Your most impressive and disappointing cars of 2010
Discussion
Chatting to a friend of mine who happens to be a PHer in the pub a little while ago, we got on to the subject of the cars that we had either driven or passengered in this year that had impressed us and which ones had left us feeling rather disappointed (sad I know).
Anyway your candidates don't have to be supercar's or even truly woeful cars, just the ones that have surprised you; whether that is good or bad...
Mine are;
Most impressive:
1992 Jaguar XJS 4.0
My older brother purchased an absolutely beautiful example of these earlier this year and what a lovely machine! I have briefly driven it a few times, and have also been 'chauffeured'
around in it on several occasions - what a wonderful way to travel! Its really comfy, well refined, fairly quick - nearly as quick as my VX down a sliproad joining the motorway and effortlessly cool!
Most disappointing:
Nissan 350Z
A colleague/friend of mine (also a PHer) has recently bought a 2004 example of these. It is a car that I have always liked as it looks good, has had decent reviews, has a decent sized engine which in turn kicks out decent performance figures so its my kind of car. So when he offered to take me for a spin in it I jumped at the opportunity. But I just felt slightly disappointed as it didn't seem as quick as I had imagined nor sound as good either. Don't get me wrong it is still a lovely car but just not quite as I assumed, it is not the worst car iv been in this year by a long way just disappointing...
Anyway that's enough of my babble, over to you....
Anyway your candidates don't have to be supercar's or even truly woeful cars, just the ones that have surprised you; whether that is good or bad...
Mine are;
Most impressive:
1992 Jaguar XJS 4.0
My older brother purchased an absolutely beautiful example of these earlier this year and what a lovely machine! I have briefly driven it a few times, and have also been 'chauffeured'
around in it on several occasions - what a wonderful way to travel! Its really comfy, well refined, fairly quick - nearly as quick as my VX down a sliproad joining the motorway and effortlessly cool!Most disappointing:
Nissan 350Z
A colleague/friend of mine (also a PHer) has recently bought a 2004 example of these. It is a car that I have always liked as it looks good, has had decent reviews, has a decent sized engine which in turn kicks out decent performance figures so its my kind of car. So when he offered to take me for a spin in it I jumped at the opportunity. But I just felt slightly disappointed as it didn't seem as quick as I had imagined nor sound as good either. Don't get me wrong it is still a lovely car but just not quite as I assumed, it is not the worst car iv been in this year by a long way just disappointing...
Anyway that's enough of my babble, over to you....
Impressive: Fiat Panda 100HP. I knew it would be fun; it's a small Italian hatch after all, but I was taken aback at how much fun I actually had in it. The engine was brilliant, revvy and rorty, and felt more powerful than the badge would have you believe. United with the short ratio'd 6 speed gearbox, it was an absolute hoot. I'm so impressed, I'm already working on getting Miss Robsco into one when her little C1 comes up for change.
Disappointing: Peugeot RCZ. A perfectly "nice" car to drive, good build quality, good engines, good looks, snickety gearbox but none of the adrenalin rush that you should get from a 2 door sports coupe.
Disappointing: Peugeot RCZ. A perfectly "nice" car to drive, good build quality, good engines, good looks, snickety gearbox but none of the adrenalin rush that you should get from a 2 door sports coupe.
Impressive: Jaguar XFR. I fully expected it to be quick, but I had somewhat underestimated quite how fast this would be! Most fun I've ever had driving (might have been something to do with being on private land and being able to get up to some VERY high speeds =P ) Along the same lines, the XJ is out of this world in terms of driving, and even more so, being driven in.
Disappointing: Honda Jazz... BORING!
Disappointing: Honda Jazz... BORING!
Impressive: my MG TF. It goes well, changes direction like a sniffer dog at a 90s rave and still gives 40mpg. Hard to justify a V8 against those credentials.
Disappointing: a new 520d. Drove it from Plymouth to Bristol for work and it felt "cold", just agricultural and uninspiring, and not even that refined.
Disappointing: a new 520d. Drove it from Plymouth to Bristol for work and it felt "cold", just agricultural and uninspiring, and not even that refined.
