Perception Versus Reality ?
Discussion
Ever expected a car to be crap and its actually quite good or something you think will be dog slow but actually feels pretty quick, also the same thing but in reverse where something really isn't the sum of its parts or is a lot slower than you thought it would be.
I suppose there are other things, you expect a car to drive a certain way, sometimes you misjudge it or whether you will like it, I really wanted a Clio 182 until I drove one and didnt like it.
Also, do you think sometimes that a quick test drive doesnt really tell you that much, its only when you drive a car for a while that you "get it" ?
I suppose there are other things, you expect a car to drive a certain way, sometimes you misjudge it or whether you will like it, I really wanted a Clio 182 until I drove one and didnt like it.
Also, do you think sometimes that a quick test drive doesnt really tell you that much, its only when you drive a car for a while that you "get it" ?
I was told last week i'd be getting a Peugeot 207 for 4 days whilst my car was in the bodyshop. I always thought french "superminis" were s
t as cars go, but i had no idea they were this st
The gearbox and clutch seem to have been borrowed from somewhere in the early 70's, it's simply horrible, and it's only done 6k ffs
(and the pedals are too close together, i keep accelerating and braking at the same time)
Horrid. People actually spend their hard earned money on these abominations? Why not buy a fking Mazda 2, or a Fiesta, or a Yaris?
I'm pretty convinced that Peugeots are built and experted by the french government to secretly inflict misery (and chronic back pain) on the rest of europe
t as cars go, but i had no idea they were this stThe gearbox and clutch seem to have been borrowed from somewhere in the early 70's, it's simply horrible, and it's only done 6k ffs
(and the pedals are too close together, i keep accelerating and braking at the same time)Horrid. People actually spend their hard earned money on these abominations? Why not buy a f
king Mazda 2, or a Fiesta, or a Yaris?I'm pretty convinced that Peugeots are built and experted by the french government to secretly inflict misery (and chronic back pain) on the rest of europe
Edited by DP83 on Wednesday 22 September 17:25
doogz said:
Drove a new one 2 weeks ago, thorougly disappointed by how it went.
Agreed 100% with this. Had a go in a 59 plate and was thoroughly disappointed. It was 'nice', but certainly not what I was hoping for or expecting from a Type R hot hatch. Need to have a go in an EP3 I think 
doogz said:
Drove an RS4. It was quick, but it wasn't that quick.
115bhp more than i was packing at the time, but a chunk more weight and longer gearing. Just didn't really do it for me.
And Civic Type R. My sister has an EP3, driven it a fair it, quite like it. Drove a new one 2 weeks ago, thorougly disappointed by how it went. Nice dash, other than that, inferior to the older model in every way imo.
I had exactly the same experience with an EP3 type R. Going from a 318iS to driving that made me feel like I was going backwards. I'm fully aware that the EP3 is probably much faster, but it sure as hell didn't feel it...115bhp more than i was packing at the time, but a chunk more weight and longer gearing. Just didn't really do it for me.
And Civic Type R. My sister has an EP3, driven it a fair it, quite like it. Drove a new one 2 weeks ago, thorougly disappointed by how it went. Nice dash, other than that, inferior to the older model in every way imo.
Daaaveee said:
Need to have a go in an dc2 I think
EfaAnyway, I remember a mk 1 punto 1.2 feeling surprisingly swift for what it was.
Also after driving a very slow feeling mk2 mx5 1.8, my current mk 1 feels like a rocket in comparison; in actual fact it goes better than I expected considering the "slow" comments, don't get me wrong, its not super fast, but not slow either.
Ford puma was a surprisingly good steer.
Most cars though I find fail to live up to expectations, like pretty much every hot hatch made after about 2003 that I've driven. They all feel so remote and uninvolving, and don't feel that quick (until you look at the speedo).
J4CKO said:
Ever expected a car to be crap and its actually quite good or something you think will be dog slow but actually feels pretty quick, also the same thing but in reverse where something really isn't the sum of its parts or is a lot slower than you thought it would be.
I suppose there are other things, you expect a car to drive a certain way, sometimes you misjudge it or whether you will like it, I really wanted a Clio 182 until I drove one and didnt like it.
Also, do you think sometimes that a quick test drive doesnt really tell you that much, its only when you drive a car for a while that you "get it" ?
Citreon C1- very very basic, but great driving satisfaction for very small £. Especially good as a holiday hire car, a great one to rag around the mountain roads and then park at(on) the beach.I suppose there are other things, you expect a car to drive a certain way, sometimes you misjudge it or whether you will like it, I really wanted a Clio 182 until I drove one and didnt like it.
Also, do you think sometimes that a quick test drive doesnt really tell you that much, its only when you drive a car for a while that you "get it" ?
About taking a while to 'get' a car, I think that depends on the car... and for me is what suggests real long term appeal to a car, usually something that isnt picked up by the road testers but as an owner really makes you love the car and want to keep driving it
. Probably the reason than the Mk2 MR2 and the Clio V6 were never big hits with the journos at release but are IMO fantastic drivers cars and real keepers.
I went from a Cooper S turbo to an EP3 Type R.
The first time I drove the EP3 it didn't feel 'quick'. I was more used to the shove of a turbo and feel of urgency.
But I'd say the EP3 is definitely the quicker car despite how it feels, and certainly feels livelier.
I was initially put off even looking at the Type R having read many a time on here about it being gutless and having no torque. I can tell you first hand that it's crap - it sits at 30-40 mph in 6th gear without juddering and pulls more than well enough to keep up with traffic even when nowhere near the v-tec band. Same can be said about motorway use, again in 6th it pulls without problem - but stick it in 4th and it really flies. And it probably has the best gear box I've used.
