Gray
Well-known member
Japs have made some reliable cars and great hi-fi.....
but they've just landed a craft nose first on the moon 😆
but they've just landed a craft nose first on the moon 😆
Can't stand Jap cars. They're either Yobbo attracting, such as a Nissan Skyline, plastic looking (Mazda MR2 or have ludicrous rotary engines [Mazda RX7 or 8]) or have screaming Vtec engines as fitted to Hondas. Nah, Jap cars not for me.
daveh75
Well-known member
Well that generation of Mini had a PSA engine.
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DougK1
Well-known member
DougK1
Well-known member
You are blinkered by your adoration of Alfa Romeo.
We've just got my sister a 2009 Suzuki Swift 1.5, 22,000 miles on the clock. Engine is a Toyota and the car is like a go-kart, reviews state that it's more Mini than a Mini and they're right... cracking little car. She's well chuffed.
I might even buy Chinese next if they prove to be reliable, something European manufacturers don't seem to be able to build now.
12th Monkey
Moderator
Supposed to be very good cars indeed. That said, having driven a kart on a track, no car in the world is genuinely like one.
Al ears
Well-known member
Suzki Swift is one of the very few Jap cars I like. Even tried to persuade my daughter to buy one.
No, not blinded or blinkered by Alfas, I like many different marques
DougK1
Well-known member
DougK1
Well-known member
Friesiansam
Well-known member
12th Monkey
Moderator
Do you think? I'm not talking about the ones you were allowed on when you were a kid. Even a Caterham or an Elise doesn't capture it.
I used to race karts as a teenager. Not silly fairground jobbies but proper racing 'Zip' karts with gears.
Agree no car feels the same, the closest IME was the original Mini. I owned a 1977 1275 GT. They had all the traits these new Minis don't: Fun.
12th Monkey
Moderator
I was taken aback by how physical they are to drive - how utterly connected the steering is, how low to the ground you are, and how easy they are to spin if you don't do most of your braking in a straight line.
My car is pretty responsive for a road car and the steering is very good, but getting back into it after driving a kart was like putting boxing gloves on in terms of sensation.
DougK1
Well-known member
Me and my nephews used to go to the local track for the occasional birthday bash. The last time I went was in my 40's, driving them became too physically demanding for my years. However, as you seem to be rather over pedantic regarding my terminology maybe I'll change it to roller skate!
12th Monkey
Moderator
Is that possible?!
(I'll freely accept you mean it figuratively, but I've heard the 'go kart' thing used so much that it irks me - should learn to let it go.)
DougK1
Well-known member
Ah yes, appears I missed off the ly, that should read overly pedantic. You are not alone in your irks.
12th Monkey
Moderator
DougK1
Well-known member
Get them to plug it into a diagnostic, it's bound to have thrown up a few fault codes. Hopefully they're cheap fault codes 🤞
12th Monkey
Moderator
Thought occurs - I was actually joking about whether it was possible to be too pedantic, not commenting on anything else. But back on topic...
Scarily low, they seem faster than they really are. It's only the seat separating your archipelago from the tarmac.
Can only imagine a rally car that gets close.
As it seems to be intermittent it's unlikely to show anything. Driven it a few times since and it seems fine. Real enigma.
DougK1
Well-known member
Friesiansam
Well-known member
It's not just that the Zip cart is so low, it's the very short wheelbase and, relatively, wide track that makes them so agile. Even the little, simple and basic formula Ford cars have a minimum 2 metre wheelbase and 1.2metre track. They also weigh not less than 420kgs and, 500kgs including driver. https://brscc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2022-FF1600-TECHNICAL-PUBLISHED-13.03.2022.pdf
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