What is it about certain marques...

[Alan R]

This has been exercising my thought processes recently. (What few brain cells I have left...)

We all have our preferences, when it comes to preferred marque of car.

Some of us are Ferrari fans, and just love having replicas of these cars on their shelves. I have at least six 1/24 Ferraris in my built section and a couple more waiting to be built.

 

For me, it's Porsche. They aren't the prettiest cars on the road, and some of the engineering (especially on 911s)  does rather go back a long way. (Souped up Beetles, maybe... )

 

I prefer Porsches over Ferraris. The Ferraris are prettier, often and possibly more dynamic on the road. However, to me, the Porsche just pips the Ferrari at the post.

When my son asked me what would I get if I won the lottery (fat chance as I don't buy lottery tickets!), I answered 'Porsche Cayman'. He was surprised, thinking that I would say Ferrari or Lamborghini, or Aston.

,

From the original 356 way back in the 50s (late 40s?) to the latest 911, Caymans and Boxters and the lovely 928, they just look so good to my eye. Even their SUV's look different to other SUVs.

Don't forget the hugely impressive racing Porsches. The 936, 917 and 934 & 935 beasts. There is Porsche DNA in them all...

 

I am about to embark on a project, subject to getting some of my current models finished, where I am going to build a number of Porsche models. This is what set me pondering.

 

What marque does it for you?

 

Please feel free to say what you think (subject to decency rules! ). I just hope I haven't stirred a hornet's nest...

 

Cheers,

Alan.

[Paul H]

50 minutes ago, Alan R said:

What marque does it for you?

 

Probably Riley - at least, the pre-badge engineered twin cam hemi engined ones...  The 12/4, especially the Sprite series ones, are still capable of keeping up with modern traffic, which isn't bad for a 1930s 1500cc car.  I'll have mine in Lynx and also Kestrel flavours.

 

Old Volvos too - needs to be rwd only though, as the fwd ones have a poor turning circle but I will make a notable exception for the 850 T5 & T5R estates.  I currently have a '67 Amazon estate which was my everyday car from 2002 until 5 years ago, and put nearly 100k miles on it - it was already on over 200k when I got it.  It has the best heater of any car I have ever travelled in.  A 1950s design, but drives a lot better than many '70s cars, due to the suspension (coils all round, double wishbones up front & five link at the rear).  Capable of cruising above the top speed of my current 20 year old Peugeot commuting heap (but uses twice as much fuel as the Pug, which is part of the reason it is off the road).  Due to the split tailgate arrangements, and very high payload for a passenger car, it is also an extremely useful and practical workhorse.  It had been my father's for the previous eight years (bought purely as cheap wheels) before handed on to me, and about ten years ago, he wanted to get another as a station car due to being fed up with the behaviour of several modern cars, but by that stage, decent ones had become more money than he wanted to spend.  Comfortable, capable, reliable & dependable, and on the few occasions when it misbehaved, easy to fix.  I never intend to sell it.

 

Very few if any modern cars appeal, due amongst other things to the overcomplexity and lack of proper feedback through the controls of all the ones I have driven and those which are fun to drive require a race track / private road for them to be enjoyed.

Edited December 4, 2021 by Paul H

[Toftdale]

For me I can vividly remember seeing my first Lotus 7.  I was out with my Dad in our new Cortina in the mid to late 70's and a yellow an ali 7 overtook us Like we were standing still.  My Dad then spent the rest of the journey explaining the impracticalities of the vehicle,  but it was too late it was love at first site and its stuck with me ever since.  My brother on the other hand has been driving 35 years and in that time he has only ever owned an Alfa Romeo, he loves them despite the fact that his first one (sud) was so rotten when he took it in for its MOT the examiner refused to let him drive it away!  It looked lovely from the outside, but under the bodykit is consisted mainly of chicken wire, news paper and rust.

