With you on the model three interior and the touchscreen thing. Terrible piece of design.
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The Car Thread ... !
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Great cars. I am seriously still eyeing the possibility of the Audi A5 on my short list.
but this is the first time in my life I'm basically not watching every penny. been a good year for me financially and would like to take advantage. But, not willing to potentially put up with very costly long term maintenance costs. So the frugal side of me is still getting it's say
I'm with you on the frugal! I bought my Golf when it was about 2-3 years old so I saved on all that depreciation. It had also had an accident and been repaired (by a specialist), so I saved a further 10% that way. I'm still quite happy with it, although it needs a dam good clean.Great cars. I am seriously still eyeing the possibility of the Audi A5 on my short list.
but this is the first time in my life I'm basically not watching every penny. been a good year for me financially and would like to take advantage. But, not willing to potentially put up with very costly long term maintenance costs. So the frugal side of me is still getting it's say
Came across this in a recent article.
In 1967 I bought this car, a very poor Polaroid by my ex at a Gymkhana in the Xerox parking lot.
A much better photo of some ones else car, a 1966.
Mine was a British Racing Green, but looks identical. I went to buy a 427 Cobra, but the dealer said they had stopped making them a month earlier, sent me over to another dealer for this car. Dealer had two cars, a 1967 coupe and a 1968 roadster. Because emission controls started in 1968, the roadster had a 302 Cleveland engine, a standard everyday V8. I drove it and it was nice, but docile. The dealer had the coupe on the floor, and he said battery was dead and couldn't start it. It had a high performance 289, same setup as the 289 Cobra. Solid lifters, 5 main bearing, Mallory Dual Point, Holley 4 barrel. I went home to think about it, a roadster would be nice, but something in my gut said go for the coupe. Next day I went back to hear the 289, he started it up and the hair on the back of my neck stood up. What a sound that engine made. That is what I was looking for. Fantastic engine, got 62 mph out of FIRST gear. Beat the pants off a 327 vet. Wish I was able to keep it, but finances got in the way. Rare as hens teeth now, last I saw there was company in Vancouver that was restoring them at $150K. It was to be the new Griffith as the first photo shows, but I knew it as a Torino Italia built by Intermeccanica in Italy.
In 1967 I bought this car, a very poor Polaroid by my ex at a Gymkhana in the Xerox parking lot.
A much better photo of some ones else car, a 1966.
Mine was a British Racing Green, but looks identical. I went to buy a 427 Cobra, but the dealer said they had stopped making them a month earlier, sent me over to another dealer for this car. Dealer had two cars, a 1967 coupe and a 1968 roadster. Because emission controls started in 1968, the roadster had a 302 Cleveland engine, a standard everyday V8. I drove it and it was nice, but docile. The dealer had the coupe on the floor, and he said battery was dead and couldn't start it. It had a high performance 289, same setup as the 289 Cobra. Solid lifters, 5 main bearing, Mallory Dual Point, Holley 4 barrel. I went home to think about it, a roadster would be nice, but something in my gut said go for the coupe. Next day I went back to hear the 289, he started it up and the hair on the back of my neck stood up. What a sound that engine made. That is what I was looking for. Fantastic engine, got 62 mph out of FIRST gear. Beat the pants off a 327 vet. Wish I was able to keep it, but finances got in the way. Rare as hens teeth now, last I saw there was company in Vancouver that was restoring them at $150K. It was to be the new Griffith as the first photo shows, but I knew it as a Torino Italia built by Intermeccanica in Italy.
Dropped the Camaro off today for some minor tuning with the boost to fuel ratio:
Owner had his mint Z28 out:
(He also owns the Vette’ next to the Camaro.)
Owner had his mint Z28 out:
(He also owns the Vette’ next to the Camaro.)
I myself drive a 2016 Scion iM. It's actually a surprisingly fun car to drive, though it is kind of let down by the unnecessarily low profile P225/45R17 tires the car uses (you feel every bump on the road even with the independent rear suspension 😒 ). It had the same problem my previous 2015 Honda Fit EX had (P185/55R16). Love the really nice air conditioner, mandatory in hot Sacramento, CA.
I myself drive a 2016 Scion iM. It's actually a surprisingly fun car to drive, though it is kind of let down by the unnecessarily low profile P225/45R17 tires the car uses (you feel every bump on the road even with the independent rear suspension). It had the same problem my previous 2015 Honda Fit EX had (P185/55R16). Love the really nice air conditioner, mandatory in hot Sacramento, CA.
). It had the same problem my previous 2015 Honda Fit EX had (P185/55R16). Love the really nice air conditioner, mandatory in hot Sacramento, CA.
I think this is the one thing that makes me slightly uncomfortable. Compared to my 13' Yaris, it feels like there are not any tires and too much rim. I also positively hate the tires this car came with. Just need to save a little to upgrade them.
