Just wondering what other people have driven (apart from their Skodas) that have surprised them as to how good or bad they were - compared to their expectations before getting in.

Good: Rover Metro GTa 16v

Bad: toss up between Corsa 1.0 12v and Renault Laguna 3.0 V6 (old shape)

Good: Mates Fiesta (not newest shape) 1.25 Zetec, for such a small engine it was nippy and revvy, good steering...bit soft though.

Bad: Peugeot 206, never has one drive changed my opinion of a car so much. I live on a farm and some of our tractors have better gearboxes, seriously! And dashboards.

That Metro would feel like a little go kart, 105 bhp in an 800 kg body, they shift pretty well.

One of the most surprising cars I was in was a Puma. OK, I'd heard they were good, but the handling was excellent, and it was really nice to drive. Pity they look a bit girly.

I have to say, this Golf I have now is a LOT better than I expected. I wasnt expecting much, but the handling is a dream, and its not fast, but its quick enough to be lots of fun, and will still embarass many small 2.0 family hatchbacks...

That Metro would feel like a little go kart, 105 bhp in an 800 kg body, they shift pretty well.

Yes, it did! And the clutch/gearbox/steering (apart from the usual Metro driving position)/seats/handling just felt *right*.

BMW 1 - I expected it to be cramped and cheap nor did I think it would handel that well. I was wrong on all counts lol.

Seat Ibiza - I wasn't impressed with it after driving the fabia. It was cramped and felt cheaper than the fabia. Though it did seem to feel sporter (harder ride) than what I was expecting.

Land Rover Defender - I honestly thought this would be horrible to drive but it wasn't, ok it was no GT but it did well on the road. Have to say it's the reason why I love 4x4's now!

Good: Pug 205 GTi. Absolute hoot to drive, brilliant handling and way exceeded my expectations when i first had a go out in one. Why don't they make cars like this naymore :(

Bad: Corrado G60. Compared to what I was expecting. Had a go out in my mates a few times and the way the car handled wasn't in doubt but it just wasn't as quick as i was expecting which was disappointing.

Pity its so hard to find a nice 205 GTI nowadays. Most of them have been chavved to death or have long since fallen to bits...

Worst one I've driven is the Ford Ka which had a weird driving position that I found painful to drive. Coming close to that is the new Nissan Primera 2.2DCi which is a very weird experience, but maybe that was more disappointing as I'd been sold on the idea of getting one by the extensive spec list

Best has to be the Scooby on wet roads and the Disco the first day it went round an offroad course!

Chris

Most of them have been chavved to death or have long since fallen to bits...

Like dropping Mi16 lumps into them

Good: Tweaked MGF - honestly

Bad: Vauxhall Meriva - quite simply the worst thing I have ever driven

Good : 5 Series Beemer (520i Sport, last shape)

Bad : Suzuki Vitara GX2000 Soft-top.

Sublime AND ridiculous - Audi RS6.....OMG :eek: :eek: :eek:

Good: New shape corsa 1.0 12v. I was so impressed with how chuckable it was and well geared - a real hoot !

Bad: My dads 1989 Audi 2.2 Coupe. For years i dreamed of owning it, and one day i got it and it was sh!te.....No brakes, bad steering, felt heavy, and slow, didn't handle and did 15-20 mpg :(

Good: New shape corsa 1.0 12v.

I take it your standards arent too high then?

Quite the opposite - i thought i would be a compleate bag a sh!te and i managed to enjoy myself in it. Plesenetly supprised !

Quite the opposite - i thought i would be a compleate bag a sh!te and i managed to enjoy myself in it. Plesenetly supprised !

I once enjoyed myself in a car, Peigeot 307, horrible car handle like poo and was as slow as anything but he had a fair bit of room in the rear!!! I'll get me coat then

Good - Imported mk2 Mr2 Turbo running 300bhp (tweaked by Graham Goodes)

Top car, handling was superb and it left scoobys for dead.

Bad Ferrari testarossa - fiddley gearbox also too wide 7ft mirror to mirror

Best Audi 90 quattro ( old series 2 shape.. ) fantastic without the weight of the series 3 and 4 cars...

Best against expectations - Ford Focus Zetec TDCI 115hp...

worst.. 1984 Talbot Alpine 1.6LS the worst handling, unreliable pile of dog doo

I ever owned!!!

cheers

Dazz

Bad: Corrado G60. Compared to what I was expecting. Had a go out in my mates a few times and the way the car handled wasn't in doubt but it just wasn't as quick as i was expecting which was disappointing.

I've always dreamed of owning a Corrado (pref VR6 Storm); perhaps that would make a better case for itself than a G60.

Driven my mates old Corrado VR6 ... Arguably the best performance car VW has made to date... With an engine sound that comes a close to the magic 5CYL Audi noise!!!

cheers

Daz

Good cars : My old 850cc Mini, the engine just rev'd and rev'd and rev'd. Combined with low weight and Mini handling, it was great fun to drive. My old Megane Coupe was suprisingly good in the twisties too.

Bad cars : My old 1.1 Fiesta MK3, such an utterly boring car. My brother's Seicento Sporting, the steering just didn't feel right at all to me. Last, but by no means least, my brother's Honda Civic. It was the last shape, not the current one. 1.5 Economy VTEC. First it had Nitrous fitted, then a turbo conversion. There was no denying that it was quick, but the controls were all just so dead. No feel at all through the steering or any of the pedals.

Good: Smart car, loved the ickle Smartie, shame it got all smashed up.

Bad: Ferrari F355 - I dreamt of this car as a youngster and it doesn't drive well, nice engine note mind.

Oh and every single newer French car. They are all pants and should be left in France.

Oh and every single newer French car. They are all pants and should be left in France.

:iagree:

Good: Daihatsu Copen - bit :gay: but surprisingly fun!

Bad: Corolla D4D :thumbdwn:

Bad cars : My old 1.1 Fiesta MK3, such an utterly boring car.

:iagree:

Good - Austin Allegro = great handling and performance

Bad - McLaren F1 = Overrated