 - 20 - 30 mph which makes it look likey you're going REALLY fast and then when you get to 70 + the gaps is really tiny, stupid.



The Pits

Original Poster:

4,290 posts

269 months

Wednesday 12th March 2014
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I'd say Health and Safety seatbelt warning bleeps but I don't think there's a way to avoid them these days.

Heck anything that bleeps, chimes or bongs at me can just bugger right off.

'Voice control' is totally retarded. So much more effort than pushing a button.

As for the 'sport button' thing, the sooner buyers grow out of that one the better. I'm not sure what spud brained marketing retard thought it was a good idea but you can get a 'Sport Plus' button in your SUV now. They're sports cars too now apparently. Do the car companies really think so little of us?! Anything that just halves your throttle travel (so full throttle is half way down) is not 'a more aggressive throttle map' the correct term for that is: 'eine tasche von sheisse.'




pherlopolus

2,189 posts

187 months

Wednesday 12th March 2014
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Any car I get from now will have cruise control, AC and Bluetooth. It will more than likely be auto too...