Any Rennlisters from New Zealand?
09-13-2016, 06:34 PM
Rennlist Member
In terms of running a de-cluttered, pared-down, lean life in which you own your possessions and they don't own you - I think the hypothetical three-car garage is the way to go. It'll concentrate your mind on what you really need & want.
I think we all love the idea of the mythical "Swiss-Army Knife" car, but the reality is that as technology has evolved one "do it all" vehicle has probably become a compromise too far.
Someone said to me recently -" forget the Swiss-Army Knife - go full-out luxury or hard as nails - there's no in-between" and I'm starting to appreciate that logic.
Whereas in the 60's & 70's that 911 or Series 1 E-Type might have been a good all-rounder for everything but the most menial of tasks, today's equivalent is arguably more specialised.
Tim
I think we all love the idea of the mythical "Swiss-Army Knife" car, but the reality is that as technology has evolved one "do it all" vehicle has probably become a compromise too far.
Someone said to me recently -" forget the Swiss-Army Knife - go full-out luxury or hard as nails - there's no in-between" and I'm starting to appreciate that logic.
Whereas in the 60's & 70's that 911 or Series 1 E-Type might have been a good all-rounder for everything but the most menial of tasks, today's equivalent is arguably more specialised.
Tim
09-13-2016, 09:11 PM
Rennlist Member
28C high and 13C low. Clear blue skies and no wind. I think it's due to change later in the week.
First impressions are very good. A surprising amount of greenery. Very ordered. A lot of cyclists, particularly women, some in high heels!
Parking in the hotel area is typically on the street. Not much traffic in Nymphenburg. Have seen a lot of waterpumper Porsches, 991 GTS, 997TT (women driver).
The local Beer garden was a revelation. Wide open spaces with lots of tables and chairs. No lager louts.
First impressions are very good. A surprising amount of greenery. Very ordered. A lot of cyclists, particularly women, some in high heels!
Parking in the hotel area is typically on the street. Not much traffic in Nymphenburg. Have seen a lot of waterpumper Porsches, 991 GTS, 997TT (women driver).
The local Beer garden was a revelation. Wide open spaces with lots of tables and chairs. No lager louts.
09-14-2016, 01:06 AM
Yes - bet those beauties slid down well John. If you do the 'Ring or Spa we're expecting action cam footage a la your Bathurst effort BTW.
Well put. No-one's likely to accuse me of being de-cluttered (though Marie Kondo might get me yet) but I'm on two sides of this fence with this.
Being offered a Cayenne Turbo for NZD18K about 6 years back had me do similar maths on it being that ideal "Swiss Army Knife". Great value on the one hand and a very capable vehicle but I came to the conclusion that it would be neither fish nor fowl. In other words, fast and exciting on-road (but never quite fast and exciting enough for me) and well suited to moderate offroad, family trips and motorway commutes (but with less than 6 seats, still not suited enough). So I went the 996 Turbo + Audi allroad route instead.
The only car since that I thought might've have a chance of poking it's nose in alongside was a Bentley Continental GT, as it would definitely have aced the daily work commute. But one test drive was enough to put me off. The GT was beautifully solid and lovely inside but its electronic aids (a.k.a. electronic AIDS) killed it for me. What's the point of having a 6L W12 if you can't pull away smartly to turn through an intersection? A Ford Falcon was still miles away from a test drive T-junction (well plenty far for the 996T with another 100+m spare on top), when I launched. Cue some stupid Bentley stability control nonsense that stole most of the engine power for what felt like several seconds and left an annoyed Falcon driver having to slow down for me. Not cool and a quick "thanks but no thanks" to the hopeful seller. I didn't add "Porsche, there is no substitute", but I certainly drove home thinking it.
So that's the side of the fence I still share with you Tim. But I can't help noticing that the grass on the other side is greening up, with the probability of a true uber-all-rounder being unveiled at the next auto show ever rising.
It used to be that if you wanted a ute, you pretty much accepted it would be horrible and slow on road, but now some are running the 'Ring in not much more than 8 minutes.
It used to be that if you wanted a largish AWD to tow your boat, you accepted that your boat had better acceleration than your car. Now there's no end of choice in quick bricks.
It used to be that if you wanted a fuel efficient family car, you were driving something that made deep sleep seem frantic by comparison. Now I suspect we'd sometimes be left watching their little hybrid/electric tail lights silently shrink over the horizon. And the average 2L rep wagon will soon by posting acceleration times that slot into those of factory 60's muscle cars.
Closer to home for many of us perhaps, back when engine outputs were modest by today's standards sports and supercars were instantly recognizable as they had unique and exotic silhouettes designed to minimise drag (albeit often poorly) and keep them lighter than the average bear. Today, an increasing number of practical 4 door saloons marry supercar performance with supermarket carpark looks (the obligatory extra exhaust outlet, bigger radiator openings and a few fake vents aside perhaps). Add in selectable drive modes plus half a Cray's worth of dynamic handling smarts, and few compromises remain to be made. Except perhaps purity of controls and consistency of response. Which is what sunk that Bentley. That 'compromise too far' you spoke of Tim.
But I still fear that most cars are converging to a point where the main option is the badge, and maybe the ECU flash.
In terms of running a de-cluttered, pared-down, lean life in which you own your possessions and they don't own you - I think the hypothetical three-car garage is the way to go. It'll concentrate your mind on what you really need & want.
I think we all love the idea of the mythical "Swiss-Army Knife" car, but the reality is that as technology has evolved one "do it all" vehicle has probably become a compromise too far.
Someone said to me recently -" forget the Swiss-Army Knife - go full-out luxury or hard as nails - there's no in-between" and I'm starting to appreciate that logic.
