RE: PH Blog: all you need
Discussion
Good choice, Sir!
I also picked up a B5 Passat Estate Highline tdi a few weeks back for hacking duties. Lovely addition to the fleet. Nice 15" wheels and high-profile tyres, heated leather and 45mpg. Nice motorway chugger for the 110 mile / day commute which can double up as the family mule on weekends.
I also picked up a B5 Passat Estate Highline tdi a few weeks back for hacking duties. Lovely addition to the fleet. Nice 15" wheels and high-profile tyres, heated leather and 45mpg. Nice motorway chugger for the 110 mile / day commute which can double up as the family mule on weekends.
I agree that nearly everything new is too fast and fully exploiting modest performance beats continuous self-restraint, as long as there's some character to it. Though everyone likes a hammerblow of accelerative G occasionally. I find the law of diminishing returns applies to acceleration, but never get bored of sliding, which I why I think you've missed a trick. 406 estate would have swung its tailgate and hit 50mpg, while a 306 Rallye wtih 136 bhp/tonne, 15"s and maverick rear axle might be more real-world fun than a Focus RS?
Edited by Overstier on Tuesday 14th February 01:38
csampo said:
I ran an e36 328i for a while (until it ate its own engine) - lovely balance of grip and power that seemed just about right on public roads. I haven't driven a new petrol BM, but it was a hell of a lot easier and more rewarding to drive on our roads than the E92 diesel MSport which I found to be too firm and over-tyred. Better steering feel too.
+ another.I drove my wife's E36 328i home from Winchester last night over 50 miles of mixed A and B twisties. Very sweet balance, lovely amount of power and sounds great - better than the new 4 pot 328 2.0 ever will, I'd wager.
You can buy coilovers from Hottuning on ebay that stop the body roll and improve looks.
I also run 18" RS4's with 235 rubber and find it really grips now too.
Leather, climate, cruise control and tiptronic make it a great mile muncher.
The catch is mine's the V6 30v with cats removed so 35mpg on a run but fuel is a bit cheaper here in oz.
When I was in the UK last month I had an SRI Vauxhall insignia on 20" wheels and THAT was a harsh ride!
I also run 18" RS4's with 235 rubber and find it really grips now too.
Leather, climate, cruise control and tiptronic make it a great mile muncher.
The catch is mine's the V6 30v with cats removed so 35mpg on a run but fuel is a bit cheaper here in oz.
When I was in the UK last month I had an SRI Vauxhall insignia on 20" wheels and THAT was a harsh ride!
Overstier said:
I agree that nearly everything new is too fast and fully exploiting modest performance beats continuous self-restraint, as long as there's some character to it. Though everyone likes a hammerblow of accelerative G occasionally. I find the law of diminishing returns applies to acceleration, but never get bored of sliding, which I why I think you've missed a trick. 406 estate would have swung its tailgate and hit 50mpg, while a 306 Rallye wtih 136 bhp/tonne, 15"s and maverick rear axle might be more real-world fun than a Focus RS?
Had both - RS is more funEdited by Overstier on Tuesday 14th February 01:38
As for my daily driver, sitting in a jam for 60 minutes of my 75 minute commute, my smokey old millenium falcon has more than enough power to keep up with the flow of traffic (Even a snail could keep up with it) so 250HP+ more than I need, at the odd occasion being able to drive it like I stole it, running on remoulds, lowered suspension and pass their used by date discs all add to the excitement of trying to kkep it on the black stuff.
500+hp saloon/estates are not required for daily use but if that's what joe public want to use then I say let them, its a personal choice......
500+hp saloon/estates are not required for daily use but if that's what joe public want to use then I say let them, its a personal choice......
Polarbert said:
JMo22 said:
I have to say I've never been able to bring myself to sell my Clio 182 Trophy for these very reasons, although I have been tempted by RWD on many occasions.
180 bhp / 1,090kg = 165 Bhp per tonne
Had my regular 182 for over 6 years now. Cracking car.180 bhp / 1,090kg = 165 Bhp per tonne
Has cost me £40 in ebay fees because you still have to pay them!
But not again - the car is being kept
Whiters said:
+ another.
I drove my wife's E36 328i home from Winchester last night over 50 miles of mixed A and B twisties. Very sweet balance, lovely amount of power and sounds great - better than the new 4 pot 328 2.0 ever will, I'd wager.
The E36 328 is a brilliant car all around. But this is PH and I guess we all know that. You can get them for peanuts too..I drove my wife's E36 328i home from Winchester last night over 50 miles of mixed A and B twisties. Very sweet balance, lovely amount of power and sounds great - better than the new 4 pot 328 2.0 ever will, I'd wager.
Is this car the best all round car in the UK today?
http://www.carpages.co.uk/guide/skoda/skoda-octavi...
Estate
4x4
135mph
8 seconds in the zero to 60 dash.
40mpg and 500 miles to a tankful if driven gently.
It's reliable to boot no doubt and cheap to look after at the dealers service dept because it is a Skoda.
All new price? £20k dead.
That's a hell of an allround car for that sort of money NEW.
http://www.carpages.co.uk/guide/skoda/skoda-octavi...
Estate
4x4
135mph
8 seconds in the zero to 60 dash.
40mpg and 500 miles to a tankful if driven gently.
It's reliable to boot no doubt and cheap to look after at the dealers service dept because it is a Skoda.
All new price? £20k dead.
That's a hell of an allround car for that sort of money NEW.
Pah - the best all-rounder for economy, power, grunt, comfort and build quality is post-2001 BMW E39 530d, possibly in Touring guise. (IMHO, of course!).
I have had a vast array of cars over the past few years, and this one fits the bill for the best all-rounder.
Fuel economy: 42+ mpg easily on a run
Performance: 145+ mph, no problems (on a test track). Will keep up with most other everyday cars. Puts quite a few to shame, as well (especially those annoying, white A4 2.0 TDI Sport Lines and 320d's!).
Great over-taking grunt, looks pretty good, fully-loaded with all the toys.
Not much goes wrong if properly looked after and well-maintained.
Only my humble opinion!
I have had a vast array of cars over the past few years, and this one fits the bill for the best all-rounder.
Fuel economy: 42+ mpg easily on a run
Performance: 145+ mph, no problems (on a test track). Will keep up with most other everyday cars. Puts quite a few to shame, as well (especially those annoying, white A4 2.0 TDI Sport Lines and 320d's!).
Great over-taking grunt, looks pretty good, fully-loaded with all the toys.
Not much goes wrong if properly looked after and well-maintained.
Only my humble opinion!
Love my 172. If I am being honest I don't 'need' any more power than it has, it does not weigh much and is hilarious on anything bendy, practical enough as a commuter/day to day ride but good for a laugh if thats what you need, you know sometimes I just want to take it for a b road run.
I still get frustrated in stop start traffic, I cant imagine having much more power to play with, it would drive me mental not being able to open it up and use it, I drive a couple of hours every day and the opportunity to even make the most of 172 bhp is fleeting and elusive.
I still get frustrated in stop start traffic, I cant imagine having much more power to play with, it would drive me mental not being able to open it up and use it, I drive a couple of hours every day and the opportunity to even make the most of 172 bhp is fleeting and elusive.
MJRL said:
Love my 172. If I am being honest I don't 'need' any more power than it has, it does not weigh much and is hilarious on anything bendy, practical enough as a commuter/day to day ride but good for a laugh if thats what you need, you know sometimes I just want to take it for a b road run.
I still get frustrated in stop start traffic, I cant imagine having much more power to play with, it would drive me mental not being able to open it up and use it, I drive a couple of hours every day and the opportunity to even make the most of 172 bhp is fleeting and elusive.
Couldn't agree more. I rarely get the opportunity to push my 172 with the traffic I encounter. Driving speeds have reduced and most people dilly dally around so we're left stuck behind them...I still get frustrated in stop start traffic, I cant imagine having much more power to play with, it would drive me mental not being able to open it up and use it, I drive a couple of hours every day and the opportunity to even make the most of 172 bhp is fleeting and elusive.
But then again it's a fun car to drive at most speeds so I still love driving it
Boobonman said:
This.
At one point, I owned a Mk1 Eunos, and my mate had an E39 M5. I maintain that in 99% of situations the Eunos was much more fun, pulling out onto a dual carriageway for example I could rev to the limter in first, second and third and still not be breaking the NSL. The M5 was a different story altogether, give it some beans in 2nd and you're breaking every speeding law in the land. Epic car, but in my opinion probably too fast to enjoy on Uk roads most of the time.
Can't agree. I run an E39 M5 all year round (yes its on 245 winter rubber now) and I paid £10k for it. It hasn't broken or done anything silly and is fit for either purpose but it is ALWAYS fun. Kept right it will be worth about £10k in 10 years time. Cheap motoring I say...At one point, I owned a Mk1 Eunos, and my mate had an E39 M5. I maintain that in 99% of situations the Eunos was much more fun, pulling out onto a dual carriageway for example I could rev to the limter in first, second and third and still not be breaking the NSL. The M5 was a different story altogether, give it some beans in 2nd and you're breaking every speeding law in the land. Epic car, but in my opinion probably too fast to enjoy on Uk roads most of the time.
jamespink said:
Can't agree. I run an E39 M5 all year round (yes its on 245 winter rubber now) and I paid £10k for it. It hasn't broken or done anything silly and is fit for either purpose but it is ALWAYS fun. Kept right it will be worth about £10k in 10 years time. Cheap motoring I say...
Exactly.jamespink said:
Can't agree. I run an E39 M5 all year round (yes its on 245 winter rubber now) and I paid £10k for it. It hasn't broken or done anything silly and is fit for either purpose but it is ALWAYS fun. Kept right it will be worth about £10k in 10 years time. Cheap motoring I say...
Hear, hear, E39 M5's are the perfect everyday car, reasonably subtle, plenty of low down torque for wafting and fun on tap when the mood takes. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff