You shouldn't meet your heroes...

[sierraman]

I can remember when I was a kid yearning for an XR3i, some years ago a mate asked for a bit of help on his Mk4 XR3i. We went for a celebratory drive in it, all I can remember was how bloody slow it was, at the time I had a 2.0 Mondeo, it wouldn't have seen the arse end of the Mondeo for miles. It was awful. I just thought imagine spending proper money and ending up with this. We were just doing up a banger, stuffing the arches with filler... my handiwork...

 

What is your experience with meeting something you thought was the bomb?

[Squire_Dawson]

I've never really been disappointed with a car... I have no aspirations.

[mercrocker]

I think that is my problem, too.....I do remember being quite underwhelmed by my boss's M535i when it was new in 1986.    The sales manager at the time had a 2.8GL Granada in cop-car white with brown cloth.   That, I did like.

[danthecapriman]

As a kid I wanted a Capri. Badly! I absolutely loved them.

 

Almost the minute I left school I spotted a fucked mk2 for sale. I rang the number, emptied my savings account and bought it.

 

Anyone who says don’t meet your heroes is a cunt and doesn’t know wtf they either want or are talking about!

I’ve still got that car now. I still love that car now. Other cars came and went and that car is still here. I’ve just spent a fucking fortune restoring it to as new condition.

It’s tried my patience. A lot. But I still love Capris more than ever and nothing else comes close.

 

 

Que, someone will likely be along shortly slagging them off...

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I thought the 4.2 E Type was a pretty horrid thing to drive. I drove a mint 1.5 Alfasud Ti 5-10 years ago and it wasn't the car I remembered. I hated my Capri with a passion (sorry), late Y reg 4 speed side change 2.0GL - I had Sierras at the time and I couldn't get on with the Capri driving position. The late model 105 Alfa Spider was like driving a Mark 4 Cortina with the roof cut off. 

 

I loved my Morris 1100. 

[Jon]

I think hyperbole has a lot to answer for, certainly. Especially if the only idea we have on whether a car is 'good' or not relates to what we've read about them, if we haven't had the chance to test drive/own them.

 

Our 205 GTI is great fun to bowl about in but apart from initial acceleration off the mark and when overtaking, my 2 litre Mk3 Mondeo would keep up with it at normal road speeds and feels more stable taking corners at speed - perhaps due to traction control (I guess it has some)? Both cars are on Michelin PS tyres. If I were ever to do a track day, things would be different no doubt but I don't, so I just accept that the 205 feels fun to drive and 60/70mph feels faster than it does in the Mondeo.

 

The Cavalier SRi I've just picked up is great but it's much more of a cruiser than a point to point car, especially compared to the 205. I agree that I'd have been quite let down if I was hoping that a Mk2 Cav with a 1.8i engine would somehow still be a road weapon as it may have been back in the day but it's still great to own something unusual.

 

If we judged only on performance stats for instance, we'd all be driving moderns but obviously, there's a lot more to it than that. Teledial wheels and rubber spoilers make an XR3 look cool, so admire things for aesthetics and the sense of reminiscence and don't be too put out if a diesel Focus leaves you for dead on a back road.

[Guest]

Dodge Challenger. I was going to be Kowalski, but ended up with an athritic V8, the wrong year and surrounded by rust and filler dust. The Vanishing point started just behind the B pillar...

 

[Junkman]

Any Shitrun with that lemonade based oinga oinga suspension that doesn't really suspend when things get rough.

Man, what dismal pieces of pure, unadulterated shit without a single redeeming feature.

I don't get the hype one little bit.

[SierraMikeHotel]

Any Shitrun with that lemonade based oinga oinga suspension that doesn't really suspend when things get rough.

Man, what dismal pieces of pure, unadulterated shit without a single redeeming feature.

I don't get the hype one little bit.

Anything with primitive bent bits of metal instead of a proper, modern suspension system... There's going to be a lot of differences of opinion in this thread! I've just learned to accept the rough ride on all other cars because I can't be arsed to learn to weld.

 

Anyway. I can't think of any personal experiences, but I'm reminded of a friend who got a chance to drive a Jag XK8 when they were new and he was about 18. He said it was boring to drive compared to his Metro.

[PrimeraMike]

Toyota MR2 mk1

 

I had wanted one from before getting my license (so mid 90's). Collected literature and read every test of them about how good they were. So high expectations were plenty on this poor mans Ferrari.

Finally bought one in 2010 when I lived in Florida. Fully restored 1985 In white. Slow (US spec 4AGE), sub par cornering and overall a bit underwhelming. I was so disappointed I sold it shortly after.

Things might be different if I try a Euro spec 4AGE 124 hp version, but I haven't yet.

 

Now I just hope it won't be the same when I get around to buying that late 80's Prelude I've always wanted (but never driven).

