Your Holy Grail?

Author
Discussion

John Laverick

Original Poster:

1,992 posts

214 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
What's your holy grail?

The car I want doesn't exist, does yours? If you could ask a manufacturer to build a custom spec. daily driver what would it consist of?

If I could ask any manufacturer to build me a car this is what I'd want:

BMW

M2 coupe proportions and body styling

4wd with 30/70 split F/R with active diff switchable to 100% rear. LSD in the rear.

A 'special' and characterful engine. Maybe a small capacity V8 with a supercharger. I want strong but (but not overly dominating) midrange for flexibility but with a 8k top end which pulls hard right to the limiter. Thinking 350bhp/300ftlb.

A three stage switchable exhaust. Mode 1 = subtle and quiet, Mode 2 = noisyish but restrained, Mode 3 = noisy with bangs/pops and crackles.

High quality club sport spec interior. Two comfortable bucket seats, trimmed roll cage. Minimal sound deadening, just enough to make a motorway schlep comfortable with a great stereo.

1200kg, pointy front end with a playful rear, sensible wheel diameter and width.

Heated seats and cruise control.

40mpg on a run and £30/£35k purchase price with great residuals.

Also to add:

Manual with the gearshift quality and pedal placement from a Cayman S.

Ability to mount a tow-bar ball for carrying bikes!

The Holy Grail!!

Edited by John Laverick on Wednesday 20th September 17:09

John Laverick

Original Poster:

1,992 posts

214 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
HedgeyGedgey said:
You want a supercharged v8 with only 350bhp?!?!?!
I think 350bhp and 300 ft/lb shifting 1200kg would be a sweet spot between usability and exploitability on the road.

Wouldn't have to be a small capacity supercharged V8 it was just an idea. The engines soundtrack and characteristics are what's important.

John Laverick

Original Poster:

1,992 posts

214 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
Shiv_P said:
Why not 100000000000000mpg?
Ha. I was trying to keep it mildly achievable within the realms of physics!

John Laverick

Original Poster:

1,992 posts

214 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
Everybody suggesting super cars ..... I was thinking of a daily driver but keep them coming!

John Laverick

Original Poster:

1,992 posts

214 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
HedgeyGedgey said:
350 is when remapped golfs will leave you behind!
So what? Maybe a re-mapped golf is at the sweet-spot too?

My aim would be an incredibly enjoyable and exploitable car, not the fastest.

John Laverick

Original Poster:

1,992 posts

214 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
Johnnytheboy said:
Focus RS Estate.

If I'm reeeeallly going to quible, a 4wd mk2 Focus RS Estate, or a mk3 Focus RS Estate with the engine from the mk2.
Good shout!

I've driven a MK3 Focus RS and it certainly had some of the qualities I'd look for.

If it had an Audi 5 cylinder turbo lump say with an M2 exterior and a GT3 clubsport style interior and weighed 1200kg I'd have one!!

John Laverick

Original Poster:

1,992 posts

214 months

Thursday 21st September 2017
quotequote all
chevronb37 said:
This.

I love the V6 Exige but I'd like a slight variation to it:

- The scavenging effect of the supercharger is highly noticeable, especially blipping the throttle on downchanges. I'd love a low-inertia, high-revving, exotic V6 or V8 developing 350-400bhp.
- Lower centre of gravity.
- More up-to-date intertia.
- Faster, sweeter gearbox.

Essentially: Lotus ride / handling; Porsche mechanical engineering; Ferrari agility and flamboyance. I 200 miles around North Yorkshire and Cumbria in my S1 Exige yesterday and it's the minimal size, absolute agility and total interia-free savagery of the drivetrain which make it so fun to drive. The outright peformance is miles off my 911 and yet nothing I've driven can touch it for driver fun. A slightly more grown-up, better-engineering example would be divine. Off-the-scale fun.
You boys have hit the nail on the head for me ..... other than I want mine in a small hatch / coupe and the ability to carry my bikes on the back.

I've owned loads of cars and each has had particular qualities that I love but nothing is available to meld all the best aspects into one.

John Laverick

Original Poster:

1,992 posts

214 months

Friday 22nd September 2017
quotequote all
teeCup said:
On a W plate with the alloy bonnet, boot and the ‘shift’ light.... cloud9
I had exactly that for a few years .... cracking car!