The cars and bikes thread!

[tribe125]

E63 AMG wagon?

Not a bad suggestion, but probably not. Huge wheels, skinny rubber, gearchange paddles and other motor-sport enhancements - I wouldn't want any of that. It just wouldn't suit me. I know who I am, and wouldn't want a car for who I'm not.

And as a rule, I like stock items rather than uprated or bespoke items. If I was wealthy, I'd have good stuff but not special or exclusive stuff.

[mlcor]

His has an automatic. Might as well be a minivan to me.

Told you so.

P.S. Technically it's an automated manual, shifting is still required, just no clutch pedal. But I understand it's still not the same thing.

[93EXCivic]

The answer might be different here in the US, because that amount here in dollars (call it $400,000) will get you a new Ferrari or McLaren (one of which would be my choice). I suspect they might cost quite a bit more in the UK.

I didn't think about the conversion rate in that case I'd take a Rolls Phantom Drophead.

Although in reality if I had that kind of money to spend on a car I'd have a Morgan Aero8, Caterham 7 R500 and Jag MKII.

[Raza]

Told you so.

P.S. Technically it's an automated manual, shifting is still required, just no clutch pedal. But I understand it's still not the same thing.

Really? You still have to shift, but there's no clutch? And no automatic mode? That's interesting. I've seen that kind of transmission in race cars, but never a road car.

[Raza]

The answer might be different here in the US, because that amount here in dollars (call it $400,000) will get you a new Ferrari or McLaren (one of which would be my choice). I suspect they might cost quite a bit more in the UK.

Sad bit is that those Ferraris and Mclarens just don't interest me anymore. Many are ugly. Too much tech. No manuals. Aston and Porsche are the last holdouts, and Porsche is beginning to buckle. I remember the old California wa said to come with a manual at the behest of the American market, but I've never seen a review or picture of one. I don't think the California T (possibly the last attractive Ferrari) has that unicorn option. I grew up on Daytonas and Testarossas and 355s, and now Ferraris look like....ugh, I don't even know what to say.

[Raza]

Not a bad suggestion, but probably not. Huge wheels, skinny rubber, gearchange paddles and other motor-sport enhancements - I wouldn't want any of that. It just wouldn't suit me. I know who I am, and wouldn't want a car for who I'm not.

And as a rule, I like stock items rather than uprated or bespoke items. If I was wealthy, I'd have good stuff but not special or exclusive stuff.

Do they still make an S6 Avant? How about a Range Rover? They're luxurious and practical, and not sporty.

[mlcor]

Really? You still have to shift, but there's no clutch? And no automatic mode? That's interesting. I've seen that kind of transmission in race cars, but never a road car.

There's a clutch, just no clutch pedal. It's a single, automated clutch, a version of the Graziano gearbox that was in fact used in previous generation Ferraris. No room for a dual clutch. It has an automatic mode of sorts, but you wouldn't want to use it--not particularly smooth. Using the paddles and driving as if it were a manual, however, is smooth, with very quick shifts once you've gotten the feel of it, especially in sport mode.

[mlcor]

Sad bit is that those Ferraris and Mclarens just don't interest me anymore. Many are ugly. Too much tech. No manuals. Aston and Porsche are the last holdouts, and Porsche is beginning to buckle. I remember the old California wa said to come with a manual at the behest of the American market, but I've never seen a review or picture of one. I don't think the California T (possibly the last attractive Ferrari) has that unicorn option. I grew up on Daytonas and Testarossas and 355s, and now Ferraris look like....ugh, I don't even know what to say.

Lotus also still is a holdout for manuals. I really would have liked to try the convertible Evora 400, but who knows if/when it will ever come out. They kept promising a convertible version of the original Evora, and it never happened.

[geoffbot]

I test drove the 235i auto - it had a paddle shift option with no clutch pedal. But 8 gears - you have to change like 3 times before much happens. I didn't like it - manual for me.

[mlcor]

I test drove the 235i auto - it had a paddle shift option with no clutch pedal. But 8 gears - you have to change like 3 times before much happens. I didn't like it - manual for me.

The Vantage is a seven speed, but the torque curve is sufficiently broad that gear choice isn't quite as critical except on a racetrack.