My trio of Germans
Discussion
Hi everyone - here's a few pics and a brief writeup of my current fleet. Hope you enjoy.
First up is the Audi S4, it's the latest acquisition. Only had it a week so I can't make a detailed description of how it drives however it is bloody quick! Previous owner had ticked all the optional extras and I'm still struggling to find myself around the various buttons and switches. The car has got 18,000 miles on the clock and is in near showroom condition. It will be used and abused as an everyday family car, primarily for missy elliott to ferry kids around, as well as the annual ski trips to France. The only thing I don't like on it are the huge wing mirrors. Really do look out of place on a fairly sporting model as the S - I think the RS also share the same mirrors too. Very odd.
The car it is replacing, which has served us for over 13 years with barely so much as a hiccup, is our much loved Scooby. They really are great cars, and the Audi will have a lot to live up to.
Next up is my M3 E46, 2005 car. Have owned this car for nearly 4 years, blew all my savings to buy her and never had a single day of regret. Absolutely love it. Have to be honest the first few times I drove it I did wonder what the fuss was all about as it's not 's
t your pants' quick, however the more I've driven it, the more I've appreciated its true talents. It's a car that really does grow on you in terms of driving experience. What an engine. I think that the E46 shape has a timeless quality about it, and seems to get better with age. No plans to sell the car yet.
And finally, my baby! This is my Porsche 911 SC (1982). I've had this car for 8 and a half years, it has recently undergone a bare metal respray as well as having all the oily bits thoroughly looked at and checked, and I have to say I'm extremely happy with the results. Took the whole family to the recent Le Mans 24 hour in it and it didn't miss a beat. Car performed brilliantly and was quite happy to sit in huge traffic jams for long periods in extreme heat without any fuss whatsoever. (anyone stuck in the traffic jam on the way to the Great British Welcome will testify to this!)
In one picture it has a roof, which isn't mine, I'm only borrowing. My own is almost beyond repair and having priced up new ones, well, let's just say they cost a big lump of wedge. So I'm having a local firm fabricate me a hard top roof using the existing targa frame (I've never actually liked the vinyl as it's always looked a bit of an afterthought). We're playing around with a few ideas but I'm hoping to incorporate the seamless look of a coupe whilst having the option of removing the roof for good weather days.
My favourite pic, my Porsche dust caps that I won at a local car show.
First up is the Audi S4, it's the latest acquisition. Only had it a week so I can't make a detailed description of how it drives however it is bloody quick! Previous owner had ticked all the optional extras and I'm still struggling to find myself around the various buttons and switches. The car has got 18,000 miles on the clock and is in near showroom condition. It will be used and abused as an everyday family car, primarily for missy elliott to ferry kids around, as well as the annual ski trips to France. The only thing I don't like on it are the huge wing mirrors. Really do look out of place on a fairly sporting model as the S - I think the RS also share the same mirrors too. Very odd.
The car it is replacing, which has served us for over 13 years with barely so much as a hiccup, is our much loved Scooby. They really are great cars, and the Audi will have a lot to live up to.
Next up is my M3 E46, 2005 car. Have owned this car for nearly 4 years, blew all my savings to buy her and never had a single day of regret. Absolutely love it. Have to be honest the first few times I drove it I did wonder what the fuss was all about as it's not 's
t your pants' quick, however the more I've driven it, the more I've appreciated its true talents. It's a car that really does grow on you in terms of driving experience. What an engine. I think that the E46 shape has a timeless quality about it, and seems to get better with age. No plans to sell the car yet.And finally, my baby! This is my Porsche 911 SC (1982). I've had this car for 8 and a half years, it has recently undergone a bare metal respray as well as having all the oily bits thoroughly looked at and checked, and I have to say I'm extremely happy with the results. Took the whole family to the recent Le Mans 24 hour in it and it didn't miss a beat. Car performed brilliantly and was quite happy to sit in huge traffic jams for long periods in extreme heat without any fuss whatsoever. (anyone stuck in the traffic jam on the way to the Great British Welcome will testify to this!)
In one picture it has a roof, which isn't mine, I'm only borrowing. My own is almost beyond repair and having priced up new ones, well, let's just say they cost a big lump of wedge. So I'm having a local firm fabricate me a hard top roof using the existing targa frame (I've never actually liked the vinyl as it's always looked a bit of an afterthought). We're playing around with a few ideas but I'm hoping to incorporate the seamless look of a coupe whilst having the option of removing the roof for good weather days.
