Automotive Confessions

[StevenRB45]

I saw a brand new Focus RS today. I loved the Mk1 and Mk2 RS', and still think they're impressive motors.

But this one - it just didn't wow me the same way. It didn't have the same flair, or character. I must confess I much prefer the new Type R, with its big lary wing.

I saw a performance blue one the other day I prefer them in the metal to photos. The shear amount of blanking in the grill is less obvious. I respect the type R but certain angles mainly rear 3/4 are rather bad.

 

[Liquid Knight]

Remember the new Focus is basically a fave door Volvo C30 Polestar with less power and you can work your head around the styling.

 

[puntofan01]

I saw a brand new Focus RS today. I loved the Mk1 and Mk2 RS', and still think they're impressive motors.

But this one - it just didn't wow me the same way. It didn't have the same flair, or character. I must confess I much prefer the new Type R, with its big lary wing.

Chav!!!

I'm not into performance cars unless they're 'sleepers'. Things like the Volvo 850 and V70 R: most people would be shocked to be left for dead by a Volvo estate. Ditto the Grande Punto Abarth: most people wouldn't be surprised for a Fiesta Sanitary Towel or Corsa VXR to be fast, but they would be shocked to see a Fiat go like a rocket, lol! :devil:

Then we have the fast Jag saloons: seen as comfy waftmobiles driven by old farts, but what will have no trouble keeping up with cocks in their german boxes.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Remember the new Focus is basically a fave door Volvo C30 Polestar with less power and you can work your head around the styling.

Volvo don't make the C30 anymore and the actual 'polestar' was never a production car, they did a 'polestar' option for the normal R-Design and this has a lot less power than the focus and is as rare as hens teeth..... so it's not really a comparison.

people wouldn't be surprised for a Fiesta Sanitary Towel or Corsa VXR to be fast, but they would be shocked to see a Fiat go like a rocket, lol! :devil:

Then we have the fast Jag saloons: seen as comfy waftmobiles driven by old farts, but what will have no trouble keeping up with cocks in their german boxes.

The Abath grande has more stuck on bits any pretty much any other hot hatch it's also massively under powered compared to other hot hatches so most family saloons are available with more power.

Jags are fast but costly to maintain and thirsty and handle like boats.

There are plenty of sleepers about which would leave many of these cars for dust, my favourite would be the Passat W8 that has half a Bugatti engine under the bonnet and 4 wheel drive 270bhp without any turbos for under £3k The jags need a 4 litre and a supercharger to scrape 300bhp

If the Passat isn't enough for you there is the VW Phaeton with 400+Bhp with a Bentley W12 engine and more luxury than any old jag. You can get one a few years old for less than the price of almost all mid sized family hatch backs, new on the dealers lot

 

[puntofan01]

The Abath grande has more stuck on bits any pretty much any other hot hatch it's also massively under powered compared to other hot hatches so most family saloons are available with more power.

Jags are fast but costly to maintain and thirsty and handle like boats.

There are plenty of sleepers about which would leave many of these cars for dust, my favourite would be the Passat W8 that has half a Bugatti engine under the bonnet and 4 wheel drive 270bhp without any turbos for under £3k The jags need a 4 litre and a supercharger to scrape 300bhp

If the Passat isn't enough for you there is the VW Phaeton with 400+Bhp with a Bentley W12 engine and more luxury than any old jag. You can get one a few years old for less than the price of almost all mid sized family hatch backs, new on the dealers lot

Oh, I know they're not the most powerful hot hatch there is, but more people have heard of an St or a VXR, plus they have the boy racer image, hence why the Abarth may well take unsuspecting people by surprise.

I hate to sound pernickety, but the original 4.0 Jag V8 in N/A form produced 290 bhp, then 370 with a supercharger for the XJR & XKR. The later 4.2 produced 300bhp N/A, and 400 with a 'charger.

Those VWs are fast and cheap, but they don't really have any image: with my example of Jags, they're generally associated with wealthy pensioners, hence why you wouldn't necessarily expect 1 to leave you for dead.

 

[Noxide]

I saw a performance blue one the other day I prefer them in the metal to photos. The shear amount of blanking in the grill is less obvious. I respect the type R but certain angles mainly rear 3/4 are rather bad.

