Does anyone ever compare....................
Discussion
the performance of their wedge against other performance cars they get to drive, and how favourably does it stand up?
I ask because I have a friend with an Audi S5 with the multitronic gearbox which I get to drive now and then:
354bhp
0-60 5.4 secs
Weight 1675kgs
I took the 450 to work last night so got to rag it home this morning. I valeted said S5 today then drove it back to my mates. Gave it some in 2nd and 3rd and whilst there are clear differences in refinement etc i really couldn't tell any significant difference in acceleration from a standstill to 80 or so.
Sure the Audi will bludgeon its way to 160 or so due to more bhp and superior aerodynamics where the wedge will fade away but the real world performance (0-80/90) i thought the old 450 would keep it honest tbh.
Any of you guys got any interesting comparisons?
Jimbo
I ask because I have a friend with an Audi S5 with the multitronic gearbox which I get to drive now and then:
354bhp
0-60 5.4 secs
Weight 1675kgs
I took the 450 to work last night so got to rag it home this morning. I valeted said S5 today then drove it back to my mates. Gave it some in 2nd and 3rd and whilst there are clear differences in refinement etc i really couldn't tell any significant difference in acceleration from a standstill to 80 or so.
Sure the Audi will bludgeon its way to 160 or so due to more bhp and superior aerodynamics where the wedge will fade away but the real world performance (0-80/90) i thought the old 450 would keep it honest tbh.
Any of you guys got any interesting comparisons?
Jimbo
Yup, we had a 390SE, now a 400SE but we also have a limited edition Nissan 350Z GT4. It's a monster in any gear. Torque-tastic.. And reliable. It does Everything well. Handle, drive, comfy.. A great GT tourer.
Why oh why do I have an old TVR..!
Also a Volvo C70 T5 and wait for it, a Skoda Fabia VRS. 130bhp diesel pocket rocket that does an easy 60mpg. You have to have a cheap reliable motor dont ya..
Why oh why do I have an old TVR..!
Also a Volvo C70 T5 and wait for it, a Skoda Fabia VRS. 130bhp diesel pocket rocket that does an easy 60mpg. You have to have a cheap reliable motor dont ya..
Did a traffic light GP with my mate in a Boxster 2.9 PDK. About even to 70 but only because he only had to pull a lever to change gear and didn't lift the throttle (his words not mine!!) then of course we backed off. Modern handling saw me off in the twisties but perhaps not by as much as I would have imagined.
Did a traffic light GP with my mate in a Boxster 2.9 PDK. About even to 70 but only because he only had to pull a lever to change gear and didn't lift the throttle (his words not mine!!) then of course we backed off. Modern handling saw me off in the twisties but perhaps not by as much as I would have imagined.
simboy1973 said:
Yup, we had a 390SE, now a 400SE but we also have a limited edition Nissan 350Z GT4. It's a monster in any gear. Torque-tastic.. And reliable. It does Everything well. Handle, drive, comfy.. A great GT tourer.
Why oh why do I have an old TVR..!
Also a Volvo C70 T5 and wait for it, a Skoda Fabia VRS. 130bhp diesel pocket rocket that does an easy 60mpg. You have to have a cheap reliable motor dont ya..
My wife has a Fabia vRS diesel. Bought new in 2004 now showing 134k. It's a little cracker.Why oh why do I have an old TVR..!
Also a Volvo C70 T5 and wait for it, a Skoda Fabia VRS. 130bhp diesel pocket rocket that does an easy 60mpg. You have to have a cheap reliable motor dont ya..
Jimbo
A 450 would very probably keep up with an Audi S5 well, how about giving it a try at night at a traffic light on a long empty road? 
According to the wedge pages your 450SE should have about 320hp and weigh in at 1150kg, so the weight difference is quite significant and things are probably in the wedges favour if not too many a horse left it's stable.
According to the wedge pages your 450SE should have about 320hp and weigh in at 1150kg, so the weight difference is quite significant and things are probably in the wedges favour if not too many a horse left it's stable.
vampire222 said:
A 450 would very probably keep up with an Audi S5 well, how about giving it a try at night at a traffic light on a long empty road?
According to the wedge pages your 450SE should have about 320hp and weigh in at 1150kg, so the weight difference is quite significant and things are probably in the wedges favour if not too many a horse left it's stable.
If the 450 actually got anywhere close to the 'official' figures i would be very dissappointed not to beat an S5 tbh.According to the wedge pages your 450SE should have about 320hp and weigh in at 1150kg, so the weight difference is quite significant and things are probably in the wedges favour if not too many a horse left it's stable.
But we all know actually figures for a wedge can vary......dramatically.
I really shouild get mine on a rolling road soon.
