| Author |  Topic  | |
v4admin
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
119 Posts |  Posted - 23 Jul 2010 : 20:32:40   
| I have just come back from a day with Practical classics who have used my car with 3 other makes for a photo shoot for an article in October.
It was great fun and a good day out - will let you all know nearer the time when it will be published
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rsimps
V4 Mad
United Kingdom
955 Posts | Posted - 27 Jul 2010 : 07:41:08
| | Sounds good to me. What were the other cars? |  |
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v4admin
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
119 Posts | Posted - 27 Jul 2010 : 19:31:21
| | A BMW 2002, a Triumph 2000 and a MkI Capri | |
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pchristy
V4 Mad
United Kingdom
511 Posts | Posted - 27 Jul 2010 : 20:05:37
| Hah! When I had my original 96 back in the early 70's, my mother had a BMW 2002! It had an awesome engine and gearbox - the performance was shattering for the day - but the handling made Triumph Heralds look well-behaved! The auto box was very lively, and kicked down when you were least expecting it, often leading to the rear trying to overtake the front on slippery surfaces! It very nearly caught me out once on wet leaves at 15 mph!
The pillarless doors meant the windows didn't seal too well - lots of wind noise at speed - and the wipers were still set for LHD, which made overtaking in the wet interesting too! Add in seats that were designed for well-padded German posteriors, and a tendency to oil up plugs unless regularly given a good blast, and you will understand why I've never been a fan of BMWs since!
Fortunately she saw the error of her ways, and I persuaded her to buy a SAAB 99 auto, which she loved!
--
Pete
"Duct tape is like the Force: It has a light side and a dark side, and it binds the Universe together!" | |
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Mylo
Starting Member
Ireland
8 Posts | Posted - 28 Jul 2010 : 09:32:50
| | I have a 2002tii myself which satisfies my need for adrenaline, and yes the handling with a fixed rear diff can be 'interesting' but a good set of Continental rain tyres keeps it in check (mostly!). But I must admit I am looking for a slightly more practical classic - hence the search for a 96... | |
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rsimps
V4 Mad
United Kingdom
955 Posts | Posted - 28 Jul 2010 : 12:18:00
| | So is it worse than a swing axle Skoda??? I always fancied a 2002 or the earlier 1800 as a rally car. | |
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Mylo
Starting Member
Ireland
8 Posts | Posted - 28 Jul 2010 : 14:20:06
| No way! you can't compare a 2002 to a swing axle skoda!! for a start it's all independent suspension and positively cambered. It's actually a great car on the road if you're used to RWD. It drifts perfectly and with the right tyres on a track (e.g. Avon Safety) it's progressive and controllable. Some fit LSDs for more control and less tyre wear but either way it's a great track car. With 130 bhp from a Tii and less than 1000kg, they're a lot of fun...
On the road, with English and Irish weather, I'd recommend a good set of rain tyres. Even if she does slide a little she's very easily recovered with a flick of the wheel.
The only conditions in which she doesn't excel are snow and ice! That's where the Saab would leave it behind! | |
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pchristy
V4 Mad
United Kingdom
511 Posts | Posted - 28 Jul 2010 : 17:02:47
| I think the problem was compounded by the ZF auto box. Compared to the Borg-Warner slush-pumps of the same era, it was very lively, and downshifted very readily. You had little or no control over this, and if it decided to shift down whilst you were negotiating a slippery bend, it would snap round on you in an instant!
In a manual, you could have kept it in a higher gear to limit the torque.
It certainly made it exciting to drive in anything but dry conditions!
--
Pete
"Duct tape is like the Force: It has a light side and a dark side, and it binds the Universe together!" | |
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rsimps
V4 Mad
United Kingdom
955 Posts | Posted - 29 Jul 2010 : 07:38:01
| | Thats good, so it dosent slide that much and is easy enough to handle. They were pretty good as a rally car considering they didnt have much back-up from the factory. | |
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PDickens
V4 Fanatic
United Kingdom
280 Posts | Posted - 30 Jul 2010 : 17:52:25
| Theres also a feature with a 95 stroker in this month's Classics Monthly - and they have the cheek to ask why 95/6 are not cult cars! Have they not seen this site!
"There is a thin dividing line between a hobby and mental illness" | |
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zaphod
V4 Fan
United Kingdom
188 Posts | Posted - 30 Jul 2010 : 19:35:00
| Never let the facts get in the way of a good story. 
Our Gracie 1972 96V4
12,000 miles (TWELVE thousand!) | |
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john wyatt
V4 Mad
United Kingdom
622 Posts | Posted - 30 Jul 2010 : 20:04:23
| | I had a 2stroke engine photo'd last week for a forthcoming article not sure which mag as I was on holiday, pity as I would have blinged it up a bit and put the right ht leads on! | |
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blue95V4
V4 Fan
United Kingdom
195 Posts | Posted - 05 Aug 2010 : 13:04:49
| The July issue of PC features the 96 on page 40 (#16 of "50 Classics Worth Restoring") and Simon's lovely  95 on page 70/71 (Your Cars). But, they seem to have a problem with differentiating ing the 95 and 96 from each other in both articles! Worth a letter to PC to point that out?
David (95 V4, 260-2 Saabo and a 96 2T, plus a modern Saab - enough for the time being!) | |
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| | Topic | |
Practical Classics
