european holiday jaunt...do you really want that supercar ?
Discussion
carspath said:
thanks for all these replies---the majority view is clear
bo apex : I did just that , and yes it was special.
july 2001, and I had had the 5000QV for 3 months.
major service , and 4 new tyres.
5.30 am , on a deserted 4 lane per side autoroute, some way south of lyon.
7700 rpm in 5th ----the howl and the fear----never since, and never again---if only because the grand old lady is now 27 , and I am even older----and the car was still accelerating
i'll never forget that minute or three---it's seared into my brain
with the steering wheel held firm and straight, in the middle lane of what appeared to be a completely flat and uncambered road, the car just moved into the next lane by itself
soon after ,I asked valentino balboni about this , and he said that it had never happened to him , and couldn't explain why, so I just left it at that
more recently, I read an interview with another lambo test driver (?Moreno conti?), and he described just what had happened to me and the countach all those years ago----a cross-wind apparently does just that at speed
Special ! Almost travelling on rarified air bo apex : I did just that , and yes it was special.
july 2001, and I had had the 5000QV for 3 months.
major service , and 4 new tyres.
5.30 am , on a deserted 4 lane per side autoroute, some way south of lyon.
7700 rpm in 5th ----the howl and the fear----never since, and never again---if only because the grand old lady is now 27 , and I am even older----and the car was still accelerating
i'll never forget that minute or three---it's seared into my brain
with the steering wheel held firm and straight, in the middle lane of what appeared to be a completely flat and uncambered road, the car just moved into the next lane by itself
soon after ,I asked valentino balboni about this , and he said that it had never happened to him , and couldn't explain why, so I just left it at that
more recently, I read an interview with another lambo test driver (?Moreno conti?), and he described just what had happened to me and the countach all those years ago----a cross-wind apparently does just that at speed
Like your MX5, the best pound-for-pound fun was in my R5 GT Turbo. Could chuck it anywhere, grin, and not care.
Would take huge abuse. Lot to be said for simplicity
talking of car aero phib, my wife recently made a very interesting observation :
I have only had one run so far, in my new to me murcielago roadster , and my wife was following me back home from the dealership in her 1995 merc W124 220coupe, which has 150bhp for a fairly heavy car
she said that it was difficult to keep up when I accelerated (no surprise there then, although I didn't go over 4000rpm in my new toy), but whenever I slowed down without braking (ie came off the accelerator), her W124 seemed to keep going just as fast , so that to maintain her position just behind me she needed to actually brake , rather than just lift off the throttle
well, the w124 was quite exceptional when it came out in the mid-eighties, for having an espcially low Cd---about 0.30 I think
also its CdA was equally low
I suspect that the murcie's CdA (I don't know the actual figures)is actually quite a bit higher than that of the W124 , which would explain her observation
I have only had one run so far, in my new to me murcielago roadster , and my wife was following me back home from the dealership in her 1995 merc W124 220coupe, which has 150bhp for a fairly heavy car
she said that it was difficult to keep up when I accelerated (no surprise there then, although I didn't go over 4000rpm in my new toy), but whenever I slowed down without braking (ie came off the accelerator), her W124 seemed to keep going just as fast , so that to maintain her position just behind me she needed to actually brake , rather than just lift off the throttle
well, the w124 was quite exceptional when it came out in the mid-eighties, for having an espcially low Cd---about 0.30 I think
also its CdA was equally low
I suspect that the murcie's CdA (I don't know the actual figures)is actually quite a bit higher than that of the W124 , which would explain her observation
Given that I'm in the early stages of planning to bring my Ferrari back from the UAE to the UK specifically so that I can do a few European road trips in it I'm rather hoping that you're wrong!
I've never been much on worrying about parking anyway, the valet blokes at hotels park wherever they want anyway! and as for parking in towns it's only a car, if it gets scratched it gets scratched, that's what bodyshops are for
I've never been much on worrying about parking anyway, the valet blokes at hotels park wherever they want anyway! and as for parking in towns it's only a car, if it gets scratched it gets scratched, that's what bodyshops are for
andrew said:
AndrewD said:
andrew said:
you're wrong
hth
Says the man who hasn't driven his car abroad, ever.hth
To the OP, I did 2000 miles around France last summer in my 16M, including said Route Napoleon. Roof down, V8 screaming off rock walls. It was awesome. Spine tingly awesome. Used to live in Switzerland and I can safely say the alpine mountain passes are more fun (for me) in anything loud and exotic and fast
Johnnyforeigner said:
Another vote for this not being right.
I drove my Scuderia back from Cap Ferrat via the Route Napoleon last summer.
I didn't wish I was in anything else at any point.
