Anything goes - All Comments

re: Is bog-standard best?

230SL — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:21:55 GMT

You'd really have to want a 1.4 Fiesta to pay the extra over one of these, though the i30 looks a better buy still, it has alloys and all the safety kit as standard, and if you the base model you get NHS friendly 15" alloys rather than the 17" private physio friendly that come on the top trim. Are these i30s and ceeds good cars?

re: Is bog-standard best?

coolGav — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:15:19 GMT

When I look for a new (to me) car, I try and list what I want it to have, what would be nice, and what I don't care about either way. Some manufacturers have the spec lower in the range, others simply don't offer a trim level with what I'm after. Forget options, since I've never brought brand new, so I expect to live with what comes as standard. Kia can do it (I'm guessing) as can Renault and Fiat, but seemingly not Vauxhall - for me anyway!

re: Is bog-standard best?

TegTypeR — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:58:53 GMT

This has been my philosiphy for years, less is definitely more in most manufacturers cars. Still recon Autocar are missing a trick by not doing a "sweet spot" column.

re: Is bog-standard best?

julianphillips — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:43:46 GMT

Alloys can often be worth it because it makes the car easier to resell whilst also giving the impression that you are not in the base-spec model. The good thing about them is that if buying the car brand new, alloys are usually not a particularly expensive option when factory fitted.

re: Is bog-standard best?

giulivo — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:35:31 GMT

I add things that higher-spec cars sometimes come with and that are best avoided:

1) Front central armrest (completely against having a correct driving position)

2) Colour-coded bumpers and rubstrips - what's the point of rubstrips if they are painted?

3) bigger wheels and tyres that are not compatible with snow chains or spare wheel - what if I want snow chains and a spare wheel?

4) Starter button - who's ever complained about having to turn a key?

And that's even before I start mentioning things that are good but not necessarily worth the extra money. That would include alloys and rear electric windows.

re: Is bog-standard best?

julianphillips — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:13:41 GMT

Now that most base models in lower medium class and above have air con and a reasonable stereo - and the days of black plastic bumpers for poverty spec vehicles have gone - the only option most need to splash out on is a set of alloys.

re: Renault learns from history

jerry99 — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 07:54:39 GMT

Has the donor vehicle actually got the required ruggedness to make this work?

The Renault 30 had a massive double wishbone front suspension fixed directly to huge box sections running the length of the car. This setup was almost unbreakable and endowed with huge supension travel which was exploited further in "African spec" with longer springs and a thinner anti roll bar. The driveshafts were protected running right through the middle of the suspension arms.

The Romanians have only just given up on their version of the Renault 12 because it could drive across fields when the road ran out. It had a similar suspension setup to the Reanult 30, which was only around 5 years younger

I can just imagine this new model losing the front subframe if someone took it too far away from the blacktop.

re: Recession bites: a tale of two dealers

Black Night — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:57:15 GMT

just a quick word to Thrawted Efforts, i really do feel that for you to say that the Jag XF is a cheap chinease knock off if a massive wrong doing, having been inside the car and driven myself i can safely say that this comment is completely unjustified. The car exudes a sense of individuality from the moment you set foot inside, its nothing like any other car of its class especially chinease. Maybe however I would agree with you if you said German, but whats bad about that at the end of the day??

re: Renault learns from history

W124 — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:12:09 GMT

I quite like the Laguna. It's subtle which is rare these days and the interior is excellent. The C6 is lovely but it's a bit showy. Renault need a a USP - they can't out-crazy Citroen or out ugly-Peugeot. Positioning themselves as a kind of French Audi makes sense given that Audi have unwisely committed to China and Russia and gone down the big grille route. If you want a quiet, quality car you have to buy a Skoda or, oddly, an Alfa.

re: Recession bites: a tale of two dealers

sierra — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:47:29 GMT

SMMT YTD sales figures to July:

BMW +11.79% (+3.75% in July)

Jaguar +14.46% (+29.42% in July)

If that's a recession - bring it on

Think the first two words of the headline should be deleted.

re: Recession bites: a tale of two dealers

The Colonel — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:43:18 GMT

For what it's worth, I've only ever owned BMWs and never have had a problem with the service I have received. Yes there have been the odd dicks about and I've had cause to complain, but you'd expect that to happen in any 19 year relationship with an organisation, but would never describe any experience as awful. What's your experience?

The particular dealership I was at on Saturday (that doesn't have a Mini dealership attached) I'd never been to before, seems to be no exception, and, surprisingly, one of their particular big sellers at the moment is the X6 - though I suspect that is very local.

re: Recession bites: a tale of two dealers

ThwartedEfforts — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:49:50 GMT

^^ BMW dealers are busy because they sell the country's most popular cars. The 3-Series is a top ten seller and the MINI can only gain popularity in a recession - it's cheap, economical, and also the slowest depreciating car on sale. No surprise that a Jaguar dealer offering the dullest range of any manufacturer today (and that includes the nasty Chinese-knock-off-alike XF, of which I've seen perhaps three since March) is such a stark contrast.

So many people clamouring for a 3-Series does mean one thing though: BMW dealers have become the least helpful. Salesmen there don't even have to stand up to sell cars, it's that easy for them, and while you tend to forgive an unconcerned, overtly lazy attitude from them when the whiff of a new car is clouding your mind, it quickly becomes tiresome just getting the chummy guy who sold you your car to answer the phone any time after you've signed the contract.

No two dealers are the same, of course, but BMW manages to be surprisingly consistently awful.

re: Renault learns from history

carnut — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:45:27 GMT

i think MANICM is right......Well it doesnt look very good i tell u that!!!!

However they are not gonna be able to compete in the Middle East, there are simply too many of these large saloons with such a wide and excellent spec sheets from all over the world, they sell american market vehicles as well as southeast asia and Eurpean models and some Mid-East only cars....

the Saferane might be new but it came to the game a little too late, its will not be able to compete with its humble samsung roots especialy with all these Infinities and Lexuses around......

re: Recession bites: a tale of two dealers

The Colonel — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:43:30 GMT

My mother has just bought a 320d. Pre reg, no miles to speak of, nice spec, 22% below list. Plenty about if you are looking for a bargain...relatively speaking.

I went with her on Saturday to the (main) dealer, 9:00am and the place was busy from the off. The salesman selling the car to my mum even complained that he'd booked off Sunday and Monday and was about to spend the day doing handovers and so missing out on what seemed to be many potential new sales.

re: Renault learns from history

The Hermit — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:42:19 GMT

Honestly, I think that this car looks a million times better than the ridiculous VelSatis.

If the Régie can combine a remotely good driving car with looks anonymous enough to not make me want to vomit, then I sincerely believe that they are taking a stride in the right direction. Maybe one day they will actually get back to designing cars as stylish as the first Clio.