A car you drove that totally surprised you.
09-21-2011, 01:43 PM
#41
This was one of mine as well. We rented one for a road trip back to NY a couple of Thanksgiving's ago and while it looked nice, we did not have high hopes being it was a "Hyundai". But man, we loved the car. And it was a pretty base rental as well. From that point on, completely changed my perception of Hyundai.
Few other positives:
- 2010+ E350: What a completely different car from the previous gen.
- 4G TL: Ugly as fvck, but was very impressed with the ride.
- Ford Edge: When I worked at the dealer briefly, got to drive one a few times... very impressed with the ride, power, and interior (similar to 2011 Explorer). The Edge Sport was even nicer...
And this was actually a negative for me:
Mazda RX8 - 6speed
I was just bored one day and decided to go to the dealership to test drive the RX8. I didn't expect this car to be that fun to drive, I loved the style of shifter and the car itself was just buttery smooth. I already had two cars, but I considered leasing this as my weekend car, but I came to my senses and decided against it.
I was just bored one day and decided to go to the dealership to test drive the RX8. I didn't expect this car to be that fun to drive, I loved the style of shifter and the car itself was just buttery smooth. I already had two cars, but I considered leasing this as my weekend car, but I came to my senses and decided against it.
Last edited by juniorbean; 09-21-2011 at 02:39 PM.
09-21-2011, 10:06 PM
#42
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^ What didn't you like about it?
The RX-8 would be my ideal car if it didn't have a rotary.
The RX-8 would be my ideal car if it didn't have a rotary.
09-21-2011, 10:39 PM
#44
The Third Ball
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09-22-2011, 07:48 AM
#46
https://acurazine.com/forums/car-talk-5/mazda-rx-8s-775127/
Last edited by juniorbean; 09-22-2011 at 07:52 AM.
09-23-2011, 03:08 PM
#47
Short and simple
06' E46 M3 coupe
friend let me drive his bout 2 months ago. LOVED it. handled like a beast, stiff steering, good punch off the line. I was amazed. Still looking for a low mileage (white), to replace my G. If anyone is selling or knows where to look lmk please
agreed
06' E46 M3 coupe
friend let me drive his bout 2 months ago. LOVED it. handled like a beast, stiff steering, good punch off the line. I was amazed. Still looking for a low mileage (white), to replace my G. If anyone is selling or knows where to look lmk please
agreed
09-23-2011, 06:40 PM
#48
Team Owner
Reading a Car and Driver issue in late 85', I became fascinated with a black Regal. The same basic car that had been around for years. It had, however, been treated to an engine by Buick engineer Don Runkle. I was astounded (and so was C&D), that this Grandma car accelerated from 0-60 in 4.9 seconds. Routinely. Other magazines at the time were also reporting brutal acceleration times for the Grand National. I was still skeptical.
Walking into a showroom in the fall of '85, I managed to convince the salesperson to let me take one for a test drive. None were available at the time, but they had one that was "sold". I remember it was a brutally cold fall day, but the streets were still bare. We took the thing out on the street and I began to give it moderate amounts of throttle. Damn. After a few minutes I asked the salesman if I could punch it at a roll. He said yes. Now keep in mind that this was 1985. Fast was six seconds. Unheard of was 4.9. Punching the throttle, the car waited for an agonizing couple of seconds and then all hell broke loose. Remember it was very cold, and that big intercooler was exposed to all sorts of cold air. Combined with a dense air charge, that engine exploded to life. The car began going sideways while the engine just shrieked. Getting off of the throttle I then gently applied full throttle, the car hooked, and I swear that thing was moving the earth of it's axis. It was amazing. I had to have one.
Today a black dragon sits in my garage. Throughout it's twenty-five years I haven't driven it much. I just love to know it's there.
