Calais to Monte Carlo in a day. What car?
Discussion
Calais. Friday 6am. You need to be in Monte Carlo for 8pm for dinner and then a night in the casino. You have 4 people and their luggage to transport and want to travel in some style and comfort and arrive as fresh as possible. What car do you take?
I can see some arguments for taking a diesel (longer range etc) but you have to do it style and not look like a private hire operator, so I'm thinking super saloon. It needs to be newish I think, as an E39 M5 (great car that it is) isn't really going to cut it in Casino Square. Neither will a new M5 really.
Panamera? Too ugly.
Rapide? A bit cramped and besides I already have a DBS/Vanquish for these kind of journeys with my wife/girlfriend/mistress!
AMG (of some description)? A bit too staid, as is an XFR (XFR-S a bit too lairy)
S8? Looks like a big A4 S-line!
I think I've narrowed it down to these options:
M6 Gran Coupe
S7
RS7 is quicker but looks a bit too overwrought IMHO and the more understated S7 has more class, is probably more comfortable (less firm) and to be honest 420bhp is probably enough power.
XJL Supersport
Mechanically the same as the XJR but more spacious and less vulgar.
Maserati Quattroporte GTS
Now the M6 Gran Coupe and S7 are both my favourite models in their respective ranges but ultimately look too similar to more humble BMWs/Audis and aren't going to get me a prime spot in Casino Square.
Jaguar or Maserati then. The Jaguar is probably the fastest and most spacious and comfortable of the two but the Quattroporte just looks so good and is the more exotic of the two, so I'll have to go with that, hope I'm not going to break down and maybe make a detour down the Route Napolean on the way! It still has to be the old model for me though, as I still haven't learned to love the looks of the new one!
I can see some arguments for taking a diesel (longer range etc) but you have to do it style and not look like a private hire operator, so I'm thinking super saloon. It needs to be newish I think, as an E39 M5 (great car that it is) isn't really going to cut it in Casino Square. Neither will a new M5 really.
Panamera? Too ugly.
Rapide? A bit cramped and besides I already have a DBS/Vanquish for these kind of journeys with my wife/girlfriend/mistress!
AMG (of some description)? A bit too staid, as is an XFR (XFR-S a bit too lairy)
S8? Looks like a big A4 S-line!
I think I've narrowed it down to these options:
M6 Gran Coupe
S7
RS7 is quicker but looks a bit too overwrought IMHO and the more understated S7 has more class, is probably more comfortable (less firm) and to be honest 420bhp is probably enough power.
XJL Supersport
Mechanically the same as the XJR but more spacious and less vulgar.
Maserati Quattroporte GTS
Now the M6 Gran Coupe and S7 are both my favourite models in their respective ranges but ultimately look too similar to more humble BMWs/Audis and aren't going to get me a prime spot in Casino Square.
Jaguar or Maserati then. The Jaguar is probably the fastest and most spacious and comfortable of the two but the Quattroporte just looks so good and is the more exotic of the two, so I'll have to go with that, hope I'm not going to break down and maybe make a detour down the Route Napolean on the way! It still has to be the old model for me though, as I still haven't learned to love the looks of the new one!
A Mercedes S500 with Distronic cruise control. I wouldn't worry about range because after 400 miles or so you'll want to get out for a piss anyway.
There's no point picking something sporty for that sort of trip as it'll just bruise your behind, what you want is absolute comfort and relaxation.
There's no point picking something sporty for that sort of trip as it'll just bruise your behind, what you want is absolute comfort and relaxation.
The QP is a good shout, although a bit old now. How about a new shape S63 AMG coupe? Would have all the power and comfort that you'd need plus a lovely cabin and sufficient rarity to look good in Monaco. Alternatively an Alpina of some sort would tick the comfort, speed and exclusivity/rarity boxes.
This thread has got me thinking. With the strict enforcement of speed limits, the rise of the powerful, refined turbo-diesel and the advent of the coupe-like saloon (eg CLS), is the traditional GT car (ie long swoop 2 door coupe) dead? Is the new Grant Tourer a high powered luxury diesel 4 door?
This thread has got me thinking. With the strict enforcement of speed limits, the rise of the powerful, refined turbo-diesel and the advent of the coupe-like saloon (eg CLS), is the traditional GT car (ie long swoop 2 door coupe) dead? Is the new Grant Tourer a high powered luxury diesel 4 door?
Edited by kith on Wednesday 3rd September 18:28
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