I also test drove a black 2016 Scion iM but it wasn't Toyota certified so I couldn't get the bumper to bumper warranty on it like I did with the one I went with. These are fun cars, like a bigger Yaris. A Yaris was too small for my husband to really be comfortable, so this suits us both.
I looked up information on replacement 225/45R17 tires and frankly, most of the good tires tend to have fairly stiff sidewalls because of their low profile. As such, you will have to put up with the bumpy ride on less-than-perfect road surfaces.
I really, really need to get this project finished up, but actually made some significant progress today
Yes, I installed a hose, but getting it off in the first place led me down a dangerous rabbit hole.
In any case, I basically have the driver's side finished, but need to run the brake line over to it. My flare nuts arrived yesterday, and the CORRECT flaring tool should be here tomorrow.
The things remaining:
1. Get the bushing out of the passenger side front eye. This is a surprisingly difficult job, and I really need a hydraulic press to do it right. The replacement actually pushes right in with just finger pressure
2. Build the passenger side suspension back up. The most tedious part of this is actually getting the rear body bushings seated correctly, but it just requires patience. A lot of this stuff just takes patience, as just for example the only way I know to really put the "stack" of plates, mounts, and pads around the spring together is to just put the bolts in and run the nuts on a little at a time to draw it up. I think I spent about 20 minutes last time doing this.
3. Reassemble and refill the passenger side shock absorber. Tedious, but not a big deal
4. Get the cover back on the differential, which I've spent a lot of time working on because the old gasket is being really stubborn about coming off and access is awkward. Once back together, of course it needs to be refilled.
5. Put the passenger side brakes and hub back together. Brakes are fiddly, but not a big deal at the end of the day. The worst part is getting the hub nut tight enough-the torque spec is 150ft-lbs plus enough extra to align the split pin. On the surface, this doesn't sound that bad aside from the fact that you need to stop the hub from rotating. I picked up a really nice trick form a Youtube video of cranking the brake adjuster all the way out to shove the shoes against the drum and use it to keep things from turning.
Yes, I installed a hose, but getting it off in the first place led me down a dangerous rabbit hole.
In any case, I basically have the driver's side finished, but need to run the brake line over to it. My flare nuts arrived yesterday, and the CORRECT flaring tool should be here tomorrow.
The things remaining:
1. Get the bushing out of the passenger side front eye. This is a surprisingly difficult job, and I really need a hydraulic press to do it right. The replacement actually pushes right in with just finger pressure
2. Build the passenger side suspension back up. The most tedious part of this is actually getting the rear body bushings seated correctly, but it just requires patience. A lot of this stuff just takes patience, as just for example the only way I know to really put the "stack" of plates, mounts, and pads around the spring together is to just put the bolts in and run the nuts on a little at a time to draw it up. I think I spent about 20 minutes last time doing this.
3. Reassemble and refill the passenger side shock absorber. Tedious, but not a big deal
4. Get the cover back on the differential, which I've spent a lot of time working on because the old gasket is being really stubborn about coming off and access is awkward. Once back together, of course it needs to be refilled.
5. Put the passenger side brakes and hub back together. Brakes are fiddly, but not a big deal at the end of the day. The worst part is getting the hub nut tight enough-the torque spec is 150ft-lbs plus enough extra to align the split pin. On the surface, this doesn't sound that bad aside from the fact that you need to stop the hub from rotating. I picked up a really nice trick form a Youtube video of cranking the brake adjuster all the way out to shove the shoes against the drum and use it to keep things from turning.
Looks like this ends up being quite close to a restoration. On the plus side though, you most likely won’t have to touch it again for the next 10-something years!
I don't know that I'd call it a restoration, but just getting the rear end in good shape for a while. Still, though, I should be good for a LONG time-I'll be disappointed if I have to redo any of this(except maybe the brakes) in 10 years.
Next up is going to be the front suspension, but that's going to be a fall project. I'm going to drop the front cross member and do it all off car, or at least that's the current plan. Hopefully it will be less crusty since it gets plenty of oil and other crud dripping off the engine.
I want to show here some impressions of several cars I tested this weekend, all of them electric.
Nissan Leaf. Let's start with one of the most veteran. First of all, let's say that its veteran status is evident in many aspects.
On the outside, we know that it was a very strong restyling of the previous model, and although they left it quite well and something more neutral, you notice the years.
Regarding the interior quality. Honestly, it may be somewhat more apparent than some of its direct rivals, but I do not see it above them. Yes, it has the center console in a soft leather, but the plastics that are not "leather" is hard, and the adjustments are quite improvable, especially in the center console. The multimedia I think it was the new one that equips the Juke or the new Qashqai, with an outdated interface, poor and quite slow operation.
Regarding the interior space, I was quite disappointed. I, being 1.93m tall, do not feel comfortable in the car. I carry my legs very bent, because the seat does not have adequate travel for a person of my height, reminding me to some extent to the lack of longitudinal space that I lacked in the MX-5. In height I'm quite fair, rubbing against the ceiling and touching the knee on the center console, quite intrusive, denoting his seniority, since the other models I've tested no longer carry a "traditional" center console, leaving much more legroom and leaving much more space to the front passengers.
