Post by racingteatray on Jun 17, 2018 20:35:38 GMT
We were in Tuscany last weekend for a family wedding near Arezzo. This called for some 800+ kms of driving from Bologna down past Florence, and then a truly lovely drive up across the Appenines from Arezzo to my in-laws in Fano on the Adriatic coast for a night, and then back up to Bologna.
Shame then that Avis saw fit to inflict upon us a metallic grey lump of something calling itself an Opel Crossland X in “Ecotec” flavour. I had no idea this model existed. My wife was moved to comment that it was decidedly the ugliest and least appealing rental car we’d ever been presented with.
Harsh but probably true. I have no idea why someone would buy one unless it was simply extremely cheap. It was spacious enough I suppose, the interior was inoffensive and it cruised effectively on a motorway without using much fuel.
The highlight was what was definitely a 3-pot engine. I haven’t driven one in years and it’s true that they have an endearing thrum. This one was turbocharged and had a mildly perky 110bhp, and was actually reasonably enthusiastic about a thrashing. If you did the aural equivalent of squinting as you accelerated out of a hairpin in second, there was possibly a hint of Porsche but I may be getting carried away...
That was then held back by an overly long throw to the 5spd manual ‘box (remember those?) and really rather puddingy handling. A comfy and squishy ride translated into lots of roll and early onset understeer.
So, a decentish little engine in search of something other than an entirely forgettable car.
Shame then that Avis saw fit to inflict upon us a metallic grey lump of something calling itself an Opel Crossland X in “Ecotec” flavour. I had no idea this model existed. My wife was moved to comment that it was decidedly the ugliest and least appealing rental car we’d ever been presented with.
Harsh but probably true. I have no idea why someone would buy one unless it was simply extremely cheap. It was spacious enough I suppose, the interior was inoffensive and it cruised effectively on a motorway without using much fuel.
The highlight was what was definitely a 3-pot engine. I haven’t driven one in years and it’s true that they have an endearing thrum. This one was turbocharged and had a mildly perky 110bhp, and was actually reasonably enthusiastic about a thrashing. If you did the aural equivalent of squinting as you accelerated out of a hairpin in second, there was possibly a hint of Porsche but I may be getting carried away...
That was then held back by an overly long throw to the 5spd manual ‘box (remember those?) and really rather puddingy handling. A comfy and squishy ride translated into lots of roll and early onset understeer.
So, a decentish little engine in search of something other than an entirely forgettable car.
