DeskJockey wrote: Fri May 12, 2023 6:38 am
What an awful way to spend a day, you must be really upset!
Which was the most surprising, and which would you sink your 911 fund into?
Yes it was truly horrible
Each one was such an experience in its own right but there were a couple that really surprised. I had never really considered an Austin Healey 3 litre as anything that would stir any emotions in me but the straight six engine was mighty impressive for a '60s car. It also had lovely metal pedals closely spaced with short precise action. Sadly the front of the back of the car just didn't feel connected to one another round the corners and the gearbox was quite obstructive with no synchro on first which made it unusable other than at a dead stop, oh and the brakes were pretty poor.
Even more surprising than that was the MG A. What a fabulous little sports car. I think it had a later (or non-original 5 speed 'box) which was by far the best of all the cars. It also handled like it was on rails through the corners and the engine, although low on power revved unbelievably with a proper "waaaarrrrp" of exhaust noise as you chased the redline. For the money they fetch, i'd be very tempted by one (in cream with a 5spd box). Brakes were extremely powerful too (probably aided by the low weight)
Then the two 'big guns' the 911 and the Jagwar. We drove the Jag first of the two and it had easily the gruntiest engine of all the cars we drove (noting we didn't get to try the AC Cobra). Even brushing the throttle had it leaping forward like a scalded... err... cat. It was also stupendously beautiful, even in later S3 guise. Sadly that's where the good kind of stopped. The steering was hopelessly vague and only really tightened up once you were fully into a corner. There was various concerning clunking noises from the back (possibly drive shaft and/or suspension), the clutch bearing whined when you depressed the clutch pedal, oh and it missed a couple of times and cut out on me at 50mph
(thankfully these cars are non-servo'd brakes and no power steering so other than the engine stopping you can otherwise control the car). And the gearbox was a bit of a pig with "guess where the gear is" being a key feature. I imagine it would be a money pit.
Last but certainly not least... the 911. Predictably, it is the one I would buy if I had a garage to keep it in and the thick end of 100k to spend on such a thing. As soon as I jumped in it felt like being back at home, even thought it was LHD. It didn't feel as low and priapic as the E type but it was so much more responsive in the steering, very strong on the brakes (thought needs a good push - as per all 911s ever) and a great noise from the engine. The downsides were the 915 box needs coaxing and wouldn't go into first until you stopped but it rewarded being precise. People talk about the ergonomics / switches being all over but clearly they hadn't just stepped out of an(y) other 1960/70s car. As I said I got to drive it all the way back along the A3 and pretended it was mine - capped off a brilliant day.
) I’d love an E-Type or classic 911.. even having never driven either!
