The cars and bikes thread!

[tribe125]

Aaaand it's raining.

Perfect. It can take weeks before you can test the windscreen wipers.

[gnuyork]

Rode in an Abarth today. A friend just picked one up used for next nothing with 7K miles on it. He did a diverter mod on it this morning (added 10ish HP). Pretty loud car for such a small thing.

[geoffbot]

http://www.latimes.com/business/auto...306-story.html

[Seriously]

http://www.latimes.com/business/auto...306-story.html

[Raza]

http://www.latimes.com/business/auto...306-story.html

[geoffbot]

Review of Wolfie (GU14 'WLF' geddit?) Kinda compared to the polo, because everything is relative.

Good
+It's fast! A surge of power from zero right throughout the gears up until...the speed limit. Hits you in 1st and 2nd gear, but it just flows after that.
+Good driving position it's like being in an old armchair. However, my right foot rests too much on the gas pedal at standstill. Maybe I need to play with the settings.
+Different driving modes is good. The throttle response in sport is great for a spirited drive, and the more sedate comfort is good for around town.
+The 1.2 engine in the polo sounded like it was going to explode at even 3k rpm (redline was 7, I never, ever got anywhere near there). The bmw is the opposite - I often redline gears without even knowing. Which is kinda good, but I might need a new exhaust sometime soon - a *bit* more noise would be nice.
+It's nice and big
+Front parking sensors very much help the above
+The steering wheel is just sublime

Bad
-No rear windscreen wiper!
-No folding rear seats - the polo had both of these. It's a spec option.
-Very easy to go fast - you have to be careful. The engine is quiet and the cabin muted so not much sensation of speed in a straight line when cruising. When corning, deffo.
-No heated seats which the missus won't soon forgive me for
-Can't see what driving mode you're in without changing driving mode
-Seems impossible to disable Dynamic Traction Control AND Dynamic Stability Control and be in sport mode.
-No built in nav even though it has a massive screen (neither did the polo tbf). Bmw like to charge for options
-No where near as much fun to drive as the polo though, I when I learn how to drift it should be a bit more enjoyable
-No Bluetooth music streaming. Bluetooth phone works great, but not music.
-Voice command button does nothing cos the previous owner didn't spec it...
-Aux cable for phone music is in the centre console - when you close the lid it crushes the cables. Obviously you can put the phone inside but then you can't use it for satnav
-Sound system isn't amazing. It's the stock one.
-Don't like the wheels - might change them
-Want tinted rear glass - might do that
-I want a sunroof

+/- Neutral is the mpg - 30 when I'm gunning it, 40 when I'm not. Obviously worse than the polo but that's fine.

More negatives than positive is because I'm picky, I expected to be blown away by it and I'm not. The polo was a great car. Also I always want things just out of my price range - I would could've got a loaded current shape 320 or old shape 335, but couldn't afford a loaded new shape 328, but that's just me. I am very happy generally though.

I think I need a lotus elise or something for the weekend.

[Raza]

The vast majority of sedans don't need a rear windscreen wiper and don't have one.

[gnuyork]

Review of Wolfie (GU14 'WLF' geddit?)

I think I need a lotus elise or something for the weekend.

You made my heart skip a beat, Dude! Get one.

[Raza]

You made my heart skip a beat, Dude! Get one.

Probably the best car ever.

[geoffbot]

You made my heart skip a beat, Dude! Get one.

Okay!

The vast majority of sedans don't need a rear windscreen wiper and don't have one.

Why do hatchbacks then? They have a steeper angle screen too.