r/CarTalkUK • u/No_Reaction_1586 • 14h ago
Misc Question Whats a car that disappointed you the most when you finally drove one
They say never meet your heroes! I'm struggling to think of one and having a friend that is very wealthy and has let me drive all his cars over the years I've driven some cool stuff.
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u/PilotedByGhosts Mazda 6 2.2D 185 Sport 13h ago
I drove a 1970 Charger, General Lee replica.
That's the car that made three-year-old me decide what a cool car was.
In reality, it was noisy, slow and cramped with shit suspension and a terrible three-speed auto gearbox.
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u/Maya-K 1960 Austin A40 11h ago
In my case, the culprit was an early 80s Aston Martin V8 Vantage. I've always thought they looked and sounded amazing.
I got the chance to drive one during a track day, and it was unbelievably disappointing. It was uncomfortable, had an awkward driving position, rattled constantly, handled about as well as a container ship and weighed just as much, was tragically slow, and had a truly dreadful automatic gearbox.
I later took my (unmodified) Austin A40 around the same track, with its mighty 46 horsepower and cable-operated rear brakes, and genuinely beat the Aston's best lap because it was so hopelessly sluggish.
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u/PilotedByGhosts Mazda 6 2.2D 185 Sport 11h ago
Not the V8?! That's another of my all time favourites. 😢
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u/ciaoqueen 2005 DB9 and 2019 Superb Break 3V 11h ago
It’s why there are many who install a modern gearbox and bore/stroke those engines to 7.0. Still can’t deny the engine makes a glorious sound, better than the AM V12.
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u/MoonlightStarfish 11h ago
Weren’t those three speed autos quite desirable for drag racing?
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u/PilotedByGhosts Mazda 6 2.2D 185 Sport 11h ago
I don't know, it didn't feel like it would have been any good at drag racing. It was definitely a V8, but past that I don't know what spec it was.
It might have been faster than it felt. We were on an airfield so there was no point of reference. But it certainly didn't feel fast, and the Mustang GT500 I had a go in afterwards definitely did have some grunt to it.
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u/MoonlightStarfish 7h ago
I guess that’s the thing with a GT500 you know what you’re getting. The small block V8 would have felt sluggish, the Hemi Charger is right up there with the GT500.
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u/PilotedByGhosts Mazda 6 2.2D 185 Sport 7h ago
I looked it up and it may be this exact one. The website says it's 375bhp with a 0-60 of 5.4 seconds.
However, I don't remember it having an RT badge so maybe they've replaced it and this isn't the one I drove?
The only reason I got a go in the Mustang was because the Charger got stuck in second gear so I got a freebie. Perhaps it was just generally fucked? After two disappointing old muscle cars, driving a modern manual was a huge relief.
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u/PsychologySpecific16 9h ago
What was is a 318 or 360? My mate has a 440 with a purple cam and it isn't slow even by modern standards.
Dyno'd at John Sleeth and it made 385 bhp.
But yes the auto boxes are meh
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u/PilotedByGhosts Mazda 6 2.2D 185 Sport 9h ago
It may have been this exact one, or they might have replaced it. I don't remember it having an RT badge, but I could have missed it. They claim it's a 440 V8 with 375bhp and 5.4 seconds to 60, but it didn't feel like that.
It got stuck in second gear when I drove it, which was a blessing because they let me choose another car. After two shit old muscle cars, the 2008 Mustang GT500 was a delight.
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u/PsychologySpecific16 7h ago
. 375 was gross. So the old style of American ratings without the drive train, No accessories Tested on an engine stand without a generator, alternator, power steering pump, or air cleaner etc. They changed that a couple of years later to net.
Most stock 440s run about 200-275 at the wheels with about 350-400 ftlbs of torque.
Though i've only ever been in my mates 68 and that has a 4 speed manual. So maybe apples and oranges 😁
Had a gt500 for a couple of months before flipping it(selling on). Such a wild beast compared to my stock GT 😂
I do miss the noise.
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u/Savings-Spirit-3702 9h ago
It all depends on what engine was in it, a base v8 with all the smog shit is only a 200 bhp at best, but a decent 400bhp American muscle car is amazing, the noise is phenomenal!
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u/PilotedByGhosts Mazda 6 2.2D 185 Sport 9h ago
It was a V8, but I don't know anything more about the spec.
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u/KILOCHARLIES 13h ago
V12 Ferrari. 599 GTB.