Jimbo
Track prepped Wedge 350/3.8 versus my XKR (new shape 4.2); no contest on the road, the XKR leaves it for dust due to a combination of traction control, seamless gearchanges and the small matter of a 420bhp supercharged V8 that revs to 7000. On the track, the Wedge has it in corners but only just. The wedge growls and pops versus XKR's staccato machine gun exhaust note. The XKR has automatic windscreen wipers and automatic directional headlamps versus the wedge wiper that you need to lean out of the window to push it off "park" and automatic directional headlamps in the sense that they come on automatically over bumps due to a loose switch and are directional "up" or "down" depending if it is damp and the lifter is working.
Overall the XKR is a world apart in terms of capability but the wedge is just so much more fun....
Overall the XKR is a world apart in terms of capability but the wedge is just so much more fun....
lear said:
Track prepped Wedge 350/3.8 versus my XKR (new shape 4.2); no contest on the road, the XKR leaves it for dust due to a combination of traction control, seamless gearchanges and the small matter of a 420bhp supercharged V8 that revs to 7000. On the track, the Wedge has it in corners but only just. The wedge growls and pops versus XKR's staccato machine gun exhaust note. The XKR has automatic windscreen wipers and automatic directional headlamps versus the wedge wiper that you need to lean out of the window to push it off "park" and automatic directional headlamps in the sense that they come on automatically over bumps due to a loose switch and are directional "up" or "down" depending if it is damp and the lifter is working.
Overall the XKR is a world apart in terms of capability but the wedge is just so much more fun....
Loved reading that Lear. My sentiments exactly Overall the XKR is a world apart in terms of capability but the wedge is just so much more fun....
example this morning, in mini convoy in town at the lights :-Met Chris and Mark in Greenwich park yesterday for our small but hopefully growing "wedge meet". Anyway at the last set of lights before the park I thought I'd give it some beans when on my left this young lass in her new shape fiat 500 thing (looked quite sporty though) decided to floor it too.
Am ashamed to say that due to my 390 deciding to missfire like a good 'un I only just got my nose ahead ! Didn't look over when we stopped at the next set of lights due to sheer embarrassment.
Anyway yesterday bought a new set of plugs and leads....Wow....what a difference
Also don't think my wedge would keep up with my daily old work horse, a bm 330d from about 80 onwards due to the torque of the bm. But then I don't really go much over 80 ib the wedge anyway, would be frightened to to be honest, it might fall apart
Am ashamed to say that due to my 390 deciding to missfire like a good 'un I only just got my nose ahead ! Didn't look over when we stopped at the next set of lights due to sheer embarrassment.
Anyway yesterday bought a new set of plugs and leads....Wow....what a difference
Also don't think my wedge would keep up with my daily old work horse, a bm 330d from about 80 onwards due to the torque of the bm. But then I don't really go much over 80 ib the wedge anyway, would be frightened to to be honest, it might fall apart
As Chris say's
Porsche. - Mercedes V8 AMG. - Wedge with roof down. Comment from bystander "that's a TVR son wait for it to pull away!"
Dont know how many times i've heard that or folk just stopping anywhere to take a photo of the car or telling you to rev it up even though there's a porsche GT3 in front of you being blanked.
jonny.
Porsche. - Mercedes V8 AMG. - Wedge with roof down. Comment from bystander "that's a TVR son wait for it to pull away!"
Dont know how many times i've heard that or folk just stopping anywhere to take a photo of the car or telling you to rev it up even though there's a porsche GT3 in front of you being blanked.
jonny.
Drove a Lambo Murcialago nearly 4 years ago for my 40th on a track. I came away from that experience (which I had been looking forward to for months)thinking that I was much better off in the 450 and would have blown the money for a Lambo on coke and hookers instead (if I had it).
No doubt at all that the Lambo had a hugely superior top speed, but it felt very clinical and uninvolving to drive and most surprisingly did not feel quicker when accelerating to get to 150mph +.
Being realistic the Lambo would beat my 450 hands down in any sort of challenge,, but I recon that for acceleration upto 120mph the 450 would not embarass itself and would have a better mpg!!
I still remember getting out of the Lambo and feeling hugely dissappointed and given the option of having one or keeping the wedge the wedge would win everytime.
No doubt at all that the Lambo had a hugely superior top speed, but it felt very clinical and uninvolving to drive and most surprisingly did not feel quicker when accelerating to get to 150mph +.
Being realistic the Lambo would beat my 450 hands down in any sort of challenge,, but I recon that for acceleration upto 120mph the 450 would not embarass itself and would have a better mpg!!
I still remember getting out of the Lambo and feeling hugely dissappointed and given the option of having one or keeping the wedge the wedge would win everytime.
....... although it sounds better.maston said:
Well who else saw Top Gear years ago when there was a chimeara racing against a 911 and other "supercars" in a drag race ?
The chimeara (think it was a 450 or 500, can't remember) blew them all away !!!
It might be on youtube..............
Not a Chimp The chimeara (think it was a 450 or 500, can't remember) blew them all away !!!
It might be on youtube..............
it was a Cerbra 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boH0B7Dn3xc
Cambelt
Gassing Station | Wedges | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff