What are you driving?

[speedy king]

Thought seeing as it's a primarily motorsport forum this would be an interesting one...what are forum members driving at the moment and what have been their best/worst cars owned??

[Koz]

Current: Hilux
Best: 300ZX

[Jag_Warrior]

Current: Subaru WRX and Jaguar XK8
Best: Subaru WRX
Worst: Porsche 944 S2

[speedy king]

Current: Astra VXR
Best: Peugeot 306 GTi-6 (though not for its reliability)
Worst: Ford KA (not owned but borrowed, DEATH trap!)

[Donney]

The same that I have been driving for the last 10 years.

Ford Focus MkI TDI estate.... 90 HP of pure black smoke....

It is honestly the best car I have had, 220.000 km on the clock and still running strong!

[Rollo]

Current: Peugeot 206
Best: Either Ford Ka (Highly Modified)
Worst: Hyundai Excel X1

[Hazell B]

Current - Jaguar s-type V6.
Best - Range Rover (old 2.5)
Worst - Punto (not mine, his indoors :p : )

[GridGirl]

Current: 2006 Fiesta ST
Best: 1990 Renault 5. Actually it's not the best car I've owned but as it was my first car it is still my favourite.
Worst: 1993 Fiesta LX

[driveace]

Currently a Mercedes C220 d ,
a Kia Sorento XT 2.5TD
Fiesta 1.8tdi with 247 thousand on clock
And RS2000 1978 with only 42 thousand on clock!

[thompp]

Current - 2008 Hyundai Coupe
Best - see current
Worst - 1988 Lada

[Roamy]

Current 2006 Dodge quad cab 4x4 turbo cummins
Best - Ferrari 308 Quattro
Worst - corsair monza whatever year it was

[J4MIE]

I have never owned a car, I just can't justify the cost! However I can borrow my parents cars whenever and have hired quite a few.

Best: VW Golf 2009 slightly outdoes my mum's old Saxo East Coast, I loved that car (until I killed it :( )
Worst: Renault Laguna estate Privilege, terrible :(
We have just got hold of a (very nearly new) Ka Zetec the other day so will see how that goes, my dad has replaced his Laguna with my mum's Punto to save huge amounts in insurance, petrol, tax and maintenance!

[cali]

Still driving with my 1997 Benz C 200 Estate. Tried many newer cars but did not like any of them except EVO IX :p
Edit: aslo Impreza STI Solberg Edition was quite good :laugh:

[Mark]

Current: 2008 Fiesta 1.6 Diesel
Best: 2008 Fiesta 1.6 Diesel

[MrJan]

Current: Toyota MR2
Best: Toyota MR2
Worst (by default): Honda Civic 1.6 - would recommend one to anyone, good fun to drive and bullet proof, but as it's the only other car that I've owned it loses out.

[Iain]

Current: Seat Leon FR TDi 170
Best: Seat Ibiza FR TDi 130 - Only because I've had the above for just 8 months and need to spend a bit more time with it to make my mind up.
Worst: Seat Ibiza 2.0 Sport - At best 30mpg from a heavy, old, gutless engine. Plus I lost half the car's value in 2 years!

[wedge]

Current - Toyota Celica

Best - Celica overall but best for hooning would be modded Pug 106 Quicksilver

Worst - Pug 206. Crap driving position and bad 'sports' seats. Apart from wear and tear and dodgy bit of plastic is was great to own.

[Mark]

I haven't really owned a 'worst' car, but the worst I've driven recently was a 1.2 petrol Clio. But this was in Madeira, where there are only two types of road, steep up or steep down :p . For going up it had such a lack of power that you could only drive with your foot to the floor all the time! For going down the brakes squealed so much I'm sure they could hear us in the valley below - plus brake failure on those roads didn't bear thinking about!

[Daniel]

Current: Fiat 500 1.2
Best: My Peugeot 504 or the Fiat 500
Worst: The Audi 80 I had for a few weeks. Awful to drive!

[Daniel]

We have just got hold of a (very nearly new) Ka Zetec the other day so will see how that goes, my dad has replaced his Laguna with my mum's Punto to save huge amounts in insurance, petrol, tax and maintenance!

