Automotive

Hi,

As the work week gets kick started, but we all know most of December is spent thinking about the holidays coming up (and in the US, the Thanksgiving holidays that just finished) how about some fun mental exercises for the recommended "10 minute breaks" to keep our productivity high?

;-)

Let's break this down into

cars that you've owned or driven (more than "around the block" during a short test drive)

and cars that are on your bucket list / fantasy list?

Sports car

Utility Vehicle

Daily Driver

"I don't know why, I just love it" car

Feel free to add your own category, just try to give us a few words to help us understand your feelings or thoughts.

Looking forward to reading your lists!

TM

Sports car -

They say you are hardest on those you love; I love the sports car category, and there are so many powerful, compelling considerations because of this - reliability; drop dead good looks; performance that won't leave you shamed by the tuner more "common" cars; "feel" in the steering, brakes, handling, ride, etc; and so on and so on.

The Lamborghini Gallardo 550-2 is one of these; so is the Porsche GT3 RS 4.0.

Fantasy? hmmm...maybe some of the legends like the 1972-73 Porsche 2.7RS, or Ferrari GTO / TR...to be honest, very few modern cars inspire fantasies and dreams in me anymore...am I getting old?

Utility Vehicle

Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT 2012 or 2013 - holy cow, talk about multi-purpose vehicle! in track mode, this thing is a BEAST! But it also has the towing capacity and interior room of a proper SUV. Alas, it doesn't have skid plates so it may not be an ideal off roader, but 98% for me, it does everything I need it to do and better than anything else out there.

Fantasy SUV - Lamborghini LM-002 or Cheetah - it just looks badass!  (the Lambo V12 doesn't hurt)

 

Daily Driver

A mint BMW E38 740il with fresh suspension

"I don't know why, I just love it" car -

Lamborghini Diablo VT - the car I love to hate. Everytime I'm in the car, whether as a driver or passenger, I hate it and can't wait to get out - the ride, the seating position, the lack of support in the seat, the long throw of the gear lever, the long heavy travel of the throttle, the impossible to get used to extreme points of the car body and that confusing "arrow" shape of the body, where the front of the body is narrower than the rear - it looks cool but man it can be disorienting spatially! HVAC is a joke and the condensor drips condensation evap onto passenger left leg.

And it's impossible to drive the car (or even just be in it) without being the center of attention - of course not me, but even just being collatoral "in the field of view" gives me the heeby jeebies...

But a minute after stepping out of the car, look back at the gorgeous, sensuous lines, raw and extreme without being contrived, and the heart melts and "you had me at first sight" all over again, can't wait to get back inside, even knowing it's going to be torture.

Ever been in a relationship with a special other where you fought every second you weren't making hot passionate ....and as soon as you are apart you can't think of anything else and can't wait to see them again?

That's my relationship with the Diablo VT. I've heard the 6.0 is a better car in every way, but it just doesn't inspire the same way...

Fantasy car - A W215 AMG CL-65 with everything EXACTLY as it left the factory, especially straight line ride and driver train, EXCEPT

remove the "dumb down" settings for engine HP and torque; doesn't even need to be tuned over natural spec!

"Let the horses run free!"

latest generation SLS paddle shifter tranni (or even better, Ferrari FF tranni, but no 4WD)

1500 lb diet (factory spec weight 4654lb - get it down to around 3000lbs)

This could become a legend for all times!

...why a 740iL instead of 750iL? Better feel ? 

Hi, Jacky,

I'm a big 12 cylinder fan, but the engine must offer some benefit for its weight and complexity.

the 750iL is a great car but it lacks the balance of the 740iL handling-wise. And the power isn't superior enough - torquey, smooth, seemingly endless power, but not visceral enough and doesnt translate to performance.

imho

I have not tried the 750il thus can't comment but I understand where you coming from. Balance is important factor to a car's feel and BMW is very much about that. I guess it's not difficult to restore a e38 and especially at today's value. However given the age, perhaps certain things are difficult to be as new, especially for a purist level of things  

Hi,

The want to love the Rapide, but those rear seats...hmmm

the C63 is a blast for sure!

Thanks for participating!

TM

 

Hi,

Did you see Cazalea's Lambo picture stream?

Nt

. . . really exciting: a few Dodge Dart GT's ('63 and '65), a Dodge Omni GLH ('84, and one of the first made), and three VW GTI's (two 1.8's, one 4-valve VR6), plus a few nonentities.

My all-time favorite would be a first-gen Porsche 911 or 912, and preferably original, although I wouldn't mind a modernized one, either. 

Runner-up would be a second-gen ('67 - '69) Plymouth Barracuda 340, which would have to be brought up to spec with up-to-date components.  Close behind would be a '70 Mercury Cougar Eliminator and the '70 1/2 Pontiac TransAm, suitably upgraded with high-tech suspension, brakes, and drive-train. 

Dark horse: a '33 Ford roadster with early an Hemi - Dodge 325, or Chrysler 331, 354 or 392.  Best would be a 392 with four downdraft Webers.  A '40 Willys coupe wouldn't be bad, either!

