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

Yeah as above, it's a vauxhall VXR8. Apparently there are 480 of them in the UK. It is essentially a rebadged Holden though.
It replaced the Monaro V8 in the noughties.

Some nice cars from the streets of Japan.

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Most unexpected spot was a Volvo 262C in Hiroshima, near the Mazda factory.
Mercs were very popular, as were these odd little Toyota estates called either a ProBox or a Succeed depending on spec.

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And these funny Toyota JPN Taxis that are like half scale versions of London black cabs are taking over from the classic Toyota Crown/Comfort models

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Those are all great! Thanks for sharing.

Right car people.

My FIAT 500 Twin Air is poorly.

What, hive mind do I replace it with for more LoLs.

(Ok, small family run about / drop offs etc)

500 Abarth?

Ha. While I do like the 595 maybe I should try a different shape?

Colleague at work has a quick A class merc that he likes.....

Orly. Mmmmk. *Checks AutoTrader

Golf GTI?

I'm continually impressed with our smalled engined Golf in terms of handling everything a family of 4 needs.

I'm selling my 595 Competizione soon, 2016, 31k. Looking to downsize..my shortlist is Citroen C-Zero, Toyota IQ, Fiat Panda. I'd like a Panda Cross but seem expensive and the C-Zero idea has been laughed at. Anyone know much about the IQ?

@HoKe has one I think.

Anyone know much about the IQ?

IIRC they're extremely well regarded for what they are - Toyota put a lot of development into them. But the 4 seat concept does seem bizarre to me.

Yes, they are definitely small...but the rear seats would be very rarely used. Actually it's designed more as three seater, the front passenger seat has more space to move forward giving the seat behind additional room.

Surely the Panda is bigger than the 595?

But to truly downsize from one of the smallest cars there is? The correct answer is an Austin Mini, an original Fiat 500, or if that is too big a Peel P50. After that you’re looking a roller skates.

Mini Cooper (even the non - S version is quite nippy)
Lupo GTi or Polo Gti (or the Seat equivalents)
Audi A1 quattro

We love our pocket rocket.

As @Nef said it is more a 3+1 car than a 4 seater.

For a family car is it not great. But for two people run around London and the UK is perfect.

Maintenance and running cost is cheap. Parking is amazing and the turning circle is perfect for London’s road.

1.0 manual is what we have, zero road tax and roughly 65mpg if you don’t thrash it like your 595. For reference we drove from south east London to Windermere using 3/4 of a tank and this cost is £35 (when petrol was 1.78)

Drawback, a little underpower on the motorway, also there is hardly any boot space, you can either fold one side down and increase that way or both seats down to have a proper boot space.

But considering you can get one of these for 2-3k it’s a pretty good bargain.

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I think I’ve said this before but I worked on the launch for the iQ and loved it. Such a perfect city car with some amazing engineering.

Inner city travel could be so different if the Qashqui hadn’t come out around the same time.

Didn’t realise they were so cheap these days but the make a tonne of sense if you’re in the burbs.

Hmmm. Lots of ideas thanks.

Will peruse... 😁

Indeed, you’ll be pleasantly surprised how much roof the passenger gets in the rear seats.

If you can get one with the white panel interior to get a little more light inside as it is a little dark inside this cabin.

Thanks for info, I'm definitely leaning towards one of these. I don't trust many other cars in the 2-3k bracket. I'm OK with the size and limited use rear seats. Is that an IQ3? Have you got a bike in one? I see there are people with roofracks but also a lot of info stating that they came with a 0kg load rating for the roof...

@bq good point, the [mk3?] Panda does look bigger than a 595 & see comment above for the mk2, even though I had a 100hp a few years ago and it was faultless, they are getting a bit old and I'm aware of rear beams rusting. Edit: downsizing also meant financially, the 595 sits there for 5 days a week and still seems to be worth almost £10k.

Yeah, I do think it is also designed for the smaller people in Asia than the larger people in the western society. As my gf and her family is rough 4ft 11 and we all fit in this car. 😅 (I was the driver btw - at 5ft9)

I do love these cars, would like a GRMN version but these cost silly money for the same car. Have been modifying this little beast (some would say a little too much!!)

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Cygnet is the one. £35k used though.

Haha, yes I took a look at these, thinking they would be 15k...