Blasphemy!: Revered driver's cars that you just don't get.
Discussion
topless360 said:
E46 M3 - I found them to be not very quick and too compromised to be a true sports car.
Not really sure what it is apart from a slightly more powerful version of what the sales rep's car.
And I dislike the sound as well.
No thats what it is depending on your definition of slightly Not really sure what it is apart from a slightly more powerful version of what the sales rep's car.
And I dislike the sound as well.
Do you hate all hot hatches as well would assume
The M3 is significantly modified beyond the standard cars compared with the typical hot hatch, and its rwd based already is better than your typical family hatch regardless of how many salesmen drive around in em
Dont get this thread some of the comments on here are clearly written by fools
Impasse said:
Nope. Overrated things which make a pencil look high tec.
Hmmm, some, maybe. CSR, maybe not. Fairly certain that Cosworth would think of themselves as a ball point pen.Lots of people don't like the experience on the road. It is a bit full on. 50mph @ 12,500rpm with no doors or windscreen ... is quite exciting
white_goodman said:
otolith said:
These;
If you can live with a two seater, you've got so many more interesting options than a hot hatch.
Agreed. The appeal of a hot hatch to me is that you can still have fun but have 4 seats and a decent boot (at the expense of a bit of style). In this, your eggs from Tesco would end up scrambled against the roll cage. Completely appropriate in a track-focussed 911 but not in a shopping hatch.If you can live with a two seater, you've got so many more interesting options than a hot hatch.
Impasse said:
Pan Pan Pan said:
They would only be overrated from your view point, clearly there are many who feel they offer outstanding performance per pound.
Better than almost any other car, that could be had for the same money.
The only cars ahead of the Caterham on the TG powerlap board, are multi thousand pound supercars, such as Bugattis, Ferrarris, Nobles etc. and how many people can `really' afford those types of cars?
FWIW, I used to work at a sportscar dealership which dealt in Sevens until quietly dropping them from the stocklist, so I've driven many variants and some at 10/10s around a track. My opinion of them still holds.
dvshannow said:
topless360 said:
E46 M3 - I found them to be not very quick and too compromised to be a true sports car.
Not really sure what it is apart from a slightly more powerful version of what the sales rep's car.
And I dislike the sound as well.
No thats what it is depending on your definition of slightly Not really sure what it is apart from a slightly more powerful version of what the sales rep's car.
And I dislike the sound as well.
Do you hate all hot hatches as well would assume
The M3 is significantly modified beyond the standard cars compared with the typical hot hatch, and its rwd based already is better than your typical family hatch regardless of how many salesmen drive around in em
Dont get this thread some of the comments on here are clearly written by fools
Maybe it was a bad example that I drove, but it just didn't do anything for me.
I've seen first hand how quick the E90 M3's are on track but have also heard them being revved, and it must be one of the worst sounding V8's.
Maybe if I needed a family car one day I'd consider it, and whilst the M3 is up there in its class, I'd look very hard for an alternative.
blade7 said:
otolith said:
blade7 said:
Gaz. said:
blade7 said:
Wasn't the first RX7 a 944 rip off ? The later ones look like they should have a Halfords badge on the back.
The RX7 predates the 944 by four years.
snoopy25 said:
I'll probably be hung, drawn and quartered for this.........
Jaguar E-Type, I just dont get it. Looks horrendous and although ive never driven one not exactly the most reliable machine either now or back in its heyday from what ive heard. It just really isnt a pretty car at all (My opinion and im not forcing it on anyone lol)
I'm inclined to agree. I'd like it a lot more if it didn't have a horrendous overhang on the wheel arches. The wheels just look lost in them which detracts from the looks. Jaguar E-Type, I just dont get it. Looks horrendous and although ive never driven one not exactly the most reliable machine either now or back in its heyday from what ive heard. It just really isnt a pretty car at all (My opinion and im not forcing it on anyone lol)
NJH said:
The point isn't about the use case but what it tells one about the car. Many hot hatches are surprisingly effective on track but they probably were not bought originally as track cars either. As incredible as the straight line performance of something like the M5 is I bet many would be faster cross country in a good hot hatch just as they seem to be on track. Why on earth does anyone buy these cars in the UK? IMHO simply because they can and they like the badge, flashy looks etc. and occasional illegal gunning it on dual carriageways and motorways for a bit. For me they represent a colossal waste of money.
