Unpopular Motoring Opinion Thread

[Supernaut]

Mk2 Clios are shit.

Series Land Rovers are also shit.

Vauxhalls? Dugmeat.

I actually like the Kia Soul.

[SEATMad]

2 minutes ago, Supernaut said:

I actually like the Kia Soul.

Controversial, but I respect it and can see why. Fair play. 

[EyesWeldedShut]

I ran a 1968 Ser 2a from around 1996 up until 2011.
Yes - they are shit (but they do sell well  )

My input:
Morris Minors are heavy, thirsty, uncomfortable and a danger in modern traffic. They should all be in museums or recycled into Tesla body panels.

[Supernaut]

Just now, EyesWeldedShut said:

I ran a 1968 Ser 2a from around 1996 up until 2011.
Yes - they are shit (but they do sell well  )

My input:
Morris Minors are heavy, thirsty, uncomfortable and a danger in modern traffic. They should all be in museums or recycled into Tesla body panels.

Oh yes.

I speak from experience. I spent a summer using a SIII as a daily driver, and am currently assisting with the restoration of a SI.

Fun curiosities but complete bollocks after about 10 miles.

[Blunderguts]

Alright, I'll bite.

Morris Minors are the most boring classic car there is.

MGBs are the most boring classic sports car.

If a car or bike has been plate raped crush it, it's lost all historic value.

Age related plates look fluffing stupid.

[chaseracer]

3 hours ago, Rocket88 said:

A far superior car for half the outlay 

PAH1OT.  Apparently.

[EyesWeldedShut]

Just now, Supernaut said:

Fun curiosities but complete bollocks after about 10 miles.

Driving a Ser 2a Land Rover to and from The Limousin is not a fun thing to do. 

(I would point out that this one had a Fairey overdrive, non Land Rover seats and a noise cancelling headset was standard issue - it was still something you only do once and once only)

 

[ETCHY]

On 18/03/2024 at 19:04, inconsistant said:

Issigonis wasn’t a very good designer. 

His input & the fact his views on advanced engineering at expense of profit/ updates were slavishly followed, also helped contribute significantly to the decline of BMC. More British motor industry villain than hero imo.

[Soundwave]

3 hours ago, Rocket88 said:

A far superior car for half the outlay 

Part of me thinks it's worth the extra outlay for the Capri... just to avoid every BO-reeking pub bore you encounter telling you that Princess Anne had one.

[Jazoli]

3 hours ago, Bren said:

Having owned one the good points were outweighed by the shit that came out of the exhaust - I wouldn't even start ours until the doors were closed.

Reminded me of the episode of Space 1999 " Voyager's return" where the voyagers propulsion system offed lots of people.

oh aye my PD130 Bora stunk, it was a fucking disgusting boat anchor of an engine, the petrols were far better, even the 2.0 8V GTi!

[Cavcraft]

On 18/03/2024 at 19:40, Mrcento said:

I have a few belters....

The Mk1 Focus is overrated. It just came at what had been a bit of a low point for Ford in that sector with the Escort, and was so bold design wise that the improvements it brought was overhyped.

Don't get me wrong, decent car, but fuck me, all this talk about how incredible they are to drive is bizarre.

 

Absolutely spot on.

 

In fact, the Escort it replaced was so absolutely fucking terrible that the Focus could have been made out of mouldy bread and Pot Noodle lids and it still couldn't have been worse than the former. 

[Cavcraft]

I you have one of these horrific,  retina destroying  style number plates on your vehicle you should lose your licence for a minimum of 27 years.

[Spiny Norman]

1 hour ago, Sunny Jim said:

Recent advances* in safety tech and driver aids such as traction control, stability control, lane assist, adaptive cruise, etc., are creating a generation of dangerous, unskilled drivers.

Not if you turn them all off...

 

 

[Marina door handles]

The only good VW Beetle is one with the body hacked off and converted into a beach buggy. 

Being brought up on a TV diet of Knight Rider, James Bond, Chips and Burt Reynolds films, meant that when I passed my driving test I really struggled with mysterious concept of speed limits.......

[inconsistant]

MGBs with rubber bumpers look better than the older chrome bumper ones, They were a successful facelift. 

[Yoss]

7 hours ago, egg said:

Here's mine. So shoot me.

The Jaguar E-type isn't even in the top 10 'most beautiful' cars ever made. It's basically a clown shoe. The series 3 is actually a bit offensive (especially in 2 + 2 form)

It's not even in the top 10 Jags. The XJS is so much nicer from every angle.

