Body styles they should have made!

[tommi]

the should redesgin the bmw 2002 to a modern car. if they can do it with mini they can retro up a bimmer!

[Robmarriott]

E30 compact. Maybe not as an M3 but even so, looks amazing!

[mitsuru]

IF your going to go piratical and sporting then it's time
for a updated version of the reliant scimitar!
The Cossey 3L V6 that was in my grandfathers was nuts!!

[OilyFingers]

You can put a hard top on an MX5 and remove it when the weather returns. Jag are rumoured to be making an XF estate (lets hope they call it an Estate and not summat ponsy like the Europeans).

The term/name Shooting Brake springs to mind, or is tha just for ex coupes
Do you remember the XJS Shooting Brake?
Or was it just up market Relient Scimitar?

The XJ shooter was expensive even by todays standards and was badged lynx eventer. Presumably it was for those who had large jodpers and riding boots.

I'd love to see a new Scimitar but I think the 3 door estate has had its day. Manufacturers have us belive that we care more about emissions and a 'girl' button that reverse parks for you. Thats why the new Focus is being derided for not being as driver focused as the last two. It wont be long before all new cars have to have a gismo that drives for you and analyses 7000 risks a second before following the satnav into a flooded ford or throws a hissy fit and puts you in the other lane in front of a truck.

[jnoiles]

You can put a hard top on an MX5 and remove it when the weather returns.

True, but having driven a couple it doesn't exactly increase the rigidity. That would be the big appeal of my theoretical coupe version

[OilyFingers]

The thing is the little Miata was designed as a drop top not butchered from a shopping trolley. I've not seen anyone complain about grip shortages or it wanting in the handling department. The only way I think (then again I've not driven one so can only estimate) you'd need more rigidity is if you put more power down than the chassis can handle.

[jnoiles]

The thing is the little Miata was designed as a drop top not butchered from a shopping trolley. I've not seen anyone complain about grip shortages or it wanting in the handling department. The only way I think (then again I've not driven one so can only estimate) you'd need more rigidity is if you put more power down than the chassis can handle.

By way of background, we had a mk1 Eunos Roadster for 3 years. Madam recently chopped it in for a mk3 MX5 2.0 sport. I miss the mk1 everytime I drive her mk3 and so I'm currently on the hunt for another one to add to the fleet. Added bonus is that this time around the mk1 Eunos Roadster will be mine so I can do a bit of tinkering with it, unlike the last time when it was her car and tinkering was verboten.

I've spoken to a lot of mx5 racers here in the UK and a bunch of autocrossers in the states, they all love the mk1 Eunos/mx5 but will all freely admit that its far from perfect. Especially as they're getting on a bit now. There are a ton of aftermarket chassis braces and bolt in braces for strut towers and behind the drivers seats. I've driven a few cars so equipped and the differnce is night and day.

It's not a criticsm of the design on my part, as I say I'm actively looking at buying another one, more a reflection on what could have been had they done a closed roof version that didn't flop about like a shoebox with the lid removed when you push it.

[Renrut]

I'm not sure making it a coupe will add rigidity if its strut braces it needs as generally the coupe-ness won't affect that.

-doom and gloom stuff-

You're probably right but I wonder how far it will go before we see the first car based blue screen of death fatalities...

[Renrut]

E30 compact. Maybe not as an M3 but even so, looks amazing!

They should have done it. Looks a bit Alfa-y, i.e. Awesome!

[mjslonergan]

Surely a Cougar is an X-type coupé, as they are both basically a Mondeo

[Renrut]

Well I was talking about the rwd S-Type, not the X. Which if the cougar had been that it would have been a modern Capri

However a 4wd cougar based on the X-type running gear would have been quite an A to B toy.

[mjslonergan]

Not to be pedantic, although that is exactly what I am being from original post... "Except Jag never made a small coupé using S or X type parts"

[Renrut]

Not to be pedantic, although that is exactly what I am being from original post... "Except Jag never made a small coupé using S or X type parts"

And to be extra pedantic, the basic X-type parts were Mondeo and so not X-type.

The only exclusive X-type parts was the 4wd and the 2.1L V6. Can't see anyone wanting the 2.1 V6 when a 3.0 is on offer.

[OilyFingers]

Jaguar are going to make a baby XK8 with congestion charge friendly engines. New Capri perhaps?

[tommi]

E30 compact. Maybe not as an M3 but even so, looks amazing!

i did start work building one of these once.
i basically cut the back end of a scrap e30 and offered up a touring boot lid to it, would of left gaping holes behind rear tyres and looked a bit like th old groub Lancia's. unfortunatly i gave it up as the car got scrapped couple days after