Diesels

I used to drive a 1 litre auto mini, so about the same. It was slow, but it was still fun.

Chris Bartram ( snipped-for-privacy@delete.me.piglet-net.net) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

I can't picture an automatic Mini being a barrel of laughs - not EVERY slow car is fun, just as not every fast car is good.

You're talking about the Ferrari now aren't you? I knew a guy who swore they were rubbish - ok to 40,000 miles then fell apart! ;-)

The message from "Billy H" contains these words:

I liked the 1500/1750 Allegros.

The message from Chris Bartram contains these words:

Exactly.

Modern cars are all very powerful compared to the things we all had when young. This may well be one of the reasons why so many teenagers kill themselves through speed related crashes. We'd have done the same but the machinery didn't permit it.

It was still quite good in a go-kart kind of way. Acceleration was a calendar job, but it cornered well.

I drive a 300hp/260lbft 4wd car. It started at 200hp/200lbft. Im bored of it now. Everything gets boring when you have driven it for a few months. Nothing like as boring as if you are forced back into driving something more lowly, but still its human nature to seek more lol.

The message from Chris Bartram contains these words:

Which is just as well 'cos once you'd gathered speed you didn't want to lose it!

The message from "Coyoteboy" contains these words:

Don't I know it. I'm in a 1.8D Mundaneo till I decide what to do with the Audi.

Because people *do* buy the SDI.

You don't think it costs an extra £2,000 to make the TDI, do you?

This is the bread and butter stuff that I take for granted in a car, in any car. Even in my rattly diesel 2000 Saab.

Having spent many years enjoying a beautifully set up and usefully sensitive drive by cable :) technique, the Polo was incredibly frustrating if you want to cruise.

The 1.4 TDI just needs a better home...

Then try a poverty spec Ka, as an example, and it is a world of difference - in the positive.

Oh and this Polo wasn't the poverty specification model, it was a mid range machine.

You're writing Fabia and I'm talking Polo, so perhaps the two use the same knobs but one has no electronics. I didn't feel it cooling down during my usual 28 mile commute.

Yes. In something with a RRP of around £11,000 or so.

The 206 has an appalling driving position, a funky curious gear change, but a lovely supply ride. Once you're in one gear and don't have to move about it's okay. The Polo's ride is too firm.

It was no ball of fire. Book figures were something like 43 mpg, 90 mph,

18s to 60. But it had a range comfortably in excess of 500 miles and was comfortable to drive.

Because in a straight line you can overtake stuff. Just about anything. The previous generation BMW M5 was scarily quick. 400 bhp, V8. But exciting? Not on the road. As I'll detail.

Sarcasm noted.

Hahahahah.

Hahahaha now you're funny. That's the electronics doing the business.

The original TT was quickly reined in for its wayward handling characteristics. That's right, it oversteered. People thought this irresponsible for the wine bar crew. Hmm.

It's usually, "knock it off, you're going quicker than your visibility limit" followed by, "you have fifteen seconds to stop this before I arrest you."

One look at my out of date website shows that I've done this, but, on the strip is very, very different to being on the road. I don't tend to break engine mounts on the road.

Bring them on.

Eh? That's backwards thought. My point is that your typical high performance car has grip levels *way* in excess of the visibility limit. Just because something can scoot around a corner at 90 mph doesn't mean you should, if you are only able to stop in 40 mph worth of distance then that's your maximum speed.

Masses of ordinary cars, probably close to all, can exceed the visibility speed on the road because of road, tyre, chassis and suspension designs.

So what's the point in the M5 on an ordinary road where you are not able to corner significantly quicker than other traffic?

Oh, the straight line acceleration and overtaking abilities.

Right. Yeah because that's exciting.

If you buy something very high powered and drive it sensibly but with enthusiasm on the road, you'll find your average cross country speeds little different from something much, much slower. You'll get held up less by traffic, but will it be more exciting in the twisty stuff? No. Not in my experience.

Great fun. 11/10th of the time, all the time, inside most speed limits!

Ford Ka... *coughs*

That reminds me of one of my ex-girlfriends...

I'm resting my case and sticking to my opinion. Betcha there are equivalents that are more entertaining to drive.

DervMan ( snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

I thought the TiT was renowned for flipping at autobahn speeds, hence the recall which fitted/upgraded ESP & rear spoiler...

DervMan ( snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

Wagons..... ROOOOOLLLL!

Well if you oversteer on the autobahn that's what you'd expect.