E63 AMG & Fear

[addo]

It's not often a car calls my bluff, but this one did today.

Strapped in the passenger seat while its owner demonstrated around the back blocks of his area; all bitumen but a variety of narrow ways and off-camber corners. One of those cars where you really can feel your eyeballs' weight as they push back in your head.

Yes, I could appreciate how well the engineering gave it natural grip. I could also sense just how hard the active suspension was working to keep it under control - and that was the bit that scared me. Kept thinking - What if it drops into fault mode? - as it powered out of corners at serious speeds.

Offered a steer, I declined. Definitely prefer my less-powerful cars, scrabbling for grip (over or understeer is fine) and feeling the traction control chopping in/out but very uncomfortable with the complete interlinking of technology and results obtained in this "super saloon".

If I knew more about its VDC systems; its protocols and fault levels I might have less anxiety, but for now - like Mulga Bill's bicycle - it's bested me.

[evdama]

caffiene

[nicebiscuit]

Once drove a colleagues trick Impreza - one of the Japanese import ones with an alphabet of letters in the name. Cured me permanently of wanting faster cars. It's not that it wasn't good - it was fantastic - it's just that it was much better than me. It could go through a roundabout at 80mph. I most certainly cannot, and even if i could, I shouldn't.

[ron]

Once drove a colleagues trick Impreza - one of the Japanese import ones with an alphabet of letters in the name. Cured me permanently of wanting faster cars. It's not that it wasn't good - it was fantastic - it's just that it was much better than me. It could go through a roundabout at 80mph. I most certainly cannot, and even if i could, I shouldn't.

My son had a WRX STi.we went to Austria to visit my old biking roads.
It scared me sh--less,I couldn't handle the power.
He drove it fast & safe & bought a new set of tyres on our return,having averaged 23MPG.
I really really love my 1.6 HDi.:woop:

[PeteA]

This is the problem with bigger power cars, To get them to the limit of grip/control you have to be doing big/very naughty speeds and often its on that limit where the most fun is to be found! I've driven a mates stage 3 Focus RS (350 bhp) and it was awesome but way to easy to get upto big speeds. I prefer more modestly powered hot hatches you can just jump into and thrash TBH..The GTi6 being a good example. Even in my Coupe I have to keep an eye on the speedo as I drive it like the van and find myself going abit too quick at times,then I wonder why I only get 25mpg lol.

[j90xxx]

Drove an Audi RS4 couple of years ago.
Loads of fun, but above my talent level!
Trouble is cars like that are meant to be driven hard. Don't think my license would have lasted long?
I am the guy who has got 3 points. For speeding. In an HGV. Oops! illyme:

[Ol'Jeffers]

[Image: rr3883.jpg]

This beauty belonged to good friend of mine. It's a Shelby GT500.
Almost 600bhp......Interesting in the wet!! Very fortunately the guy can drive high performance vehicles and has
done over the years on most of the tracks in the UK having earned 'fastest time of day' for many of the circuits.
Mind you he's only a lad compared to me ....just turned 60!!
Anyway he was very impressed with it so he bought a newer one with over 600bhp!!
Bloody thing does 30 to the gallon if he keeps it at 70 in top!!

[philip]

My V70 goes like jobbies.