that is an extremely cool collection !Phil wrote: ↑08 Dec 2019, 16:17I just realized I never posted in this thread... so here it goes;
I currently own a Lotus Exige S2 (supercharged) with roughly ~300hp @ 900kg. It's just a fun car I use for mountain passes and the occasional track day:
https://www.conceptics.com/photography/ ... xige/img/]
https://www.conceptics.com/photography/ ... xige/img/]
Very fun to drive, extremely loud (121dB @ 8000 rpm, 1m/45° from exhaust). The great thing is, the car is only really loud at above 6250rpm, so I get to drive on tracks where there is a 100dB limit without much trouble.
Apart from that, it drives like a go-cart. No power steering. Moderate costs due to light weight, so no extraordinary sized brake calipers. etc. Power delivery is what makes it exciting: Not much below 4000rpm, but then things quickly go mad, with mental mode at above 6250rpm when the variable valve switches over.
(more pics: viewtopic.php?p=829882#p829882)
As a daily drive, I currently also have a BMW 135i (2010). Yes, not the most economic option, but hey, it's nice to drive. But I'm about to replace it with an M2, possibly the BMW M2 Competition, that I just test-drove:
https://www.conceptics.com/photography/ ... ition/img/
To the car, I have to say I really like it. Test drove both the DKG (Doppelkupplungsgetriebe or sequential gearbox) and the manual. I have to say - I'm manual all the way. Just don't feel connected to cars with automatic gearboxes though the tech is really impressive and extremely fast. Much prefer the smaller M2 to what has become of the M3/M4.
(more pics: viewtopic.php?p=878324#p878324)
Apart from that, a couple that I've driven:
- A Smart (yes, even tried to drift it on snow in the middle of the night... which turned out with me landing in someones garden...)
- BMW 328i (E46)
- BMW 645i
- BMW M3 (E46 and E90)
- Porsche Carrera 4S
- Porsche 911 GT3 (996)
- Porsche Macan
- Citroen C2 (I can't believe I'm admitting this)
- (BMW) Mini Cooper-S JCW (first one with supercharger, and the newer turboe'd ones)
- Original Mini Cooper
- Caterham Super7 R500 (No words to describe this machine... ~230bhp / 430kg... )
- Caterham Super7 CSR260 (not as exciting as the R500)
and some more that I can't quite remember right now or are worth mentioning...
What I really miss, and its stupid because I could not do it now anyway (agePhil wrote: ↑09 Dec 2019, 16:55Thanks! Maybe I should clarify though; When I said, I didn't like the DKG (DCT) I was referring to using it manually, so with the paddles on the wheel. No doubt, the 7 dual clutch gear transmission is awesome. It's smooth and it's quick - quick as in, virtually no interrupt. I just... well, I prefer the good old, manual clutch and the stick in my hand, even if yes, it's slower.
Oh and I should note, the manual gearbox version of the M2 Competition automatically syncs the revs to the gears on downshifts. As in, no heel and toe required. Don't know how I feel about that to be honest. It's cool that the car perfectly matches the engine speed and all, but I don't like that it's something more that once required skill and practice is being effectively replaced by a computer.
I guess I'm a purist.
Anyone feel the same about new cars?
) is being able to get the same car as half the people in my street, while the other half have top end cars, and know my car would outperform most of them. hmm, depends of the maker I think, how it's programmed. In my VW, I always drove it in manual mode because the auto mode just felt wrong. Like it was lagging or not doing what I wanted while the 7 speed auto in my '07 Mercedes was spot on (the huge amount or torque could have played a part in thatPhil wrote: ↑09 Dec 2019, 16:55Thanks! Maybe I should clarify though; When I said, I didn't like the DKG (DCT) I was referring to using it manually, so with the paddles on the wheel. No doubt, the 7 dual clutch gear transmission is awesome. It's smooth and it's quick - quick as in, virtually no interrupt. I just... well, I prefer the good old, manual clutch and the stick in my hand, even if yes, it's slower.
Oh and I should note, the manual gearbox version of the M2 Competition automatically syncs the revs to the gears on downshifts. As in, no heel and toe required. Don't know how I feel about that to be honest. It's cool that the car perfectly matches the engine speed and all, but I don't like that it's something more that once required skill and practice is being effectively replaced by a computer.
I guess I'm a purist.
Anyone feel the same about new cars?
). The DSG in a 997 I drove a couple of times was okey-ish but the manual-sport-plus mode was super fun!!! (whiplash at every gear change)the satisfaction is all about exercising a skill isn't it, so yes I totally understand. Tho there's some rule about the brake pedal isn't there, that makes it too high for easy heel and toe-ing in most carsPhil wrote: ↑09 Dec 2019, 16:55Thanks! Maybe I should clarify though; When I said, I didn't like the DKG (DCT) I was referring to using it manually, so with the paddles on the wheel. No doubt, the 7 dual clutch gear transmission is awesome. It's smooth and it's quick - quick as in, virtually no interrupt. I just... well, I prefer the good old, manual clutch and the stick in my hand, even if yes, it's slower.
Oh and I should note, the manual gearbox version of the M2 Competition automatically syncs the revs to the gears on downshifts. As in, no heel and toe required. Don't know how I feel about that to be honest. It's cool that the car perfectly matches the engine speed and all, but I don't like that it's something more that once required skill and practice is being effectively replaced by a computer.
I guess I'm a purist.
Anyone feel the same about new cars?