Not finding love with my RS6
Discussion
SidewaysSi said:
I love it when people spew b
ks! Of course Caterhams don't sell as well as Audis or Porsches and thank god for that.
Here is my "60 year old trackday special":
It gets driven on "modern roads" (whatever they are) and it is bloody brilliant thanks very much - a damn sight more exciting than just about any remotely "normal car".
ks! Of course Caterhams don't sell as well as Audis or Porsches and thank god for that.Here is my "60 year old trackday special":
It gets driven on "modern roads" (whatever they are) and it is bloody brilliant thanks very much - a damn sight more exciting than just about any remotely "normal car".
Lovely looking seven there
Now. Please stop posting pictures, I am really trying to not buy something that I shouldn't at the moment!!!I think it's a very common misconception that Caterhams (and the like) are a cute little kit car. Once you've had one it is very difficult to always go back and they ruin your 'normal' halo cars when you meet them. To quote a mate of mine after his first passenger ride 'f
k me, I didn't think it would do that' 
yonex said:
SidewaysSi said:
I love it when people spew bks! Of course Caterhams don't sell as well as Audis or Porsches and thank god for that.
Here is my "60 year old trackday special":
It gets driven on "modern roads" (whatever they are) and it is bloody brilliant thanks very much - a damn sight more exciting than just about any remotely "normal car".
ks! Of course Caterhams don't sell as well as Audis or Porsches and thank god for that.Here is my "60 year old trackday special":
It gets driven on "modern roads" (whatever they are) and it is bloody brilliant thanks very much - a damn sight more exciting than just about any remotely "normal car".
Lovely looking seven there
Now. Please stop posting pictures, I am really trying to not buy something that I shouldn't at the moment!!!I think it's a very common misconception that Caterhams (and the like) are a cute little kit car. Once you've had one it is very difficult to always go back and they ruin your 'normal' halo cars when you meet them. To quote a mate of mine after his first passenger ride 'f
k me, I didn't think it would do that' and I would love one! 
jshell said:
Lefty said:
jshell said:
Lefty said:
I just bought a £7500 s1 Elise and am going to flog the m3 and put some of the cash towards a 4x4 of some sort for all the practical duties.
If I get my ass dragged back local to you, I'll flog you an oil burning Cayenne.... 
QuattroDave said:
Well if anyone Southampton way has a caterham or the like and wants to take me out in one I'm game. I can offer an RS6 ride in return!
Just turn up to your local Lotus 7 Club meet - I'm sure someone will take you out for a spin and they'll definitely be interested in a V10 RS6. Only risk is that people start putting their 7s away for the winter soon...QuattroDave said:
It is looking more and more like a family family estate for the daily and something small with a decent power to weight might be the order of the day.
I've never been in a caterham/westfield/lotus so would have to give one a go and see how I felt with it. Ideally I'd like a 2+2 seater so my daughter and wife can head out in the fun car too as my daughter LOVES it when I mash the throttle in the RS6 but as far as I can tell theres only 911's, gtr and erm, not sure what else that'll fit more than two!
It sounds like your problem is more to do with the roads you're stuck with than the car, TBH. Find an excuse to drive over to Europe. Having just got back from a round trip to northern Germany in the S8, I know now exactly what it was built for. Unfortunately the volume of cameras and other cars over here makes it difficult if not impossible to use to fully over here, but hey ho.I've never been in a caterham/westfield/lotus so would have to give one a go and see how I felt with it. Ideally I'd like a 2+2 seater so my daughter and wife can head out in the fun car too as my daughter LOVES it when I mash the throttle in the RS6 but as far as I can tell theres only 911's, gtr and erm, not sure what else that'll fit more than two!
A strong accountancy brain and mashing the throttle are almost never going to play nicely together though, are they?
Baryonyx said:
blade7 said:
VeegasRS6 said:
I couldn't be any more in love with mine (I've even named it - Brullen) which I've never done with any other car. It has personality,
Sounds like your mangina is coming along well. 
Glad this topic has come up because i am in the opposite position and was thinking going to one car,possibly a performance estate.
