Cars I don't "get". Add yours!

[Negative Creep]

Not to mention VW can sell essentially the same product for more money just because of a different badge. Remarkable. I've driven a few mk.5 Golfs and they were just a car, nothing interesting at all. Oh, don't try left foot braking in one either

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

Aye, left foot braking kills the power dramatically in a lot of "newer" diesels, even a Rover 420Di with Bosch electronic diesel control.

 

I have a Golf Mk3, it's quite good to drive and simple to work on but you can see where they've cut corners (rust proofing) to provide nice dashboard surfaces, etc.

[walk]

The whole VW "quality" thing is bizarre. My dad bought his first Polo in 1987 to replace a biblically unreliable Mk4 Scrote. I remember the VW was iceberg slow with its 1043cc but the "quality" was superb. Brilliant paintwork, refined considering the engine size, reliable except for the usual weeping cam cover gasket all backed up by an excellent local dealer (Hayselden). He did the usual replacement every 2 or 3 years, however each subsequent one was pared down on quality - poorer quality paint, cheaper seat trim and more niggling problems. However back to the Golf I truly believe that around 1985-1990 there was no better built car on sale than the Mk2 Golf. Now there are no really bad modern cars out there and I get the chance to drive loads with my work. However for some inexplicable reason whenever I am given a Golf Mk6 for a couple of days I must admit that I usually come away impressed with the "quality" but not necessarily the drive!

 

Would I buy one? God no - I'll stick with a 5 year old Alfa 147 JTD instead. BUT I can see why people do buy them...

[Twinspark]

Father Ted has beaten me to it!

 

As for the Prius, a car that averages worse fuel economy than most modern diesels and is marketed as being an eco car when it causes far more pollution and CO2 emissions in it's production than an ordinary car.

 

I'm going to have to come in on this one.

 

I have one for work - we don't have any choice in the matter.

 

However, they'll turn in mid 40s mpg if you drive one like you stole it and up to 60mpg if you're more careful.

 

OK, doesn't sound *that* impressive - but remember, it's an automatic - show me another auto that'll seat 5 in comfort and turn in circa 50mpg.

 

Lots of people slate it for the energy used in battery production - but they're designed to be re-cyclable, so it's a bit of a moot point anyway.

 

Hybrids are the future, whether you like it or not.

[Twinspark]

However, they'll turn in mid 40s mpg if you drive one like you stole it and up to 60mpg if you're more careful.

 

So does my 13 year old Audi A3.

 

Not seeing a lot of planet saving progress there.

 

But a 13 year old A3 won't seat 5 in comfort or do up to 60mpg with an automatic gearbox.

 

Neither will it do it on petrol, so it'll be belching out carcinogenic diesel soot, too.

[fiatdaft]

just like the ships and trucks that deliver prius's you mean?

[Twinspark]

just like the ships and trucks that deliver prius's you mean?

 

Or deliver almost every other car, too?

 

I don't 'get' the whole Prius hate.

 

I was like that once - but then I was given one and have lived with it for nearly 2 years. They're not as bad as people say they are - quiet, comfortable and stupidly well equipped. It's the quietest car I've ever had for motorway cruising.

 

I'm getting high 40s mpg from mine - even the most efficient diesel, when coupled with an auto box, in a car of that size, won't get within 10mpg of that (BMW 320d auto - very efficient with a manual box, but shocking with an auto).

 

Clever technology - something which car enthusiasts should embrace, not slate - as it's what's going to give us 300bhp cars that are affordable to run in the future.

[fiatdaft]

just like the ships and trucks that deliver prius's you mean?

 

Or deliver almost every other car too?

 

 

slap in the face for its so called green credentials though eh.

[Twinspark]

just like the ships and trucks that deliver prius's you mean?

 

Or deliver almost every other car too?

 

 

slap in the face for its so called green credentials though eh.

 

Yeah, I mean, they should be sending them over using lentil powered air ships or something.

 

[fiatdaft]

i would prefer them not to be sent at all.

[brammy777]

I think this thread was for cars people don't get, if someone doesn't get the Prius, then fair enough. Whilst I have no issue with them, they admittedly do give some people who own them (NOT ALL, BEFORE YOU CRITICIZZE) some miscalculated sense of saving the world. But they also have many advantages, I'm sure.

