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Dec 20, 2009 17:42:39 GMT
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Biggest disappointment? A US-spec '65 (I think....it was a LONG time ago) Lotus Elan. The only time I've ever had the chance to sample one, and it was a converted LHD model with Stromberg carbs instead of Webers (which meant 105bhp instead of the full-fat 126)....and was some way off producing even the factory-spec power. Enthusiastic cornering would see it down on three cylinders for a few vital seconds, which kinda sapped one's confidence to hurl it into corners when you didn't know if you'd have the ability to power out of them.
Once my mate had managed to get past me driving nothing more than a bone-stock 1200 Alfasud (we were on a private test track at the time......honestly) I kinda lost interest!!!!
Still one of the most achingly gorgeous cars ever designed, though.
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Dec 20, 2009 19:33:30 GMT
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What is it with the XJS? I always wanted one and when the chance came to have a test in one i hated it, seats i found were terrible, jumped in and nearly slid out on to the floor ;D on the test ride i realized it was just not for me...I bought an XJ6 in a lovely shade of brown and loved it, best £500 i've ever spent on a car and would love another one one day.
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"Was today really necessary?"
87 VW GTi ( MOT PASSED 26/04/10)
2003 Honda cb250y Nighthawk
05 Micra Urbis
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Dec 20, 2009 19:44:51 GMT
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Not really a dream car always fancied a 924 porsche, got one hated it! always broke now, the handling wasnt as amazing as people claimed (prefer my MGB, and Mini!), it sounded like a van, caught fire at lest twice, and finally tried to kill me spinning out on a stragnt road! Well I fancied a 924 last summer as I bought a radio controled one from tandy with my 11th birthday money. Spent weeks looking, went all the way to Newcastle and came home empty handed which only made me more determined to buy one. Finally found one near me but after a test drive that was it. Horrible driving position, guttless, wallowy and a shiny dash that made the screen opaque. Glad I walked and it has made space in my dream top 10 for something else. Dave.
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harris66
Part of things
drive it, break it, fix it and make it quicker!
Posts: 699
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Dec 20, 2009 19:49:55 GMT
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ever since i was a kid and saw bullit i wanted a mustang fastback, finally got to drive 2 this year ;D the 1st was a 69 with 302, no pas, no pab, it was terrible, but dam it looked good, then drove a 71 with 460 bb, that was just as bad just faster , truly a let down when i discovered the oz touring car series in the mid 80s i loved it and the cars, then nissan joined in with the r32 gtr, from that day in 89 i wanted an r32, 3 years ago i got 1, and it was so so much better than i had anticipated, still the best car ive ever driven, and doubt anything will come close again
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1.2 corsa daily, 1.8t a4 avante, 6.3ltr austin a40....
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Dec 20, 2009 20:58:59 GMT
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Ferrari 308, always liked them since watching magnum as a kid and having the Matchbox one, drove one last year and it was rubbish. Got out of it and into an Integrale and that made up for it!
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Dec 20, 2009 21:09:34 GMT
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Well, maybe It's obvious but I recently bought an Avantime not paying to much attention to the reviews on the net being them a little on the vague side. I thought I've found the perfect car for me, living in Italy and not having to much choice for modifications or real retros, space, big engine and 2 doors. Rubbish, at least for me, wonderful design (for me) but looks like they've stopped right there. The chassis is really really soft, the strangest and stupidest clutch I've ever seen, gear lever that travels like it's stuck in soft mud, mad electrical steering and stumpy acceleration. To sum it up, it has got the engine but it's there for nothing, they could have used a 1.4 (sorry for the bad english, again)
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Dec 20, 2009 21:12:22 GMT
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Avantime - may be soft, but the suspension also manages to be rock hard. And the sunroof rattles. And the electrics are horrendous. As are cambelt changes. And I'd probably still own one.
Another disappointment - Volvo 340. I've driven a couple but they really don't do it for me.
Back to the XJ-S, I've driven a late XJS Celebrity and it's a much better car. To be fair to Ford, they made them build them properly!
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org
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Dec 20, 2009 21:15:35 GMT
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Avantime - may be soft, but the suspension also manages to be rock hard. Sorry but, what do you mean?