I have a nice Mondeo estate that serves me well as a daily and an XKR as a toy. Thing is i also use a van for work so the Mondeo has become a bit of a treat when I'm not in the van and the Jag is getting left in the garage!
Done 1600 miles in the Jag in 2015.
Was thinking maybe Rs6/4,E63,CLS 63 etc etc but maybe id be disappointed?
I have a nice Mondeo estate that serves me well as a daily and an XKR as a toy. Thing is i also use a van for work so the Mondeo has become a bit of a treat when I'm not in the van and the Jag is getting left in the garage!
Done 1600 miles in the Jag in 2015.
Was thinking maybe Rs6/4,E63,CLS 63 etc etc but maybe id be disappointed?
QuattroDave said:
Ahhhhh, but which cars!
Start with a couple of sports cars. That way, you'll know whether the 2 car solution is what you want.There is a Lotus dealership in Portsmouth to try an Elise. Caterham Cars in Surrey hire out their cars for a full day if you wanted to have a proper drive of a Caterham.
Greg66 said:
It sounds like your problem is more to do with the roads you're stuck with than the car, TBH. Find an excuse to drive over to Europe. Having just got back from a round trip to northern Germany in the S8, I know now exactly what it was built for. Unfortunately the volume of cameras and other cars over here makes it difficult if not impossible to use to fully over here, but hey ho.
A strong accountancy brain and mashing the throttle are almost never going to play nicely together though, are they?
From last nights attempt to go for a hoon and this mornings abysmal commute I think you're right about the roads being a big part of the problem. For no known reason this morning each of the three ways I could have gone to work were pretty much stationary. 35 mins to do 3 miles. As for last nights attempt, well there are a few nice roads to take around here but I was plagued with the "I'm perfectly comfortable doing 35 on a 60 road" brigade which kinda ruined that attempt at fun too (twisty roads made safe overtakes a no-no).A strong accountancy brain and mashing the throttle are almost never going to play nicely together though, are they?
I am planning a trip to Dusseldorf to stretch its legs but that won't be until around December time (as we're going for the Christmas markets).
Honestly the car was completely wasted this morning, if I didn't have to be elsewhere after work I would have cycled and hindsight would have been lovely so I could have taken the Alfa. My teeny tiny little commute can take anywhere from 6 minutes to 50 and there's no set pattern!
To all those looking at moving to a car like this I'm more than happy to take you out in it if you're in the Southampton area. My comments have all concentrated on the negatives, but it's not a bad car, it's quite excellent in fact, it just doesn't seem to sit well with where I live, what I use it for and 'accountant brain'!
cerb4.5lee said:
yonex said:
SidewaysSi said:
I love it when people spew bks! Of course Caterhams don't sell as well as Audis or Porsches and thank god for that.
Here is my "60 year old trackday special":
It gets driven on "modern roads" (whatever they are) and it is bloody brilliant thanks very much - a damn sight more exciting than just about any remotely "normal car".
ks! Of course Caterhams don't sell as well as Audis or Porsches and thank god for that.Here is my "60 year old trackday special":
It gets driven on "modern roads" (whatever they are) and it is bloody brilliant thanks very much - a damn sight more exciting than just about any remotely "normal car".
Lovely looking seven there
Now. Please stop posting pictures, I am really trying to not buy something that I shouldn't at the moment!!!I think it's a very common misconception that Caterhams (and the like) are a cute little kit car. Once you've had one it is very difficult to always go back and they ruin your 'normal' halo cars when you meet them. To quote a mate of mine after his first passenger ride 'f
k me, I didn't think it would do that' and I would love one! Problems with the Seven excepting the obvious is they are a pain in the rain and can't be used in winter (unless you are happy to religiously wash off any salt).