Whereas in the 60's & 70's that 911 or Series 1 E-Type might have been a good all-rounder for everything but the most menial of tasks, today's equivalent is arguably more specialised.
Tim
I think we all love the idea of the mythical "Swiss-Army Knife" car, but the reality is that as technology has evolved one "do it all" vehicle has probably become a compromise too far.
Someone said to me recently -" forget the Swiss-Army Knife - go full-out luxury or hard as nails - there's no in-between" and I'm starting to appreciate that logic.
Whereas in the 60's & 70's that 911 or Series 1 E-Type might have been a good all-rounder for everything but the most menial of tasks, today's equivalent is arguably more specialised.
Tim
Being offered a Cayenne Turbo for NZD18K about 6 years back had me do similar maths on it being that ideal "Swiss Army Knife". Great value on the one hand and a very capable vehicle but I came to the conclusion that it would be neither fish nor fowl. In other words, fast and exciting on-road (but never quite fast and exciting enough for me) and well suited to moderate offroad, family trips and motorway commutes (but with less than 6 seats, still not suited enough). So I went the 996 Turbo + Audi allroad route instead.
The only car since that I thought might've have a chance of poking it's nose in alongside was a Bentley Continental GT, as it would definitely have aced the daily work commute. But one test drive was enough to put me off. The GT was beautifully solid and lovely inside but its electronic aids (a.k.a. electronic AIDS) killed it for me. What's the point of having a 6L W12 if you can't pull away smartly to turn through an intersection? A Ford Falcon was still miles away from a test drive T-junction (well plenty far for the 996T with another 100+m spare on top), when I launched. Cue some stupid Bentley stability control nonsense that stole most of the engine power for what felt like several seconds and left an annoyed Falcon driver having to slow down for me. Not cool and a quick "thanks but no thanks" to the hopeful seller. I didn't add "Porsche, there is no substitute", but I certainly drove home thinking it.
So that's the side of the fence I still share with you Tim. But I can't help noticing that the grass on the other side is greening up, with the probability of a true uber-all-rounder being unveiled at the next auto show ever rising.
It used to be that if you wanted a ute, you pretty much accepted it would be horrible and slow on road, but now some are running the 'Ring in not much more than 8 minutes.
It used to be that if you wanted a largish AWD to tow your boat, you accepted that your boat had better acceleration than your car. Now there's no end of choice in quick bricks.
It used to be that if you wanted a fuel efficient family car, you were driving something that made deep sleep seem frantic by comparison. Now I suspect we'd sometimes be left watching their little hybrid/electric tail lights silently shrink over the horizon. And the average 2L rep wagon will soon by posting acceleration times that slot into those of factory 60's muscle cars.
Closer to home for many of us perhaps, back when engine outputs were modest by today's standards sports and supercars were instantly recognizable as they had unique and exotic silhouettes designed to minimise drag (albeit often poorly) and keep them lighter than the average bear. Today, an increasing number of practical 4 door saloons marry supercar performance with supermarket carpark looks (the obligatory extra exhaust outlet, bigger radiator openings and a few fake vents aside perhaps). Add in selectable drive modes plus half a Cray's worth of dynamic handling smarts, and few compromises remain to be made. Except perhaps purity of controls and consistency of response. Which is what sunk that Bentley. That 'compromise too far' you spoke of Tim.
But I still fear that most cars are converging to a point where the main option is the badge, and maybe the ECU flash.
Last edited by 996tnz; 09-14-2016 at 01:38 AM.
09-14-2016, 01:17 AM
09-14-2016, 03:00 AM
Rennlist Member
The Ring is on Sunday. I have my GoPro so it will be filmed 
09-14-2016, 05:16 AM
Three Wheelin'
Looks like the boys had the luxury trip over - nice. Shaping to be a great trip. Looking fwd to see updates. I hope your taster on the Ring will inspire for a return and some more spirited stuff (or did you figure out how to get a trackday session in after all?
09-14-2016, 09:24 AM
Rennlist Member
Originally Posted by Macca
What are you going around it in John?
09-14-2016, 09:29 AM
Rennlist Member
Originally Posted by gt38088
Looks like the boys had the luxury trip over - nice. Shaping to be a great trip. Looking fwd to see updates. I hope your taster on the Ring will inspire for a return and some more spirited stuff (or did you figure out how to get a trackday session in after all?
I hope it has aircon as Munich is 28C today.
09-14-2016, 04:53 PM
Rennlist Member
Yes Business Class in both directions. The Ring will be just a taster as we're not hiring cars, just taking a taxi ride. Should be fun as I don't expect any of us will ask the driver to slow down. It will likely be faster than any of us would have driven ourselves. I hope it has aircon as Munich is 28C today.
I took my hire car around in 2007. You can do the same with yours if you want to drive the Ring yourselves. I HIGHLY recommend it. See if you can beat my 12 minutes in a 308 1.6 diesel two up (cursing wife!) with full tank and four suitcases lol! I'll find a video and post it to give you guys some encouragement ha ha. The Alfa is definitely seeing the ring.
Last edited by Macca; 09-14-2016 at 06:00 PM.
09-14-2016, 07:37 PM
Racer
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Ring taxi type rides can be available in different flavours - I had a ride in a private 964 RS with 6 pt harness etc. Total blast - more fun is not to be had fully clothed. Like Mark said, spend a bit of time at the carpark.
09-15-2016, 05:14 AM
Burning Brakes
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Interesting story from Aussie. Remind you of our Airport experience Macca
http://www.caradvice.com.au/480177/q...iliate_program
http://www.caradvice.com.au/480177/q...iliate_program
09-15-2016, 12:02 PM
Rennlist Member
For those with no FB access. My Christmas present
09-16-2016, 02:33 AM
Rennlist Member
