Those RD28 engines are so gutless that they're completely horrible to drive. I had 2 RD28 Laurels, one of them a manual and they're just too slow to drive without thrashing it everywhere. The turbo ones are a bit better, but still too slow.
The whole "safer" argument is a often a lie. For the same amount of money as a 20 year old deathtrap SUV with no modern safety features, one could buy a modern car that is far safer. Some people just don't understand that vehicle mass can only do so much to keep the occupants safe.
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