SamD Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 So I am off work for the next couple of weeks and thought that I would use the time productive way and book some fun test drives. I have never really done the "test-drive for test-drives sake" think before, having really only test driven things that I was looking to buy almost immediately. As a bit of a test of companies, I filled in the "Request a Test Drive" forms on a few websites (so far Audi, BMW, and Porsche) and see if any of them actually responded. So far, I have heard from BMW and Porsche, and am test driving the 997 C2S on Saturday and the 335i next Friday Full reports to follow Should be fun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamD Posted December 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 Oh yes, and Audi are yet to respond to my request for a drive of the new TT 3.2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 Enjoy!! (Saab recently replied to my test drive request. The one that I sent them in 2004!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollox Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Enjoy!! (Saab recently replied to my test drive request. The one that I sent them in 2004!) [/ QUOTE ] Cool, hopefully the 147GTA won't get superceded before Alfa get back to me about my 2003 (I think it was) request to try it... Ergo VW and the GTi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Cool, hopefully the 147GTA won't get superceded before Alfa get back to me about my 2003 (I think it was) request to try it... [/ QUOTE ] I'm still waiting for the Alfa test drive that I asked for in April. Since then, I've tested half a dozen other possibles, decided on a specific make/model, tested the various suspension options on that specific model, looked over several different paint/leather combos, pondered finances, negotiated an deal, and signed on the line. In the time taken to do that, Alfa have, err, given me a brochure and photocopied a price list for me. Impressed? Do I look impressed? Does this face look impressed to you? Face? Impressed? Same goes for Amersham Audi ... Still waiting since September (I think it was) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woppum Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Enjoy!! (Saab recently replied to my test drive request. The one that I sent them in 2004!) [/ QUOTE ] Cool, hopefully the 147GTA won't get superceded before Alfa get back to me about my 2003 (I think it was) request to try it... Ergo VW and the GTi [/ QUOTE ] I wouldnt hold your breath. \it really was as bad as the reviews!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssFour Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Enjoy!! (Saab recently replied to my test drive request. The one that I sent them in 2004!) [/ QUOTE ] Cool, hopefully the 147GTA won't get superceded before Alfa get back to me about my 2003 (I think it was) request to try it... Ergo VW and the GTi [/ QUOTE ] I wouldnt hold your breath. \it really was as bad as the reviews!!! [/ QUOTE ] I actually liked it. The engine note was a dream/powerful and the interior was stylish. It was always giving me twitchy bum moments. A bonkers car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teacake Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Cool, hopefully the 147GTA won't get superceded before Alfa get back to me about my 2003 (I think it was) request to try it... [/ QUOTE ] I'm still waiting for the Alfa test drive that I asked for in April. [/ QUOTE ] I'm sure Alfa will be back to me about that 164 V6 test drive any day now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamD Posted December 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2006 Well I drove the 997 C2S this morning. Have to say it certainly is a lovely car, but I wasn't blown away by the performance. Didn't help that they only had a tiptronic avaliable, but straight-line speed didn't seem that impressive. Perhaps the manual would seem more involved and thus faster? The handling on the other hand was exceptional. A very nicely balanced car that just seems to keep on giving in corners. Would love to take one out on track and see what it is really capable of. Wonder what the 2nd hand prices will be like in 12 months time... if it is favorable, I might try and convince Mrs_D to get an MPV so that I can have one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamD Posted December 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2006 Oh yes, the 911 "brochure" is the best I have seen, less brochure more hardback book! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted December 23, 2006 Report Share Posted December 23, 2006 Yeah I've got that brochure, and the 996 and 993 brochures, both equally impressive. Don't they do a performance pack for the 911 that ups the power? A good friend of mine has just ordered a 997 C4S and I'm sure he mentioned it. He's gone for a manual without the performance pack, he felt it was quick enough (and that's someone currently running a BMW M3 and a Ferrari F355). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamD Posted December 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2006 Not sure about the performance pack, need to spend some time going thought the brochure. I think a manual would feel quicker, the tiptronic in D is so effortless that it doesn't feel fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted December 23, 2006 Report Share Posted December 23, 2006 Yeah I'd have thought so too. No matter how good modern auto's are (and they are good) they never give the same level of enjoyment or control I don't think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted December 23, 2006 Report Share Posted December 23, 2006 Just checked my price list and it lists "Powerkit Carrera S (includes sports exhaust system) for both the 2S and 4S at £8,241 Doesn't say the power increase though, I'll have a look in the brochure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamD Posted December 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Yeah I'd have thought so too. No matter how good modern auto's are (and they are good) they never give the same level of enjoyment or control I don't think. [/ QUOTE ] I have to agree, but it is a personal taste thing. My brother has a tiptronic Boxster S and he wouldn't go back to a manual. Will have to go back in the New Year when the manual is back in and give that a try Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted December 23, 2006 Report Share Posted December 23, 2006 Carrera 2 coupe is 325bhp Carrera 2S coupe is 355bhp Carrera 2S coupe with powerkit is 381bhp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted December 23, 2006 Report Share Posted December 23, 2006 Less than 30bhp for 8k... .Erm Yeah ok then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHA Posted December 23, 2006 Report Share Posted December 23, 2006 Powerkit also includes the sports exhaust which is about £2k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted December 23, 2006 Report Share Posted December 23, 2006 Well thats ok that makes it worth it. I know that Porsche has very expensive options, and that many that are buying the money doesn't matter. But 8k... come on. I bet the engine could be purchased for that much let alone modded for all those huuuggge amount of extra horses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHA Posted December 23, 2006 Report Share Posted December 23, 2006 They do a lot of work to the engine to up the power. Yes it is an expensive option but it is a NA engine so not easy to get a big hp gain and it also has fully warranty protection too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted December 23, 2006 Report Share Posted December 23, 2006 Yeah I know it just staggers me at the cost of the extras. If you've got it you might as well spend it hey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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