Walking into a showroom in the fall of '85, I managed to convince the salesperson to let me take one for a test drive. None were available at the time, but they had one that was "sold". I remember it was a brutally cold fall day, but the streets were still bare. We took the thing out on the street and I began to give it moderate amounts of throttle. Damn. After a few minutes I asked the salesman if I could punch it at a roll. He said yes. Now keep in mind that this was 1985. Fast was six seconds. Unheard of was 4.9. Punching the throttle, the car waited for an agonizing couple of seconds and then all hell broke loose. Remember it was very cold, and that big intercooler was exposed to all sorts of cold air. Combined with a dense air charge, that engine exploded to life. The car began going sideways while the engine just shrieked. Getting off of the throttle I then gently applied full throttle, the car hooked, and I swear that thing was moving the earth of it's axis. It was amazing. I had to have one.
Today a black dragon sits in my garage. Throughout it's twenty-five years I haven't driven it much. I just love to know it's there.
So I saw a GN with a for sale sign go by as I was getting out of school one day and chased him down and got the number. The next day I got to drive it and it just blew my mind how the little 3.8 came to life with the turbo. My father had to one up me with a mint condition 10,000 mile GN and the mods began.
09-24-2011, 12:47 PM
#49
Senior Moderator
A few:
- Ford Fusion
- Volvo XC60
- Nissan Maxima SE (2001)
- Fiat 500
- Ford Fusion
- Volvo XC60
- Nissan Maxima SE (2001)
- Fiat 500
09-24-2011, 01:51 PM
#50
Three Wheelin'
- Acura RDX, handling/acceleration, very much like my previous bmw e46 330i
- Lincoln MKX, acceleration/smooth/comfortable
- 2011 Camry V6, acceleration/34mpg
i can't think of anything else that surprised me, i know a lot that disappointed.
- Lincoln MKX, acceleration/smooth/comfortable
- 2011 Camry V6, acceleration/34mpg
i can't think of anything else that surprised me, i know a lot that disappointed.
09-24-2011, 06:39 PM
#51
In the Mid-South meow
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I should add one more...
1988 Honda CRX Si
I expected it to handle like a go-cart, which it did, but I didn't expect it to feel as fast as it did. Still one of my favorite cars I've ever owned.
1988 Honda CRX Si
I expected it to handle like a go-cart, which it did, but I didn't expect it to feel as fast as it did. Still one of my favorite cars I've ever owned.
09-24-2011, 06:52 PM
#52
Team Owner
09-24-2011, 09:31 PM
#53
Senior Moderator
LFA. I knew it was a "nice" car but I wasn't really ready for HOW nice it was. Also, I wasn't ready for the extreme mix of luxury and "race car" type of feeling. It's by far the most refined vehicle I've ever driven, and I felt nervous when I was about to go, just because it felt more like a race car than a road car. So I had a heightened sense of awareness thereof. F*cking amazing car.
09-24-2011, 11:15 PM
#54
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The engine is low on torque, a gas hog, and has some well-documented oil consumption issues. I'd rather have an inline-4 or low-displacement six. What do you want me to say, sorry for having an opinion?
09-25-2011, 12:37 AM
#55
Wow, great description. By the time I was old enough to drive in '94 I had dreamed of a GN for a while but having driven the 3.8 105hp NA carbureted Regal and Gran Prix it still made no sense how this same basic engine could be "fast" even with a turbo. I ran the Gran Prix in the bracket races and won several times because it couldn't spin the tires. 0-60 and 1/4 times were nearly identical if that tells you anything.
So I saw a GN with a for sale sign go by as I was getting out of school one day and chased him down and got the number. The next day I got to drive it and it just blew my mind how the little 3.8 came to life with the turbo. My father had to one up me with a mint condition 10,000 mile GN and the mods began.
So I saw a GN with a for sale sign go by as I was getting out of school one day and chased him down and got the number. The next day I got to drive it and it just blew my mind how the little 3.8 came to life with the turbo. My father had to one up me with a mint condition 10,000 mile GN and the mods began.