[hennabm]

As a boy I loved the look and thought of owning a 911.

I finally got my chance to try one back in 1988 at Knockhill. It wasn't the turbo but looked like one.

 

The thing I found off putting was the noise in the cabin. It was alright as a toy but to use everyday would have got too much in my opinion.

 

I still love the look of them but would never own one.

[bramz7]

Never really got on with the petrol 205 I had. The car had awful seats, a clutch set in cement and the worst leg ache a car has ever given me. Yes it was fast for a 1.4 but it felt like it wanted me to go faster and faster and then it would kill me.

 

The later TD I had was better in all the above respects as well as being insanely fast. Shame it had so many issues.

 

Has anyone found going back to a car they initially loved being a disappointment? I really got on with my first ZX n/a diesel, but then my second one, about 10 months later was a bit meh. 

[SierraMikeHotel]

 

 

Has anyone found going back to a car they initially loved being a disappointment? I really got on with my first ZX n/a diesel, but then my second one, about 10 months later was a bit meh.

Only when I went back to the exact same car, my GS. It hadn't been well looked after in the intervening time, and I didn't have much money at the time for fixing.

 

The experience might have been different if I'd had another car to use everyday, a garage to keep it in, and some cash to spend on fixing and maintenance.

[dollywobbler]

1965 Ford Mustang fastback. Amazingly awful. By far my most disappointing motoring experience, and that's coming from someone who once owned the world's worst Bond Equipe.

[Timewaster]

Another Mk1 Mr2.

As a yoof I lusted after either a 205Gti or an Mr2

At 21 I bit the insurance bullet and bought a 205 and absolutely loved it.

Drove it flat out everywhere and nearly killed myself many times, only selling it when the rear suspension started creaking like a horror film door.

 

A friend bought an Mr2 and I eventually blagged a go in it.

 

Urgh. It was admittedly a terrible example but what a pile that car was.

The legendary handling had long since gone. Baggy and wandering steering and not fast either.

 

I must try a decent one some day.

[sam simmons]

I always wanted a Porsche 928s and was lucky to find one approx 10 years ago needing some work,some work turned into a lot of work which took approx 9 years to get right (life got in the way for some of that time) and having the car in good shape for the last year i prompty sold it before i had to start over...

 

A friend now owns it and i regularly see it..

 

Glad i owned it but never again.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Mark IV Ford Hephyr with ball and hope steering. Audi S2 Coupe yaaaawn.....at least the Ford was interesting.

[purplebargeken]

My Volvo Amazon. Amazing looking cars, but mine just never, ever did anything for me. Maybe it was too fiddled with. Poor Sam seems to have had no end of shit with it.

 

Like I said, loved the look but not the actual car.

[Tamworthbay]

As a kid I wanted a Capri. Badly! I absolutely loved them.

Almost the minute I left school I spotted a fucked mk2 for sale. I rang the number, emptied my savings account and bought it.

Anyone who says don’t meet your heroes is a cunt and doesn’t know wtf they either want or are talking about!

I’ve still got that car now. I still love that car now. Other cars came and went and that car is still here. I’ve just spent a fucking fortune restoring it to as new condition.

It’s tried my patience. A lot. But I still love Capris more than ever and nothing else comes close.

Que, someone will likely be along shortly slagging them off...

Apart from the fact that my first Capri was sadly destined for the scrapyard after a close shave with a Volvo, this could be me. The most perfect car of all time, fast enough with bad enough handling to scare the shit out of your 17 year old self at a speed you may survive (Ford should have used that in their advertising). I still have a Capri and can’t imagine ever selling it.

 

The XR3i was a triumph of advertising and styling though, slower than pretty much every one of its competitors but it looked the part at the time and that was what mattered in the 80s.

[sierraman]

The Capri did always look the part though.

[Tamworthbay]

The Capri did always look the part though.

Still does, I appreciate Myself (and Dan) are somewhat biased, but it’s the most perfect car made in my opinion. The one they got just right for the time it was made, simple enough to be cheap to build and therefore own, drop dead gorgeous styling and with a quick enough engine (helped by the Leary handling making it feel quicker). Nothing else came close as teenager in the 80s. The xr3i was ok but it was a still the same as a car your mum would drive. Many have tried to make a ‘new’ Capri since and no one has managed it, Fords own attempts being among the worst.

[MikeR]

Fiat 126 ..simple and fun

 

Fiat 127 .. was a good car , 1050cc of power !!!

. 

Fiat Strada MK4 was a lot fun , it was sporty   , went round corners like a go kart !

 

Fiat Tipo ... last Fiat I bought , it broke every month and parts were expensive , handling was poor

 

Volvo 240 ,, wins best car for me , apart from the fuel tank  and rear axle bushes always needing attention ...wider tyres made it fun !

