/end thread

I worked at a country club for a few years, and valet parked several very expensive cars, so technically I drove them, but I didn’t really drive them for more than like 200 feet. These included (not sure on years and such, it was like 13 years ago when I was 16-17)…a Rolls, Several large Benz (s500?), 3 different 911’s, many of the old M3 and M5s, a Lotus Elise…and a few other things that escape my memory in between jockeying some HTML and powerpoint here.

The best thing I’ve driven since I had an appreciation for the art of an auto, has to be that ‘04 M3. Just amazing feel, power, and refinement in one little package.

One day, when I’m making 6 figures, I will own an early 2000’s M3, just for weekends or whatnot.

The convertible is a great cruiser, especially bombing down country roads on a sunny weekend afternoon. My wife even enjoys driving the ‘vert, and her daily driver is a 2001 Honda Civic! Mine has a factory AM/FM radio and a bench seat with flip-down armrest in the front, which is perfect for going to the drive-in.

My two-door hardtop is very non-stock under the hood. It’s a blast to launch with 500ftlb of torque on tap, but still comfortable and reliable enough to drive for 7+ hours steady. The front disc brakes help there too. (They were optional in ‘66, but I transplanted a system from a ‘73 Chrysler.) It would be cool if mine had a 4-speed stick (which was available but rarely ordered) but the Torqueflite 3-speed auto is as reliable as a brick.

While cornering isn’t the strong suit of any large car, the ride isn’t soft and bouncy like most enthusiasts associate with fullsize cars. This is thanks in part to the torsion bar front suspension. I’m sure that some would say that the power steering is “overboosted and numb”, but I’m not interested in building my arm muscles when navigating a parking lot. Having driven a ‘65 Polara that was not equipped with power steering, I’m thankful.

Finally, although it’s technically not “driving”, getting chauffeured around in the back of my brother’s ‘66 New Yorker Town sedan makes one feel like royalty, or perhaps a mobster if you’re wearing a fedora. Lookin’ for Jimmy Hoffa? He’s in my trunk.

Best handling car is the current Mazda RX-8

Fun – 1st gen Miata with power nothing, ‘67 Lotus Elan (an incredible chassis in search of bodywork which did not self destruct), Mazda Rx4 with 1st gen 13B rotary, Honda S2000.

Swiss Army Knife: BMW 325 wagon; speedy enough, superb handling, easy to park, carries four and will haul a reasonable load for a tiny car.

Fast : Bently Continental GT my boss had for a test. Everyone in the office had a go and got faster and faster, one topping out at 130+. Soundtrack was amazing and the rest of the world moved in slow motion. He took it back well and truly ragged and bought an Aston DB9 instead.

Best All Rounder : BMW 335d – mountain of torque. Having a track go in one inspired me to get my Fab VRS chipped so it can beat a 330d but not close enough to a 335 – I need a new clutch for that.

But my fathers 2000 2.7T Audi A6 is an amazing car. As I recall, 2000 – 2001 was a great year for German Sports Sedans. But the 2.7 A6 was excellent for the price range. As fast as the V8, better mileage and the body design was the understated kind of classy you don’t really see anymore.

Hes got 68000 kilometers on it, I offered him 4 grand more than market value for it and he will not part with it. Even the dealership could not tempt him with a new A8.

Mine turned 14 years old last month and I am the original owner. It is my daily driver to this day. I plan to be driving it on my last commute to work 15 years from now. I know damn well it will last at least that long if I keep it between the ditches. There has never been a more enjoyable, more carefree long-term runabout for people who love to drive a “slow” car hard. Never.

1997 Integra Type R. The automotive equivalent of Godzilla.

1989 Toyota Cressida. My mom’s at-the-time boss had one and let me drive it on occasion, even though I barely had my license. Incredibly smooth, couldn’t feel or hear the engine when it was running, and it was rather quick.

Oddly enough, the best handling cars I have ever driven were Fords. When I was sixteen I had a friend that had bought a then new 1991 Thunderbird. We took off for the day and she let me drive. We decided to head to the beach at Crystal River, FL. It’s a nine mile ride from town to the beach on a very curvy road. As we were cruising along,I noticed that the car remained flat throughout the curves. I was shocked when I looked down and saw that we were doing ninety!!! Seriously, the car was that smooth in the curves! Over the years I got to experience the Cougar and Mark VIII platform mates, and those cars just blew me away.

My Contour V6’s were to me, the front drive version of a poor man’s BMW. I loved to take them through the mountains of Tennessee, the Virginias and Pennsylvania and just flog them hard in the twisties. They never let me down in my quest for fun.

Ford may have had it’s issues in the nineties, but they sure had some some top notch suspension engineers…

1978 Mercedes Benz 450 SEL 6.9.

Only had a 3 speed auto. Did just under 70mph in first, 110 mph in second, and what ever you wanted in high. It was imperious.

Could not believe the difference from a Detroit V8. No roaring noises, no howling wheel spin, just a friendly chortle as the engine wound out through each gear. No wheel tugging, no bad manners, great brakes and especially great steering. And about the fastest thing around in those emission crippled days of the early ’80s.

It was worth about 5 times my salary at that time, and I’ll always thank my friend for letting me see what a real car was like on empty two lane roads for a glorious afternoon.

I’ve driven an Audi A8. Not the same thing, not even close, and I’m an all wheel drive kind of guy.

I see Wikipedia even has a page on this velvet 6.9 brute, and there was more technology in that thing than I even remember as a gearhead.

In those days, as so many have stated above, a Benz was simply superior from start to finish.