Modern car hate club

Its the people who aren't perhaps your average drivers, that miss the steering feel and feedback, as well the feeling of really being part of proceedings so to speak, that an older car gives. Nearly all modern cars cannot replicate this.

There are plenty of modern cars which have feel through the steering. I dislike numb steering as much as you. Which is why Audi's are dull.
 
My drizzly commute is the best part of my day :D

To me, its just another chore. Straight out the flat into traffic. Onto the motorway for 20 minutes, then off the dual carriageway into a bit more traffic, then to the office. There's no way any car can make that exciting.

I don't want a raw driving experience or to feel more connected to the car (not for 90% of my driving anyway). I just want something that starts first time and gets me to work safely and comfortably.

Old cars definitely have their place, but for me that place isnt anywhere in my daily routine. New cars have their place too and that's what works for me.

FWIW I dont think the OP had in mind 92 Celicas with AC when he was talking about old cars ;)
 
[TW]Fox;15510633 said:
There are plenty of modern cars which have feel through the steering. I dislike numb steering as much as you. Which is why Audi's are dull.

I'm sure there is a few, but I've not been lucky enough to drive any. But you have to admit its something which is increasingly missing. Most older cars actually have a physical connection between you and the road without and assistance.
 
To me, its just another chore. Straight out the flat into traffic. Onto the motorway for 20 minutes, then off the dual carriageway into a bit more traffic, then to the office. There's no way any car can make that exciting.
Which explains why our opinions differ. Mine is a mix of minor roads, tight junctions, single track lanes - it's dark, it's muddy, it's slippery, on a wet day it's huge fun. If I was sat in rush hour traffic on a random bypass I might feel differently.
 
Which explains why our opinions differ. Mine is a mix of minor roads, tight junctions, single track lanes - it's dark, it's muddy, it's slippery, on a wet day it's huge fun. If I was sat in rush hour traffic on a random bypass I might feel differently.

Exactly, horses for courses - it doesnt make either side wrong, just different people with different requirements :)

If I owned a 205 GTi it would drive me completely up the wall, the lack of creature comforts would be a PITA and it would be frustrating that I could never use it to it's potential.

Sure I could go out in the evening "for a drive" - plenty decent roads around here, but until I'm in a position to own 2 cars, an old "raw" car is never going to work for me
 
Which explains why our opinions differ. Mine is a mix of minor roads, tight junctions, single track lanes - it's dark, it's muddy, it's slippery, on a wet day it's huge fun. If I was sat in rush hour traffic on a random bypass I might feel differently.

True here also, I do have to sit in traffic, but only towards the later part of my commute. The majority can be enjoyed, especially as you say in the wet.
 
To me, its just another chore. Straight out the flat into traffic. Onto the motorway for 20 minutes, then off the dual carriageway into a bit more traffic, then to the office. There's no way any car can make that exciting.

I don't want a raw driving experience or to feel more connected to the car (not for 90% of my driving anyway). I just want something that starts first time and gets me to work safely and comfortably.

Agreed. My commute is much the same. Town traffic followed by a short motorway stint followed by more town traffic. It's totally boring and I don't want or like to subject the MX5 to it so I take the Honda and do it comfortably with an iPod full of music :)

I'd love to have a more 'out of the way' commute with more fun roads, but hey.
 
[TW]Fox;15510579 said:
I just drove 180 miles yesterday in a modern car in the cold and foggy conditions and remained comfortable, refined and relaxed throughout. This sucks.

I would have much preffered to do the same drive in a 15 year old Fiesta with no AC and steamed up windows. Much more real.

TBH, this is an utterly stupid comparison. If you're going to try and go down this route, at least try to compare similar cars. A doubt a well speced early e34 535i would have been too far off of your e39 in the comfort stakes despite knocking on the door of being 20 years old.
 
I just did a 140 mile journey in the 205, the seats are comfortable, the engine is ballistic (overtaking) the only issue is noise tbh. My ears were a little tingly afterwards.

Suspension is firm, but that applies to modern cars of a sporty nature as well, no need for aircon, although will be nice in summer, and I don't have a daily commute.

My windows clear in no time at all, AC really is not needed to clear windows, heat does the trick. AC just takes the moisture out of the air so they dont mist up as fast again.

What creature comforts would you miss?
 
[TW]Fox;15510627 said:
Not sure. Probably the 205 though I'd love to take my car on a track. Thing is how much of your driving is on a track and how much is sitting in traffic on the A52?

If I had to do that every day, ie sit on A52 I would almost certainly use an Auto of some variety, and keep the 205 for best.
 
TBH, this is an utterly stupid comparison. If you're going to try and go down this route, at least try to compare similar cars. A doubt a well speced early e34 535i would have been too far off of your e39 in the comfort stakes despite knocking on the door of being 20 years old.

