Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/07/13

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Subject: [Leica] speaking of cars violently OT
From: Frank.Dernie at btinternet.com (Frank Dernie)
Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:39:04 +0100
References: <739292.84582.qm@web86707.mail.ird.yahoo.com> <410A54EF570E47BFA17EA8D57A72A63F@DesktopRC>

I had an M3 for 4 months at the end of 1996. It was an early 6-speed  
Evo in UK parlance. The car was very good and surprisingly economical  
for the performance but I could not get comfortable in it. The seat - 
looked- great but I had backache after 50 miles, however I adjusted  
it. Also whoever selected the parameters for the automatic climate  
control did not have my taste in comfort, it was fine in summer but  
when winter came I had cold feet and a stuffy head. This -really-  
annoyed me so I got rid of it. Everyone else I know who had one loved  
it and bought one after another.
Lost a fortune when I sold it.
I know little about the latest V8 engine but the straight-6 was  
fantastic but very expensive to manufacture since it was a very high  
tech engine. By all accounts the V8 is cheaper to make since it starts  
as a mass produced block and heads. Good for BMW if they have a car  
cheaper to make with a more impressive sales spec.
I think the 330i is probably the best overall 3 series. Also BMWs do  
seem to lose a lot in auto form so I suspect you already have the best  
BMW...
Frank

On 13 Jul, 2009, at 15:34, Robert Clark wrote:

> Just curious, Frank. What's you opinion of the BMW M3? I haven't  
> driven one yet but I'm constantly resisting the urge to do so! I  
> have a 2006 330i manual 255hp now.....
>
> Robert Clark
> Lancaster, PA
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "FRANK DERNIE" <frank.dernie at 
> btinternet.com 
> >
> To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org>
> Sent: Sunday, July 12, 2009 4:00 AM
> Subject: Re: [Leica] speaking of cars violently OT
>
>
>
> It probably was the Vauxhaul gearbox since that particular Lotus  
> engine was based on a particularly strong Vauxhall block so the 'box  
> would bolt straight on. A great series of engines!
> As an aside the same block was the basis for what would have been  
> the first F1 turbo engine in 1975 if Prof. Neil Watson, a turbo  
> pioneer now sadly deceased, had been able to convince the then heads  
> of F1 teams that a 1.5 turbo was more powerful than a 3 lt. NA.
> We all know now...
> Frank
>
> --- On Sat, 11/7/09, Robert Clark <rclark01 at comcast.net> wrote:
>
>> From: Robert Clark <rclark01 at comcast.net>
>> Subject: Re: [Leica] speaking of cars violently OT
>> To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org>
>> Date: Saturday, 11 July, 2009, 4:01 PM
>> I used to drive my uncle's 1974
>> Jensen Healey...with the Lotus engine, a Vauxhaul gearbox (I
>> believe), along with two Stromberg carbs...like a little
>> rocket and I always loved it. Was my intro to what a sports
>> car was and I've never gotten over it! Being 17, driving
>> that with the cute girl down the road, and feeling the
>> acceleration of the car was magical!
>>
>> Robert Clark
>> Lancaster, PA
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Dernie" <Frank.Dernie at 
>> btinternet.com 
>> >
>> To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, July 11, 2009 1:38 AM
>> Subject: Re: [Leica] speaking of cars violently OT
>>
>>
>> > Try an Elise.
>> > Frank
>> >
>> > On 11 Jul, 2009, at 06:06, Adam Bridge wrote:
>> >
>> >> I had a Lotus S2 - two 2-barrel Webers. It was a
>> RIP to drive but needed
>> >> lots of TLC as cars of that era did.
>> >> I loved the close-ratio gearbox and how it would
>> leap ahead with the
>> >> slightest urging. Stopped darn well too!
>> >>
>> >> Of course it would never pass today's crash tests
>> but I'd love a modern
>> >> Lotus roadster to be a retake on the Elan. The top
>> can leak, that's okay!
>> >>
>> >> Adam
>> >>
>> >> On Fri, Jul 10, 2009 at 9:33 PM, Frank Dernie
>> >> <Frank.Dernie at btinternet.com>wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> The Elan S4 was a favourite of mine. It had
>> Stromberg carbs which gave more
>> >>> power and broader torque band than the more
>> fashionable Webers, and better
>> >>> fuel consumption. It was surprisingly roomy
>> for such a tiny light car.
>> >>> Frank
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> On 11 Jul, 2009, at 00:42, Jerry Lehrer
>> wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>> Dennis und Frank
>> >>>>
>> >>>> The original Europa mit Renault engine was
>> a dog! But the original
>> >>>> Elite, if it had modern brakes would
>> really be
>> >>>> a windy road car. The Elan S2 when
>> de-bugged is a superb handling car.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Yes, I've used them all
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Jerry Lehrer
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Dennis wrote:
>> >>>>
>> >>>>> Hi Frank,
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> I wondered your thoughts on Lotus'
>> road cars. I had a Europa Special and
>> >>>>> it is a marvel. Very light, incredible
>> suspension, and so responsive. I
>> >>>>> thought Colin Chapman brilliant and
>> was stunned at his premature passing.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> I could never afford one of todays
>> 'supercars' but if I could I would
>> >>>>> likely own a Lotus and use some of
>> that "leftover" money for a worthy cause.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> I agree the Veyron is an ugly piece
>> ;-)
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> But, Lotus aside, what do you
>> make of the Ariel Atom?
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> Dennis
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> Frank Dernie wrote:
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>> Pagani Zonda.
>> >>>>>> For "frequent" use Ferrari 599.
>> >>>>>> For daily use Porsche 911 turbo.
>> >>>>>> For pure driving Lotus anything.
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>> There are lots of cars about which
>> have fancy styling and are "2 seat
>> >>>>>> limos" with loads of kit, weight
>> and electronic driving aids to make them
>> >>>>>> easy to drive for less good
>> drivers.
>> >>>>>> These are great pose-mobiles and
>> practical for a rich person of limited
>> >>>>>> talent to show-off in.
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>> I may have left some out, I am
>> neither wealthy enough nor interested
>> >>>>>> enough to study in detail. Weight
>> is the most important chassis parameter
>> >>>>>> for performance. Road cars are to
>> a great extent a fashion item and image
>> >>>>>> statement. Published stuff tends
>> to be acceleration and top speed. It is
>> >>>>>> possible to get impressive figures
>> for these without much chassis
>> >>>>>> sophistication at all. Since
>> weight is currently not something fashionable
>> >>>>>> to minimise "supercars" are now as
>> heavy as trucks, hence no longer
>> >>>>>> supercars IMO. This Bugatti thing
>> weighs the same as 2 Ford GT40s!
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>> To put perspective on this, +10kg
>> on a F1 car loses over 0.3 secs per
>> >>>>>> lap.
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>> Frank
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> >>>> Leica Users Group.
>> >>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more
>> information
>> >>>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> >>> Leica Users Group.
>> >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more
>> information
>> >>>
>> >>
>> >> _______________________________________________
>> >> Leica Users Group.
>> >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more
>> information
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
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>> > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more
>> information
>> >
>>
>>
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>>
>
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In reply to: Message from frank.dernie at btinternet.com (FRANK DERNIE) ([Leica] speaking of cars violently OT)
Message from rclark01 at comcast.net (Robert Clark) ([Leica] speaking of cars violently OT)