The "what You Got?" Question

[ALEX 98 1 Cars]

When declaring that you have bought a new car (or new to you, i.e. Second hand) ……

 

 

Chances are you will be ask or get asked the question “ what you got”.

 

But why? What are we fishing for here?

 

My mum might be wanting to know if it’s a 4 wheeled vehicle with 5 doors and seats and also what colour it is.

 

So If I tell her “it’s a Vauxhall Astra GSi”, It’s not the answer she was looking for, but she will pretend it is and start quoting things she’s heard from Phil (her husband) about Vauxhalls then start muttering on about fuel economy and how I should have bought a Diesel.

 

Though when a friend asks you the same question, or you ask them. Then the opinion actually matters, as there’s some credibility at stake here.

 

It’s easy to be a critic as you have nothing to lose. But the decision between friends whether a good choice of vehicle has been made by our peers boils down to a few tick boxes in the critics head.

Only once all these tick boxes have been confirmed, you will receive or give the international slow nod of approval with the frown type jutting lip movement.

 

The Tick Boxes vary from person to person, but here’s mine.

 

Manufacture

Just to filter out the Daewoo’s and other crap.

 

Looks

There is no need to buy an ugly car these days.

 

Engine

Bigger the better, if it’s a diesel you’ve given up on life and I’ve lost interest in this conversation.

 

Colour

Not that important, but if it’s pink or brown it’s a no in that box.

 

Magazine/internet or TV review

If I’m still undecided I’ll use the in-depth review that a journalist has given and claim the decision as my own.

 

The whole process take about 20 seconds and can determine whether credibility is retained or lost.

Edited October 16, 2014 by ALEX

[ALEX 98 1 Cars]

Ha. Forgot to add my point!

 

The Fiesta ST gets my vote!

[Tom Fenton 1,541]

You've obviously never been in a decent modern diesel.

[welshpug 1,657]

I love my old diesel!

[Andy_C 50]

Octavia III vrs TDi. Ain't no 205 but plenty quick enough for me plus 50mpg and lowest P11D figure for years.

 

Boring? Not a bit.

[Rams_gti6 12 1 Cars]

Octavia III vrs TDi. Ain't no 205 but plenty quick enough for me plus 50mpg and lowest P11D figure for years.

 

Ain't no 205 sure, but in a drag race I bet it would be surprising!

 

Boring? Not a bit.

[Tom Fenton 1,541]

Some numbers and letters

 

535d, 270bhp, 410ftlb.

[Rams_gti6 12 1 Cars]

Torque.....

[jeremy 70]

My wife has a Saab 93 Aero 1.9td sport auto with 150 bhp I love it. Its fairly economical when driven normally, but put your foot down it shifts. So could not disagree with the diesel sentiment more...... .......oh hang on just remembered then there's my 2.5td5 auto Discovery, I renamed the bluetooth link on my phone it's called "The Tractor" and that's being kind!

 

The one thing I learnt there never was a right age to own a 205 GTI, too fast, too small, the list was endless from both parents and wife alike. However it was a car I felt very much alive in.

 

Not really sure I've answered your question, but one thing I know is I'm never going to buy a Vauxhall Astra GSI!

[Alan_M 66 1 Cars]

 

 

Engine

Bigger the better, if it’s a diesel you’ve given up on life and I’ve lost interest in this conversation.

 

 

Not sure about this statement. Diesels are no worse than any mundane petrol out there IMO.

 

Some numbers and letters

 

535d, 270bhp, 410ftlb.

 

That is grunt......

[welshpug 1,657]

They've come a long way since the old m52d25 ! I think I'm running 170bhp/250lbft

[ALEX 98 1 Cars]

You're all coming out nar! Thought this forum was full of petrol heads. I guess not.

 

[Simes 248 2 Cars]

I've got a sly diesel too.

170bhp and 258ftlb

Looking for a 330 or 335.

Love it!

 

IMG_8356 by simes205, on Flickr

[Reebmit 51 4 Cars]

We have a couple of modern diesels as dailys and would never go back to petrol as an everyday car. Petrols have such poor torque compared and that is what you need everyday, they are even better modified. I find overtaking just awsome, in most cases not even the need to change down .....

