Things you can do in 5.2 seconds.
Apr. 22nd, 2007 02:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
philmophlegmWell one thing you can do at least...
...is accelerate from 0-60 mph in a Prodrive-modified Subaru Impreza Turbo, even the estate version.
That's faster than a lot of so-called supercars (most models of Porsche 911 for example).
Tragically, we won't own a Prodrive-modified Subaru Impreza Turbo for very much longer because we're selling it and Bunn is buying a new car. I'm (obviously) keeping my S2000, but Bunn will be buying a sensible estate. Criteria: large enough to carry four humans (we do very occasionally carry uman passengers), one greyhound and one lurcher in comfort, must have aircon or climate control (which is where the Impreza fall down), must be reasonably nice to drive (but let's be honest, it won't be as great as the Impreza), must be newer, must be lower mileage and preferably have leather upholstery.
I'm going to miss the Impreza. I will miss the way that small boys say "cool car". I will miss the way that boy racers in hot hatches tacitly acknowledge that by every measure they acknowledge, you are 'better' than they are. And I will especially miss those rare moments like this one:
I was on my own in the Impreza doing a reasonable speed in the outside lane of the M4. A middle aged couple in an E-class Merc appear right behind me in my rear view mirror. I hate tailgaters with a passion. Now of course the proper thing to do is accelerate pas the car inside of you and pull in to let the annoying tailgater past. If I'm not in the mood to do the right thing though, I might do one of two things. I might tap the brake pedal lightly enough that I'm not actually braking but heavy enough that the brake lights come on. That sometimes scares them off your bumper. Or I might drop into a lower gear and just floor it.
When you do the latter in the Impreza, you will leave the car behind a long way behind. On this occasion, I did just that (it'll do 80 to 120 in a handful of seconds), before pulling in and slowing down to 70. I'd made my point. I watched the Merc driver come past me. He looked sheepish. I could also see that his wife was telling him off. As they drove past, he fixed his view straight ahead and did not even glance in my direction, but his wife turned to me, smiled and put her thumb up!
...is accelerate from 0-60 mph in a Prodrive-modified Subaru Impreza Turbo, even the estate version.
That's faster than a lot of so-called supercars (most models of Porsche 911 for example).
Tragically, we won't own a Prodrive-modified Subaru Impreza Turbo for very much longer because we're selling it and Bunn is buying a new car. I'm (obviously) keeping my S2000, but Bunn will be buying a sensible estate. Criteria: large enough to carry four humans (we do very occasionally carry uman passengers), one greyhound and one lurcher in comfort, must have aircon or climate control (which is where the Impreza fall down), must be reasonably nice to drive (but let's be honest, it won't be as great as the Impreza), must be newer, must be lower mileage and preferably have leather upholstery.
I'm going to miss the Impreza. I will miss the way that small boys say "cool car". I will miss the way that boy racers in hot hatches tacitly acknowledge that by every measure they acknowledge, you are 'better' than they are. And I will especially miss those rare moments like this one:
I was on my own in the Impreza doing a reasonable speed in the outside lane of the M4. A middle aged couple in an E-class Merc appear right behind me in my rear view mirror. I hate tailgaters with a passion. Now of course the proper thing to do is accelerate pas the car inside of you and pull in to let the annoying tailgater past. If I'm not in the mood to do the right thing though, I might do one of two things. I might tap the brake pedal lightly enough that I'm not actually braking but heavy enough that the brake lights come on. That sometimes scares them off your bumper. Or I might drop into a lower gear and just floor it.
When you do the latter in the Impreza, you will leave the car behind a long way behind. On this occasion, I did just that (it'll do 80 to 120 in a handful of seconds), before pulling in and slowing down to 70. I'd made my point. I watched the Merc driver come past me. He looked sheepish. I could also see that his wife was telling him off. As they drove past, he fixed his view straight ahead and did not even glance in my direction, but his wife turned to me, smiled and put her thumb up!
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no subject
Date: 2007-04-22 01:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-22 02:24 pm (UTC)We've ruled out Alfa Romeo 156. Shame - because they're very, very cheap (don't ever buy one new - the depreciation must be terrible if we can afford one), pretty and nice to drive. But the boot just isn't big enough (and you would always have doubts about reliability).
Audi A6 Avant. Not that many around in our price range. Similarly BMW 3-series or 5-series Touring. If you want to buy a new estate, buy one of these, because they obviously hold their value. Probably something to do with being really good cars.
C-Class Merc. Strangely it seems to be rare to find these with decent kit. Personally I don't think they're really that upmarket. I mean in most of Europe, they would be minicabs.
E-class Merc. I really like these. Big, look the part, last forever. They must be over £40,000 new, so they do depreciate (not a problem for us, as we won't be looking to sell again for ages). Expensive servicing though.
Mitsubishi Galant. Bit of an unusual choice this. Not many about. Japanese reliability.
Saab 9-5. Lots of these. Well kitted out. Cheap ones available (another car not to buy new then given that it's supposed to be a 5-series competitor). Probably not that good to drive (based on a Vectra in fact).
Subaru Legacy and Subaru Legacy Outback. A sort of grown up Impreza. 4WD. Country gentleman's car (at least that's what James May said on Top Gear). Surprisingly nice inside (Japanese cars usually ain't.) Nice to drive. Powerful, sure-footed. But difficult to find.
Toyota Avensis. Very dull.
Volkswagen Passat. There are some nice ones out there. Saw a 2.8 litre 4WD model on Autotrader. Which would be nice.
Volvo V40. A little dull to be honest. But there are lots of them out there.
Volvo V70. I never thought I'd say this, but I like the big Volvos. Probably not exactly spritely to drive. But they last forever and are just, well, competent.
no subject
Date: 2007-05-06 02:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-22 06:12 pm (UTC)You and me both!
What I often do in that situation is sit exactly on 70 and very, very slowly pass the car in the middle lane. Then when I am a safe and comfortable distance in front of them I just pull over. If I'm not in a mood to break the speed limit why should I do it for somebody else? If the tailgater decides to get really close I'll just slow down very slightly, no brakes, just easing up on the gas. The tailgater flashing the lights just slows things up further for them. Their impatience is their problem, not mine.
no subject
Date: 2007-04-25 12:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-25 09:02 am (UTC)