Automotive

ThomasM
[PuristS]
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god I miss these discussions!

Hi, BDLJ,

"...for the Phaeton. One, because it is a bit of an automotive orphan"

I'm a softie for orphans underdogs (not the same) too; I actively try to filter for this personal bias when I evaluate something but of course it weights strongly in my final personal conclusions.

" and two, I was fortunate enough to drive a very early production version in Germany a decade ago."

I did too; as well as a late production version (don't remember MY) - they seemed to have evolved, and not in a good way, to my preferences, the Phaeton platform and mission statement over that time.

"But it also comes down to what I expect of big sedans. I'm after comfort and ride with composure, not grip at 10/10ths that means crashing and wheel patter at lower speeds" -

I totally agree, and comfortable ride and composure (sorry for hijacking your terms and playing with the punctuation / syntax) are my priorities for a large sedan as well. Of course, funny you mention "crashing and wheel patter at lower speeds" - the H&R coilovers in my E39 540, tuned by Porsche suspension guys, do exactly that!  ;-) but then, the E39 540 is not a "large" sedan...

"...If I want low inertia and darty turn-in, I'll look elsewhere, for a different style of car."

Yep - but making Franken-cars that do cross over duty has a certain perverse fun factor to it, don't you think?

;-)

"I share your opinion of the Mustang v Corvette. I haven't driven a GT500, but the rawness of the Mustang with its busy feeling rear end is more fun, not to mention while it doesn't exactly feel compact, it hides its size better than the Corvette."

?  I agree with your comments per se, but do you share my conclusions as well?  I hated the GT500 (but loved the Laguna Seca Edition) and LOVED the 427 Collector Edition (but hate the CE name!) - strange, because I would normally prefer "more fun" and "hiding size better..."

"... but I cannot agree that the direction has much of a nod to their past. The Mulsanne seems an attempt....but is more limousine than Speed Six"

Ah, but there's the rub - as you well hinted at, is the Bentley past the Speed Six, or the bloated more dashing because the marketing people said so poorer cousin of Rolls Royce?  It seems the VAG people have managed to put the old sporting power back in from the "good old days" into the packaging of the "stately dignified forms" of the last 3-4 decades? The "best of both worlds?"

?

Cheers,

TM