john banks

mike, no I don't post on doctors.net, but occasionally have a look.

I could possibly slim down what I carry without compromising safety, but I always have a rescue bag containing nebuliser, bag and mask, suction, fluids, a large briefcase with day to day tools, another one with emergency meds, and sometimes I pick up a portable defib, portable ECG, oxygen and a large paramedic type rucksack. We're semi-rural, but usually I can arrive before the ambulance and I like to have the right kit, although working alone you're limited in what can be achieved compared to a nice hospital setup where things appear on trolleys. I'd say it is a once every few months event where I'm glad I have more than the average kit, so infrequent but nice to have.

LG John

Does this mean thank shiny new RS6 of yours will have a compressed gas sticker on the back. LOL

john banks

It is not a permanent installation and is a portable cylinder, so I was told sticker wasn't required.

LG John

Trust me, if you can avoid it you don't want it as the junkies will break in, assuming you are a doctor, looking for needles and meds.

Matteeboy

It's called a wetsuit.

Every surfer, windsurfer, most sailors, every diver, etc etc uses them - they are quite popular now you know even outside gimp circles...

Hoppy

John, I know you like your sounds. Can you get the B&O sound system in the RS6? It's very good - not many aftermarket systems can match it Could be the clincher...

jeremy

John,
Indeed I won't belabor the point as indeed I have been, but some 997 TT owners I've spoken to have told me that these can be a might tricky in on bumpy/wet roads, even more so than
997 C2's. As its a reactive system it takes a bit of time to get power to the slipping wheels.
Just my 2 or by now 25 cents. My point just try a 997 4Wd'er in the wet before you put down that kind of money. JL

john banks

I hear you jeremy, I think it will be difficult to find a 996 Turbo to drive, especially in the wet though. My insurer won't allow dual insurance so I cannot test a privately owned car whilst it is still insured by the original owner. Franchised dealers are most accommodating for tests, but they don't tend to have 996 Turbos.

I am wondering about an M6 and a winter run about or winter tyres. M6 accelerates like 997 Turbo and RS6 when rolling, and is much cheaper. I also saw some interesting wet track results from Autocar which showed the M5 up there with some AWD cars (whilst I'm not going to track it, it does suggest at least on smooth wet roads that it isn't a disaster - neither was the M3). Someone I know also has a C4S that he managed to crash twice in the snow (on summer tyres). The feeling of torque from a turbocharged engine is nice, but it does seem that even with 500 lbft overboost and slightly less weight, the 997 Turbo doesn't actually accelerate faster than the much cheaper, less flashy, better packaged M6, which I hope might handle its weight a bit better than the M5. The M5/M6 could really grow on me, everything has compromises.

If possible we'll still get a run in this 997 Turbo tonight, it might blow us away?

Matteeboy

John -you change your mind more than a woman about to order at a restaurant!

M6 is very nice but damn heavy...

john banks

~100kg heavier than the 335i, but has high engine output without tuning, bigger brakes and M-diff.

LG John

What's your gut feeling John?

I went through this chopping and changing process recently when deciding on what to effectively replace the puma with. I was thinking ST220, then Spec-B, then VRS, then 330i, then 330d remapped, then 540i and even ST3 towards the end. I got myself in a right mess until I realised that throughout the entire process I was often comparing everything to the ST220...effectively using it as a benchmark. Also, despite moving away from the Mondeo idea several times, I always found myself coming back to it. I think instinctually I knew, deep down, that it made the most sense for me and so I'm flying south to (hopefully) buy one on Sunday.

john banks

Gut feeling is the RS6 is too big and heavy, 911 is too flashy, BMWs are ace but RWD, Audis except the RS6 are AWD but a bit slow and all the RS models have PITA DRC, GTR is too firm and not very refined, a fast recent Legacy isn't made (except limited choice and PITA insurance JDM models), recent Imprezas don't do it for me, Evo X might be a bit too similar to the IX. I'll always compare everything's handling, acceleration and running costs to the Evo IX I had which was amazing apart from image and refinement.

Sometimes I think I'm no further forward than when I started, this is why I didn't seriously try to sell the Evo...

To give you an idea of what I want - RS4 without the DRC and with the M5's engine!

LG John

Is supercharging a B7 RS4 a serious undertaking in terms of costs, etc? I'd imagine that even if you remained conservative for hassle free reliability you'd still have over 500 real horsepower and the thrust you desire as well.

I personally still think you are being overly hard on RWD. We recently did a tour of Scotland with my mate and I sharing the driving in the M3 (e46, manual). I was initially intimidated by it on the basis you had said that it tries to skip off the road on the bumpy stuff, but to be honest, it really wasn't that bad. Sure a few big back to back bumps would knock her off her line, but for the most part I was able to deploy a lot of it's power. We drove it to Lochinver, then down to Portree via Applecross and then down the West Coast so there was a mixed bag of driving. On the way home I got a great section of road somewhere between Eilean Donan Castle and Fort William. It was pretty wet/patchy at points but again I had a lot of fun and kept up a good pace. I was far more disappointed with how pathetic the M3's brakes were then it's grip or handling.

If I had the kind of money you appear willing to invest I'd struggle to see past the fact that you can get a very nice M5 for £30-35,000 and pocket a lot of change relative to buying something like an RS6 or 997 turbo.

Matteeboy

John - I thought it was even heavier than that? 335i is a heavy car then!

As Saxo Boy mentioned the RS4 could be ideal still - a mate of mine took his B7 RS4 (saloon) to MTM and got it supercharged. Cost a fair bit bit he thinks it's worth it - got rid of the slightly flat torque output and makes a fantastic noise. It's silly quick now and well over 500bhp yet looks like a stock RS4 (except all the chrome bits have been painted black to match the car - evil).

