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Old 09-16-2018, 08:29 AM   #1
John V
No more BMWs
 
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Carmudgeonly Ride: Ram, MS3, CX-5, RX-8
Location: Glenwood, MD
Posts: 14,753
718, Corvette, E46

A couple of us were out in Lincoln last week for the SCCA Solo Nationals. Most of you have never been and will never go. It's a shame, because it's a week-long party where you will see some of the most insane vehicular hardware which only exists in that one place at that one time.

I got to drive my buddy's C7 Grand Sport on the road a bit and it's a pretty phenomenal car. I decided a few years ago that I'm just not a "Corvette guy" and I think that's still true, but the car has come a long way. The interior materials, fitment, and control feel is excellent... maybe not to Porsche levels, but miles beyond the C6. The seats are excellent. Comfortable, supportive. The gauges look high quality. The ride is great. The engine ... is a monster, but is so refined compared to the C6. It's still low, it's still too wide and too heavy and it's still numb at the helm, but what a great car.

I also got to check out a 718 Cayman up close and see it go around the course. I'd kind of peered inside the interior of a 718 Boxster at the dealer when mine was getting serviced last year, and it's still impressive. Nothing today beats the view out of a Cayman or Boxster (with the top down). Unfortunately, this car is just ruined by its engine. It sounds absolutely horrible from the outside, and the owner tells me it's even worse from the inside. He says the fuel economy is no better than his old 6-cylinder car in normal driving, either, so what's the point? Motor Trend on-Demand did a head to head comparison of the Cayman GTS and the Audi TT RS and had the same comments... great car, abysmal engine. Really sad.

As for the E46... mine is for sale. Actually, it looks like it's sold, as I took a $5k deposit on it with the final sale to come after the buyer drives it in a couple weeks at an autocross. I've had a lot of fun building this car over the years and winning in it (I won my class at the National Championships in 2017 and my co-driver won this year). To really make progress on the RX-8, though, I need to not have another car to distract me, so the BMW has got to go. Bought in 2011, I've owned this car longer than any other car in my life and it's going to be tough to see it go but time marches on...
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