Why can't you see the use of a family car with some performance?What if you want a car that fits a family and their luggage to go on holiday where some fun roads exist? Something which, whether fully laden or empty, can be fast and fun on roads like this?
That's on the way to the Millau viaduct in France, but it applies to any number of places in the UK and Europe.
NJH said:
Sporty large saloons I just don't get, I got held up by a guy in an M5 up at Donny 3 years back. The thing was shockingly quick down the 2 straights but blooming useless in the corners and the guy driving it was trying pretty hard to hook those corners up. I think anyone who thinks these big heavy uber power saloons are a good idea should see how pathetic they look on a race track, you won't ever look twice at one afterwards.
Yes and no. The first 3 generations of M5 were lovely (and cars that anyone could reasonably aspire to).
They're comfortable to use every day, practical if you're a family man/woman and way superior, faster and driver-orientated (NA engines and manual transmissions) than their more humble siblings. The best car that I have owned is an Impreza WRX Wagon. Not because it was fun to hoon (it was) but when I got home, I was able to use it with my family (unlike some of the other more focussed performance cars that I have owned). My more memorable trips in it are not the committed solo B-road hoons but driving my newborn daughter home from the hospital and taking it on family holidays. The above average performance allowed me to make decent, smooth progress in a safe manner. Much the same for the M5, so yeah I get it.
I imagine that they are pretty decent on track (isn't an M5 the 'Ring taxi), especially a fast circuit, albeit a bit heavy on brakes and tyres (so wouldn't be my first choice for a track car).
The problem that I have with the M5 comes at this point.
Yes, it now has supercar performance but also supercar running costs and yet it looks like just any other M-Sport 5-Series. For 99% of people on 99% of journeys, a 535d would do a better job. Still very quick (in fact probably a more suitable level of performance for the road) and 50% of the running costs. I don't think the gap between the E60 535d and E60 M5 is the night and day one that it was with previous M5s and lesser models. On the plus side, I can see the appeal of that screaming V10 and despite disliking the looks when new, it looks rather fresh now. The gearvox, running costs and general bork factor put me off somewhat though.
As for the latest M5, I really don't "get" it.
It looks bloated and bland and really is huge. The engine doesn't appear to be the masterpiece it was on previous M5s either and to be honest, it has far too much power to really enjoy legally on the road. Happily the 4 door version of the coupe version of the M5, really does look rather wonderful and would be my choice.
I would happily take a 535d over an M5 any day though!
Edited by white_goodman on Tuesday 14th April 06:45
white_goodman said:
I would happily take a 535d over an M5 any day though!
That really surprises me as you seem to be really into cars, so you would rather have a noisy unrefined diesel engine over a petrol V8 engine with around 560bhp? I appreciate what you are saying about the weight of a M5 as it is a serious barge but it still goes like the clappers for its weight. Edited by white_goodman on Tuesday 14th April 06:45
A 535d isn't exactly featherweight either.
Impasse said:
Nope. Overrated things which make a pencil look high tec.
Which is kind of the point. Simple chassis, light but reasonably powerful engine, good gearbox ratios and very little weight. I wouldn't say that they're awful but I kind of understand why some might not like them on the road. It's a huge pain in the ass to use one daily and in the winter, whilst you'll enjoy the odd moment the reality of frozen hands and lack of visibility gets a bit tiring. Visibility in general was my main issue as it was difficult to make progress, much harder than say a 911 etc. On a bumpy B road they can be a handful, but they carry lots of speed, probably too much on the road, which is another issue. You never feel like you are trying and are soon doing daft things. I'd lobe another, but never more than 300hp/t, anything more totally changes the experience to one of point and squirt. On the right day on the right road it's probably one of 'the' things to drive.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff