Most Pointless cars on sale

road_high

Some cars you just have to say, what is the point of this car, when you could have xy instead!

I reckon the following are such cars! (I stand corrected though!);

-Ford Fusion- an ugly, taller Fiesta for more money
-VW Golf Plus- same as above re standard Golf
-Hyundai Sonata-I know theyre relaible, but matches, petrol and money spring to mind!
-Fiat Croma- who is going to pay 30grand for this lump when you can have a nice new Passat/Avensis for the same dosh?
-Opel Signum- the above also applies!

Anybody else got other suggestions?

ando

mfitzy wrote:

Ford Fusion- an ugly, taller Fiesta for more money

I have to agree, Im driving one temperarly right now and I hate it, no power, sounds awful although the new model has tinted windows and alloys woohoo

kluivert

mfitzy wrote:

-Opel Signum- the above also applies!

I have to disagree with this one.

I like this car, and i dont like big boots on cars like the one on the Vectra so I would have this car over the Vectra and thats why I like it.

Stephen

Have to disagree about the hyundai Sonata too -- the new model anyway.

Henry Ford III

Rodius :eek:

Pointlessly ugly.

Robbo

Not really on sale at the moment but the Rover Streetwise. A Rover 25, on stilts, with plastic bumpers to look a bit like an off roader. It makes you wonder were they deliberately trying to ruin the company in the end.

And the BMW 1-Series, in general but in particular in 116i poverty spec. It's not even vulgar enough to be considered arriviste.

road_high

Robbo wrote:

Not really on sale at the moment but the Rover Streetwise. A Rover 25, on stilts, with plastic bumpers to look a bit like an off roader. It makes you wonder were they deliberately trying to ruin the company in the end.

And the BMW 1-Series, in general but in particular in 116i poverty spec. It's not even vulgar enough to be considered arriviste.

The Streetwise, I secretly liked the look of but for 17,500 grand just who in their right mind was going to buy it!!The 15 year old Honda underpinnings were also less than appealing.

Ah the 1 Series; for those who can't actually afford a BMW yet!

bazz26

kluivert wrote:

mfitzy wrote:

-Opel Signum- the above also applies!

I have to disagree with this one.

I like this car, and i dont like big boots on cars like the one on the Vectra so I would have this car over the Vectra and thats why I like it.

The Signum and Vectra are the same car. The Signum was designed as an different alternative to the now dead Omega. The thing is though GM never considered how many people would actually pay big money for the Signum that looks too similar to it's medium rep mobile.

road_high

bazz26 wrote:

kluivert wrote:

mfitzy wrote:

-Opel Signum- the above also applies!

The Signum and Vectra are the same car. The Signum was designed as an different alternative to the now dead Omega. The thing is though GM never considered how many people would actually pay big money for the Signum that looks too similar to it's medium rep mobile.

I don't disagree that its a nice car but for the kinda money you have so much more.The Omega was a great old car in it's day, it was genuinely slogging it out with the 5 Series.
Its not even a proper 5 seater, you'd be much better off with the Vectra.Buyers obviously agree, I can count on one hand the number of Signums i've seen, whereas the Omega was quite popular in its day.

bazz26

Other cars that I see as pointless:

Porsche Cayenne: Totally pointless imo. Built and designed as a pointless marketing venture.

Porsche Boxter: Nice car but it tells people that the owner cannot quite afford a 911.

Luxury executive hybrid cars like the Lexus H450 GS (mentioned in another thread) with large powerful thirsty petrol engines in conjuction with an electric motor. Why?

BMW X3: Not much cheaper than the X5, no good off road and cheap interior.

Merc B Class: How many small MPV like cars do the guys at Daimler Chrysler need?

VW Phaeton: Why bother when they already had the Audi A8?

Toyota Yaris Verso: Pretty self explanatory.

colm_mcm

bazz26 wrote:

Other cars that I see as pointless:

Porsche Cayenne: Totally pointless imo. Built and designed as a pointless marketing venture.

Porsche Boxter: Nice car but it tells people that the owner cannot quite afford a 911.

Luxury executive hybrid cars like the Lexus H450 GS (mentioned in another thread) with large powerful thirsty petrol engines in conjuction with an electric motor. Why?

BMW X3: Not much cheaper than the X5, no good off road and cheap interior.

