Greatest all weather point-to-point car?
Discussion
GravelBen said:
but the rally-reps probably have better vision, and the fact that they're worth so much less might make you likely to push them a bit harder.
for true 'greatest' point-to-point car I'd still go with the Porsche 911TT for the sheer class it does it with, but a rally-rep could still be quicker in a fair few situations. (the 295's on the back of the 996 would be too wide to cut into loose gravel well for a start....)
[[URL=http://imageshack.us]
[/URL] I would beg to differ on the push a bit harder cos they are cheaper.....
my baby was pushed a bit too hard. I would still vote for the 996tt
>> Edited by superlightr on Thursday 16th March 15:08
>> Edited by superlightr on Thursday 16th March 15:10
Hi fella, not sure if you've noticed or not but if you look carefully on that pic, just on the front nearside wing, I reckon you've got a little scratch. Might be the wind making one of those branches touch the bodywork.
If it was me, i'd probably have parked a little further back from that tree. Maybe on the road?
If it was me, i'd probably have parked a little further back from that tree. Maybe on the road?
Not terribly responsible, however I've managed 120 down some local country roads at 2am in a subaru. There's not a chance in hell of achieving the same in my previous 111R (as a comparison to the 7 suggestions). It would take someone crazy to risk an expensive 911 or even pricier supercar on that same route too. Hence a fast a-b car has to take into account how nutter the driver is and how cheap the car is. Again I think the rally drivers would be able to rag a metro faster than most 911 owners I've seen.
Marquis_Rex said:
The Jag is a competent piece of kit, no doubt, I should know, but after the last few weeks here, RWD and snow DO NOT mix, winter tyres or not.....
Once it gets hilly the read wheels will be spinning, or the traction control will engage and perhaps get you up at a snails pace...while you get overtaken by 993tts!
Yes - I wasn't actually being serious...
It's a fair point about people letting you out of junctions etc. A few weeks ago I spent an entertaining 10 mins watching a Gallardo trying to get into traffic on Kirkstall Road in Leeds. If you drive show-off machinery then you can expect to find Ford Fiestas suddenly become very wide and every chav in a Nova wants a bit of you.
So...
Shortly after the RS200 was launched, there were a number of police forces who 'tested' them. Sadly the drivers weren't as skillful as they thought they were, and there were several reports of RS200s meeting their demise in ditches. However, all things being equal, with the same competent driver across all cars, I suspect this would be the fastest 4 wheeled point to point motor:
The Rally Quattro they tested on Top Gear (versus whatever it was) was a forest car, not a track car and was never going to win. Engine tune, gear ratios, suspension etc were all wrong.
On real UK country and urban roads you would't have Pikes Peak size spoilers on for long! They would get bashed around something rotten and effectively make your car 6ft longer - not good for clearances. I wouldn't want anything with a massive turbo either, real roads have slow 90 degree turns and junctions where turbo lag would bog you down.
Mike
So...
Shortly after the RS200 was launched, there were a number of police forces who 'tested' them. Sadly the drivers weren't as skillful as they thought they were, and there were several reports of RS200s meeting their demise in ditches. However, all things being equal, with the same competent driver across all cars, I suspect this would be the fastest 4 wheeled point to point motor:
The Rally Quattro they tested on Top Gear (versus whatever it was) was a forest car, not a track car and was never going to win. Engine tune, gear ratios, suspension etc were all wrong.
On real UK country and urban roads you would't have Pikes Peak size spoilers on for long! They would get bashed around something rotten and effectively make your car 6ft longer - not good for clearances. I wouldn't want anything with a massive turbo either, real roads have slow 90 degree turns and junctions where turbo lag would bog you down.
Mike
m1spw said:If someone claims to be a petrolhead but doesn't like Caterfields, he's not actually a petrolhead.
In my experience, there are quite a few "petrolheads" who don't like Caterhams, although that's possibly because they've never driven one and just see it as an impractical car. Maybe many PHer's like them although I'm sure I could find a few who don't like them.
The cars aren't perfect, but the world is still waiting for the perfect car, and we would be unwise to hold our breath.
Caterfields are stimulating, challenging, and educational. If you don't like them, you don't like driving.
That insurance quote is appalling. There still are a few good things about getting old, and car insurance is one of them.
On the other hand, when it comes to life insurance, it definitely works the other way!
flemke said:
If someone claims to be a petrolhead but doesn't like Caterfields, he's not actually a petrolhead.
The cars aren't perfect, but the world is still waiting for the perfect car, and we would be unwise to hold our breath.
Caterfields are stimulating, challenging, and educational. If you don't like them, you don't like driving.
That insurance quote is appalling. There still are a few good things about getting old, and car insurance is one of them.
On the other hand, when it comes to life insurance, it definitely works the other way!
