The Best ///M/Barge/General Rant/Look at this/O/T (Vol XVI)

[jeremyc]

Anyway orange calipers are where it's at, dontchaknow.

[braddo]

olly755 said:

Ah OK.

Spotted a Panamera Diesel on small wheels wearing huge yeller callipers this morning.

But because I'm uneducated and generally misinformed about most things, I couldn't help feeling that the owner had been royally had.

I guess if you were keeping the car for a long time and doing a lot of miles in it, the benefits would be that your wheels will stay clean and you probably won't have to change pads/discs for virtually the life of the car.

Actually, combined with having the small wheels I wonder what the difference in unsprung weight would be compared to steel brakes and 20/21 inch wheels?

Still, a big premium to pay.

[braddo]

jeremyc said:

Anyway orange calipers are where it's at, dontchaknow.

This reminds me - Gallardo spotting in the past few days:

Sunday morning - orange roadster heading south on the A3

Tuesday evening - black coupe (with a rear wing) around Oval/Brixton being driven very noisily and with a police car, sirens blaring, not far behind!

[jeremyc]

braddo said:

This reminds me - Gallardo spotting in the past few days:

Sunday morning - orange roadster heading south on the A3

Tuesday evening - black coupe (with a rear wing) around Oval/Brixton being driven very noisily and with a police car, sirens blaring, not far behind!

You needed to be somewhere on the roads between Pangbourne and Sherbourne on Sunday.

[braddo]

jeremyc said:

ou needed to be somewhere on the roads between Pangbourne and Sherbourne on Sunday.

You seem to be getting plenty of use out of yours. How many miles have you done in it?

[Mr E]

Chaps,

Apologies for derailing the shiny rapid things that we're all enjoying.
As discussed previously, we need a new barge as the Saab is elderly.

Has anyone every owned an E500? More specifically, something like this;
http://www.davidbrowncars.co.uk/mercedes-e500-spor...

I'm seeing lots to like (N/A V8, subdued looks, plenty of kit, nice and wafty). Are there any horror stories (apart from depreciation)?

[Beefmeister]

That E500 is probably all the car you'll ever need. Love it.

[Output Flange]

Is it really worth getting an E500 over an E350CDi, given the car it's powering? I'd suspect not.

[Beefmeister]

If you love the sound of a V8 and can afford the running costs then absolutely.

[_Batty_]

Beefmeister said:

If you love the sound of a V8 and can afford the running costs then absolutely.

Plus all the modern Diesel issues such as turbos, DPF, injectors etc etc.

[jeremyc]

braddo said:

You seem to be getting plenty of use out of yours. How many miles have you done in it?

About 5000 so far I think.

[Mr E]

To be honest, I'd consider a E350 CDI, a E350CGI or an E500. Hell, I've looked at a E300 hybrid. But electric memory seats appear to be a must have, and it doesn't seem to be a common option.
Given I don't particularly like diesels, and I don't do a lot of miles, why not consider a wafty V8 barge?
I'm not expecting it to handle, I have another car for that.

And yes, the complexity of the modern turbo diesel does give me some cause for concern.

[rejn]

Mr E said:

To be honest, I'd consider a E350 CDI, a E350CGI or an E500. Hell, I've looked at a E300 hybrid. But electric memory seats appear to be a must have, and it doesn't seem to be a common option.
Given I don't particularly like diesels, and I don't do a lot of miles, why not consider a wafty V8 barge?
I'm not expecting it to handle, I have another car for that.

And yes, the complexity of the modern turbo diesel does give me some cause for concern.

Electric memory seats in an E class estate, did you say?

here you go:

link
A few extra bhp thrown in as a bonus!

[Mr E]

Rather more expensive, but it's very tempting...

[CampDavid]

Mr E said:

Rather more expensive, but it's very tempting...

Sounds like a Nascar too

[braddo]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I guess it depends on usage. If one has the opportunity to use the 388hp often enough (and/or kids in the back like some silly acceleration from time to time), there is a point to having one over the diesel.

Some noise can apparently be liberated very cheaply and easily for a bit more drama.

[braddo]

True. Just some extra accelerative force and optional noise.

[Output Flange]

I can't be bothered to look it up, but I wonder how different the in-gear times are? And that's before the inevitable remap.

[braddo]

They're not as relevant for an auto though. Just mash the throttle to the floor -> kickdown -> take-off.

[Mr E]

Output Flange said:

I can't be bothered to look it up, but I wonder how different the in-gear times are? And that's before the inevitable remap.

I expect the 350CDI is at least as usefully quick in regular driving.
That's sort of not the point. A woofling V8 petrol in an E-Class feels correct.