In the back the space is quite small, which, considering that it measures 4.46m is quite disappointing.
At the driving level, it is not bad, but it feels quite soft, and if you step on it hard it lifts the nose, the wheels slip and the traction control is activated. The inertia in curves is noticeable. The brake feel is quite improvable, although the regeneration is very strong. It is a little difficult to adapt to it, but once you get the hang of it in the city it is a marvel (with the e-Pedal). It doesn't have strong acceleration, being less impressive than a Zoe in this regard (I guess it would be the lower powered version, not the 200hp one).
However, I do not think it is a suitable car for so much power, because if already with this medium version, if you step on it hard skids and traction control is activated, with more power ... I guess also with tires with more grip that effect is mitigated enough.
Smart Forfour. This little guy has surprised me a lot. A pity that the car has so little autonomy and is so absurdly expensive.
On the outside with the restyling they left it quite well, the changes they made him felt good, in particular, the headlights and taillights.
Inside, it does not stand out much, but it has some neat and curious details, although it denotes its Renault origin. The multimedia (which hangs quite often, it must be said). is a R-Link modified a bit for Smart, handles, buttons and so on, all Renault origin.
But the doors are surprising for an A-segment car, upholstered both front and rear, and the dashboard. While it has no rubberized, and when you press it is hard, it is a detail quite careful that gives an overall look of quality.
As for spaciousness, I was surprised, as I go more comfortable than in the Nissan Leaf. I go higher, so my legs are not so bent, and the ceiling height is quite decent.
Obviously the rear and trunk space is what it is, but it is a perfect everyday car for a person of my height.
As for driving, I liked it too. It accelerates a lot from 0-50km/h, has a lot of kick, and is an extremely agile car, it turns a lot. The suspension is soft, but it is perfect for city driving. However, when there is air, the inertia with the side wind is a bit noticeable. It brakes well, but it hardly has any regeneration, neither in normal nor in Eco mode (I don't know if there is some special mode or something in this car that I haven't discovered, but I found it quite disappointing in this sense.
Nissan Leaf. Let's start with one of the most veteran. First of all, let's say that its veteran status is evident in many aspects.
On the outside, we know that it was a very strong restyling of the previous model, and although they left it quite well and something more neutral, you notice the years.
Regarding the interior quality. Honestly, it may be somewhat more apparent than some of its direct rivals, but I do not see it above them. Yes, it has the center console in a soft leather, but the plastics that are not "leather" is hard, and the adjustments are quite improvable, especially in the center console. The multimedia I think it was the new one that equips the Juke or the new Qashqai, with an outdated interface, poor and quite slow operation.
Regarding the interior space, I was quite disappointed. I, being 1.93m tall, do not feel comfortable in the car. I carry my legs very bent, because the seat does not have adequate travel for a person of my height, reminding me to some extent to the lack of longitudinal space that I lacked in the MX-5. In height I'm quite fair, rubbing against the ceiling and touching the knee on the center console, quite intrusive, denoting his seniority, since the other models I've tested no longer carry a "traditional" center console, leaving much more legroom and leaving much more space to the front passengers.
In the back the space is quite small, which, considering that it measures 4.46m is quite disappointing.
At the driving level, it is not bad, but it feels quite soft, and if you step on it hard it lifts the nose, the wheels slip and the traction control is activated. The inertia in curves is noticeable. The brake feel is quite improvable, although the regeneration is very strong. It is a little difficult to adapt to it, but once you get the hang of it in the city it is a marvel (with the e-Pedal). It doesn't have strong acceleration, being less impressive than a Zoe in this regard (I guess it would be the lower powered version, not the 200hp one).
However, I do not think it is a suitable car for so much power, because if already with this medium version, if you step on it hard skids and traction control is activated, with more power ... I guess also with tires with more grip that effect is mitigated enough.
Smart Forfour. This little guy has surprised me a lot. A pity that the car has so little autonomy and is so absurdly expensive.
On the outside with the restyling they left it quite well, the changes they made him felt good, in particular, the headlights and taillights.
Inside, it does not stand out much, but it has some neat and curious details, although it denotes its Renault origin. The multimedia (which hangs quite often, it must be said). is a R-Link modified a bit for Smart, handles, buttons and so on, all Renault origin.
But the doors are surprising for an A-segment car, upholstered both front and rear, and the dashboard. While it has no rubberized, and when you press it is hard, it is a detail quite careful that gives an overall look of quality.
As for spaciousness, I was surprised, as I go more comfortable than in the Nissan Leaf. I go higher, so my legs are not so bent, and the ceiling height is quite decent.
Obviously the rear and trunk space is what it is, but it is a perfect everyday car for a person of my height.