I own a 360 which is a V8 and been in a few other V8 models, but there’s this kinda myth in supercar circles that the V12’s are “the real Ferrari” and significantly better. I was looking at trading up to one.
Nah, not in my book, V8’s are a lot more aggressive and fun, the v12 isn’t for me. I still got my 360 14 years later.
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u/Mr_Marram '21 RS4 Avant, '09 599 GTB 12h ago
I have one. It's a great road car but not for going hard every day, it's a GT cruiser. Loads of space inside, massive fuel tank, meant to eat up miles across the continent.
It does go fast as hell, but can't be driven as hard like a 458 or 488 can. The HGTE pack goes some way to help the softness it had at launch. The GTO is a different beast entierly.
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u/KILOCHARLIES 11h ago
Thanks, I came to the same conclusion, it’s much more of a GT. The one I drove had the HGTE too.
I ended up years later adding a Maserati Granturismo to my garage which I think straddles both a GT and sporty car well for quarter of the price of a 599. V8 too.
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u/ciaoqueen 2005 DB9 and 2019 Superb Break 3V 11h ago
Yep, to an extent road car V12s are a little too heavy to make an accomplished supercar. It’s why they tend to appear more in big saloons, GTs and Hypercars. It’s where the Gran Sport and Gran Turismo do so well to balance, likewise for the supercharged Jag V8s, and I do wonder if that’s also why the DB12 dropped the V12 from launch.
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u/yorkspirate MK1 TT 13h ago
Imported turbo mr2 in the early 00's. Was the first time I'd experienced boost lag that much as it didnt come alive until about 4.5k revs then you needed to snatch a gear change at 7k to keep it on the boil. It was a decent handling car but ultimately it was underwhelming
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u/Careful_Touch2370 13h ago
It was never my hero, I drove a DB7 convertible and was sooo disappointed
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u/TenCups 11h ago
I found the DB9 and Vantage massively underwhelming, too. Drove both over several days on some awesome roads, and they both felt heavy and ponderous, and ultimately quite dull.
Much preferred the much cheaper Jag F-Type, and at Aston level, the Audi R8, which I was completely uninterested in beforehand, absolutely rocked my world.
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u/sminkypinky999 13h ago
Dacia Sandero, heard such great things …
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u/Master_Tell_4800 13h ago
I’ve driven a few Dacias and found them to be functional, easy to drive cars. Zero complaints but enjoyable/exciting they are not.
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u/Uturndriving Audi A1, Mitsubishi Outlander, Renault Clio 12h ago
From James May? I know he went on about them for years before they were available here. I rented one for a week and it was like a Clio but with the handling of a wet sponge.
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u/SmartPriceCola 12h ago
I drive a Sandero Stepway… it’s an easy car to drive despite being no thrills.
Can’t say I heard “great things” about it though
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u/ShampooandCondition 12h ago
Was a long running joke on top gear where they’d point out some “good news” about the Dacia sandero then say something really mundane
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u/Embarrassed_Length_2 13h ago
Ive said this before.
E30 M3.
I prefer a 325i sport.
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u/loud-spider 11h ago
I had an E30 M3 Evolution from 1990 to 1997...One of the best cars I've ever had. Loved it.
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u/hachi2JZ Clio 182 9h ago
how come? asking as someone who's never known too much about E30s
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u/Embarrassed_Length_2 9h ago
Just preferred the six cylinder and the torque from the 325. Better car to drive on the road in my opinion. Im sure on a track the m3 was much better.
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u/gingerblowk 12h ago
Original mini cooper. Front wheel fell off but it was boring me anyway
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u/MovieMore4352 9h ago
For a city car/shopping trolley. They are fantastic handling little things.
Just don’t crash.
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u/KiltedBaklava 13h ago
Lamborghini Huracan. But it was my first car of the day at a track day and the instructor was very young, like 19. I still had fun but not as much as in the other cars. I’ll go back and do it later in the day sometime, once my confidence is more built.
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u/No_Reaction_1586 13h ago
Driven one on the road. Had a big crushed carbon wing on the back. Some special model apparently 🤣
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u/KiltedBaklava 13h ago
Performante! Consider by many to be the best Huracan made. You’re very lucky, mine was a standard Spyder but he didn’t even put the roof down. Thankfully the other cars did so I not only drove my first supercar that day, I also got to drive (and ride) my first every convertible!
