Cars where the heart says 'yes' but the head says 'hell no'
Discussion
KarlMac said:
I'm glad other people share my interpretation of 'remotely sensible '
Don't be daft- have you seen the price of LS1 engines on this side of the Atlantic? And the Japanese engines that would fit the gearbox are very pricy for little extra benefit. Ridiculous idea...A VAG 20v 1.8 turbo will give a decent power output for a fraction of the cost, and it'll fit too
Not a car assume, but a Stalwart amphibious truck:
Awesome fun, they'll go anywhere and do anything whilst carrying anything. Off roading with a pleasure cruise anyone?
Downsides: they are slow, noisy, uncomfortable and return 5-8mpg from the petrol engine. No diffs between all 6 wheels means the transmission winds up on hard ground unless you regularly stop road jack it up or find a tall kerb to climb. Oh, and they are an utter, utter sod to do any work on whatsoever, due to the way everything is tightly packaged into the metal hull.
Awesome fun, they'll go anywhere and do anything whilst carrying anything. Off roading with a pleasure cruise anyone?
Downsides: they are slow, noisy, uncomfortable and return 5-8mpg from the petrol engine. No diffs between all 6 wheels means the transmission winds up on hard ground unless you regularly stop road jack it up or find a tall kerb to climb. Oh, and they are an utter, utter sod to do any work on whatsoever, due to the way everything is tightly packaged into the metal hull.
blearyeyedboy said:
KarlMac said:
I'm glad other people share my interpretation of 'remotely sensible '
A VAG 20v 1.8 turbo will give a decent power output for a fraction of the cost, and it'll fit too Weird, at least three peeps have said the E39 M5? It's actually pretty reliable and possibly an appreciating asset so your head can probably go with your heart on that one.
Me, a 928 GT. Love these; manual, V8, beautifully complicated, fits four etc but the potential problems and costs are horrifying.
Me, a 928 GT. Love these; manual, V8, beautifully complicated, fits four etc but the potential problems and costs are horrifying.
Edited by Iamnotkloot on Tuesday 5th July 15:55
KarlMac said:
Seems like a shame to replace something interesting with a VAG 4 pot though. I wonder if the k20 fits?
I take your point, but it can be tuned to be more interesting. Takes extra power well without having to work over the internals. LS1's are all very interesting but massively change the weight distribution. The VAG 20v 1.8T unit is very compact and can be placed relatively far back in the vehicle. There are examples of people who've done it- not straightforward (and beyond my spannering skills!) but it's not as strange a choice as it first seems. There are also a lot more kicking around this sceptred isle in various VAG brand flavours for non-silly money than there are interesting Japanese or American engines...K20 might be interesting. There are a few examples around, so it can be done...
dlockhart said:
Tuvra said:
I really fancy a 3.4S:-
....but the Internet horror stories about the IMS are scaring me stiff
I think you should try buying one that has survived 50k with out exploding , then you know you have a good-un. ....but the Internet horror stories about the IMS are scaring me stiff
After a while, I decided to stop reading the internet horror stories and drive it the way it was designed to be driven, hard! Never gave me a problem after that.
It did emerge during a service that it wasn't on its original engine though...
Baz Tench said:
I had a 986 3.2, and was initially worried about the IMS. One morning I could hear a rattling coming from the rear as I drove off. My heart sank, but it turned out to be a lambda sensor had worked loose.
After a while, I decided to stop reading the internet horror stories and drive it the way it was designed to be driven, hard! Never gave me a problem after that.
It did emerge during a service that it wasn't on its original engine though...
I was getting carried away until I read the bold part After a while, I decided to stop reading the internet horror stories and drive it the way it was designed to be driven, hard! Never gave me a problem after that.
It did emerge during a service that it wasn't on its original engine though...
I am now looking at the lesser 2.7's which I hear are a safer bet, I am concerned that I will always wish I had gone up to the 3.4 or even 3.2 though so I am torn.
It will be a toy so hopefully I can keep my itchy feet at bay until the right car comes up. Lucky that the 2.7 with new clutch and IMS recently done on Auto Trader wasn't local or I would have found it hard to resist
SuperHangOn said:
All sorts of V8's, especially a Monaro. My V8 E39 just guzzled so much dosh I don't think I could stomach it again
Same for me and I just seem to have an obsession with petrol V8's but on the two occasions I've run a V8 as a daily I just couldn't afford to do it for very long sadly, I just love the noise and feel good factor of a V8. 
SuperHangOn said:
All sorts of V8's, especially a Monaro. My V8 E39 just guzzled so much dosh I don't think I could stomach it again
Merc CLS. Hankered for years. The V6 diesel engine sounds like a heap of trouble. V8 petrol as above.
I've done/doing two out of three of those.Merc CLS. Hankered for years. The V6 diesel engine sounds like a heap of trouble. V8 petrol as above.
Monaro went last year in favour of a CLS63 AMG.
The CLS is by far the better car but I preferred the Monaro. Who would you rather have as a mate - the Aussie who chat's up the missus, takes you out and has a good time or the German who reorganizes your finances?
The Monaro has it's unreliabilities but these are well known. I had mine maintained by marque specialists Monkfish and provided the appropriate preventative maintenance is done a 'ro will outlast you. The only time mine failed to proceed was due to a puncture.
The CLS is (even) larger, (even) less economical, (even) faster but smoother and quieter and somehow less involving,
regards,
Jet
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