Good simple cars

[Blackhawk47]

I'm not sure, they have those newfangled keys, I get the feeling the OP is more of a crank-handle kind of guy.

OP Reminds me of this scene.

 

[lordrobs]

Sounds like OP needs a 1990 Fiat Panda.

I'm not sure, they have those newfangled keys, I get the feeling the OP is more of a crank-handle kind of guy.

Not really, as I've stated multiple times I like having features such as cruise, climate heated seats etc. When I say I want a simple car I mean one where I can sit in it and have dials infront of me that tell me how much fuel I have, what the engine RPM is and what my road speed is rather than a screen with all kind of crap I don't need to be worrying about when I'm driving down the road. I also like a display what tells me what radio station I have tuned in rather than another screen with all kinds of info filler to justify the 7" TFT.

The whole point I was trying to make (probably badly) was that if you want something nice without all this junk (IMO) then what options do you have?

The Evora that was purchased on here recently is a great example of what I like. Another very different example would be the slightly older Aston Martin Vantages, not so keen on the newer interiors and the DB11 is case in point of how things are going in a direction I personally don't like.

I was hoping to just have a bit of an interesting discussion about cars and how people like me can continue to enjoy driving in the "ooh shiny shiny" car market of today but all I seem to have done is offend a couple of Audi owners somehow

Oh well, as you were motors. Sorry for the interruption.

EDIT - Sorry, missed this...

Porsche 911 r

Awesome machine

 

[ttaskmaster]

Nah, I had a great Octavia and let it go. I can't imagine being able to get one as nice as the one I had so that puts a downer on me getting another.

No?
Some great examples out there right now, for quite reasonable money, too...

Hate to say it but your using those things wrong.

Well.... yes.... no.... sort of....

Climate control should be set and forget really. I only really adjust the temperature on particulary hot or cold days, otherwise it stays on 20 degrees/auto.

My manual says 22ºC.
However, while that does work exceedingly when I want exactly that, what I want from it at other times is often different.
For example, in the recent weather I have often had my window open about an inch or two so I can get some fresh air and avoid overheating, but I have the vents blowing 24ºC air directly onto just my hands.

Don't know what is going on with your auto wipers. Push the wiper stalk one notch up on all the cars I've driven turns auto wipers.

Same on my car, except it switches off every time you turn off the engine, so you have to turn the auto off and back on again every time.
I'm also finding myself fiddling with the sensitivity lever (no electronical settings menus for me!) quite a bit, as there seems no happy medium. Easier to just use the manual control, like I always have.
The work van is the stupid one, as that is just an on-off rain sensor that doesn't vary the wiper speed, or anything.

 

[Lashout_UK]

One of the reasons I love my Mercedes is that there's little to distract from the process of actually driving it.

Very straightforward and uncomplicated. Even more relaxing, as a result.

 

[lordrobs]

One of the reasons I love my Mercedes is that there's little to distract from the process of actually driving it.

Very straightforward and uncomplicated. Even more relaxing, as a result.

Fantastic and this is really what I'd love to see available in years to come- simple and oozing quality, zero faff to distract you.

I'm sure manufacturers could do a modern take on that and it would be sublime, I'm also sure that there would be very little market for it unfortunately

No?
Some great examples out there right now, for quite reasonable money, too...

Yeah, you are right, I could probably get something equally as good. Maybe even better if I took my rose tinted specs off but I still don't feel like I'd like to go back down that route. Had some very good times with that car and it is probably best left to reminisce on rather than repeat. Also taking advantage of having the company car so I can run something less practical so the MX5 is staying with me for as long as I've got that.

 

[Blackhawk47]

My manual says 22ºC.
However, while that does work exceedingly when I want exactly that, what I want from it at other times is often different.
For example, in the recent weather I have often had my window open about an inch or two so I can get some fresh air and avoid overheating, but I have the vents blowing 24ºC air directly onto just my hands.

Sounds more like a user problem then a issue with the car.

 

[ttaskmaster]

Sounds more like a user problem then a issue with the car.

Neither, really.
Having the Climatron on makes the whole car warm, but sometimes I need heat on just my hands. The rest of me is baking but my hands are frozen. I solve this quite easily by putting heat directly onto my hands and it works just fine. The system has such options and its ability to achieve this is not in question.

