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Post by Stuntman on Apr 15, 2017 17:13:33 GMT
Got up quite early this morning and took the GT4 out for a 60 mile loop.
On this loop there are 4 distinct fun sections, covering about 50 miles in total. The first one is from the outskirts of Cheltenham to Stow on the Wold (going the fun way, past franki's place), the second is from the edge of Stow all the way to Burford, the third is from about a mile out of Burford to the outskirts of Cirencester and the fourth section is from Cirencester to the outskirts of Cheltenham.
I had these roads mostly to myself today, for the first time in ages, and consequently I was able to make proper progress for much of the time. As you might expect, the GT4 is a terrifically absorbing companion in conditions like these. It made me laugh out loud a couple of times with its precision and sheer grunt, reach and noise. Yes the ride is quite firm, which limits its real-world pace sometimes - but just wow, it's a pretty special thing to drive with commitment on twisty roads that aren't too narrow and too bumpy.
I might repeat the exercise tomorrow and hope for equally good fortune with the traffic.
Anyone else been out for a pure pleasure drive recently?
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Post by franki68 on Apr 16, 2017 7:45:14 GMT
Wondered what that noise was that woke me !
Do it 2-3 times a week .Dont need to get up early though .
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Post by Stuntman on Apr 16, 2017 9:39:53 GMT
Been out for another drive this morning round a completely different 40 mile loop that I don't know quite so well, but which contains some pretty epic driving roads too. This one goes West out of Cheltenham onto the B4213 towards Ledbury but then turns right onto the B4208 in a place called Staunton, taking in some twisties towards the Malverns before turning right onto the A438 towards Tewkesbury. Then on to Bredon, the B4079 to Aston Cross and then back towards Cheltenham via 'the seven bends', that some of you who've been to Prescott will know (especially if you've passengered with me!).
Again, I had these roads mostly to myself and there were plenty of overtaking opportunities when I did come across other traffic. I've certainly had my GT4 fix this weekend. The car is a joy!
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Post by Stuntman on Apr 16, 2017 9:42:33 GMT
Wondered what that noise was that woke me ! Do it 2-3 times a week .Dont need to get up early though . I did nail it up the hill out of your village (just after the speed limit signs, of course)...  I'm glad you're enjoying the great roads on your doorstep. |
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Post by Roadsterstu on Apr 16, 2017 10:04:26 GMT
I did wonder when "Seven Bends" was going to feature! Sounds like a couple of great drives. I don't do it often and perhaps a Volvo estate isn't the most obvious car for a B-road blast but the joy is having a car with a decent amount of shove, makes a good noise and then aiming to make your driving just flow.
I'm planning a jaunt to the Evo Triangle later in the spring. I know it can be policed now (they were out at 5.30am one Saturday last July, from a North Wales Police Twitter post) but I shall set off around 4am, on a weekday, and do a couple of runs.
Going out for a decent drive also gives a good chance for some peace and quiet. A bit of time out.
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Post by Stuntman on Apr 16, 2017 13:47:43 GMT
Here are some stats from today's drive, courtesy of the car's on board computer. I haven't shared the max speed   The fuel economy is a little less impressive though...  Ah well, it's only money. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2017 18:46:01 GMT
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Post by ChrisM on Apr 16, 2017 18:54:55 GMT
I did wonder when "Seven Bends" was going to feature! Time for a new driving film, Seven Bends for Seven Porsches...... I went out in GOK on Good Friday for a reason but took alonger route than necessary to drive for the hell of it. 100BHP Fiesta not quite in the same mould as a GT4, but good legal fun nevertheless.... and I got more than 16.2mpg ! I do like the qualifying "Welcome to Paradise" on the computer display - intentional or coincidence? |
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Post by Stuntman on Apr 16, 2017 20:01:33 GMT
Good spot and entirely coincidental!
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Post by Boxer6 on Apr 16, 2017 20:13:43 GMT
Thought I'd posted earlier - seems not!
Gist was my sadness at realising just how long it is since I went for a drive just for the Hell of it!
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Post by LandieMark on Apr 16, 2017 21:31:09 GMT
Haven't for a while, sadly.
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Post by Martin on Apr 17, 2017 9:13:31 GMT
I do, but usually combine a decent drive with a destination, rather than just a round trip, even if it's just a nice country pub. I've always just driven for fun, right back to my first car and even when I had kids and it was frowned upon by the ex Mrs M, I used to take the 130i out for a drive on my own.
I don't think 16mpg is too bad and it really doesn't matter what the fuel consumption is when you're not doing many miles.
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Post by franki68 on Apr 17, 2017 12:41:38 GMT
Been out for another drive this morning round a completely different 40 mile loop that I don't know quite so well, but which contains some pretty epic driving roads too. This one goes West out of Cheltenham onto the B4213 towards Ledbury but then turns right onto the B4208 in a place called Staunton, taking in some twisties towards the Malverns before turning right onto the A438 towards Tewkesbury. Then on to Bredon, the B4079 to Aston Cross and then back towards Cheltenham via 'the seven bends', that some of you who've been to Prescott will know (especially if you've passengered with me!). Again, I had these roads mostly to myself and there were plenty of overtaking opportunities when I did come across other traffic. I've certainly had my GT4 fix this weekend. The car is a joy! I am racking my brain as to what car you could actually have more fun in on these roads.A lotus maybe ? And to be honest I don't treat lotus as a serious car maker. There are more exciting cars but for fun on the roads you are talking about the gt4 is King,unless you go extreme..caterham etc. |
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Post by Boxer6 on Apr 17, 2017 18:19:13 GMT
Spurred on in part by this thread, I opted to go back up to the caravan today to shampoo the carpet. (Big Dog had a considerable accident on Saturday night/Sunday morning - don't ask!) The drive was marred slightly by having both dogs with me, but as I managed to avoid Perth by taking some unknown back roads, it was quite entertaining nonetheless!  Came back via Perth and the A9; 140-ish miles at 28.5mpg. Not the best I've ever done, but slow going through Perth and bits of the A9 mucked that up a bit. Ho hum! |
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Post by Stuntman on Apr 17, 2017 19:51:16 GMT
(some stuff that I seem to have lost when trying to quote it)  Whisper it, but I reckon my 11 year old Cayman S is just about as much fun. If anything I extract more from it more of the time, and there are certain sections of these routes where it is definitely the faster and more confidence-inspiring car. My old VXT was good on those roads too but not as precise as the Cayman. In the damp, a good, well-damped small or medium sized hot hatch would be quicker and probably just about as much fun too. I had a Seat Leon glued to my rear end for about 5 miles when I was in the M3 on those roads in the damp a few months ago. I was making progress but not on a driving mission (and in any event, will always look to help a faster car/driver combo get past me). He didn't seem to want to come past (I gave him two or three obvious opportunities to do so), but he wasn't leaving any room in between me and him. I always find that sort of driving very odd. Either sit a decent distance behind someone so you can react to anything untoward, or take the opportunity to get past - especially if it's offered by a courteous driver! |
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Post by Sav on Apr 17, 2017 20:50:10 GMT
If I had a Cayman GT4, I think I would want to go out for a blast most days!
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Post by ChrisM on Apr 18, 2017 7:11:57 GMT
^
Reminds me of an old joke in a radio comedy.....
"I jumped into my car and roared off
Then I opened the window and started the engine......"
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Post by PetrolEd on Apr 18, 2017 8:50:13 GMT
Whisper it, but I reckon my 11 year old Cayman S is just about as much fun. If anything I extract more from it more of the time, and there are certain sections of these routes where it is definitely the faster and more confidence-inspiring car. My old VXT was good on those roads too but not as precise as the Cayman. In the damp, a good, well-damped small or medium sized hot hatch would be quicker and probably just about as much fun too. I had a Seat Leon glued to my rear end for about 5 miles when I was in the M3 on those roads in the damp a few months ago. I was making progress but not on a driving mission (and in any event, will always look to help a faster car/driver combo get past me). He didn't seem to want to come past (I gave him two or three obvious opportunities to do so), but he wasn't leaving any room in between me and him. I always find that sort of driving very odd. Either sit a decent distance behind someone so you can react to anything untoward, or take the opportunity to get past - especially if it's offered by a courteous driver! I've been thinking about upgrading the Cayman to a GTS or more likely a GT4 but am worried that for the vast majority of roads I use, the boggo Cayman would actually be a better car most of the time. The more supple suspension married to an engine that needs to be worked means I can fully exercise the car on nearly every journey. Couple to the fact that if I had a GT4 I'd need to go back to a 2 car garage for me means that you'd spend the majority of my time in something like a Golf when I could be in a 2.7 Cayman which is by far the nicer car. Add in the fact I'd have to pay 10k over list for a used car also bothers me and at that money you can get into some serious machinery. |
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Post by franki68 on Apr 18, 2017 8:51:24 GMT