Merc B Class: How many small MPV like cars do the guys at Daimler Chrysler need?

VW Phaeton: Why bother when they already had the Audi A8?

Toyota Yaris Verso: Pretty self explanatory.

I'll be contraversial and totally disagree with the above!

Porsche Cayenne: The fact that they sell huge numbers of these in the US means it isn't exactly pointless!

Porsche Boxter: As small-ish sports cars go, the Boxter has to be worth a look. Just because someone drives a 3 series, doesn't mean they can't afford a 5 series. the Boxter is a good car in its own right.

Luxury executive hybrid cars like the Lexus H450 GS. there's nothing as uncool as an executive barge with a diesel engine.

BMW X3: you might have a point on this one! although it isn't that much more expensive than a Santa Fe 4WD.

Merc B Class: To use the argument "How many small MPV like cars do the guys at Daimler Chrysler need?" is a bit like saying "VW should ditch the Octavia, Leon, and A3, it already has the Jetta."

VW Phaeton: The Phaeton served one purpose, that was to catch peoples attention, and get them to buy the Passat.

Toyota Yaris Verso: This (out of production for 9 months) car is about as useless as a Berlingo Multispace or any other van derived cars. The Verso is sold as a van in other countruies. so that might explain its odball looks.


see!

peasant

actually, the Yaris Verso ...once someone helped you inside and you have taken the blindfold off ...isn't bad at all.

My parents have one and I have sat in it in all seats and driven it over longer distances as well ...extremly roomy and quite comfortable ...maximum use of a small footprint.

If it just wasn't so buck-ugly ...

on pointless cars

ALL and sundry pretend 4x4s (HRV, Tucson, Santa-Fe, et al) with 2WD only ...

drdre

i really hate the vw golf plus.it looks disgusting.

jayok

peasant wrote:

ALL and sundry pretend 4x4s (HRV, Tucson, Santa-Fe, et al) with 2WD only ...

Actually the HR-V (model 03-) all are 4WD. But not a cross country vehicle either...

colm_mcm

I suppose if they had 4 wheel drive and the owners never used, THAT would be pointless......

Max_Damage

Hybrids in general, why bother paying alot of money for something more complicated when a diesel is just as good, if not better in many ways.

colm_mcm

Diesel's carsanogenic, apparently

Squirrel

Every car is pointless in its own way really. They're either not big/quick/economical enough etc. There'll always be someone to buy them and make the company money. In that sense the Veyron, VW lose money on every one, a car is made to make the company money, in all cases bar a select few.

Max_Damage

colm_mcm wrote:

Diesel's carsanogenic, apparently

So is petrol, apparently.

Diamondmaker

Fiat multipla!!

what the hell is the point in making a car look like this!

Any one who says a Boxter is for someone who cant afford a 911 is just a jealous begrudger! maybe they cant afford a 911, so what, but they do have a Boxter!

maidhc

colm_mcm wrote:

Diesel's carsanogenic, apparently

And cars are perfectly safe apart from that.

Archeron

The Renault Vel Satis. Looks like an overpriced radiator with an attitude problem. I also remember pointing and laughing at the odd person here and there who actually bought a Safrane, IMO the ugliest cars ever built.

PaddyFagan

mfitzy wrote:

-VW Golf Plus- same as above re standard Golf

I feel compelled to reply seeing as I own one! - But I almost agree with you, the Golf Plus has a very focused market - I must be one of the few people who having done a Goldie Locks rountine around a pile of dealers looks at the Golf Plus and says "Just Right". For me it had all the things I wanted in package that wasn't too big (I just couldn't face the Touran etc, they just seemed too big).

As for looks, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that - I like the look of it!

Paddy

PS Whatever about the Boxster having a point, why, oh, why build the Caymen?

colincarnate

Diamondmaker wrote:

Fiat multipla!!
QUOTE]

6 seats that's why... i think....

ando

actually the more I drive the Fusion the more I hate it. Its turning me into some old slow sunday driver. The car seems to hypnotise me everytime I get into it, before I know it I have 3 or 4 cars wanting to pass me because Im so slow :eek:

cargrouch

When I saw the name of this thread I thought - Fiat Chroma! Followed by the Mercedes B-class. Have seen a few and they are FUGLY. A real "Whoops" moment for Merc. What have they done with the A-class, wasn't that enough to keep people happy?

jobonar

Diamondmaker wrote:

Fiat multipla!!

what the hell is the point in making a car look like this!

