Favourite car!

[bluesince76]

It all feels far too safe, which most would say is a good thing. Its not necessarily the engine note or the acceleration, its the bland handling. To be honest it might just be me having a bit of a midlife crisis. I've had some very quick cars but if i could live with the impracticality I'd take something like a Westfield/Caterham every day of the week.

You're never going to get the feeling of something like a Westfield in a front wheel drive car with five seats. Throw in all the safety systems of modern cars and the associated weight, and they'll never be like a track type car. Cars are much, much safer, which is a good thing but they're also easier to drive. Haven't driven anything rear wheel drive in a long time, but suspect they're a lot calmer these days as well.

When I had the 595, I pulled up alongside a proper old Mini and couldn't believe how small it looked in comparison. My first car was a MK2 Escort (no power steering, no assisted brakes let alone cruise control, traction control or airbags), which you can now buy brand new versions of, but saw it mentioned that it was shorter than the current Fiesta. Had to check, as didn't believe it, but it's true, a Fiesta is bigger on the outside at least than an Escort was, despite the three box design that had.

Did a track day recently and got a few laps in a Nissan GTR. Unbelievable machine, blisteringly quick, but felt like I was on a Playstation. I suspect an old MX5 would feel quicker on the road because it would be much closer to the limit, whereas I don't think I'd have the talent to find the limit of the GTR even on a track.

 

[bluethrunthru]

Those early 80s hot hatch fords were a thing of beauty and hate, winter mornings were a lottery of whether they would start or not, along with those impractical immobiliser alarm things insurance companies insisted you put on.

Footwells like swimming pools were also a minefield in them.

I had a Fiesta Ghia that I got new and on damp mornings it wouldn't start - as I lived on a slope I could get it to bump start. It lasted 6 months and a swapped it in for my second Uno as it was much more reliable. The final straw was when the service bay manager at the dealers J H Lowick ( some blues may remember them ) told me "next time it won't start bring it here and I will get it looked at " - customer service back then

 

[bluethrunthru]

You're never going to get the feeling of something like a Westfield in a front wheel drive car with five seats. Throw in all the safety systems of modern cars and the associated weight, and they'll never be like a track type car. Cars are much, much safer, which is a good thing but they're also easier to drive. Haven't driven anything rear wheel drive in a long time, but suspect they're a lot calmer these days as well.

When I had the 595, I pulled up alongside a proper old Mini and couldn't believe how small it looked in comparison. My first car was a MK2 Escort (no power steering, no assisted brakes let alone cruise control, traction control or airbags), which you can now buy brand new versions of, but saw it mentioned that it was shorter than the current Fiesta. Had to check, as didn't believe it, but it's true, a Fiesta is bigger on the outside at least than an Escort was, despite the three box design that had.

Did a track day recently and got a few laps in a Nissan GTR. Unbelievable machine, blisteringly quick, but felt like I was on a Playstation. I suspect an old MX5 would feel quicker on the road because it would be much closer to the limit, whereas I don't think I'd have the talent to find the limit of the GTR even on a track.

old v new

Google Image Result for https://www.hippoleasing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Old-New-min.png

 

[maxwellblue]

It all feels far too safe, which most would say is a good thing. Its not necessarily the engine note or the acceleration, its the bland handling. To be honest it might just be me having a bit of a midlife crisis. I've had some very quick cars but if i could live with the impracticality I'd take something like a Westfield/Caterham every day of the week.

I used to be a dealer for Westfield. Great cars and loads of fun. Nearest thing you'll get to a motorbike on 4 wheels. Perfect for a Sunday morning blast around the country lanes then back home after a couple of hrs but anything more they become hard work.

 

[hammocity]

If you go there, you want something thats different if you want to be noticed, either a classic or as my brother found out just unusual when he parked up in his TVR Sagaris worth less than 1/10 of most of the other cars but it was the only one.

TVR’s proper growl as well, work colleague had a 5 litre one about 30 plus years ago, made in Blackpool I think.

 

[Kompany Car]

TVR’s proper growl as well, work colleague had a 5 litre one about 30 plus years ago, made in Blackpool I think.

Wrap your ass in fibreglass, yeah they were built in Blackpool. Before my brother had the Sagaris he had a whole sting right back to the wedge shaped 280i, 350i, Cerbera & Griffith 500. Great cars to drive, but they are prone to electrical faults and fault finding on them is a nightmare, no wiring diagrams, no colour coding or cable identification. Mind you no pleasure without pain.

 

[bluethrunthru]

TVR’s proper growl as well, work colleague had a 5 litre one about 30 plus years ago, made in Blackpool I think.

yeah from memory I think they were out by the airport. I remember when I lived in Christchurch (Dorset ) and I was down the bottom end of the high street crossing the road when a Griffith ( I think ) was in front of me and the driver revved it hard. The resonance in my chest almost turned my rib cage and spine to jelly - the noise was like a cathedral pipe organ - amazing

 

[lefty goldblatt]

Benjamin Orr

Rik Okasek seemed a bit of a plonker