+1 Here Johnny.. I'm also planning similar trips in my Scud this year (Le Mans / Route Napoleon / Alps) and to be honest if I were in a cheaper run around / MX5 type car probably wouldn’t event bother. For me part of the trip / event absolutely is the car...I drove my Scuderia back from Cap Ferrat via the Route Napoleon last summer.
I didn't wish I was in anything else at any point.
Scuderia with pipes set to deafen bouncing of Granite walls is how all these Euro trips should be undertaken...
Slickhillsy said:
...to be honest if I were in a cheaper run around / MX5 type car probably wouldn’t event bother. For me part of the trip / event absolutely is the car...
We should remember there are many low cost cars that are great fun and that the vast majority of people do not/will never/cannot afford a Ferrari, Lamborghini or similar but their road trip will be just as enjoyable and is just as valid as ours as it's all relative. I'd enjoy the trip tremendously in any of our cars but I'll admit I'm really looking forward to taking the red one carspath said:
talking of car aero phib, my wife recently made a very interesting observation :
I have only had one run so far, in my new to me murcielago roadster , and my wife was following me back home from the dealership in her 1995 merc W124 220coupe, which has 150bhp for a fairly heavy car
she said that it was difficult to keep up when I accelerated (no surprise there then, although I didn't go over 4000rpm in my new toy), but whenever I slowed down without braking (ie came off the accelerator), her W124 seemed to keep going just as fast , so that to maintain her position just behind me she needed to actually brake , rather than just lift off the throttle
well, the w124 was quite exceptional when it came out in the mid-eighties, for having an espcially low Cd---about 0.30 I think
also its CdA was equally low
I suspect that the murcie's CdA (I don't know the actual figures)is actually quite a bit higher than that of the W124 , which would explain her observation
Engine braking ?I have only had one run so far, in my new to me murcielago roadster , and my wife was following me back home from the dealership in her 1995 merc W124 220coupe, which has 150bhp for a fairly heavy car
she said that it was difficult to keep up when I accelerated (no surprise there then, although I didn't go over 4000rpm in my new toy), but whenever I slowed down without braking (ie came off the accelerator), her W124 seemed to keep going just as fast , so that to maintain her position just behind me she needed to actually brake , rather than just lift off the throttle
well, the w124 was quite exceptional when it came out in the mid-eighties, for having an espcially low Cd---about 0.30 I think
also its CdA was equally low
I suspect that the murcie's CdA (I don't know the actual figures)is actually quite a bit higher than that of the W124 , which would explain her observation
Carspath
as you know we only live once and like you i cant believe how quickly the years are passing. I may get slated here but being a Scot living in London I can safely tell you there are no great roads anywhere near London. Only going up to Wales or Scotland do you get non populated A roads and for that reason I need to get at least 1 annual road trip fix abroad. The roads and scenery are far more impressive and enjoyable and as you say, the whole experience is so much more memorable. Like breaking down in the Austrian Alps and having to spend half a day on the internet working out if it made more sense to get the ar trailored to Innsbruck Ferrari or Munich Ferrari dealer. A trip I wont forget.
Its true I would rather speed abroad! 155kph in France is doable with a fine for example versus alot of points and fine in the UK. Thanks to Crotian Police for my affordable fine being caught at 138mph on the highway... I wouldnt dream of doing these speeds in the UK anymore.
as you know we only live once and like you i cant believe how quickly the years are passing. I may get slated here but being a Scot living in London I can safely tell you there are no great roads anywhere near London. Only going up to Wales or Scotland do you get non populated A roads and for that reason I need to get at least 1 annual road trip fix abroad. The roads and scenery are far more impressive and enjoyable and as you say, the whole experience is so much more memorable. Like breaking down in the Austrian Alps and having to spend half a day on the internet working out if it made more sense to get the ar trailored to Innsbruck Ferrari or Munich Ferrari dealer. A trip I wont forget.
Its true I would rather speed abroad! 155kph in France is doable with a fine for example versus alot of points and fine in the UK. Thanks to Crotian Police for my affordable fine being caught at 138mph on the highway... I wouldnt dream of doing these speeds in the UK anymore.
t4ngo--good point about engine braking--I suppose a 12 cylinder engine must have more internal friction than a 4 cylinder engine ?
also would an auto transmission have more drive-train ''drag'' than a robotised manual ?
could someone with more mechanical knowledge chime in please
kyodo and f1ten--I entirely agree with everything you have posted
I really believe that empty (or relatively empty)roads, are the biggest contributor to our driving enjoyment
in the summer , the cars are usually tucked back in the garage by 6.30 am at the very latest
also would an auto transmission have more drive-train ''drag'' than a robotised manual ?
could someone with more mechanical knowledge chime in please
kyodo and f1ten--I entirely agree with everything you have posted
I really believe that empty (or relatively empty)roads, are the biggest contributor to our driving enjoyment
in the summer , the cars are usually tucked back in the garage by 6.30 am at the very latest
Done Spain twice and France once in my 16M. Last year Spain again in V12V. Also Portugal in family ML and all the while wishing I was in a two seater with the noise and sun beating down on me. So this year off to Italy in a 2 seater again and who cares about the mileage and possible knocks etc. You only live once and I will only regret it if I leave a two seater back in the garage while I drive a normal car around on holiday.
