Best Dailey user/ fun whilst not risking prison
Discussion
Hello all,
About a year ago I thought I'd get myself something with a "proper bit of shove". I'd done the sensible, responsible thing long enough I said, time for some fun. Having been using various diesel powered barges/4x4's I thought petrol for a change and after all " I'm having some fun".
So, I considered which way to go ? Still concerned with catering for the family ( wife + boys 8,6,5 at the time) so I needed back seats capable of carrying 3. And I've a job that needs me to cover 25k pa and to 'not' to look to much like a LeMans renegade.
So I ended up with .....an AMG E63.....in white with black wheels, " gangster" my eldest son,now 9, calls it.
Ok it covered the five seats, and the color scheme isn't my ideal but interesting for a change - at the moment I'm not sure if MB supply anything but white or black - and the fuel economy isn't as terrible as you'd expect from a twin turbo'd 5.5 V8 with low to mid 20's in "normal" usage.
The problem I have is with the performance.
Having now read numerous threads from both sides of the Atlantic telling of over 600bhp and 600lb ft from accurate dyno runs, and having worked out this gives 1960's GT40 power to weight ratio's - it's become almost impossible to just " have a bit of fun" without heavy triple digits appearing and me fearing license evaporation, impending hedge manglement or meeting another road user with impolite haste.
Has anyone else a similar tale ? I now just fancy a hot hatch or similar if only because I won't be getting out of it feeling like a cannon baller.
About a year ago I thought I'd get myself something with a "proper bit of shove". I'd done the sensible, responsible thing long enough I said, time for some fun. Having been using various diesel powered barges/4x4's I thought petrol for a change and after all " I'm having some fun".
So, I considered which way to go ? Still concerned with catering for the family ( wife + boys 8,6,5 at the time) so I needed back seats capable of carrying 3. And I've a job that needs me to cover 25k pa and to 'not' to look to much like a LeMans renegade.
So I ended up with .....an AMG E63.....in white with black wheels, " gangster" my eldest son,now 9, calls it.
Ok it covered the five seats, and the color scheme isn't my ideal but interesting for a change - at the moment I'm not sure if MB supply anything but white or black - and the fuel economy isn't as terrible as you'd expect from a twin turbo'd 5.5 V8 with low to mid 20's in "normal" usage.
The problem I have is with the performance.
Having now read numerous threads from both sides of the Atlantic telling of over 600bhp and 600lb ft from accurate dyno runs, and having worked out this gives 1960's GT40 power to weight ratio's - it's become almost impossible to just " have a bit of fun" without heavy triple digits appearing and me fearing license evaporation, impending hedge manglement or meeting another road user with impolite haste.
Has anyone else a similar tale ? I now just fancy a hot hatch or similar if only because I won't be getting out of it feeling like a cannon baller.
vx220 said:
With you on this
Next car will be something that feels fast or like an event
So, an 80's/90's hot hatch, another VX or an MX5 or MR2?
Sounds like your budget isn't similar to mine though!:-)
I've had a few cars you mention, but I have to say I'm enjoying my FN2 CTR greatly - so I reckon you should add one of those to your list (or an ITR). It's probably the perfect blend of real usable performance without being too ridiculous and the short gearing lets you actually use a few of them.Next car will be something that feels fast or like an event
So, an 80's/90's hot hatch, another VX or an MX5 or MR2?
Sounds like your budget isn't similar to mine though!:-)
The MX5 in standard form is too slow for me. That's not to say its actually slow, because if driven properly, a sorted one is a very rapid little car on the twisties, but it's not really fast enough to overtake easily unless you have large gaps which can unfortunately mean more time stuck behind a dawdler on your favourite road. In 1.8 form at least the engine isn't really particularly nice either.
MR2 Turbo though, different story. I LOVED that car. That was definitely an event to drive, the handling isn't perhaps that great, but the mid-engine "feel" is just epic. I've never experienced better steering in a car either. Again, in standard form, more than quick enough to get past slow traffic without being too ridiculous, but finding a standard one is likely to be a struggle.
I also had a Mk2 Golf, I enjoyed that a lot. One of the few cars where 60 mph actually feels fast. Handling was excellent too. Not comfortable or reliable though.
I've never had a car that's been so fast it would land me in jail I don't think, I reckon if you keep it below 300 bhp, thats a good number on the road. I can imagine how frustrating it must be to have something with huge power if you can't actually use it.
In fairness, it's not the cars fault if I end up with no license, it's my right foot doing the squeezing.
The cars you've mentioned fit the the fun label quite neatly, it's just my experience with them has always left " a bit more power would be nice" effect.
When I consider different chariots out there that I've had the pleasure to use and abuse two spring to mind.
95 M Ford Fiesta 1.0
Not a bad mixture of power and grip - but perhaps 20 yrs have tinted my memory 😊
94 L Isuzu trooper swb 3.2 petrol with the wrong wheels on
Used to go like the clappers to about 70 and gave a few hot hatches a fright at the time.
I think part of the appeal of whatever you label fun is that it makes you feel like there's some mastery or skill involved in hustling it along.
In the movies the hero always beats the baddy, but only just and usually has the marks to prove it. Having a sledge hammer to crack a walnut kind of removes the satisfaction.
Over the years two manufacturers that have always given there users that " hold on tight and keep your eyes open" have been Lamborghini and TVR, according to whichever lucky journalisto at the time. Ford, Fiat and Vauxhall have also had their escapees from the asylum. Think Uno turbo, 3.0 Capri or the trooper/Monterey mentioned above.
I think what I'm getting at is that sometimes the simpler recipe of narrow tyres and a 20% more power is more satisfying than the uber sledge hammer.
