General Auto Chat

Discussion in 'Cars, Motorcycles, Boats, Airplanes Talk' started by Maxvla, Sep 26, 2015.

  1. Gruss Gott

    Gruss Gott Almost "Made"

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    I went dual clutch some years ago, after 20 years of manuals, and haven't looked back ... although there are trade-offs.

    I have no issue driving an MT in traffic (and always drive my DCT manually) so that wasn't a consideration, but MTs are much more fun for me at 30mph and below ... but when you start to drive timed you get to the differences: in a dual clutch you're just a better driver - which means a faster driver - not because of the speed of the shift, but because you don't have to clutch (which is why there are no pro drivers with an MT racer). Daily driving, or even a lot track driving, doesn't get to where this matters ... but road course driving gets you there in the first 20 seconds. So if you do a lot of that (including canyon runs) then a dual clutch is a huge advantage.

    Further, in the E9x and F8x - especially the 2015 F8x pre-software updates - the dual clutch donkey kick is unreal; if you haven't done it, when you do you'll swear you just trashed the drive train on upshifts. "donkey kick" is not hyperbole. And on the F8x, after YOU get a donkey kick, the car gets kicked even if you're doing 80+! In the E9x the acceleration post-kick is linear, but in the F8x you get a 1/2 second burst of acceleration above any acceleration you're already doing. People on the freeway can see the car leap at 80mph+ when you shift from 3rd to 4th - it's pretty crazy and no sensation like it.

    So that's why I still have DCT - I do a lot of canyon runs and DCT is just plain faster no matter your driving skill, and whenever I go back to MT I have fun for the first 20 minutes, but then I miss the DCT insanity.
     
  2. TwoEars

    TwoEars Friend

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    VW seems to have built a scalextric car size 1:1. That thing moves.

     
  3. LVF1

    LVF1 New

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    Any Porsche guys here?
     
  4. porkfriedpork

    porkfriedpork Friend

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  5. Gruss Gott

    Gruss Gott Almost "Made"

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    I love 'em, just haven't been able to cross the value barrier ... that said, for various reasons I only lease new, plus I love the euro delivery program, so with that BMW is the best game going.
     
  6. LetMeBeFrank

    LetMeBeFrank Won't tell anyone my name is actually Francis

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    Since I'm going to be in Michigan for 9 days for Roadkill Nights / Woodward Dream Cruise, I am going to pull the heads on my 300C and get a valve job done on them. My buddy up there is considered to be one of the best Cylinder Head guys in the business, and he has over $1M just in his home shop. He said he can turn them around for me in 2-3 days.

    The early Hemis (2003-2006) had a problem where around 100k miles the chance of dropping a valve seat got relatively high and if the engine had ever over heated the chance was even higher. Chrysler fixed this issue mid-2006, so no worries nowadays, but us OG 300C, Magnum RT and Charger RT guys need to consider it. I would rather spend a little money now than have to buy a whole new engine after a valve seat drops and the piston pulverizes the head and cylinder walls with the seat and a broken valve.

    Thankfully he's only charging me around $600 to $700 (won't know exactly till it's done). With a $140 Mahle gasket kit and $40 Mahle head bolt kit I'll be under $1k for the whole deal.

    I'll probably take some pictures along the way and post them here once I'm done.
     
  7. mitochondrium

    mitochondrium Friend

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    me, too I like Porsche

     
  8. Warrior

    Warrior RIP 2021

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    I'm getting the itch to get a new car. I've done everything I've wanted to do to my M6, minus a methanol injection. I was considering it, but the car is already too powerful and I think that will make it basically undriveable. As is now, unless I buy michelin pilot super sport cup 2s (I think that's what they are), I have terrible traction. Problem is that those tires are as close to racing slicks as you can get, and are literally only good for 5k miles at most, and less if you drive the car hard. It's a complete waste of money to buy tires that often.

    Ive upgraded my clutch packs, custom flash, exhaust, catless Downpipes, and springs. I'm probably putting down 650rwhp to the wheels which is insane.

    Anyway, cars on my list Audi R8 V10 plus, MB AMG GTS, possibly new body style M5 or wait for new M6, M3 (I've always wanted one), Z06 (very doubtful but a remote possibility), I think that's it.

    M5/6 is probably not the route I'll go, but never know. That would make my 3rd M6. M5 to me is basically the same as M6, especially the interior. I would do minor mods, exhaust definitely and probably intake.

    I really think it's between the R8 and the Benz. I love the style of both cars, really torn between them. Today it's the Audi, tomorrow the Benz. I wouldn't modify either car, except the exhaust.

