Soul, soul, soul, soul......

[McNab]

Soul, soul, soul, soul....I keep reading about it in thread after thread, and I have tried very hard to understand it (without any success at all).

I think I need help everyone. What am I missing? Which cars have it and which don't? And why ? Please give me your thoughts (for my salvation) !

[JSG]

The Ford Torino from Starsky and Hutch had (david) Soul in it sometimes.

[Don]

Cars are imbued with "soul" by how their owners feel about them. Its the only explanation I can come up with.

If you *love* your car it will have "soul and character".

The only other definition of soul I have heard is: "That collection of minor faults that makes this particular car unique!"

BTW: Have you notice cars you *don't* love migrate in your perception as follows:

1) My beautiful new car.
2) The car
3) That f*****g car

[apache]

I've heard the M3 in all it's guises described as soulless by different people....a place to start perhaps?

[McNab]

I once drove a Morgan Plus 8 (?) and rate the experience as profoundly soul-destroying, but that's not the same thing....or is it?

[apache]

how come mcnab? I'd have thought the wooden wonder would be a hoot to drive

[500 GRF]

I was follwed by a fella in a Beemer last weekend.........now he was an R Soul.

[zippy500]

I love this banter towards BMW its ace

[McNab]

Yes apache, but it was a hot day and the wood had dried up a bit - no compliance = sore backside (perhaps that's where the soul is?)

[apache]

mcnab, that'll be the R soul then

[McNab]

I'll have to look that one up apache...

[Tadhg]

BMW drivers have soul , love my car (BMW ) and yes agres TVR is a better in car some ways

but still love going side ways in mine

P.S Not all BMW drivers are soul less

[apache]

absolutely not, quite a few members here have one.....still fun taking the p*ss out of em though, a bit like Man U I spose, going for the safe option

[Dave_H]

I have to really careful what I say now about that German brand, I've been ardent p]sstaker of them for years, and now a good mate of mine has just spent shedloads on one. It is a really nice car - but I'm just iching to mention the soul thing

Only jesting Rich - if youre on here

[Marshy]

Afraid I'm one of the BMW/TVR owners. Apache's even been within a few feet of it and failed to take the p1ss for, er, well, at all, actually. See, he's all show

[kevinday]

All TVR drivers know what is meant by soul and character. Japanese car drivers cannot possibly know German cars in general are too clinical and efficient though some have soul if not character eg. 911 Turbo

[apache]

Marshy,

how could I notice a dull old Beemer when there was a Chimera parked in front of it

[pbrettle]

I guess "soul" could mean many different things, but in the case of cars it is more to do with the standard of the drive.

I would argue that BMWs have soul as they are actually very good to drive. A different thread mentioned that 600,000 3 series were made last year, and taking that into account they do very well in creating a car with a little character - imagine how hard it is to satisfy that many people! So, some of there characterfull features are probably "toned down" for the mass market - but not as bad as some I will add.

Therefore it is easy for a company like TVR to have character and soul as they only make something like 2000 cars a year - much less people to satisfy and much smaller "niche" market.

That said, I have heard many people call BMWs soulless - shame really, they should try driving an Audi A4 without sports suspension - that has no soul at all.....

Cheers,

Paul

P.S Used to own an A4 and it was dull as dish water...