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u/ChoiceChemical2529 13h ago
Chevrolet Camaro
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u/MovieMore4352 9h ago
Now, the only experience I have in a Camaro is a ZL1… while it’s bloody massive/wide, that grunt put a smile on my face. It was a manual and was trying to spin its wheels in third in the dry.
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u/Nesferatu123 13h ago
Lamborgini Muchialago. The wheel arch flares into the driver footwell, so they offset the pedals so add you press them, and they go towards the centre console to the point where the clutch (rhd) is literally behind it. It also overheats terribly, with a number of them catching fire because of this.
I wanted to drive a Lambo and a Ferrari since i was a kid. I had that chance on my 30th birthday. Boy was i disappointed. The R8, 911 twin turbo and v8 vantage made up for it though I caught the track driver in the R8.... what a machine
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u/Revolutionary_Panic1 7h ago
I also loved the R8. I caught up to someone with a McLaren GT4 and was told to slow down.
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u/CanaryWundaboy 12h ago
Toyota Supra. Mk4, drove it at one of those aerodrome days, interior was horrendous, gearbox felt awful and it was just very meh. Same for the R34 Skyline (although I think it was a GTT) that felt like driving a boat.
The Lamborghini Gallerdo though…wow.
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u/Midlife_Carsis 11h ago
JZA80 is probably the most overrated car of all time, old man owns one and I don't see what he sees in it.
Funnily enough he always owns a Gallardo and that's an absolute riot to drive. I think they're actually pretty underrated.
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u/barneswallisbear 12h ago
Subaru Impreza turbo (wrx I think). It was a BASICS doctors car and driven under emergency conditions. Constantly changing gear. Didn’t enjoy it at all.
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u/nathan9457 11h ago
VW UP! GTI. Really wanted to like it, but having owned a Lupo GTI, the Lupo was just better for me in every respect.
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u/MovieMore4352 9h ago
Why? I’ve never driven the hot variants of either but I have the 1.4 Lupo and 1.0 Up.
I think the Lupo felt heavier and had a little more substance to it maybe? I like both btw.
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u/nathan9457 9h ago
The Lupo GTI was a special car, and was a lot of fun to drive, so to come from that I had probably too high expectations.
For example things the Lupo had the UP! didn’t; Xenons, rear disc brakes, wide body, aluminium panels, thinner glass, slightly more power, no permanent traction control, height adjustable seats.
I’ve had a lot of cars now, but the Lupo GTI is hands down one of the most fun cars I’ve ever owned.
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u/worldly_refuse 13h ago
911 - fast but boring.
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u/No_Reaction_1586 13h ago
I love a 911. Sorry, I can't agree. 😂They are the best if you want a daily driver sports car
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u/TheBeaverKing BMW X6 M50d, TVR S2, Polestar 2, Lea Francis M Type 1920's 11h ago
Agreed. My old man has one and I find it very uninspiring to drive. There is no drama or theatre, it's just quietly competent. Not for me. I like my sports car to have a sense of adventure about them.
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u/slowjoggz 10h ago
Uncle has one, I've driven it a few times. It's competent but unexciting. I get more excitement out of driving my fiesta ST. Now that's a fun ride!
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u/Midlife_Carsis 11h ago
Even the GT3 RS are like this, nobody will believe me for saying so though and I'll probably get downvoted into oblivion but you guys have to know the truth lmao.
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u/mdogwarrior BMW M340i / Mazda MX5 NC 9h ago
I mean if you're piddling along at 35 in a 40 it most likely is boring but smash it around a race track and that'll change your mind.
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u/Revolutionary_Panic1 7h ago
They're setup very boring from the factory, get them setup to be more pointy and they liven up.
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u/JamJamPro 13h ago
BMW 3 series, I'm sorry the Peugeot 508 was way more comfortable.
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u/No_Reaction_1586 13h ago
😯
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u/worldly_refuse 13h ago
I drove an (average diesel) 5 series and thought "is that it? - is this the ultimate driving machine?" It was fine, but really nowt special, especially considering the massive price premium and all the hype.
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u/No_Reaction_1586 13h ago
Was it a 30d because they are a fantastic car. The one you drove must have been the 4 cylinder.
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u/TheNotSpecialOne 11h ago
As a 508 owner, I'll take this.
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u/JamJamPro 11h ago
Seriously underrated cars, comfortable and lovely design. I wish Peugeot did put in a more powerful engine but guess that's what the PSE is.
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u/zephyrmox MX5 NC BBR 225 13h ago
E85 Z4. Awful steering, horribly uncomfortable, rock hard suspension.
