Unsung heroes of the modern age

[forddeliveryboy]

By modern, p'rhaps 1990s onwards? Post Junkman 1986, anyhoos. 

 

My recent like is a Galaxy/Sharan/Alhambra, born 1995. They're well-engineered, cheapish to buy and offer everything an Octavia or 406 estate does but with a better view and much more room. Just as fast, too.

 

If you're single then buy something exciting, but if you've a family they're ace! VR6s go for peanuts and sound good, TDis have an Eberspacher to kill the midges and are veg-munchers. If a van is too slow and an estate too small, voila!

 

[hauserplenty]

Those are a great idea. They've only recently begun to sell econo-vans in the US, of which the Mazda5 rates highly. But no VW offerings yet. There are also the Ford Transit Connect, and the Nissan NV200, among others.

Top bombing!

[Barry Cade]

Original Multispace/kangoo for me. Genius.

[Asimo]

[Cavcraft]

+1 for the GalaShalambra, especially the TDi ones.

[D Spares & Tyres]

Mk1 Renault Scenic

 

Trend setting, reliable and useful.

 

I still mourn the passing of mine, I would replace but not many pre DCI models left

[forddeliveryboy]

Multipla great vehicle, as are Kangoos. But only an Espace can compete with this sound track and they're mega-bucks for a sound, working one. 3.5 version must be fun, though - wasn't there one on the forum a couple of years ago?

 

[Junkman]

If it really must be one of those newfangled computers that also drives occasionally, make mine something terminally bonkers, please.

Like a 750 iL. Or a Buick Roadmaster. How far away from shite territory are Maybachs nowadays?

Oh, and there is always the Rover 75 V8.

[Uncle Jimmy]

Toyota Corolla E10.

Reliable, very well built, cheap and er, boring.

[320touring]

TVR Cerbera 4.5..

 

no abs, no esc, no traction control..

 

likely no outriggers either.

 

but just listen to that fucker!

 

its like a 1990s TR6

[Barry Cade]

That Cerbera doesn't have a nice V8 sound.

[320touring]

That Cerbera doesn't have a nice V8 sound.

I think it does:)

 

a nice change to the anticeptic germanic and Japanese v8s that are fairly prevelant..

 

but each to their own!

 

anyway I think the Cerbera qualifies for unsung hero when you compare it to what the "normal" super car manufacturers were doing at the same time.

[twosmoke300]

Cerbera is the best sounding v8 Eva !

Sounds noisy and nasty esp when cold . It's like two big race bike engines .

[twosmoke300]

And rev ' Jesus wept . The rev counter can't keep up

[MarvinsMom]

i'd nominate the original poxhall zafira, clean lines and good looking, even if it was behind most of the other mummy wagons.

 

dunno if i would want to own one though.

 

plus the original ford focus, which is i think the best looking car of it generation, and i found them to be a hoot to drive and really well screwed together. 

 

plus both if these are now thin on the ground in good condition, most having been, or are currently been run into the ground as cheap bangers.

[Station]

I think those Cerberas would've done better if they weren't painted with left over rattle cans, the colours are rank but the car looks really nice.

[Barry Cade]

A big block Mopar . That's a v8 sound to me.

[Fat_Pirate]

Disappointed by the Cerbera noise, it's sounds like an inline 4 with a fartcan rather than a melodious V8 - is it a flat-plane crank?

[vulgalour]

*dons flameproof suit*  The Citroen Picasso.  Personally I don't like them as I don't get on with the driving position or how far away the windscreen is.  Here's the thing though, they are very cleverly thought out for what they are.  If you want a truely multi-purpose vehicle they're actually ace.  Removing the rear seats to clean them out and use them as a van couldn't be easier and even refitting the seats isn't that difficult.  Interiors appear to be pretty tough.  I can see why they're such a popular family bus, particularly if the sproglets are still in car seats, it's actually really easy to get the child seats in and out of the thing.  Added to that, if you've got kids in the car it will fill up with all manner of crap no matter how well behaved your offspring are and those removable rear seats really come into their own for that.

 

Even the early ones are still doing exactly what they were designed to do with aplomb, they're surprisingly good on fuel where I would have expected them to be proper wallet wreckers and they're just really good at being really sensible.  The ones I've encountered over the years have surprised me at how well thought out they are for a modern car with function taking precedence over the rest.

 

I wouldn't have one unless I had to like, but I can well understand why people do buy them and keep them ages.

[320touring]

A big block Mopar . That's a v8 sound to me.

I'd shake hands up to the elbows re that:)

[Asimo]

Disappointed by the Cerbera noise, it's sounds like an inline 4 with a fartcan rather than a melodious V8 - is it a flat-plane crank?

Yes it is. Sounds like a mad '20s Bugatti to me, ie triffic! Anyway I don't like the standard throbby V8 sound, makes me think there must be a plug lead off.

[Bstardchild]

Someone once explained it much better than I can but from what I remember.....

 

Mopar V8 - the off beat burble

 

left Bank 1, 3, 5 and 7 Right Bank 2, 4, 6 and 8

 

1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2

 

L R R L R L L R

 

Flat Plane (ie TVR Cerbera engine)

 

left Bank 1, 3, 5 and 7 Right Bank 2, 4, 6 and 8

 

1-6-3-2-7-4-5-8

 

L R L R L R L R

 

Hence the manic four pot soundtrack

 

Incidently and just for fun

 

BMW V8 M62

 

left Bank 1 - 4 Right Bank 5 - 8

 

Firing order...

 

1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2

 

L R L R R L R L

 

Apparently because BMW wanted to keep close to a six pot soundtrack

[Supernaut]

I didn't realise they put VR6s in the Sharan as standard, I thought those were just nutters putting them in afterwards!

 

Also, +1 for the Citroen Xsara Picasso. I learned to drive in a 2.0HDi one back in 2005 and then also borrowed it for a few road trips. I have fond memories of trundling across to Fort William 5-up in it and it still effortlessly carried 60mph and 45-50mpg through the glens.

[MarvinsMom]

rover 75/MG ZT the last cars to wear a Rover badge, and i think one of the very best models to come out of Longbridge, before the unpleasantness.

 

ok, so they need care and love when in everyday use, and as they are starting to get older, they are in the cheap banger bit of flash so many are just getting driven into the ground. 

 

which is sad, a proper sorted one is a joy to drive, and they are too me a real pleasure to look at, and that interior for some its a bit olde worlde, but that is why i love it.

[djimbob]

I'd shake hands up to the elbows re that:)

 

I have never heard this expression, do I want to know what it means??

[Uncle Jimmy]

 

Capture.PNG

Italian car, German plates, menage a trois, a la Francais.

[320touring]

I have never heard this expression, do I want to know what it means??

It means "I fully concur with your opinion"

[Matt]

Cerbera is the best sounding v8 Eva !

Sounds noisy and nasty esp when cold . It's like two big race bike engines .

 

Nej, Volvo S80 gas bäst klingande V8

 

[Junkman]

As much as I hate to have to state this fact, but the best sounding V8 of EVAH is the Stag.

 

That Cerbreral or sum such (why can't they give cars proper names since 1986?) sounds like two Simca 1000s.

[twosmoke300]

You say that like its a bad thing !

Seriously though , you just can't appreciate the sound of the cerbera on video . It's visceral and really mechanical . On cold start its lumpy and rattly but I love it .

Isn't it basically an older f1 bottom end but with 2 valve heads for more torque for road use