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Automotive News & Views The Test Drive That Shattered Your Dream
55 messages, Last post on Sep 11, 2008 at 3:58 AM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Aug 08, 2008 6:14 pm) I was expecting an updated VW Rabbit GTI but it felt more like a Prelude Si hatchback....disappointing to say the least.
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Replying to: andys120 (Aug 09, 2008 3:43 am) My "shattered dream" was when the Audi TT Coupe became available in the USA. Yeah, I know, these days it's a somewhat forgotten car, but back in 1996-1997 there was a LOT of buzz, and, to be fair, many styling cues of the TT are found in today's cars (the window "arc line" front to rear, the satin-finish knobs and switches, that "future-tech" interior trim---all comes from the TT). ANYWAY  I took one for a test drive and while it was "okay" I was not prepared for the dead spot in the steering coming off neutral into left or right. I was expecting BMW level of precision here. Also I didn't find the car all that fun to drive, and the exhaust note was underwhelming. I wanted a sports coupe ala Porsche Cayman but what I was driving was a kind of mini-GT car. It was like a German Toyota Celica. I never drove another one again, or even looked at one. I'm sure owners like 'em, and they are just fine for what they do, but not for me, that's for sure.
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Very sexy looking; Mercedes-based; Chrysler-prices. What's not to like? But on the testdrive, I couldn't fit in the car. Too tall to see out the windshield. Bummer.
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Replying to: lokki (Aug 11, 2008 5:27 pm) |
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but the first time I sat in a 1973-77 era GM intermediate as an adult, it just didn't seem as roomy inside as I thought they'd be! About 7 years ago, a local park and sell lot had a '76 LeMans coupe for sale, and it looked good from a distance. Unfortunately, not so good up close. I just remembered sitting behind the wheel and thinking that it seemed no better inside than my '68 Dart...a car that was marketed as a compact! I think the biggest killer though was when I started it up and immediately thought...that doesn't sound like no V-8! Turns out it just had a Chevy 250-6 under the hood. I guess 0-60 in a car of that bulk would've been around 20 seconds?  Anyway, it wasn't enough to turn me off to that type of car. A few years later, I found another '76 LeMans. It just happened to be in much better shape, had a 350-4bbl V-8 that fixed most of my acceleration worries, and has a power seat that can contort into almost obscene positions, so it gives me the legroom I need. |
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Replying to: lokki (Aug 11, 2008 5:27 pm) |
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Replying to: lokki (Aug 11, 2008 5:27 pm) I too was intrigued by the Crossfire. Liked the looks. Like you I was worried about fitting into it (6'2" 225 pounds). Just managed to fit inside. The big turn-off was power. 215hp just didn't give it enough guts to make it worth the 30K plus they were orgionally going for. The SRT version was much better but so far out of my range I couldn't consider it. I was also turned-off by the cramped feeling of the Altima Coupe and the handling and power of the 6-cyl. Mustang. |
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Seems that many of us have been disappointed by a convertible or sports car. My story is the same. I'm a big fan of Saturn - the family has had 5 of them, total - so I was particularly interested when the Saturn Sky was released. First time I saw one in the showroom, I had to sit in it. Yep, you guessed it - too tall (even though I'm just a fraction shy of 6'). I was looking directly into the windshield header. Plus, the steering wheel didn't adjust high enough, so everything between about 9:30 and 2:30 on both the speedo and tach were obscured. Sigh. |
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Replying to: michaell (Jul 27, 2008 4:38 pm) Even with the top down, it still feels like they're trying to cocoon you in, away from the outside world. |
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Replying to: michaell (Jul 27, 2008 4:38 pm) The old MGB was somewhat of an offender in this regard. It was impossibly to keep a baseball cap on! But the Alfa Romeos of 1981--1993 had no such issue. It was better thought out. I realize that designers want a low windshield profile and a nice rake angle, but not at the expense of too many potential buyers.
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