I know really big cars are deeply unfashionable amongst people who know who Tim Robbins is. And driving fast is about as socially acceptable as smoking a cigar in a maternity ward. But I can't help it: I love driving huge cars really fast. I suppose it goes back to my first experiences in a seriously swift motor: my Dad's 1972 300 SEL 6.3. That car was a handful. Literally. You know how today's sports sedans all have those big fat steering wheels covered with some sort of hi-tech grippy fabric that never, ever gets slimy? Well the 6.3 had a helm as thick as a sparrow's leg made out of the same translucent, amber-like material you find at the end of a meerschaum pipe. With so much power underfoot, you had to grip that slender oval like grim death, ready to yank it one way or the other or both when the torque overwhelmed the tires and the chassis. Which was all the time. At least the way I drove it. In fact, I got my first speeding ticket in the 6.3. I was nailed doing 113 in a 55 on I195. It really wasn't a big deal. Straight road. Perfect day. Fresh pavement. The judge was not kind. But nothing he did put me off the idea of going like Hell in the automotive equivalent of the QE2. Other kids might look at a speedo of a sports car and ask "What'll she do?" Me, I reserve that particular enquiry for luxobarges. (Sports cars are for corners.) Which is why I totally get an AMG-fettled S-Class but can't make head nor tails out of Justin's C350 Sport. As far as I'm concerned, if you can't chill out and enjoy Mahler's Death in Venice at speed, why bother?
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This article should have linked back to Bentley’s ‘threat’ to make their cars lighter. I am very ‘green’ and try to save on gas and so forth. But if I was rich I’d treat myself to the occasional weekend blast down a country road in a Bentley for all the reasons mentioned in this article.
True. The C350 is more suited to Death in Vegas.
Big Benzes have always been an absolute joy to drive at speed….they might feel oversized and somewhat clumsy in city driving. At speed they come alive, especially the bi turbo 12 cylinder versions.
Although V8’s are cool, V12’s have a sophisticated waftability that must be experienced. Today’s V12 is comparable to a 6.3 and the later 6.9 not many people experienced these cars in their prime.
Nothing quite beats a huge hunk of machinery moving really, really quick. Try a fully fitted out Peterbuilt or Frieghtshaker at about 120 mph for a great rush. Stupid, but fun.
A 1972 300 SEL 6.3 a handful? Try a 1971 Dodge Polara at 120 mph. Now that is a handful.
My favorite skirting-the-edge-of-disaster barge was a 5000 pound '66 Imperial LeBaron. It was smooth and quiet on the straights at 110, but got real dicey if you needed to drop the anchor quickly!
C’mon boys – what kind of pistonheads are you if you didn’t know that a loose gas cap can cause the “check engine” light to turn on in most modern vehicles? And yes, it’s detailed in the owner’s manual of the three cars I checked…
Oddly, in a completely unexpected move, GM has segregated that result code into a separate “Check Gas Cap” light on some of their vehicles.
My ol’ 1995 Impala SS was a blast on the highway at night. At 90+ MPH I felt like a shark slithering through the mirk looking for the next victim…