What I don't like is having to look away from the road, reach around the gearstick (ooer mister and missus) and press several buttons, when I can get the same effect from a console that has dials and not have to look down each time.

The function, capability, performance, whatever of the Climatronic system is perfectly brilliant... it's just how the controls work that I find disagreeable.
And that's the point I was making about technology - It's not what something can do, it's how it does it that makes the difference.

 

[alec]

Do you remember Oliver, Hammond's Opel Kadett in Africa special?
Thats the epitome of a basic car. And it was so light compared to modern ones. A proper 4 door saloon.
If that gets rebuilt with a more aerodynamic design, a more efficient engine, maybe stronger materials and body structure for safety.

Compare that to cheapest cars available right now. They are built to a price and are often just tiny and ugly.

 

[Psycho Sonny]

Fantastic and this is really what I'd love to see available in years to come- simple and oozing quality, zero faff to distract you.

I'm sure manufacturers could do a modern take on that and it would be sublime, I'm also sure that there would be very little market for it unfortunately

First of all that car comes with nothing even a modern car like a fiesta comes with.

Outside temperature sensor, parking sensors, radio controls on the steering wheel, automatic lights, rain sensors, etc, etc.

Technology has made huge leaps since that car came out

 

[lordrobs]

Technology has made huge leaps since that car came out

It certainly has and I'm not against the technology thats for sure, I just don't want that technology to come at the expense of distraction and over complication

I keep muddying the waters (including in the thread title) when I talk about cars that are "simple". I WANT my cars to have cruise, climate, heated seats etc. but I want that technology to just do its thing with minimal input from me and with minimal impact on the aesthetic of the cabin.

Integrated nav is something that came up early on. I have zero problem with it but I think the systems where you have a modest size screen that comes out of the dash when it is needed is a far more elegant solution than a stuck on looking 8" screen that spends most of its time usefully showing a graphic of what your car looks like from the outside Would I go out of my way to spec it? Probably not as it goes out of date and I drive older cars so for me mobile integration would be better.

 

[Tom_ed1987]

For me car tech peaked in the late 90's.
Still in period for a sweet analogue driving feel, yet had efficiency, reliability, durability & decent ergonomics which were yet to be placed a firm second to passive safety, combined with relative simplicity, & all the mod-cons available that I personally would ever want in a car (Aircon / electric moving stuff / cruise)
You also often got a double din radio hole so for a couple of hundred quid you can now fit an Android unit & have built in Waze, which pips any OEM nav

 

[Vita]

One of the reasons I love my Mercedes is that there's little to distract from the process of actually driving it.

Very straightforward and uncomplicated. Even more relaxing, as a result.

Please put the switch into S MODE FOR ABSOLOUTE POWER.

 

[TheVoice]

I bought my car because of the technology and features it has. Sure, it drove well but then so did the Mazda3 which I also looked at. The Mazda didn't have the same gadgets though so I bought a Leon instead.

 

[tom_nieto]

The only distinguishing features between your average hatchback these days is interior bling and features. For something simple and exciting you need to look no further than a GT86, S2000, MX5 or Lotus Elise.

 

[Blackhawk47]

Don't know why you wouldn't like a new/newer model mx5. It's kind of stayed true to the original but with a few more creature comforts. Electric convertible roof for one thing.

 

[lordrobs]

Don't know why you wouldn't like a new/newer model mx5. It's kind of stayed true to the original but with a few more creature comforts. Electric convertible roof for one thing.

I'm happy enough with the one that I have but TBH it was the ND (or mk4 to most people) that initially got me thinking about this. When they feel the need to slap on a colour touch screen on an MX5 of all things then things have gone to far. I literally mean slap on as well because they've gone the Mercedes after thought look with it. The most basic model doesn't have it but that instead gets a nasty looking radio that manages to look equally stuck on The convertible has a manual roof though, not electric.

I don't think I'll be limited for car choices going forward though, there are plenty of motors I still like out there. I might just need to think outside the box a little.

 

[Malevolence]

I like simple. Simple is good.

 

[Vince]

Is it a good time to say that my car doesn't even have a cup holder

Edit: In fact the interior is not that dissimilar to the image above

 

[Akagi]

Thats not simple, it has four sticks!

 

[Freefaller]

I personally dislike touch screens in a car. Buttons and dials for me please.