My favourite pic, my Porsche dust caps that I won at a local car show.
coopedup said:
Lovely cars, must be a right pain keeping to the Guernsey speed limits!! Where are you on the island?
I live on the west coast of the Island, at a place called Rocquaine Bay - gorgeous sea views so consider myself very lucky. Can get frustrating at times (we do travel to the continent as often as we can), but I actually really enjoy driving the Porsche the most - well suited to the Island really, small compact and nippy, and more importantly being a left hooker, I can get nice and close to those granite walls!Thanks for all the comments everyone.
economicpygmy said:
Nice collection. Was your scooby breathed on with PPP or similar? If so how does it compare to the M3? Might be my next jump up
Yep the Scooby had a PPP fitted so power went up from 215-ish to roughly 240, maybe slightly less, but it did transform the car. Bigger back box, made for a very rude noise! and a lovely slug of mid-range really did make it very addictive. Still makes me chuckle even today.Comparing it to the M3 - probably similar performance on paper but different ways of getting there. The Beemer being NA the power delivery is much more linear but very progressive. Real screamer at the top end.
coopedup said:
I know those walls very well!! I have family that live in Fort George and get over quite a few times every year, absolutely love the place, do a lap of the island first thing EVERY time I go over...enjoy the hill climbs too, especially seeing that GTR at full bore up the hill!
Yes that'll be the Val de Terres hill climb - pretty iconic hill for motorsport fans and cyclists alike (locally). I know the GTR quite well as I know the owner. So you've got family on Fort George eh? It's regarded as the Beverly Hills of Guernsey - keep on sending them birthday and christmas cards - you never know what you might get in return ha ha!
Just a small update - been using the Porsche as regularly as I can - took it out this morning in the gorgeous weather. Pic of the S4 too - chopped the big number plate for a smaller one just to tidy up the rear end and make the most of the 4 digit! Goes in for an oil service pretty soon, may enquire about a cheeky remap early next year, if anyone's got experiences themselves let us know. M3 is booked in for a wheel refurb on Monday - will post pics of results next week.
Just a quick update on the cars, been using the 911 when I can, had a new front rubber splitter fitted earlier this week, tidies up the front end really well. Upcoming work includes meeting fabricator next week for a new roof - excited about that. Car continues to run faultlessly.
A pic of the M3 to show the newly refurbished wheels I had done - given the car a new lease of life. Got fairly close to selling it late last year but she's definitely a keeper now.
And a few random shots of the daily. Going in for a service this week - still got half an eye on a remap at some point in the future.
A pic of the M3 to show the newly refurbished wheels I had done - given the car a new lease of life. Got fairly close to selling it late last year but she's definitely a keeper now.
And a few random shots of the daily. Going in for a service this week - still got half an eye on a remap at some point in the future.
coopedup said:
That is still a lovely selection of cars you have. Will be back on the island over Easter for the hill climb, are you tempted to run? Oh, and I also have the whole house in Fort George to myself for a few days!!
No not tempted to do the hill climb but they do the 'sprint' along Vazon which is open to members of the public. Fort George really is a lovely place - all the houses up there are mega!Thanks for your kind comment dbdb
If I'm being honest, I really miss the Subaru with its lovely burble and loopy mid-range grunt. Yes the audi is a lovely car to be in but it's such an 'uninvolving' drive - the steering being the biggest disappointment. Just a dead feeling running all the way through it. However as you say the interior really is lovely, with plenty of power on tap. Driving it to the Alpes in a few weeks, I think she'll be well suited to wafting along the motorway fully ladened down.
Yeah the Porsche is tiny, I read somewhere that in terms of width and length it has the same dimensions as the new Fiat 500!
Yeah the Porsche is tiny, I read somewhere that in terms of width and length it has the same dimensions as the new Fiat 500!
Just a quick update, some of it is vaguely interesting. All the cars are going great, first off the Porsche - been using it as much as I can throughout the summer. Still no roof at the moment, however things are afoot. One is currently being fabricated and hopefully will be ready one day. 