I'd go so far to say it's just as usable as any other turbo hot hatch out there, its jeckyl and hide nature has really grown on me.
The first time I drove the EP3 it didn't feel 'quick'. I was more used to the shove of a turbo and feel of urgency.
But I'd say the EP3 is definitely the quicker car despite how it feels, and certainly feels livelier.
I was initially put off even looking at the Type R having read many a time on here about it being gutless and having no torque. I can tell you first hand that it's crap - it sits at 30-40 mph in 6th gear without juddering and pulls more than well enough to keep up with traffic even when nowhere near the v-tec band. Same can be said about motorway use, again in 6th it pulls without problem - but stick it in 4th and it really flies. And it probably has the best gear box I've used.
I'd go so far to say it's just as usable as any other turbo hot hatch out there, its jeckyl and hide nature has really grown on me.
Rich_W said:
Smart For2. Wanted to hate it. But actually loved thrashing it round some lanes. The Roadster was EVEN better than I was expecting too.
Big fan of these now.
Same here, drove on briefly and loved it, ForTwo that is, not had the pleasure of the Roadster, would seriously consider a ForTwo at some point as a town car.Big fan of these now.
Had a quick blast in a 500 Abarth the other day.
Admittedly not the SS version, but it didn't feel that quick, sounded coarse, and the brakes and steering were like switches - no feedback whatsoever. I was very disappointed, I wanted to love it, but it wasn't nearly as involving as my old Civ VTI.
Admittedly not the SS version, but it didn't feel that quick, sounded coarse, and the brakes and steering were like switches - no feedback whatsoever. I was very disappointed, I wanted to love it, but it wasn't nearly as involving as my old Civ VTI.
Citroen ZX 1.9TD Volcane.
1090kg, 90bhp, 205 tyres all round, suspension (essentially the same as the ZX 16v, and Pug 306/Gti6) and handling were really quite good on bumpy twisty b roads.
In terms of perception things don't get much lower than a ZX, so it easily exceeded them. I ended up keeping it as a hack for 2 years, and rather wish i still had it
1090kg, 90bhp, 205 tyres all round, suspension (essentially the same as the ZX 16v, and Pug 306/Gti6) and handling were really quite good on bumpy twisty b roads.
In terms of perception things don't get much lower than a ZX, so it easily exceeded them. I ended up keeping it as a hack for 2 years, and rather wish i still had it
Had a Renault Scenic hire car from work a few years ago. At the time I was driving a Focus ST170, so was expecting the scenic to be slow and terrible round corners.
Actually I ended up loving the Scenic. Sitting high up with a great view of the road, loads of gadgets, and a huge electric sunroof which almost made it feel like a convertible. Okay it didn't drive that well, but for a few days it didn't really matter. Gave me a completely different perspective on driving - it's not all about power and handling.
Actually I ended up loving the Scenic. Sitting high up with a great view of the road, loads of gadgets, and a huge electric sunroof which almost made it feel like a convertible. Okay it didn't drive that well, but for a few days it didn't really matter. Gave me a completely different perspective on driving - it's not all about power and handling.
For some reason I expected a Fiat Seicento I got for £50 to be a real fun car to drive.
I think I paid £49 too much for it.
I expected my Volvo 940 to be a real lumbering old bus. And it most definitely is, but it turns out lumbering around in a bus like manner actually has some appeal when there's no rush to get somewhere. My appreciation of a smooth ride and no tyre noise has grown massively.
I think I paid £49 too much for it.
I expected my Volvo 940 to be a real lumbering old bus. And it most definitely is, but it turns out lumbering around in a bus like manner actually has some appeal when there's no rush to get somewhere. My appreciation of a smooth ride and no tyre noise has grown massively.
)Took a Clio 172 in PX a few years ago, was really excited as I'd always read so much about them and was very disappointed, felt slow and had a horrible gearbox (French!).
Ford Puma always thought it was a massive gay mobile but the first corner I went round completely changed my mind. As someone else said Ford Ka cracking fun.
Ford Puma always thought it was a massive gay mobile but the first corner I went round completely changed my mind. As someone else said Ford Ka cracking fun.
Hired a 1L renault twingo on holiday in fueteventura a few weeks back, I thought it was going to be horrible. Admittedly it was probably the slowest thing I've ever driven but I managed to get it over mountains on dirt roads and everything without a problem.
I went to the Renault World Series at the weekend and actually quite liked the look of the Twingo Sport or whatever it is, would never have one though.
I went to the Renault World Series at the weekend and actually quite liked the look of the Twingo Sport or whatever it is, would never have one though.
pilchardthecat said:
Citroen ZX 1.9TD Volcane.
1090kg, 90bhp, 205 tyres all round, suspension (essentially the same as the ZX 16v, and Pug 306/Gti6) and handling were really quite good on bumpy twisty b roads.
In terms of perception things don't get much lower than a ZX, so it easily exceeded them. I ended up keeping it as a hack for 2 years, and rather wish i still had it
I had a Volcane, it was a quick for sure.1090kg, 90bhp, 205 tyres all round, suspension (essentially the same as the ZX 16v, and Pug 306/Gti6) and handling were really quite good on bumpy twisty b roads.
In terms of perception things don't get much lower than a ZX, so it easily exceeded them. I ended up keeping it as a hack for 2 years, and rather wish i still had it
Only 90bhp, is that right?
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