 

You know what cars I don't get? Anything that has made an unnecessary niche market. Stop complicating things.

[Negative Creep]

On a broader note, I don't get people who will go out and spend £15,000 on a brand new car to save money on fuel

[fiatdaft]

me either,but it pays the wages!

[Cavcraft]

I don't really get the anti-Prious thing either to be honest. They don't look that bad to me and if they save you a few quid on fuel and shit along the way then why not?

 

I'm going to keep out of the Golf Mk2 bit for now, think I've said enough about my dislike for them enough times now.

[Negative Creep]

I hate the smugness that goes with them, people who want to make a statement they're "saving the world". So the money the save on fuel will help with keeping the heating on all day and flying off to Europe twice a year

[Twinspark]

On a side not to the Prius's batteries, Toyota offer an 8 year / 100k mile warranty on the batteries.

I believe 8 years was forced by US legislation.

 

They used to offer the same warranty on the cars but this was reduced to 5 years / 100k miles.

 

Toyota GB will dispose or / recycle all the batteries they supply (mandatory under UK legislation).

 

One of the reps who visits work ran a Passat estate for 4 years and 120k miles. When it was time to get rid he ended up with a Prius owing to the London rep being made redundant. When he got the car it had about 15k miles and was nudging a year old.

When it leaves him it will be four years old and have around 105k miles. It will have no battery warranty and no manufacturer warranty.

At a guess it will be worth £4.5k.

 

Now what does a new set of batteries cost when they are outwith warranty?

The web is full of costs from the US, $4k plus labour seems about average.

I'd say that will turn into about £4k fitted over here.

 

Do you think many Priuses will make it past their 10th birthday...

 

And that can't be good for the environment.

 

Battery warranty is 8 years / 100k miles on all cars from 2003-2009. For just the 2009 models it was dropped to 5 years for some reason, but went back to 8 years from the launch of the MkIII Prius and Auris HSD.

 

At 4 years old, a Prius will be worth about double what you're quoting, too. They're one of the slowest depreciating cars in their class / size.

 

Anyway, enough now - the irrational and unexplained hatred from people who haven't spent any significant time with one can be rather annoying, though.

[Pete-M]

I did about 500 miles in a Pious T-Spirit in a day.

 

Worse than a Vectra*, and downright dangerous in crosswinds near 'The Little House On The Prairie' on the M62, although that could have had something to do with the low resistance (i.e Teflon) tyres and a body designed to be slippery in a straight line. Shite on fuel once out of town, slow, didn't handle or ride that well and that bloody computer screen thing that tells you if you're using or saving power is distracting.

 

The Satnav wasn't bad in it, and the top spec stereo could have been worse, but otherwise they're hideous little things.

 

Oh, I drove to collect it in a TDDi Mk3 Mondeo estate which used less fuel, was comfier, quieter, quicker, handled a lot better and cost about 1/4 of the price. Mondeo averaged 53 mpg (without trying), Pious did 34 on the trip back. Pious did, however, manage close to 55 in town.

 

EV mode is laughable. 25ish mph top speed and a range of a couple of miles. Handy for freaking people out in petrol stations though.

[richardthestag]

Me i'd rather eat my own shit than have a Pious, my personal and totally rational hatred boils down to the hypocrisy of the bloody thing, nowt wrong with the concept of reducing use of natural resources etc etc, but I hate the unjustifiable hype surrounding these poisonous little things. If you want green transport, walk! Boils my piss it does

 

My bro was being railroaded down the whole "it's a green car" load of bollocks by his company car manager but managed to pursuade them to buy him a Passat Bluemotion instead which he will throw 120k at in the next 3 years. Living the dream.

[flat4alfa]

How does Honda Insight Mk1, which is touching classic insurance groups now, compare to Prius?

 

Never driven one, see

 

Just wondered.

[Justin Case]

I can see the point of the Pious. I know of two people who have one and they both bought it for economical, undemanding and mainly town driving and not to be seen to be green. It seems to do that job perfectly well and I don't think either of them would have bought a BMW diesel instead. In any case, a clutch for a 320 ED would probably cost more than a complete set of batteries for a Pious .

