Modern
cars get bigger when compared with an MGBGTV8
Our research shows
the frontal area of a typical modern hatchback like a VW Golf is now nearly a
fifth larger (18.5%) compared to that of an MGBGTV8 and in terms of bulk,
a surprising 36% greater. That's quite a change and clearly helps explain
the feeling when driving an MGBGTV8 that modern cars are getting bigger. The changes
with other modern cars, like BMW, Mercedes and Audi saloons and the ever increasing
number of "urban prat x 4s", are I suspect even larger on a relative
scale than the earlier models of those brands.
Posted:
161010 |  | Driving
an MGBGTV8 on motorways and major roads today you are aware that modern cars
seem to be bigger in your rear view mirror and they grow larger as they close
on you to pass. Often when you are travelling at "around the legal limit"
for the section of road modern cars gradually close on you, seemingly on cruise
control. Some drivers have an irritating habit of hanging off behind you some
30 to 40 yards, sometimes less, so as you close on a vehicle ahead in moderately
heavy traffic and need to pull out to overtake the slower vehicle, it can be difficult
to pull out. Often dropping out of overdrive, even taking third, you have available
the still electric V8 powered acceleration and can signal and move out and ahead
in a safe but assertive way. Often the driver behind flashes as though a "small
old car" has had the impertinence to enter the outside lane which is of course
the rightful place for OLODs like them - "outside lane owner drivers!"
But
the question is how has the relative size of the MGBGTV8 changed over the years
when compared with a typical hatchback or saloon in 1974 period and now the
natural evolution of that type of car in 2016? See our illustrated article based
on a comparison of an MGBGTV8 with the VW Golf Mk1 from 1974 and the current VW
Golf. More |
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