Dream cars that were a case of never met your heroes
Discussion
The mrs has loved Hondas as long as she could drive so is looking forwards to her type R, but is worried about it living up to the currently sky high expectations which got me thinking..
Interested to know
1) What car(s) were a dream /well anticipated but have disappointed?
2) What car(s) did expect to dislike but you loved?
3) Which car(s) well and truly lived up to or exceeded expectations?
For me:
1) TVR Cerberra - maybe I would have loved it more but it was *always* broken.. ALWAYS..
MK4 Supra TT - lusted after one and maybe got it too soon. Had it's niggles due to age, got me into some trouble, and was financially ruinous.. Much heavier and lethargic in standard form that I expected. By the time I went to build another, I had completely lost the love.
2) A Toyota Soarer bought for 400 quid. Dodgy panels everywhere, worn, musky interior.. ended up being one of my cars with the fondest memories, a good laugh when the 1JZ spooled up and literally cost me nothing the years I owned it.
E92 M3 - wasn't expecting anything much of it, the styling and fact that it wasn't a straight six took me a while to warm to, but honestly loved everything about it. The only problem was that due to the low kms I was constantly worried to drive it how it should be.
That and a Rover 218i which I bought when I had to sell the Soarer due to needing to save.. Again, cost me nothing and was surprisingly go-karteous for a car that cost me 250!
3) Probably the R35 GTR but a caveat being that it was modified. Heavy and AWD so didn't expect much, but has been a perfect car and gets used on track, on road and without much care for mileage or stone chips. Couldn't bring myself to sell it when the new car arrived and if I can will likely have it until I'm very grey..
Interested to know
1) What car(s) were a dream /well anticipated but have disappointed?
2) What car(s) did expect to dislike but you loved?
3) Which car(s) well and truly lived up to or exceeded expectations?
For me:
1) TVR Cerberra - maybe I would have loved it more but it was *always* broken.. ALWAYS..
MK4 Supra TT - lusted after one and maybe got it too soon. Had it's niggles due to age, got me into some trouble, and was financially ruinous.. Much heavier and lethargic in standard form that I expected. By the time I went to build another, I had completely lost the love.
2) A Toyota Soarer bought for 400 quid. Dodgy panels everywhere, worn, musky interior.. ended up being one of my cars with the fondest memories, a good laugh when the 1JZ spooled up and literally cost me nothing the years I owned it.
E92 M3 - wasn't expecting anything much of it, the styling and fact that it wasn't a straight six took me a while to warm to, but honestly loved everything about it. The only problem was that due to the low kms I was constantly worried to drive it how it should be.
That and a Rover 218i which I bought when I had to sell the Soarer due to needing to save.. Again, cost me nothing and was surprisingly go-karteous for a car that cost me 250!
3) Probably the R35 GTR but a caveat being that it was modified. Heavy and AWD so didn't expect much, but has been a perfect car and gets used on track, on road and without much care for mileage or stone chips. Couldn't bring myself to sell it when the new car arrived and if I can will likely have it until I'm very grey..
k ups so no harm done .I love threads like this as they often end up giving useful info before breaking down into squabbles over cars people thought were great.
I fully agree on the points above over the Countach which I've never owned but thought I felt that way as I hadn't driven the car enough to become familiar.
Genuinely surprised over the E-type comment even though I've heard it before. Never driven one but always thought it would be like a grown up Triumph GT6. The TR4 is no surprise as a winner. Triumph seemed to be able to make really good cars from mundane parts very cheaply and in large numbers.
Whilst not a dream car for me as it was my everyday car, the Porsche Boxster (986), was a letdown for me. Just a dull drive.
I fully agree on the points above over the Countach which I've never owned but thought I felt that way as I hadn't driven the car enough to become familiar.
Genuinely surprised over the E-type comment even though I've heard it before. Never driven one but always thought it would be like a grown up Triumph GT6. The TR4 is no surprise as a winner. Triumph seemed to be able to make really good cars from mundane parts very cheaply and in large numbers.
Whilst not a dream car for me as it was my everyday car, the Porsche Boxster (986), was a letdown for me. Just a dull drive.
1. On launch I liked the look of the Jaguar X Type and really fancied one. I wasn’t long into the test drive when I realised that I hated the way it drove and ran back to my E46 318i. I eventually bought an E46 330i Sport.
