I can't say for sure that this realisation wasn't preceded by a bump to the head - possibly quite a big bump to the head - but I'm starting to think the Vauxhall Adam is quite cool.
There. Said it.
I see a black one (black body, black roof, nice factory alloys) almost everyday, and, knowing that I need a city/town car, I can't help but feel a pang or two of desire for it. Small, nippy, agile, cool, and I bet the road tax is zip all.
Town car wise, I'm not fussed on the Fiat 500 (too fashionista for a style-free pleb like me) and the MINI is a no-no (Bright lights! Big Wheels! Stripes on the roof!), but the Adam... I know it looks a bit odd from some angles, but the black one looks cool. As does the red one I see. And, erm, the blue one with the silver roof and excellent alloys keeps catching my eye, too. Damn.
Tell me - could I be onto a sleeper here, or is professional help the answer?
The head designer at Vauxhall Opel is Mark Adams. He did some work on the original Ford Ka and the Adam resembles that car particularly at the rear. Yes, there must be somewhere you can get help if you're starting to appreciate the Adam too much.
true, but naming a car after himself didn't exactly hurt the fortunes of Enzo Ferrari, Rolls and Royce, Romeo's addition to ALFA, Ferruccio Lamborghini, the Benz geezer, Henry Ford and Andre Citroen.
Then again... against such leading lights, there's the Adam, so maybe that's where the comparison falls apart.
Got to be careful though. That Benz Geezer disappeared on a cross channel ferry. Was taking up a post in the British motor industry. Germans didn't like that, so "Pop went his Weasel". No, you'll be alright, it's an Opel.
Cue2 - you are closer to car design than any of us here (I think!) so maybe it's time to have an open discussion about it.
I'm not sure if this is true of other design-led industries, but I listen to/read interviews with heads of car design, and there seems to be huge periods of pontificating over what their brand means, and drawn out explanations over how the MK3 version is a 'step-change' over the MK2 that reinforces [enter every cliche you've ever heard, here] 'the brand's desire to/move to a new direction/shows extended, dynamic tension which our customers demand', which is all great until they show you that the end result is a pretty tedious looking Mazda 626. I understand that design is often strangled by laws/engineering/manufacturing requirements, but when I listen to interviews like with that chap, the only person that seems to be surprised and delighted by what's been achieved, is the design team. The consumer, on seeing an Insignia, doesn't think 'wow, big win for Vauxhall - note the tapered rear lights.' I doubt it could even muster the enthusiasm to confuse it with a new Carina.
In the mid-range market therefore, is there some divorce between what some design teams think they have achieved, versus what has actually made an impact on end users/customers?
This seems to be a risqué behaviour now that manufacturers won't engage in except VAG.
The 147 and the Mito should have (had) had the 1750 (and that totally wasted Mito GTA opportunity). The Clio RS seems much more tame than it used to be. Twingo doesn't even have a performance version anymore. Ford Fiesta ST almost makes it with the warrantied Mountune package. DS3 got one sporting model as a limited edition, but it was boring and not at all noteworthy. Hyundai I20 is boring. Kia are sort of trying, but are highly conservative.
With the rise of the crossover, people don't seem at all interested in cars that are actually... interesting, fun or absolute bonkers.
It's all about getting a Wi-Fi hotspot and some bizarre notion of lifestyle choice across to others (Captur life ). Not actually having anything that's vaguely purposeful or interesting.
It'll be interesting to see how far Alfa will carry thier thoughts on having a more purist and engaging experience at a time when even BMW are making thier small hatch FWD.
Detuned V6 Giulietta anyone? Sounds inviting and different right now. But we'll get 20 different versions of the crossover Giulietta with added plastic before that ever happens. People like tack, plastic, height and hipster packages like WiFi currently. C.f. current Mokka advert. Tells you all about the sad state of culture of driving and cars now.
There were some really cheap lease deals (<£150) on the Corsa D VXR when Vaux were about to release the E. I was considering one when I impulse bought the GQV!
Scud, the boys at Va*^%#ll are just laughing at you. They want £19k for a roller-skate that is a warmed-over re-hash of the Frod Kack.
I fell off my chair when I saw what they to charge for a Kokka and what is it? Some faux-wheel-drive in platforms.
With their awful 'lifestyle' products, apple-style premium pricing and sucker-seeking finance finance deals they are rapidly becoming the Peugeot of Luton. I fear all that wafting around in your lady-licence lump has addled your brain. I prescribe 2 weeks Busso therapy, or I'll send Starkers 'round. :tut:
It's not a Ford Ka. It's a relative of the Mito/Corsa/Punto. You can get a Punto a lot cheaper . But I suspect the £19k Madam is anything but a symbol of how brilliant it is. There will be deals for £150 pmonth on cars that look similar.
You may laugh, but this was considered years ago. There was even a rally version of Adam on the pages of the magazine Total Vauxhall. Both I think had high performance versions of the 1.4 turbo engine.
I haven't been to the UK in a few years but German SUV's are very popular in South Africa at the moment. They tend to be extremely badly driven by middle aged women. I never knew soccer mum's led such stressful lifes. On that basis I could never bring myself to actually buy one. Can any of them actually even go off-road these days and when i say off-road I mean rock crawling not driving down someone's slightly damp, leaf covered driveway after a storm?
Doubtful, the X6 or was it X5 was panned on top gear as you can't lock the diffs.
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