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Affordable Family Car

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huck6

huck6

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I know that the odds of a British family sport sedan (along the lines of a Triumph 2000) coming to these shores are very small, but for those of you who know current British metal, what car would you like to see imported here that a middle income family man could enjoy? Are they all simply Japanese knock-ups?

Just curious regarding current British vehicles since any new Lotus or Jag are out of reach.
 
Unfortunately, there is nothing made in the UK that fits that criteria any more, since the demise of Rover. Ford and General Motors (Vauxhall) had ceased car production in the UK before Rover went belly-up. Jaguar is the only British sport sedan being made their now, and Ford owns that.
 
The best affordable British family car is a 92 through about 97 Jaguar XJ6 I realize that was not your question exactly, but for between 4k and about 15 k they really are a heck of a car. Just think, you can impress all of your friends and neighbors, and it's just Hyundai money. How can you beat that?
 
1980 Rover SD1
 
Tony...

You mean that Rover SD1 you're still trying to sell /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif
 
Oh, no - I sold it a long time ago...but it was a big, sweet thing!
 
Affordable British family cars? These days you have to turn to those well known British manufacturers Toyota, Honda and Nissan. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

BTW I'm sure GM do still build Vauxhall Astras in Britain at Ellesmere Port, although with the state GM are in I wonder how much longer for.
 
Of course there's also the Mini and Peugeot 206, but they're a bit small for family cars.
 
Easy.
The Euro-Ford Focus with "their" engines.
Either the 1.4 liter gas engine or the 1.8 liter diesel engine.
We have a family member that has a US-version Focus wagon (2.0 liter) and it is a real nice car but the gas mileage (about 25 mpg) is dissapointing.
The diesel-version will go around 50 mpg and the 1.4 is close. These cars have between 50 and 60 horsepower which is completley sufficient for normal driving, even here in New Jesery.
Unfortunatley, many folks in North America would consider these Euro-versions dangerously underpowered, which is ridiculous in my view.
As gas gets more expensive here in North America, these cars and others (like the Smart and the Yaris) will become available, by force of economics.
 
The Focus is a nice one. Mine is the 2 door version, and as noted above, the mileage in town is not so good. I also find about mid to high 20s in city with HVAC on. However on the highway, it turns in high 30s. In the mountains with HVAC off, I clocked several tanks in the low 40s.
Ugly little boogers, but they sure do stick in the twisties.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Of course there's also the Mini and Peugeot 206, but they're a bit small for family cars.

[/ QUOTE ]

But the big Peugeots are very nice for families. I've a well used 405 Estate and its good for anything, and gets 40+ MPG on diesel, when its not being tailgated by a Healey wreck....

haulinghomefs.jpg
 
[ QUOTE ]
Easy.
Unfortunatley, many folks in North America would consider these Euro-versions dangerously underpowered, which is ridiculous in my view.

[/ QUOTE ]

The problem is that the general population don't understand
that they need to be flogged to get to highway speeds, which
means using onramps for their intended purpose, accelerating
to a speed that matches what the traffic is doing.

The driving public need to get this fact through their
thick heads, into the brainpan, but they continue to poke
along a 30mph until they reach the merge point, and then
it's too late, you'll never get that 60hp, 3000lb thing
you're driving up to speed before someone plows into the
back of you...

SteveL
 
[ QUOTE ]
.... but they continue to poke
along a 30mph until they reach the merge point, and then
it's too late, you'll never get that 60hp, 3000lb thing
you're driving up to speed before someone plows into the
back of you...

[/ QUOTE ]

It doesn't matter to these fools: its other people's brakes that they rely on... not any good sense of their own.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nonod.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif
 
Oh so true, James. And other peoples' ability to "Zen" into what their intentions are.
 
Its like the old "first rule of italian driving" joke...

What's behind (and to the sides and in front) doesn't matter.
 
And the primary rule in Saudi Arabia, "Never make eye contact with another driver at an intersection" because if you do, right of way becomes doubtful.
 
I think it was "Cannonball Run" wot "immortalised" it: "What is behind me is UNIMPOTRANT!" This from a Ferrari pilot as he rips the rear view mirror from its mount and cavalierly tosses it over his shoulder.
 
DrE - dead on. I'd just watched it (again) when I saw this thread. Looked like a perfect fit...

The real problem with the US (sorry citizens) is the generally low standard of driving ability required to pass a test compared with (say) Europe.

To stave off liability claims, the manufacturers have built in safety features to try to limit Darwin to acceptable levels. I took my US test in NYC and my UK test in London, so I figure I have some basis to talk about the relative differences. It's laughable how easy it is to pass a driving test here. Until that's addressed, you are going to get people wanting to drive juggernauts - not because they like them , but so they feel safe from the other idiots on the road.

This of course coming from someone who currently drives a V8 S2 Discovery and thinks it's underpowered, so take it all with a pinch of salt...
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
I bought an 02 X type Jaguar (ok, Faguar now that Ford owns them) but for a little more than a toyota, I did get a built in the UK car. 4 doors, 5 speed manual (main reason I bought it) and it looks better than most jap look alikes.
 
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