(some stuff that I seem to have lost when trying to quote it) Whisper it, but I reckon my 11 year old Cayman S is just about as much fun. If anything I extract more from it more of the time, and there are certain sections of these routes where it is definitely the faster and more confidence-inspiring car. My old VXT was good on those roads too but not as precise as the Cayman. In the damp, a good, well-damped small or medium sized hot hatch would be quicker and probably just about as much fun too. I had a Seat Leon glued to my rear end for about 5 miles when I was in the M3 on those roads in the damp a few months ago. I was making progress but not on a driving mission (and in any event, will always look to help a faster car/driver combo get past me). He didn't seem to want to come past (I gave him two or three obvious opportunities to do so), but he wasn't leaving any room in between me and him. I always find that sort of driving very odd. Either sit a decent distance behind someone so you can react to anything untoward, or take the opportunity to get past - especially if it's offered by a courteous driver! Doesn't surprise me about the Cayman s , and another whisper ,I encountered a Cayman gts and struggled to stay with it in a straight line,I assume they had pdk . |
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Post by Tim on Apr 18, 2017 13:01:33 GMT
Spurred on in part by this thread, I opted to go back up to the caravan today to shampoo the carpet. (Big Dog had a considerable accident on Saturday night/Sunday morning - don't ask!) The drive was marred slightly by having both dogs with me, but as I managed to avoid Perth by taking some unknown back roads, it was quite entertaining nonetheless! Came back via Perth and the A9; 140-ish miles at 28.5mpg. Not the best I've ever done, but slow going through Perth and bits of the A9 mucked that up a bit. Ho hum! If you go along to Inchture, about 5 miles short of Dundee, take the exit slip and then turn left at the greasy spoon there's a great run up there (B953) - passing an antiques place up the hill. It can eventually bring you to Balbeggie on the Scone to Blair road or you can take to smaller backroads and head to Coupar Angus. Also you should head along to Dundee then go through Birkhill and take either road towards the end of that - one goes through Meigle and Newtyle (the B954) the other heads to Coupar Angus (the A923). Both great stretches of road. Just be wary of the occasional scameravan, especially before Auchterhouse on the B road.
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Post by Boxer6 on Apr 18, 2017 17:53:29 GMT
Spurred on in part by this thread, I opted to go back up to the caravan today to shampoo the carpet. (Big Dog had a considerable accident on Saturday night/Sunday morning - don't ask!) The drive was marred slightly by having both dogs with me, but as I managed to avoid Perth by taking some unknown back roads, it was quite entertaining nonetheless! Came back via Perth and the A9; 140-ish miles at 28.5mpg. Not the best I've ever done, but slow going through Perth and bits of the A9 mucked that up a bit. Ho hum! If you go along to Inchture, about 5 miles short of Dundee, take the exit slip and then turn left at the greasy spoon there's a great run up there (B953) - passing an antiques place up the hill. It can eventually bring you to Balbeggie on the Scone to Blair road or you can take to smaller backroads and head to Coupar Angus. Also you should head along to Dundee then go through Birkhill and take either road towards the end of that - one goes through Meigle and Newtyle (the B954) the other heads to Coupar Angus (the A923). Both great stretches of road. Just be wary of the occasional scameravan, especially before Auchterhouse on the B road.
I think the greasy spoon is named after me, is it not?
I've driven all those roads at various times, both ways in some cases, and they are very nice to drive when the tourists are out of the equation! I've both passed and gone into the antique place too, some interesting bits'n'bobs in there on occasion. Thanks for the reminders though - will make a proper effort to drive them again (by myself!) soon. |
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Post by ChrisM on Apr 18, 2017 20:00:59 GMT
If you go along to Inchture, about 5 miles short of Dundee, take the exit slip and then turn left at the greasy spoon there's a great run up there (B953) - passing an antiques place up the hill.
Somewhere up that road, near Abernyte, lives an elderly man who used to work for the same company as my late father. We met him a few times in years gone by when I had to make an annual businesss trip that way and my [arents would join me for a few days. Happy days..... |
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Post by Tim on Apr 19, 2017 9:30:18 GMT
I'll keep racking my tiny brain for good Perthshire roads.
I think my all time favourite though was the A923 Dunkeld to Blairgowrie run. I did it a few times in the Fiat and was always lucky enough to get a clear run
EDIT - just noticed the A923 is clearly a great road from Dundee all the way to Dunkeld!! |
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Post by Alex on Apr 19, 2017 11:59:17 GMT
I sadly don't get the opportunity for driving for the sheer hell of it too often, but there are some great roads around here and the Golf is a much better car to enjoy it in than the Insignia ever was (or any Insignia probably ever will be!). It's not particularly powerful but having the lightweight 1.0 triple out front makes it much more agile than any diesel car I've had. I took in the A285 between Goodwood and Petworth recently and it flowed really nicely through the bends.
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Post by racingteatray on Apr 19, 2017 13:40:12 GMT
Lucky man. I almost never get to do this, not least because living around London makes finding decent empty lightly policed roads something of a mission.
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