Cars...!

[UP4014]

While the ones mentioned are all good (I'd get the Mazda) I'm just sick of front wheel drive I want that back to be flinging out all over when I put the boot in.

Wish they'd bring the Mustang or Camaro out here.

 

[pshepvic]

Wish they'd bring the Mustang or Camaro out here.

Whilst I love both these cars (have hired both on many occasions in the US) neither of them are very good at going around corners! That's great on a US freeway where all the corners are banked, but not so good on a winding road...

I'd still have one if someone gave it to me though!

 

[drewbles]

Not sure of the model Drew, but its [basically] new, silver, fully optioned & sunroof at Mazda Hoppers Crossing, 5K on clock, ex staff car [no owners] and 49K - huge buying. Txt me if you want the sales guys #

Stunning value. I'm in Germany at the moment so won't be back until next month. I dare say by that stage, it'll be well and truly gone

 

[AdMEL]

Whilst I love both these cars (Camaro and Mustang)(have hired both on many occasions in the US) neither of them are very good at going around corners! That's great on a US freeway where all the corners are banked, but not so good on a winding road...

I'd still have one if someone gave it to me though!

Compared to what??

Although I haven't driven a Mustang, I have driven both a V6 Camaro (for 3 weeks and 5,000 miles) and a V8 (unfortunately only 2 days and about 500 miles), including on many windy roads (Highway 1 from SFO down past Big Sur and back in the V8) .... I'd rate the Camaro as good as a 523i (recently superseded model), C Class Merc, Commodore SV6 or Falcon XR6, all of which handle very well around corners, imo. In the case of the V8 Camaro, I'm sure it would handle as well as many other more expensive cars (e.g. 335i BMW), given it would handle very similarly to a Clubsport (both built on the same platform and both engineered by Holden), which has sometimes been compared to an M5 (albeit not quite as good).

 

[Jobu]

Compared to what??

Although I haven't driven a Mustang, I have driven both a V6 Camaro (for 3 weeks and 5,000 miles) and a V8 (unfortunately only 2 days and about 500 miles), including on many windy roads (Highway 1 from SFO down past Big Sur and back in the V8) .... I'd rate the Camaro as good as a 523i (recently superseded model), C Class Merc, Commodore SV6 or Falcon XR6, all of which handle very well around corners, imo. In the case of the V8 Camaro, I'm sure it would handle as well as many other more expensive cars (e.g. 335i BMW), given it would handle very similarly to a Clubsport (both built on the same platform and both engineered by Holden), which has sometimes been compared to an M5 (albeit not quite as good).

US muscle cars hardly have a good reputation for "handling", certainly no where near the Germans. In a straight line though, they are hard to beat...

 

[AdMEL]

US muscle cars hardly have a good reputation for "handling", certainly no where near the Germans. In a straight line though, they are hard to beat...

US muscle cars may have had a bad reputation for handling in the past, but the current (Holden engineered) Camaro and Mustang have changed that and aren't very far behind the German cars in handling!

 

[pshepvic]

Compared to what??

Although I haven't driven a Mustang, I have driven both a V6 Camaro (for 3 weeks and 5,000 miles) and a V8 (unfortunately only 2 days and about 500 miles), including on many windy roads (Highway 1 from SFO down past Big Sur and back in the V8) .... I'd rate the Camaro as good as a 523i (recently superseded model), C Class Merc, Commodore SV6 or Falcon XR6, all of which handle very well around corners, imo. In the case of the V8 Camaro, I'm sure it would handle as well as many other more expensive cars (e.g. 335i BMW), given it would handle very similarly to a Clubsport (both built on the same platform and both engineered by Holden), which has sometimes been compared to an M5 (albeit not quite as good).

Compared to anything that goes around corners well. My last car was a Mini Cooper S and even if it might not be as quick in a straight line, I know I could get a round a tight racetrack much quicker ... and have a lot more fun doing so.

IMHO a Commodore (whether that is an SV6, Clubsport, Senator) or the Camaro (based on the Holden platform) do not perform particularly well around corners, nor does an XR6. I'd rather have a hot hatch any day to drive down something like Myers Creek Rd near Healesville in Vic (if you haven't driven it, it's probably one of the best winding roads in Victoria for a fun drive).

I've driven an '05 Mustang from San Fran to LA down Big Sur, and a 2010 Mustang around the Rockies in Canada - not saying I didn't like them, but I'd have much rather done it in a hot hatch. I've driven a Camaro from San Fran up to Sonoma & Napa - not a long trip by any means, but it's still a big American muscle car. Yes it was much better than the Mustang, but I think they've still got a bit of work do.

They need to make the steering wheel smaller for a start... (that applies to most American cars).

 

[AdMEL]

Compared to anything that goes around corners well. My last car was a Mini Cooper S and even if it might not be as quick in a straight line, I know I could get a round a tight racetrack much quicker ... and have a lot more fun doing so.

IMHO a Commodore (whether that is an SV6, Clubsport, Senator) or the Camaro (based on the Holden platform) do not perform particularly well around corners, nor does an XR6. I'd rather have a hot hatch any day to drive down something like Myers Creek Rd near Healesville in Vic (if you haven't driven it, it's probably one of the best winding roads in Victoria for a fun drive).

