What is the best compromise car for a petrolhead MTBer?

Why would a cyclist want a boggo-diesel? Shitheaps.

What’s your idea of the perfect compromise?

Octavia here. It’s quick-ish (not that I intend to do any track days), but has stacks of room for kit / family and is reasonably economical. Had a mk1, now on a mk2 diesel (really should have gone petrol with hindsight…) Reasonably economical too.

Looked at a Focus ST170 estate when I bought the first Octavia as I liked the Focus it replaced; while the older Focus handled slightly better and was probably better put together than the Octy (and didn’t have a lip on the boot or a lump where the seats go down) the vRS was quicker and more economical (and my garage were all ex-dub mechanics).

Have you looked at Mondeos? That was my other option. The STs may drink petrol like a demon (and obviously there’s no newer ‘sport’ version) but they’re meant to be fairly reasonable in the handling dept and have a boot you can fit a small country into.

Why would a cyclist want a boggo-diesel?

Err………. 4.2 litre twin-turbo diesel V8 that produces 380bhp and, deep breath, 626lb ft of torque perhaps?
It can hit 62mph from rest in a mere 5.3 seconds and will waft its way to 100mph in just 12.8sec.

sharkbait – Member

Why would a cyclist want a boggo-diesel?

Err………. 4.2 litre twin-turbo diesel V8 that produces 380bhp and, deep breath, 626lb ft of torque perhaps?
It can hit 62mph from rest in a mere 5.3 seconds and will waft its way to 100mph in just 12.8sec.

They are hugely impressive alright, I had a run in Porsche’s Silverstone demonstrator (every option) and it is all that you say. Even goes round corners well. But it’s not an exciting driving experience. It’s just relentless thrust. Brilliant for devouring motorway miles but it does not feel right throwing it through bends, nor does it give any enticement to shift gears. Just a big shove.

…. and your point is caller? 😉

I’ve got an m135i as well. I’ve averaged 27.3 mpg over the last 10000 miles, and I’ve never seen higher than 32mpg, even when cruising steadily on the motorway. Not complaining, just showing how these things can differ depending on the driver and the drive.

sharkbait – Member

…. and your point is caller?

I_Ache – Member

I was thinking about this on the way into work today. What would tick both boxes if you could only have the one car.

A petrolhead would want something that is fun, handles well and has a decent turn of speed.

Probably my funnest bike-lugger was a 205 GTi. Two bikes with wheels off, two people and two bags of kit – no worries.

Smiles for miles (as long as they were all on B roads).

😀

OK, it handles very well but maybe missing the ‘fun’ bit (but then maybe a lot of fast cars aren’t fun unless you get on a track)

sharkbait – Member

OK, it handles very well but maybe missing the ‘fun’ bit (but then maybe a lot of fast cars aren’t fun unless you get on a track)

It’s an incredibly competent machine for what it is. It handles well (really well) for a 2000kg 4X4 but that’s akin to saying great tits, for a fat guy. It’s a big comfortable cruiser but it’s nothing like a sports car. You never get away from the feeling of being in this giant, heavy beast. Going around corners in it quickly is vomit inducing and the thrill that comes from accelerating hard in it is much like being in a plane taking off. Novel the first time you experience it.

4.3l V6 turbo
4WD
0-60 quicker than anything else (production) mentioned, and 100% hillbilly!

This one is a keeper by JasonW-D[/url], on Flickr

I drive a Jeep now. 🙁

The O.P. said Petrolhead, so why are some of you mentioning diesels? 🙄

Range Rover Sport? Worth a look if you have never driven one or considered them to be “fun”

It’s a big comfortable cruiser but it’s nothing like a sports car. You never get away from the feeling of being in this giant, heavy beast.

I’d disagree with that and I don’t think you can make a statement like that based on a quick drive.
Anyway this isn’t about ‘sports cars’ necessarily.

Do you own one? Is that why you’re being so protective of it?

Yes I do actually – not an S, but they are exactly the same apart from the engines (and the optional air suspension which mine has).
I’m not being protective, I’m just saying that it certainly doesn’t feel big and heavy even though it is fairly big!
It actually feels like more like a 911 compare to the competition.

What do i win??

😉

Congratulations mate, you own a lovely piece of kit (must be doing pretty well for yourself 🙂 ). I was a complete skeptic that a big 4×4 could stop and go like that but my mates at Porsche were adamant. The demo car cost something like £89,000 if I recall. It’s a stunning machine, but I still actually don’t “get it”. For all the things I’d want to do with a 4×4, I wouldn’t in this because it’s too nice. And for all the enthusiastic driving I might want to do, it wouldn’t tick those boxes either.

The Cayenne is a very capable motor.
Makes that pickup I posted up there with styling by Lego look positively pretty though. 🙂

The Cayenne is a very capable motor.

I’ll second that. I can hold my own and I wasnt taking it easy over Dartmoor the other day, overtaking plenty of cars dawdling along below the limit, but I had a feeling what I could see closing in behind us was a Cayenne and I wasn’t wrong. Could tell partly by the headlights and partly by the stance and way it was taking the corners. He/she was doing a healthy amount over the limit.

Makes that pickup I posted up there with styling by Lego look positively pretty though.

I think the new ones look OK

I’ve always wanted one of these…

When petrol dropped to £1/litre I was tempted by a cheap petrol Cayenne. Lot of car for the money. Might get funny looks towing a sheep trailer with one though 😀

Surely a 4×4 must feature?

Perhaps a Range Rover – not sure if they are quick enough though?

@chrishdw – that’s gopping, what is it?

Surely a 4×4 must feature?

Are you new here?

Surely you must know that a child’s trike with winter tyres > a 4×4

Range Rover Sport?

Heretic.

Its a Nissan Stagea. Basically a Skyline estate.
Admittedly it looks much better with the front of an R34 bolted on!!

A neighbour of mine had one. Such an an incredibly rare car outside Japan I really wouldn’t want to run one. Also, quite ugly and I generally prefer estates.

A Range Rover? Not that bad:

When petrol dropped to £1/litre I was tempted by a cheap petrol Cayenne.

Quite a few people do that if their mileage is low. Apart from a three well publicised issues they are apparently pretty bulletproof.
Not for me though – I wasn’t a fan of the mk1 design…. things have changed a lot.

I remember driving a borrowed V6 Golf for 6 weeks and having to fill it up twice in a weekend from empty. Even at ‘cheap’ prices back then it bloody hurt my wallet. Unless you do geniunely under 4,000miles a year and its your only car (as running it as a second would raise costs/wallet££ etc alone) then why?