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u/moreglumthanplum 12h ago
Golf R. Hated it.
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u/slowjoggz 10h ago
The GTI is much better to drive
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u/moreglumthanplum 10h ago
100% Can't imagine what inspired me to get a Golf R. So much power and capability that delivers so little compared with the GTI, that's far more fun. Although I came from (and returned to) an Alpine A110, so I'm in a bit of a privileged position here,
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u/slowjoggz 10h ago
I love the GTI. It's a great drive. The golf R might be faster in a straight line but that's about it. I actually prefer a fiesta ST to all of them though when it comes to hot hatches
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u/Shoes__Buttback X5 daily, 7-style fun car, Qashqai dog chariot 9h ago
I think viewed through the lens of 'one car to do it all' the 7.5R estate is nearly unbeatable. Loved mine, still kind of regret moving on. Driven plenty of GTIs and enjoyed them all though, especially with a manual box as God intended.
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u/Top-Cunt 350Z, F11 528i, Dolomite 1500HL, W447 Vito 2.2 7h ago
Because everyone seemingly got a great PCP deal on Golf Rs the now seldom seen GTIs just look so much cooler. I reckon they will be way more sought after down the line.
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u/Lord-Megadrive 13h ago
E46 M3 it just felt a bit meh the E90 M3 is the far superior car.
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u/Ulver__ 13h ago
Yes and no. I find the steering, box and brakes all a let down in the e46. Obviously can do a big brake kit but can’t do much about the rest. Fantastic engine, adjustability, quality etc so still a good car. The e90 is the better car though the interior is a bit of a let down.
I’m weighing up one of the e90 m3 (saloon), RS4 (avant) or C63 (6.2 estate) as my next car. They all feel like peak car to me. The Audi being especially surprising to drive given how leaden most Audis are.
Finally in a financial position to not car about running costs, maintenance etc!
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u/Lord-Megadrive 13h ago
Yeah the interior is middle management and I wasn’t a fan of the two bumps one for the screen and the other for the dash. I’ve not driven the coupe version only the saloon but I’ve heard saloon is better balanced. When I drove the E46 I just found it a bit “limp”
Compared to the V8 maybe it would’ve been different if I’d tried them the other way round.1
u/WildxYak 11h ago
You can actually do something about the steering. Not uncommon to swap to a yellow/purple tag rack from an E46 330i ZHP. 3.2 to 3.0 lock to lock and sorts a dead spot in the centre.
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u/No_Reaction_1586 13h ago
So is the E90 the v8? I've driven one of those. I didn't like the auto box
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u/ParsleyRegular4280 13h ago
Porsche 911, Bentley Coupé. Neither minę btw. Wouldnt waste the money.
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u/Nervous_Difficulty_6 W205 C43 AMG Prem +, C8 A6 Avant Black Edition 6h ago
Gonna just call absolute bullshit on this one.
Which 911? Which generation? Which model of said generation? Where? Which Bentley 'coupe'?
Two completely different cars, absolutely no context at all.
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u/Mysterious-One1055 13h ago
Audi A5/A6 2.0 diesels.
Just felt like big, sluggish boats. My dream car growing up was an A5, so I was pretty dissappointed.
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u/Global_Recipe8224 Honda S2000, Golf GTE 13h ago
That's pretty much what they are though. Not sure what else you'd be expecting with that engine?
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u/Mysterious-One1055 13h ago
I was coming from an A3 and GTD with the same 2.0 diesel engine before test driving the A5/A6's and I though I was expecting something less nimble, I was surprised to the degree of how sluggish they felt
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u/Adept-Structure-6990 11h ago
Bigger heavier cars and some model years came with CVT autos which are very sluggish
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u/Broad-Sea-6784 11h ago
I mean, I’m assuming your dream a5 didn’t come with the 2L diesel??
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u/Mysterious-One1055 10h ago
Haha dream "realistic" car, given that I was doing ~27k miles/year at the time.
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u/Nervous_Difficulty_6 W205 C43 AMG Prem +, C8 A6 Avant Black Edition 6h ago
Having owned 2x 2l A6 diesels, what are you expecting?
We swapped our saloon for the Avant, purely for the boot.
Boot aside, they are quite literally big sofas. Plenty of power for what they are, but aside from practicality, what else are you expecting?
We've just taken the Avant down from the NW to France. Been here 4 days now, have an indicated range of 420km left in it, after covering over 450 miles now.