As for driving, I liked it too. It accelerates a lot from 0-50km/h, has a lot of kick, and is an extremely agile car, it turns a lot. The suspension is soft, but it is perfect for city driving. However, when there is air, the inertia with the side wind is a bit noticeable. It brakes well, but it hardly has any regeneration, neither in normal nor in Eco mode (I don't know if there is some special mode or something in this car that I haven't discovered, but I found it quite disappointing in this sense.
Fiat 500e. I really wanted to drive this car, as it is a car that I have always liked, but that I have never been able to drive at ease, as it did not fit well.
We saw both the normal "coupe" and the 3+1. The latter has a small rear door that really, I do not know if it will be very useful, but well, it is curious for a while. Aesthetically it looks like a 500, but more refined, more "posh", maybe a bit more formal than the combustion one.
Let's start with the interior. The appearance has improved enormously, it looks much more sophisticated and refined. The plastics used are all hard, but have better quality, and overall it looks attractive and attractive. The displays are of very good quality and function well, with quite attractive maps.
The driving position is much improved over the previous version. The steering wheel and seat adjustment is much more ergonomic. However, for a person of my height, it is a little tight in height. Longitudinally no problem, had plenty of room for the legs and, having no center console, the knee could take it more relaxed. The rear space is correct for people of 1.75m tall, if the passengers in the front seats are not very tall either. With the driving position in my position, nobody fits in the back, obviously.
The trunk is quite small and is worse finished than the Smart, for example, as it has the backrests with exposed sheet metal, instead of being upholstered.
As for driving, there is a world of difference compared to the previous one. Obviously the weight of the electric car is noticeable, and gives it a poise worthy of a higher segment car. However, it is still one of the perfect cars for city driving. It's a blast to drive around in. It doesn't have a lot of kick, but it has enough power for city and intercity driving.
It is very quiet. The steering feel is quite good and the brakes are good, however, it doesn't have a very aggressive regeneration either (I guess it depends on the driving mode.
However, I find the Smart ForFour much more "ratty" and agile in the city than the 500, although the Fiat is much more refined in every way than the Smart, better insulated, with better poise if you go out on the road and at high speeds it is not an uncomfortable car.
Overall, for price and features, it seems to me a more interesting product than the Smart, as it is much more refined, with greater autonomy (350km vs 159km that has the Smart), and more spacious.
Volkswagen ID.3. One of the cars that I like the most in the electric world. And yes, I also really wanted to drive it. And I was not disappointed at all. The MEB (both Volkswagen and Skoda), are much more advanced than the other cars I've tested, to carry a 100% electric platform.
On the outside I like it, although it has a more minivan-like aesthetics than compact. The front is nice and "friendly". I also like the rear quite a lot, although I would like more if they had put light in the part that goes inside the hatch. The side, simple and timeless, can be customized with certain stickers, to give it a more informal look.
Inside, although I said it when I saw it in October, I think it is not as bad as they say, but it is true that for the price it is quite fair. I think that in this sense, the Cupra Born is a step above, at least from what has been seen in the first contact shots.
The top plate (which can be white or orange), is very soft and squishy, but the rest of the dashboard is hard, although the hard plastic is a pretty good touch, despite being hard. We have two screens (a small one attached to the steering column and a larger 10.1" screen that works with a bit of lag). The doors use the same hard plastic with the same feel both front and rear, with a bit of door padding in the door area, but I find it insufficient.
In terms of space, compared to the Leaf, it's another world. You have a somewhat elevated driving position, but the position is comfortable and very good for a person of my height. The height to the ceiling is high and I have no problem at all in height.
The rear space is ample, entering a person of my height, just that if, with the seat in my driving position. The headroom is not a problem, and has a trunk with an average capacity for the segment.
Now let's go with the driving. 204hp, the most powerful next to the Skoda, which has the same power. The car accelerates a lot, and has an incredible poise, although it is true that the suspension, somewhat hard, is somewhat dry in some joints of the bridges, not being as filtered as other models. However, it is one of the cars in which I have felt more comfortable driving in a long time. It is very easy to drive, with a power for my taste ideal for any situation, very well soundproofed and very stable.
The steering is direct and precise, with a certain hard touch, and the braking is quite good, with a conventional regeneration, neither very aggressive, nor null.
In short, I liked it a lot, and I think it would be my choice in the EV world, although perhaps, for interior finishes, I would go for its Spanish cousin, Cupra Born. This car has a range between 350 and 550km.
(Some photos of the Cupra Born).
We saw both the normal "coupe" and the 3+1. The latter has a small rear door that really, I do not know if it will be very useful, but well, it is curious for a while. Aesthetically it looks like a 500, but more refined, more "posh", maybe a bit more formal than the combustion one.
Let's start with the interior. The appearance has improved enormously, it looks much more sophisticated and refined. The plastics used are all hard, but have better quality, and overall it looks attractive and attractive. The displays are of very good quality and function well, with quite attractive maps.
