StevoD Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Just had a new auris 1.6 tdi rental drove from Cambridge to Dublin and back very well built id honestly say better materials than the Vw lot managed 64mpg average over the two way trip and that wasnt driving like miss daisy, would 100% have one if i was in the market for a new family hatch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevoD Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 I had better explain. 1/ The horrific fit of body panels. Look like they were cobbled together in a barn by a bunch of drunks. 2/ The interior quality. Like a 50s race car, not a 90s road car. 3/ Rubbish gear change. Lumpy and with ratios far too wide for the turbo lag-laden engine. 4/ Brakes poor, indeed totally inadequate for a car which can do 201 mph. (Good luck getting that speed though.) 5/ An engine far too hastily rolled out. 478 bhp from 2.9 litres, but with horrific turbo lag. The 458 is a light year better. A 3.5 engine would have been a lot better. 6/ Fit and finish on a par with a 90s Kia. It's a kit car. 1,100 kgs. 478 bhp. A million pounds to buy a mint one now. Give me my mate's 750 bhp Ultima pushrod Corvette any day. 1,200 kgs. You can have one in top nick for £80,000 with that power and real shove from idle. 580 lbs-ft. 0-100 in 5 seconds. have you just compared a F40 to a new 458 and surprised the 458 is better? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peak 370 Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Sorry, 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer X 330 auto. Forgot that waste of money. Very yuk, mostly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peak 370 Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 The F40 was rubbish in all the ways I said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peak 370 Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Other than getting a F40, storing it and hoping it makes you money, no reason to buy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevoD Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Lambo gallardo dsg hated it speed etc yes was nice but driving position was horrific didnt like the channel to the foot well the only place to put my feet was the pedals which i didnt like much rather the R8 Better than expect new Fabia VRS 1.4 tsi goes like a rocket and hangs well for what it is shame it looks like a boiled sweet 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skier_kev Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Better - original mini. Flat out everywhere Better - escort rs turbo mk2 130bhp felt fast back then Worst - austin montego... just dreadful Better - Ford puma - great handling Worse - audi a3 quattro zzzzzzz... Better - Honda s2000. Great engine and best gear change ever. Worse - 911 was a great car, but cost me absolutely 000's. Worse - golf gti mkiv. Numb, boring. Better - seat Leon 1.2 copa - pretty decent little motor. Better - current stable - audi a6 3.0 tdi avant and 350z family and fun... Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coldel Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Worse - 55 plate Vauxhall Astra, I thought it would be a good family car, its just really awful in everything it does. Soulless. Better - VW Scirocco 1.4TSi, I didnt think I would be getting much car going for the bottom of the range option, stunning interior and a 1400cc engine that is twin charged putting out 180bhp is pretty good going. Just seemed to ooze class and loved the styling. Better - 05 plate Vauxhall Corsa 1.4TDi, the older shaped ones, four doors, super practical, drove to Newcastle from SW London on about 35 quids worth of diesel. A solid honest car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilMH Posted June 16, 2014 Author Share Posted June 16, 2014 Interesting about the F40. Sometimes it becomes de-rigeur to say something is wonderful, irrespective. Have a really soft spot for original Minis. A mate of mine has the twin charged engine in an A3 and it is an incredible thing (the engine that is). Dude, how old are you? Ha! Dave - it sounds from this that you may have discovered the secret of eternal life? If you have please PM me. If you haven't then I have some incredibly bad news for you. In the time I have written this you will have got older (sadly so have I) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATTAK Z Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Sunbeam Rapier - now you're talking. My budget only ran to a Hillman Minx My Rapier was the first nice car I owned ... bought with a £450 loan from my mother the year I qualified Dude, how old are you? Ha! Ha Ha ... very (Older than Colin and mbs) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Just had a Toyota Avensis as a rental this weekend for the rear seats - epic fail in expectations. I wasn't expecting much and it delivered even less. Interior is dangerously dull, it nearly made me sleep behind the wheel. The steering is obscenely light. The turbo lag ridiculous (the Zed hits 60 before the turbo kicks in on this). Gearbox was about 8 square miles in area and the gearing is bizarre, seems to go up to 10mph in first and 6th has no pull at all I could detect (up to legal speeds). However, the boot was big and the boot aperture was low and wide - this was the best thing about it. I had a Fiesta as a rental a while back, massively exceeded expectations. Great fun to drive, poke, grip, top quality interior for a small car, felt bigger than it was. I'd have one of these as a sensible car in a second! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 (edited) Lotus Elise S1 - As expected in terms of handling and power but far more reliable than what everyone says. Very focused to drive but can be a bit annoying as a daily. Honda Civic Type R EP3 - Very disappointing in performance, slow, quiet and needs working far too much for very little reward. A really big let down for a Type R. Mazda Eunos MK1 - So much fun for such little power only improved upon with better springs. Reliable, fun, quirky and a total hoot to drive. Subaru Impreza WRX Blobeye - Does exactly what it says it will do. Reliable, practical, fast, rewarding, comfortable. Would never not own one and longest owning car I have had. Amazing workhorse. Honda Integra Type R DC5 - Truly magnificent, hugely rewarding, extremely driver focused, very fast with incredible handling. Amazing looks, massive head turner, feels like a race car and close to if not the best car I have owned. Edited June 16, 2014 by Linus27 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suits Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Honda Civic Type R EP3 - Very disappointing in performance, slow, quiet and needs working far too much for very little reward. A really big let down for a Type R. Honda Integra Type R DC5 - Truly magnificent, hugely rewarding, extremely driver focused, very fast with incredible handling. Amazing looks, massive head turner, feels like a race car and close to if not the best car I have owned. Odd, as both those cars have the same engine, gearbox, suspension and many other same parts. Mad what a diff and proper steering does to a car hey !?! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetSet Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Have a really soft spot for original Minis. My dad had one of the early Mini's, bought it brand new in 1961. I also had a 1965 Mini Van with a push button starter, dip switch on the floor, sliding windows, hinges on the outside of the door ,one of those pieces of string that opened the door and a gearstick that was several feet long and moved under acceleration . I also had 2 facelift minis both from new an 850 in 1970 and a 1000 in 1974. Not very comfortable or reliable but great fun to drive. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevoD Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Honda Civic Type R EP3 - Very disappointing in performance, slow, quiet and needs working far too much for very little reward. A really big let down for a Type R. Honda Integra Type R DC5 - Truly magnificent, hugely rewarding, extremely driver focused, very fast with incredible handling. Amazing looks, massive head turner, feels like a race car and close to if not the best car I have owned. Odd, as both those cars have the same engine, gearbox, suspension and many other same parts. Mad what a diff and proper steering does to a car hey !?! took the words out my mouth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Honda Civic Type R EP3 - Very disappointing in performance, slow, quiet and needs working far too much for very little reward. A really big let down for a Type R. Honda Integra Type R DC5 - Truly magnificent, hugely rewarding, extremely driver focused, very fast with incredible handling. Amazing looks, massive head turner, feels like a race car and close to if not the best car I have owned. Odd, as both those cars have the same engine, gearbox, suspension and many other same parts. Mad what a diff and proper steering does to a car hey !?! Yeah but DC5 has wider track, different cams, different pistons, different inlet, different header, different exhaust, different steering (hydraulic on DC5 and electric on EP3), LSD on DC5, different brake calipers and discs, different gear ratios, different damping on the rear, different engine map, stiffer chassis, stiffer springs and a few other minor parts. Oh, and a different version of the K20a engine. So, yeah, exactly the same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peak 370 Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 Audi A2 was a big surprise. I had one whilst on holiday in Iceland. Tiny overall size, punchy 1.4 diesel engine but loads of space inside. Quality way better than most small cars and a very light feel to the car. We were getting 55 mpg too. From a car which came out what, 15 years ago? Very impressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 987 Boxster S. Before driving one I hated the brand with a passion, then drove one and realised that they're actually stunning cars. Caterham. On a warm day they're immense, but on a cold one they're the most spiteful things ever invented. I never thought I could hate track driving in an R300 so much, but Combe at -3c changed my mind. Awful. Focus mk3. First two are possibly the finest shopping trolley cars you can buy, but the third is an absolute abortion of an automobile. Gutless, feels engineered to a budget, ugly arse end, interior is a mess of design etc. Vile. GT-R. Not driven, only as a pax at Anglesey, but it felt slow (relatively) and leaden. The interior was much cheaper than a £60K car should've been too with questionable materials, comfort, and ergonomics. I suspect the driver