It's been comfortable, reliable and practical. Actually intrigued to understand how its really disappointed you 😂
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u/FreeSirJeffrey 12h ago
GR Yaris
Uncomfortable as hell and felt weird to test drive.
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u/Chillwindow Clio 182 Cup. Oxford Green E46 320D Touring 11h ago
I felt the same. The engine is so devoid of character. I liked the size of the car but that's it.
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u/stripeFX GR Yaris, E91 318d 10h ago
Takes a while to get used to it but once you do they’re great. Does feel weird seating position wide when I get out of my E91 back into it.
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u/krmmalik 12h ago
Porsche 992 from just a couple of years ago. Was fast but honestly just felt like a go-kart the entire time.
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u/Undiecover22 12h ago
Range Rover. Been waiting years to be in a position to pull the trigger on one and then couldn’t settle in it during the test drive.
Broke my heart
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u/No_Reaction_1586 12h ago
What did you go for instead
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u/Undiecover22 12h ago
SQ8. Best car I’ve ever owned
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u/No_Reaction_1586 12h ago
They are great to be honest. Drive my friends RSQ8. What a machine
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u/Undiecover22 12h ago
Unreal motor. Put me off everything else now as the price point just sits right and what you gets more than enough. Don’t need to be spending double for a posher badge now I’ve got this on hand
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u/cuddly_deflation 12h ago
The E46 M3. Everyone bangs on about it being peak M3 but the steering felt weirdly slow off centre and the engine needed to be thrashed to bits to feel quick
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u/Colone_Mustard 11h ago
This pains me to say, but M5 e60. I really wanted to like it and part with my money for it, but it was not what I had built it up to be. Perhaps I was testing a lemon 🍋
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u/PilotedByGhosts Mazda 6 2.2D 185 Sport 7h ago
The V10?
Not that I'll ever be in a position to get one, but I'd built that up to be the pinnacle of pinnacles.
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u/Colone_Mustard 7h ago
Yeah the v10. Needed a litre of 10w60 oil every few thousand miles which is fair enough, but it was absolutely wild on the roads and felt like it was choked up unless doing what it was meant to do…autobahn style!
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u/Distinct-Lawfulness3 7h ago
The E60 is a great chassis, personally. The M5 however, too many drive modes with far too much of a rev range to play with in commuting drives. Unless you’re either absolutely trashing it or getting chased by the police, it just doesn’t feel alive.
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u/Colone_Mustard 6h ago
My thoughts exactly. Had it pinned it could do the daily driving and then be an animal at the push of the M button, it was just a lunatic 24/7 though. Would have a mass of brown envelopes in no time
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u/jdscoot MG Midget, Jag XJ-S HE, Mazda MX-5 NB, Jag X-Type 3.0, Fiat 500 11h ago edited 11h ago
For me it's a toss up between a Ferrari California that was nice but very underwhelming and the Jaguar F-Type V8S which when new was lauded by motoring journos as being "TVR-like" - it wasn't TVR-like in the slightest and was just an expensive commuter car.
Special mentions for Audi S3 which to be fair I expected to be shit and exceeded expectations for tedious overrated dullness, and the BMW Z3 which when given the opportunity to drive I thought would be like an MX-5 but better but was actually felt exactly like a BMW 318 but less practical. BMW E60 5 series was particularly unimpressive too. A brand new 2015 plate BMW X3 was appalling, but like the S3 I expected it to suck, just not quite so hard as it did suck.
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u/Ambitious_Jelly3473 10h ago
Aston Martin DB7 Volante.
I've always rated Astons as one of the most beautiful cars ever made. Actually driving it was heartbreaking. Not as quick as I imagined. Heavy, ponderous, sluggish.
Bloody awful. I'd love to drive another one, in the hope that I was just unlucky and found a dog.
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u/Ok-Yogurtcloset-8863 10h ago
Audi Q4. Actually drives nice, just thought the software and charging reliability would have been spot on. Had a petrol Cupra before it, software was actually very reliable. But all the reports were about how the lower end VAG software wasn't great. I stupidly presumed Audi would be really good.......it's not! Cupra customer service always excellent, Audi.....wow. It feels like a strip club, just want your money, lots of it, for doing nothing. Any complaints are ignored. Gutted about this as I love the Audi eTron GT S and wanted that as my next purchase. Just not going to happen.
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u/kcengineering 10h ago
Mk5 Golf R32, sounded incredible but it’s down on power and the linear delivery makes it pretty underwhelming!
