Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/07/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]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 >> > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > 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 > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information