Automotive

I recently had the opportunity to get some fairly quality back to back seat time (quality seat time = nice roads, a chance to "push" the car in both straight line and on twisties) with a nice line up of cars. Getting seat time back to back can give a very...  

... is disturbing to me too :-) Thomas. I can imagine exactly what you mean, a 560 hp car that doesn't feel extremely quick even though it is ... that's the new trend it seems ... . I recently drove a new 3-series and was really disappointed with it, i re... 

Provide too linear sensations? Try a modest A 5 3.0 TDI, it is really violent! ;) Best, Nicolas

Hi, Nico, I am careful to try to filter out habit and what we are used to; we grew up without power steering and little brake boost and ABS didn't come in until later in our driving careers. Today's drivers grow up on...video driving games and simulations... 

That is crazy how many sayings and expressions I heard and learned from you! You are my favourite english teacher. Yes please, keep the lessons coming! :) :) :) Yes, I know what you mean by the feeling provided by our currrent cars. Now that got my Volvo,... 

now just don't go and try it, literally, my friend! ;-)

Completely agree about the loss of feel. Most of this comes from a single factor. Weight. But also the fact that without the driving aids, these cars would be scarily undriveable. The difficulty of 'just' a spirited launch in a 450hp, 800Nm car with a nor... 

... can be so bloody fast that if you drive it really fast you really have to be extremely focused, before you know it you're doing 200 kph on a 2 metre wide countrylane trying to foresee the next bend ... and end up in the ditch ... :-) Yesterday i found... 

I had an experience, but less scary than yours ... LOOOOL

First time seeing someone drive one in my neigbhorhood and it's a very sexy beast. I'm so glad BMW kept the circular dual exhaust tips on the M5 instead of using those parallelogram shaped exhaust tips on the 7 series. The settings weren't on M mode and S... 

Hi, AT, I was told the two preset buttons were set for max sport and max comfort. I took that to mean max sport = minimal electronic nannies, quickest timing in tranni and fueling and stiffest suspension settings, max RPM rev range and most aggressive shi... 

Hi Thomas, To clarify on the M1 and M2 buttons, the pre-sets are, from what I remember, a tad conservative. It really depends on how the owner or previous driver decided to set them, and given the multitude of options (three each for steering, throttle re... 

Hi Sean, Hope all's well, missed you in Shanghai! The M5 came with "minders" (not in the car, but prepping and "orientation") who told me they had set the buttons for ... I took them at their word, but then, it's very possible someone played with them bef... 

...from you, a hardcore M lover. Can't comment much on the m5 as have not driven one but I agree that theres too much electronics this days and making cars today very robotic...I still love sticks although human is never as fast...but it's the feel like y... 

looking forward to seeing you and the KL gang again, Jacky! Say hi to everyone for me.