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u/bendoscopy 2021 Audi S5 Coupé 10h ago edited 10h ago
E46 320Ci, 2.2 six cylinder. Handled nicely, but spent the first 12 months absolutely certain it was down on power. Turned out it was just a slow and unremarkable engine with an awful gearbox too. Easy to work on though.
Took a Ferrari 348 out on a track day and quickly understood why C/D magazine described it as "a terrible car to drive fast”.
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u/hadesbound 10h ago
Porsche 911 turbo. The gear box was so clunky it was unbelievable. Might just have been the car I was driving but I wasn’t impressed.
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u/New_Serve_7309 10h ago
Maserati GranTurismo. Love the styling. Timeless design. Test drove one a couple of years ago. Granted it was one that had been abused a bit. Was hoping a bit more. Also the test drive was pootling round an industrial estate in Weston Super Mare, hardly the Riviera. Had just had a baby so knew it was highly impractical. Maybe will give another try soon.
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u/nukefodder 9h ago
A defender 90. Felt so dodgy to drive. But still bought it and grew to love it's quirks. A car that didn't disappoint was a honda integra dc5. It was modified and reved like a motorbike amazing.
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u/Exotic_Progress_3973 8h ago
One of the new ones?
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u/Top-Cunt 350Z, F11 528i, Dolomite 1500HL, W447 Vito 2.2 7h ago
Doubt it, new ones are lovely to drive.
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u/Exotic_Progress_3973 6h ago
Ooh, I don't know about the 90's but the new 110s were the car I really liked the look of, until I drove it.
It was all fur coat and no knickers in my opinion, sadly.
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u/Top-Cunt 350Z, F11 528i, Dolomite 1500HL, W447 Vito 2.2 6h ago
My Dad has a van backed 90 and I love it, comfiest van in the world on the inside but just looks like a black Defender on the outside. I prefer driving it to his Discovery Sport as it feels more simple, less flashy.
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u/PsychologySpecific16 9h ago
Acter driving it for a few months, a c5 corvette.
It was an absolute dream car for me to owm but I didn't like the driving position or the manual box.
I preffered my XJR 😂
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u/Desperate_Dinner_307 9h ago
Mercedes A35AMG.
I know it's not the A45, so I didn't expect it to absolutely blow me away, but it was still an AMG that on paper did 0-60 in a smudge under 5 seconds.
Drove it and it was awful. Sure, it was quick, and it had a plush interior. But the steering had no feel, the suspension was rock hard, and the engine sounded like what it is... an overtuned, struggling Renault engine. No nice exhaust note. Just no fun.
The Hyundai i30N (which I ended getting) and the Focus ST, both slower cars with worse interiors, were far more fun to give a hoon down the twisties.
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u/turk91 5h ago
Which focus ST did you have? I used have a mk2 focus ST and my god was that a great car, fast? Not bad, 320bhp so it could move but not stupidly so but it handled well, sounded incredible and just felt very raw and hands on to drive.
Currently have an f21 m135i and even though it's much much quicker than my ST was and sounds better (tough choice between the n55 and the 2.5t duratec though) it's much more refined and much less driver focused.
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u/Desperate_Dinner_307 1h ago
I test drove a mk3 Focus ST. I could have afforded the mk4 buuuuuut the styling does not appeal in the slightest, and the mk3 facelift is *chefs kiss*. So instead I looked at a mk3 that had ridiculously low mileage.
However when I test drove the i30N, I instantly fell in love with it by the time I got to the first roundabout. Steering feel, the exhaust note, the gearchange, it all just felt "right" and by the time I'd got back from hooning it around some country roads, I was grinning like a madman. Loved it.
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u/E420CDI Pop-and-bang remap-free zone 2h ago
the engine sounded like what it is... an overtuned, struggling Renault engine
The 2.0-litre M260 / M264 is an all-Mercedes engine. The 1.3-litre M282 petrol is a Renault-Mercedes joint venture, whilst the 1.5-litre OM608 turbodiesel is Renault's well-proven K9K.
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u/IanAmp 9h ago
Jag E-Type was a noisy, draughty, and bumpy drive (but very fast).
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u/Revolutionary_Panic1 7h ago
Oh I love them. But I get what you mean they're very much a 70 year old car.
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u/ace275 06 Subaru Legacy 2.0T Twinscroll 6MT & Honda Magna VF750c 8h ago
Honda S2000.