Most impressive: My Astra, for the sheer amount of abuse it's taken in its stride, with a burst radiator pipe being the only thing that couldn't be redeemed immediately and for less than a fiver. 
Goes alright, handles alright. Thrilled with it and can't wait to get it back on the road.
Most disappointing: Mk1 Focus. I'm not sure why, but I was expecting it to be an absolute gem given the reviews people seem to give of it. However, this is a fairly leggy 1.4 on mismatching tyres, so could be some of it. But on the whole I found the driving position a bit wrong, and the steering horribly vague. However, where I'm used to driving cars without power steering it could be that?
Goes alright, handles alright. Thrilled with it and can't wait to get it back on the road.Most disappointing: Mk1 Focus. I'm not sure why, but I was expecting it to be an absolute gem given the reviews people seem to give of it. However, this is a fairly leggy 1.4 on mismatching tyres, so could be some of it. But on the whole I found the driving position a bit wrong, and the steering horribly vague. However, where I'm used to driving cars without power steering it could be that?
C2james said:
FraserLFA said:
Impressive: Prius
Dissapointing: Zonda F
Not even a smiley, leave right now! Dissapointing: Zonda F
I'd still have one if i had the money, though
Impressive : The French Ambulance that go me home from Val Thorens 3 days quicker than an aircraft! 
Disappointing : Ford Focus/Renault Megane - Cheap and nasty interior finishes I honestly thought were a thing of the past (Actually, to be fair, they may be, these were 06 cars).
M
Disappointing : Ford Focus/Renault Megane - Cheap and nasty interior finishes I honestly thought were a thing of the past (Actually, to be fair, they may be, these were 06 cars).
M
Edited by marcosgt on Monday 3rd January 16:01
The one that impressed me the most last year was the new Polo I hired in Spain, I used to sell VWs and hated the old shape Polo but the new one genuinely did impress me, it was big on the inside, well built, economical and fun to drive.
None disappointed me as I only drove the Polo, a new Fiesta my 3 series and my Astra, oh hang on....
Seriously a poor year for me in terms of driving other cars.
I will try harder this year!!
None disappointed me as I only drove the Polo, a new Fiesta my 3 series and my Astra, oh hang on....
Seriously a poor year for me in terms of driving other cars.
I will try harder this year!!
Impressive - 1989 E190 Auto. I sourced it for my now exOH. 21 years old, 147k, well looked after and more refined than a number or cars i have driven 1/10th of it's age. Eats up motorways, starts first time and has a slight thirst for oil, but, when my scooby wouldn't start because some idiot left the interior light on (
) i took it out in the worst of the snowy weather and it proceeded to powerslide all the way to work with brilliant poise and supreme controllability. All for less than £700. Supremely impressed and currently miss it more than the ex.
Disappointing - Brand new Focus Eco-tech. s
t visibilty, can't find a decent driving position in it, it's a work car and because it rarely runs for more than 3 miles at a time it is showing 25mgp after 5k. After the mk1 focus workhorse we used and abused for years without any issues it is a supreme let down. And proving to be thirstier than the little 1.4 petrol we ragged the absolute bks off ran on exactly the same route for ages.
A close second on both categories comes my scooby:
Impressive because of it's general all round abilities and fun factor.
Disappointing for blowing cylinder 3 and it's turbo up-pipe as i was trying to pass a car on a dual carriageway which caused me to miss the last dry local hoon of the year.
) i took it out in the worst of the snowy weather and it proceeded to powerslide all the way to work with brilliant poise and supreme controllability. All for less than £700. Supremely impressed and currently miss it more than the ex. Disappointing - Brand new Focus Eco-tech. s
t visibilty, can't find a decent driving position in it, it's a work car and because it rarely runs for more than 3 miles at a time it is showing 25mgp after 5k. After the mk1 focus workhorse we used and abused for years without any issues it is a supreme let down. And proving to be thirstier than the little 1.4 petrol we ks offA close second on both categories comes my scooby:
Impressive because of it's general all round abilities and fun factor.
Disappointing for blowing cylinder 3 and it's turbo up-pipe as i was trying to pass a car on a dual carriageway which caused me to miss the last dry local hoon of the year.
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