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On the original topic of cars that should be more popular. I must be nuts - I really liked my 1973 Austin Allegro(sorry!!) - although it was a 1750 Super Sport - Really grunty engine (was also used in Maxi), had a 5 speed box (nearly unheard of then) , had fantastic seats and did 40mpg on a run (good power to weight ration, SU carb and 5 speed) - oh and a cam chain!
Saying that you needed to turn up the stereo at the traffic lights to drown out the noise of munching rust!
Edited by Big John on 14/10/2015 at 23:08
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On the original topic of cars that should be more popular. I must be nuts - I really liked my 1973 Austin Allegro(sorry!!) - although it was a 1750 Super Sport - Really grunty engine (was also used in Maxi), had a 5 speed box (nearly unheard of then) , had fantastic seats and did 40mpg on a run (good power to weight ration, SU carb and 5 speed) - oh and a cam chain!
Saying that you needed to turn up the stereo at the traffic lights to drown out the noise of munching rust!
My Allegro 1750 Equipe gave a few hotted-up Ford Escort drivers a scare or two at the traffic light GP!
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That 1750 engine was a good one, especially in twin-carbiurettor form- I had two Maxis which both did high mileages in my hands without trouble.
It was a pity that the Allegro was such a missed opportunity for BL. After the pretty, popular 1100/1300 it was dumpy and unattractive to look at, and should have been the hatchback that customers were starting to want. Having set the trend with the Maxi, they failed to follow it up, and VW cleaned up with the Golf.
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Suzuki Kisashi?
Admittedly a 2.4 petrol engine with a CVT box isn't going to win many fleet awards.
It was a pretty well finished and good handling car.
www.honestjohn.co.uk/topten/top-10-forgotten-cars-...8
A bit harsh with the, "average build quality and a less than average driving experience, to put it kindly."
Cheap plastics do not make average build quality.
Edited by groaver on 16/10/2015 at 18:43
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Suzuki Kisashi?
Admittedly a 2.4 petrol engine with a CVT box isn't going to win many fleet awards.
It was a pretty well finished and good handling car.
www.honestjohn.co.uk/topten/top-10-forgotten-cars-...8
A bit harsh with the, "average build quality and a less than average driving experience, to put it kindly."
Cheap plastics do not make average build quality.
It looks quite nice. Don't think I've ever seen one.
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Didn't even see one at my local (combined) Mazda/Suzuki dealership. I wouldn't be surprised if they sold less of them in the UK than the MG6. Looks ok-ish on the outside, typical cheapo-grey plastic on the inside, but not terrible, just, well, bland.
That, plus below par handling, thirst for petrol (and no diesel version) and the hefty price tag/VED band (high CO2 figure) and cheaper and/or far better alternatives meant this car was doomed from the get-go. You can see why they sold it in the US (though, I bet, at a much cheaper price) - it fits right in with their home-grown naff cars they like buying.
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Van based MPV's are alot more popular on mainland europe than the UK.
Excellent value for money.
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Didn't even see one at my local (combined) Mazda/Suzuki dealership. I wouldn't be surprised if they sold less of them in the UK than the MG6. Looks ok-ish on the outside, typical cheapo-grey plastic on the inside, but not terrible, just, well, bland.
That, plus below par handling, thirst for petrol (and no diesel version) and the hefty price tag/VED band (high CO2 figure) and cheaper and/or far better alternatives meant this car was doomed from the get-go. You can see why they sold it in the US (though, I bet, at a much cheaper price) - it fits right in with their home-grown naff cars they like buying.
"Few are likely to discover as much, but Suzuki has blessed the Kizashi with excellent handling. Taut and responsive yet quite refined and compliant with it, it would give this car an entirely convincing selling point as a provider of affordable driver thrills were it not for the shortcomings of the powertrain."
Autocar thought it handled well as did a few other reviewers.
"It feels very together. The Sport suspension package includes 18in rims and 10mm lower ride height, yet the Kizashi four-door feels composed on all but the bobbliest road surfaces."
Car
Agree entirely that they killed it with the powertrain.