 

I don't wish to be controversial,  but I just don't get the 911, it leaves me cold (sorry 😔).  I also don't get Muscle Cars in this country as we has corners. I still think that the Ferrari 250 range are some of the most aesthetically beautiful cars ever made and would be in my garage if I had the money along with a  Mclaren F1 and possibly a Bugatti type 35.  But for now I am more than happy to stick with my Caterham; they say don't meet your Heroes,  well I did and its everything I dreamed of and more.  Perhaps one day I'll  overtake a Ford Focus and set another kids heart alight. 

 

Hopefully I've not upset too many of you with the muscle car thing, but I'm definitely right about the 911 😁😅🤣 - Andy

[Alan R]

14 minutes ago, Toftdale said:

I don't wish to be controversial,  but I just don't get the 911, it leaves me cold (sorry 😔)

No need to be sorry. I quite understand. I can't explain why Porsches have this particular grip on me.

I suspect that it's partly that I love the 'boxer-six growl' that they emit. Having said that, the newer four-pot boxers sound pretty cool, bit like a cross between an Alfasud and a scooby.

I loved the sound of my Alfasud on full chat at about 6500 RPM (or there abouts).

 

I had a ride in a 1972 911 2.7 that a colleague owned for a while, That was a great experience. Another friend has owned a Boxter and Cayman. He preferred the Boxter as the wind in his hair told him when he was going too fast!

 

Cheers,

Alan.

[keefr22]

Like you Alan, if I had the funds it would be Porsche, the car posters on my bedroom wall were always 911's (I say posters, they were actually the Porsche ads from car mags of the day which I always really liked!) 

 

However, coming in a very close second, if not equal first, is Ford, more specifically the Escort variety. I owned almost a dozen different varieties of Mk1's and 2's 'back in the day' and if I did win the lottery (I am daft enough to waste money on tickets!) i'd be ordering a brand new Mk1 and 2 from MST..... along with a 911 GT3RS (even though I don't have the talent to drive the Fords properly, let alone get anywhere near the limits of the Porker!)

 

I have actually owned a Porsche - decided to buy a 924 instead of another Mk2 RS2000 back in the 90's. It was a complete mistake - the 924 was an absolutely hateful car that I ended up selling for £300....!! The RS would be worth at least ten a hundred times that now!!

 

Keith

 

edit - rubbish late night maths!! 🤣

[Vince1159]

I've always been a huge Ford fan,most of the cars i've had have been them and Aston Martin because of their prestige....

[Alan R]

I can understand the Ford thing.
Just think of the sporting heritage and how Form made some great competition cars out of very humble underpinnings.

My dad had a succession of Fords over the decades from 1963 - to his death in 2017, starting with a side-valve (1172cc?) Ford Thames van (1956 model) link: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Ford_thames_300E_van86jtj.JPG/1920px-Ford_thames_300E_van86jtj.JPG (By Geni - Photo by user:geni, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=51673872) through a 105E Anglia, Zephyr 4 and many Cortinas, Modeos and finally a Fiesta.

 

Cheers,

Alan.

Edited December 5, 2021 by Alan R

[veg]

Porsche and Tvr

always loved 911’s and been fortunate to own both a 996 and a 997 C4S, the build quality is fabulous, for about 10 years worked in bike sales then car sales and it was always the 911 for me, I’m also fortunate to have another of their range as my family car.

I sold my 911 couple of years ago for several reasons and replaced it this year with a 5.0lt chimaera. I grew up around Tvr’s and Tvr power. 
I drove my mates Morgan 3 wheeler earlier this year and decided I wanted a proper drivers car hence my tiv.

so both brands are connected to my youth.

[cmatthewbacon]

Jaguar all the way. I’d love a good E-Type, and I could afford an XK8 or a XJS (at a pinch). XKSS for speed, XK120 for style, XJ220 or XJR15 for a balls out supercar, F Type for the daily driver. Mark2 3.8 Beacham for when I want to rob a bank, XJ12 for family outings or XJL for lap of luxury touring. And of course a CX75 or an iPace for when I’m feeling green…

best,

M.