 

The latest Pious does at least look quite well-styled and contemporary IMO, so I can't see the point in Toyota stuffing the same technology in the similarly sized ugly old-fashioned POS Auris

 

On a completely different matter, I know three people (neighbours) who have recently replaced three year old cars (bought new) with identical ones (also bought new) One is retired and the others don't clock up a high mileage, so why bother when there is nothing wrong with the old one?

[flat4alfa]

Maybe there was nothing right with the old one and thought they'd give it another go.

[tonedepear]

Forgive me for not wading in to the Prius debate,

 

Aircooled cars. Lot of shit. Cars use water cooling cos it works better. Same as air-blowy central heating is shit.

 

Beetles are about the worst car I've ever had to drive. It's all Herbie's fault. If it wasn't for him no-one would give a fuck about beetles.

[mattblack]

Neither will it do it on petrol, so it'll be belching out carcinogenic diesel soot, too.

 

What do the big fuck off machines working in the open cast mines producing the copper for the miles of wiring in them run on? Squirrel farts?

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

Forgive me for not wading in to the Prius debate,

 

Aircooled cars. Lot of shit. Cars use water cooling cos it works better. Same as air-blowy central heating is shit.

 

Beetles are about the worst car I've ever had to drive. It's all Herbie's fault. If it wasn't for him no-one would give a fuck about beetles.

 

I think the Beetle is technically oil cooled.

 

Would Priuses be so popular if their company car tax rates were in line with efficient diesels?

[richardthestag]

Neither will it do it on petrol, so it'll be belching out carcinogenic diesel soot, too.

 

What do the big fuck off machines working in the open cast mines producing the copper for the miles of wiring in them run on? Squirrel farts?

 

You mean these buggers

 

That one works at a nickel mine donchano - you know nickel like you might find in batteries have a quick google on them because environ mental ists are having kittens over them

 

But that big ol truck is so clean that baby foxes come out the exhaust, no seriously they do

 

Love your prius TS but for friths sake don't try and convince me that it is green

 

honestly it's like shooting fish in a barrel

[retrogeezer]

Not quite sure what these are for......website has it in the 'compact' section but they are far from small:

 

http://www.kia.co.uk/New-Cars/Range/Compact/Soul.aspx

 

[Craig the Princess]

 

Why would I want to pay over two grand for a 12 year old, 1.6 petrol that has probably been clocked, thrashed up and down the fast lane a million times, with the harshest suspension I've had the misfortune to suffer and seats harder than wood. All for a poxy badge and "it's German so must be built well".

[Guest]

 

Why would I want to pay over two grand for a 12 year old, 1.6 petrol that has probably been clocked, thrashed up and down the fast lane a million times, with the harshest suspension I've had the misfortune to suffer and seats harder than wood. All for a poxy badge and "it's German so must be built well".

 

Because the general perception of the public at large is that of willful stupidity. Never mind, let's all go and buy 56" tellies from Comet.

[Pete-M]

Love your prius TS but for friths sake don't try and convince me that it is green

 

honestly it's like shooting fish in a barrel

 

The Pious thing has been done to death, years ago, repeatedly, in other places with 'Twinspark'. Don't bother, honestly. It's not worth the hassle.

 

 

However, they'll turn in mid 40s mpg if you drive one like you stole it and up to 60mpg if you're more careful.

 

OK, doesn't sound *that* impressive - but remember, it's an automatic - show me another auto that'll seat 5 in comfort and turn in circa 50mpg.

 

Steve, the Skoda Superb 2.0 TDi auto will piss 50 mpg all day long, is comfier, quieter, better handling and doesn't have that ring of faux-smugness about it.

 

Oh, and it's about £6k cheaper.

[Polystratus]

Steve, the Skoda Superb 2.0 TDi auto will piss 50 mpg all day long, is comfier, quieter, better handling and doesn't have that ring of faux-smugness about it.

 

Oh, and it's about £6k cheaper.

 

 

That new Skoda Superb estate looks great - a proper big estate car.