I managed to get an exhaust for the C5 for £60 including VAT and delivery from a breaker down south but haven't yet got it sorted. I've spent a while trying to track down a stupid ABS fault on our Freelander which I was hoping was just going to be a case of replacing an ABS sensor but unfortunately not.
For my Christmas last year, Cheryl booked me a driving experience day, with Supercars Scotland, which I went to on Friday last week. It was a proper run on the main roads, not on the track like most and set off from Loch Lomond up to Inveraray and back again, which is a total distance of around 85 miles.
The cars they had were:
BMW M3
Audi R8:
Aston Martin V8 Vantage:
Lamborghini Gallardo:
Ferrari F430:
I started in the BMW M3 which was a little disappointing when I was given the keys as it's a car I've never shown any interest in and have never really wanted to have anything to do with. Upon climbing into it I was quite impressed at the interior and the general feel of it. Starting it up put a grin on my face when I realised this was the V8 M3 I was sitting in, not the old 6 cylinder one. We all left the hotel carpark in convoy. I managed to get stuck behind a lorry which separate me from the convoy in the M3. When we got to the climbing lane I put it into 3rd gear using the paddles and booted it past the lorry... I was totally blown away by the performance of the car, the way it handled and the noise it made. Then I found the M button on the steering wheel which changed everything, the car sharpened up, the throttle response improved and it just felt like an absolute beast! So much so I've started looking for one...
I then moved to the Audi R8. This is another car that's never really appealed but I was quite looking forward to having a go in one. This was a manual and I found the position of the pedals to be very close together. After I'd got used to it though, it was quite a nice car to drive. The power delivery was much smoother then the M3 which made it feel not as quick. The ride on it was lovely and soft until the button to stiffen it up was pressed and everything became stiff and tight. Overall it was nice but I wouldn't go out and buy one.
Next up was the Aston. I've driven a V8 Vantage before and I LOVE them. It's one car that I'm determined to own. The feel of the Aston was wonderful, the noise was superb, the ride was nice and it's just a car I absolutely adore. Driving it again almost a year after I last drove one confirmed that I love them to bits. Everything about it makes you smile, it looks gorgeous, the interior is a lovely place to be, it's quick, makes an amazing noise when you're pushing on and when you settle down to cruise it becomes beautifully quiet, smooth and refined. To me, the Aston was perfect.
After around 15 miles of bliss in the Aston I moved into the Lamborghini. Upon climbing into it I wasn't sure what I thought of it. It was amazingly wide and felt massive. There was a lovely purr from the engine coming behind you and when you accelerated through the trees on our way up to Inveraray the noise was epic. The car itself was difficult to drive in a way. The throttle was heavy, the brake pedal was heavy and as it was a manual box with paddles it was jerky at low speed. It didn't move off on it's own at idle and as you moved into car parks slowly it was very jerky. It's nice to say I've driven one but it's not a car I can see myself ever wanting to buy if I could ever afford one.
The Ferrari unfortunately didn't come out as there was only 4 of us on the tour which is a shame as it'd of been nice to try it. They did however start it in the carpark and give it a little rev for us to hear, the noise off it was absolutely incredible! The box you can see at the back of the engine bay is the only silencer in the exhaust so it sounds phenomenal!
Out of everything I drove I was most impressed by the BMW M3. It was just something I didn't expect, it was blisteringly quick with 414bhp, it handled well and made a terrific noise. The Aston was as good as I remember it being though
The R8 and the Lambo I'm quite happy that I've driven one and don't really want to own either.
David.
What an excellent day David. Good to see one done on scenic roads rather than a track. The fact that are usually on a track puts me right off them but a drive along proper roads is very appealing...