The driving position is much improved over the previous version. The steering wheel and seat adjustment is much more ergonomic. However, for a person of my height, it is a little tight in height. Longitudinally no problem, had plenty of room for the legs and, having no center console, the knee could take it more relaxed. The rear space is correct for people of 1.75m tall, if the passengers in the front seats are not very tall either. With the driving position in my position, nobody fits in the back, obviously.
The trunk is quite small and is worse finished than the Smart, for example, as it has the backrests with exposed sheet metal, instead of being upholstered.
As for driving, there is a world of difference compared to the previous one. Obviously the weight of the electric car is noticeable, and gives it a poise worthy of a higher segment car. However, it is still one of the perfect cars for city driving. It's a blast to drive around in. It doesn't have a lot of kick, but it has enough power for city and intercity driving.
It is very quiet. The steering feel is quite good and the brakes are good, however, it doesn't have a very aggressive regeneration either (I guess it depends on the driving mode.
However, I find the Smart ForFour much more "ratty" and agile in the city than the 500, although the Fiat is much more refined in every way than the Smart, better insulated, with better poise if you go out on the road and at high speeds it is not an uncomfortable car.
Overall, for price and features, it seems to me a more interesting product than the Smart, as it is much more refined, with greater autonomy (350km vs 159km that has the Smart), and more spacious.
Volkswagen ID.3. One of the cars that I like the most in the electric world. And yes, I also really wanted to drive it. And I was not disappointed at all. The MEB (both Volkswagen and Skoda), are much more advanced than the other cars I've tested, to carry a 100% electric platform.
On the outside I like it, although it has a more minivan-like aesthetics than compact. The front is nice and "friendly". I also like the rear quite a lot, although I would like more if they had put light in the part that goes inside the hatch. The side, simple and timeless, can be customized with certain stickers, to give it a more informal look.
Inside, although I said it when I saw it in October, I think it is not as bad as they say, but it is true that for the price it is quite fair. I think that in this sense, the Cupra Born is a step above, at least from what has been seen in the first contact shots.
The top plate (which can be white or orange), is very soft and squishy, but the rest of the dashboard is hard, although the hard plastic is a pretty good touch, despite being hard. We have two screens (a small one attached to the steering column and a larger 10.1" screen that works with a bit of lag). The doors use the same hard plastic with the same feel both front and rear, with a bit of door padding in the door area, but I find it insufficient.
In terms of space, compared to the Leaf, it's another world. You have a somewhat elevated driving position, but the position is comfortable and very good for a person of my height. The height to the ceiling is high and I have no problem at all in height.
The rear space is ample, entering a person of my height, just that if, with the seat in my driving position. The headroom is not a problem, and has a trunk with an average capacity for the segment.
Now let's go with the driving. 204hp, the most powerful next to the Skoda, which has the same power. The car accelerates a lot, and has an incredible poise, although it is true that the suspension, somewhat hard, is somewhat dry in some joints of the bridges, not being as filtered as other models. However, it is one of the cars in which I have felt more comfortable driving in a long time. It is very easy to drive, with a power for my taste ideal for any situation, very well soundproofed and very stable.
The steering is direct and precise, with a certain hard touch, and the braking is quite good, with a conventional regeneration, neither very aggressive, nor null.
In short, I liked it a lot, and I think it would be my choice in the EV world, although perhaps, for interior finishes, I would go for its Spanish cousin, Cupra Born. This car has a range between 350 and 550km.
(Some photos of the Cupra Born).
Just back from the garage. £29 tyre puncture repair. Am I getting old? I can remember paying less than that for a new tyre! Anyway all good now. That is the second puncture I’ve had with this set of tyres though.
Opel/Vauxhall Mokka. Finally I was able to test and see the new "Opel", which I was so eager to see, and I was not disappointed. Aesthetically I found it very nice, it looks striking (especially in green), but at the same time sober and modern, perhaps with a bit of "retro" touch. It looks much better than its brother DS3 CB and much more than the 2008, which to me still seems a rather disproportionate and ugly car, although it is selling well.
Inside, it's not bad at all, I expected it to be a little worse in certain areas. The door upholstery is quite plush, and the alcantara feels quality. The top of the door is hard. The top plate seems a bit softer than the Corsa's, even though it has the same texture. The screens are well integrated and give a good feeling of "immersion", reminding me of the Golf in that sense. The instrumentation seems very good to me, because it gives you just the right information, no more and no less, all in a simple and well displayed way, nothing overloaded. The map is placed in the center, moving the map as if it were shown on the central screen, which not all do. The central multimedia system seems to me as bad as the PSA, I'm looking forward to try the new one to see if it improves the current one.
The space is good, with a correct height and longitudinally you have no problems if you are tall. In this sense I see it practically nailed to the DS3 CB. As is the interior space, although it seems less narrow to have a lower waistline than in the DS3. The rear door is very bad as in all B-segment PSA, without any detail, all hard. The trunk is correct, with 350l, enough for the size of the car.
Dynamically I noticed it better than the DS3 (perhaps because this was electric and the other combustion). It feels more poised and more stable than the DS. One thing that surprised me is that the seats of the Mokka seemed considerably more comfortable than those of the DS3, or at least I have that memory. They have much better back support and the cushioning seemed better.