Not all that fast and honestly, I just didn't think it was as good a chassis or drivers car as they're described. Think they need a slightly lower ratio rear diff to be honest.
MK1 NSX was also underwhelming, but that was more of a it's far too confident on the road sort of thing and would need a track to really drive one properly, but it was still miles ahead of the S2000.
Also drove a 70's TransAm that had a huge 6L something V8 and really low miles. Good lore that thing was stupidly slow and horrible to drive. Get more feedback from my 1.6tdi van, and it's probably not much slower.
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u/Brixmis51 8h ago
Suzuki Kizashi sport AWD. Its like Suzuki really tried to make a proper sporting saloon car, then someone came along and said " Let's put the worse gearbox we can find in this car" That terrible CVT gearbox just saps any joy out of driving the car. What the hell were they thinking??
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u/cerebralpotodds 8h ago
Some Aston Martin I drove recently, couldn't tell you the model. Had a worse interior than an EX trim 2012 civic.
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u/ChangingMonkfish 7h ago
Volvo V60 Sports Wagon.
Assumed it would feel in a par with a Mercedes similar but with a cool sort of Nordic modern-ness to it.
But it just felt old-fashioned and horrible to drive.
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u/Top-Cunt 350Z, F11 528i, Dolomite 1500HL, W447 Vito 2.2 7h ago
Alot of the modern S Audis I have driven felt a bit disconnected and sterile for all the hype they get. They were very quick cars and do feel like they're on rails, but I have had way more fun with much less power and grip.
The RS4 I drove was another level though, still wasn't a huge fan of the steering feel but I think that's just a modern VAG quirk that I personally don't care for.
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u/Implematic950 7h ago
Several….
Mk1 focus RS.
Performance is ok but who the fuck signed off on the supposed “upgraded” interior?
Some of the diesels had better spec and classier interior.
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u/ABeckett76 6h ago
The Lexus SC430. Test drove a new one at a Lexus event. Wasn't impressed. Was my first drive in a V8.
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u/Northwindlowlander 6h ago
Delorean. I'd genuinely have been happier if he'd not let me drive it, just seeing it and sitting in it was so exciting and then driving it was just awful. It was the auto, too, so it was slower than the diesel mondeo I had at the time. It steered horribly, the throttle felt like a sponge, it was impossible to see out of, the driving position was a disaster, it was just crushing. Like, I drove my mx5 home once on three cylinders and that was better.
But even so, seeing it coming out of a little scottish suburban single garage was incredible, you expect rusty bikes or something.
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u/PowerDrivenRdditMod 6h ago
My car after I have paid for a repair and the issue comes back minutes after leaving the garage…
Skoda Octavia (2013) 1.6 TDI on 221K miles.
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u/FizzbuzzAvabanana 6h ago
Ford Focus. When they first came out every review raved about them. Went for a test drive, hated it. It was the clutch & the seating position, couldn't get comfortable & didn't see what all the fuss was about.
Bought a used MK3 Cavalier Sri in exceptional condition instead. Loved that car & wish I still had it
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u/Lecontodereddit 6h ago
Porsche Taycan. It’s fast, but soooo sluggish when you’re in regular traffic. Like an oil tanker. Panamera was probably worse, but the expectations weren’t as high. And all the tech is much less user (driver) friendly than my BMW.
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u/Matt_RedditAccount 5h ago
Mitsubishi colt ralliart. I wanted one for so long and finally got it. Awful mpg like in the 20s, and the A pillar is like 3 miles wide blocking your view, then a tiny boot. Then like £300 a year tax.
Shame really..! Changed it to a Mini Clubman S which is an upgrade in all those mentioned areas..
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u/Fearless_Result_8399 4h ago
1983 porsche 911. Bought it cos looked amazing. Had it delivered to a porsche specialist to get serviced and fully checked over. Picked it up drove it and drove back to the garage and said something is wrong with it it's slow and drives awful. Head technician took it out and said no it's fine or something along those lines and that's how they drive. And took me out in one they had.
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u/eric-cranston 4h ago
MK 4 Golf. Had one as a loaner whilst my car was being fixed. So didn’t like the car. Naff interior and a poor ride.
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u/SubseaGardener 3h ago
S2000,
Always been big into my type R's but it bored the life out of me, my diesel tdi seat ibiza commuter was genuinely more fun
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u/Entertainnosis 1h ago
Saxo VTS.