09-25-2011, 01:24 AM
#56
Team Owner
I think what influenced much of it for me was the involvement of Don Runkle. I recall at the time following his involvement in Buick's Indy program. With the six. When the '86 GN came about I heard things such as "fuel injection", "turbocharging", "intercooling", "distributorless", and "computerized". This in late '85 when many manufacturers were still using carburetors. I kept on recalling that Buick engineers had to rate the car "intentionally low" as not to annoy the GM corporate brass with a horsepower rating higher than the Corvette. Years later, Don Runkle remarked the Grand National came about for only one reason: he was spanked badly at a stoplight Grand Prix by another manufacturer. At that moment he decided to build the quickest car in the world.
Even the '84 was fuel injected and used the DIS. I made an intercooler system and did some very nice mods before eventually doing the '86-'87 conversion. I actually got to run a stock '84 Vette when my car was 99% stock. Neither was real quick but there's no doubt the GN was quicker by a fair margin. In fact, we got the '84 to go 14.0@101 just by turning the boost up, a chip, and good gas.
In fact I was very lucky to run a bone stock down to the paper air filter TTA against a 6mt LS1 WS6 to settle which was the quickest F-body ever. The TTA went 3 for 3. Even after posting video on some of the popular boards at the time, people didn't believe it or said the TTA was modded. When the time came to mod it, I removed the factory chip and air filter so I know this car was bone stock even down to the boost level.
09-25-2011, 08:44 AM
#57
AZ Community Team
Thread Starter
Another car came to mind, Ford Probe GT 2G (1994-5).
While helping my sister in law shop for a car in the early 90's. We test drove a Ford Probe GT 2G and a Mazda MX-6, and the Probe with a 5MT was amazing. Excellent handling, fun to drive, very little understeer, rev happy V6. Although it shared most of the chassis/powertrain with the MX-6 it was far superior in all area's (performance, styling, ...).
While helping my sister in law shop for a car in the early 90's. We test drove a Ford Probe GT 2G and a Mazda MX-6, and the Probe with a 5MT was amazing. Excellent handling, fun to drive, very little understeer, rev happy V6. Although it shared most of the chassis/powertrain with the MX-6 it was far superior in all area's (performance, styling, ...).
09-25-2011, 11:53 AM
#59
In the Mid-South meow
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09-25-2011, 02:44 PM
#60
AZ Community Team
Thread Starter
09-25-2011, 05:20 PM
#61
In the Mid-South meow
iTrader: (2)
09-25-2011, 05:22 PM
#62
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09-25-2011, 05:37 PM
#63
Race Director
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drove my friends IS350 and i really wasnt impressed. the only thing good about was straight line speed, but i only drove it for about 5 mins.
features were nice but the car seemed a bit small.
features were nice but the car seemed a bit small.
09-25-2011, 08:38 PM
#65
08 MDX, 04 TL (sold)
iTrader: (1)
Another car came to mind, Ford Probe GT 2G (1994-5).
While helping my sister in law shop for a car in the early 90's. We test drove a Ford Probe GT 2G and a Mazda MX-6, and the Probe with a 5MT was amazing. Excellent handling, fun to drive, very little understeer, rev happy V6. Although it shared most of the chassis/powertrain with the MX-6 it was far superior in all area's (performance, styling, ...).
While helping my sister in law shop for a car in the early 90's. We test drove a Ford Probe GT 2G and a Mazda MX-6, and the Probe with a 5MT was amazing. Excellent handling, fun to drive, very little understeer, rev happy V6. Although it shared most of the chassis/powertrain with the MX-6 it was far superior in all area's (performance, styling, ...).
I drove a friend's 5MT Probe once way back when and was very much wow'ed. I'm not sure what year it was, but 94-95 sounds about right. (I actually had just recently learned how to drive a manual and was surprised he even let me drive it. I remember being very rev happy to avoid stalling and remember how it would take off once I'd let the clutch fully engage.)
Last edited by jhumbo; 09-25-2011 at 08:42 PM. Reason: to add that little nodding smiley
09-26-2011, 11:46 AM
#66
Even with the flaws of the rotary engine, I would still consider an RX-8. The oil-consumption isn't really an issue, it was intentional. Due to the fundamental differences between a reciprocating piston engine, if a piston engine constantly needs oil added, something is wrong. But if a rotary engine doesn't constantly need topping off, something is wrong.
10-01-2011, 02:16 AM
#67
09' 911 Carrera 4S
Probably the best car I've test driven to date funny considering I had really no interest in this car, or the Carrera line up for that matter. Ive drove everything from the current evo, almost every gen 3 series to the NSX. Way faster than I expected too.
No other car handles better in real world imo. The wheels felt planted to the ground, the steering was precise and effortless, chassis solid long story short, overall a perfect car imo.
Probably the best car I've test driven to date funny considering I had really no interest in this car, or the Carrera line up for that matter. Ive drove everything from the current evo, almost every gen 3 series to the NSX. Way faster than I expected too.
No other car handles better in real world imo. The wheels felt planted to the ground, the steering was precise and effortless, chassis solid long story short, overall a perfect car imo.
10-01-2011, 11:54 AM
#68
I just rented a 2011 Hyundai Genesis Sedan V6. The engine's preformance and sound is a A plus. The handling oh no, its not going to help sell the car. Sorry Hyundai this is no where near a sports sedan at all.
10-01-2011, 01:05 PM
#70
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10-01-2011, 01:07 PM
#71
Moderator
GMC Acadia (rental). Fit and finish, power, features, all exceeded my expectations.
10-01-2011, 06:04 PM
#72
I test drove four cars today. While it wasn't my favorite, the Hyundai Sonata was easily the most surprising. I drove the base model, as it's the only one with a manual, but the car felt solid, peppy and fairly responsive. After I got used to the clutch take-up, it and the shifter felt pretty good, as well, even though I drove it after an Accord. Steering was responsive and fairly quick. The only dislikes about it were a lack of steering feedback (common in nearly everything now), and I believe the suspension was tuned more for cruising than nimbleness. Of course, that is perfect for most people.
If anyone's curious, the other three cars were about what I expected: A 2007 Honda Accord Coupe EX-L V6, a 2012 Mazda 6 iSport (only one with a manual) and a 2006 Subaru Legacy GT. They are all really nice cars.
If anyone's curious, the other three cars were about what I expected: A 2007 Honda Accord Coupe EX-L V6, a 2012 Mazda 6 iSport (only one with a manual) and a 2006 Subaru Legacy GT. They are all really nice cars.
10-02-2011, 01:08 AM
#75
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I got to spend time with a loaded 2011 Mazda6 V6 this past winter. I was really surprised with its interior, plenty of nice looking leather and soft plastics, a ton of gadgets too. Definetely not what I was expecting from a mid-size family sedan.
10-04-2011, 09:59 PM
#76
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2012 Chevy Impala LTZ
This has been my rental this week. I didn't expect much nor did I realize there was a big powertrain improvement on this car for 2012. The 3.6 engine produces over 300 hp and I've averaged 28.5 mpg since Saturday. The 6 speed auto certainly helps. At 80 mph its chugging along at 2,000 rpms. The car itself has decent handling, is quiet on the freeways (though Virginia highways are mostly smooth) and the stereo is decent.
This has been my rental this week. I didn't expect much nor did I realize there was a big powertrain improvement on this car for 2012. The 3.6 engine produces over 300 hp and I've averaged 28.5 mpg since Saturday. The 6 speed auto certainly helps. At 80 mph its chugging along at 2,000 rpms. The car itself has decent handling, is quiet on the freeways (though Virginia highways are mostly smooth) and the stereo is decent.
