Sluggish seeming petrol cars

ZootHornRollo

optimus_primera wrote: »

I often wonder why manufacturers don't make a basic 'base' model.
No aircon no electric seats and windows, basic fm stereo etc etc ..... less to go wrong as well, i know they couldn't do much to the engines due to emmissions regulations these days.

My dad would probably buy one ......

yeah, but no-one else would.

my dad was the biggest critic of 'gadgets' in cars.

He always denounced 'leccy windows as lazy, aircon as pointless ("i have window winders"), power steering "for women!", ABS for those who can't drive and airbags only encourage speeding.

however as he has afforded 'better' cars as he has gotten older he has come to appreciate these comforts and would never be without his cruise control now.

andygb

bigjl wrote: »

Whats the one James May talks about? Ah, yes the Dacia Sandero or something like that.

There is something strangely satisfying about hammering a basic no frills car about, I used to like the late model Renault 5, and a lot of Fiats have that, revvy engine, chuckability that is strangely pleasant.

Did you ever drive a 1980s Fiat Strada (one of the pokey twin cam ones), or a RWD Alfa 75 or Giulietta? Cheap and cheerful cars, even better if they didn't have all the creature comforts to make them heavier.

cyclonebri1

andygb wrote: »

Did you ever drive a 1980s Fiat Strada (one of the pokey twin cam ones), or a RWD Alfa 75 or Giulietta? Cheap and cheerful cars, even better if they didn't have all the creature comforts to make them heavier.

The fact that 1/2 weight of the body had rusted away in 3 years helped too :o;)

Kilty_2

optimus_primera wrote: »

I often wonder why manufacturers don't make a basic 'base' model.
No aircon no electric seats and windows, basic fm stereo etc etc ..... less to go wrong as well, i know they couldn't do much to the engines due to emmissions regulations these days.

My dad would probably buy one ......

VW did with the previous model Polo (MK5? I dunno, phased them out in 2009 anyway) - hire companies LOVED them . 'E' trim.

I found it hilarious that the list price of said car was something silly like £9600.

andygb

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

The fact that 1/2 weight of the body had rusted away in 3 years helped too :o;)

The idea that your car is getting lighter every year without spending loads of money on modifications is pretty cool though:D

skiddlydiddly

I've stripped around 80-90kg out of my car so about 13-14 stone ish.All the stuff was there for a reason though and you do notice it when its gone eg aircon, sound deadening etc.Its not an everyday car though so you can live with it.I wouldn't want it in my daily driver thats for sure.

Stigy

ZootHornRollo wrote: »

yeah, but no-one else would.

my dad was the biggest critic of 'gadgets' in cars.

He always denounced 'leccy windows as lazy, aircon as pointless ("i have window winders"), power steering "for women!", ABS for those who can't drive and airbags only encourage speeding.

however as he has afforded 'better' cars as he has gotten older he has come to appreciate these comforts and would never be without his cruise control now.

I've never understood people that don't see the point in Air Con....there's just no comparison between that and windows!

cyclonebri1

Aircon is simply the last extra I would ever want/buy/pay for in a car by choice. This is the UK not Spain etc. ;)b 85 kgs for near zero usage:(

Gloomendoom

Stigy wrote: »

I've never understood people that don't see the point in Air Con....there's just no comparison between that and windows!

I gathered together all the parts to fit aircon to my TR7 DHC but when I looked at the huge pile of parts on the garage floor I thought "I'm not fitting all that".

It weighed more than my wife!

skiddlydiddly

It "only" weighed 25-30kg when I stripped it off mine.A heavy pump and cast iron bracket to bolt it to the block, very light rad, condensor and alluminium piping.