Never meet your hero's

[warren t claim]

After 20 years of lusting I'm afraid I have to add the Land Rover V8 110 to my not to buy list. The creaks and rattles drowned out the sound of the engine. Never mind, now it joins the list with the Ferrari 308 and Ford Capri 2.8i...

[Station]

The Capri is on my list, what's wrong with the 2,8?

[warren t claim]

It just didn't live up to my expectations! I was hoping for something quicker and more brutal.

[STUNO]

So you bought a Ferrari 308 and it was crap

[Rocket88]

So you bought a Ferrari 308 and it was crap

If you're over 5'8" and about 8 stone they are................

[dollywobbler]

The original Ford Mustang for me. Gorgeous looks, gorgeous noise, but it steers with all the accuracy of a traction engine and has all the refinement of a Friday night out in Canvey.I've driven a few Capri 2.8s though, and while I agree that they don't exactly threaten your neck muscles with powaaargh, I really like them.

[IanF]

It just didn't live up to my expectations! I was hoping for something quicker and more brutal.

It's a car I found I had to wring out to get the best out of that engine. Not slow, but certainly not a muscle car (but what would you expect from a Cologne using what I felt was odd gearing )

[Rocket88]

Ref 308's. Like all old "supercars", the 8% of the time when they're actually running properly doesn't really compensate for the other 92% filled with major mechanical / electrical maladies, humugus expence, and hugely embarassing breakdowns . All the old Italian stuff is also designed to be driven by dwarfs with 16' long arms. A friend of mine once bought one, which, on the way back from purchase, got stuck in heavy traffic. Almost simaltaneously, the electric windows packed up [in the closed position] the heater jammed on full heat, and the heater fan motor also jammed on "maximum attack".........on the hottest day of the year.

[Mr Lobster]

This is the exact reason I'm never going to buy a Citroen H. I'd really, really like one. But I know that I would hate driving it and that would spoil the whole thing for me and I'd never look at one the same again.

[warren t claim]

So you bought a Ferrari 308 and it was crap

If you're over 5'8" and about 8 stone they are................

Lol! I wish I had the money! It was at a driving experience day!

[dollywobbler]

This is the exact reason I'm never going to buy a Citroen H. I'd really, really like one. But I know that I would hate driving it and that would spoil the whole thing for me and I'd never look at one the same again.

That's very sensible. After clocking up 3100 miles in three weeks in ours, I wasn't sad to see the thing go! They're slow, noisy, have very bouncy suspension and aren't that keen on stopping.On the plus side, they're a bit like a big Mini in the handling department and you can stay in top gear all day!

[Guest]

There's a '67 1500 Beetle that's been in the family for years. I've ridden in it and worked on it.Even though I'm not a massive Beetle fan, I've always wanted to drive it.I suspect I'll be disappointed when I do finally get the chance. Fatha Wat says it was a pig to helm even when Motha Wat owned it. Having driven a Wartburg (and missed every gear through the gate) I also dislike floor hinged pedals with some intensity.Just seems a waste of 20 years' worth of aspiration. It lives in Hebden Bridge now and is in regular use by one of my aunts. That she hasn't managed to destroy it yet says something of how tough they seem to be mechanically.

[Mr Lobster]

I've always found Beetles to be deeply unpleasant to drive. Maybe I've only ever driven shagged ones but I just can't get along with them.

[Guest]

I've always found Beetles to be deeply unpleasant to drive. Maybe I've only ever driven shagged ones but I just can't get along with them.

This one's pretty sweet apparently. I have some idea of the work that went into it, so that's how I can say that. A lot of older cars have this problem though - how do you define a 'good' one when there's no box fresh examples to try? This is further compounded by the importance of running in and tolerances. I know of quite a few engines that don't give their best until several thousand miles are on the clock. I've driven a mint 18,000 mile Piazza that was great in every way....except my shagged 100k example felt (and was) faster.There's certain cars I would feel confident in pointing out how they 'should' feel like, but Beetles aren't one of them. There's too many variations for one thing.

[Ratdat]

I have always though a Renault 4 would be a fun thing to have but after driving one from the south coast up to Lincs I quickly found it really wasn't for me at all. I just didn't enjoy driving it at all. Likewise, I've found my '83 R5 to be not quite as much fun as I'd hoped. The '83 Pug 205 we had with a 4 speed box was hugely more entertaining and had better seats.My datsun 710 SSS is also utterly underwhelming to pilot but it's such a lovely looker I can forgive it. It's funny how a car with virtually the same running gear as a 510 can drive so lamely when a 510 is really agile and fun.

[Mr Lobster]

Horses for courses as well I suppose. I enjoy driving my R4 and have always found R5s to be decent enough to drive although neither are exactly rapid...

[Ratdat]

Horses for courses as well I suppose. I enjoy driving my R4 and have always found R5s to be decent enough to drive although neither are exactly rapid...

I don't mind slowness or even cars that are basic, I just haven't got on with either the R4 or R5 which is hugely dissapointing as I love the look of both. I guess I don't find either particularly rewarding to drive. I think part of the problem is that while early cars have a simplicity and purity of design which makes up for their shortcomings, the late cars have lost that due to Renault half arsed attempts to modernise what are really antiquated designs. So with the late ones like I have experienced, you get all the comedy rubbishness of an ancient French peasant car but with much less of the French design chic. I'd still have either as part of a collection but I don't favour either as daily drivers.

