Ever get to drive a car you were excited about, only to be disappointed?

[helement2003]

I meant to post this thread some time back, but forgot. A discussion with a few friends reminded me.

My example/cool story bro: I had a reservation for a luxury car in San Fran a couple months back. I went to go pick the car up, and behold, a shiny new 2012 Camaro SS is parked out front. I had seen them available online, but the price was a good $50 higher per day. I asked the rental worker how much it would go for...same price? He checked my reservation and said sure, same price.

I'm excited as hell now. I had just been talking to my dad about wanting an American V8 at some point in my life...this is perfect! Automatic, obviously, so I knew that brought a bit less horsepower. 400hp total. Still pumped!

The car had around 3500 miles on it, and was nicely optioned - HID's, backup cam, HUD, etc.

After driving it around for 2 days, my impressions are the following:
-Very well put together, with nice materials throughout the cabin.
-Interior didn't seem as claustrophobic as reviews would have you believe. It's big inside.
-Blind spots are terrible when driving, but the backup cam for parking, etc was great.
-Handled well, and for the most part did not feel as large as the car really is.
-Paddle shifters on the auto worked well and were pretty quick. Downshifts got a nice rev match blip.
-I averaged 14.7mpg in mixed driving.

My biggest letdown:
-The lack of a sense of speed/acceleration.

You could tell the car was moving out of it's own way quickly...but it just lacked the feel. It was really disappointing and kind of killed the car for me.

Rule #1

[marko.f]

Work at a car rental company and have a bunch of cars that i get to drive. A lot of the new cars are disappointing, but the biggest one by far is the Mitsubishi Lancer

the interior felt super cheap, it was incredibly slow, and handled like crap

[koko12]

Not long ago I drove the new Focus and I was totally disappointed, the interior felt really busy, bulky and cheap and the transmission didn't know which gear to be in.


Also just not long ago drove a new Jetta with the 2.5 5 cylinder and tiptronic transmission, and was let down. The car felt heavier and bigger than it is and not as peppy as I was expecting it to be. Also the transmission was very slow to downshift and though the car only had 10k miles it felt more like a car with 70k miles.

[KrautFed]

First drive in a Viper. I probably had an orgasm getting in. Interior was horrid. Sound was straight pipe Honda like. Speed was OK. Then I burned my calf upon exiting. I guess it felt like losing my virginity to a hooker, then getting an STD. It just really left a bad taste in my mouth. I had a friend properly drive one with me as a passenger and I gained some respect... but its still one of my dream cars fallen from grace.

[Aonarch]

No BRZ yet?

[DubNMiatafan]

First time I drove a Mazdaspeed Miata. I had always liked Miatas and I loved how they drove so I figured Miata + factory turbo would be perfection. I was wrong. The turbo kicked in so strong at around 4k, I almost hit the rev-limiter in 1st. There was so little power before the turbo kicked in that I was flooring it all the way up to there, then it shot up to redline so quickly I could barely shift. The jekyll-hyde power delivery completely killed it for me.

[wheeltowheel]

No BRZ yet?

Shhhhh

[C4 A6]

No BRZ yet?

I was excited to test drive a 9th gen Si. Was a little disappointed. I got to test drive an 8th gen Si Mugen, wasn't too impressed.

[Eightysixturbo]

Sadly...e39 m5. Maybe it was because I was coming from an s2000 but the m5 was just disappointing

[Hybrid_Hatch]

Fiat 500. i was soooo excited. then i felt like it was going to tip over going around every corner.

[schwank]

Yes... I drove a student's 997 turbo at the track... but it was an extremely slow lap to familiarize someone with our local track for the first time. I was disappointed I could not drive it faster... like he showed me later in the day

I also drove a diesel Mk3 Golf on the 'Ring.

[PDing]

F30 3series. Never left after test driving a car actually pissed and wasn't due to dealership.

[helement2003]

Any of you guys who just posted up a particular car with no real story care to explain why?

Just curious. I know I gave a novel, but some of you aren't saying anything about why you disliked the car.

[Spinnaker]

The E60 M5, the auto tranny single clutch thing was just off.

[macosxuser]

First gen Audi TT. Drove both the 3.2DSG and 225 1.8TQ 6 spd. Makes me glad I kept my GTI and didn't 'upgrade' Interior sucked, engine wasn't all that, and it generally just felt like a cramped golf.

[redman43]

Back in college, I worked at an auto detailing shop. A guy leaves his C5 Corvette with us and when it's time for his car, the shop owner tells me to go pull it into the wash bay. I get all giddy but then was supremely disappointed to find it was an automatic.

[moonstation 2000]

1st car: Fiat x1/9 - I had decided that I wanted to buy one bc mid engined and good handling and all that. I saw one on ebay that was near me and went out for a test drive, it was horrid. The thing drove like an old ox-cart, and it was in good shape in general. I drove a beat up toyota mr2 the next day and it was worlds better. Was very disappointed...

2nd car: Porsche 911 from the late eighties with slightly hopped up engine. It felt fine driving around, then I got it out on the highway and decided to step on it a bit. I really thought it would be faster... by quite a bit.

