Discussion
Thanks guys,
unfortunality I sold it a few weeks ago. Sob.. sniff..
As far as LHD. I'm working in France most the time, so obviously no problem. But driving it in the UK, I never had a problem, only once when I came up behind a bus and realised (too late) that it was stopped so I couldn't see around it. Its a small car remember so as long as you remember ot keep a little distance behind the car/lorry in front you can see. Plus you don't need ANY run up to over take - simply pull out , have a peep, if clear press the pedal and you passed instantly. Overtaking was never a problem for me.
unfortunality I sold it a few weeks ago. Sob.. sniff..
As far as LHD. I'm working in France most the time, so obviously no problem. But driving it in the UK, I never had a problem, only once when I came up behind a bus and realised (too late) that it was stopped so I couldn't see around it. Its a small car remember so as long as you remember ot keep a little distance behind the car/lorry in front you can see. Plus you don't need ANY run up to over take - simply pull out , have a peep, if clear press the pedal and you passed instantly. Overtaking was never a problem for me.
On the motorways around the south of France. There's some excellent driving roads around here. It does'nt take very long to get to silly speeds, so don't need too long/straight a motorway stretch and at night or sunday weekends (not in the summer) its very very quiet.
There's a very very long straight on the A8 that goes down to Toulon - had many a full throttle experience blasting down there with other porkers.
- and once on the way to the airport to pick a friend up (Antibes to nice in 5 mins!) with a merc taxi in tow!
We did Magney Cours to Nice in 4.5 hours once ( wanted to get back for drinks!)
Other times has been on the way to track days and its been very early in the morning and there's about 4 other porkers in front of your which you don't want to loose.
There car felt nothing but very stable - it was a bit scary at first driving at that speed, but once I got my head around it - the car never felt anything other than glued to the road. Steering felt the same and the brakes never faded (had to scrub of a lot of speed a couple of times quickly - car in the distance at 160 - 170 mph arrives very soon, if you don't slow down to 80 mph very quickly!!)
Car ownership (currently) can be enjoyed to the full down here. THere are very few police around doing speed checks and I never ever ever seen a speed camera.
So as long as you're doing it a sensible times ie not in the middle of the summer when there's a lot of traffic or a know dangerous roads its generally Ok. I've never seen the police at night doing speed checks. There's also a bit of an unspoken rule - if you have super car and your driving it sensibly (that does'nt necessary mean slow)they can sometimes turn a blind eye. I've passed police on the motorways when cruising at around 130 mph and I've not seen a blue light.
>> Edited by bosshog on Monday 8th July 16:49
There's a very very long straight on the A8 that goes down to Toulon - had many a full throttle experience blasting down there with other porkers.
- and once on the way to the airport to pick a friend up (Antibes to nice in 5 mins!) with a merc taxi in tow!
We did Magney Cours to Nice in 4.5 hours once ( wanted to get back for drinks!)
Other times has been on the way to track days and its been very early in the morning and there's about 4 other porkers in front of your which you don't want to loose.
There car felt nothing but very stable - it was a bit scary at first driving at that speed, but once I got my head around it - the car never felt anything other than glued to the road. Steering felt the same and the brakes never faded (had to scrub of a lot of speed a couple of times quickly - car in the distance at 160 - 170 mph arrives very soon, if you don't slow down to 80 mph very quickly!!)
Car ownership (currently) can be enjoyed to the full down here. THere are very few police around doing speed checks and I never ever ever seen a speed camera.
So as long as you're doing it a sensible times ie not in the middle of the summer when there's a lot of traffic or a know dangerous roads its generally Ok. I've never seen the police at night doing speed checks. There's also a bit of an unspoken rule - if you have super car and your driving it sensibly (that does'nt necessary mean slow)they can sometimes turn a blind eye. I've passed police on the motorways when cruising at around 130 mph and I've not seen a blue light.
>> Edited by bosshog on Monday 8th July 16:49
Just to add something:
If I lived in the UK I don't know whether I would get a 993TT (or 996TT if I could afford it). You just can't use the car how its designed for in the UK on the roads. IMHO I think I'd be better off with a caterham or supercharge Elise or RS .
The 993TT is a monster of a car, and it would be criminal not to floor it in 3rd, then 4th, then 5th, then pop it into 6th to cruise along - in the UK I'd loose my license in the first step - floor it in 3rd).
It does insolate you from the speed a lot (compared to a elise for example) and below 50 mph its seems rather slow - its one of its greatest stregths and its greatest weakness depending on where you drive.