 

the Micra was fun but a bit small ...but it was bigger than the Suzuki whizz  kid and gave the mini a rest

 

the Zafira was handy with its load space and seats , but the engine and gearbox , it put me off turbo diesels for life .....

 

The Meriva ...  in a class on its own , the only car I have ever sent to the scrappers , engine clattered , clonky gearbox , rust , steering issues ....very poor

 

The Focus is nice to drive but could be better with its space use ....for the money its doing well

[Cavcraft]

My old 190E. It was gloss black and I put a lo of effort into getting the right after market wheels and back lights for it. It looked absolutely ace, proper head turner at the time and quite understated.

It was also bloody horrible to drive. The stupidly big steering wheel and sort of offset pedal position were dreadful. Didn't like the clutch or the gearbox either.

[Tamworthbay]

Fiat 126 ..simple and fun

 

Fiat 127 .. was a good car , 1050cc of power !!!

. 

Fiat Strada MK4 was a lot fun , it was sporty   , went round corners like a go kart !

 

Fiat Tipo ... last Fiat I bought , it broke every month and parts were expensive , handling was poor

 

Volvo 240 ,, wins best car for me , apart from the fuel tank  and rear axle bushes always needing attention ...wider tyres made it fun !

 

the Micra was fun but a bit small ...but it was bigger than the Suzuki whizz  kid and gave the mini a rest

 

the Zafira was handy with its load space and seats , but the engine and gearbox , it put me off turbo diesels for life .....

 

The Meriva ...  in a class on its own , the only car I have ever sent to the scrappers , engine clattered , clonky gearbox , rust , steering issues ....very poor

 

The Focus is nice to drive but could be better with its space use ....for the money its doing well

I had a Meriva as a courtesy car, I love driving different cars and seeing the good and bad but I couldn’t one thing I liked about that one unfortunately.

[bigstraight6]

I Remember the elation of my old man buying an ‘82 X plate XR3 (that’s right, non injection) back in 1988, These feelings were short lived once I got behind the wheel, it was truly awful with heavy steering, bone jarring ride and limp performance. I honestly thought my elderly VW Beetle daily driver at the time was nicer too drive, with the old man sheepishly agreeing after a time with him regularly borrowing my car instead of driving the shocking Ford!

[wuvvum]

Manual '80s Mercs are generally pretty dreadful.

 

One disappointment I remember - albeit not starting from a great height - was the second Mk6 Escort I owned. I'd had a bog-basic 1.4 Bonus for a while and it was a decent little runabout with a certain bASe charm to it. So I naïvely thought the same car with a bit more grunt and PAS would be a decent steer, so I went out and bought a 1.8i Ghia. What a steaming pile of shit that was. Horrible seats, nasty cheap looking "luxury" interior, harsh noisy engine with nowhere near enough grunt for either its size or the amount of noise it made. I didn't keep the car long.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Early Mark 1 Capris looked best. The later ones looked overbodied IMO. This is a bizarre early US spec 2000 from around 1970 - not sure of it has the Pinto or the V4 or, being German built, the 2000 V6. Pretty car though and they handled and drove very well for the era.

 

Most surprisingly good car? Renault Laguna II. The handling was very good, the ride superb, fantastic seats and just an agreeable vehicle.

 

Citroen Hydropneumatic was okay but could be caught out by bumps that a Renault 20 for example would just sail over. It was a clever idea but a technical dead end.

[sam simmons]

I have had 3 Capri`s (mk1 1.6l,mk2 2.0 ghia,mk3 3.0 ghia) all of which were shite at the time of buying them in the 80s due to lack of care by previous owners but all gave me a great feeling when owned and driven.Maybe being a invincible teenager/early twenties at the time helped but i have not had that feeling owning a car since...

 

The ladies seemed to like them too

[NorfolkNWeigh]

911.

Ive only ever driven two, the first a 1985 3.0 left hooker that felt like a fast Skoda to me, the same weird light steering and sort of bobbing sensation from the front end, some rubbery gear change too.

Fast forward 20 years and I drove a customers 2005 4S cabriolet, one of the last 996s, it was also an auto, so probably the worse spec 911 ever. Again it was quick, but this time just like a fast BMW or Audi, nothing special at all.

I'd love to try a properly sporty 911 from any generation , something like a 2.7 RS or GT2/3, but worry even they might dissapoint, in contrast I've driven a few 924s and 944s even a 928 and loved them, maybe because my expectations weren't as high.

[chaseracer]

Citroen XM: both of mine were complete money pits and had the wrong engine, but they were worth it for the times when the loosely related components chose to work together for a while.  Bin there, dun that.

 

W124 300E: as above, except for the bit about the engine - the HOWL above 4000rpm...! - and that I would have another, better, one.