Old shape or new shape? If it's the new one it's a Fiat Panda/500 underneath and I shall tolerate no negativity :p

[Mark]

Since the new shape has been out for a few years now it's safe to assume :p . Although I've never driven one they look like nice cars, as you say they are basically a Fiat 500 without the attached posers price tag :p

[Daniel]

Since the new shape has been out for a few years now it's safe to assume :p . Although I've never driven one they look like nice cars, as you say they are basically a Fiat 500 without the attached posers price tag :p

Have you seen the price of Ka's? They're every bit expensive as the 500 :)

[schmenke]

Current daily commuter: 2001 Hyundai Accent (stop laughing!) 89,000kms. Not a bad little POS. Very economical and surprisingly good on winter roads. Burns a bit of oil though.
The missus transports the kids in a new 2011 Toyota Sienna minivan, 500kms :D .

Best: Well, honestly it has to be the Sienna, but my personal favourite has always been the '94 Integra that I drove pre-kids.

Worst: 1986 (yes, '86) Pontiac 6000 LE :s

[Bezza]

SEAT Leon 1.6 Emocion

Pretty standard, nothing flash (too much on insurance for me!) but really good car to drive and looks great.

[Kneeslider]

Current: Boxster 2.5 for everyday, owned for 6 years, 106k miles up. 1974 TR6 for fine day fun. Ducati 750/900ss, and Laverda RGS1000.

Best: Got to be the Boxster, but a 997 might be in the offing soon.

Worst: Hyundai Getz hire car in Australia last year, spent all the way along the Great Ocean road from Adelaide to Melbourne wishing I was driving something better. Honourable mention goes to a 1.0 Nissan Micra CVT hire car from about 2000.

[Daniel]

Kneeslider, my brother in Australia has a Getz, it really is crap! You could lift off and it would keep on revving, absolute rubbish

[pino]

Kneeslider, my brother in Australia has a Getz, it really is crap! You could lift off and it would keep on revving, absolute rubbish

I agree, I rented it years ago in Greece for the Acropolis Rally and it was rubbish in everything !

[Daniel]

Get yourself a panda next time Pino!

[pino]

Funny thing was that we were only 3 passengers (J4MIE, odykas and myself) and we almost had to get off the car and push it to go uphill :s

[J4MIE]

Yes Pino I remember that well, even scooters were overtaking us, but it was Greece :D
And yes it is the new shape Ka, registered in August 2010 and has 570 miles on the clock, just over £7k :s Hired one in Finland and liked it as long as you switched AC off going uphill :p : I'm not sure about the colour though as I've still to see it in daylight, a kind of pinky-purpley-ruby colour, it's a £600 option so wouldn't have chosen it!!

[Daniel]

Yes Pino I remember that well, even scooters were overtaking us, but it was Greece
And yes it is the new shape Ka, registered in August 2010 and has 570 miles on the clock, just over £7k Hired one in Finland and liked it as long as you switched AC off going uphill I'm not sure about the colour though as I've still to see it in daylight, a kind of pinky-purpley-ruby colour, it's a £600 option so wouldn't have chosen it!!

Nice The Ka has better rear suspension than our 500 which is a good thing as the 500 is terrible! They changed the rear suspension in 2010 but of course ours was built in 2009

Did you get the petrol or diesel?

I must say I'm not a fan of the Ka's looks or what they've done to the 500's interior but I think the purple is quite a good colour.

http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimages/702937/Ka_blush_chat.jpg

When it comes to service time don't take it to a Fiat or Ford garage straight away, I can get 15% discount of already quite cheap genuine parts and it works out a lot cheaper just to buy parts and pay them for their labour on its own :)

If it is the 1.2 there are some small issues worth noting.

There's a breather pipe on the engine which tends to deteriorate, flatten itself and then crack, I just had a look on the net to see where it is so I could show you and lo and behold when I checked it on our 500 it is splitting :p
http://www.fiatforum.com/500/237437-check-your-30-breather-hose.html

The front ARB droplinks can be a little fragile and the front topmounts as well. Nothing that's going to cause any spectacular failures and nothing that's going to cost a massive amount to fix :) The washers are a little annoying, there's a barrel in the washer itself which has the holes in it to spray washer fluid out and it's prone to falling out when the washers freeze up so always keep a strong mixture of washer fluid in there :up:

[Garry Walker]

Own - Cayenne
Best - probably read above
Worst- I have not owned bad cars, but I have gotten the shaft on a few rental cars.