Taking the car to Le Mans next year, so that's the deadline. It's been lowered since the last update - I think it's improved the stance no end. A bit more intent, shall we say.
Been tinkering with the idea of getting the rims painted a satin, although I'm not fully decided at this stage.
The M3 continues to impress, although I don't use it that often I did take it away in the summer to France for our annual holiday. Proper stonking it was. The pic below is of us and the car taking a breather after a spirited drive, shall we say, through the Tarn Gorge.
The S4 continues to serve well as the daily smoker - recently got back from a weekend away to France, does what all S4s do - lovely on the straights, not so good on the cornery bits. Will stay with us for a little while longer.
Taking the car to Le Mans next year, so that's the deadline. It's been lowered since the last update - I think it's improved the stance no end. A bit more intent, shall we say.Been tinkering with the idea of getting the rims painted a satin, although I'm not fully decided at this stage.
The M3 continues to impress, although I don't use it that often I did take it away in the summer to France for our annual holiday. Proper stonking it was. The pic below is of us and the car taking a breather after a spirited drive, shall we say, through the Tarn Gorge.
The S4 continues to serve well as the daily smoker - recently got back from a weekend away to France, does what all S4s do - lovely on the straights, not so good on the cornery bits. Will stay with us for a little while longer.
Just a quick update on things; everything running relatively smoothly First up the Porsche - finally got her new roof so she's no longer vinyl topped but tin topped. Looks so much nicer, really pleased with the finished product (although not quite finished yet). Had a great trip to Le Mans in June where the car performed faultlessly, such a great little car to drive and going up in value too apparently! The M3 again is performing without fault, still love driving it although I don't get the chance to that often. Still think the E46 shape looks fresh even today. Due a service and some discs, so may have to raid the piggy bank.
Ok I did mention relatively smoothly. Not so much luck with the S4 unfortunately, after 2 and a half weeks hooning around in France, stopping off at a petrol station between St Etienne and Lyon, a kindly French van driver decided to reverse his vehicle into the front of the Audi without warning. Cue lots of coolant and various bits of bodywork spread all over the forecourt. Car was in a completely undrivable state, towed off motorway, temporary accommodation and usual hire car stress. As of writing, the car is in a compound near St Etienne, has had an engineer's report with the cost of the work over EUR 4k. The insurance company appear to be keen on getting the car repaired in France at an Audi dealer. If anyone has any experiences with car repairs in France please let me know! This was to be the Audi's last trip as we're looking to replace it with something far more frugal. Two years of ownership (daily snotter) really has dented the slush fund in terms of fuel. Looking at possibly a Golf GTD estate, erm, the sporty one. Can't remember its full name. Anyway, the one good thing to come out of this is that we've welcomed a good friend back into the family. I've got the use of my old car as a replacement for the Audi, for the foreseeable. Wow what a car - old skool fun.
First up the Porsche - finally got her new roof so she's no longer vinyl topped but tin topped. Looks so much nicer, really pleased with the finished product (although not quite finished yet). Had a great trip to Le Mans in June where the car performed faultlessly, such a great little car to drive and going up in value too apparently! The M3 again is performing without fault, still love driving it although I don't get the chance to that often. Still think the E46 shape looks fresh even today. Due a service and some discs, so may have to raid the piggy bank.Ok I did mention relatively smoothly. Not so much luck with the S4 unfortunately, after 2 and a half weeks hooning around in France, stopping off at a petrol station between St Etienne and Lyon, a kindly French van driver decided to reverse his vehicle into the front of the Audi without warning. Cue lots of coolant and various bits of bodywork spread all over the forecourt. Car was in a completely undrivable state, towed off motorway, temporary accommodation and usual hire car stress. As of writing, the car is in a compound near St Etienne, has had an engineer's report with the cost of the work over EUR 4k. The insurance company appear to be keen on getting the car repaired in France at an Audi dealer. If anyone has any experiences with car repairs in France please let me know! This was to be the Audi's last trip as we're looking to replace it with something far more frugal. Two years of ownership (daily snotter) really has dented the slush fund in terms of fuel. Looking at possibly a Golf GTD estate, erm, the sporty one. Can't remember its full name. Anyway, the one good thing to come out of this is that we've welcomed a good friend back into the family. I've got the use of my old car as a replacement for the Audi, for the foreseeable. Wow what a car - old skool fun.
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