^^^^^^^
Fully Agree

Kersh

Its got to be the Rover street wise , and the Renault Scenic done the same way (plastic bumpers etc called the Rcx, is it??) - any moron who walked into a showroom and walked out with the keys to a Streetwise should be shot...or handed a cane and a guide dog.

colm_mcm

Max_Damage wrote:

So is petrol, apparently.(carcinogenic)

Diesel exhaust fumes contain carcinogenic particulates which in turn contain around 40 known carcinogenic substances

When particulate emissions are considered, the carcinogenic effect of one new diesel car is equivalent to 24 new petrol cars

unkel

colm_mcm wrote:

When particulate emissions are considered, the carcinogenic effect of one new diesel car is equivalent to 24 new petrol cars

Perhaps true in the past, but that statement is now completely outdated. Latest generation particulate filters (as standard in e.g. most BMW diesel cars) capture up to 100% of all particulates. A diesel car with a particulate filter like that is much more eco-friendly than any equivalent size petrol or indeed hybrid

sorry for O/T

colm_mcm

I think you're not giving hybrids a fair go, the next generation Prius will use Lithium Ion batteries in place of the existing metal hydride batteries, meaning that it will be more powerful, more efficent, and lighter. GM and Ford both have their own hybrid programmes, and as the technology becomes more commonplace, prices will fall.

BTW a prius emits about 30% less CO2 than a BMW 320D

cianclarke

The Nissan Cube!!!!

G Luxel

Toyota Yaris Verso: This (out of production for 9 months) car

yep, but replaced by new car called the Ractis and there is also a yaris
saloon called the belta, very nice looking but as usual for 3 box tiny cars
not available here.

unkel

colm_mcm wrote:

I think you're not giving hybrids a fair go

colm_mcm wrote:

BTW a prius emits about 30% less CO2 than a BMW 320D

What kinda comparison is that?

A small family car like a Prius (78BHP, 115NM, 0-100 in 11s) for sure can't be compared with a junior executive saloon like a BMW 320d (163bhp, 340NM, 0-100 in 8s)

colm_mcm

unkel wrote:

What kinda comparison is that?

A small family car like a Prius (78BHP, 115NM, 0-100 in 11s) for sure can't be compared with a junior executive saloon like a BMW 320d (163bhp, 340NM, 0-100 in 8s)

fair enough. it emits 30% less CO2 than a BMW 118d or a 407 1.6 HDI.

ninty9er

unkel wrote:

What kinda comparison is that?

A small family car like a Prius (78BHP, 115NM, 0-100 in 11s) for sure can't be compared with a junior executive saloon like a BMW 320d (163bhp, 340NM, 0-100 in 8s)

Actually the BMW would be less powerful. Going on the conversation I had with Cllr. John Ryan former Mayor of Limerick. He was the first Mayor of Limerick to have a Prius having switched from the Saab 9-5 and said on the open road the Prius was as if not more peppy than the 9-5 2.0

colm_mcm

ninty9er wrote:

Actually the BMW would be less powerful. Going on the conversation I had with Cllr. John Ryan former Mayor of Limerick. He was the first Mayor of Limerick to have a Prius having switched from the Saab 9-3 and said on the open road the Prius was as if not more peppy than the 9-3 2.0

In fairness, the Prius isn't overly quick. unless the 2.0 he had was non turbo and very old, the Toyota'd hardly be much quicker and the 320D would be far quicker.

Oh and BTW unkel. the bhp figure you quoted wasn't including the electric motor which generates 67hp @ 1200rpm

ninty9er

It would have been a 03 saab 9-5 not 9-3 sorry. he said there was no noticible difference.

colm_mcm

ninty9er wrote:

It would have been a 03 saab 9-5 not 9-3 sorry. he said there was no noticible difference.

