[Nick the Greek]

Modern cars are far too heavy and the steering, with a tiny number of exceptions, is dreadful.

Engines have got more efficient, primarily through advanced electronics.

Are modern cars 'fun' like they used to be?

Hmmmmmmm.

Not sure?

Which would I take for a blast into the hills, my MX5 or the F30.......

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Nick the Greek

Modern cars are far too heavy and the steering, with a tiny number of exceptions, is dreadful.

Engines have got more efficient, primarily through advanced electronics.

Are modern cars 'fun' like they used to be?

Hmmmmmmm.

Not sure?

Which would I take for a blast into the hills, my MX5 or the F30.......

If the hills were empty then yes the mx5, but they tend to be full of other cars and the old mx5 is just too slow at times to make the most of the overtakes.

But I do want something a little older, a bit more analogue and interactive, with some "feel", but still a bit of poke...

[Cootie]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

I do think 11 or thereabouts is achievable with a bit more brutality than I'm prepared to give a car.

Talking of brutal my mate had a Huracan for the afternoon yesterday and I had about 140 miles as a passenger. Acceleration is relentless and I would guess about 6.5 to 100. Perhaps explains the 10mpg average we got...

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Cootie

Talking of brutal my mate had a Huracan for the afternoon yesterday and I had about 140 miles as a passenger. Acceleration is relentless and I would guess about 6.5 to 100. Perhaps explains the 10mpg average we got...

Yeah that's the thing I tend to forget when having a little moan about my car. I drive it like an arse and never go below 30mpg. If I drive an M car like this it would half that.

[tjlees]

Originally Posted by MarkG335

Just saw this classic on my dog walk!

Nearly bought one of these maestro turbos for around £7000 a long time ago. Eats front wheel bearings for breakfast and brings a whole new meaning to the wordtorque steer. Not bad in its day though.

[Chompers]

What a great thread

Originally Posted by Chris Peacock

Back in 1991/92 (can't remember) I went to the Vauxhall dealership over near Great Yarmouth where all the Lotus Carlton's were prepared before being distributed, got taken into a warehouse where there were more than 10 side by side. Was the stuff of wet dreams for a 17yo petrol head

I was working for a Vauxhall dealer at the time. Those Lotus Carlton's were store by the Gales group either Diss or Beecles due to there closeness to Hethel. The last 30 odd took ages to sell very much like the Z8's which you couldn't give away

Classics I'd consider are Elise Sport 160, 340R, VX220T, Z4MR & E30 M3 EVO. However the car I really want is an E46 M3 CSL keep dreaming

[Nick the Greek]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

If the hills were empty then yes the mx5, but they tend to be full of other cars and the old mx5 is just too slow at times to make the most of the overtakes.

But I do want something a little older, a bit more analogue and interactive, with some "feel", but still a bit of poke...

Interesting point Terry, and before I got the MX5 I would have agreed with you.

However, I find the small size of the MX5, out weighs it's straight line performance deficit.

I find I over take safely in the MX5 in places I would not in the F30. Brakes are far better on the MX5. I suggest because there's 400kg less to stop.

On a slightly different note.

I find making progress in the MX5 is not afflicted by the BMW jealousy, that other drivers show when passed.

[Chompers]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

If the hills were empty then yes the mx5, but they tend to be full of other cars and the old mx5 is just too slow at times to make the most of the overtakes.

But I do want something a little older, a bit more analogue and interactive, with some "feel", but still a bit of poke...

Got to be an Elise, Mk I ideally, they are a truly rewarding car to drive even with the base power unit.

[workshybum]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

Rightly or wrongly I have excluded any consideration of any FWD vehicles!

I'm gutted I sold my Corrado VR6. It was front wheel drive, but did handle exceptionally well. It was also fairly quick and sounded excellent too. It wasn't the most reliable car in the world (understatement) but it had great personality!

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Nick the Greek

Interesting point Terry, and before I got the MX5 I would have agreed with you.

However, I find the small size of the MX5, out weighs it's straight line performance deficit.

I find I over take safely in the MX5 in places I would not in the F30. Brakes are far better on the MX5. I suggest because there's 400kg less to stop.

On a slightly different note.

I find making progress in the MX5 is not afflicted by the BMW jealousy, that other drivers show when passed.

What mx5 do you have Nick? I've had two MK 1s and sorry they're too slow! The Mk3 2.0 is not so bad though, and very much looking forward to driving the new one when it comes out.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Chompers

Got to be an Elise, Mk I ideally, they are a truly rewarding car to drive even with the base power unit.

Yes, definitely in the short list. They seem to have bottomed out at 8-10k and so then it's just running costs to consider of depreciation is non existent