Exactly.

Which is why I haven't owned an AWD car for 7 years.

But why I wouldn't discount owning another.

3 years of Impreza ownership was a lot of fun.

 

Amen to that, and thank goodness we're all different.

As you know Mark, I've recently been swayed by the AWD experience, and the winter I've had with the Impreza has been the most fun winter driving I've ever had - BTW no electrickery Gad, just 4 wheel traction - though it remains to be seen whether it's summer performance will be equally fun. It's a keeper for the winters though. And although it's interior won't win any awards, it's a 13 year old car that cost 5 grand to buy and insure and everything works, there are no squeaks or rattles and nothing has fallen off or looks like doing so - so built well, if not attractively. I'll wager many of the modern, 'quality' soft-touch interiors won't wear as well.

As I said about the M5, I've only driven it (and been driven) on normal roads at relatively normal speeds, I suspect an opportunity to 'play' in the car may reveal hitherto undiscovered strengths (lord knows I was tempted Pete, on the roundabout off the A27 ), though I know I don't like the steering as the 540 had the same arrangement and it's uncommunicative (probably due to having a steering box because of the size of the V8). And I suspect while the 'ring taxi' may well be the best of it's type for the job, it's as much about the freebies from BMW as anything.

I'm not looking for a track car that's the size of a house, in fact I would rather my large car was comfy and had 'adequate' power. It's the manufacturers that put back-jarring suspension on their luxo-barges and then tell us they're the sports car for the man who has to ferry 3 kids and a labrador to the pony club. Certainly inthe case of Audi - because I've driven one - that simply isn't true.

But as Mark says - it depends on what you want from a car.

 

That's what I said.......

But there are no better cars in that class for that job

As I also implied, it's akin to criticising an Exige for being tiresome on a motorway

Trouble is, most people need a reasonable compromise in their cars, because they don't just drive on a single type of road

That's what makes cars like the M3 so compelling

 

but it has only done 45 kilometres from new

 

About 1,500Kg gives a nice ride/handling balance.

That means around 300bhp for adequate performance.

low CoG.

Multi-point suspension location & excellent torsional rigidity.

Low polar moment of inertia.

Well-weighted and progressive controls.

Classical, well-proportioned aerodynamic shape.

Large glass area, to permit fast progress.

Excellent lighting for the above.

Comfortable seats and sensibly-placed controls.

The sort of identity that does not attract negative attention.

Al fresco option.

Within that, you could design a plethora of cars. Funny how few manage it.

 

Mitsi EVOS surprise me

They look quite tall

I know there's more to the c of g thing than that, but ykwim

 

That's why subaru and Porsche go for the flat/boxer layout.

Was wondering today why BMW go for I6 rather than V6. What's the advantages/disavantages? Is it better to have the mass closer to the centerline?

 

Interesting comments on the M3 in the wet. Mine has always inspired confidence in the wet - additionally the long termer in EVO mag some years back was rated particularly on its grip in the wet.

Some years back I went to the first ever Autocar Sideways challenge. The M3 had just been released and sure enought there were about 10 doing the challenge - a damped track on some sections of Silverstone. There was nothing that could touch it "sideways" I even got a lift with Plato and Suttcliffe who loved it to bits they could just make it dance so easily as it was so predictable and forgiving. In addition, there were a couple of S2000s there that managed to hold a drift for about 2 seconds, they were shite but thats another story. This was nearly all pro drivers.









The last one was platos own car.

 

How a car drives is surely a personal thing. Just because one person says that a certain car is crap on b-roads doesn't mean that another personal with a different driving style wouldn't love that same car on that same road!

Plus there are the differences that come with different tyres, suspension etc...

Let us know how you find the test drive Chilled! You certainly have the right attitude - let the car do the talking on the test drive!

 

Did you not want punch Plato?

Or is he nicer in real life?

Mark B - glad you're enjoying it. The older ones (2000 and backwards) were always the best. I still get a smile when I see an unmolested one.