I've driven an '05 Mustang from San Fran to LA down Big Sur, and a 2010 Mustang around the Rockies in Canada - not saying I didn't like them, but I'd have much rather done it in a hot hatch. I've driven a Camaro from San Fran up to Sonoma & Napa - not a long trip by any means, but it's still a big American muscle car. Yes it was much better than the Mustang, but I think they've still got a bit of work do.

They need to make the steering wheel smaller for a start... (that applies to most American cars).

Having driven a Mini Cooper (unfortunately not an S), I agree that they are great fun to drive and handle well (like a go kart, given how small and low to the ground they are).

We'll have to agree to disagree on the Commodore, Falcon, Camaro though.

Thanks for the tip on Myers Creek Rd - I'll look it up next time I go for a drive (I may have driven it without knowing). My favourite road in Victoria is Warburton-Woods Point Rd between Camberville (near Lake Mountain) and Warburton - very windy and not much traffic! Have to watch out for the police with their digitectors (strips across the road) though!

 

[pshepvic]

Having driven a Mini Cooper (unfortunately not an S), I agree that they are great fun to drive and handle well (like a go kart, given how small and low to the ground they are).

When you do drive one, make sure it's got the 18" rims with Pirellis or Michelins (the standard 16s are a bit small, and when they put the Continental tyres on they're not grippy enough). For an ever better drive, take out the JCW (John Cooper Works) - has an extra 20kw - awesome!

Thanks for the tip on Myers Creek Rd - I'll look it up next time I go for a drive (I may have driven it without knowing). My favourite road in Victoria is Warburton-Woods Point Rd between Camberville (near Lake Mountain) and Warburton - very windy and not much traffic! Have to watch out for the police with their digitectors (strips across the road) though!

It's an awesome road - wish it was longer, but has a great run of banked switchback corners. Best time of the week is around 8am on a Sunday - once there is a bit of light, but no traffic. Don't go after heavy rain though, as there can often be a bit of debris on the road (as it's through the middle of a forest). And make sure you're tyres are in good condition!

Myers Creek Rd, Toolangi Victoria 3777 - Google Maps

 

[ab156]

Thread looks to have gone OT, but I think you have already answered your own question.

Based on your desire for minimal spend atm get the base GTi and roll it over when you get the M3 (matt titanium looks awesome, pain to live with). Will hardly cost you a cent over a decent time (>9 months).

Had a MKV that went to make room for an Evo. Mistake. I've driven a Corolla - these are not German versions

 

[munitalP]

Thanks for all the replys.

An update. Tomorrow we pick up a Focus XR5 turbo. After the serious looking and test driving, the focus came out on top, Golf second, then the MPS.

Starting with the MPS, this car has some serious good looks, both in and out, but it's still a low quality vehicle. By that I mean, the plastics inside are the hard scratchy plastic, and the car feels loose. I expect after 12 months, it will have interior squeaks and rattles. Surprisingly for a ultra modern car, the torque steer is ferocious and is a sure disaster waiting to happen, this was my key decider against this car.

VW Golf. The GTi was the only model we looked at, and I have to admit that I was rather taken with the car, however, the cost of the GTi plus the extras is horrendous and frankly not worth the money. A GTi optioned the same as the 46K MPS will set you back near 60K. That's BMW 3 series money for a small hatch. The other Golf models are far more reasonably priced, however, miles behind in the performance stakes.

Last but far from least is the humble Focus XR5, with a rally history behind it and driven by some of the top drivers ever in the WRC. The XR5, optioned up, costs similar to the MPS, we chose not to have Ford tint the car at an extra big chunk of change, will however have the tint proffessor do it next week for 1/3 the cost. The German built car, with the turbo charged 5 cylinder Volvo designed engine has a heap of low RPM torque, and when the turbo kicks in, your eyes bounce off the back of your skull! The car is tight, the interior is finished really nice, and of the 3 cars, also has the most passenger leg room. Important also, is the Focus is the easiest car of the 3 to reverse and reverse parallel park. All these points lead us to purchase the car last Monday.

munitalP

 

[ReLoad]

Damn, I just started the read on this thread, but as it turns out all is well.

I'm a focus owner as well! and I have to say a wise choice! the wife and kids have the Subaru, while I just needed a get to work and back car, and like you chose the Focus, I got mine new back in Dec 2008, and I have just ticked over 50k Kms.

I have never even had a sniff of an issue with it, its very comfy to ride, drives very well and has more get up and go than i will ever need.

Its insurance is very reasonable given the type of car it is, servicing every 15k Kms and is very cost effective.

So welcome to the club!

 

[Alanslegal]

Enjoy the car, what colour did you end up getting Gordon?

 

[munitalP]

Enjoy the car, what colour did you end up getting Gordon?

Hey Alan, we went the deep blue. My XR8 was the same colour and I like the colour.
We didn't get the white stripes in the pic below, but everything else the same.

 

[thegurio]

I'll preface this with the fact that we just picked up a cx7 on Thursday and I'm waiting to buy my RX8 after 8 long years of waiting but you should have gone with the 8 and kidded yourself you were 20 years younger!

This will be rotor no. 17 and by far the best. I just have to wait until after winter to get it! I'll line you up with it and you can blow me to the weeds but I'll bet I'll have the bigger smile on my face!

Good choice, and by the way, you can lump Audi in with VW etc. When I was looking for the cx7 I also looked at the Q5 & 7 and honestly, I was in there for about 15-20 minutes and not one person was inside.... No wonder they can't sell them!