If I lived in the UK I don't know whether I would get a 993TT (or 996TT if I could afford it). You just can't use the car how its designed for in the UK on the roads. IMHO I think I'd be better off with a caterham or supercharge Elise or RS .
The 993TT is a monster of a car, and it would be criminal not to floor it in 3rd, then 4th, then 5th, then pop it into 6th to cruise along - in the UK I'd loose my license in the first step - floor it in 3rd).
It does insolate you from the speed a lot (compared to a elise for example) and below 50 mph its seems rather slow - its one of its greatest stregths and its greatest weakness depending on where you drive.
Cheers for that indulgence-fest, BossHogg! That's what I love: tales of classic, elgegant, continent pounding!
Know what you mean about the nervousness when you first approach these speeds: but the way it soon becomes second nature, n'est-ce pas? The A8! That's the bugger. Please, gimme more, I love this shit! There's a kind of psuedo Le Mans feel to what you've described to which anyone who's done these speeds in Europe will relate and frankly, this is EXACTLY why I log on. Keep it comin' y'all!
Know what you mean about the nervousness when you first approach these speeds: but the way it soon becomes second nature, n'est-ce pas? The A8! That's the bugger. Please, gimme more, I love this shit! There's a kind of psuedo Le Mans feel to what you've described to which anyone who's done these speeds in Europe will relate and frankly, this is EXACTLY why I log on. Keep it comin' y'all!
Ha!
just one - came back from Isola 2000 ski station once with a 996 C4 in front . I have never ever driven so mad on mountain roads - the guy in front was a nutter, but I refused to let him pull away. It must of been a sight to all the cars we overtaked - 2 silver porkers flashing passed in the dead of night at speeds not (to me) thought possible. And then a final blast up the A8 back home with lots of flashing of lights and waving before I turned off the motorway - it was better than the days boarding by miles!!
just one - came back from Isola 2000 ski station once with a 996 C4 in front . I have never ever driven so mad on mountain roads - the guy in front was a nutter, but I refused to let him pull away. It must of been a sight to all the cars we overtaked - 2 silver porkers flashing passed in the dead of night at speeds not (to me) thought possible. And then a final blast up the A8 back home with lots of flashing of lights and waving before I turned off the motorway - it was better than the days boarding by miles!!
Yes I am , but it was down to the driver not the car.
Both these cars have massive grip, and its a case of bottle/madness/how dangerous it is to go arond a mountain corner. The power difference isn't very noticable on small tight roads. Actually once on the motorway, I was definitly faster. When I said pull away I meant aroudn the corners - never the straights..
I remember once go UP the mountain a white van gave me a good run for my money (very impressive) - local knowledge counts for alot. I won't tear around a corner unless I knew it well were as the van driver probably did the run every day. (or I'm a totally shite driver!).
>> Edited by bosshog on Wednesday 10th July 14:25
Both these cars have massive grip, and its a case of bottle/madness/how dangerous it is to go arond a mountain corner. The power difference isn't very noticable on small tight roads. Actually once on the motorway, I was definitly faster. When I said pull away I meant aroudn the corners - never the straights..
I remember once go UP the mountain a white van gave me a good run for my money (very impressive) - local knowledge counts for alot. I won't tear around a corner unless I knew it well were as the van driver probably did the run every day. (or I'm a totally shite driver!).
>> Edited by bosshog on Wednesday 10th July 14:25
BosHogg - as a fellow appreciator of all things roadwise in the land of much free driving, i.e. France, particularly the bits in the South near Gap, Grenoble, etc, your comments about being in a Zonda C12S, as it were and still having a local pyscho in a beat up Renault 4TL (special low power 'farmer-spec' too!) carve you up on those crazy curves, really hits a nerve with me. In truth, the modern version I recall was the ubiquitous 'Twingo' which clearly was Lotus' last chassis design job. Jeez, INSANE hardly does these guys' driving justice.
But your comments re. 996 v (even) 993TT handling performance are quite accurate: round bends etc the 996 4wd is SO good now that it makes 996 v 993 cpmarisons akin to the usual TVR v 993 grip/pure balls debate. But as you say, you can pretty much keep up and then do the business when things straighten up some. Mind you, in the bone dry the 993TT v. 996TT grip factors would be interesting to assess - Lee77 - come on back!
But your comments re. 996 v (even) 993TT handling performance are quite accurate: round bends etc the 996 4wd is SO good now that it makes 996 v 993 cpmarisons akin to the usual TVR v 993 grip/pure balls debate. But as you say, you can pretty much keep up and then do the business when things straighten up some. Mind you, in the bone dry the 993TT v. 996TT grip factors would be interesting to assess - Lee77 - come on back!
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