RE: Service History: In an ordinary world

RE: Service History: In an ordinary world

Sunday 29th July 2018

PH Service History: In an ordinary world

Scrof laments the passing of a time when even the most bog-standard family hatchbacks were sweet to drive



Prepare the nostalgia klaxon: this week we’re going to spend a bit of time remembering the ’90s. You see, the era of cool Britannia, Oasis vs Blur vs Pulp, curtains on your head as well as on the windows, and France winning the world cup the first time around was also responsible for giving us some of the sweetest-driving bog-standard cars there ever were – or indeed, ever will be.

Why does this matter? Well, at risk of trivialising the process, it isn’t too hard to build a fun performance car. However, building a car for the people – the sort of thing that’ll truck back and forth to the supermarket each day, yet still feel delightful doing so – is rather trickier. And it’s an art manufacturers – for the most part – have forgotten. Today, sadly, the majority of boggo cooking-spec models suffer from over-light, feel-free steering, notchy manual gearboxes with ratios all to cock to game emissions regs, weedy engines bolstered by a dollop of torque either at the top or the bottom end, and a general sense of disconnection and, frankly, disappointment.

I was reminded of this the other day when I was allowed to have a go in an entirely humdrum Honda Civic 1.6 LS. A unique opportunity, because this wasn’t just some clapped-out old bone of the sort you’ll find in the dregs of the classifieds, but because it was an absolute minter, owned by Honda and with just 469 miles on the clock. Yes, you read that right.


The story with this old thing was quite special. Seems it, along with a couple of other cars of the time, had been kept back at the production line by Honda UK at Swindon in the early ‘90s. The idea was that they’d be factory runarounds; however, they were never registered for the road, and sat simply gathering dust in a forgotten corner – until, faintly unbelievably, some time last year, when Honda’s PR team got wind of, and rapidly appropriated, them.

So there we were – even more bizarrely, and for tenuously legitimate reasons, somewhere south of Barcelona – with a delivery-mileage 1995 Honda Civic to take for a little razz, and a chance to find out what this 1990s family favourite felt like when it was brand new.

I was entirely prepared to be underwhelmed. I mean, this was a very blog car even in period; sure, the 1.6-litre VTEC engine was peppy, with 133hp, but still, 0-62 took just shy of 11 seconds, with top whack an entirely unremarkable 119mph. What's more, it's not as if thisgeneration of Civic was ever renowned in its day for the sort of fine handling you’d find in a Ford. And, if I’m honest, that’s not what I got. The Civic was, and still is, very ordinary to drive – a family-sized front-wheel-drive hatchback which, if you push it too hard, will tend to understeer.


And yet. Around the edges of that ordinariness lay simple pleasures the like of which you might not have noticed you’ve been going without. Things like a progressive throttle pedal and feelsome clutch that make it difficult not to pull away or swap cogs beautifully smoothly, each and every time; an engine with a smooth power curve and no nasty flat spots, and gear ratios that feel logical and well-placed. Not to mention, of course, a cushiony-smooth ride.

All this in a mid-range family hatch known for anything but its dynamic prowess. I handed the keys back with mixed feelings – an unexpected fondness for, and delight with, this little Civic, but also a pang of disappointment that they don’t make ’em like they used to.

The thing is, I know they don’t, and I think I understand why. Yet sometimes I wonder whether it’d really be so hard for manufacturers to engineer in just a little more finesse here and there. Less damping on the clutch, for example, so we can actually feel what it’s doing, and the same goes for the gearbox. And perhaps less of the ridiculous variable steering that spears you off into the car park barrier if you turn the wheel just a smidge too quickly.


Of course, the chance would be a fine thing, especially with the current drive toward less, rather than more, involvement for the driver. So maybe those of us in search of sweetness in the everyday will have to content ourselves with the old Civic, and its contemporaries. Cars like this rather charming old Megane,a high-end 2.0 RXE and bone-stock down to the hubcaps and replete with squishy velour seats and the sort of ride quality the French used to do so well. 

Or keep it Honda with this lovely Accord 2.0, complete with air con, four electric windows, plasti-wood and, if my memory serves me right, you even get cruise control thrown in with these. Such mod cons. Yes, it’s pricey, but find another with this sort of mileage. And if those are just a bit too boring for you, how about this 1998 E36 BMW 328i manual? It’s smart, comfy, and unassuming, yet it has a fantastic six-pot engine with more than enough oomph to make it feel fast, and it should ride and handle fantastically well by modern standards.

No, everyday cars aren’t what they once were. And while there are very good reasons for that, it’s still a bit of a shame. I for one miss the days when something as ordinary as a Focus or an Astra would surprise you with its innate balance and feel, and when even a plain-jane Honda Civic felt smooth and sweet enough to make you smile. So if you get the chance, have a go in something ordinary from the 90s soon. I’ll warrant it’ll be better than you’re expecting.

Author
Discussion

rix

Original Poster:

2,776 posts

189 months

Sunday 29th July 2018
quotequote all
When I read this, the first car that came to mind was a Peugeot 406, having had a quick mooch, I think they’ve even aged very well!

T1berious

2,242 posts

154 months

Sunday 29th July 2018
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I'm no expert but isn't part of the reason normal cars feel like buses compared to their brethren of the 90's due to weight?

I mean back then 190 Bhp only had to push around 1200kg but now even a warm Focus with 180 Bhp has to push around 1500Kg!

The list of things that add weight is long but our needs as motorists have changed too. High NCAP ratings aside, the infotainment and connectivity reqs compared to electric windows and Pioneer head unit are night and day smile.

Which is probably why entertaining Hot hatches now have an entry point of 300 Bhp!

Could you imagine a Golf Mk II with with even 80% of that! smile

No wonder going to a time warp Civic would feel like a Caterham compared to current cars.

T1b

Bonefish Blues

26,435 posts

222 months

Sunday 29th July 2018
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I remember many cars of this era with fondness. Pug 405s, a 406, an E36 316i, Mk2 Golfs, first Gen Mondeo.

Not overburdened (to say the least!) with power, but really lovely to drive at speeds which felt fast but weren't.


VolvoMariner

38 posts

146 months

Sunday 29th July 2018
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This is so true. I bought an L reg Audi 80 on a whim with zero expectations and discovered I love driving it. Whilst not fast, when driving it, going fast doesn’t seem to matter, it’s nice just going around...It even sounds great, especially when changing up at high revs. You are less insulated from the driving experience, which is nice.


adricmarsh

14 posts

106 months

Sunday 29th July 2018
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RE the factory runaround. A google can probably find the detail but from memory back in the day an original mini was used as a factory runaround in I want to say Longbridge. It had a bit of an accident which put a dent in the roof, so it was hidden in the basement (old bomb shelter?). When it was discovered this side of 2000 it was repaired and auctioned off for a pretty penny

E92Dee330i

9 posts

98 months

Sunday 29th July 2018
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Omg, I’ve been feeling the same since my e92 330 has been sat on the drive with 3 wheels (yes, BMW’s chocolate wheel has struck for the second time in a few months) - been driving around in a 1999 306 1.4 meridian - wow how relaxing is it?!

I can actually drive safely as in scan the road well ahead instead of a few meters ahead. I can breeze past other traffic because I can stay in the inside lanes of most multi-lane roads and keep a steady pace due to nobody a) using these lanes and b) nobody trying to cut me off thinking I’m undertaking to get past the unlike in the BM.

And the comfort........so much so that I’m trying to get my Mum who owns the Pug to buy a new car so I can have it!

75bhp vs 268bhp and the smaller car feels more fun to drive!

Bring back comfy cars!

CABC

5,528 posts

100 months

Sunday 29th July 2018
quotequote all
so much is wrong with modern cars yet the modernists on here will always cry "rose tinted.." blah.
in 2018 we have the best technology, engineering and manufacturing processes. Problem is that manufacturers aren't even trying to make good driving cars. Both the customers and legislation want something else.

Scary thought, but what if Dacia made a sports car?

bozzy.

778 posts

77 months

Sunday 29th July 2018
quotequote all
I’ve just jumped in a new Toyota Aygo and I’m delighted with the way it drives. In part this is due to the fact its grip limits are much lower than I’m used to, but also because you can feel far more of what is going on due to it being such a small, light car. It’s great fun down a tight country lane, and I’d imagine one of its contemporaries from 25 years earlier would feel even better.

Rich Boy Spanner

1,291 posts

129 months

Sunday 29th July 2018
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The -90's were a good era for cars, greater differentiation between models, more distinctive looks, and more freedom to drive too. Pre average speed camera, SMART motorway and there was still a sense of freedom. I'll give higher safety and fuel economy to new cars and that is a massive advance, but driving, wanting, lusting after modern cars. Nope, not a bit.

aaron_2000

5,407 posts

82 months

Sunday 29th July 2018
quotequote all
rix said:
When I read this, the first car that came to mind was a Peugeot 406, having had a quick mooch, I think they’ve even aged very well!
Funny, the 405 was the first that came to mine. Weren't the 90's Ford Escorts uninspiring to drive though? I thought it was Peugeot back then that were known for making the drivers cars? I forgot how smart those Accords look though. I used to think nothing of them when they were used by taxi drivers, but I just realised, I've not seen one for a few years now. Handsome looking car, as I think quite a number of 90's Honda's were.

Black S2K

1,462 posts

248 months

Sunday 29th July 2018
quotequote all
bozzy. said:
I’ve just jumped in a new Toyota Aygo and I’m delighted with the way it drives. In part this is due to the fact its grip limits are much lower than I’m used to, but also because you can feel far more of what is going on due to it being such a small, light car. It’s great fun down a tight country lane, and I’d imagine one of its contemporaries from 25 years earlier would feel even better.
I have to admit, I rather like the Aygo, too!