[Alan R]

24 minutes ago, cmatthewbacon said:

XJ12 for family outings

Many moons ago, a Computer operator at where I worked owned  an XJ12! I managed to get a ride in it. So smooth! He had to sell it. The fuel consumption was epic! 8-12 MPG, I think...

Beautiful car though. I must admit to a soft spot for Jags as well.

 

Cheers,

Alan.

[Spiny]

I would definitely say that I have a bit of a soft spot for marques I've owned (haven't most of us?), but as that's only three marques (Nissan, Ford and Pontiac) that doesn't add up to an extensive list. Of the other makes, almost anything German leaves me cold I'm afraid, but I would definitely admit to being another one with a soft spot for Jags, not to mention Astons. Really had to bite my thumb and search the stash for my sensible head a couple of years ago when I saw a Vantage for sale for under £30k...

[keefr22]

16 hours ago, Alan R said:

Many moons ago, a Computer operator at where I worked owned  an XJ12!

 

Many moons ago also, I worked for Sony, and the MD of the UK operation decided it would be a good idea to 'buy British' so had a Daimler version (Sovereign?) as his company car. I had to go on a supplier visit with my boss and him to London one really hot summer's day, Being chauffered around the smoke in the back of the thing was rather different than driving my rally prepared Escort Mexico! I'd never experienced air-con before, and having individual radio controls so that I could listen to Test Match Special rather than them in the front talking business was a Godsend and the height of luxury - I felt like I was the Prime Minister....!! 🤣

 

On the other hand the thing was dreadfully unreliable - not so much in a breaking down sort of way (though it did that a couple of times!) but in niggly little things often going wrong. The one that finally made him get rid of it was when the driver's door lock and electric window both packed up at the same time! As he made regular trips between our Bridgend plant and Sony UK HQ, he said he didn't enjoy the looks he got when he had to stop at the Severn Bridge tolls, shuffle across to the passenger side, get out of the car, walk round, pay the toll and then reverse the procedure!! The Daimler was rapidly replaced with a Merc that I don't think ever went wrong!!

 

Keith

 

 

[Sabrejet]

Aston Martin. The history, the way they are/were made, the way they look, the way they sound. I love other manufacturers' individual models but for me, Aston has never made a clunker. And even the relative failures (Nimrod, AMR-1, AMR-One) were awesome to look at, hear and marvel over. I'd love an early DB.4 or DBS Six, but I suspect that's increasingly unlikely.

[Admiral Puff]

Why do words like "Lada" and "Trabant" keep springing to mind?!

[galaxyg]

For me, Honda. Although if I won the lottery I'd be seeking out a Lexus LF-A, one supercar does not a marque make.

 

Honda's historical commitment to really good engines, VTEC, the original NSX, the Integra, an incredible number of MotoGP wins, the Preludes, the McLaren and Williams Hondas, any number of light-but-nimble Civics, "Type-R", some fantastic TV adverts and I could just list off many more reasons.  Coupled with the fact that they're still just going their own way rather than let themselves be swallowed up into some badge-engineering megacorporation.

 

I've had three Hondas: one Prelude and two Accords.  Pity their current line-up is terribly boring for the most part although that applies to most manufacturers right now.

[Toftdale]

5 hours ago, Sabrejet said:

Aston has never made a clunker

With one exception,  their SUV (DBX) 😂, apart from that I fully agree with you.....mind you the DB7 Zagato was no oil painting 🤔, . I was lucky enough to drive a DB9 convertible once on a corporate track day 😁, unfortunately we weren't allowed to let the revs go higher than 2000 rpm 😔.  So I can confirm In the flesh its stunning,  the interior is luxurious, but I have no real visceral memories of the experience. - Andy 

[JohnT]

I admire Porsche for their mechanicals but in equal measure dislike their - to my eye - unchanging styling. The names Beetle and Frog eye Sprite always come to mind. I nearly bought a Boxster for Mrs T. The deal was done and four weeks later I was called to be told Porsche had hiked the price. I could take it or leave it so I walked - it was the principle. Seemingly only Porsche and Maseratti do this. 
 

