Archive for the 'Auto Reviews' Category
The other day me and a friend were locked in a heated debate about cars. It was a pretty typical pub chat, Vauxhall or Ford. Our discussion however was not an argument about the pros and cons of the RS Focus and the Astra VXR, no we were disputing which out of the Escort RS and Astra GTE was the hot hatch of the 80′s.
We’ve each driven both and arrived, from our respective experiences, at very different conclusions.
I owned a Rover Coupe Turbo back in 2003 and for the most part is was a lot of fun. Sadly though there are a lot of hassles with owning one of these too (not to mention expenses) and as they become older and less reliable this increases.
Firstly the head gasket on the K series engine has always had a tendency to go bang! This is not unique to the turbo model, the 1.8 in the MGF and the Lotus Elise also have a bit of a reputation, which is one of the reasons Lotus switched to the more reliable but less torquey Toyota engines. Sadly this problem also exists on the 2.0 turbo, and with many tuned up examples about the problem is only exacerbated.
If you are looking for a small family hatch but want something a bit sporty too, and Subaru costs are a little too high for your liking, you could do worse than considering Vauxhall’s Astra VXR.
Certainly the car is a step up from previous Vauxhall hot-hatches, which have been blighted by a reputation of being driven by wreckless, McDonald’s milkshake sipping feral teenages. This is no Corsa Sport, the VXR looks classy and well built. The interior is also luxurious, rivalling – if not beating – that of the Focus RS and the Civic Type R, the VXR’s nearest rivals.
Every now and then something hits the motoring world that is truly different to all that went before it. In the last decade much of it has come from the British sport car manufacturer Lotus. The Lotus Elise and then the Exige certainly sent shockwaves through the automotive trade. Their latest offering however may just be their finest achievement to date.
The Honda S2000 is a sporty little roadster without all the hassles that inevitably come with owning a sports car. Firstly it’s reliable. No, it’s bullet-proof! It’s easy to drive, no harder than a family hatch, and certainly not comparable to a Boxter or a 350.
The first S2000 hit the road in 1999 and thanks to the above factors, plus some stonking performance figures, the model has been an enormous success ever since. 0-60 in 5.5 second, 150 MPH top speed, superb handling thanks to a small engine and nimble suspension and – most remarkably – 240 BHP from a non-turbo’d 2.0 engine. When it comes to mass-producing engines Honda really is a cut above the rest.