I'm trying to understand the whole concept of making a drivers car in the modern day system, I kinda figure that a fast responsive car that feels like a dream to drive must be almost impossible in the current economic climate.
I'll begin to list why i think this in a moment, but this has all come about after reading an article on the Ford Focus and how much of a pleasure this car is to drive, "a real drivers car", now that I agree that when i was looking at new cars i really didn't want a focus, its a ford for a start, and its boring run of the mill and loads of them about. It said nothing about me as a person.
But the ST170's i test drove where very very nice, quick and very responsive, although the clutch was stiff as hell, which was why i didn't buy it.
But is it really a dream to drive, well i don't think so, and i quite frankly think that no main stream manufacturer can produce a drivers car.
Mainly due to the following
"SAFETY" - NCAP tests etc, so many things that people need to meet nowadays or get slated, all drivers cars are probably designed to just have 2 models if that.
Economics - you cut of huge swathes of market just making a drivers car, which is why i feel MG rover are doomed with there branding.
Speed concious drive - speed will become as socially unacceptable as drink driving given a few more years (decades possibly)
The other factor is that people seem to split into two groups, making things like the caterham 7 which is stunning, but its unpratical as hell.
So can anyone really make a drivers car nowadays?,
Personally I don't think so?. Views??
TiG