Drive-A-Likes

[warren t claim]

Pete M recently likening the driving experience of his Senny to a W124 has got me wondering what other cars share a similar characteristics? Obviously I'm not talking about the likes of the Ambassador feeling a lot like a Princess to drive, but cars made by different manufactures.

 

Here's a couple of examples, everything is subjective and your opinions will probably differ from mine.

 

I've always thought the Cav drove a lot like one of these...

 

...and the Strada drives like one of these.... Mind you, from that angle they even look similar!

 

Anyone care to offer their own suggestions?

[Skizzer]

Hmm, thought-provoking.

 

This

IMG_1146 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

reminds me a bit of my old one of these:

[dollywobbler]

Bizzarely, I think that these:

 

Share a lot in driving terms with these:

 

You need to thrash both to keep moving at a decent lick, and they both seem to love it. Both are super-simple and on modern rubber, Wartburgs even handle pretty well, though with a fair degree of bodyroll.

 

Another similarity is this pair.

 

One is super cool and over-valued, the other drives in a very similar manner and is a fraction of the cost. No brainer!

[Spiny Norman]

I currently have this Saab...

 

And I once had one of these...

 

And there are a surprising number of similarities.

Both have very eager if slightly rough, unrefined engines that give them a better turn of speed than you were expecting.

They feel VERY similar to drive, with comfy seats but a terrible driving position due to them not being quite straight behind the pedals and steering wheel. Same too-far-forward gear lever and notchy gear feel, same slabby, creaky black dashboard, same huge boot with a rattly tailgate, even the slightly scrabbly fwd handling with the well damped but slightly crashy suspension is quite similar.

 

I know the later 900s shared a fair bit of DNA with the Mk3 Cavvy but it's surprising how similar these two feel.

[Guest]

Basic-spec Peugeot 306s drive like MK4 Escorts (in a good way).

[j-j]

Hmm, thought-provoking.

 

This

IMG_1146 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

reminds me a bit of my old one of these:

Really???? Haha I would never have thought!

[Lankytim]

I find an Audi A4 drives just like a Passat.

[eddyramrod]

740 is a lot like:

A late 70s Cadillac. True. Enough power without being insane; more than enough weight; soft suspension; big squashy seats; light power steering. I'll happily do either again, any time.

 

Now you're going to love this....

A one-litre, three-cylinder, Japanese shopping trolley, and...

A two-litre fuel-injected family-size hot hatch!

BUT! both are insanely willing, begging you to plant your foot and enjoy them. Again, I'd have either of these in the future.

[Albert Ross]

This...

Unsurprisingly, drives like this...

 

But also this... which is odd as it's FWD. And wobbly suspension....(My old W126 was coil sprung)

 

Yeah, I googled the pics, what of it like.....?

[dollywobbler]

I'm not sure I get the Rover 75/BX thing either, having owned both. This is all about opinion though so get the Danger flags out! I doubt we'll all agree!

[Skizzer]

I'm not sure I get the Rover 75/BX thing either, having owned both. This is all about opinion though so get the Danger flags out! I doubt we'll all agree!

 

None taken Ian! Since you recently owned both at the same time and I haven't driven a BX in several years, I'm happy to defer. It may also be that since most of what I drive is German(-ic), anything that can pass over cats' eyes without rattling my teeth feels like a hydropneumatic Citroen to me.

[fiatdaft]

A fiat tempra drives like a lancia dedra

[Negative Creep]

Most modern cars feel exactly the same

[Pete-M]

I have to agree with the W126 / Scorpio Ultima thing. I drove an immaculate 500 SE a few weeks ago and there is something in it. Ford has much better steering and squashier seats but the ride in both is just that bit more thumpy than you'd expect.

 

Kind of understand the BX / 75 thing. They both ride well enough to make 'em great motorway cruisers, have fragile feeling gear shifts and steer better than you'd expect.

[Cavcraft]

 

And

 

 

Had a slightly lowered Satria 1.5 Sport with an aftermarket exhaust, it really was like a 205 GTi: fast, loads of torque, handled very well and just felt like a real hooligan car. To continue the similarities it also felt fairly badly made and had some bits that only worked when they wanted to.

[Rocket88]

Senator / Carlton gsi = BMW 5 SERIES...........identical steering feel and suspension characteristics

[dollywobbler]

Kind of understand the BX / 75 thing. They both ride well enough to make 'em great motorway cruisers, have fragile feeling gear shifts and steer better than you'd expect.

 

That's certainly true. The biggest differences are that the BX feels much more lithe in the corners, and the visibility is heaps better. The 75 has that 'cocoon' feel of most modern cars that I don't really like.

 

I've spent a fair bit of time at the wheel of 5-Series Beemers, so I'd love to do likewise with a Carlton/Senator so I can report back on comparisons.

[kinkersaab]

These, drive like

 

[RoadworkUK]

Pete-M will undoubtedly shout "Bollocks!" from the back of the class on what I'm about to say. But...

 

 

Drives like...

 

 

Or vice versa. Stick with me here....

 

Push the accelerator into the wilton and both cars gather momentum smoothly and silently, rather than lunging forward like a stabbed rat. In both cars the engine sounds distant and insulated, and in both cars the bow lifts up like a speedboat. Finally, both the 800 and the Seraph have a feeling of total disconnection from what's going on beneath you. Twirl the wheel and you know you're ownly vaguely involved in the whole control experience. You can only advise the car, not throw it around. The two cars seemingly aim to appeal to the same demographic, albeit possibly at slightly different ends of the fiscal spectrum. Only being totally incomparable in terms of engineering sets them apart.

 

In my wholly disillusioned mind Rover 800 is to MG ZT as Rolls-Royce Seraph is to Bentley Arnage.

 

Also, '96-'09 Ka feels like '59 to '00 Mini.

[Pete-M]

Bollocks.Not having that one!!

[Spiny Norman]

Senator / Carlton gsi = BMW 5 SERIES...........identical steering feel and suspension characteristics

 

Add the E class Benz to that list too. I've found most 3 litre straight 6 automatic German barges feel pretty much identical. Possibly the Merc feels slightly less agile than the BMW but there's not much in it.

[RoadworkUK]

Bollocks.

 

[dollywobbler]

I'm with Pete on the Roller v Rover. I'm not sure I've driven anything that gets close to the Rolls for unabashed luxury and solidity. W126 Mercs get close and are ridiculously refined, but they're no so full of leather that they creak as you drive along.

 

Here's a Drive-Not-A-like that surprised me. Alfa Romeo 164 and Saab 9000. Same platform, massively different driving experience. The Alfa feels nimble yet rides well, the Saab feels saggy and uninspiring and the ride isn't as good as it should be. Need to try the Fiat Croma and Lancia Thema to complete the set now.

[RoadworkUK]

To clarify the above, I don't mean that the two are any way directly comparable, of course. I just meant that those three points that I described reminded me of the Rover, or rather how the Rover wanted to be. But I probably should have kept it to myself, lest I resemble a gibbering imbecile. Never mind!

[eddyramrod]

Senator / Carlton gsi = BMW 5 SERIES

 

Oh gee thanks. As an ex-owner of a 5, you have now totally put me off Pete's gorgeous-looking Senator. I'll have to find another way to get my luxobarge jollies.