Recommend me - a car. A small car. Ish.

[KungFooBob]

Was parked up behind a Lotus Eletre this morning. It had an arse like a baboon but looked OK from there forwards.

Starting price £86k but I doubt many are sold at that spec. The R version goes up to about £140k and is quickish for such a hulking thing.

Made in Wuhan - which was a bit of a surprise.

Haven't ordered one.

Iirc they're not even a Lotus design, it's another model from a Chinese brand rebadged as a Lotus.

[Count Steer]

Was parked up behind a Lotus Eletre this morning. It had an arse like a baboon but looked OK from there forwards.

Starting price £86k but I doubt many are sold at that spec. The R version goes up to about £140k and is quickish for such a hulking thing.

Made in Wuhan - which was a bit of a surprise.

Haven't ordered one.

Iirc they're not even a Lotus design, it's another model from a Chinese brand rebadged as a Lotus.

The Wiki entry suggests it was designed by Lotus Tech Creative Centre in the W Midlands. I wouldn't be surprised if that meant 'tweaked to specify interior and other trimmings'. It does look pretty generic.

[Taipan]

Or…. Polestar 2.

But. The interior of all electric cars is utter wank. Total shit. I want to have buttons and feel cocooned not like I’m in an Apple Store.

That’s a Tesla out then!

TBF it’s really intuitive. It’s much easier to change settings on what is basically an iPad then scrolling through small screens using steering wheel controls. But I really get when you’re going with this. I’m currently driving round the West Country in my old camper van and it’s a manual transmission and driver aids are limited to leccy windows but it’s so much more of an immersive experience than a mode4n car. I’m really enjoying driving it!

[Slenver]

rebadged as a Lotus.

Not sure that's quite true (though I don't know for certain ).

AFAIK, all their sports stuff is still designed and engineered at Hethel, but the Eletre was more of a joint effort between Lotus UK and their Chinese owners, Geely, who also own Volvo, Polestar etc

[Slenver]

But. The interior of all electric cars is utter wank. Total shit. I want to have buttons and feel cocooned not like I’m in an Apple Store.

I think the problem you'll find is that EVs are modern Modern cars are modern inside, as opposed to older cars.

It's not really an EV thing per se, though of course Tesla have taken it to extremes with their (horrible IMO) spartan interiors, no driver's binnacle, everything in a single big screen etc.

But then look at the missus' Audi Q4 and it's exactly the same inside as an ICE Q5 - admittedly it has a large digital dash and another large central screen, but also physical buttons for a lot of stuff. I think it's quite nice. I like screens and techy stuff as long as there are enough physical buttons for the main controls.

But if you want modern, then there'll be screens. Cos cars now have screens.

[Slenver]

To the original question, it's a pretty tricky list of requirements. If you take it strictly, then no sports cars, no SUVs alone basically means something like a standard, non-sporty hatchback, saloon or estate (remember those?), or else something awful like a pick-up But then smallish means only the hatchback or smallish saloon.

If you want fun as well, then it doesn't leave much. A warmish hatchback or saloon.

M135/140/235/240i (pre switch to FWD/4cyl Mini engines) as mentioned would be a good shout. Maybe an S3 or S4? I had an S4 for a while and it was lovely. Not a sports car, but a very fast, comfy mid-size luxury car. Would have again.

I'd definitely also consider picking up one of the last Fiesta STs. Bit of a scalpel so maybe a bit too much for pot-holed roads, but a classic hot hatch. And 3 cylinders so scrapes into your rules

[Ditchfinder]

Maybe a V6 Alfa. Brera or GTV....

[MyLittleStudPony]

It's 4 cylinders and has a touchscreen but they've got some gan in them: Yaris GR.

[KungFooBob]

Maybe a V6 Alfa. Brera or GTV....

The V6 in the Brera isn't the traditional Alfa jobbie iirc, I think it's a Holden unit with stretchy cam chains.

I tried to buy a GTV once, they're undriveable by anyone over 5'3".

[Ditchfinder]

V6 TT quattro...

[Mussels]

Was parked up behind a Lotus Eletre this morning. It had an arse like a baboon but looked OK from there forwards.

Starting price £86k but I doubt many are sold at that spec. The R version goes up to about £140k and is quickish for such a hulking thing.

Made in Wuhan - which was a bit of a surprise.

Haven't ordered one.

Iirc they're not even a Lotus design, it's another model from a Chinese brand rebadged as a Lotus.

The Wiki entry suggests it was designed by Lotus Tech Creative Centre in the W Midlands. I wouldn't be surprised if that meant 'tweaked to specify interior and other trimmings'. It does look pretty generic.

According to their chief creative officer they have 120 'creatives' there, no mention of any engineers.
https://sixtysixmag.com/lotus-eletre/

[Count Steer]

Iirc they're not even a Lotus design, it's another model from a Chinese brand rebadged as a Lotus.

The Wiki entry suggests it was designed by Lotus Tech Creative Centre in the W Midlands. I wouldn't be surprised if that meant 'tweaked to specify interior and other trimmings'. It does look pretty generic.

According to their chief creative officer they have 120 'creatives' there, no mention of any engineers.
https://sixtysixmag.com/lotus-eletre/

Sounds like architects.

*Doodle doodle doodle*

'Chuck that at the engineers/construction team and tell them to get it built'.

[ZRX61]

https://www.mtcars.com/ady-cars-collect ... c8bmv2.jpg

[fingerpuk]

https://www.mtcars.com/ady-cars-collect ... c8bmv2.jpg

You win.

Checking size charts it appears the X3 is no longer “big”. The 4 series is longer and not much narrower. The Polestar is basically the same size.

So - it’s looking like I need to go off script. A resto mod maybe.

Original short wheelbase Defender maybe. Maybe an older 911. I am very fussy.

[Mr. Dazzle]

rebadged as a Lotus.

Not sure that's quite true (though I don't know for certain ).

AFAIK, all their sports stuff is still designed and engineered at Hethel, but the Eletre was more of a joint effort between Lotus UK and their Chinese owners, Geely, who also own Volvo, Polestar etc

Lotus are currently talking about shutting down their UK factories and engineering centres, which tells you a little something about the Lotus content of these Chinese SUVs.

[fingerpuk]

Bigger engined 2 series BMW is winning. It’s small, has buttons inside, sounds good, has enough space for what I need.

[KungFooBob]

The latest 2er coupe is a very handsome car in M-Sport trim, especially in Portimao Blue.