Mrs T got A Jaguar F type instead and it was the poorest road car I’ve ever driven bar none. Totally schizophrenic and while great on a track with run offs not what you want on a busy motorway. I got very lucky one day when it decided on its little own to go completely sideways at 80 mph from a straight line. And I mean sideways. I was looking out the front at the barrier until it flipped at through 180 to show me the verge. A bit of judicious playing with the steering got it fishtailed back into a straight line. You had to drive it with 110% concentration or it would bite.  Bags of power but you can’t get it down on the road quickly and safely and that’s not good enough in a car of that type
 

Best car of recent years ?  Mercedes’ Cla 45 AMG. Quick, sure footed and reliable with only one or two very minor niggles  over 4 years. 

Best car of the eighties would have been a Ford Sierra XR 4X4. Quick, four wheel drive so sure footed and good handling. 
 

If I won the lottery then I’d go Aston Martin as they make beautiful looking cars. Class not flash. Lamborghini and Ferrari to borrow for a track day but not around town. The one exception?  Ferrari Roma in gunmetal silver. It makes me weak at the knees   

[keefr22]

16 hours ago, Admiral Puff said:

Why do words like "Lada" and "Trabant" keep springing to mind?!

 

Can't say they spring into mine very often....!! 🤣

[Bonhoff]

17 hours ago, Admiral Puff said:

Why do words like "Lada" and "Trabant" keep springing to mind?!

 

Because you are a man who doesn't follow the herd and appreciates things that are a bit Left-Field? 😀

 

Much as I love Mini's, I've only had 4 whereas I'm now driving Skoda number 12 - In fact, if the numbers come up tonight, I might indulge in one of those Superb Kombi's with 280bhp and 4WD! 

 

IanJ

[Sabrejet]

18 hours ago, Toftdale said:

With one exception,  their SUV (DBX) 😂

 

Ah. Now you have me there. Somehow I'd blotted that from my memory. OK well most. And even the DB7 Zagato/AR1 is OK by me. 

[Kitkent]

And the Aston Martin Cygnet City car! Highly over priced,you had to have a normal Aston as well before you could buy one if I remember. My brother in law had a DB7 Vantage convertible and I was very deeply jealous.......

The shop Grand Prix Models had their own magazine called Four Small Wheels and in one of their early issues they reckoned that Jaguar was the most popular marque for model collectors,but I would say closely followed by Ferrari,then Lotus(this is britmodeller ha ha!) . They said you should also choose a theme and then stick to it,personally I soon found this too boring and make or collect any marque I like as long as it has a number on the side. Chris.

[cmatthewbacon]

We can sneer at the DBX all we like, but Car, Top Gear and Evo all think it’s the best of a bunch including the Lambo, Bentley, Range Rovers, Maserati, Alfa as well as the predictable Beemers, Mercs, and Audis… not really a clunker…

best,

M.

[Natter]

Ferraris, Astons, Porches, Bentleys, Jaguars.... yawn.

 

Old Land Rovers. Now you're talking.

[Sabrejet]

1 hour ago, cmatthewbacon said:

We can sneer at the DBX all we like, but Car, Top Gear and Evo all think it’s the best of a bunch including the Lambo, Bentley, Range Rovers, Maserati, Alfa as well as the predictable Beemers, Mercs, and Audis… not really a clunker…

best,

M.

 

It's a clunker because it's a monstrosity. I'm sure it drives very well and will take your family up Mount Everest if you want it. But it's as ugly as sin. I do like the Cygnet mind, even though it's not really an Aston.

[Anteater]

Cheap BMWs at the bottom of their depreciation curve used to be a good bet. The problem is the last of the good ones were made in the 90s, and they're now being talked up as "modern classics". The models currently at the bottom of their depreciation curves are ticking timebombs from the mid-2000s. I wouldn't know where to start with recommending cheap motoring these days... 

 

Mazda still make some good cars, proper non-turbo internal combustion things. Perhaps I should stockpile a few to see me out...