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

[Pulse]

julesGB said:

I suppose it depends on the type of driving that you enjoy. When I got the Elise it was by far the quickest car I'd ever owned. All the talk at the time of it needing more than the stock 118bhp didn't register with me. I've always found it plenty quick enough. We took it to the Isle Of Man a few years ago. JC took his RS2 and Cateringtin, Dazren his 911 Turbo and DeR his tweaked 911 Turbo. Sure they were all quicker on the straights but the corners were so much fun in the Elise it didn't matter. I still have tinnitus from DeR's turbo overtaking me I also enjoy pootling around in the Defender, and Morris Minors. Speed is only one factor so outright pace has never been top of the list for me. I'd get just as much fun (albeit different) from driving a tractor. I also much prefer buying cars to selling them, so the fleet has grown over 20+ years and reflects my diverse taste!

We're in 100% agreement there. Last month I went on a Scottish Highlands trip in my MR2 Roadster, and despite it 'only' having 140bhp, it was definitely more fun than my friend's car (Golf GTE with 200bhp). He pulled away on the straights no problem, of course (also helps that he had DSG).

... Which makes my recent purchase (an Audi S1, a heavy car with 230bhp) a bit odd, really.

I keep looking at the 1.6 Elise Mk3 because, as you say, you don't need lots of power. Of course, the 220bhp supercharged may provide the best of both worlds...

I think I will do similar to you - keep my cars and slowly add to them.

[jeremyc]

julesGB said:

We took it to the Isle Of Man a few years ago. JC took his RS2 and Cateringtin, Dazren his 911 Turbo and DeR his tweaked 911 Turbo. Sure they were all quicker on the straights but the corners were so much fun in the Elise it didn't matter. I still have tinnitus from DeR's turbo overtaking me

That was over seven years ago.

[julesGB]

jeremyc said:

hat was over seven years ago.

Double

[jeremyc]

julesGB said:

jeremyc said:

That was over seven years ago.

Double

But we both still have those cars in our respective fleets.

[julesGB]

Pulse said:

... Which makes my recent purchase (an Audi S1, a heavy car with 230bhp) a bit odd, really.

Just back from driving the Audi S1 to Italy, 1800 mile round trip. It's a great all round car, not blisteringly fast but quick enough when needed and not as bone-shakingly stiff as some other 'hot hatches' (eg, Abarth 500). Does tend toward occasional alarming understeer though

[ATM]

W00DY said:

ATM said:

No Woody. This is a great wagon.

No doubt!

For those of us with shallower pockets filled mostly with fluff, then the bodykitted Ford with the red leather still appeals.

Thanks Woody. If it had not been for this thread I wouldn't have even known of such vehicles. I think it has to be the biggest engine'd estate BMW produced this side of an M5 V10. Sadly they dont do them in the current variant but I heard a rumour they might in the next gen.

Leins said:

I like that a lot ATM Always fancied a top-spec non-M 5-door 5-series

(apologies in advance for going overboard on the '-'s in that last sentence!)

I quite like it too. I can't imagine how much more fun you could have in the M5. I guess that depends on your priorities. I dont use it much but when I do it always pleases. I leave it lying around covered in bird poo for weeks at a time and then jump in and it just works. It has ludicrous power really and even the steering has a nice feel because it is a good old fashioned assisted hydraulic rack. It definitely surprises most people if I'm going for a good launch. I never thought an estate would be so useful till I bought one - this is my first one. Now saloons seem to make no sense. Why have a car with a tiny boot when you can get one with a massive boot. So far it has not needed much in the way of servicing or repairs. Sometimes I see puffs of smoke but they seem to be less frequent if I ignore the computer asking for oil constantly. The slusher box is starting to jerk a bit but that could be just my imagination. As THE car to have in one's collection which has a big boot then I think it is ideal. It can excite when you need it to and it can potter just fine too. It can swallow loads of stuff and people. If I fitted a roof rack for bikes it could carry several people and their rides too. And you can leave it lying around and no one gives it a second glance. If you took the badge off then no one would know it is a 550i - it is not even noisy. I'm tempted to go back to some genuine BMW alloys for the real stealth look. I put the current wheels on as Winters and they are still on with the Winter boots too. I quite like the squealing from the front when you try to turn in and apply too much power. Who wants to go quickly quietly when you can go slower with your tyres howling in despair?

[TheRocket]

shirt said:

How loud is 102db anyway? I'm glad our trackdays here in the uae are cheap, Ill attended and, most importantly, little policed in terms of noise and car type. I've seen this out in occasion and you can even hire it if your pockets are deep enough



Nice write up and some well timed Elise chat. Mine is going in for the long awaited front end repairs this evening. Targeting paint by months end

you can hire out a Ferrari 333 SP ? I'd sell body parts to have a drive in one I reckon, now that makes a noise like little else !

[ferrisbueller]

TheRocket said:

shirt said:

How loud is 102db anyway? I'm glad our trackdays here in the uae are cheap, Ill attended and, most importantly, little policed in terms of noise and car type. I've seen this out in occasion and you can even hire it if your pockets are deep enough



Nice write up and some well timed Elise chat. Mine is going in for the long awaited front end repairs this evening. Targeting paint by months end

you can hire out a Ferrari 333 SP ? I'd sell body parts to have a drive in one I reckon, now that makes a noise like little else !

