Modern hire car horrors

[Hanuman]

Originally Posted by Sandro

Gentlmen...

Originally Posted by leggy

And lady if you please

With the epithet 'gentlemen', he's pretty much excluded most of the membership

[theschmallfella]

Originally Posted by leggy

And lady if you please
I have driven the A4 Saloon and Avant, in fact I've driven most of the A series Audi's back in the day when the dealership let you drive their courtesy cars without it being the hassle that it is nowadays, so I already know that Audi's of any type are enjoyable to drive. Thing is, the days of having my Audi 80 fixed by the dealership are long gone due to their lack of interest in fixing the older cars now, genuine part replacement availability issues if they were to try and fix them, and the general consensus that they charge exorbitant prices.
Meaning that I either fix my car myself, or trust in a local garage that can fix it, and quite often the garages around here just don't know what they're doing and most don't offer courtesy cars, so it's a case of finding a hire car company and hoping that they can at least provide you with something that is as near to dam it to the Audi that I've been driving for near on 18 years, such as the Vauxhall Astra or Ford Focus (these being the two example cars listed in the class D category that I selected), as maybe then there would not have been any issues, but the Toyota, well it might be similar in size with most of the main controls in the same place, but with it being so advanced and uncomfortable, well I just don't enjoy driving it.
Will definitely phone them on Monday to see what else they've got

My daily drive is an A6 (2004 2.4 V6) and I've also previously owned a 2001 A4 1.8T quattro sport, both thoroughly enjoyable cars to drive and fun on the back roads despite being technology filled. But I've also owned 2 B2 80 sports and the 200q is my baby and there's no beating the way these older cars 'talk' to you when you're pushing them. But they all have one thing in common, they were/are great cars to drive.

Toyota's are pure drivel, I have driven a few (not by choice mind) and they are without doubt the worst cars I have ever driven, and I've driven some doozies! I wouldn't mind only I come from a country where both Toyota and diesel are the most common by-word for 'car', and they are commonly described by the farming folk as 'a great yoke'. I despair of Irish people and their lack of car knowledge.

Originally Posted by leggy

Not as silly as I feel driving this stupid poxy Toyota I bet

lol, you have me there, I would feel much more silly if I had been sitting in a Toyota when typing that!

Originally Posted by The Real MSH!

Can't be any worse than the wickerman- he's just bought a Kia!

Kia.... shudder.... sorry Wickerman.

[leggy]

Originally Posted by sinbin5t

Ford focus
Very good cars, my wife will not part with hers and i must admit i was surprised at just how good it is

The Fords are indeed good cars, just a shame that the bodywork falls apart before the engine gives you any signs of trouble. With my Audi it's a case of engine troubles before bodywork failure. maybe the two companies should join forces, never guna happen, but just imagine, a dream car come true for most of us!

Originally Posted by The Real MSH!

Can't be any worse than the wickerman- he's just bought a Kia!

[sinbin5t]

Originally Posted by leggy

The Fords are indeed good cars, just a shame that the bodywork falls apart before the engine gives you any signs of trouble. With my Audi it's a case of engine troubles before bodywork failure. maybe the two companies should join forces, never guna happen, but just imagine, a dream car come true for most of us!

Ours is now 13 years old, positively still a youngster by our standards
No bodywork issues yet, oops shouldn't have said that

[leggy]

Originally Posted by theschmallfella

...thoroughly enjoyable cars to drive and fun on the back roads despite being technology filled...these older cars 'talk' to you when you're pushing them. But they all have one thing in common, they were/are great cars to drive.

Toyota's are pure drivel...they are without doubt the worst cars I have ever driven, and I've driven some doozies!...

Ditto that!

Originally Posted by theschmallfella

lol, you have me there, I would feel much more silly if I had been sitting in a Toyota when typing that!

Don't tell me it has a built in tablet/laptop too!

[theschmallfella]

[/quote]Don't tell me it has a built in tablet/laptop too! [/quote]

Hmmm, that's given me an idea......

[leggy]

Originally Posted by sinbin5t

Ours is now 13 years old, positively still a youngster by our standards
No bodywork issues yet, oops shouldn't have said that

My Escort was on an E plate (1987?) and was starting to show signs of bodywork deterioration when I PX'd in 1998, so if your Focus is 13yrs old and doesn't have any issues, well it's doing pretty darn well.

[EDIT] just did a vehicle check on my old Escort, can't believe it's still on the road, thought it had been written off (long story!), such a relief to know that it's being loved though.

[leggy]

Originally Posted by theschmallfella

Hmmm, that's given me an idea......

They already have built in DVD players and bluetooth equipment, so only a matter of time!

[sinbin5t]

Originally Posted by leggy

My Escort was on an E plate (1987?) and was starting to show signs of bodywork deterioration when I PX'd in 1998, so if your Focus is 13yrs old and doesn't have any issues, well it's doing pretty darn well.

I think we just got lucky, i have seen a lot the same age with badly patched up sills etc.

[theschmallfella]

Originally Posted by sinbin5t

Ours is now 13 years old, positively still a youngster by our standards
No bodywork issues yet, oops shouldn't have said that

I've had 2 Fords, a 1995 Granada Scorpio (don't laugh!) and a 2005 Mondeo which was a work vehicle, the former was a great car, it had every extra going at the time so it was well plush and great for long journeys. Handled like a barge on shopping trolly wheels mind you. The Mondy on the other hand was a fun car to drive, the chassis has a lovely set up for cornering and and it went like stink. Downsides to both cars were the electrics in the Granada were a nightmare and the Mondy's interior was made from play dough.