[GridGirl]

A first service on a Ford KA surely can't cost more than £75. I dont know if I could be bothered to buy parts and get the labour done seperately. :s

I wouldn't call that KA purple. I've always seen it as more of a pink. The marketers absolutely love using that shade when advertising both the KA and the Fiesta in womens magazines. I dont think I've seen one advertised in those types of publications in any other colour for a few years now. :)

[Daniel]

A first service on a Ford KA surely can't cost more than £75. I dont know if I could be bothered to buy parts and get the labour done seperately. :s

I wouldn't call that KA purple. I've always seen it as more of a pink. The marketers absolutely love using that shade when advertising both the KA and the Fiesta in womens magazines. I dont think I've seen one advertised in those types of publications in any other colour for a few years now. :)

Plugs, filters and oil for a Ka/500/Panda will come to about £50 just on their own ;)

[tfp]

funny thing was that we were only 3 passengers (j4mie, odykas and myself) and we almost had to get off the car and push it to go uphill :s

hahahaha!!!

[A.F.F.]

Current car: VW Touran 1.9 TDI

Best car is either Citroen 2CV4 aka Tapani or Skoda Octavia Kombi Laurin&Klement edition, also known as Paasonen edition

Worst car was my T-72, also known as Nissan Sunny 1.7 Diesel

[Iain]

Much prefer the 500 to the Ka. The 500's cool, where the Ka looks like it's sticking it's bum in the air.

[Kneeslider]

Kneeslider, my brother in Australia has a Getz, it really is crap! You could lift off and it would keep on revving, absolute rubbish

Glad that someone else has noticed the conspicuous crapulence of that device. I didn't get how expensive hirecars were in Oz.

Still, it was less expensive than the PA28 I hired from Aldinga aerodrome, which was $315Aus /Hr!!!

I figured that it was worth it, because I didn't know when I was going to be in that part of the world again.

[tfp]

Current car-Subaru Impreza.
Best-See above:-)
Worst-1.3 fiesta ex police car, with a "dinta" bodykit(Off police throwing people over the bonnet when being arrested.) It was really annoying because the drivers door lock diddnt work so I had to climb over the passenger seat everytime I went to get in. There were bare wires all over the interior(I presume off police lights, etc)and, with it being one of the old ford 1.3 rattley-top engines, made a hell of a tappety noise when I went over 3000rpm.
I drove it around for a while until I couldn't take it anymore, I then dropped the engine oil out and swopped it for 75w80 oil or something. Was lovely and quiet after I did that.
Funny thing is, I would have it back anyday, just for the comedy value:-)

[Rollo]

If the Fiat 500 is anything to go by, then the new Mk2 Ka is probably but a poor reflection on the Mk1.

The 500 feels gummy and unengaging to drive even compared to our 2003 plate Peugeot 206, and the 206 still isn't as sharp as the Mk1 Ka. The Mk1 Ka sat on the Mk4 Fiesta platform along with the Puma and Mk5 Fiesta; if there's one thing to be said about Ford and small hatchbacks, their chassis are excellent. The current Mk6 Fiesta farts spades all over the Fiat 500.

I concur with opinions about the Getz... it's horrid.

[Daniel]

If the Fiat 500 is anything to go by, then the new Mk2 Ka is probably but a poor reflection on the Mk1.

The 500 feels gummy and unengaging to drive even compared to our 2003 plate Peugeot 206, and the 206 still isn't as sharp as the Mk1 Ka. The Mk1 Ka sat on the Mk4 Fiesta platform along with the Puma and Mk5 Fiesta; if there's one thing to be said about Ford and small hatchbacks, their chassis are excellent. The current Mk6 Fiesta farts spades all over the Fiat 500.

I concur with opinions about the Getz... it's horrid.