He's probably a bit mental so!
The Prius is fine. just no more powerful than a 1.8 Avensis mid range. Any 9-5 I've driven has been notacibly quick

unkel

colm_mcm wrote:

Oh and BTW unkel. the bhp figure you quoted wasn't including the electric motor which generates 67hp @ 1200rpm

Yep you're right there. So technically we're talking 78bhp from the petrol engine plus 67bhp from the electric motor, totalling 145bhp

Any small family car (diesel or petrol) with 145bhp would do 0-100km/h a lot quicker than 11 seconds. I guess things don't really add up for the Prius (or any hybrid for that matter)

colm_mcm

You can't really just add one to the other, as they both peak at different rpms.

do you reckon hybrids are pie in the sky nonsense that'll never take off?

unkel

colm_mcm wrote:

do you reckon hybrids are pie in the sky nonsense that'll never take off?

No that would be harsh and unfair. I've a lot of respect for Toyota (and Honda) not for inventing the hybrid or pioneering it (they did neither) but for actually bringing it to the market as a serious (and green) alternative to petrol only cars. With the right fiscal regime, these cars could have been owned for no more money than same size / performance petrol cars, especially with big saving measures such as no/lower VRT or congestion charge exemptions, etc.

But then there was the European diesel revolution that took Toyota and Honda completely by surprise. You can't really blame them because their main markets were Japan and the US, where diesel still is very unpopular. They missed out completely and are only very recently, desparately and quickly trying to catch up

Having said all that, I believe that bio diesel cars are the most eco friendly mass produced car for the near future (next 5-10 years) and perhaps also ethanol fuelled petrol cars. For right now, it can only be modern diesels

I do see a role for some of the technology of current hybrids in those cars though, but perhaps not with as big an electro motor (if any) and battery system

colm_mcm

We'll have to wait and see how it pans out

commited

Any 4x4 not bought by farmers
Pick ups not bought by builders
MPVs bought by families with less than 3 kids

Ford Fusion.

unkel

colm_mcm wrote:

We'll have to wait and see how it pans out

Absolutely. Hydrogen has been a lot slower to progress compared to what was expected a few years ago, so indeed we'll just have to wait and see. A lot will also depend on fiscal measures. Just a wee current example of the latter in the form of excise differences:

Ireland:

diesel €1.16/l
petrol €1.17/l

Netherlands

diesel €1.02/l
petrol €1.40/l

This difference has a big impact on people choosing new cars

weemcd

i might get slammed for this, and i actually love the cars to a point, but when you look at it on paper. r32 golfs? whats the point? you can buy yourself so much more space, comfort and spec for the money. It is a golf at the end of the day. Don't get me wrong, ive seen two in the flesh and thought they were nice, but in a rather you than me kinda way. Anyone else agree, or am i missing something? the original gti hot hatch image is no longer appliable to young male drivers (surley their first target audience all those years ago?) and the r32 is even further out of reach. It seems to me as if the only people who could realisitically afford a gti or r32 would be those who had a mk 2 all those years ago and want to relive their youth. does therin lie the market?

blindingly fast golf's aside. The smart roadster. why? an mx-5, mr 2 or celica to a lesser extent will bring you so much more joy and won't seem such a terrible mistake. The original smart had its place, small, affordable easy to park city car, a roadster though? laughable imo, though i heard they are out of production

JohnBoy

as for all the talk of the prius emitting 30% less c02, whopee

what about all the lovely deadly nasty stuff that goes into the batteries, since when have batteries been nice?

esp rechargable ones?

sure it emits less pollution while driving, but how much more pollution does it generate in manufacture and disposal?

Mc-BigE

Henry Ford III wrote:

Rodius :eek:

Pointlessly ugly.

have to agree, i want a car to drive , not a car to be driven...to the graveyard!

Funeral Companies would like this car!

http://www.parkers.co.uk/pricing/used_car/valuation.aspx?deriv=31459&model=1400&plate=80&pay=false&buyorsell=buy

http://www.parkers.co.uk/choosing/carreviews/gallery/?model_id=1400&category=Main%20image

smarty

weemcd wrote:

The smart roadster. why? an mx-5, mr 2 or celica to a lesser extent will bring you so much more joy and won't seem such a terrible mistake. The original smart had its place, small, affordable easy to park city car, a roadster though? laughable imo, though i heard they are out of production

Just wondering whether you have you ever driven a smart roadster?

weemcd

of course not

peasant

smarty wrote:

Just wondering whether you have you ever driven a smart roadster?

I actually booked one for a test drive once, when it was just newly available.

Didn't get to drive it though ...couldn't fit in ..not with the roof closed anyway ...and I'm only 6'1" and a bit:D