[Klim18]

Coming from a GTI, I expected it to be alot more sportier... instead a lot more "softer".

[Arju]

The E60 M5, the auto tranny single clutch thing was just off.

This. The E60 M5 rode horribly and I hated the transmission unless I drove it almost exactly like a manual, which still made it somewhat jerky.

No BRZ yet?

I drove an FRS and was pretty impressed by it. The two let downs were a lack of torque (spoiled by my TDI) and lots of road noise over 120 km/h. I still kind of want one.

The 2012 Hyundai Genesis Coupe sucked in almost every single conceivable way. The 2.0T track had a lousy gearbox, the V6 had low torque at lower revs, the interior felt cheap, the suspension was way too mushy on the normal model, the view out was horrible and the stereo felt like a cheap aftermarket unit. The pricing in Canada is also insane.

Right after I drove a V6 and V8 Mustang after and came away impressed. The funny part was my expectations compared to reality were opposite; I thought I would hate the Mustang and enjoy the Genesis Coupe.

[marko.f]

First gen Audi TT. Drove both the 3.2DSG and 225 1.8TQ 6 spd. Makes me glad I kept my GTI and didn't 'upgrade' Interior sucked, engine wasn't all that, and it generally just felt like a cramped golf.

I was in the same spot when i was selling my old jetta. the TT was crazy cramped (non existant rear room) and the canadian tumor bumpers were a big turn off

[BMP_3918]

Test drove a Genesis Coupe 2.0T R-Spec (or whatever it was called) and was disappointed. The ride was extremely rough, major turbo lag (maybe I was just so used to my MKVI GTI), and sloppy short shift kit.

[MRVW00]

I'm with you.

The E39 M5 was a let down...don't drive your heros

[Tiny4cyl]

I felt the Veyron had a lot of turbo lag

[Thrasher]

Sadly...e39 m5. Maybe it was because I was coming from an s2000 but the m5 was just disappointing

I hope to Christ this is a troll...

[Pool Runner]

Coming from a GTI, I expected it to be alot more sportier... instead a lot more "softer".

Interesting, I drove both the stick & DSG GTi 2 & 4 doors the same day I test drove the Mazdaspeed 3. Shoot the MS3 made the GTi "feel" like the softer car, the MS3 was just more raw and out of control, I even liked how there was even some factory exhaust note in the package where the GTi was Lexus quiet.

On topic though my biggest let downs were...

- Mazdaspeed Miata, just like the other guy in this thread I was excited to test drive it and loved the extra styling bits. Drove it and like the other guy said almost slower than the N/A version until about 4K then hold on but wait you now have to shift.

Completlely useless Powerband despite awesome handling and overall package.

- 2009 Jeep Wrangler four door, could not believe how something so badass could be so lifeless when you put your foot into it getting on the highway, also worse sounding engine ever.

[Pool Runner]

I'm with you.

The E39 M5 was a let down...don't drive your heros

I felt the same way, I worked for a body shop that did work for the local BMW dealer so I had tons of seat time in them. Honestly never felt like almost 400 hp as advertised. Felt more like 300-325 ish and I didn't think it handled as well as it was praised either.

during that era I had a chance to drive everything BMW sold and by far the most fun was the M Coupe and M Roadster only to be followed closely by the ZHP E46. I actually liked the ZHP more than the E46 M.

The X5 4.6is was fun too in a very different way, fun in a way that an SUV shouldn't be able to have this much grip and sound that good.

[Shomegrown]

I hope to Christ this is a troll...

Why? It kinda is a boat. I can understand the feeling to some extent...

"never meet your heroes"

I guess that's why I refuse to drive a 993 Turbo.

[zmt]

< flame suit> NSX < /flame suit>

Always wanted one, so when the time came to go pick mine out I started test driving.

Sound and shifter were awesome. Power, steering (ratio, not feel), brakes, clutch, seating position were all not what I would want to come out to every day. Oh well. There are plenty of cars on the road.

[Pool Runner]

Why? It kinda is a boat. I can understand the feeling to some extent...

"never meet your heroes"

I guess that's why I refuse to drive a 993 Turbo.

Got to drive a 996 TT and it was everything and then some of what I expected. Also thoroughly enjoyed the last 993 Carrera 4S I drove despite purist suggesting the AWD and extra weight takes all the precision and soul out of the car.

[Rapid Decompression]

WHen I was young, I used to in-vision these things as something I wanted to drive someday. When I was old enough to do it...I was let down lol Was clunky...under powered..and had almost no soul. I cant help but wonder what a V8 swap droves and feels like though .

[TooFitToQuit]

[dwagner88]

The current gen Lexus IS. I was expecting sporty, and I got a RWD Camry.

[horsty69]

What didnt you like?...curious because its on my "may buy list" in the future however I havent driven an Abarth yet. ( I did drive the 500 Sport)

[volkstyle]

Coming from a GTI, I expected it to be alot more sportier... instead a lot more "softer".

No way!! its alot more "raw" .

[Brickx3]

The V10 M6 with the SMG trans......