I have already ranted elsewhere about the arrogance of BMW and other German manufacturers. But I have to say that the technology being built into German cars is amazing, especially when it comes to stability control and pulling horses out of smaller engines. Still, the technology has no soul. I think the newer models have become more ugly as they go. Long live the R53! Pat
If the car does most of the work through "technology" you are not driving the car meaning it has no soul. Hill assist DSC ABS on and on. Also the new car looks nothing like the original.
It means Don "No Soul" Simmons would be happy with the car as a daily driver. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaBMpkTbLkg]Don 'No Soul' Simmons appeal - YouTube[/ame]
Drive a Lotus Elise. Then drive a R56 JCW. That is the difference between "soul" and "no soul." If you can't tell the difference, I can't help you. It's not as dramatic between the R53 and R56, but it's definitely, positively, noticeably there. It's like Nate's video.
I drove an Exige 260S with the track pack and Larini exhaust a couple of weeks ago. WOW......that car has SOUL!!!!!!!!
Everytime time I drive a Lotus (I'm lucky, one of my good friends has a stock 2006), it's the one car I sometimes wish I would have bought instead of the MINI, it's the most visceral car I've driven--it's quite a bit slower than my car, but it growls, spits, and howls, the steering is heavier than pre-subway Jared eating a box of raisinettes; it sounds and feels like a race car. Never driven the Exige S though; it would be fun to drive a car where you have to go faster to improve the grip/downforce, F1 style.
Nannies are soul sucker's..... :frown2: If someone can't feel the soul in a car it is either the car has none or maybe the driver. :wink: Trouble is all cars now have abs & dsc. At least the dsc has an off switch. Hope you folks use that off switch. Ian Cull auto up with track mode FTW! Free plug for Doc O...... Ian Cull's Auto-Up V7
You guys are so full of crap your eyes are all brown! :biggrin5: I can tell the difference between a Lotus and my MINI, I used to own a Lotus 7, a real one - the most connected visceral car ever made. So what? It was terrible to drive almost anywhere BUT the racetrack too.....and lord help you if you went over 80 mph - there's a reason the British call the front fenders "wings"! But none of that means a thing, because you're comparing apples to oranges. "it's quite a bit slower than my car, but it growls, spits, and howls, the steering is heavier than pre-subway Jared eating a box of raisinettes; it sounds and feels like a race car." This is what you think gives a car soul - making it a PITA in daily driving? Hell, even NASCAR and Daytona prototypes have power steering these days - and I don't hear those guys complaining that their cars have lost their "soul" And R53's have DCS and ABS too fer chrisakes! Driving Nannies do affect the way you drive you car - on a racetrack - but in normal everyday driving they have little to no impact and effect, because I don't drive my car like an idiot on the street, so I have no need for intercession from my ABS or DSC. and hill holder is a bad thing? Really? Give me a break. And saying I don't get what you're driving at is the worst form of elitism and snobbery. Sounds to me like you're rationalizing "the good old days", which in retrospect are rarely found to be good - just old, like your cars and your attitudes. YOU aren't better than me or anyone else who chooses not to drive an 8 year old car. Get over yourselves. and don't forget, I owned a 2003 JCW, so I have been there and done that, just like you. Yes there were things about my '03 that I liked better than my '09, and the opposite is true too. But to me they're cars, not reincarnated dieties.
Ok, I see you forgot to take your medication this morning, settle down. Yes, what gives car "soul" can definitely make it a PITA as a daily driver, and that has absolutely NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with this discussion. I won't even address the elitism comment, it's too laughable to merit discussion. You take this personally, that's on you. I don't. Have a nice day my friend, and Motor On!!!!
MiniDave is off his Meds...:lol: He does not get it and never will. He had an R53 and got rid of it for a Clubvan for god sake. Have you put eyelashes on it yet? :lol: Funny thing is he still has his old 69 jag, why does it have a soul? Why not trade that for a new jag since its so tech is so great? :nonod: MiniDave I give up on you, you will never get it and never will. You just like to argue just to make your poor decisions feel right. Like others have said "Motor On"
First thing my eyes are a beautiful Blu just like my car. Minidave go take a nap, you need a rest or something.:sleep: Life is too short to take so many things personally. I haven't given up on you justa yet.
Is it time for a group hug?? :beer: Opinions are like buttholes and we all have one, it's not personal!
Who's taking things personally? Not me certainly.....and you don't consider "off his meds" or "needs a nap" as personal jibes at me? I'm simply pointing out facts, while you guys are trying to argue sentiment - just as different as the Lotus and the MINI. And it's you guys who have your panties in a twist over the new cars, not me.... I sold my R53 because it was a harsh ride, didn't have enough room inside for my lifestyle, the seats didn't fit me well and it got pretty poor mileage, among other reasons. I said before there were things about it that I liked better than the R55, but that doesn't mean it was no good, or the R55 is the second reincarnation of whatever you all deem holy. They're different cars and the new one suits my current needs better than the R53 did. Simple. Fact. But you all are arguing how the new cars have too many nannies - your beloved R53 has it's share too, yet you don't find that a compromise to the "soul" of the car? ABS? Yep you got it, DSC? Yep, that too. How about the most egregious nanny, one you can't really do anything about? Drive by wire - it's got that as well. See why your arguments don't make sense? If you don't want comfort access or automatic climate control, park distance control, Navigation etc you don't have to buy them in the new car either - you can still get it without, MINI is not forcing your hand. And you say they should have continued to make the R53....that sounds like all those guys who say Ford shoulda kept making the 65 Mustang. They sold a million of em, people loved em, they were a great car......or maybe the 32 Ford Model A with the flathead V-8 - great car! sold millions of em, shoulda kept making them.....or how about the Model T? GREAT car, SOLD MILLIONs of them, easy to modify.....in fact the MFR offered whole catalogs of things you could add to your Model T, things like..........brakes! :biggrin5: And as silly as those examples are in the light of 50 -100 years progress in automotive engineering, so will your arguments seem in a short while. I understand the sentiment of what you're saying......you like your car better than the new ones. That's OK, no ones unhappy with you for that. But to suggest that MINI is "selling out" just because you don't like their current offering is just plain silly. Exactly what I said before. You will absolutely love your cars forever............... till something better comes along. And. it. will. In many people's minds - even yours (Lotus Elise) - it already has.