If you became a handler...

Alfisti wrote:

Alfisti wrote:On a side note, I'll be testing my theory on the 135i's pocket Grand Touring/continent-munching credentials next week by driving to Canberra and back. Not a huge trip admittedly but still enough to get some idea.

Also, 135i pocket-GT credentials: confirmed.


After four hours sleep and fifteen solid behind the wheel, I got out in Canberra feeling relatively fresh. So notch that one up as a win.

I just wish it had a slightly larger fuel tank.

So, since you're Australian, does that mean that most everyone else will be more than satisfied with the fuel tank size?

El Conservatore wrote:

Alfisti wrote:I just wish it had a slightly larger fuel tank.

So, since you're Australian, does that mean that most everyone else will be more than satisfied with the fuel tank size?

*Shrugs* Don't know, you tell me. On the highway the range calculator is saying about 650km (a smidge over 400miles) to a tank.

We've had this discussion before, guys. Extra fuel capacity is nice, but not essential to travel in well-populated countries where filling stations are frequent. Otherwise a big tank just adds weight and lowers fuel efficiency. Unless you're chasing someone flat-out for two hundred miles, idling for six hours a day, or driving across Russia, big tanks are necessities only in special markets.

Thescarredman wrote:We've had this discussion before, guys. Extra fuel capacity is nice, but not essential to travel in well-populated countries where filling stations are frequent. Otherwise a big tank just adds weight and lowers fuel efficiency. Unless you're chasing someone flat-out for two hundred miles, idling for six hours a day, or driving across Russia, big tanks are necessities only in special markets.

Funny you should mention Russia... because guess what J+M are doing right at this moment

Admittedly they're an extreme case.

I actually agree with you... mostly. The rest being tempered by the fact that I live in what is probably considered a "special market" (Landcruisers are sold here with long-range tanks as standard), so part of me won't be convinced that, when it comes to range, more is not better.

That said: in all reality, my preference for a car with intergalactic cruising range is just personal taste. If I'm driving long distance, once I'm going, I would really prefer not to stop if at all possible, and instead just let the miles roll away under the tyres. In that respect, big fuel capacity is a bit like having big power: not a necessity, but it sure makes life easier and more relaxing.

For the Social Welfare Agency i would suggest that:


Audi's "Security" Version of the A8 L.
Features:
W12 Engine, bullet proof and of course, Audi's understatement, (aside the respect with more than 2,5 tons of weight.....).
Plus I guess the blue flashlights are already inculded.

Hey, glad yer back Schas, hadn't read from you in a while!

Schaschanist wrote:For the Social Welfare Agency i would suggest that:


Audi's "Security" Version of the A8 L.
Features:
W12 Engine, bullet proof and of course, Audi's understatement, (aside the respect with more than 2,5 tons of weight.....).
Plus I guess the blue flashlights are already inculded.

You have no idea how much I want a magnetic flashy light for the top of my car...

As to the A8: probably a bit much for a handler to buy/run on his own, but a definite possibility as an agency pool car.

Alfisti wrote:But... I dunno... maybe it looks better in the metal but the more pictures I saw the more top and tail heavy it looked: the "big-hatch" proportions just don't seem to have worked so well on the smaller 3-series, particularly with the lower front of the new model. Long story short: it was struck from the lineup for being ugly.  

So, I actually got a chance to look at a 3GT in the metal today... and it looks much better than in pictures. If they do a diesel x-drive version, it may well be a contender should I need to replace J+M's Audi.

A mate of mine recently bought himself an E30 325i coupe: a rather nice, unmolested (bar being dropped about an inch), 1990 model. Aside from the minor issue of being red it's pretty much perfect.

Since I'm apparently "the driver" ( ) in my group of friends, I got to have a go. After getting used to the high clutch take-up, I can honestly say I quite like that: it feels light, nicely balanced, and with a decent amount of power. Double bonus it starts every time and the aircon works. About the only thing it needed to be properly everyday usable would be cruise control (saver of licenses); for a fratello on a budget, a well-maintained example probably would not be a bad option... we'll see how this one goes reliability wise.

I didn't realize MINI actually put the Rolls Royce Edition into production as the MINI Inspired by Goodwood.

So if I was a handler, that would be Option 2 instead of the DS4 as it uses the Cooper S mechanicals.

Forget the BMW, the VWs, and the Polestar V60.

This is what I would have:


And I would drive around listening to the theme from The Saint all the time.

Now there's just the small issue of getting Volvo to actually build the thing.

I would definitely drive a Maseratti Quattroporte S!

It is the perfect ride for a handler because:
1 - It is quintessentially Italian!!! The best luxury car ever made.
2 - It can go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.1 sec. Not the fastest but with more reliability. 
3 - It has a top speed of 285 km/h. Great for those high speed chases, just in case.

While I certainly understand and appreciate fancier cars like the Maseratti Quattroporte S, or Jose's Porche,  exploring possible enemy hideouts might require more common models like the Dacia, Fiat Tipo 1.3 multijet 2, or the Citrogen C4, or the Opel Adam, Volkswagen sedans too fit right in with population.
(souped up of course)

Ashesofanotherlife wrote:I would definitely drive a Maseratti Quattroporte S!

It is the perfect ride for a handler because:
1 - It is quintessentially Italian!!! The best luxury car ever made.
2 - It can go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.1 sec. Not the fastest but with more reliability. 
3 - It has a top speed of 285 km/h. Great for those high speed chases, just in case.

It is, indeed, just flat out a really nice place to be (I had to make myself scarce for a bit today, so wound up doing the car-dealership crawl).

That said, no interest in it's little (for a given value of "little", it's still a large executive saloon) brother, the Ghibli?

tremec6speed wrote:While I certainly understand and appreciate fancier cars like the Maseratti Quattroporte S, or Jose's Porche,  exploring possible enemy hideouts might require more common models like the Dacia, Fiat Tipo 1.3 multijet 2, or the Citrogen C4, or the Opel Adam, Volkswagen sedans too fit right in with population.
(souped up of course)

That's what the motorpool is for.