Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

Stop press. Just found out two things - one, my newish house mate has a Ford Puma tucked away at her Ma's and two, she's planning on sending it to the scrappy this weekend. It's a black 1.7 with both MoT and tax expired - she's now got a company car and lost interest but had a new clutch and brakes earlier this year. A few issues, sure, but bodywork sounds ok and worth saving probably (haven't seen it mind). Would rescue it myself if I had the room as the breaker is only offering £200. PM if you want a project.

Where abouts?

As a died in the wool biker, having held a full bike license for over 20 years and only having passed my driving test (first time) 2 years ago it's amazing to me the lengths car drivers go to for things like power when in real terms it's fairly arbitrary.

Yes, you could slap a turbo in or a super-charger but the gains will be nominal in terms of the cost and possibly unusable on the road. A tweaked bike will always beat a car in power to weight ratio and the only real benefits of a car are weather protection, heating, and maybe a stereo.

Just saying :)

Yeah, you missed corners.

Yeah, you missed corners.

Hey I love both, but you need a very trick car to beat a bike around most circuits. Start getting into single seaters and ground effect and sure, they'll waltz off into the distance but hardly practical for popping down the shops for a pack of fags afterwards.

Much bigger margin of error for cars on track though, which is comforting.

What about side cars?

http://www.oldstox.com/images/sidecar%20outfit%20at%20Brands.jpg

Hey I love both, but you need a very trick car to beat a bike around most circuits. Start getting into single seaters and ground effect and sure, they'll waltz off into the distance but hardly practical for popping down the shops for a pack of fags afterwards.

Much bigger margin of error for cars on track though, which is comforting.

Are we talking pros or amateurs, because if it's amateurs, not really, depends on how good the biker and driver are.

I overtook most bikers at the 'Ring apart from the Brits who were camped in the same field as us. These guys were grade A maniacs. One of them wheelied from the bridge to the first proper corner, and the back end was sliding Micky Doohan style before he'd put the front wheel down. That evening back at the campsite he said he hit the limiter on his R1 a few times per lap. Given that his was modified I'm guessing that's between 190-200 mph a few times per lap...

I'm lapping every circuit I've been to quicker than biker mates.

I'm lapping every circuit I've been to quicker than biker mates.

Saw one of these driving down Chiswick High Road about 30 minutes ago:

http://www.astonmartinw.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/aston-martin-one-775.jpg

Pictures do not do it justice. It is jaw droppingly amazing in the metal carbon fibre, and the engine note, oh my god!

I LOLd

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/news/default.asp?storyId=26591
Regent St car show this Saturday

Anyone want to cycle there together from wests?

i'll be there, quinny

I'd be up for meeting some people if they were going!

i am surprised by the 456 love (i don't hate 'em - but am a bit of a ferrari fanboy).
i prefer the 599 or the 550/575.
i'd have it red-as-fuck, too.

I just think that it's something that Ferrari have always done well (a GT car) and they're always loads less obvious than a 355/360/458 etc. Obviously 575's and 599's would be preferable but 456's seem good value (which is a rediculous thing to say as I couldn't even afford a wing mirror off a 412 at the minute!)

Richie did you win that blown V8?

I just think that it's something that Ferrari have always done well (a GT car) and they're always loads less obvious than a 355/360/458 etc. Obviously 575's and 599's would be preferable but 456's seem good value (which is a rediculous thing to say as I couldn't even afford a wing mirror off a 412 at the minute!)

A Ferrari has to look pretty, and to me the 456 is far prettier than its successors.
Plus the engine's at the front, it's a V12, they are fairly cheap, and well-made.

A Ferrari has to look pretty, and to me the 456 is far prettier than its successors.
Plus the engine's at the front, it's a V12, they are fairly cheap, and well-made.

Fully agree. Plus I reckon 456's will look great in 20years time by which point they'll have gone back up in value!

New world record for a piston engined, wheel driven car of 439.562 mph at Bonneville.

Aston Martin V8 Vantage - YouTube

That is a lovely car and a magnificent sound.

Richie did you win that blown V8?

no - my winter project has now become 'marriage' :(

A Ferrari has to look pretty, and to me the 456 is far prettier than its successors.
Plus the engine's at the front, it's a V12, they are fairly cheap, and well-made.

i agree, they are pretty, but i think the 550/575 does the 'gto' silhouette really well (that sounds so wanky) and the pop-up headlights are really dated.

anyhow, i am heading into town, but i will be with sarah and her folks, so i can't really nail down a time that i will be at the regent st thingy.

Surely Sarah would have appreciated being driven away from the church in an MG with three snarling alloy mouths in a cowl sticking out of the bonnet?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZZvpXHcKSM&feature=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=SZZvpXHcKSM

Hmm, why is that not embedding?

no - my winter project has now become 'marriage' :(

and the pop-up headlights are really dated.

Congrat and may your first born be a masculine child (Italian saying)

And go fuck yourself, pop up head lights will forever be cool and if you can make them wink even better.