Hmm - snow and well over 300bhp through rear wheels could be "fun."

Have you gone for GT or Ultimate pack? Would be a real shame if you can't test it properly for a while. Guess it'll mean it gets run in properly.

wasn't this thread about a newbie and his focus looking for a track car!?!:confused:
what a welcome you've all given him with your bi7ching and whatever!!
makes me proud to be a member!!:nono::cuckoo::razz:

Not fun driving a Brand new car straight out of the dealer onto snow covered roads. I'll pass on that one.

Gone for the GT. Thought about the Ultimate, but until I saw one in the flesh (wanted to see those Orange seats first) I couldn't take the risk. Dealer had one in the showroom. Exact spec I wanted, so bought it.

Taken a while to pick-up as being a `Performance centre` they have to have both a 370Z & GT-R in the showroom. Had to wait for them to get replacement car. Could have picked it up from yesterday, but lack of holidays left means it'll have to be Saturday. Off for 2 weeks tomorrow, so weather being good, I should be able to stick a few good miles on it.

Stilover - fantastic - I reckon the GT pack is plenty. Kicking sounds too.
If I had no surfboards, bikes and child (!) I'd probably get one - really liked the "lesser" 350Z I tested a while back.

Still not seen a 370 on the road - only at dealers so far.

Christ Matt, calm down. All I said was that bigger wheels look better to most than smaller ones. WTF are you on with bringing McLaren F1's etc into it?

Do you actually read what is posted?

The 19's that rubbed would be the wrong offset. Pure and simple. A mate of mine has the same car with BMW 19s and has no problems whatsoever, and it looks great.

Half arsed facts? LOL what have I posted that's half arsed?

The multi quote was to make it simple for you. :)

The problem with the 19s (graphite CSLs) was with the LCI (facelift) version - for some reason they fit the older E91 fine. He's now trying to sell them...they can't be adapted.

I like the 19s on the SE Coupe (230s) -the M Sports look too "spindly" and break - often.

I listed some high performance cars that don't have big wheels - that was all.

And yes, I've calmed down now...!!

If you are talking about the wheels I think you are (the CSL wheels) they were designed for the E46 were they not?

Different offset - which the fitting centre should have noticed.

Anyway, why did he fit them?

For the looks and they briefly DID look pretty good - graphite CSLs reps on a new white E91. But they sat right up the arches and rubbed - a bit of a waste of a large chunk of cash and the fitting centre should have known better. They fitted spacers but to no avail.

The nicest combination I have seen (IMO) for looks is a black SE E91 on 162 style 18" ellipsoids. It struck the right balance of "stealth" with just a wee dash of menance. I was tempted to get some but it would be £1800 (in tyres) down the drain and a harsher ride just for looks. My wheels work fine, grip fine and look fine. Sticking non RFTs on mine once the RFTs wear down enough (nearly there) - the grip and ride are fine but they tramline like a right bu66er.

I was a newbie a long time ago now... im kinda used to all the above now :cuckoo:

Another thread *******ised by the BMW bum bandits :lol1:

FWIW i think the focus looks OK, but it seams a lot of money to buy a rep when you can pick up a slightly older ST for a little more?

Hey, why not tell us all about your Rover? Good to see them doing so well after making all those cracking cars eh?

http://www.samizdata.net/blog/archives/RoverOver.gif

And why would i do that?
I don't feel the need to tell scoobynet about my rover in every thread, thanks!

I will leave that job to the resident meat socket :)

Meat socket - hmmm - I may have to borrow that one if you don't mind?

Feel free to take as much as you can handle.

Okay, now I'm running away...

He will come back in 2 months time :lol1:

Run Forest, run. :)

I have an Audi A4 Avant TDi with the FACTORY FIT Sline option and it looks far better than without.
Dont give a toss if it doesn't hit 60 in under 6 seconds, been there and done it......
Anyone who doesn't like my 18" wheels get over it.
My money my choice :hjtwofing

I am aware that the S Line and M Sport options are FACTORY FIT but I think they look silly, especially on low powered Audis and BMWs.

This is called an OPINION and it's what makes us all different.

However there suddenly seems to be a lot of people claiming they like their car to LOOK fast but not actually GO fast. It reminds me of those blokes that get pec implants or work out only on their biceps to look good in a T shirt, those that wear fake flashy watches, those that deck themselves in top notch running gear but wheeze after half a mile, beginner surfers that buy a pros board and can't surf on it, beginner golfers that rush out and buy the best clubs and kit, etc, etc, All show, not much go.

What's more desirable - a lame engined car with every bodykit option and giant alloys or a stockish looking car with a beast of an engine but also the chassis and brakes to cope?
The fat gym monkey or the small bloke that's actually amazingly strong?
The fake golded up number or the subtle but quality watch?
The guy with brand new £200 trainers and a hell of a gut or the guy in old running shoes that sets records once in a while?
The beginner surfer with £1000 of gear or the guy on an oldish surfboard that rips the waves to shreds?
The guy with the latest clubs/gear that's cr4p or the scruffy bloke with old clubs with a sub 5 handicap (i.e. a mate of mine)

IMO it's the latter option every time. :hjtwofing

You didn't read my post on the Golf did you? I overtook him, he then tailgated me for a mile or so where I couldn'll pull over (dual carriageway) so I burnt the angry little man off when we reached a long hill.

FYI I don't care one bit if I get overtaken by anything from a Lambo to a tractor - I DO mind being tailgated.

IMO "nice" alloys aren't necessarily "big" alloys. I still love minilites, early 911 wheels, the smallish wheels on most of the older Evos, Mercs smaller AMG alloys, hell even my 160 alloys look good,etc, etc. And anyone that likes the obscene Kahn 22/23" alloys on Range Rovers is dimented.

That's fine, totally agree. But to put out a blanket and call all styling options "chavvy" isn't right. The OP's Focus is hardly chavvy and nicer styling doesn't always mean faster/sporty. Things aren't as black and white as you make out.

5t.

Bait.

5t - no they aren't which is why I often struggle to expain what I mean.

As I said, the OP has done a good job - high quality and well done. Just the concept I don't like.

We all try and justify stuff to suit our views - is an S Line bodykit any less chavvy than a Halfords stuck on spoiler? Are 19" BMW alloys that crack any less chavvy than some cheap 19" TSWs? It's very hard to define, hence all the fun I have trying but being blasted at by those who, to be honest, would argue against me if I found a cure for cancer, owned a 997 GT3 RS and gave thousands to charity.

It's fun trying though...

Horses for courses. An s-line kit being bodged onto an older car - chavvy.


Taking an ST kit, sticking it on a 1.4, painting it orange and putting an ST badge on = chavvy

Making the car look nicer and also adding performance where it counts (how many people mod engines etc but don't sort suspension/brakes to cope?) = not chavvy even if the kit is the same.

As I say, it isn't as black and white as you made out.

IMHO of course.

5t.

But it makes for good discussions. Many would think any of the listed points aren't chavvy at all, others would think changing floor mats is chavvy (maybe).

Of course looks are subjective - some love menacing cars, others think they look daft. Some love showy cars, others would rather stay anonymous.

It's wot 'elps the world go raaarnd innit?