Cars and Other Driving Machines - Page 55

sebastian_dangerfield · 05-31-2005, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pony_trekker
Nothing beats a Toyota or a Honda. Think Pilot.

We bought my wife's BMW so that we could conserve the mileage on a Toyota I love. I'll dump that over-engineered german sedan in a few years, but I plan on keeping my Toyota truck for 200,000 miles, and the dealer tells me it should run that far. I'd own Lexus, Acura, Toyota, Nissan my whole life. Best cars in the world as far as I'm concerned.

NotFromHere · 05-31-2005, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by robustpuppy
It's not the speed but the control. It may have gone over 100, but how fast will you take the ramp in it? Not as quickly as in a sedan, and you won't feel as close to the road. It's just not as much fun. I'm not saying it doesn't have some driving advantages over other SUVs; I'm saying it's not really the essence of a BMW.

You just don't know. I've driven both the X5 and a Porsche Cayenne (non-S, non-Turbo) into a 180 degree hairpin onramp as fast as I ever pushed a car and I'm not saying it's a Carrera, but it kicked the shit out of that 325.

mmm3587 · 05-31-2005, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NotFromHere
You just don't know. I've driven both the X5 and a Porsche Cayenne (non-S, non-Turbo) into a 180 degree hairpin onramp as fast as I ever pushed a car and I'm not saying it's a Carrera, but it kicked the shit out of that 325.

If someone thinks that an X5 handles poorly I don't think it's really worth your time to educate them. It would be fun to watch, though.

robustpuppy · 05-31-2005, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mmm3587
If someone thinks that an X5 handles poorly I don't think it's really worth your time to educate them. It would be fun to watch, though.

Just like it's fun watching you try to demonstrate reading comprehension. I never said it handled poorly, dimwit.

mmm3587 · 05-31-2005, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by robustpuppy
Just like it's fun watching you try to demonstrate reading comprehension. I never said it handled poorly, dimwit.

First of all, I didn't even read your response. I was responding purely to NFH, and the concept of her having to explain how well an X5 handles to someone who doesn't know shit (I wasn't thinking of you, but you will suffice for explanatory purposes) is just amusing to me. She and I might not see eye to eye on much of anything, but she knows her cars.

My favorite X5 story is about BMW engineers slapping a production V12 into one, not adjusting much of anything, and giving it to a professional driver for him to turn laps at Nurburgring faster than any production car ever, including true exotics from Porsche and Ferrari. Handling is pretty important at Nurburgring, kay?

Alex_de_Large · 05-31-2005, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mmm3587
If someone thinks that an X5 handles poorly I don't think it's really worth your time to educate them. It would be fun to watch, though.

I thrashed an x3 at an Ultimate Drive event last year. While you could feel the extra weight over a standard 3er, it was by far the best handling SUV I've ever driven. I went to the event pissed off that the x3 was thsi year's vehicle of choice. I left with some serious respect for it.

mmm3587 · 05-31-2005, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Alex_de_Large
I thrashed an x3 at an Ultimate Drive event last year. While you could feel the extra weight over a standard 3er, it was by far the best handling SUV I've ever driven. I went to the event pissed off that the x3 was thsi year's vehicle of choice. I left with some serious respect for it.

I think that we talked about this at the time, but me, too. It was awesome, but it was nothing compared to doing the same with an X5 4.4 the previous year. I really like the X5; it's so flat and so balanced, so perfect. I had a chance to drive a friend's 4.8is a few months ago, and, I'll sound like Sebby to say this, but my god, when are you ever going to use all that power? The sheer perfection of BMW's various 8s may have ruined me for the (I thought) perfect I6.

NotFromHere · 05-31-2005, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mmm3587
First of all, I didn't even read your response. I was responding purely to NFH, and the concept of her having to explain how well an X5 handles to someone who doesn't know shit (I wasn't thinking of you, but you will suffice for explanatory purposes) is just amusing to me. She and I might not see eye to eye on much of anything, but she knows her cars.

My favorite X5 story is about BMW engineers slapping a production V12 into one, not adjusting much of anything, and giving it to a professional driver for him to turn laps at Nurburgring faster than any production car ever, including true exotics from Porsche and Ferrari. Handling is pretty important at Nurburgring, kay?

There's a video out there of one of the engineers pushing the crap out of a Carrera on that track. It's absolutely breathtaking. He puts it into just enough drift to take it through a curve. I'd send y'all a copy if I could, but it belonged to a guy who's very overprotective of it.

robustpuppy · 05-31-2005, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mmm3587
Handling is pretty important at Nurburgring, kay?

Damn, you are so cute.

Alex_de_Large · 05-31-2005, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mmm3587
I think that we talked about this at the time, but me, too. It was awesome, but it was nothing compared to doing the same with an X5 4.4 the previous year. I really like the X5; it's so flat and so balanced, so perfect. I had a chance to drive a friend's 4.8is a few months ago, and, I'll sound like Sebby to say this, but my god, when are you ever going to use all that power? The sheer perfection of BMW's various 8s may have ruined me for the (I thought) perfect I6.

I suspect they'll have e90's this year, which promises to be fun.

mmm3587 · 05-31-2005, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Alex_de_Large
I suspect they'll have e90's this year, which promises to be fun.

I suspect you're right, and I suspect they're all xi's, or the fancy electronics are going to get more of a workout than the novice drivers.

NotFromHere · 05-31-2005, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mmm3587
I had a chance to drive a friend's 4.8is a few months ago, and, I'll sound like Sebby to say this, but my god, when are you ever going to use all that power? The sheer perfection of BMW's various 8s may have ruined me for the (I thought) perfect I6.

That car (truck) kicks ass. In theory, though, you are supposed to use that power to haul your yacht to Tahoe. Or your snowmobiles.

mmm3587 · 05-31-2005, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NotFromHere
That car (truck) kicks ass. In theory, though, you are supposed to use that power to haul your yacht to Tahoe. Or your snowmobiles.

And, really, it feels a lot stronger than 355/350. I suspect it's a bit underrated and is actually making a good bit more on high octane fuel when the computer is getting more aggressive.

P.S. Did Danica cause that late crash that took off half or her front wing? It looked like it from the replay but it wasn't mentioned in the articles.

robustpuppy · 05-31-2005, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NotFromHere
That car (truck) kicks ass. In theory, though, you are supposed to use that power to haul your yacht to Tahoe. Or your snowmobiles.

Very good avatar for you.

NotFromHere · 05-31-2005, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mmm3587
And, really, it feels a lot stronger than 355/350. I suspect it's a bit underrated and is actually making a good bit more on high octane fuel when the computer is getting more aggressive.

P.S. Did Danica cause that late crash that took off half or her front wing? It looked like it from the replay but it wasn't mentioned in the articles.

They said it was cold tires, but yeah - rookie mistake. At least she didn't take herself out.