[mowflow 67]

Take it the fiesta st comment is for me?

 

I very rarely ask the "what you got?" Question. If asked of me I usually just keep it as basic as a brand name and I never rhyme off more than 1 car, usually just the daily or my favourite at that given time.

 

Like I said in my other thread. If the subject does come up I'll approve of things most people think odd. Like if someone said "suzuki ignis sport" I'd probably be talking to the guy all night where as if they said "audi a4 black edition" or "BMW 3 series M sport" I'd probably change the subject. It's not that those are bad cars, the key is in the description, there's no reference to engine therefor the person either doesn't know, doesn't care or is trying to hide it. They have however tried to make it sound sporty or more exotic. I'm a car snob in an odd way. All 205 drivers should know what I mean (drivers cars).

 

As for diesels. They fulfil a purpose. I used to do big mileage so it made economic sense, now I don't do the mileage and I never tow anything i wouldn't have one. My last diesel had 286bhp and 516lbft. Brilliant for overtaking but still a bit boring to drive and almost completely devoid of any character.

Edited October 17, 2014 by mowflow

[ASBGTi 9]

Octavia III vrs TDi. Ain't no 205 but plenty quick enough for me plus 50mpg and lowest P11D figure for years.

Boring? Not a bit.

You used the term P11D........Pretty boring!

 

I have an E250Cdi AMG Line, can't really argue with 204bhp, 450nm torque and 60mpg. The UK has become a very diesel flooded market unfortunately, with a lot of manufactures reducing the people amount of petrol engines they produce for the UK. Also the General perception is that diesel is "better".

[Andy_C 50]

Not really - saves me £600+ a year

[Anthony 1,003]

Diesels are by and large pretty soulless things devoid of character, but then, to be honest many modern petrol engines aren't much better.

[mowflow 67]

Yup, as said, my last diesel had power a plenty and unlike a lot of the ones that look good on paper in the power department it also had decent sprint stats (I believe they usually aren't that good due conversions with gearing, i'm sure someone here knows about all that stuff). It was completely devoid of any character, soul or excitement what so ever.

 

I think petrols are suffering the same issue to some extent as the eco crowd have deemed it that displacement is dead and NA engines are dying in their droves. Manufacturers increasingly have to rely on strapping a turbo on everything.

[ALEX 98 1 Cars]

The point of my comment was that you've decided to compromise and bought something sensible, therefore I've lost interest.

 

Just as I would have if you said you'd bought a 208 Style with a Puretech 1.2 Vti engine.

 

Either option to me isn't exciting enough and doesn't deserve my approval nod.

I see all diesels as boring as I find they aren't as fun to drive as an equivallent petrol version, Power & torque figures don't decide if the car is any fun.

 

Those who say they'll never buy a Petrol because diesels are so much better now, in my opinion can't drive! But as above, it’s only my opinion.

 

[chipstick 382 1 Cars]

[Tom Fenton 1,541]

The point of my comment was that you've decided to compromise and bought something sensible, therefore I've lost interest.

If I wanted to do sensible I could choose a 520d. I didn't, I chose a 535d, yes diesel but not really sensible? I'd like a V10 M5 but realistically cannot afford to run one at the moment.

[Wes 86 1 Cars]

saying i've got a ford doesn't get much interest! even if it is a 400hp, 450lb supercharged V8 burnout monster.

 

[ALEX 98 1 Cars]

 

 

I was thinking adding fuel to the fire!

 

Another thing petrol is better for over diesel.

[Andy_C 50]

"Sensible" sadly is what I have to opt for at 40k a year.

 

I drove the petrol vrs when a diesel wasn't available for a test and to be brutally frank it felt faster for definite but otherwise not much different.

 

I've seen Diesel engines get progressively better since my first 12 years ago and I don't think there's any shame in running one.

 

I guess having a 205 in the garage means you can be boring and sensible most days and indulge your passion for non-tractor fuel when the mood takes you. Works for me.