10-06-2011, 11:55 PM
#77
Three Wheelin'
While I was TDY in AZ for 2 months from July to Sept this year i had a 2010 GMC Yukon 4x4 SLT for about 1 month as a rental. I could not stand it! It did not at all live up to my expectations being a owner of a previous gen Tahoe. They have built so much TQ managment into it. Feels very weak and underpowered and gets horrible mpg. Plastic is rampant. Thing made a lot of noises creeks and squeeks. GARBAGE!
I also got to use a 2011 Buick Lacrosse fully loaded FWD for about a month as a rental also. The 3.6 litre direct injected V6 was outstanding. Very powerfull and the car drove like a dream. Down shifts were ok and upshifts under WOT were really sweet. My only complaint was the disconnect between the steering wheel and the road. But then again its not a sports car. The interior was very sweet. Soft touch everywhere. Very little plastic.
I also got to drive a new F-150 with the 5.0 for a night. Great truck. Huge improvment over the 5.4 or 4.6.
But the F-150 with the Ecoboost 3.5 litre v6 takes the cake. I went to the dealer to test drive one. I can't say enough about how much I liked everything about the truck. Not one complaint. Power and TQ is unreal. Much more get up and go then the 5.0. This truck blew me away. I have driven the new Dodge ram 1500 with the 5.7 hemi and it does not even hold a candle to that new turbo F150. After driving it I can't imagine even considering buying a Chevy or Dodge truck. I even consider myself a Chevy fan.
I also got to use a 2011 Buick Lacrosse fully loaded FWD for about a month as a rental also. The 3.6 litre direct injected V6 was outstanding. Very powerfull and the car drove like a dream. Down shifts were ok and upshifts under WOT were really sweet. My only complaint was the disconnect between the steering wheel and the road. But then again its not a sports car. The interior was very sweet. Soft touch everywhere. Very little plastic.
I also got to drive a new F-150 with the 5.0 for a night. Great truck. Huge improvment over the 5.4 or 4.6.
But the F-150 with the Ecoboost 3.5 litre v6 takes the cake. I went to the dealer to test drive one. I can't say enough about how much I liked everything about the truck. Not one complaint. Power and TQ is unreal. Much more get up and go then the 5.0. This truck blew me away. I have driven the new Dodge ram 1500 with the 5.7 hemi and it does not even hold a candle to that new turbo F150. After driving it I can't imagine even considering buying a Chevy or Dodge truck. I even consider myself a Chevy fan.
Last edited by CH46ESeaKnight; 10-06-2011 at 11:59 PM.
10-07-2011, 07:13 AM
#78
Three Wheelin'
My old 87 Dodge Shadow with it's 2.2 turbo. It was my high school car that I thought was going to be a pos. But it was around 2500lbs and the turbo made the car very peppy.
I loved that car till it blew a turbo seal and spewed smoke what felt like a football field wide in my hometown.
That is pretty much the only car that has ever surprised me in a good way.
I loved that car till it blew a turbo seal and spewed smoke what felt like a football field wide in my hometown.
That is pretty much the only car that has ever surprised me in a good way.
10-08-2011, 11:00 PM
#79
Fahrvergnügen'd
I sat behind two guys in KC in the car business who were talking about Hyundai and they said they would never buy an Equus. They clearly had the badge whore mentality.
But they also talked as if they didn't realize what the ownership experience was like either so I took it as a representative example of the bias that Hyundai has to overcome.
But they also talked as if they didn't realize what the ownership experience was like either so I took it as a representative example of the bias that Hyundai has to overcome.
10-09-2011, 08:41 PM
#80
Three Wheelin'
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I had a 2012 Ford Focus rental that was a darn good ride. It was a good little pocket rocket. The fit and finish were above par and the sync system was really cool. The auto tranny in sport mode was seamless and gas mileage was about 31mpgs. The buzziness that you get with most 4cylinders was nonexistent. The only thing i did not like was the side mirrors with the miniature mirror inside. It threw me off in DC traffic.