was being a big girl which explains the first part, but not the second. MX-5 mk1. Should be a slow, noisy, tinny old rustbucket. Instead it's a delight of feedback, delicacy, poise, and style. And rust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suits Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 So, yeah, exactly the same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilMH Posted June 17, 2014 Author Share Posted June 17, 2014 (edited) I think the Audi A2 was the Martin Peters of cars (if you get my somewhat ancient point). Re Caterham I had a similar experience at Bedford in a monsoon, when the tracks had only just re-opened (that was a Supersport I think). They would be very sensitive to tyres as well. I used to use both of mine in the winter but you do have to get used to the idea that everything happens very quickly even at low speeds (if that makes any sense). If I recall the Top Gear Stig cold weather lap I am not sure he ever had the wheels pointing in the direction of travel Edited June 17, 2014 by NeilMH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coldel Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 'spose I should throw in the old VX220. Bought the 150bhp 'slow one' without the turbo, so thought it would be a good car without being amazing. It was this car that showed me that power isnt everything and that a car can be so fast and give so much feedback if the designers put a little bit of thought into it. Still the best 'driving car' I have driven. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudman Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 Long Terms normally bought for practicality 2.2 kids etc but over the years inc hire cars not sure of exact model but they were all new : - Ford Mustang - very meh...maybe its the pretty much 65 mph throughout the States that we all stick to as their cops are armed but for performance and ride give me a Zed anytime Vauxhall Astra - sports diesel - cracking little car - very nippy, comfortable Hyundai i30 - good spec, good ride - nice car Ford Mondeo Estate - (Champions League spec!) HAd this for 2 weeks in Italy - lovely car to drive very comfortable and quite nippy around the windy roads on thge Amalfi coast Chrysler Cruiser - fun car has this in the States although small boot for its size Toyota Hilux - my first company vehicle in PNG - solid great suspension and trust me thats needed - bit sluggish Nissan D40 Navarro - 2nd PNG car Amazingly quick for a UTE - suspension is not as good as the Toyota but wonderful 2.5 turbo engine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ts743 Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Better than expected - Morris Marina TC. Plenty of over-steer, sloppy handling and 100bhp gave it bags of character. Generally fun. Better than expected - 3rd Gen Honda Prelude 2.0i 16v 4WS. Everything is amazing about this car. Better than expected - Peugeot 309 GLD. Will go anywhere (on road and off, in and out of water) without getting stuck, well balanced chassis and incredibly reliable. Worse than expected - Seat Leon Cupra 1.8t. Flat, unresponsive engine, far too over-complicated for what it is. Generally un-inspiring. Met expectations - Mitsubishi Evo 2 - Knew it would be amazing, it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyZ33HR Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 (edited) Disappointed: 89 Honda CRX; - i don't care what anyone says, the handling of these things are utter balls in standard form. Thank god it was stolen. Great engine though, that's all it did have going for it. Disappointed: Fiat Punto GT; Everything about it sucked, utter scrap, no need to elaborate further. Disappointed: Focus ST 2.5; Build quality Disappointed: BMW Mini Cooper (drives in both sisters and female friend's car) good handling but gutless! I'd like a spin in a JCW to see if my mind could be changed on the little Mini's Exceeded: Mitsubishi Evo 5; the power was really impressive, 4wd with AYC (when it worked) felt like it was on rails, great build quality Exceeded: Starlet GT EP82; loved every part of it, reliable, an absolute pocket rocket, easy to work on, one of my best cars, never failed to impress me. Exceeded: Golf GTi 20v Turbo; only 150bhp standard but felt like more, once remapped it just got better! Exceeded: 350z HR, was worried it would feel much less able than my Evo, i was so wrong! If only the zed had FI stock for affordable big gains. Edited July 10, 2014 by AndyZ33HR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilMH Posted July 10, 2014 Author Share Posted July 10, 2014 Better than expected - Morris Marina TC. Plenty of over-steer, sloppy handling and 100bhp gave it bags of character. Generally fun. Better than expected - 3rd Gen Honda Prelude 2.0i 16v 4WS. Everything is amazing about this car. Better than expected - Peugeot 309 GLD. Will go anywhere (on road and off, in and out of water) without getting stuck, well balanced chassis and incredibly reliable. Worse than expected - Seat Leon Cupra 1.8t. Flat, unresponsive engine, far too over-complicated for what it is. Generally un-inspiring. Met expectations - Mitsubishi Evo 2 - Knew it would be amazing, it is. I agree re 309 - I think it was even better than the 205 because it had a longer wheelbase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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