2. I bought an ex demo late 2016 BMW 520d SE. I didn’t have great expectations but it turned out to be a superb motorway car that could transport the family easily to the South of France, was frugal and enjoyable to drive.
3. I knew I’d like my Fiat 131 Sport. However, I probably didn’t realise how much I’d like it. The handling was absolutely superb and the 2 litre Twin Cam (that I think had been tuned slightly) just loved to rev and I’ve never experienced a gearbox like it.
It got too rusty in the end, I had it welded for its MOT and sold it on. I don’t think it survived for many more MOT’s.
2. I bought an ex demo late 2016 BMW 520d SE. I didn’t have great expectations but it turned out to be a superb motorway car that could transport the family easily to the South of France, was frugal and enjoyable to drive.
3. I knew I’d like my Fiat 131 Sport. However, I probably didn’t realise how much I’d like it. The handling was absolutely superb and the 2 litre Twin Cam (that I think had been tuned slightly) just loved to rev and I’ve never experienced a gearbox like it.
It got too rusty in the end, I had it welded for its MOT and sold it on. I don’t think it survived for many more MOT’s.
Edited by Rob 131 Sport on Thursday 28th December 06:15
Edited by Rob 131 Sport on Thursday 28th December 06:19
1) Clio 172 - obvs not a dream car but was excited to see why they were so highly rated. Just a bit of a meh car for me. Engine was unexciting, gearchange was rubbish, seating position didn’t feel natural and there was very little feel through the steering
3) Integra DC2 Type R - was a genuine dream car for me and surpassed all expectations. The B18 was an absolute peach, revving to 9000, there was so much feedback through the whole car and it just felt special.
It also excelled at being rusty, hence not having it anymore!
3) Integra DC2 Type R - was a genuine dream car for me and surpassed all expectations. The B18 was an absolute peach, revving to 9000, there was so much feedback through the whole car and it just felt special.
It also excelled at being rusty, hence not having it anymore!
Z4M Coupe for me. They still look stunning and the S54 engine is obviously a peach too. But I could just never get on with how the thing drove, I think a combination of the gearbox being awkward and a very firm ride.
A few years after the Z4MC I had a very standard 987 Boxster and it was everything the Z4MC wasn't.
A few years after the Z4MC I had a very standard 987 Boxster and it was everything the Z4MC wasn't.
Mercedes SL55AMG (R230).
Having read many reviews praising the engine & performance available I was looking forward to a test-drive of a prospective purchase.
I was aware these cars were potentially unreliable - the test drive vehicle duly demonstrated this
by throwing a couple of warning lights, including one for the brakes 
during the ~20 mile drive.
However, the engine was underwhelming. It never felt like the torque fest, huge acceleration anytime/anywhere with the merest movement of the accelerator pedal that the reviews had claimed and that a 5.4 supercharged V8 with 500hp & over 500 lb/ft should have.
It wasn't until the pedal was mashed to the floor and the rev counter needle was more than halfway around the dial that it felt anything like as fast as I was anticipating. In that respect it reminded me of the S2000 I'd previously owned. And therefore the car's raison d'etre was significantly diminished.
Having read many reviews praising the engine & performance available I was looking forward to a test-drive of a prospective purchase.
I was aware these cars were potentially unreliable - the test drive vehicle duly demonstrated this
by throwing a couple of warning lights, including one for the brakes during the ~20 mile drive.However, the engine was underwhelming. It never felt like the torque fest, huge acceleration anytime/anywhere with the merest movement of the accelerator pedal that the reviews had claimed and that a 5.4 supercharged V8 with 500hp & over 500 lb/ft should have.
It wasn't until the pedal was mashed to the floor and the rev counter needle was more than halfway around the dial that it felt anything like as fast as I was anticipating. In that respect it reminded me of the S2000 I'd previously owned. And therefore the car's raison d'etre was significantly diminished.
Edited by Puddenchucker on Thursday 28th December 07:56
Porsche 986 Boxster, I should have known that buying a car over 20 years old was going to have some compromises.
I loved the look of the car and I loved looking at it but I just didn't particularly enjoy driving it, too slow and it was too loud, albeit that was because it had an aftermarket exhaust on it.