Joshy in completely missing the point again shocker

Most of the comments in the thread were about old small hatchbacks, which is probably why Fox made that comparison.

If you want to make a similar comparison, a new Fiesta is going to be much more pleasant to live with day to day than an old one

I just did a 140 mile journey in the 205, the seats are comfortable, the engine is ballistic (overtaking) the only issue is noise tbh. My ears were a little tingly afterwards.

Suspension is firm, but that applies to modern cars of a sporty nature as well, no need for aircon, although will be nice in summer, and I don't have a daily commute.

My windows clear in no time at all, AC really is not needed to clear windows, heat does the trick. AC just takes the moisture out of the air so they dont mist up as fast again.

What creature comforts would you miss?

While a 205 might be acceptable on the motorway, they're not exactly ideal and certainly would look completely useless next to a modern large saloon. You said your ears were a bit tingly afterwards - thats only 140 miles, try a longer trip and see if you can step out feeling fresh and relaxed.

A/C does demist windows much quicker as the dry air clears it quickly and you dont have to wait for the engine to warm up for it to work
 
While a 205 might be acceptable on the motorway, they're not exactly ideal and certainly would look completely useless next to a modern large saloon. You said your ears were a bit tingly afterwards - thats only 140 miles, try a longer trip and see if you can step out feeling fresh and relaxed.

Well I am driving to Romania, and on to Turkey/Cyprus next year, so will let you know ;)

But you are right, 205's are not a motorway cruiser, they are built for A-B roads, which is the route I took (little bit of M5)

Main issue is mine is geared for 140mph, and is doing 3.8k at 70, so is noisy at motorway speeds. Still, I previously did the journey in a 59 plate A3 diesel, and it was a frustrating albeit economical drive apart from the mway sections where cruise was a godsend.

Compared to my Mk5 GTI Golf it is nowhere near as relaxing, it is far more edgy, but when you get to the lanes, the 205 just makes you smile beyond belief.

No pain no gain as they say, and I defy most cars to keep up with a 170bhp 205 on country lanes ;)
 
Joshy in completely missing the point again shocker

Most of the comments in the thread were about old small hatchbacks, which is probably why Fox made that comparison.

If you want to make a similar comparison, a new Fiesta is going to be much more pleasant to live with day to day than an old one

Really? Because as far as I can see, no one other than Fox mentioned a 15 year old Fiesta? :confused:

It seems like we've mostly been talking about 205s, and even then I'm struggling to make the connection between a 80s Hot Hatch and a 00s saloon car?

It goes back to my original point. If you want something to get you from A - B, a run of the mill 'Modern' car is generally going to do it better than something older. Of course you have 80s/Early 90s Saloon cars that throw a bit of a spanner in the works I don't think any 205 owner, myself included, will tell you that a 205 is a super comfortable motorway cruncher because it isn't. I'm considering selling mine for the very reason that my daily commute isn't particularly enjoyable, but it certainly isn't anything that I could not live with. Just like snowdog has gotten used to ABS and traction control saving his backside, you get used to not having masses of 'creature comforts'. A bad example maybe, but the first few days of driving my car in the morning with no heater was absolute HELL. A month into my ownership and it doesn't phase me one bit. Same thing with the exhaust drone, I hated it for being far too loud and planned on replacing it as soon as I got paid. Now I've learned to enjoy it (especially over 4,000RPM :D).

Last week I was given the choice of going on a 400 mile journey in my 205, a stripped out S13 'Drift car' or a fully loaded E60 530d. Naturally I jumped at the chance to go in the E60, but I can't say that I would have been bothered saying my own car complete with bucket seats, firm suspension and a loud exhaust because It' is my car, and I'm used to it. There are far more comfortable cars out there, but I cannot say that 'comfort' was too high on my mind when I was looking to buy a 205 GTi.
 
[TW]Fox;15510959 said:
Err surely all cars have a physical connection between you and the road, we've not perfected drive by wire steering yet!

Sure, but plenty of cars these days could fool you into thinking they don't.
 
[TW]Fox;15510997 said:
So dont buy them then, strikes me this is a 'crap car hate club' not a 'modern car hate club'.

Plenty of utterly numbtastic old cars.

HELLO TOYOTA CARINA

Indeed..
 
I don't know, I'd have taken driving my old Triumph on a 300 mile motorway slog rather than the 525i for example. The Triumph being much more comfortable and entertaining to just be in, amongst other things....

Mind you, that car was a known quantity and a good example - so I'd have no bones about driving it anywhere.

I like all kinds of cars, age is irrelevant - but there are always going to be things I dislike about certain modern cars and I doubt I'd ever find one I'd 'love' to own...
 
Jonny, do you have any more photos of your car? :)
Yup, took these today:

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