There's something of an old-school Peugeot in its chassis feel (not unsurprisingly) and the engine's incredible roughness is its only solecism.

Ocellia

186 posts

148 months

Sunday 29th July 2018
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Just what I'm doing at the moment -looking for a (say) 20 year old car that's comfortable. Our 2000 Micra 1.3 is a great runabout -just, again! - through MOT with no advisories. So something a little bigger for more comfort on longer journeys thought about. Modern cars are full of gismos, and generally ride FAR too hard. Being able to 'fly thru' corners' is NOT high on my list of features. Give me (memories of DS23) squishy seats and compliant suspension.
Thanks for this reminder!

Notanotherturbo

494 posts

206 months

Sunday 29th July 2018
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I think the driver interface in 80s and 90s cars were so less filtered, the steering purer (usually unassisted in smaller cars) and more direct, the gearchange more mechanical. They rode better because they didn't have massive wheels and nobody had heard of the Nürburgring. I don't mind a firm ride on the sportiest versions of a model but everyone is so bothered about what their cars look like that every Corsa/A3 etc is running big wheels and hard suspension. The manufacturers have properly bought into this now, mugging people of with S-Line, ST Line, AMG line. I drive older cars because I prefer them, every time I drive my wifes one series I come away disappointed, steering is awful!

James Junior

827 posts

156 months

Sunday 29th July 2018
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I once bought an Alfa 156 2.5 V6 for £750 and used it to do the Screwball Rally. I went on to keep it for two and a half years driving it almost daily until all the paint and laquer peeled off. I just loved the way it drove, the comfort, the steering, the gear change...it just put a massive smile on my face every time I drove it.

I now run an E39 530i M Sport as a daily and that again is just a lovely thing to spend time in.

So many of the cars conceived in the 90s just seem to provide that perfect balance of modernity and engagement.

SidewaysSi

10,742 posts

233 months

Sunday 29th July 2018
quotequote all
80s-90s cars are great and if you get something that was a good drive in those days, chances are it will be a lot more fun than most modern cars. Much as new cars are safer, older cars tend to be more fun.

PH should do an article on old vs new. Get some examples of properly maintained/upgraded older stuff and pit them against the equivalent new car on road in the UK and see which is the more fun/engaging.

In such conditions, I personally would find an old Peugeot (106/205/306) more enthralling than a new M4 for instance.

aaron_2000

5,407 posts

82 months

Sunday 29th July 2018
quotequote all
SidewaysSi said:
Much as new cars are safer, older cars tend to be more fun.

That's the thing though, when you're selling a car to the average consumer, what will the really care more about?

Maldini35

2,913 posts

187 months

Sunday 29th July 2018
quotequote all
Interesting thread.
I came to the same conclusion a while ago.
Find a decent 90’s car that isn’t totally shagged, then spend no more than £300-400 on new bushes, track rod ends, dampers, exhaust hangers, tyres, gearbox oil, discs and pads, brake hoses, engine oil and filter and plugs.
Buy bog standard items from Euro car parts as they will no doubt have a 40% sale on.
Fit them yourself on the driveway - all you need is a jack, a couple of axle stands and a socket set.
Then you have a sweet little runaround that might just be reliable too.
All for the price of 3 monthly repayments on a modern hatchback.
The mental hurdle is to spend time and money on a car of such little value.
If you get over that then you’re in for a treat.



anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 29th July 2018
quotequote all
Maldini35 said:
Find a decent 90’s car that isn’t totally shagged, then spend no more than £300-400 on new bushes, track rod ends, dampers, exhaust hangers, tyres, gearbox oil, discs and pads, brake hoses, engine oil and filter and plugs.
rofl

MC Bodge

21,551 posts

174 months

Sunday 29th July 2018
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There is a lot of truth in that article. I'd like to drive a good 1994 Mk1 Mondeo again to see what it was like. My Dad's 1992 Cavalier handled terribly in comparison.

The Rover 200 seemed good at the time.

It's not 90s, but our (very good condition) hand-me-down 2006 Mk6.5 Fiesta Zetec, which feels as if it it is from a previous era in a good way, feels really light, responsive and nice to drive. It is narrower than modern small cars too, which is great for town and for tight, narrow lanes. No infotainment to speak of, although I have plumbed in a plug in DAB.

Edited by MC Bodge on Sunday 29th July 21:41

sjabrown

1,909 posts

159 months

Sunday 29th July 2018
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I learned to drive in a Pug 306 diesel. Really easy to drive, smooth, lots of torque (you could pull away in 2nd), smoothed out all ruts in the road. If I could find an un-shagged one now...

My cheap runaround is a 2002 Corsavan. Small wheels, comfy seats, slow, but I never feel uncomfortable even driving it long distances unlike many more modern things I've driven.