[Mr Lobster]

True. Theres no way I would want to use my R4 as a daily. I know that I'd probably end up hating it.

[Pillock]

Beetles aren't crap to drive if you compre them to what was available at the time.... in 1949! It's just very little changed in terms of handling between then and 1970 when the 1302 was launched, and then a bigger step two years later with the 1303.So yeah if you get into a 1969 car and compare it to something else new from the dealer in the same year, they're pretty piss-poor. Worse so if it's slammed OMG, driving is more a case of desperately trying to keep it in the right lane.1303s are lovely to drive - IRS rear and McDonalds struts are more akin to a 'modern' car, and they ride really nicely. Almost all circuit cars built from beetles will use a strutted from end over a beam.

[Rusty Pelican]

Beetles are OK to drive , never liked the donkey in them , didnt rev and noisy although they are tuneable I suppose , the throttle pedal coming out the floor always felt wrong IMHO

[hennabm]

My childhood hero was the 911- they are lovely. In 87 when a young lad with money I looked to buy one. I tries a turbo lookalike round Knockhill and threw the keys back at the sales lad. I still like the look of them but would never own one as they are way too noisey inside.

[dollywobbler]

I've driven both a '66 1300 and a Nineties Mexican when it comes to Beetles. The earlier one had some charm and was very pleasant, the Nineties one was just a bit dull. Would like to try a 1303. After all, they are the Autoshite choice as no-one else really likes them.My Renault 5 was a lovely little thing, but not as thrashable as the 2CV, and it felt more fragile, so I reluctantly passed it on to Sir Bickle.

[Guest]

I've driven both a '66 1300 and a Nineties Mexican when it comes to Beetles. The earlier one had some charm and was very pleasant, the Nineties one was just a bit dull. Would like to try a 1303. After all, they are the Autoshite choice as no-one else really likes them.My Renault 5 was a lovely little thing, but not as thrashable as the 2CV, and it felt more fragile, so I reluctantly passed it on to Sir Bickle.

My aunt's Beetle is a '67 1500 which are quite rare according to my tame VW saddo. It also has pish 6 volt electrics and mahoosive headlights that are in fact awful.

[pompei]

I'd like to try an Integrale to see what the fuss is about. Anyone here able to shed any light?

[Pete-M]

I'd like to try an Integrale to see what the fuss is about. Anyone here able to shed any light?

I've had two, they're awesome... sometimes. They're unbelievably fragile and tempramental all of the time. I'd have another, the handling is just mental, they just kick arse.As for Capri 2.8 injections, I had one and didn't really enjoy it much. It was quick, it went sideways well, but it didn't have the sheer muscle of the 3.0S I had before it. The 3.0 has lots of instantly available grunt in any gear at most speeds. The 2.8i is faster if both are being driven flat out, but the 3.0 is so much more fun, sounds so much better and is a lot more effortless when being driven normally it's a different car. The 2.8i is a quick car but it's a load more work than the 3.0. In a 3.0 you can kick the tail out at 40 mph in 4th - a 2.8i would need to be in 3rd or maybe even 2nd.

[scoobypete]

Problem ive got is i had my hero and deeply regret getting rid.....Now every one ive had and have currently just dont live up to it in any way at all

[Guest]

Cars I want to try because I think they're amazing:

 

Alpine A110 (doesn't matter what engine)

Peugeot 205 GTI, 309 GTI, 306 GTI 6 \ Rallye

Porsche 911 (993)

1968 Dodge Challenger (I imagine they're bollocks, but for the noise!)

Ferrari F355

MG ZT 260

Vauxhall Carlton GSi 3000

Volvo 480 Turbo

Chevrolet Corvair

Tatra 603

Ford RS200

AMC Javelin \ AMX

Volvo P1900 (not the 1800, the 1900, the wibbly GRP bodied roadster with a grizzling 1.4 litre 4 pot from the PV444).

Daimler Dart

 

Cars I want to drive because I don't understand what all the fuss is about:

 

VW Golf Mk5 \ Mk6

New Mini

 

I'm trying a Mk5 Golf this week. I think even with my preconceptions at the door I'm gonna be seriously underwhelmed.

[Mr H Sceptre]

So you bought a Ferrari 308 and it was crap

If you're over 5'8" and about 8 stone they are................

Magnum PI was well above those parameters....

[mouseflakes]

I hate to say this but....Citroen XM.I love the design - they look superb. Inside and out.But I've had three now and I just haven't enjoyed driving any of them, which makes me feel quite sad.

[Minimad5]

My roots are stuck firmly with the old fords, so my "hero" would have to be a Ford Escort Mk2.I would love to drive one, and be over the moon to own one.And it's not because of the scene tax or OMG RWD DRIFT .... but because it looks fantastic, infact i would say beautiful.And i just love the simplicity and balance.It's just a fantastic car (I hope)But saying that , when asked in an interview "If you had unlimited money in the world, what car would you buy ?"me = " A Ford Escort Mk2".... the guy looked at me asif i had shat on his wifes face .So with that, i hope Escorts atleast live upto there hype.