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Any one got a Dacia?
The seems too cheap to be true????
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I've seen a few around. Apparently they had some serious rust issues, don't know if that's resolved now.
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All covered in car-by-car reviews (of the Dacia Duster) on this site. After September 2014 production of UK-bound Dusters was moved to Romania from India, and I don't think there has been a rust problem since.
I see quite a lot of Dusters on the road - a cheap 4x4 is attractive in our rural area - but not many Sanderos or Logans.
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Any one got a Dacia?
The seems too cheap to be true????
It's all tried and tested Renault mechanicals underneath and there doesn't seem to be many reviews reporting much in the way of problems.
Think there biggest problem is many people will be put off by the badge on the front.
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Rust issue only affected Indian built Dusters, easy to tell the difference between Indian and Romania built Dusters -Romanian build has the new front grille.
New Duster due out in 2016, im 90% certain I will order one if they put a decent petrol engine in it.
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A shame the Maxi engine was so harsh.
Harris Mann designed the Allegro beautifully, however, BL ruined the proportions when they decided they wanted to fit the 1500//1750 engine in addition to the 1100/1300................so I've read elsewhere.
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My vote goes to the Citroen C5 (2008 on).
The magazines raved about it when it came out, but now it's regarded as a quirky also-ran.
I've driven two with the 2.0 HDi (138) engine and they were excellent. Good quality materials inside and put together almost as well as a German brand.
The ones I tried (VTR+) had the steel springs, not the Hydropneumatic system, yet the ride was sublime and the handling, whilst not as sharp as a Mondeo, was fine.
Massive step up from the original C5 - I had a 2001 2.2 HDi.
In the end I opted for a Volvo S40, the unwarranted depreciation on the C5 was too high.
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The Triumph Acclaim - have any been saved from the scrapyard over the years???? www.jenningsforddirect.co.uk/blog/the-last-triumph.../
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One from the Dept of Useless Information:
The German for Triumph Acclaim is.......Sieg Heil.
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I would have said a year ago that electric cars should be more popular, but now they are rapidly gaining popularity.
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I would have said a year ago that electric cars should be more popular, but now they are rapidly gaining popularity.
They have sold about 7,000 up to September 2015 - think they have a long way to go before they can be seen as popular.
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Northern Boy asked "The Triumph Acclaim - have any been saved from the scrapyard over the years????"
It looks like it:
www.carandclassic.co.uk/list/41/acclaim/
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I would have said a year ago that electric cars should be more popular, but now they are rapidly gaining popularity.
They have sold about 7,000 up to September 2015 - think they have a long way to go before they can be seen as popular.
90,000 Tesla Model S sold worldwide so far, and more than twice that many Nissan Leaf. The Tesla Model S was recently the top selling car in Norway with over 1400 sold in one month.
Edited by Sofa Spud on 24/10/2015 at 00:10
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I would have said a year ago that electric cars should be more popular, but now they are rapidly gaining popularity.
They have sold about 7,000 up to September 2015 - think they have a long way to go before they can be seen as popular.
90,000 Tesla Model S sold worldwide so far, and more than twice that many Nissan Leaf. The Tesla Model S was recently the top selling car in Norway with over 1400 sold in one month.
Like I said - still a way to go until they are seen as popular - more Ford Fiestas get sold in the UK per year than tesla sell worldwide.
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The Triumph Acclaim - have any been saved from the scrapyard over the years???? www.jenningsforddirect.co.uk/blog/the-last-triumph.../
My dad had a Triumph Acclaim back in the day. It was quite fast due to its light weight.
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Sales of electric cars in Norway get rather favourable treatment
"Among the existing incentives in Norway, all-electric cars are exempt from all non-recurring vehicle fees, including purchase taxes, which are extremely high for ordinary cars, and 25% VAT on purchase, together making an electric car purchase price competitive with that of a similarly sized conventional car. Electric vehicles are also exempt from the annual road tax, all public parking fees, and toll payments, as well as being able to use bus lanes"
Not surprising people are buying them
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