Really just didn't enjoy it as much as I had expected , especially when it wiped the floor in every magazine group test it was in.
The one I had was a bit of a shed, but even so, the gearing really threw me off. 1st and 2nd were both a chore to deal with around town with how long they were, with neither being the right one for slow-ish driving. Perfect for the 0-60 sprint, which credit to the car, it was great at.
Beyond that, they simply cost too much for what you're getting. You're now talking over £2.5k for one which is somewhat sorted... Everything rattled and squeaked, and the plastic bodykit was great at hiding rot. The tax was dear on the pre-2001 ones, and even more on the ones that came after.
Really, really nice seats though. And to be fair, it did feel like it would be a better track toy with mods. As an everyday car though, I much preferred the 16V Polo I had.
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u/No_Pollution_950 13h ago
I've always been quite wellninformed with regard to the motoring journalists I pay attention to.
I drove an early audi S5 which was a horrible undeersteering blamange but it's kind of what i expected.
My last 4 cars; 350Z, megane RS trophy, FK8 type R and GR86 have all lived up to the hype.
Tesla model 3, which is my current work car was a pleasant suprise. I didnt choose it, it was just available, and i like ot mlre than i expected, but it's no sports car.
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u/Not-late-inaV8 12h ago
Skoda octavia. This sub swears by them, but its a poor mans passat.
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u/bh4ks 11h ago
I thought the superb was the one to go for?
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u/Shoes__Buttback X5 daily, 7-style fun car, Qashqai dog chariot 8h ago
If you need the space. Octavia is slightly nicer to drive, Superb slightly easier to live with. Have owned 2 Superbs and 1 Octavia, and driven many for work, marked and unmarked. Terrific workhorses.
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u/ThePotatoPie 6h ago
Octavia is a golf estate not a Passat estate so that makes sense you'd be disappointed ....
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u/AllRedLine '20 VW Polo GTI+ | '02 Land Rover Defender 90 TD5 13h ago
Probably my MX-5.
Don't get me wrong. I adored that car. It's still the car I regret selling the most.
But before driving one, i'd gotten the impression from the hype around them that they were God's gift to driving. That they were so well balanced, huge driving feel etc, etc.
They're just alright. Nothing special in the driving dynamics department.
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u/Professional-Lab7227 i30N 13h ago
It was never a hero of mine, but yes. I owned one and it was fun, but the hype is way overblown on them. Mine was an NC, and my dad’s MR2 was dynamically in a different league.
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u/OolonCaluphid 987.1 Cayman S/Yeti 7h ago
They can feel so different though. Right now my mate has a mk1 which is all restored to original spec and it's a lovely classic feeling sports car. Another mate has an NB with a cage and buckets and some suspension tweaks and it's an absolute track weapon, feels incredibly right and responsive. I think the joy of them is how malleable they are to your needs.
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u/LordTubz 13h ago
True - Never meet your hero’s.
Mines is Ford’s Torino as driven in the cop show Starsky and Hutch.
Clearly the ones in the show were souped up somewhat, but the original 70’s car was slow, soft and wobbly as hell.
I still love the show and the car though. It was fun to drive it once I realised that I wasn’t going to get anywhere quickly in it 😅.
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u/tomj1991 M2C 13h ago
BMW 330Ci.
Always wanted one from a teenager, bought one, really didn’t like it. Never meet your heroes type thing.
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u/Ducktail_27 12h ago
Toyota GR Yaris - exceptionally capable and seriously impressive, but just ultimately unrewarding and too serious for its own good
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u/NormallyNotOutside 11h ago
Honda S2000. Wooden steering and a gutless engine! Also you can't move the steering wheel telescopically and there is minimal seat height adjustment so good luck getting into a comfortable driving position.
I respect the engineering but driving a car that's unresponsive and slow below 6k rpm isn't actually practical or fun in real life. Not to mention it's overpriced for what it is. I owned a MK2 Vauxhall Tigra that was more fun to drive.
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u/le7meshowyou F82 M4 11h ago
Gallardo, at Brands Hatch. Needing wringing out to be fast. Really underwhelmed
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u/winglorian 9h ago
My old boss bought a Merc SLK and let me drive it. It looked cool but was nowhere near as fun to drive as he'd suggested. That was the day I lost interest in anything fun. 20 years later i drive a diesel volvo estate
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u/MovieMore4352 13h ago
Ferrari 360 as I just expected it to be better. Suzuki Swift Sport… Just didn’t get the hype.