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

TBH i've not looked at the "hot hatch" market for decades and just assumed the (VAG range) GTi / R / 4motion / Cupra etc was the nuts for speed - but they aint when compared to big german estates i was looking at - but i dont want to drive around in something that feels tacky inside (which i've found on almost all hatch rentals apart from Golf/Audi) , and to be brutally honest i feel Ford are like that - and lets not get started on Fiat or BMW Mini .

so from the above i can take BMWs slightly smaller space if i can get epic performance and solid nice interior.....

saying that i've just been sent the Topgear BMW v GOLF video link where the BMW 1 almost killed Clarkson when driving in a straight line on a wet airfield - sobering viewing.

Perhaps i should go retro and look to the 80's/90's jap hatch turbo market - I used to own an EP71 turbo when living in NZ.....

For what it's worth. I really like the Fuchs on the Porsche. Isn't part of the appeal with a 911 that there's some kind of 'faux-retro'-ness about their look already?

Also - since a Focus ST has been mentioned. I'm about to pick up the third big bill in three years on mine. Year 1 - clutch, 2 - fuel pump, now something likely horrible to do with power steering failure. The fuel pump and power steering in particular have been unexpected.

Much as I love mine, and always wanted a lairy Ford - I'm not sure I'd recommend it to anyone.

That's a subject of discussion in it's own right. The 996 was the only model of 911 to move away from the round headlights that have been a feature from the 356/901/911 starting point - and look what happened there. Much hatred, so sandy vagina.

The 997 immediately went back in time to, well, every single 911 that wasn't a 996 and put round headlights back on the front of the car.

Here's a 997 Sports Classic model, featuring Fuchs, a duck-tail, and a load of other retro styling cues direct from Porsche - it's ten years younger than my car.

Porsche Indy garage/reseller RPM has made a series of "CSR" cars based on the 996 and the 997, here's a 996.1:

That looks great - you should do that :)

Could've been clearer on that one. I think they look like old rims on a new car. Those rims to me are very 70's porsche, ie

Tbh I think you're good with the ones you have. Boring opinion though.

They look a lot better with the black spokes than with the silver in the original post

don't do it, neil. the wheels you have on it are the best ones. 100% agree with the kitsch comments re: the fuch - you might get away with it on a 997

Thanks, I found an aeronautical engineer forum in the end that said one of those or a screwdriver. I went for screwdriver and great success.

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in hairier news...

a full 8 hour day on sylvie on saturday. almost got all six roll cage plates welded in before the gas ran out on the welder (30 seconds before the fuel ran out on the genny. we decided to call it a day.

a bit frustrating, because we were absolutely flying and even started to entertain the idea of having them all primered, ready for paint next time.

next up is about another half hour of welding, an hour or so of grinding and cleaning it up before primer. headlights/indicators/few other jobs while the primer dries, then we repaint and refit.

i am hoping the dash, steering column and seat so back in the session after that, so it should be looking like a load of progress this year.

Interestingly, the small brown man who isn't me but is on TV is talking about a 26k fully specced Polo on his Instagram and saying how it actually feels it's price, rather then feeling like an overpriced shitbox

Take anything that Clarkson says with a pinch of salt, it's all for viewing numbers, scripted, and over exaggerated.

Remember when everyone got put off Evos because he tested the FQ400, an absolute monster of a car, but putting it in 4th at 30mph and putting his foot flat. Of course it was going to do nothing, it's got a fucking massive turbo that needs to spool. If I do that in the Volvo I get the same performance, but work the gears like you're supposed to and you get the performance you're supposed to.

80s/90s Japanese cars are awesome but they have shit interiors and won't pass ulez if you're in London.

and lets not get started on Fiat or BMW Mini .

Regular Fiat 500 (idk about Arbarth) does feel budget on the inside, but I wouldn't say it's that bad - just a small city car, and looks better than other cars on its platform like the Ka.

But I'm surprised you say that about the BMW Mini though. Other than the stock speakers, even the One (which I used to have) had a rock solid, quality interior. And a mate had a Cooper with all the extras and the interior of that was lovely place to be. If I still lived in London, and space and money weren't an issue I'd get a tuned convertible Cooper in a heartbeat (R56/7 not the new ones).

I'd still go back to the point about test driving them in your real world conditions. Where are you going to be driving it fast and how fast? On a UK motorway >99mph and you loose your license (
and barely arrive faster than had you driven at 60mph). I'd relate it to motorbikes, and say on the whole it's better to have something that feels fast than is actually super fast.

only model of 911 to move away from the round headlights

and for that reason it's an even worse idea to put Fuchs on it. They are the automotive equivalent of white tyres and brown fizik bar tape.

The only reason these look good is the black spokes downplay the style so it's a nod to it, rather than a direct application.

Tbh I think you're good with the ones you have. Boring opinion though.

+1

Anyone else eagerly anticipating Playforevers Targa?

Don’t get many of these to the pound!

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Perhaps i need to revisit the mini interior - i felt it plastic'y and gimmicky...but im not a fan of the "new" mini in general anyway, its effin massive these days!

this 90's throwback might squeeeeeze onto the drive and give me the AWD i need for country pursuits.........

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I agree about the mini, I've just bought a R55 clubman cooper s and its very nice place to sit - my other cars are a T5 van and a mx5 so maybe not a great comparison?

@Crispin_Glover is that an AM compact with the silly large engine ?

Think it's just got a little Toyota engine, but if you were rich and mad enough you could spec one of these

My dad had one of these. Epic fun.

Mu uncle just owned a M140 and loved it. Was meant to be his sensible, everyday car but he ended up doing a couple of track days in it and was elated to find it super capable and quick, showing up some more expensive/sporting cars in the process around Cadwell Park. The only reason he got rid of it was because he has a serial car buying problem and though his new "sensible everyday car that he could maybe use for the odd trackday" should be an M2 Competition...

Alfa Romeo 159?