Maybe I'm a little jaded at the mo' but fearing for my license etc when just seeking a bit of a thrill isn't as much fun as I might of thought.
The cars you've mentioned fit the the fun label quite neatly, it's just my experience with them has always left " a bit more power would be nice" effect.
When I consider different chariots out there that I've had the pleasure to use and abuse two spring to mind.
95 M Ford Fiesta 1.0
Not a bad mixture of power and grip - but perhaps 20 yrs have tinted my memory 😊
94 L Isuzu trooper swb 3.2 petrol with the wrong wheels on
Used to go like the clappers to about 70 and gave a few hot hatches a fright at the time.
I think part of the appeal of whatever you label fun is that it makes you feel like there's some mastery or skill involved in hustling it along.
In the movies the hero always beats the baddy, but only just and usually has the marks to prove it. Having a sledge hammer to crack a walnut kind of removes the satisfaction.
Over the years two manufacturers that have always given there users that " hold on tight and keep your eyes open" have been Lamborghini and TVR, according to whichever lucky journalisto at the time. Ford, Fiat and Vauxhall have also had their escapees from the asylum. Think Uno turbo, 3.0 Capri or the trooper/Monterey mentioned above.
I think what I'm getting at is that sometimes the simpler recipe of narrow tyres and a 20% more power is more satisfying than the uber sledge hammer.
Maybe I'm a little jaded at the mo' but fearing for my license etc when just seeking a bit of a thrill isn't as much fun as I might of thought.
I did the same about 2 years ago albeit on a lot less money - E55k AMG for a bit of fun whilst being able to transport the family...but it can be dangerously fast and easy to forget just how quick you are going, especially when accelerating hard thtough the gears like on a motorway slip road. I ended up getting an old Cayman S as a second car - which fills the brief of being quick but not stupidly so! The AMG now gets driven more sedately...most of the time! I would love an E63 though...
Get a Saxo, no seriously.
I'm a big german barge owner too, I have an E61 M5, I salso have a track prepped VTS, and a 100% standard VTS I bought to keep the miles off the M5 over the winter, I love the standard VTS, it's so much fun, and people either love it or hate it!
If you daren't be seen in a Saxo, which is understandable, what about a megane or a clio type affair? A liquid yellow megane is possiblyt next on my list!
I'm a big german barge owner too, I have an E61 M5, I salso have a track prepped VTS, and a 100% standard VTS I bought to keep the miles off the M5 over the winter, I love the standard VTS, it's so much fun, and people either love it or hate it!
If you daren't be seen in a Saxo, which is understandable, what about a megane or a clio type affair? A liquid yellow megane is possiblyt next on my list!
I think this is the problem with the german power race
Most cars ow, even relatively normal cars (335i, S4 etc) need to be travelling at stupis speeds to feel fun, as all the traction control and ESP programmes keep it calm at legal speeds
I have had an E60 M5, 911, currently have an XKR. They are all really fast, but not much 'fun' in the everyday
Most fun car I ever had was an S1 Elise. It felt fast everywhere, when it really wasn't, and never felt like I was doing anything very illegal.
Unlike the M5 where I always thought I might end up in prison!!!
Most cars ow, even relatively normal cars (335i, S4 etc) need to be travelling at stupis speeds to feel fun, as all the traction control and ESP programmes keep it calm at legal speeds
I have had an E60 M5, 911, currently have an XKR. They are all really fast, but not much 'fun' in the everyday
Most fun car I ever had was an S1 Elise. It felt fast everywhere, when it really wasn't, and never felt like I was doing anything very illegal.
Unlike the M5 where I always thought I might end up in prison!!!
I sometimes say " I love American cars but they're best driven in America" and to a point the same is true of German stuff.
Having done quite a few miles around Germany i can honestly say they make so much more sense ( BMW 330d,730d and the aforementioned Merc E63) when used in there natural environment. The trouble is our antiquated roads system here negates 30-40% of the engineering prowess designed into these types of cars.
As I write I'm wondering what British designed cars work particularly well here?
I'd love a lotus elise but being 6'3" and 17st, well, lets just say that dosnt work ;-)
Having done quite a few miles around Germany i can honestly say they make so much more sense ( BMW 330d,730d and the aforementioned Merc E63) when used in there natural environment. The trouble is our antiquated roads system here negates 30-40% of the engineering prowess designed into these types of cars.
As I write I'm wondering what British designed cars work particularly well here?
I'd love a lotus elise but being 6'3" and 17st, well, lets just say that dosnt work ;-)
Liqrub said:
I sometimes say " I love American cars but they're best driven in America" and to a point the same is true of German stuff.
Having done quite a few miles around Germany i can honestly say they make so much more sense ( BMW 330d,730d and the aforementioned Merc E63) when used in there natural environment. The trouble is our antiquated roads system here negates 30-40% of the engineering prowess designed into these types of cars.
As I write I'm wondering what British designed cars work particularly well here?
I'd love a lotus elise but being 6'3" and 17st, well, lets just say that dosnt work ;-)
I'm 6'2" and nearly 20st. It can be done!!!!Having done quite a few miles around Germany i can honestly say they make so much more sense ( BMW 330d,730d and the aforementioned Merc E63) when used in there natural environment. The trouble is our antiquated roads system here negates 30-40% of the engineering prowess designed into these types of cars.
As I write I'm wondering what British designed cars work particularly well here?
I'd love a lotus elise but being 6'3" and 17st, well, lets just say that dosnt work ;-)
Getting a removable steering wheel boss really helps, but don't be put off.
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