Basmitharts#weirdcarmastodon #carsofmastodon
Morning folks. Today's QOTD...Give me 5 of your most controversial car opinions.
Alan Bradley@Basmitharts Here goes:
1. Most automatic transmissions are better than most manual transmissions.
2. 0-60mph times are irrelevant
3. The Honda Civic Type-R is no longer “a hot hatch”.
4. Cyclists have as much right to be on the road as anyone else.
5. Cars should be banned from most city centres and replaced by comprehensive, maintained, integrated public transport systems.
1. Most automatic transmissions are better than most manual transmissions.
2. 0-60mph times are irrelevant
3. The Honda Civic Type-R is no longer “a hot hatch”.
4. Cyclists have as much right to be on the road as anyone else.
5. Cars should be banned from most city centres and replaced by comprehensive, maintained, integrated public transport systems.
mrjalco@ajpbradley @Basmitharts everything except 1, yes. 1 makes me think you’ve been in Americaland too long and we need to get you home post-haste.
Andrew Clews@mrjalco @ajpbradley @Basmitharts modern autos range from “perfectly fine” up to “much better than a manual”. Older stuff isn’t as good but then we could point out headlights, brakes, emissions, tyres etc etc were worse years ago.
I’d add, CVTs are great outside of anything pretending to be “sporty”.
I’d add, CVTs are great outside of anything pretending to be “sporty”.
@ajpbradley @Basmitharts @mrjalco I do believe there is a fetishisation of manuals. Driven (no pun intended) by those thinking about 20 minutes on track and nothing about how a car will actually be used on our roads. They’re not suitable for all cars, don’t get me wrong, but so many “opinions” are utter tosh on this subject.
@ajpbradley @mrjalco @Basmitharts like I said, autos are not for all cars and definitely not all journeys. But for the vast majority of people and drives they’re spot on. Doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy manuals, cause I really do in the right circumstances. A nearly gone clutch in a 3 hour Bradford traffic jam was not a place for a manual. Swift Sport over N Wales roads, YES!
Nir Kahn@mrjalco @CrackedWindscreen @ajpbradley @Basmitharts My last 5 cars have alternated between 3 and 2 pedals. It depends on the car. If I was mostly driving in traffic I’d certainly prefer 2 pedals. I had Giuliettas with both and preferred the paddles. But wouldn’t want that on my BRZ. 3 pedals can be more fun in a properly sporty car but paddles are both faster and better for normal driving
@Nir_Kahn @mrjalco @CrackedWindscreen @Basmitharts I’ve driven both 2 and 3 pedal BRZ. The manual is superior. That car is one of the reasons for the “most” qualifiers in my post. 😬
SinisterBulb@CrackedWindscreen @ajpbradley @Basmitharts @mrjalco My REALLY controversial opinion on this is that for commuting the best of the lot is the CVT. I’ve always liked the Toyota hybrids I’ve driven. Its relaxing. If im not changing gear why have it change gear at all? For ‘driving’ - manual every time simply because i haven’t yet found the autobox that wont occasionally and randomly try to change gear mid corner….
@SinisterBulb @mrjalco @Basmitharts @ajpbradley yeah, and that’s part of the joy of all these options for me. Commuting drudgery? CVT/Auto. A road I know REALLY well and “can make progress” most likely a manual.
@CrackedWindscreen @mrjalco @Basmitharts @ajpbradley There’s an interesting question. What’d be my dream commuter car? It’d probably be something akin to a Renault Espace but brought up to date. Lots of room, lots of glass, cheerfully bright interior, probably electric and a VERY good stereo.
@mrjalco @CrackedWindscreen @ajpbradley @Basmitharts Sir would indeed love an Ioniq 5 if Sir could afford one. That said i really feel electric cars should be going a bit more ‘one box’ like a bigger BMW i3. The VW idBuzz is pretty cool except i expect Jamie Oliver would buy one, so thats out…
@Basmitharts @mrjalco @SinisterBulb @ajpbradley problem is they cost so much to make. China is subsiding their industry to undercut everyone. They aren’t going to come down in price soon either. That’s been a promise for a decade now with no real progress. I fear the mandating of EVs will cause more problems as people hold onto ICE longer instead of hybrid shift for many (due to costs) and THEN EVs.
@ajpbradley @SinisterBulb @Basmitharts @mrjalco I’d also like to try the Buzz. Seen and spoken to a few who aren’t in the same boat as “best EV of the year”. Questions on efficiency, practicality and more.
@mrjalco @CrackedWindscreen @Basmitharts @ajpbradley Thats my position. I may end up with a small electric car as a second vehicle but anything useful and truly family sized is practically double the price of an IC equivalent. Keeping an eye on that new electric R5 though…
@CrackedWindscreen @Basmitharts @mrjalco @ajpbradley Electric doesnt really have to get cheaper though as IC is gradually increasing in price to meet it. Having a car at all (or certainly a new one) will become more of a luxury
@SinisterBulb @CrackedWindscreen @Basmitharts @mrjalco I agree, which is why an integrated public transport policy and resulting system is becoming more, not less, important.
@SinisterBulb @CrackedWindscreen @mrjalco @ajpbradley
Excellent idea for tomorrow's QOTD 👍
@CrackedWindscreen @ajpbradley @Basmitharts never driven a CVT I didn’t hate immensely. But then we’re all different, right?
@ajpbradley @mrjalco @Basmitharts they’re different, doing it differently. Much better if you’re hauling your family. Just smooth progression. No one moans an EV doesn’t have gear changes, similar. Push them too hard and you get a mooing cow, adjust and all is cool. Subaru ruined theirs by adding fake gear changes.
@ajpbradley @Basmitharts @mrjalco as you say, we all like different things, and that’s very cool. We get choices.
@mrjalco @CrackedWindscreen @Basmitharts CVTs require more adaption of driving style than automatics, but I agree that some are abhorrent.
Bobsun Dugnutt@ajpbradley @mrjalco @CrackedWindscreen @Basmitharts I cannot stand CVT. I really do think that about 99% of cars should be automatic though.