An absolute favourite!

https://youtu.be/KEyjor8MCts?t=12s

[shirt]

you sure can.

http://dragonracing88.com/category/cars/

they should've kept the original livery mind. i've had a good look around it, seen it at several trackdays but not shared track space with it yet. reckon you could sit dinner for 12 around that rear wing.

[ferrisbueller]

$13k a day.

Oooof.

[LHD]

jeremyc said:

Cheburator mk2 said:

What is the M124578560=-2149=-3021=3m 4C named after?

T'interweb said:

The name's former prefix 'MP4' has been the chassis designation for all McLaren Formula 1 cars since 1981. 'MP4' stands for McLaren Project 4 as a result of the merger between Ron Dennis' Project 4 organisation with McLaren. The '12' refers to McLaren's internal Vehicle Performance Index through which it rates key performance criteria both for competitors and for its own cars. The criteria combine power, weight, emissions, and aerodynamic efficiency. The coalition of all these values delivers an overall performance index that has been used as a benchmark throughout the car's development. The 'C' refers to Carbon, highlighting the application of carbon fibre technology to the future range of McLaren sports cars.

MP4-12C shares its name with the MP4/12 Formula 1 car that raced in the 1997 season. This car featured a second brake pedal discovered by photographers to counter understeer on the exit of the corners by selecting the inside rear wheel, similar to the computer controlled "brake steer" system of the MP4-12C.

Except the M in MP4 used to stand for Marlboro by Ron's own admission...

>strokes beard<

[Pulse]

julesGB said:

Just back from driving the Audi S1 to Italy, 1800 mile round trip. It's a great all round car, not blisteringly fast but quick enough when needed and not as bone-shakingly stiff as some other 'hot hatches' (eg, Abarth 500). Does tend toward occasional alarming understeer though

Just checked out your profile, and you have an S1 as well?! What made you choose it?

I hated it when I picked it up. Coming from my MR2, it was so very different. I am now liking it a lot more, but obviously still miss the handling. The understeer is properly naff.

Definitely pretty well damped though, in Eco mode or whatever it's called. Shame with that is that it doesn't open the valves on the exhausts.

People have been surprised by how fast it is. It's a sub-6 car, so pretty quick, but it's so insulated you never really notice it!

[Cartwheel]

Leins said:

ATM said:

No Woody. This is a great wagon.

I like that a lot ATM Always fancied a top-spec non-M 5-door 5-series

(apologies in advance for going overboard on the '-'s in that last sentence!)

Talking of which, Gruber how are you getting on with your 5?

Just got one myself 530XD M-Sport in LCI flavour with a HUD topping. Picking it up on the weekend - will report back how long it takes for mini Cartwheel to repaint the interior following some spirited driving...

[Gruber]

Cartwheel said:

Talking of which, Gruber how are you getting on with your 5?

Just got one myself 530XD M-Sport in LCI flavour with a HUD topping. Picking it up on the weekend - will report back how long it takes for mini Cartwheel to repaint the interior following some spirited driving...

Ours didn't actually arrive until Monday, due to the "efficiency" of the Swiss. But first impressions are very good. The general drive reminds me very much of my old e39 Alpina B10 V8 - similar sense of low-down oomph, similarly weighty steering, very similar ride and handling, and a thoroughly reassuring sense of quality. It also has a few nice little unexpected extras - like a built in hard drive for music and some kind of remote controlled pre-heater.

Enjoy yours! Looks good with the M-Sport bits and the black window surrounds.

[bungle]

I'm having lustful thoughts about my old Z3M breadvan, but they are just too expensive now, so thoughts have turned to the (cheaper) "4" variety.

This stood out as it wasn't grey, black, or silver (my Z3M was Imola - loved it!). Is this Interlagos?

[Pulse]

Definitely Interlagos Blue, yes.

[L100NYY]

Loving the 928 group test, would love any one of those three tbh

Z4M coupe really is a very good looking thing indeed.

Channel hopping and Transporter 2 is/was on which got me hankering a black A8.....

.....can't post pics from here but mein ooft;


http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...

[anonymous-user]

L100NYY said:

Loving the 928 group test, would love any one of those three tbh

Z4M coupe really is a very good looking thing indeed.

Channel hopping and Transporter 2 is/was on which got me hankering a black A8.....

.....can't post pics from here but mein ooft;


http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...

want!!!

[E24man]

Thanks for posting the 928/SEC/CSi group test Leins - quite interesting reading nearly thirty years on; they did keep insisting the M635CSi was a bit of a handful and for better for only experienced drivers to press on in, and compared it to the 911 on more than one occasion; I can remember TRX tyres being bad but from reading that article they sounded dreadful at the limits; in contrast the E28 M5 wasn't fitted with TRX rims and tyres but instead got 16" rims and more conventional rubber boots - a back to back of an E28 M5 and M635CSi test would have been interesting reading, especially if they had changed the wheels over.

The 12mpg 928 consumption was an eye-opener compared to the 20 and 21 of its rivals - the quite heavy cost of 34bhp extra and slightly improved performance through the automatic gearbox - not that they had any praise at all for the spanish 928.

[Leins]

No probs folks, and hadn't realised that the E28 M5 ran conventional tyres from the off

A comparison between the E24 and E28 would be interesting, but I cannot remember one being performed back then. Not in PC or Car anyway, but perhaps one of the other mags may have. Someone like s m might know


Here's a quick Alpina one for you from the same issue (sorry, copy quality isn't great):