[opendtv] Re: Euro Cars
- From: "peter wilson" <peter.wilson@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2008 22:07:47 -0000
My experience of driving an American motors Ambassador from Rent a heap
cheap in 1975 tells me that in some cars 50 is fast enough!!
Peter
_____
From: opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of John Willkie
Sent: 15 December 2008 19:36
To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [opendtv] Re: Euro Cars
I've driven a U.S. Porsche in Interstate 8 east of El Cajon, CA at 125 mph.
I put my hand over the speedometer (one drives with the tach in a Porsche,
anyway) and asked my three companions how fast we were going. The consensus
was 65 mph. I took my hand off the speedometer, and as they gasped, snapped
the car into the lane to the right quite smartly. The road geometry on I-8
between El Cajon and the Imperial County line seems to specify a natural
speed limit of at least 130.
My father some years back raced across Nebraska against a Mercedes at 125
mph, while my mother knitted. Not many curves, of course.
Are you speaking of Nevada roads? Few are designed for 65 mph, and even
then, are quite bumpy.
John Willkie
_____
De: opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] En
nombre de dan.grimes@xxxxxxxx
Enviado el: Monday, December 15, 2008 9:51 AM
Para: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Asunto: [opendtv] Re: Euro Cars
Dan wrote: "(By the way, the German autos are by far the best: Volkswagen,
Audi,
Mercedes: they are what to drive)."
Dale wrote: "I suggest that you check the Consumer Reports 2008 Annual Auto
Issue: their extensive automobile ownership research program finds that the
reliability of European brands is average or worse and rank third behind
Asian and American models. The most unreliable of the European models are
VW, Audi, Jaguar and Land Rover."
I'm a big fan of Consumer Reports. I fill out their survey every year so
they have my data.
Certainly, the European vehicles are not nearly as reliable. But when I
said that Volkswagens, Audis and Mercedes (I've yet to get my hands on a
Porsche in Germany) are the cars to drive, I am speaking about
"Fahrvegnugen" (if that is a word). I was really meaning driving
performance and style. I can't speak to long term ownership (at least not
the modern ones). Although I must say that that Opel was very close to the
Volkswagens.
By the way, I think the diesel engine in the Opel I drove was super-charged,
not a turbo. I forget.
But then Bert suggests that I consider an Aura with a 3.5L V6. Sure it
might bring back the spunk (although I doubt it having had two Pontiacs with
the 3.6L V6 and 3.1L V6, both very mild mannered, and even worse, the
transmission coupled to them are not geared properly), but then it is back
to poor fuel economy.
No, the diesel I drove had good torque and was coupled with a great
transmission that both got off the line AND gave great highway economy.
I drove the Opel wagon on the Autobahn at 125MPH and it felt so secure, my
wife didn't believe I was going that fast. I have the video to prove it.
Of course, one could never do that in the States even if it was legal: our
roads are not engineered or installed like the Autobahn.
Sorry to keep the discussion going about a non-DTV related issue.
Dan
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