Worth trying an Alpina BMW 5 series maybe? They seem to go down very well and often seem more driveable than the M series BMWs.

Spooky Mulder

I would be very surprised if a 997 Turbo did not pull comfortable away from an M6. Is it that much faster than the new M3 as even that is slower than the 911.

Anyone John, down here 911 are commonplace, not flash at all, unless that have massive spoilers on the back that is...

Spooky Mulder

...and it terms of choosing cars I am even worse than you.

Having decided to trade down from my Spec C I first went to Swift Sport, then Scirocco and ended up buying a GT3 - go figure

john banks

I don't want to supercharge an expensive to replace engine, it isn't like an Impreza or Mitsubishi where there are loads of bits easily found and lots of upgrade parts at sensible money.

David, I was surprised until I saw this: DR Shoot-out. BMW M6 Comp v Porsche 997 Turbo drag race

Once I choose something well, I'll keep it

Spooky Mulder

I agree - amazingly close. Belies the on paper acceleration figures!

Once I choose something I stick with it too...

...so instead of the Spec C I now have a Swift Sport and the GT3!!!

Although we needed a car for the live in nanny

john banks

I'm starting to think M6 + Puma/Impreza/Supermini type thing for winter.

Spooky Mulder

Well I can recommend the supermini route - the Swift Sport is a hoot to drive and I still really enjoy driving it.

The great thing about them is that you can drive them at 9-10/10ths a lot of the time and not think you are going to die!

Matteeboy

I had a Swift as a courtesy car - my favourite supermini by far.

I also (guiltily) really enjoyed driving my Saxo VTR to the limit - only 90bhp but a lot of fun. I bought it new in 1998 - before the chavs got hold of them.

Spooky Mulder

John,

interesting the M6 has 297bhp per ton and the Pork 303bhp - the 0-60, 0-100 time differences would seem to be purely down to traction of the line.

I seem to remember Top Gear had a 997 against the M6 on the Isle of Man a little while ago.

Spooky

thesyn

Being in a similar line to you (but urban) I came to the sad conclusion that any sort of 911 was too flash. I didn't want to risk alienating those who effectively pay my wages.
M6 probably a pretty good choice, fast but discrete (fairly) also more likely to be able to fit all your kit in.
Good luck in choosing.

.:mike:.

I'm enjoying the thought that an RS audi or an 'M' BMW of any sort isn't flash whereas a 911 is

These are all shamelessly expensive and fast - so what. If you want one and can afford it then do it!

jeremy

John,

Since we're having a look at some DR video's have a glimpse of this one...

Chris Harris attempts to oversteer the new Audi S4

maybe a better balanced machine than a RS4. With some simple modes these S4's easily get over 400hp.

Spooky Mulder

Nice vid of GTR v. 997 Turbo driven by Senna on a very wet, slick track!

Senna

john banks

The new S4 sounds interesting, but specced up prices are steep even with a discount.

I've been looking at M5/M6 adverts, and the cheap ones all have no BMW warranty, dubious trim, write offs etc as usual. I can easily see the hunt for a good one being time consuming and the end result buying a newer one to get excellent condition, then the bargain relative to the RS6 disappears. OTOH, a good 335i is about the price of a poor M5.

Hoppy

Interesting comments as usual chaps, so here are a few more

If you want something like a turbo charged RS4, which is a wonderful idea, it's called an RS6. Yes, it's heavier than we would all like, but it's done properly, handles far better than it has any right to, and trying to do the same thing to a big NA motor like the RS4 is a massive project that will instantly gobble £20k to do the whole car properly and will render it unresellable. Plus RS6 is a hoot, spacious, comfy, very high spec, classy, discreet.

I cannot see how an M6 is anything like as quick as a 911 Turbo of any description. Peak power and accelleration times are not really relevant in regular driving. What matters is what happens when you floor it at 3-4k. (I won't mention my pet spec of 50% of peak revs bhp figure, but that will sort out the real fun cars. Well, I won't mention it again )

I can't imagine you are even considering an S4 John. The new one is hardly faster than the old V8, and compared to my modded Scoob that is slow. Yes, a completely different drive and all that, but in terms of outright speed, it is slow. Compared to your Evo, well, you can't. The only cars on your list that can even hold a candle to that thing are the RS6, the Porche turbos, and the GTR. Trust the seat of your pants and ignore the hypothetical peak figures, they are rarely relevant.

Front-engined RWD cars are hopeless in the snow. Speaking personally, the idea of having a second car for winter, or pi55ing about with winter tyres is a crazy idea, especially when there are so many extremely desirable 4WD alternatives. I live on a very gently sloping road; you Northerners would call it flat. Yet last winter my wife and I sailed up there in our Quattros while BMWs and Mercs floundered pathetically. One slammed in into the kerb outside our house, and another had to park the damn Beemer at the top of the road - it couldn't manage the last bit of camber We had perhaps 3in of snow at the time. I went out a couple of times when there was much more snow than that, just for a bit of sillyness and the see how the Quattro handled it, when no other cars dared go out at all. The S4 was fantastic, moving the torque around when it needed to. Clever stuff, great fun. I would rather drive a regular 911 in the snow than a low-profiled Merc or BMW, not that I've tried either but that's my conviction; those that have done have posted the same. I cannot imagine a heavy car like an RS6 having any trouble in the snow.

You mentioned big torque and 4WD as priorities. RS6 and 911 TT then, if the GTR isn't a contender. Did I mention bhp at 50% peak revs?

Edit: curved ball coming in - chipped TT-RS.