AnilS
08-29-2003, 07:37 AM
Blagged my test drive today at Brooklyn. Many thanks Paul for the slight over exention of the drive.
Heres a summary of what I found driving a Hi power (231ps) Titanium car (my opinion, and sorry in advance for the lengthy post);
Looks - Stunning. Made a point of test driving a 330ci yesterday and the BM looked ordinary. The 8 was low, lithe and ready to pounce. It even converted the wife. Very happy. (5/5)
Interior - Very special and very well screwed together. No rattles or creaks. Very solid but I think, like all things, the plastic will mark easy, when getting in and out of the car.
The driving position was perfect with a nice view of the dials and road. Even reversing seems OK. Paul being taller lacked some headroom at the front as there was a moonroof fitted. Fine for me, and the hump in the floor is not an issue. Dash illumination makes my wifes Yaris look old. (5/5)
Driving - Did not stall once:D . Pedals are smooth in operation and perfectly placed. Ergonomics look good but familiaristion will things better. Handbrake and gear knob too are excellent. I was worrying about the Handbrake, but need not now. Steering effort is exactly right and it did not feel one bit (electrical) artificial. Every thing was so smooth, but the gearchange was very mechanical (slight notchy) but the car had only done 3K. (5/5)
Performance - I got up to a really silly speed (not sure I should own up), very quickly BUT there was no feeling/sensation of speed. I think this was because the engine was just so very smooth. My biggest concern was the debate about torque. On take off, its all about BHP so problem there but I purposely dropped down to 6th at 20 mph ... ouch ... nothing. Fifth was much more tolerable, but 6th is 20 mph/1000 revs so I would have expected less protest. It performed no differently than my previous Nissan 200SX (1.8 Turbo not 2.0 Turbo):( . The traction control only lit up once following a full bore take off, and it still wheelspun in second. This traction control still lets you have some fun. Excellent. Overall though I am more than happy with its performance (provided you get your gearing right). (4/5)
Handling and Ride - Sublime. Beautiful poise, accuracy and security (on damp roads - it pi$$ed it down last night). Always felt planted and even at ***mph around a (not to severe) bend never got me panicked. Sorry Paul.
The ride was firmer than I thought but wonderfully controlled, and the so called "body roll", must be a trackday extreme. Body roll and control were delicately damped, with no bumps sending us of course. Brilliant, made the Nissan feel twitchy and nervous. (5/5)
Stereo - Now I have a decent home separates setup, and my Focus has a brilliant Alpine setup, so it was a little disappointing to listen to the radio (why no standard DAB ?) that was flat and lifeless. Install a CD (Evanescence - Bring me to life) and play with the Bass and Treble settings, and it great clarity almost 3D sound but whacking the Bass to far up and it gets a bit muddy. With Bass at 3 (max is 6) and Treble at 5, I don't think anyone will be changing the stereo for any aftermarket stuff. Great, focused and deatil sound, with nice rounded bass. I do think some might add a SUB but I like to hear my HiFi (yes its proper HiFI not car stereo) and not have my skull crushed in. Oh it went alot louder than I need (and I like loud) without distorting. (5/5)
A very happy AnilS.;)
Heres a summary of what I found driving a Hi power (231ps) Titanium car (my opinion, and sorry in advance for the lengthy post);
Looks - Stunning. Made a point of test driving a 330ci yesterday and the BM looked ordinary. The 8 was low, lithe and ready to pounce. It even converted the wife. Very happy. (5/5)
Interior - Very special and very well screwed together. No rattles or creaks. Very solid but I think, like all things, the plastic will mark easy, when getting in and out of the car.
The driving position was perfect with a nice view of the dials and road. Even reversing seems OK. Paul being taller lacked some headroom at the front as there was a moonroof fitted. Fine for me, and the hump in the floor is not an issue. Dash illumination makes my wifes Yaris look old. (5/5)
Driving - Did not stall once:D . Pedals are smooth in operation and perfectly placed. Ergonomics look good but familiaristion will things better. Handbrake and gear knob too are excellent. I was worrying about the Handbrake, but need not now. Steering effort is exactly right and it did not feel one bit (electrical) artificial. Every thing was so smooth, but the gearchange was very mechanical (slight notchy) but the car had only done 3K. (5/5)
Performance - I got up to a really silly speed (not sure I should own up), very quickly BUT there was no feeling/sensation of speed. I think this was because the engine was just so very smooth. My biggest concern was the debate about torque. On take off, its all about BHP so problem there but I purposely dropped down to 6th at 20 mph ... ouch ... nothing. Fifth was much more tolerable, but 6th is 20 mph/1000 revs so I would have expected less protest. It performed no differently than my previous Nissan 200SX (1.8 Turbo not 2.0 Turbo):( . The traction control only lit up once following a full bore take off, and it still wheelspun in second. This traction control still lets you have some fun. Excellent. Overall though I am more than happy with its performance (provided you get your gearing right). (4/5)
Handling and Ride - Sublime. Beautiful poise, accuracy and security (on damp roads - it pi$$ed it down last night). Always felt planted and even at ***mph around a (not to severe) bend never got me panicked. Sorry Paul.
The ride was firmer than I thought but wonderfully controlled, and the so called "body roll", must be a trackday extreme. Body roll and control were delicately damped, with no bumps sending us of course. Brilliant, made the Nissan feel twitchy and nervous. (5/5)
Stereo - Now I have a decent home separates setup, and my Focus has a brilliant Alpine setup, so it was a little disappointing to listen to the radio (why no standard DAB ?) that was flat and lifeless. Install a CD (Evanescence - Bring me to life) and play with the Bass and Treble settings, and it great clarity almost 3D sound but whacking the Bass to far up and it gets a bit muddy. With Bass at 3 (max is 6) and Treble at 5, I don't think anyone will be changing the stereo for any aftermarket stuff. Great, focused and deatil sound, with nice rounded bass. I do think some might add a SUB but I like to hear my HiFi (yes its proper HiFI not car stereo) and not have my skull crushed in. Oh it went alot louder than I need (and I like loud) without distorting. (5/5)
A very happy AnilS.;)