540man
06-20-2004, 10:36 PM
OK, so due to the shop crashing my 540, I have been forced to endure a rental car for the last month. It is a new Chevy Impala, 3.4 V6 (like it matters) Front wheel drive of course.
Naturally, I am driving the hell out of this car, and have gotten to know its limits. They are not that high, but for the type of car, not even that bad. Very predictable.
I am coming home from the gym, and as I am approaching the off ramp, (which is a 100 degree, constant radius, concrete / pavement, two lane that eventually lose the right lane as it dumps onto the exressway beauty of a ramp) I notice a Z4 coming up on me fast.
I am already 30 over the posted limit. I can tell he wants to go around me, but can't due to traffic. I smile, cause I know this will get interesting. I know this curve well, and have taken it at the limit many times, even in this rental car.
I am in the left lane, slower traffic in the right. I am at 100 km/hr. Sane speed, which most traffic is going is about 50 km/hr.
Z4 right on my tail as we approach the start of the curve. I get the car settled, I am in 2nd gear (on the auto) got lots of revs, and I ease into the throttle. Looking in the mirror. the distance has grown from 1 car length to about 3. Maybe he is playing safe or preparing fo a slingshot around me ?
Middle of the turn, I am WOT in 2nd, 95 km/ hr and accelerating. Z4 is now 6-8 CL behind. Hmm, no slingshot, in fact he is dropping back.
As I get to the 3/4 point of the ramp / curve, there is a slower car in my lane, but the right is open. I let the car drift a bit wider, and go around nice and smooth.
Z4 is way back now. I put the car back into full auto and stay WOT. Now the road is straight, and I have 15 CL on the Z4. But wait, what is happening now?
Here comes the Z4, full power, reeling me in hard. He blows by me and not a damn thing I could do about it. I am laughing as he goes by and I wave. He didn't even look over. Oh well, it was fun anyway.
Who woulda thought ......
I had him in the twisties (twisty) !
Now had he been a better driver, I have no illusions about the outcome.
I get the 540 back this week (I hope). Let him try to blow by me then.
Just a fun tale I thought I would share.
Naturally, I am driving the hell out of this car, and have gotten to know its limits. They are not that high, but for the type of car, not even that bad. Very predictable.
I am coming home from the gym, and as I am approaching the off ramp, (which is a 100 degree, constant radius, concrete / pavement, two lane that eventually lose the right lane as it dumps onto the exressway beauty of a ramp) I notice a Z4 coming up on me fast.
I am already 30 over the posted limit. I can tell he wants to go around me, but can't due to traffic. I smile, cause I know this will get interesting. I know this curve well, and have taken it at the limit many times, even in this rental car.
I am in the left lane, slower traffic in the right. I am at 100 km/hr. Sane speed, which most traffic is going is about 50 km/hr.
Z4 right on my tail as we approach the start of the curve. I get the car settled, I am in 2nd gear (on the auto) got lots of revs, and I ease into the throttle. Looking in the mirror. the distance has grown from 1 car length to about 3. Maybe he is playing safe or preparing fo a slingshot around me ?
Middle of the turn, I am WOT in 2nd, 95 km/ hr and accelerating. Z4 is now 6-8 CL behind. Hmm, no slingshot, in fact he is dropping back.
As I get to the 3/4 point of the ramp / curve, there is a slower car in my lane, but the right is open. I let the car drift a bit wider, and go around nice and smooth.
Z4 is way back now. I put the car back into full auto and stay WOT. Now the road is straight, and I have 15 CL on the Z4. But wait, what is happening now?
Here comes the Z4, full power, reeling me in hard. He blows by me and not a damn thing I could do about it. I am laughing as he goes by and I wave. He didn't even look over. Oh well, it was fun anyway.
Who woulda thought ......
I had him in the twisties (twisty) !
Now had he been a better driver, I have no illusions about the outcome.
I get the 540 back this week (I hope). Let him try to blow by me then.
Just a fun tale I thought I would share.