    The vette is a remote possibility, but has the least chance. I love vettes, but I do prefer some luxury as well. No mods for the vette either.

    M3/4 is in between the Auso/MB and M5/6, just because I've always wanted one. Plus, I'm familiar with bmws, would know how to mod it the best, and out of this group, it's the cheapest and I'd mod the f**k out of it. I think it would be the most fun to drive too. I've even contemplated a smaller M, 1/2. I don't think I'd like them though, just a bit too small.

    I'd buy used, but very low mileage. I've decided I'll never buy brand new again, it's another waste of money.

    Fortunately, my M6 is paid off, I bought it cash, so that would be a nice down payment for my new car, well sort of. Not financing. I haven't had a car pay me t for years and it's a wonderful feeling. I used to always lease, but Id rather not lease a $100k+ car.

    Anyone have any feedback on Audi R8, MB, or the Z06? @Torq I know you are a car guy. The other cars I'm more familiar with.
     
  9. Gruss Gott

    Gruss Gott Almost "Made"

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    You almost certainly know this - all of them are great and it's just going to come down to personal tastes and trade-offs based on how and where you drive. The Audi is a great looking car and the most "normal" driving of all of them while still being able to be nuts (I find it to be a bit too normal and it's been around for awhile).

    The M3/4 - and this is controversial - but some of them have had the spun crank hub problem with mods so a word of caution there. It's quite a different car than an M6 and WAY more tossable, completely different animal. If you like the M6 i suspect you won't like the M3/4 as it's not an autobahn stormer like the M6, but then none of the cars you're considering are (except the M5) so hard to know what you're going for.

    The 'vette is a great car, as are the variants, but they're all 'vettes which means you're getting it or you're not. I'm guessing not.

    That leaves the Benz which, for me, would be the easy winner as it's the best mix of comfort driving and smokey insanity - but people seem to move on from them pretty quick (as do people with the M3/4). I've had a lot of Audis (though not the R8 but a good friend does), and a lot of BMWs, but the MBs have just never quite hit me right ... until the GT. That said, I've got 2 years before I pull the trigger (in a 2018 m4 CP now)

    In any event, if i was buying today, it'd be a GT - I do a lot of canyon driving, I love a v8, and I think the GT looks awesome and drives better than it looks.
     
  10. Warrior

    Warrior RIP 2021

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    Basically, similar for me. The only mb that really grabbed me is that one. I do like the other ones, but I'm a bimmer guy at heart. If I had a choice between the MB and the new M8, it would be the M8 all the way. I don't know when that's come, and I believe it might be priced a bit more than I want to spend or more precisely than wifey would like me to spend.

    I want the m3/4 because it is more tossable, but my fear is that I will miss the luxury of the 5/6 like you stated.

    I did talk with someone that owned that MB and he said he loved it and was very happy with his purchase. However, he only had it for a few months, so your warning applies. Unless I absolutely love the car, I'm more than fine with keeping it for a year and getting a different one anyway. I don't put a lot of miles on my cars, plus buying it used I won't take too much of a hit, yet another reason I don't want new. I can dump a car and not take a bath on it.

    BTW, how do you like the CP? I should have added, I'd more than likely get a CP as well.
     
  11. Kernel Kurtz

    Kernel Kurtz Friend

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    Those are certainly all nice cars, but one of these things is not like the others. The R8 being mid-engined is more what I would consider a true sports car, the others would more properly be considered Grand Tourers. And of course the Audi is AWD, which you may or may not like. I grew up with RWD muscle cars, but over time have become an AWD convert. With proper rear biasing they still handle like RWD, and with big HP cars they just put it down so much better. Probably why Porsche, Lambo, Ferrari are all going in that direction. I would not be surprised to see an AWD M-car in the future either. If you like doing smokey burnouts it is probably not for you though.

    The M3 is the only one I have driven, and it is a blast for sure. Have not driven an M6, but have driven a 650i and going from a 3 it feels huge, as I'm sure you are aware.

    As you say it mostly comes down to a choice between luxury and tossability, and with the R8, a totally different driving style as well.
     
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2018
  12. Torq

    Torq MOT: Headphone.com

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    The Z06 was lots of fun on the track and a horror show on the street. The CAGS skip-shift "feature" on the manual is retarded. It can be bypassed with a third-party cable now ... but that wasn't available when I last drove one. Also, way too unrefined in terms of fit/finish for me to want as anything other than a track toy - even if you can't argue with the bang-for-buck.

    With the big AMG powered Benz's I've driven (which doesn't include the specific model you're referring to), they've been enormous fun ... but so overpowered for the available grip that you either wind up driving them with the TCS enabled all the time (which is either too heavy handed or too lax), or you go through tires like candy, or you have to drive so gingerly that it takes the fun out of it.

