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

[s m]

Leins said:

A little 80s (power-)lunch reading if you'll permit me:

[Leins]

I've never really been much of a Jag fan, except when it comes to the XJS. That XJR-S, or even better a Lister, would be rather nice!


P.S. I always liked Barker's scribblings

[Cheburator mk2]

The reality is that the 928 in real life absolutely crushes both the MB and BMW. You need to experience one at 100mph+ to realize that the faster it is going, the more stable it becomes. For a car conceived in 1972 it was amazing...



P.S. Ever so slightly biased of Chislehurst with a 928 GTS Manuel undergoing full restoration

[KrisP]

Pulse said:

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

How are you finding the little Audi - I have a soft spot for these

[Cartwheel]

Gruber said:

some kind of remote controlled pre-heater

Cheers!

Getting into a prewarmed car at the end of a hard day on or off the pistes or not having to scrape the ice off before the morning commute is a complete bonus. Not quite sure how safe it is, but they've been on cars for long enough for them to have been binned were it a bad idea I guess.

Just need to go get my numberplates from the registration office and we're away...

[L100NYY]

Cheburator mk2 said:

The reality is that the 928 in real life absolutely crushes both the MB and BMW. You need to experience one at 100mph+ to realize that the faster it is going, the more stable it becomes. For a car conceived in 1972 it was amazing...



P.S. Ever so slightly biased of Chislehurst with a 928 GTS Manuel undergoing full restoration

Indeed, I was amazed at just how much better the GTS got as the speed increased, felt super solid and stable and felt like it would do 70 wotsits all day long.

[ManOpener]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

...The parking?

Joking aside, it does look quite nice.

[W00DY]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1996-P-BENTLEY-CONTINENT...

Glorious car with hateful wheels. In fact I don't think I've eer seen one on wheels which suit.

[Leins]

I don't mind the wheels too much, but what's going on with that grille?

[ManOpener]

I agree, it would be better with ambers.
I forgot just how bad early 996 interiors were until I saw that. Looks like it would be at home in a Mk3 Golf.

Still wouldn't mind.

[Gruber]

E24man said:

...a back to back of an E28 M5 and M635CSi test would have been interesting reading, especially if they had changed the wheels over.

I'm no driving god, but my personal thoughts are that the e28 handling characteristics better suited the M engine when it came to the twisties - the 5 just seemed to change direction more willingly and be that bit more nimble than the e24. I love a nice auto-boxed M30 e24 - they make such great cruisers. But the e28 seemed to me to be the more engaging drive as an "M" car.

Of course, all this is heavily qualified by the fact that all of these are getting on for 20 years old now, so the journos might have reached a different conclusion back in '86 when these cars were box fresh.

All of that said... I'd love to own a 928 one day. Sadly for me, here in the land of the cuckoo clock, they ain't cheap.

[Pulse]

KrisP said:

Pulse said:

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

How are you finding the little Audi - I have a soft spot for these

I've got a soft spot for them as well, having had a few A1s in the past, and really liked them (1.6TDI and 1.4TFSI).

It's a good car, not a great car. It's perhaps even a very good car. It's fantastic in the main, and I've noticed just how relaxing it is to drive when I'm pottering around. It has the ability to turn from that relaxing drive into something a bit more interesting, and has the suspension/exhaust settings which make that change slightly more dramatic (I'll emphasise 'slightly' there). Then of course it has all of the toys which makes the journey all the more comfortable/enjoyable (it has £7k of options), and I've been loving having a proper stereo, proper speed, and a seriously nice interior (including sat nav, and all that jazz). Oh, and it's yellow. Awesome colour.

Personally, I see myself keeping it for 1 year max, whereas the original plan was up to 4 years. I have become so spoilt with the handling of the MR2 that it's hard to move on to something else. I am already set on my next move, which is one of two options:

1. Elise / Elise S, with the best Focus my £2k will buy. This gives the absolute driving purity whilst having the practicality and not-give-a-damn-ability of a cheap car.
2. E92 M3. This gives the 8/10 driving experience all of the time, whilst also being practical and having all of the creature comforts.

Well, that or finally give in and buy the Aston I've always wanted - but I'd spend a tad more and get an S model.

ETA: I am probably being a little harsh on the S1, as I had the same shock to the system moving to the MR2 (incidentally, from an A1). Time will tell if it gets better and better or I still want to sell up in a year.

Edited by Pulse on Thursday 1st September 14:57

[ATM]

Just been musing about this from a few years ago. I thought I'd drop it in here for a distraction. Feel free to ignore....


http://www.sub5zero.com/monday-morning-mayhem-chic...

[Patrick Bateman]

How does that even happen? Leading with the beak?

I've hit a few birds at speed and they only ever bounce off without a hint of damage to the glass.

Edited by Patrick Bateman on Thursday 1st September 15:48

[TheRocket]

The ultimate 'M' road car ?

http://www.speedhunters.com/2016/08/the-street-leg...

[ATM]

Patrick Bateman said:

How does that even happen? Leading with the beak?

I've hit a few birds at speed and they only ever bounce off without a hint of damage to the glass.

Whenever I hit a bird it is always at speed. Even if they dont enjoy it. As long as I do then it's all good.

[Pulse]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Can I come out to play, too? A hoon in the S1 is needed to get some well-needed gelling underway!

[s m]

Pulse said:

I've got a soft spot for them as well, having had a few A1s in the past, and really liked them (1.6TDI and 1.4TFSI).

It's a good car, not a great car. It's perhaps even a very good car. It's fantastic in the main, and I've noticed just how relaxing it is to drive when I'm pottering around.

Interesting - I'm enjoying mine too. It does help to have a few other old cars to play with though too

[sutts]

Linking a couple of today's themes, last week I took part in a photo shoot for Modern Classics magazine who wanted to pitch an E28 M5 against a B10 3.5. Chris Chilton (ex AutoCar staffer and now freelance mostly writing for Car) was the attending journo to write the article.

It was a really interesting day in a lovely location doing lots of tracking shots and chatting about cars. Looking forward to the mag coming out probably sometime around the end of the year.

Couple of pictures from my phone:

[braddo]

Enjoyed the 80s coupe article, thanks Leins.

anonymous said:

[redacted]

If I was looking for one I'd go for that. Grey interior is meh, but it has sports seats and the all-important leather dash . I hate the 4 spoke airbag wheels that blighted so many cars around the late 90s and early 00s, so I'd have to change the wheel and I guess the gearknob (black). Re-amber, and maybe some trick suspension down the line.