SimonExtreme
New member
Yesterday I had to go to Buxton to see a client and took the RS. In true motor journalist style, the first part of the journey was uneventful motorway cruising during which time I could reflect on how comfortable the seats were, how the cabin noise was slightly worse than in my old M5 [
] and that people could still just about hear me on the bluetooth headset for my phone. I gave up trying to listen to Eminem's new album as I couldn't hear the words so a little U2 seemed the order of the day. Their new album is so familiar it doesn't matter if you cannot hear it properly!
The excitement rose as I exited the M1 at Chesterfield and headed for the Peaks, only tempered by the number of HGV's who seemed to have the same idea. Surely they could not be out for a blast around the country roads. Where could they all be heading?
The drive to Buxton was plagued by slow moving trffic but it did give me the opportunity to perfect the overtaking technique. Keeping the car in the hot zone, trying to look ahead around the bends as much as possible and getting on it early seemed to move me up the long lines of traffic with consumate ease. and then, suddenly before me, an empty road and a sign warning of bends for the next half mile. A quick downshift, a prod of the throttle and the red missile was heading towards the first bend at suitably impressive speed. Through the twisties the car remained perfectly poised and predictable. I doubt that I would ever have have either the nerve or lack of sense to drive the car even close to its limits on such roads.
The return journey was very similar, with a glorious section of corners at full chat the highlight of the otherwise stop start overtaking progress. And finally, there was the M1, complete with mobile chicane (other drivers) that meant the average speed home was about 60 mph. At leasxt it gave me the opportunity to hear Eminem.
Arriving home after 7.5 hours of driving in a day I couldn't help notice how good my body felt. No aches and pains I normally associate with long journies. Those seats really are good. So now all there is to do is wash the car and there will be no evidence left of the day's work. Or will there?
As I got to the end of the M1 I noticed that the brakes were beginning to squeel a little. And this has left me reflecting on the one minor chink in an otherwise impressive armour - the brakes. Yes, they are good, the pedal feels great but is there really as much retardation as there could be? The car is running standard Porsche pads and I think the first performance mod is going to be a pad upgrade. Pagid has always been the pad of choice for me and there are some new compounds that seem to fit the bill rather well. Good cold friction coupled with high temperature tolerence. Anybody got any views?
] and that people could still just about hear me on the bluetooth headset for my phone. I gave up trying to listen to Eminem's new album as I couldn't hear the words so a little U2 seemed the order of the day. Their new album is so familiar it doesn't matter if you cannot hear it properly!The excitement rose as I exited the M1 at Chesterfield and headed for the Peaks, only tempered by the number of HGV's who seemed to have the same idea. Surely they could not be out for a blast around the country roads. Where could they all be heading?
The drive to Buxton was plagued by slow moving trffic but it did give me the opportunity to perfect the overtaking technique. Keeping the car in the hot zone, trying to look ahead around the bends as much as possible and getting on it early seemed to move me up the long lines of traffic with consumate ease. and then, suddenly before me, an empty road and a sign warning of bends for the next half mile. A quick downshift, a prod of the throttle and the red missile was heading towards the first bend at suitably impressive speed. Through the twisties the car remained perfectly poised and predictable. I doubt that I would ever have have either the nerve or lack of sense to drive the car even close to its limits on such roads.
The return journey was very similar, with a glorious section of corners at full chat the highlight of the otherwise stop start overtaking progress. And finally, there was the M1, complete with mobile chicane (other drivers) that meant the average speed home was about 60 mph. At leasxt it gave me the opportunity to hear Eminem.
Arriving home after 7.5 hours of driving in a day I couldn't help notice how good my body felt. No aches and pains I normally associate with long journies. Those seats really are good. So now all there is to do is wash the car and there will be no evidence left of the day's work. Or will there?
As I got to the end of the M1 I noticed that the brakes were beginning to squeel a little. And this has left me reflecting on the one minor chink in an otherwise impressive armour - the brakes. Yes, they are good, the pedal feels great but is there really as much retardation as there could be? The car is running standard Porsche pads and I think the first performance mod is going to be a pad upgrade. Pagid has always been the pad of choice for me and there are some new compounds that seem to fit the bill rather well. Good cold friction coupled with high temperature tolerence. Anybody got any views?
