Now I see where the car world is going (and Porsche was right)

[bigbob]

Saturday morning used car search, usual unfocused womble around, you know, is the DB9 better than a GranTurismo, do I really want to try a 911, does a V8 F Type really sound that good etc etc.

Anyway stumbled on the H R Owen Maserati used car website. 56 cars for sale, 3 Ghibli and 53 Levante (think I got the maths right Wattie). No GT or GC. So SUVs are the future and sports cars are tiny volume halo cars....Porsche got there first.

It also got me thinking about the future of the 911 itself. With electrification batteries sit under the floor, cars have amazingly even weight distribution especially if they have motors front and back and there is no need for 150kg to be hung out behind the rear axle. Surely the 911 is now a run out special as its reason for being is about to die? Ditto how do mid engines cars evolve? All very unclear and confusing.

 

[Twinspark]

While you are right, SUVs are now the new norm. The 911, along with the Corvette and Mustang, are icons that have been around for over 50 years. It will be around for as long as they possibly can, which means it will inevitably be hybridized by 2030 but won’t completely go away.

 

[bigbob]

While you are right, SUVs are now the new norm. The 911, along with the Corvette and Mustang, are icons that have been around for over 50 years. It will be around for as long as they possibly can, which means it will inevitably be hybridized by 2030 but won’t completely go away.

But the hybridisation of the 911 will destroy its weight distribution and then its other main attraction of only weighing 1400/1500 kg is gone as well. Ford have already bastardised the Mustang by bringing out an EV SUV with the same name.

Then you look at Harry’s Garage testing the Taycan 4S and its noiseless (well apart from huge tyre roar) performance and handling need a top end 911 to beat. At least we have the back catalogue of great cars to keep going whilst we are allowed to.

 

[safrane]

Car ownership will plummet in the next 20 years as more turn to Uber, car share, etc.
As such the cars that are sold will be more like soft SUVs so they can do more things... but on the flip side, those cars that are sold to 'owners' are more likely to be a toy or something special.

My opinion of course.

 

[dgmx5]

The best cars to drive on the roads will be slow(er), non-autonomous ICE cars.

They won't be the fastest cars, or even possibly the best handling cars, but they will be cars with flaws and character that will give the most enjoyment and deliver the most memorable drives.

I have been listening to Chris Harris' Collecting Cars podcast and he argues that the 1.8 MK1 Focus is the best engineered car or that a 60s 2CV is the most enjoyable.

 

[rossyl]

The Rolls SUV, that has to be a thing of sacrilege.

Rolls are meant to be this picture of luxury wafting down the road.

It looks like an Audi.

I'd rather have a Range Rover

 

[rossyl]

Car ownership will plummet in the next 20 years as more turn to Uber, car share, etc.
As such the cars that are sold will be more like soft SUVs so they can do more things... but on the flip side, those cars that are sold to 'owners' are more likely to be a toy or something special.

My opinion of course.

Quite true.

But also due to the fact that Manufacturers are now doing short term loaning of vehicles.

Going cross country with the family and lots of luggage. Get an Estate or 4x4 for two weeks.

Driving around town doing odd jobs, rent a Golf for a few weeks.

Etc etc a car for when you need it delivered to your door and picked up from your door.

This is the future...

Audi on demand

Audi on demand is taking a break. If you have any queries, please contact Audi Customer Services.

www.audiondemand.co.uk

 

[midlifecrisis]

The best cars to drive on the roads will be slow(er), non-autonomous ICE cars.

They won't be the fastest cars, or even possibly the best handling cars, but they will be cars with flaws and character that will give the most enjoyment and deliver the most memorable drives.

I have been listening to Chris Harris' Collecting Cars podcast and he argues that the 1.8 MK1 Focus is the best engineered car or that a 60s 2CV is the most enjoyable.

Chris Harris also said that thrashing a one litre Suzuki Swift can be more enjoyable that an Aston or ferrari on a UK b road. He's not wrong but you I wouldn't drive one to Manchester from Surrey.

 

[Crofty]

Chris Harris also said that thrashing a one litre Suzuki Swift can be more enjoyable that an Aston or ferrari on a UK b road. He's not wrong but you I wouldn't drive one to Manchester from Surrey.

Be lucky to be allowed to drive anything from Manchester to Surry at the moment......unless your an Amazon driver......now there’s some quick vehicles!

 

[FIFTY]

I do not understand why the car world is heading towards SUVs other than in popular culture they are found to be desirable

They are not economical due to being heavy and not aerodynamic. We are heading into an eco world once the batteries ars small enough the case for getting rid of SUVs will be too great

 

[Rwc13]

I have been pondering buying another fun car here in the Algarve to sit alongside the XK Convertible. I’ve been considering a(nother) Gransport, MC Stradale, DB9, 612, 599, FF, indeed lots of the cars in the V8/V12 mould that I have driven for fun in the UK over the last 10 years.