Haha well there ya go! I just thought it looked so tame and clinical!
I know what you're saying - on the R I do feel like they got half way to the back and went "yeah.. front looks good, know we want a big wing.. what about the rest of the car though".

Remember the new Focus is basically a fave door Volvo C30 Polestar with less power and you can work your head around the styling.

I actually LOVE the Volvo C30. <3

Chav!!!

I'm not into performance cars unless they're 'sleepers'. Things like the Volvo 850 and V70 R: most people would be shocked to be left for dead by a Volvo estate. Ditto the Grande Punto Abarth: most people wouldn't be surprised for a Fiesta Sanitary Towel or Corsa VXR to be fast, but they would be shocked to see a Fiat go like a rocket, lol! :devil:

Then we have the fast Jag saloons: seen as comfy waftmobiles driven by old farts, but what will have no trouble keeping up with cocks in their german boxes.

Haha yeah but what's the point in going fast if it's not appreciated?

 

[PuntoHowTo]

I hate to sound pernickety, but the original 4.0 Jag V8 in N/A form produced 290 bhp, then 370 with a supercharger for the XJR & XKR. The later 4.2 produced 300bhp N/A, and 400 with a 'charger.

Those VWs are fast and cheap, but they don't really have any image: with my example of Jags, they're generally associated with wealthy pensioners, hence why you wouldn't necessarily expect 1 to leave you for dead.

You were talking about the saloon jags not the sports cars the XJR & XJS are not saloons.

The Abath is obviously a hot hatch and no one would be surprised at one hurtling past, jags are fast reguardless so again no one would bat an eyelid and one going quick, back in the 80s and 90s those old jags had a reputation for being driven by idiots (Audi drivers of there day) they are old cars now so definitely not a wealthy pensioners car, usually owned now by younger people who want a fancy car for under a grand, but not the XJ models they are sports cars and certainly aren't expected to go slow.

No one would expect a Passat estate with kids in the back and dog in the boot to be fitted with a nearly 300hp 8 cylinder (effectively a v8) engine, which does not, in appearance look any different to any other Passat in the lineup of that period.

These days when the likes of Audi or ford or whoever build a very fast car no matter what it is, it gets the stick on vents and grills everywhere and badges all over the place to tell everyone it's fast

 

[puntofan01]

You were talking about the saloon jags not the sports cars the XJR & XJS are not saloons.

I never mentioned the XJS.

And the XJR (as illustrated below,) isn't a saloon?

 

[PuntoHowTo]

I never mentioned the XJS.

And the XJR (as illustrated below,) isn't a saloon?

Fair enough, the problem with jags still remains, they weight many tons and handle like barges, no match for any modern hot hatch.

All jags from this era have very flaky electrics, a gift from British Leyland.

Plenty of old barges about that go fast in a straight line but not what you'd call 'fun'

 

[Liquid Knight]

For the money I'd be tempted to buy a Ford Mustang Ecoboost. The same engine as the Focus only rear wheel drive so basically the same as the old Sierra Cosworth.

Having said that those Fords wouldn't anywhere near the top of my list if I had the money. But the Ecoboost is a brilliant engine (for a Ford).

 

[StevenRB45]

Having said that those Fords wouldn't anywhere near the top of my list if I had the money. But the Ecoboost is a brilliant engine (for a Ford).

Would love to know how much remains of the Mazda Disi MZR. Does rather appear Ford have just turned the wick up given they were producing 256bhp in 2006.

 

[puntofan01]

Fair enough, the problem with jags still remains, they weight many tons and handle like barges, no match for any modern hot hatch.

All jags from this era have very flaky electrics, a gift from British Leyland.

Plenty of old barges about that go fast in a straight line but not what you'd call 'fun'

Those Jags were definitely designed for comfort and style rather than corners.

The old 850R definitely appeals though: a Volvo estate capable of 160mph, what absolute genius, lol!

 

[Lambie]

For the money I'd be tempted to buy a Ford Mustang Ecoboost. The same engine as the Focus only rear wheel drive so basically the same as the old Sierra Cosworth.

Having said that those Fords wouldn't anywhere near the top of my list if I had the money. But the Ecoboost is a brilliant engine (for a Ford).

Did not realise that an EcoBoost Mustang existed!

Never thought I'd ever see Eco and Mustang in the same name.