If you want something just as fun (higher limits though sharper and possibly more communicative than even the Seven) is one of these (my other mistress):
This will also happily drift and is very benign at the limit. I do find the standard Elise a little dull but with a few tweaks, they can be easily uncorked to be just as focused as the Caterham.
yonex said:
I think it's a very common misconception that Caterhams (and the like) are a cute little kit car. Once you've had one it is very difficult to always go back and they ruin your 'normal' halo cars when you meet them. To quote a mate of mine after his first passenger ride 'fk me, I didn't think it would do that'
My only experience of a Caterham has been a Bookatrack R300 at a track day and what I was most surprised by was how physical the experience was! k me, I didn't think it would do that' This dinky little car on seemingly narrow tyres, but a blaring exhaust, notchy gearchange, firm clutch, unservoed brakes, steering that loads up quite a lot - all that plus the actual physicality of the performance, with its cornering forces, tiny braking distances and acceleration - it adds up to a hell of a visceral experience!
I can totally see how a Roadsport/Classic version would be a bit less assaulting on the senses and an absolute ball on the road.
braddo said:
My only experience of a Caterham has been a Bookatrack R300 at a track day and what I was most surprised by was how physical the experience was!
This dinky little car on seemingly narrow tyres, but a blaring exhaust, notchy gearchange, firm clutch, unservoed brakes, steering that loads up quite a lot - all that plus the actual physicality of the performance, with its cornering forces, tiny braking distances and acceleration - it adds up to a hell of a visceral experience!
I can totally see how a Roadsport/Classic version would be a bit less assaulting on the senses and an absolute ball on the road.
Mine is a Superlight so has all the track bits and yes, it is physical and tiring but bloody good fun! They are no Porsche after all This dinky little car on seemingly narrow tyres, but a blaring exhaust, notchy gearchange, firm clutch, unservoed brakes, steering that loads up quite a lot - all that plus the actual physicality of the performance, with its cornering forces, tiny braking distances and acceleration - it adds up to a hell of a visceral experience!
I can totally see how a Roadsport/Classic version would be a bit less assaulting on the senses and an absolute ball on the road.
SidewaysSi said:
This will also happily drift and is very benign at the limit. I do find the standard Elise a little dull but with a few tweaks, they can be easily uncorked to be just as focused as the Caterham.
I test drove one of the Toyota engined ones a few years ago, Club Racer/Sport...the first one with the probax seats anyway. I'm not sure why but I didn't gel with it? Have you driven one of them, guessing that the setup is similar to the Caterham and hugely adjustable? yonex said:
SidewaysSi said:
This will also happily drift and is very benign at the limit. I do find the standard Elise a little dull but with a few tweaks, they can be easily uncorked to be just as focused as the Caterham.
I test drove one of the Toyota engined ones a few years ago, Club Racer/Sport...the first one with the probax seats anyway. I'm not sure why but I didn't gel with it? Have you driven one of them, guessing that the setup is similar to the Caterham and hugely adjustable? The S1 on the other hand was noticeably lighter and sharper with stunning feel so I went with that instead. Elises are very geometry sensitive however so one car may feel very different to another.
My car is a Sport 160 which has been fiddled with - the main modifications being:
Nitron dampers
Upgraded toe links
Upgraded brakes (discs, pads, hoses, fluid)
Quick steering rack
For me, it is a brilliant machine. Useable, as in I would have no hesitation in taking it around Europe, parkable (having doors and locks is great!) and very happy on a track. In many ways, it is the perfect sole car for the person who loves driving - it will do the shopping and thrill on the circuit.
In comparison to the Seven, it has better steering feel and the chassis has a lot more precision. Where the Caterham is sliding going around a roundabout, the Elise is totally planted whilst providing even greater feel. The limits are much higher (225 section rears as opposed to 175) therefore you do need more commitment to breach its limits.
I only push so hard on the road but on track, it is fully exploitable so you can get understeer and full throttle adjustability to enable you to drift around corners. It has some lift off oversteer but it is entirely containable.
If someone wants a car that is as hard as they come but with a modicum of usability, the Elise S1 is brilliant!
QuattroDave said:
I am planning a trip to Dusseldorf to stretch its legs
You will enjoy that. You're not in France long. Belgium drivers are generally not great, but they get a move on. The Dutch are comparatively slow. When you hit Germany, make sure you are well up on which signs mean "derestricted". They use a few different variants. And watch your rear view, because the ethic over there appears to be get out of the way of faster traffic - fast!
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