I could have probably improved it a lot with a suspension refresh and replacing the exhaust but I just didn't enjoy it enough to put the money into it. I lost about a grand in depreciation over the 12 months I owned it and about the same again in maintenance. I'd drive it for a couple of days at a time then want to get back in my BMW M240i again.
I loved the look of the car and I loved looking at it but I just didn't particularly enjoy driving it, too slow and it was too loud, albeit that was because it had an aftermarket exhaust on it.
I could have probably improved it a lot with a suspension refresh and replacing the exhaust but I just didn't enjoy it enough to put the money into it. I lost about a grand in depreciation over the 12 months I owned it and about the same again in maintenance. I'd drive it for a couple of days at a time then want to get back in my BMW M240i again.
Louis Balfour said:
My Porsche 930.
Looked great, but the 930 was not the best iteration of the 911 and not as nice to drive as my other 911, a normally aspirated 3.0SC.
Good call - I remember driving one of the 3.0 4 speed Turbos back in 1977, woeful thing that tried to take off at over 140mph with less than 1/3 of a tank of fuel. Never felt anything like it, the front end started almost rocking/shimmying from corner to corner as the air got under it, fortunately a careful easing of the loud pedal calmed it down a bit but I never trusted that car. Later had a 1979 3.0SC Sport and that was a fun car, though interestingly no quicker point-to-point than my E12 M535i I had around the same time. Looked great, but the 930 was not the best iteration of the 911 and not as nice to drive as my other 911, a normally aspirated 3.0SC.
Also another vote for the Clio 182, just didn't get where the hype came from. Sat far too high in the seat, the build quality was crap, the engine gave you no reason to work it hard, only thing I did like was how small it was for threading down country lanes. Sure they were probably sector-defining when released, but if I were in the market i'd rather have a 306 GTI (better driving overall IMO), or something like an EK9/EP3 Civic Type R (for the VTEC, yo) if the budget allowed.
Again, not a dream car but one that's frequently feted on PH - an MX5 or in my case a Eunos 1.8s Ltd (had all the 'trick' parts, torsen, Bilsteins, chassis bracing, strut brace etc.)
A great little open top car, and very reliable, but the driving experience was utterly meh - I just could not gel with it. Main issue was just too slow to be 'playful'.
A great little open top car, and very reliable, but the driving experience was utterly meh - I just could not gel with it. Main issue was just too slow to be 'playful'.
Lancia Delta integrale: felt old, flimsy, not special to drive & I was never 100% confident it would make the return journey home after setting off anywhere. Always needed something tweaking/fixing. Great to look at though. A real disappointment.
An old, grey petrol Audi Q5: Bought as the tip-run / dog mobile / general beater. The world’s dullest car but it does everything I need and is a nice place to be as you rack up the miles on long journeys. Whether it’s loaded with people or things it just plods on with ease. I make out I couldn’t care less about it but actually I think it’s brilliant.
An old, grey petrol Audi Q5: Bought as the tip-run / dog mobile / general beater. The world’s dullest car but it does everything I need and is a nice place to be as you rack up the miles on long journeys. Whether it’s loaded with people or things it just plods on with ease. I make out I couldn’t care less about it but actually I think it’s brilliant.
Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 28th December 09:36
EP3 CTR - good engine and box. Nice recaro seats as mine was a premier. Completely let down by the rubbish steering. Kept it a few months.
Wish I’d of tried a dc2/5 instead but after the civic Honda left a sour taste so never got around to it.
981 GT4- stunning thing, great carbon seats. But again rubbish electric power steering. Just didn’t find the car exciting to drive. Kept it 11 months. Sold it and got an Exige 410. The best car I have ever owned.
Wish I’d of tried a dc2/5 instead but after the civic Honda left a sour taste so never got around to it.
981 GT4- stunning thing, great carbon seats. But again rubbish electric power steering. Just didn’t find the car exciting to drive. Kept it 11 months. Sold it and got an Exige 410. The best car I have ever owned.
Subaru Impreza WRX STI hawkeye - Completely underwhelmed by it, I just couldnt understand what all the hype was about. Got rid after owning it for a few months and spending a couple of £k getting the brakes, exhaust, cooling upgraded thinking the upgrades would help me fall in love with it. Didnt work.
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