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Dec 20, 2009 21:32:04 GMT
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The one I drove was a bit wallowy in the bends but crashed around over bumps. It managed to be bad both in corners and on broken roads!
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org
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Dec 20, 2009 21:40:18 GMT
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To be fair to the XJS even the newest ones are nearly 25 years old. The vast majority of them are begging for new springs, shocks and bushes. I've had four XJS so far, and rebushed every one. Get the manual out and check the ride height. If it's less than it should be, then the suspension is shagged my friend!
The V12 engine is a monster weight, creates a hell of a lot of heat and will bake and perish everything under the bonnet in a few short years. The latest trend in XJS' is the underbonnet fire due to god knows how old fuel injector hoses. Despite this the V12 is stilll a hell of an engine, but it is lobotomised by the fact it has an archaic 3 speed automatic hung off the back.
The V12's sat too high on too narrow tyres and didn't have the rear antiroll bar (despite the fitments being there!) that would have stopped the chronic understeer. A great upgrade was the introduction of the Sports package on the 3.6 XJS, and the 5 speed manual box available on the six cylinder cars. You got the rear antiroll bar, a lower and stiffer car, an uprated steering rack, revised geometry on the front suspension and wider alloy wheels.
Somebody mentioned the seats, they were better in the later cars too with proper lateral support, and a decently raked seat squab..
The bigger problem is that there are a lot of cheap XJS out there that seem a great idea, but aren't really. If you want to stick with it, the parts are cheap enough and out there so you can make it into what it should have been... but you cannot afford to skimp on some items.
Is your car wearing the correct tyres? (Dunlop or Pirellis, usually 215/70 15 on the early cars and 235/65 15 on the later cars. If you get budget tyres it will eat them.)
Did it get the uprated steering rack bushes at some point in it's servicing history? Have they been contaminated by oil (most have...) are the antiroll bar link bushes intact? Has the link itself gone wasp waisted or snapped (it happens very often)?
The XJS can be a rewarding car to drive, but it's never going to be as nimble as a Mini or an Imp. But with a bit of work it can be the car you wanted.
Give me a shout if you want help, get stuck, or just want pointing in the direction of a therapist.
Regards
Ric
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"You're about as likely to come across a fully functioning old Jag, as you are a taxicab that smells agreeable." - James May
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tenman
Part of things
m00000000000
Posts: 899
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Dec 20, 2009 21:43:03 GMT
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hmm, not really a dream car as such, but when I had the S14, I popped into the Nissan garage at Burnley for some servicing parts, and the salesman there talked me into have a test drive of a 350z, he was trying to persuade me it would be an upgrade from the S14 for performance.... it wasn't.... by a long way
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RWD Fanatic...
2003 BMW 320d Wagon (getting old and boring) 1996 Mini Kensington (SWMBO's)
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MK2VR6
Posted a lot
Mk2 Golf GTi 90 Spec
Posts: 3,329
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Dec 20, 2009 21:47:01 GMT
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Not quite on the level of a Dodge Charger, always wanted a Hilux after seeing Marty McFly with one as a kid. Bought mine a couple of years back, and kept it way beyond finishing doing up the house. Cracking to drive, actually had character (no I'm not joking) and missus even tried driving it!!
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Dec 20, 2009 21:47:27 GMT
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driven a few lightweight E types inc 49FXN, CUT7, 86PJ, 4WPD (feel free to googe the registration numbers) again excellent cars with CUT7 being my favorite Which CUT 7? The first lightweight one or EC1001? General opinion is that 49 FXN is faster but CUT 7 is more pleasant... probably to do with the fact she's not on her original engine (but I guess the original alloy block works engine is getting a bit valuable now.) Regards Ric
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"You're about as likely to come across a fully functioning old Jag, as you are a taxicab that smells agreeable." - James May
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Dec 20, 2009 21:48:44 GMT
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I always wanted an impreza turbo,it didnt dissapoint at all..........but then i only liked them for the noise so it didnt matter how comfy it was or how well it handled
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1984 Subaru GLF Hatch 1983 Skoda 120LE Super estelle 1977 Subaru DL Wagon 1978 Datsun 120Y Coupe 1995 Skoda favorit estate
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Dec 20, 2009 21:52:00 GMT
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I drove a Series 1 XJ6 4.2 which was "disappointing" because the brakes were f**ked. This was very likely a problem with that specific example, not that all Jaguar S1's have such awful brakes. Errr... Most series 1 (apart from the V12) had three pot calipers and non vented discs, to stop 1700kg of car. If you have to do it quickly and more than once or twice in a short space of time then its not just going to be the brakes that are "f**cked". In short, they are terrible. I'm rebuilding the calipers on mine, if that doesn't make adifference, then the four pots and vented discs are going on. Regards, Ric
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"You're about as likely to come across a fully functioning old Jag, as you are a taxicab that smells agreeable." - James May
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Dec 20, 2009 21:58:15 GMT
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While we're on the subject of old Jags, two of the most disappointing experiences I've had are the original XK120 and a series 1 E-type.
XK120... stupidly cranky gearbox, awful steering wheel and pedal layout, but looks to die for. If it's on drum brakes it's worse.
E-type... I'm 6 foot; and I just fit. That's the reason why Clarkson only drives "Eagle" E-types as he won't fit in an original. You need small feet, or you mash all the pedals with one foot. The gothic arch style seats look gorgeous but have next to no padding and don't adjust other than forward or back. If you use a cushion - you don't fit. But it's an E-type so you put up with it...
Regards,
Ric
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"You're about as likely to come across a fully functioning old Jag, as you are a taxicab that smells agreeable." - James May
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Dec 20, 2009 22:40:07 GMT
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Which CUT 7? The first lightweight one or EC1001? General opinion is that 49 FXN is faster but CUT 7 is more pleasant... probably to do with the fact she's not on her original engine (but I guess the original alloy block works engine is getting a bit valuable now.) Regards Ric EC1001 ;D which is running an alloy block with slide throttle injection. iv'e rebuilt the engine a few times to freshen it up. FXN is a lot faster but very harsh compared to CUT7. 350bhp in an 1100kgs body is still going to be very fast . (iv'e got old pistons out of 49FXN and CUT7 as a momento ) some may hate the way they drive, no creature comforts, no heater, noisey, but that is what they are about. a lot of effort goes into driving these cars but as i'm just a mechanic i can only imagine what these cars are like on the limit of grip at 150mph but i suppose if i didn't like driving these cars then i wouldn't enjoy my job road legal Lister Jaguar. another amazingly fast accelerating car i don't think i have any dream cars that i still want to drive . modern stuff just doesn't interest me.
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Ether
Posted a lot
Posts: 4,450
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Dec 20, 2009 22:40:44 GMT
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I drove a carbon Porsche Panamera police car with 580bhp on Friday. It was a bit mental, but not as overwhelming as I was expecting.
Don't get me wrong - I sh!t myself. But having had a passenger ride in a friend's 600bhp Skyline drag car (also his daily) the day before, which is by far and away the most terrifying automotive experience of my life, I felt a little underwhelmed.
Probably the auto 'box. And policeman in the passenger seat.
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Dec 20, 2009 23:30:52 GMT
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by far and away the most terrifying automotive experience of my life No sale, Matt. I saw you drive the most terrifying automotive experience of your life, and it was fluffy and harlot red. ;D
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Team Blitz Ford Capri parts worldwide: Restoration, Road, or Race. Used, Repro, and NOS, ranging from scabby to perfect. Itching your Capri jones since 1979! Buy, sell, trade. www.teamblitz.com blitz@teamblitz.com
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awoo
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,506
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Dec 20, 2009 23:32:03 GMT
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i drove a delorean after years of back to the future conditioning, drove it a couple summers ago and i have to say of all the cars ive driven it was the most 'woah oh my god..... I'm driving a delorean this is awesome' type of driving experience, i really desperately want one even more now. handled really well, was pretty quick, more so than expected and looks incrediblay on the road.
no dissapointments from me, only hire cars and dopey deisels which i was told by people who really don't know any better are "great cars, youll never look back" blah blah blah. they were garbage
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