The car does not have strong acceleration, but it is sufficient for daily use. It has some regeneration, not too abrupt either. The steering is quite beautiful and direct. In terms of sound, I think it was quite isolated, although I could not take it to a very high speed. With the tires at the top, it did not feel dry, it filtered the irregularities quite well, but it does not shuffle in curves, it has a good balance. Something that I liked a lot is that, having the nose so flat, you could see perfectly where the nose ended, which at first caught my attention, because, as my car has the hood so inclined, I'm not used to seeing the hood, and compared to the Mokka, I found it curious, and I liked it, because it seems that you are driving a "bigger" car.
Inside, it's not bad at all, I expected it to be a little worse in certain areas. The door upholstery is quite plush, and the alcantara feels quality. The top of the door is hard. The top plate seems a bit softer than the Corsa's, even though it has the same texture. The screens are well integrated and give a good feeling of "immersion", reminding me of the Golf in that sense. The instrumentation seems very good to me, because it gives you just the right information, no more and no less, all in a simple and well displayed way, nothing overloaded. The map is placed in the center, moving the map as if it were shown on the central screen, which not all do. The central multimedia system seems to me as bad as the PSA, I'm looking forward to try the new one to see if it improves the current one.
The space is good, with a correct height and longitudinally you have no problems if you are tall. In this sense I see it practically nailed to the DS3 CB. As is the interior space, although it seems less narrow to have a lower waistline than in the DS3. The rear door is very bad as in all B-segment PSA, without any detail, all hard. The trunk is correct, with 350l, enough for the size of the car.
Dynamically I noticed it better than the DS3 (perhaps because this was electric and the other combustion). It feels more poised and more stable than the DS. One thing that surprised me is that the seats of the Mokka seemed considerably more comfortable than those of the DS3, or at least I have that memory. They have much better back support and the cushioning seemed better.
The car does not have strong acceleration, but it is sufficient for daily use. It has some regeneration, not too abrupt either. The steering is quite beautiful and direct. In terms of sound, I think it was quite isolated, although I could not take it to a very high speed. With the tires at the top, it did not feel dry, it filtered the irregularities quite well, but it does not shuffle in curves, it has a good balance. Something that I liked a lot is that, having the nose so flat, you could see perfectly where the nose ended, which at first caught my attention, because, as my car has the hood so inclined, I'm not used to seeing the hood, and compared to the Mokka, I found it curious, and I liked it, because it seems that you are driving a "bigger" car.
Mazda MX-30. I was actually the least impressed overall. It's not that I didn't like it, but it doesn't have anything that says, "wow".
Aesthetically it's pretty original, you either hate it, or you don't like it. It looks pretty cool to me, although maybe the taillights look a little strange to me.
At the level of interior finishes, as lately in Mazda, we have a fairly apparent interior, with a very careful and very soft materials and correct adjustments, perhaps somewhat more solid in certain areas than the CX-30, for example.
(This area is especially soft).
The interior space is good, both in height and longitudinally. The rear space is correct, but the entrance is a bit narrow and, having the door latch in the middle, it is easy to hit it on the head.
Dynamically, it doesn't surprise much. It does not have much power, and it does not have an impressive acceleration, it is quite linear, but it picks up speed easily. Dynamically it is quite smooth and comfortable, more than the ID.3, for example. The steering is quite precise and good, and has a good soundproofing.
As I say, it is a car that aesthetically is curious and striking, but perhaps its somewhat high price and low autonomy makes the car is not as interesting as other competitors in the same price range. In addition, beyond the doors, it has nothing remarkable at the dynamic level.
Skoda Enyaq. And the last one, the electric SUV from Skoda. Aesthetically on the outside I liked it better than in the photo, the basic grille looks a little better, because it has a certain three-dimensionality, which makes it look better live. I have not seen the grill with light, but perhaps this is a little excessive for the lights. The side is quite plain, and the rear has small headlights, maybe too much for how big it is. However, I find the ID.4 much more attractive on the outside. The one I tested had the larger rims available, and they fit very well, the basic ones, which are the ones in the pictures, look a bit worse, although they are not ugly for the stock ones.
(This one had the gate pretty sloppy, but the other one there, "electric" blue, was fine).
I liked the interior quite a bit, and yes, it feels considerably better than the ID.4, even though the hard plastics used look and feel worse than the VW ones. It has areas of very nice soft leather, and the center console also covered in leather, giving an overall feeling of higher quality than its sibling. The center screen is huge (and also with some lag) and the instrumentation to me felt a bit small, but the AR HUD has an extraordinary quality, so I think it makes up for it with that.
The interior space is excellent, very spacious even with sunroof, both front and rear. The seats are very comfortable and grip very well, better than those of the ID.3.