Kyodo said:
Slickhillsy said:
...to be honest if I were in a cheaper run around / MX5 type car probably wouldn’t event bother. For me part of the trip / event absolutely is the car...
We should remember there are many low cost cars that are great fun and that the vast majority of people do not/will never/cannot afford a Ferrari, Lamborghini or similar but their road trip will be just as enjoyable and is just as valid as ours as it's all relative. I'd enjoy the trip tremendously in any of our cars but I'll admit I'm really looking forward to taking the red one 
slickhillsy --- what a wonderfully arrogant comment---this section is an open forum for anyone interested in supercars--owners or otherwise---and is all the better for that
while some of us may not have a supercar , some of us , usually entirely through luck, might have one or two or three ''supercars'' , and yet might choose to take their series 1 mx5 on holiday-----and have a thoroughly good time in the process , with the perceived negatives balanced by the perceived advantages
hence the reason for starting this thread
'' and to be honest if I were in a cheaper run around / MX5 type car probably wouldn’t event bother.''------did you really mean( to post) this ?
while some of us may not have a supercar , some of us , usually entirely through luck, might have one or two or three ''supercars'' , and yet might choose to take their series 1 mx5 on holiday-----and have a thoroughly good time in the process , with the perceived negatives balanced by the perceived advantages
hence the reason for starting this thread
'' and to be honest if I were in a cheaper run around / MX5 type car probably wouldn’t event bother.''------did you really mean( to post) this ?
Have to agree with most of the comments above, for two reasons. Life is short and there is nothing like hearing the howl of an Italian V8/V12 bouncing off the rock face as you give the car the exercise it deserves. Of course a small lowish powered car can be fun, some of the drives I had in my old MkII Golf GTi back in the day were incredible, but would it be as much fun? I don't think for one moment it would be.
The other reasons is that you are probably much safer in your supercar, with its powerful brakes, low centre of gravity and high levels of grip and roadholding, than you would be in a low powered car with average brakes and skinny tyres. You never know what may come round the next corner and I for one would always choose the car with better brakes and road manners for such a trip, if I had the choice. MX5s are no doubt huge fun, but if it were me I wouldn't even be considering it for such a trip.
The other reasons is that you are probably much safer in your supercar, with its powerful brakes, low centre of gravity and high levels of grip and roadholding, than you would be in a low powered car with average brakes and skinny tyres. You never know what may come round the next corner and I for one would always choose the car with better brakes and road manners for such a trip, if I had the choice. MX5s are no doubt huge fun, but if it were me I wouldn't even be considering it for such a trip.
carspath said:
slickhillsy --- what a wonderfully arrogant comment---this section is an open forum for anyone interested in supercars--owners or otherwise---and is all the better for that
while some of us may not have a supercar , some of us , usually entirely through luck, might have one or two or three ''supercars'' , and yet might choose to take their series 1 mx5 on holiday-----and have a thoroughly good time in the process , with the perceived negatives balanced by the perceived advantages
hence the reason for starting this thread
'' and to be honest if I were in a cheaper run around / MX5 type car probably wouldn’t event bother.''------did you really mean( to post) this ?
LMAO - Carspath you clearly dont have a sense of humour - did you not see my ' while some of us may not have a supercar , some of us , usually entirely through luck, might have one or two or three ''supercars'' , and yet might choose to take their series 1 mx5 on holiday-----and have a thoroughly good time in the process , with the perceived negatives balanced by the perceived advantages
hence the reason for starting this thread
'' and to be honest if I were in a cheaper run around / MX5 type car probably wouldn’t event bother.''------did you really mean( to post) this ?
' Maybe we should ask all non super car owners, Vegetarians, Jehovah Witnesses, and sense of humour failure types to also feck off out this section...''''''
''''''
LOL...
I guess if you come on the Supercar forum asking if we would all leave our supercars at home the end result is inevitable really...
This:
"just my honest feelings , that I have taken too long to recognise (I think)
would love to hear your opinions"
Carspath - You have our views, you can’t then throw your toys out the pram if you don’t like what you hear matey!
I guess if you come on the Supercar forum asking if we would all leave our supercars at home the end result is inevitable really...
This:
"just my honest feelings , that I have taken too long to recognise (I think)
would love to hear your opinions"
Carspath - You have our views, you can’t then throw your toys out the pram if you don’t like what you hear matey!
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