Art

why doesn't that surprise me, Art?

440 Magnum, with Six Pack...ahhh, fond childhood memories!

Cars I have owned

Probably my best all-round car was a 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo TSI Limited, with the works. I had it while I lived in Melbourne in the years from 1998 to 2000. A dream to drive off and on roads. But a but (very) hefty on the petrol...

On the sports side... Well a VW Golf GTI 16V from 1995. A "Werksauto" from VW in Wolfsburg. A car one of directors had from new and than was sold when it was some 6 Month old. So it had the works with Recaro seats and a factory tuned engine. Not the most expensive sportscar I have owned, but the most down to earth and fun sports car to drive. I simply loved when I had it. it did around 260Km/h on the German Autobahns wrroooommmmm

Dreamcars:

Mhhh. used to be a Porche 956 /911RS...but as I have gone older and more maybe mmmhh into cars with more space and cosy to drive would I maybe say: Bentley Continental GT.... 

But there are several others on my list... 

Best

Hans

I took it to Munich; the muffler fell off somewhere along the way and I didn't know to stop and pick it up, dumb kid that I was.

VW definitely made / makes some very down to earth fun but practical cars!

The WanderingPurist and a local Purist went for a drive to put some miles on his new CGT Speed; I heard they hit 160 easily on some straight stretches...Ah, the joys of big power!

Thanks,

TM

 

no not AMG

At first I thought someone switched numbers and that it should be  usual Euro 1.6L

but first on petrol station as well

Daily dream car

And last but not least mother of all dream cars in my book

In any iteration out of 7

in any colour

or edition

I second every one of your choices! Especially that last one...

Was the rear wing (complete with boa) a factory option? 

I'm surprised about the SRT; are they widely available in your country?

The dash and seats of the RR Discovery 4 looks just so right...very nice!

Cheers,

TM

very scarce but sometimes ....sorry ....
almost all times in life you must have luck

or as my favorite line goes
"You have to be smart to be lucky"

Cheers
Damjan

... one can always ad a few more ...

In the category daily sportscar driver ... i would go for the two ultimate RUF's ...

Hi, Bimb,

That video is interesting. The sound at the exhaust is, frankly, too "raspy" for my preference.

I am also surprised, knowing how quick that thing must be, how long it too to reach 256kph (160mph)...I frequently hear about people "hitting 150mph" (240kph) and frankly I am doubtful, especially given their driving skills and the cars they supposedly hit that speed in.

The E24 M6, in factory stock as new condition and one of the faster cars of its day (late 1980's) took a long time to reach 150mph...

But that said, I recently was in a AMG W215 CL65 running with a Bentley CGT Speed (W12) and both seemed to hit 160mph faster than that RGT8...must be something wrong with my perceptions...

I like your choices! Some very interesting "exotica" in there, great pics!

Thanks.

TM

"cars that you've owned"

Some I've owned owned: Rover P5B & P6B (many!); MKII Jaguar 2.4; Jaguar E Type (one and a half transitional); Ford Granada 2.8i Ghia X; BMW 2002tii & 2002; Mercedes E320 W124; Toyota MA61 (UK designation Celica Supra); Porsche 944 Turbo S; Mini Clubman 1275GT; Morris Minor & Morris Minor Van; Rover SD1 Vitesse

And a BSA C15 motorbike 

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"and cars that are on your bucket list / fantasy list?... "I don't know why, I just love it" car"

Jensen CV8 MKIII (been after one for years!)

Jensen Interceptor (New updated version)

Morris Minor customised with a V8 engine

Jaguar MKII Customised with a V8 engine and frenched rear lights

Daimler SP250 (standard)

Amphicar

I loved this list!
Mike
----------------------

YES Jensen CV8 MKIII (been after one for years!)

YES Jensen Interceptor (New updated version)

WHY NOT? Morris Minor customised with a V8 engine

ABSOLUTELY Jaguar MKII Customised with a V8 engine and frenched rear lights

REALLY? Daimler SP250 (standard)

GOES WITHOUT SAYING! Amphicar

even if you don't have them anymore, some owner POV's would be very welcome!

Cheers,

TM

Hands down the best car I've owned. The craftsmanship was second to none. And the ride was just so comfortable.

and be sure to try ALL modes, including race mode (or is it "track?") - you're eyes will be widened.

Hey, teach your wife to drive a stick; it will make both of you happier!

My favorite car is usually the one I just traded in..   I am sure a few years of therapy can solve this.

I think my favorite daily driver was a 1993 BMW 850 Ci.  I really liked this car and have wanted it back ever since I sold it.

"I don't know why, I just love it" car

JerryW

for so many cars!

Very nice!

Ya gotta join us on some of our car events, Jerry!

TM

The best sports car that you can truly drive every day. Because it never coughs, even when i am stuck for 2h in traffic jam, and then the road opens, you feel you got 100% of its potential.

do you like the 991?

Thanks for sharing,

TM

Can't wait for the GT3 and the Turbo

cant wait!

TM