Dynamically, it responds very well, I stepped on a slope of 20 to almost 90km / h and it took less than 4 seconds to reach that speed, with three people inside; yes, it is not as fast as the ID.3 (logical, it is larger), but it is agile and fast, has a lot of poise, and the suspension is well calibrated, somewhat softer than the ID.3, is not dry, but not soft. The brake feel is the same as in the ID.3, but with the advantage that the Skoda has cams to modulate the level of regeneration, which I quite like.
Volkswagen ID.4.
The ID.4 I have been able to see it up close, but not drive (I guess it will be very similar to the Skoda, since they are the same car). Aesthetically I think it looks very nice, looks big, and with bearing, but more fluid and less "boxy" than the Skoda.
The one we saw was the "basic" version, with the standard headlights, and well, I think it loses some "grace" of the ID headlights, as the shape of the matrix are shaped like an "eye" and without the matrix it looks simpler.
Inside it looks better than the ID.3. The soft plastics are a bit more abundant, but it looks worse overall than the Skoda Enyaq, although the hard plastics look better than those of the Skoda.
In terms of interior space, similar to the Skoda.
In conclusion, all of them are good products, although the older ones are quite surpassed by the new batch (and 2-3 years will be the same with these models just out of the oven). We are in a moment of exponential evolution, like smartphones in 2010-2016 approximately. The evolution in electric cars is very noticeable compared to previous models.
My favorites?
1. Volkswagen ID.3. It is the one that would fit me best in terms of size/power. It is not big, and has a good power, and allows you to have fun with it. I've even noticed it has a certain "dynamic" point, with a somewhat hard suspension, and a precise and direct steering. However, the interior would make me opt for his brother Cupra Born, with a better interior (surely), and with a spicier point that, seeing how the Volkswagen goes, makes me generate even more interest.
2nd- Opel Mokka. I have been quite impressed with the Mokka. On the outside it is the best looking of the segment by far. Inside has a correct quality, somewhat better than the Corsa, perhaps something closer to the 2008/208. And the electric version, without having a performance of infarction, for what it is more than enough. It is relatively small, with good trunk, relatively spacious and a decent autonomy. I'm looking forward to seeing the new Astra...
3rd - Skoda Enyaq. Along with the ID.3 is the one I liked the most in terms of driving (obviously, they are very similar). However, it is third because it seems very large (more than the ID.4) and because aesthetically, without seeming ugly, it does not attract me as much as the Volkswagen ID.4. That if, it is clear that overall, the interior of the Skoda is better than the ID.4, much more elegant, refined and luxurious, although I reiterate, at the level of adjustments and hard plastics (such as door handles, lower parts and such) are worse than those of the Volkswagen.
I put some pictures also of the Citroën AMI (live is quite funny to see) and the 508 PSE (extremely tacky and with a great lack of taste).
Aesthetically it's pretty original, you either hate it, or you don't like it. It looks pretty cool to me, although maybe the taillights look a little strange to me.
At the level of interior finishes, as lately in Mazda, we have a fairly apparent interior, with a very careful and very soft materials and correct adjustments, perhaps somewhat more solid in certain areas than the CX-30, for example.
(This area is especially soft).
The interior space is good, both in height and longitudinally. The rear space is correct, but the entrance is a bit narrow and, having the door latch in the middle, it is easy to hit it on the head.
Dynamically, it doesn't surprise much. It does not have much power, and it does not have an impressive acceleration, it is quite linear, but it picks up speed easily. Dynamically it is quite smooth and comfortable, more than the ID.3, for example. The steering is quite precise and good, and has a good soundproofing.
As I say, it is a car that aesthetically is curious and striking, but perhaps its somewhat high price and low autonomy makes the car is not as interesting as other competitors in the same price range. In addition, beyond the doors, it has nothing remarkable at the dynamic level.
Skoda Enyaq. And the last one, the electric SUV from Skoda. Aesthetically on the outside I liked it better than in the photo, the basic grille looks a little better, because it has a certain three-dimensionality, which makes it look better live. I have not seen the grill with light, but perhaps this is a little excessive for the lights. The side is quite plain, and the rear has small headlights, maybe too much for how big it is. However, I find the ID.4 much more attractive on the outside. The one I tested had the larger rims available, and they fit very well, the basic ones, which are the ones in the pictures, look a bit worse, although they are not ugly for the stock ones.
(This one had the gate pretty sloppy, but the other one there, "electric" blue, was fine).
I liked the interior quite a bit, and yes, it feels considerably better than the ID.4, even though the hard plastics used look and feel worse than the VW ones. It has areas of very nice soft leather, and the center console also covered in leather, giving an overall feeling of higher quality than its sibling. The center screen is huge (and also with some lag) and the instrumentation to me felt a bit small, but the AR HUD has an extraordinary quality, so I think it makes up for it with that.
The interior space is excellent, very spacious even with sunroof, both front and rear. The seats are very comfortable and grip very well, better than those of the ID.3.