But then I started to think about what I really wanted and needed from this car, and about all the cars I’ve had and the ones I enjoyed the most for driving on the kind of beautiful country “mountain” roads we have here. I concluded this was not about brand or engine size or outright power or speed, but about feel and real world performance and handling - I absolutely get where Chris Harris is coming from. I also added into my debate how I see the future of sports cars developing, and the growing (I believe) public anti-sentiment towards these “supercars”.

However, the overriding desire became for a car that would take me back to my days driving feelsome lightweight not-overpowered sports cars (mostly Loti) on country roads, that would be relatively future friendly and unlikely to cause offence.

In the end I settled on an Alpine A110 and I can’t wait to pick it up in January.

 

[midlifecrisis]

I do not understand why the car world is heading towards SUVs other than in popular culture they are found to be desirable

They are not economical due to being heavy and not aerodynamic. We are heading into an eco world once the batteries ars small enough the case for getting rid of SUVs will be too great

Hate SUV for this very reason. They never go off road, drivers won't even go through puddles in them. Too ponderous around narrow lanes and the driver's are generally so cr4p at driving that they feel they need 2 tons of metal around them. Or they are under 5'7".

 

[bigbob]

I have been pondering buying another fun car here in the Algarve to sit alongside the XK Convertible. I’ve been considering a(nother) Gransport, MC Stradale, DB9, 612, 599, FF, indeed lots of the cars in the V8/V12 mould that I have driven for fun in the UK over the last 10 years.

But then I started to think about what I really wanted and needed from this car, and about all the cars I’ve had and the ones I enjoyed the most for driving on the kind of beautiful country “mountain” roads we have here. I concluded this was not about brand or engine size or outright power or speed, but about feel and real world performance and handling - I absolutely get where Chris Harris is coming from. I also added into my debate how I see the future of sports cars developing, and the growing (I believe) public anti-sentiment towards these “supercars”.

However, the overriding desire became for a car that would take me back to my days driving feelsome lightweight not-overpowered sports cars (mostly Loti) on country roads, that would be relatively future friendly and unlikely to cause offence.

In the end I settled on an Alpine A110 and I can’t wait to pick it up in January.

Makes a lot of sense. I've only seen one since they came out but it looks just right and is much easier to justify to anyone having a go - 'it has an engine from a Clio'.

I think that the backlash against wealth could be substantial over the next decade so being careful with flash is no bad thing. I hope you enjoy it.

 

[Motorsport3]

I do not understand why the car world is heading towards SUVs other than in popular culture they are found to be desirable

They are not economical due to being heavy and not aerodynamic. We are heading into an eco world once the batteries ars small enough the case for getting rid of SUVs will be too great

a) women (big majority) like them
b) Road surface and ever popping speedboats

 

[elan]

It will be interesting to see what happens to ICE cars. Whilst some predict the ownership and values will plummet, others say it will be sought after like an antique watch.

If Covid has shown us anything, things can be unpredictable and owning a car gives you certain amount of freedom. I certainly wouldn’t want to travel in public transport or share a car currently.

 

[Rwc13]

 

[bigbob]

It will be interesting to see what happens to ICE cars. Whilst some predict the ownership and values will plummet, others say it will be sought after like an antique watch.

If Covid has shown us anything, things can be unpredictable and owning a car gives you certain amount of freedom. I certainly wouldn’t want to travel in public transport or share a car currently.

The thing is many fine things cost little to warehouse, art and wine for example if you keep them at home. Meanwhile cars cost a lot to maintain in the condition that will lead them to appreciate. I see many rare, older cars (pre 80/90s depending on the car) that Harry's Garage has going up in value but I see many more cars that people think will appreciate disappearing into nothingness value wise or going up in value to a degree that people can boast that they have made money from but the reality is that on an open book financial basis they really have not.

 

[FIFTY]

a) women (big majority) like them
b) Road surface and ever popping speedboats

A. Ok I get that guess I'm lucky that Mrs Fifty is not in that majority

B. People want to make it worse by driving heavy SUVs over them making the roads crumble faster? The tolerances on these cars are not much greater than the equivalent hatch/saloon/estate which means the suspension wears quicker.

I really cannot see the sense behind it other than SUVs being a symbol of afluence.

 

[Davidt99]

Its going to be very difficult for any car manufacturer to differentiate from any other. With EV all cars basically have the same drive train so no longer will cars be bought based on engine/exhaust note, engine performance, etc. The only differentiators will be design and quality and no one will pay the price of a supercar for those.