[Soundwave]

I like supercars. Yes, I know it's cool to hate them these days and pretend that a Fiat 127 with corduroy seat covers is preferable, but I like them. Especially 90s ones.

[goosey]

I prefer the Ital to the Marina. 

[EyesWeldedShut]

Rootes Group cars were the best 1970s cars that the world has ever seen. That's why there's still so many on the road.

[Rocket88]

The Triumph Stag is the most reliable car ever produced by the British motor industry……🍋🍋🍋

[EyesWeldedShut]

10 hours ago, Spiny Norman said:

Not if you turn them all off...

 

 

Quote from La Sproglette on being given t'missus' Bini to drive while her car was in dry dock:

Kid: "Has it got Hill Assist?"
Wife: "I have no idea"

We're a pair of Luddites apparently

[EyesWeldedShut]

1 minute ago, Rocket88 said:

The Triumph Stag is the most reliable car ever produced by the British motor industry……🍋🍋🍋

The Triumph V8 was the best V8 ever produced by any manufacturer, anywhere in the world. A miss-information and production line sabotage by Rover operatives meant that it was dropped by BL.

[cort1977]

11 hours ago, Cavcraft said:

 

I you have one of these horrific,  retina destroying  style number plates on your vehicle you should lose your licence for a minimum of 27 years.

I thought it was cool until I met all you bastards.

[Yoss]

25 minutes ago, EyesWeldedShut said:

The Triumph V8 was the best V8 ever produced by any manufacturer, anywhere in the world. A miss-information and production line sabotage by Rover operatives meant that it was dropped by BL.

This may or may not be the case but the Triumph straight six is the best sounding engine ever made so nobody really minded losing the V8. And in TR6 spec it was actually slightly more powerful so no loss at all really. I'd love to get a Stag and put a straight six in it.

[eddyramrod]

12 hours ago, Sunny Jim said:

Recent advances* in safety tech and driver aids such as traction control, stability control, lane assist, adaptive cruise, etc., are creating a generation of dangerous, unskilled drivers.

Worse: these things are de-skilling the previous generations (or at least, those members who can afford cars so fitted) so that we all come to rely on the tech and will be relieved when the autonomous car finally arrives, taking the tiresome chore of driving right out of our hands.

[Yoss]

8 hours ago, Soundwave said:

I like supercars. Yes, I know it's cool to hate them these days and pretend that a Fiat 127 with corduroy seat covers is preferable, but I like them. Especially 90s ones.

You had me at corduroy seat covers. 

Talking of which, leather seats are massively over rated. Especially some of the modern grey ones. if you're going to have them they need to be a proper colour and have at least 50 years patina.

But even then a decent velour is better than leather any day.

[eddyramrod]

Want another one?

The so-called "penalties" in this country for driving while impaired by drink or drugs are at best, laughable.  There's no deterrent, even in the unlikely event one is caught.  For the above offences, the FIRST ban should be FOR LIFE, ACCOMPANIED BY FIVE-FIGURE FINES AND CONFISCATION OF THE VEHICLE.  And that's before you hit anything, or heaven forbid, anyone.  The sliding scale for those eventualities should start as above with the addition of a minimum 12 months inside, and go up, and only up, from there.  Fail a breath test a second time?  12 months, bang.  Plus the baseline.

I guarantee this will be an unpopular opinion because boozing is the national sport, but come on, I've seen what happens.

[EyesWeldedShut]

8 minutes ago, Yoss said:

This may or may not be the case but the Triumph straight six is the best sounding engine ever made so nobody really minded losing the V8. And in TR6 spec it was actually slightly more powerful so no loss at all really. I'd love to get a Stag and put a straight six in it.

Only one I ever had was a 2.0 litre in a Mk 1 Vitesse - it was lovely, the gearbox/overdrive too. Shame that everything else in the car rotted around the drivetrain though - not particularly fast but a nice place to be.
 

[Alan G]

28 minutes ago, Yoss said:

You had me at corduroy seat covers. 

Talking of which, leather seats are massively over rated. Especially some of the modern grey ones. if you're going to have them they need to be a proper colour and have at least 50 years patina.

But even then a decent velour is better than leather any day.

I agree with you on the leather seats thing. Interestingly if you go back to pre-WW2 cars that were meant to be chauffeur driven you will often find the chauffeur's seat was leather (for  durability) but the passengers' seats were cloth for comfort. 

[Rocket88]

1 hour ago, EyesWeldedShut said:

Rootes Group cars were the best 1970s cars that the world has ever seen. That's why there's still so many on the road.

I agree totally… survival rate is pretty good