Discussion
Do you think the performance of modern diesels makes some sports cars and hot hatches pointless for road driving? I mean the point of the sports car is that it is fast but look at a diesel like the 335d and it is faster than a lot of them! A boxster, cayman or a elise would probably struggle to even keep up from 60 mph so a diesel is better for performance on the road.
gbgt22 said:
If you have nothing to add to the discussion please do not reply then!
Discussion? There's a discussion? Can you point me in the right direction please? So far all you've done is said "a particular diesel car is faster than a few others" and extrapolated that to meaning ALL diesels are "better for performance" on the road than petrol.
That's not a discussion, that's gibberish.
Modern diesels have a lot to offer but they aren't really suited to sports cars
Judge each engine on it's own merits, if I were buying a new 5 series I'd be looking at the wonderful diesel engines (even the 520d is decent now days) however in a hot hatch or sports car personality is more important.
Judge each engine on it's own merits, if I were buying a new 5 series I'd be looking at the wonderful diesel engines (even the 520d is decent now days) however in a hot hatch or sports car personality is more important.
Fun is the most important thing for me about my sports car (Caterham). It doesn't have much power (160bhp), the top speed is pretty low (120mph or so), it's noisy, impractical and takes full concentration to drive.
I love it, every drive is entertaining, the handling is fantastic, the interactivity enthralling, the acceleration violent. Keeping the revs high, banging the the gear changes through the box, engine screaming on the upshifts, exhaust popping and banging on the downshifts, flinging it into the bends, sliding it around (when safe and legal to do so, on track for example
) is intoxicating. Not a feeling any of the sensible diesel cars I've owned have evoked in me.
I love it, every drive is entertaining, the handling is fantastic, the interactivity enthralling, the acceleration violent. Keeping the revs high, banging the the gear changes through the box, engine screaming on the upshifts, exhaust popping and banging on the downshifts, flinging it into the bends, sliding it around (when safe and legal to do so, on track for example
) is intoxicating. Not a feeling any of the sensible diesel cars I've owned have evoked in me.Edited by ewenm on Monday 13th September 16:37
gbgt22 said:
Do you think the performance of modern diesels makes some sports cars and hot hatches pointless for road driving? I mean the point of the sports car is that it is fast but look at a diesel like the 335d and it is faster than a lot of them! A boxster, cayman or a elise would probably struggle to even keep up from 60 mph so a diesel is better for performance on the road.
Ok, I'll have a go. No, I don't think the performance of modern diesels (or any modern saloon car) makes some sports cars or hot hatches pointless.
Yes, in real life and in real life a-b journeys a diesel car may be far faster, but come the weekends, in almost every respect a Boxster, Cayman or Elise, and indeed most hot hatches, would by far be the nicer vehicle to drive.
There have been passenger-carrying cars faster than the contemporary sports cars of the day ever since the Mini came out in 1959. The fact that today a Ford Focus can be faster than a Cayman does not alter the fact that in virtually every respect the Cayman is much the nicer car to drive.
For sheer driving pleasure there is possibly nothing to beat an Elise, and if the journey ahead is a delicious one, who would choose a huge, heavy, lardy diesel saloon car, no matter how competent said car can be?
gbgt22 said:
Do you think the performance of modern diesels makes some sports cars and hot hatches pointless for road driving? I mean the point of the sports car is that it is fast but look at a diesel like the 335d and it is faster than a lot of them! A boxster, cayman or a elise would probably struggle to even keep up from 60 mph so a diesel is better for performance on the road.
Faster how? 0-60??does it sound like a sports car? no!
does it looks like a sports car? no!
is it fun in the corners? kinda, if you pick the gears/speed right, but with power between 2500 and 3500rpm, it would have to be a certain type of corner!
does your hand stink when you fill it up? YES
does it kick smoke out all the time? YES
does it sound like a bag of nails when you start it? yes?
will i be doing 60MPH by the time your glow plugs have warmed? NO, probably about 80MPH
End of explanation....
Seriously....
Perhaps this is the best, its faster than a BMW 335d(remapped or not!)
certainly as smokey as some f
king BMW diesels!
king BMW diesels!Edited by Petrolhead_Rich on Monday 13th September 16:51
gbgt22 said:
If you have nothing to add to the discussion please do not reply then!
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=2&f=23&t=883515&nmt=Are%20performance%20Diesels%20welcome%20here?http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
To name but a few threads from the last month or so
Edited by The Wookie on Monday 13th September 16:57
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