    M3/M4 ... great as a fun car ... but I'm an old fart now so I prefer something with a more luxury-bias and don't tend to need the better agility and aggressiveness.

    The big R8 is the most drivable. You can run it right up to the limit and it's completely unflappable. No drama at all. Which makes it a lot less exciting, even on the track, which is a bit of a downside. If I don't keep the option on my DB11 then for me it'd come down to the R8 vs. the new M8 - which is an unknown quantity.

    All enviable choices though!
     
  13. Warrior

    Warrior RIP 2021

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    That's basically where I am at with my M6. Either go through tires, or just drive it a lot easier. I am getting a bit older, and my driving has become significantly more relaxed as well...tough choices for sure. If only I hit Powerball, I'd buy them all. ;)

    I'm seriously leaning towards the R8 and most days that's the case.
     
  14. Gruss Gott

    Gruss Gott Almost "Made"

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    I'm pretty much the same with miles - only about 5-10k / year with 80% either driven in anger or getting there and back :cool:

    Prior to the 2018 M4, I had a 2015 M4 no-CP (as they didn't have it then) and here's the difference: the 2015 programming, especially if you go M-DCT, is batshit. The car is either mild-mannered or it's just about to kill you. It's the only car that's gone sideways-out-of-control on me in 20 years, and that's because the line between ho-hum and axe-murder is very very very thin. So, in that sense, the 2015 scared the shit out of me every time I pushed it and in that sense it was both fun and engaging.

    The 2018 CP is a faster car in every way. The suspension helps you both feel the road more, but the bumps are more attenuated, so that's a great trick, and the drivetrain programming is much smoother so you have a much better sense of where the line of death is. For these reasons, you (or at least me) can drive the car much faster, take corners faster, shift smoother, etc. Yet, all that said, it's not as fun of a daily driver for me because it's just not as scary - everything feels wussified compared to the 2015. Now some people love this because the car is much better behaved and much smoother. Personally I loved the ultra touchy throttle and nervous nature of the 2015 pre-update and I always drive manually all dials set to badass, so preferences vary. Anyway, it's a love-like with the CP, I'm much faster with sweaty palms, but daily driving isn't quite as fun.

    The one I have now I went full Individual Manufaktur interior / ED on, and got the Opal White / white birch interior with some extra little tweaks, so that helps with the luxury feel - it's probably the most luxurious M-car I've had, but still not probably at M6 levels. First World problem though! :D (yes there are 4 ///Ms in just that pic and, yes, it's ridiculous)

    [​IMG]

    Also, you probably know, but the new M5s are M-AWD, which personally I wouldn't mind, especially given the M implementation.

    And when I picked up my M4 last Nov, I spotted an 8-series mule on the autobahn coming out of Munich

    [​IMG]
     
  15. Warrior

    Warrior RIP 2021

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    Very nice. I love the new setup for the M5. Although it may not be as much fun. It should be though since you can select if you want rwm if I'm not mistaken. Ultimately, that really doesn't matter to me as I said earlier, my driving habits have relaxed.
     
  16. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

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    This car looks and drives utterly awesome! But what is it exactly? Can anyone explain please?
     
  17. Kernel Kurtz

    Kernel Kurtz Friend

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    So they are. Don't know how I missed that. I have not seen a new M5 around here at all yet.

    I considered buying an E60 M5 with the NA V10 a while back. It is a glorious engine and you can pick them up dirt cheap now. Maintenance and repairs would be eye wateringly expensive though so I shelved that idea, it's just not practical even for a hobby car.
     
  18. Warrior

    Warrior RIP 2021

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    I had E64 M6 or E63 (convertible I forget chassis code) and loved that car. Omg. Absolutely loved it. Did my exhaust and then headers. Was the most insane sounding car ever. Loud as f**k and a lot of fun. Silverstone silver with red interior. Was breathtaking...even though my new m6 is definitely a better car, nicer, etc, I loved my other M6 so much more.

    Unfortunately my life fell apart, business went down the tubes, and one of the worst nights of my life was when that car was repoed. Broke my heart. That was 8 years ago. House was in foreclosure, cars were repoed... Almost lost everything. Never gave up though, kept fighting and 8 years later, no more foreclosure, new M6, and money in the bank. Thank God.
     
  19. Gruss Gott

    Gruss Gott Almost "Made"

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    Truly! You earned your forum name! :punk:
     
  20. Warrior

    Warrior RIP 2021

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    Lol, yes I did. Thanks! If only I could decide on my next car. ;)
     

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