My mum never liked Caterfields, up until about 3 months ago when she had a go in one on a track day. She's now been in 3 and is totally hooked on them
I agree, the insurance quote is daylight robbery. I was so upset when I got it, kind of put my plans on hold for a while
kaivaksdal said:
Point to Point - A to B, Ultimately there is only so much power you can use. Much as I love the idea of a Group B Monster roaring across country, let's reign our enthusiasm to road cars (Don't want to pee on anyone's fire, but in the real world, there are police and laws).
I reckon you can have a real blast with anything light and quick and (providing you can really pedal) you can go about as fast as anything else.
I have a Focus ST and I know it wouldn't see which way a well driven EVO (let alone Porsche 911TT) went, but - and this is the point - more often than not, they DON'T USE IT ALL.
Same driver, same conditions, same traffic (all hypothetical, of course) put my money down on the naroow bodies Ruf 911 please. Who will give me 10-1?
I think this is true to a certain extent - can anyone remember an autocar feature some time back when i think a Gallardo was driven across country with some fast-model Ford Focus. I think there was some element of driver ability involved, but the focus was not embarresed at all across some very challenging roads, in most ways it was the lambo that was the slouch!!!
flemke said:
In my experience, there are quite a few "petrolheads" who don't like Caterhams, although that's possibly because they've never driven one and just see it as an impractical car. Maybe many PHer's like them although I'm sure I could find a few who don't like them.
The cars aren't perfect, but the world is still waiting for the perfect car, and we would be unwise to hold our breath.
Caterfields are stimulating, challenging, and educational. If you don't like them, you don't like driving.
That insurance quote is appalling. There still are a few good things about getting old, and car insurance is one of them.
On the other hand, when it comes to life insurance, it definitely works the other way!
well i class myself as a petrolhead , and i love the idea of caterfields , elise etc , but practicality has 2 feature and being 6ft 2 and being built more for rugby than gymnastics it would be an impossible dream ..lol If i could fit in an elise that would definately be my next car infact i would go and buy 1 2 morow , but getting to work and having to roll out the door has a certain ...well ...doesnt look 2 gr8 ..lol
in my opinion .. for point to point within a reasonable budget Mildly Tuned R32 GtR (approx 400 bhp) gr8 chassis , lots of power , failing that i would say an evo is certainly up there . obviously if money wasnt a concern u could nominate the porsche TT etc.
Ross
combover said:
lotus exige
I believe this too. That I, personally find it one of the best cars ever is a plus.
Combover
I know I'm slightly biased but they really are awesome cars and there are not many cars that I have driven that I honestly believe would keep up with a well driven Exige. Even in the wet.
It's the nimbleness, the agility, the lightness, the total lack of inertia, the smallness.......all this adds together for a very tough A to B act to follow.
If not then one of these -
Jeez, we've got everything from the sublime to the downright ridiculous here!
In my original post, I was referring to usable road cars, I thought everyone knew that's what I meant, especially when I mentioned the 996TT and the EVO.
So that kinda rules out the the Group B refugees
In my experience, the EVO's and Impreza's (and in it's day, the Escort Cosworth) come the closest to fulfilling this.
Especially when you take into account that not everyone has Vatannen-esque ability.
The likes of the Exiges et al are all well and good, but on a wet, pothole strewn road, you're average driver is going to be much quicker in the EVO.
Which is what I was really getting at; the car not the driver, is the star here. It's the car's ability, to travel very bloody quickly, regardless of the weather or the driver.
>> Edited by ApexClipper on Sunday 19th March 13:15
In my original post, I was referring to usable road cars, I thought everyone knew that's what I meant, especially when I mentioned the 996TT and the EVO.
So that kinda rules out the the Group B refugees
In my experience, the EVO's and Impreza's (and in it's day, the Escort Cosworth) come the closest to fulfilling this.
Especially when you take into account that not everyone has Vatannen-esque ability.
The likes of the Exiges et al are all well and good, but on a wet, pothole strewn road, you're average driver is going to be much quicker in the EVO.
Which is what I was really getting at; the car not the driver, is the star here. It's the car's ability, to travel very bloody quickly, regardless of the weather or the driver.
>> Edited by ApexClipper on Sunday 19th March 13:15
ApexClipper said:
Jeez, we've got everything from the sublime to the downright ridiculous here!
In my original post, I was referring to usable road cars, I thought everyone knew that's what I meant, especially when I mentioned the 996TT and the EVO.
So that kinda rules out the the Group B refugees
Don't worry Apex, I was with you on this one hence my choices!
I would say that the shortlist would be -
Exige
Evo/Sti
996/997 Turbo
Agreed?
L100NYY said:
Jeez, we've got everything from the sublime to the downright ridiculous here!
In my original post, I was referring to usable road cars, I thought everyone knew that's what I meant, especially when I mentioned the 996TT and the EVO.
So that kinda rules out the the Group B refugees
Don't worry Apex, I was with you on this one hence my choices!
I would say that the shortlist would be -
Exige
Evo/Sti
996/997 Turbo
Agreed?
I agree with that, but I would say that an E46 M3 would do well in most conditions on such roads.
Combover
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