The Ka was better from the get go, it had a stiffer rear beam than the 500 did at launch which means the rear springs don't need to be as stiff to resist rolling. It's got electric steering which of course numbs feel down a bit but compared to some other small cars I've driven (Getz and Micra) it's far better in terms of the way it handles. The rear suspension in the 500 really is poor, I put the 16" wheels back on last weekend and that familiar feeling of the back end skipping around is back. You get used to it, but it's certainly not what you want.

I kept up with Mark when we were going through the Lake district in his Mk6 Fester but that's more down to Mark driving like a girl :p Oh and my choice of tyres! :p

[Mark]

I kept up with Mark when we were going through the Lake district in his Mk6 Fester but that's more down to Mark driving like a girl :p Oh and my choice of tyres! :p

I started after you on the drive to Hardknott pass but still got there before you :p

[Camelopard]

At the moment I'm driving a 323i beemer, I still have the Escort Cosworths parked in the shed and the mkIII Capri under wraps, hopefully they will get some attention now that I have retired!

[Bezza]

Much prefer the 500 to the Ka. The 500's cool, where the Ka looks like it's sticking it's bum in the air.

Having been in a Fiat 500, I've got to say I was really disappointed. Poor drive and really a serious lack of room. Contrast that to the old Ka, which seemed smaller - actually had more room in it.

Either way too small a car from me, the Leon size is perfect although I do like the new Ibiza.

[555-04Q2]

Current - Subau WRX Prodrive & Kia Rio (my daily drives)
Best - Kia Rio (best value for money car I have ever bought, and the most reliable too)
Worst - Opel Monza 1.6GLS (my first car bought on a very limited student budget, and it showed)

[Camelopard]

At the moment I'm driving a 323i beemer, I still have the Escort Cosworths parked in the shed and the mkIII Capri under wraps, hopefully they will get some attention now that I have retired!

My best would have to be the Escort Cosworths, the worst would have to be a Mitsubishi Colt, though to be honest it did serve a purpose.
Actually if reliability was the criteria my worst car would have been an Escort Twin Cam that I owned in the seventies, although I would like to have it now.
I still have a soft spot for my first car, a mkII Ford Zephyr, yellow with a black side stripe.

[Daniel]

I started after you on the drive to Hardknott pass but still got there before you :p

That's because I got bored of doing whatever stupid speed I was doing and I took my foot off the accelerator ;)

[Daniel]

Having been in a Fiat 500, I've got to say I was really disappointed. Poor drive and really a serious lack of room. Contrast that to the old Ka, which seemed smaller - actually had more room in it.

Either way too small a car from me, the Leon size is perfect although I do like the new Ibiza.
Different people like different sized cars I guess. I find the front quite roomy, though the back isn't roomy at all! If I sit in the back I have to tilt my head to one side. I think for what it is, it's quite roomy but compared to a big saloon or c-segment hatchback it's always going to be small :)

[Iain]

Having been in a Fiat 500, I've got to say I was really disappointed. Poor drive and really a serious lack of room. Contrast that to the old Ka, which seemed smaller - actually had more room in it.

I've never driven my friend's one, but found it surprisingly spacious in the passenger seat and that's me with my extremely long legs. It helps that it's got a glass roof, so it feels a lot bigger inside to a tall person. I could imagine it maybe being a bit claustrophobic with a normal roof. I like it though, it's got character, even if it's a girl's car. :p : (Abarth excepted)


Either way too small a car from me, the Leon size is perfect although I do like the new Ibiza.

Yes the Leon's a very spacious car. The only car I've ever driven where I don't need the seat as far back as it can go. The new Ibiza's a lot roomier than the old one. Had a courtesy one and my dad got one the other month. If the price of diesel in comparison to petrol keeps on going up, I can see myself switching back to an Ibiza next summer!

[Daniel]

I've never driven my friend's one, but found it surprisingly spacious in the passenger seat and that's me with my extremely long legs. It helps that it's got a glass roof, so it feels a lot bigger inside to a tall person. I could imagine it maybe being a bit claustrophobic with a normal roof. I like it though, it's got character, even if it's a girl's car. :p : (Abarth excepted)

I can't disagree that it's a bit of a girls car. Glad someone here has actually been in one and knows what I mean about it actually being quite roomy in the front considering its size. The only thing that annoys me in the passenger seat is the fact that the seat is ever so slightly higher than the drivers seat. The glass roof is good too :up:

[Iain]

I use it to watch aeroplanes and stars. :D

[Sonic]

Current car (and my baby) - Alfa Mito
Best car - Mini Cooper mrk III
Worst car - BMW Mini (first generation).

