Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

That time of year again. (haitus aside)

Passed an all matt black everyting Fezza FF on the A3 in my tinman Nissan.

Best in show?

I really want to like this, but there’s something just not quite there. Proportionally it’s just a bit heavy it feels like. The spoiler is a proper dollop, the lines aren’t quite hard or sharp enough - which is what gave the cars it’s trying to imitate such a distinct look.

I’m sure I’ll get gunned for it, and it’s obviously mega popular, but it just doesn’t look as good as the original 037.

This is so cool.

https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/1997-mitsubishi-pajero-evolution

Super cool.

Slight escalation as wife wants an auto, car mostly for her. So jeep GC has come to front, what could go wrong!

IF anyone has auto 4x4 suggestions, shoot

I wouldn't kick it out of bed... 😎

https://twitter.com/CharlesRist/status/1413896822624559109?s=19

Subaru are mainly auto, I think? The Forester and Outbacks I've driven have all been autos.

I don't like those Jeeps at all but I guess they do the job.

Depends on the generation of suby... You don't really want the CVT autos

I’m going to suggest an automatic estate car that is a nice place to be and a cheap, agricultural 4x4 that is fired up when needed. Driving everywhere in a poor compromise based on a requirement that would be 5% of total driving is I submit sub-optimal. Unless you do the majority of your miles on unpaved mountain roads?

2010 E500 estate and whatever the farmers rattle around in with a lost sheep in the back.

You don't really want the CVT autos

Mine has been great, I thought the manuals were having more problems than the CVTs...

weekend car, to go places, and most of the good places are off road, so likely 50/50. occasional longer motorway journey into france.

if there was a forester auto near me I would consider it.

Ah right - thanks; I don't think I've experienced the CVT boxes. Were they on Foresters?

Ok, I guess the question is “how off road?”, just gravel surfaced roads or proper green-laning?

If it’s gravel roads then I’d go for tyres specific to that terrain rather than a ladder frame 4x4, but if it’s deep ruts and steep ramps I’ve always liked the look of G-wagons, the older ones rather than the Crypto/Coke-bro AMG versions.

Mitsubishi Shogun/Pajero with on and off road tyres.

Yeah not many about, and non with auto. Was on my list.

Probebrly gravel to start but a nice track can turn bad fast.

Not many g wagon here. Lots of 4 runner, shogun, patrols, etc and then x5/toureg/xc90 for more sofisticated. I thought the jeep would bridge gap and offer 2 ish cars in on

Fiat Panda climbing, tho not sure about it being auto.

Honda CRV, non perm 4x4 rear diff issues. Not as bad as Freelander.

Panda was my first idea, and a great suggestion, but small cars are out. I need space for bikes and stuff.

Without knowing exactly how rutted the roads are, I'd still be inclined to think a 4x4 is not necessary.

My folks live up a hilly rural country single lane road with ruts, and thought they'd need a rugged vehicle, and over the years have had Cherokee's (pertol-ridic fuel bills), and farmers favourites like the Diahatsu Fourtrak's and Suzuki Grand Vitara's, (bone shakers) but all the time they had regular cars too, which always got home. They now rave at the Skoda Yeti they have as being way better than all of them. And they don't even have the 4x4 version, which they do if you fancy added off-roadyness, and think they come in auto too, so I'd say something that would probably be fine.

And the seats go down and can fit bikes in the back, or you can take the back seats out entirely.

996 C4 with a roof box and winter tyres.

you're too sensible for my dreaming

Ha!....time to do a Dammit and invent the Yeti turbo :)

you are probably right though, but I do want a big boot for bikes and stuff

What about a crossover estate type thing? I'm thinking VAG group in its various guises, so Audi A4/A6 All-Road, Skoda Octavia Scout or Seat Leon X-Perience. Extra ground clearance and 4WD/AWD for the rough stuff, should be more composed on long motorway journeys than a Jeep and still have loads of space for bikes and stuff.