Dynamically, it responds very well, I stepped on a slope of 20 to almost 90km / h and it took less than 4 seconds to reach that speed, with three people inside; yes, it is not as fast as the ID.3 (logical, it is larger), but it is agile and fast, has a lot of poise, and the suspension is well calibrated, somewhat softer than the ID.3, is not dry, but not soft. The brake feel is the same as in the ID.3, but with the advantage that the Skoda has cams to modulate the level of regeneration, which I quite like.
Volkswagen ID.4.
The ID.4 I have been able to see it up close, but not drive (I guess it will be very similar to the Skoda, since they are the same car). Aesthetically I think it looks very nice, looks big, and with bearing, but more fluid and less "boxy" than the Skoda.
The one we saw was the "basic" version, with the standard headlights, and well, I think it loses some "grace" of the ID headlights, as the shape of the matrix are shaped like an "eye" and without the matrix it looks simpler.
Inside it looks better than the ID.3. The soft plastics are a bit more abundant, but it looks worse overall than the Skoda Enyaq, although the hard plastics look better than those of the Skoda.
In terms of interior space, similar to the Skoda.
In conclusion, all of them are good products, although the older ones are quite surpassed by the new batch (and 2-3 years will be the same with these models just out of the oven). We are in a moment of exponential evolution, like smartphones in 2010-2016 approximately. The evolution in electric cars is very noticeable compared to previous models.
My favorites?
1. Volkswagen ID.3. It is the one that would fit me best in terms of size/power. It is not big, and has a good power, and allows you to have fun with it. I've even noticed it has a certain "dynamic" point, with a somewhat hard suspension, and a precise and direct steering. However, the interior would make me opt for his brother Cupra Born, with a better interior (surely), and with a spicier point that, seeing how the Volkswagen goes, makes me generate even more interest.
2nd- Opel Mokka. I have been quite impressed with the Mokka. On the outside it is the best looking of the segment by far. Inside has a correct quality, somewhat better than the Corsa, perhaps something closer to the 2008/208. And the electric version, without having a performance of infarction, for what it is more than enough. It is relatively small, with good trunk, relatively spacious and a decent autonomy. I'm looking forward to seeing the new Astra...
3rd - Skoda Enyaq. Along with the ID.3 is the one I liked the most in terms of driving (obviously, they are very similar). However, it is third because it seems very large (more than the ID.4) and because aesthetically, without seeming ugly, it does not attract me as much as the Volkswagen ID.4. That if, it is clear that overall, the interior of the Skoda is better than the ID.4, much more elegant, refined and luxurious, although I reiterate, at the level of adjustments and hard plastics (such as door handles, lower parts and such) are worse than those of the Volkswagen.
I put some pictures also of the Citroën AMI (live is quite funny to see) and the 508 PSE (extremely tacky and with a great lack of taste).
I had a plug put in a tyre last year after finding a screw in it and it only cost me £10 at a local garage. I know Kwik Rob charge a lot. Where did you take it?
Do you guys get protection options when buying new tires? In Canada, when I buy a set of tires I can opt for a 5-year complementary repair for like $40 extra on the whole set. I got a new set of tires late last year and got the protection. Maybe I won't have to use it but it's nice knowing I'm covered for any punctures.
Ah I avoid Kwik Rob and ATS here as they try and spot things like leaky shocks and anything they can sell you on top lol. Yeah tyres and repairs do seem cheaper here I think.
I’ve never heard of that sort of cover to be honest here, but tyres can be a murky thing as so many garages are looking to rip you off as it is. When a puncture repair is around a tenner anyway, I take my chances. I’ve had a few screws in my tyres over the years but usually been quite lucky. The worst I had was a Stanley knife blade in a week old Pirelli and that stung a bit.
I have a feeling many garages here would find something else wrong under the car if they were offering a complimentary tyre repair lol.
I live in California so not sure if this is a US thing or a california thing.
Even taking my car to the dealership, plugging a tire is about $20.
On many tires the manufacturer warrants "road hazards". I also purchased from tirerack.com and they offer a similar thing I think for $5 per tire. I've gotten 2 tires replaced for free (plus $20 mounting charge from the actual shop), once because of a pothole that made it bulge and once because of hitting a curb that sliced the sidewall.
Quite an amazing warranty that doesn't cost me anything extra because I'm saving from not buying it from the dealer or tire shop which usually mark everything WAY up.
Even taking my car to the dealership, plugging a tire is about $20.
On many tires the manufacturer warrants "road hazards". I also purchased from tirerack.com and they offer a similar thing I think for $5 per tire. I've gotten 2 tires replaced for free (plus $20 mounting charge from the actual shop), once because of a pothole that made it bulge and once because of hitting a curb that sliced the sidewall.
Quite an amazing warranty that doesn't cost me anything extra because I'm saving from not buying it from the dealer or tire shop which usually mark everything WAY up.
I went ahead and got a deal from Discount Tire. Got 16' rims and went with the Michelin Defenders like the ones on my Yaris. It doesn't look as good as the bigger stock rim but the car rides 100% better.