[Daniel]

Pics of the Mito?

[Sonic]

None that I can upload from here, but I can do soon :)

[wedge]

FFS, here we go again, Daniel and the Fiat 500 dominating car threads again.

I've got no other problems from Daniel but is there an ignore function for Daniel and anything to do with Fiat 500s?

[Daniel]

FFS, here we go again, Daniel and the Fiat 500 dominating car threads again.

I've got no other problems from Daniel but is there an ignore function for Daniel and anything to do with Fiat 500s?

Well excuse me for being interested in something. Is there an ignore Wedge and whatever he's interested in function?

[Valve Bounce]

FFS, here we go again, Daniel and the Fiat 500 dominating car threads again.

I've got no other problems from Daniel but is there an ignore function for Daniel and anything to do with Fiat 500s?

I must say that I also like the Fiat 500, especially the Abarth one I saw in Italy a few years ago.

[Zico]

Im driving a Pug 306 HDI, Bug eye Impreza GX estate and as of yesterday a Celica GT at the moment.

The Pug is a very pleasant drive, good ride and frugal.
The Impreza is a good solid workhorse but dull and uninvolving to drive, its going off the road while I gather the parts it needs for its MOT.
The Celica GT Im still getting used to, a lot nicer than the Subaru but still feels a bit strange at the moment.

How do you define 'best' ? they all have their own atributes.

The 306 is the most frugal, Evo2 was the quickest cross country but the 106 GTI was the most rewarding and fun to drive.

[Hondo]

Current: 2005 Nissan Titan PU Crew Cab. Seats 5 adults in airconditioned comfort, has gone up every hill asked with whatever load in or attached to it without complaint. Only maintance type service work done and the same with parts, wiper blades, tires, and filters.

Favorite: 1969 AMX, back when you'd thought it was a secret. America's forgotten 2 seater and corvette eater.

[dimviii]

current Mitsubishi evo viii
best evoviii ,renault clio 2,0 cup,306 rallye,r5gt turbo
worst hyundai atos


ps evo viii with revalved Ohlins,ap racing brakes all round,and about 370bhp 480Nm all weather killer for any car
peugeot 306 rallye most reliable car i had,and in its days best fwd car.
renault clio rs(2005) best chassis i ever drove,not power at all.
renault 5 gt pocket rocket with garett turbo from saab 900, back in 1992 lol.

[schmenke]

Current daily commuter: 2001 Hyundai Accent (stop laughing!) 89,000kms. Not a bad little POS. Very economical and surprisingly good on winter roads. Burns a bit of oil though.
The missus transports the kids in a new 2011 Toyota Sienna minivan, 500kms :D .

Best: Well, honestly it has to be the Sienna, but my personal favourite has always been the '94 Integra that I drove pre-kids.

Worst: 1986 (yes, '86) Pontiac 6000 LE :s

I may drive a POS, but I just measured my fuel economy at 5.7 liters/100kms :) (I believe that's pushing 40mpg).

[Daniel]

I may drive a POS, but I just measured my fuel economy at 5.7 liters/100kms :) (I believe that's pushing 40mpg).

That's good! The best the 500 has done is 5l/100 km and it averages 5.9l/100 km. Which reminds me that it's almost empty and needs to be filled up which will hurt my bank balance :(


current Mitsubishi evo viii
best evoviii ,renault clio 2,0 cup,306 rallye,r5gt turbo
worst hyundai atos


ps evo viii with revalved Ohlins,ap racing brakes all round,and about 370bhp 480Nm all weather killer for any car
peugeot 306 rallye most reliable car i had,and in its days best fwd car.
renault clio rs(2005) best chassis i ever drove,not power at all.
renault 5 gt pocket rocket with garett turbo from saab 900, back in 1992 lol.


Nice selection of cars :)