Only Mercedes dealer :D

All the CLS of that era I see are no loner being driven, all sitting with the air suspension gone.

I had a 996 for a few years and I didn't ever feel that kind of danger. The only time the ass wanted to swap on me was at a wet auto-x, and PSM stepped in and sorted that out.I never an issue at the track, or on the road.

I understand the older ones (air cooled) and perhaps the Turbo's can be a bit tricky, but is it really still an issue these days?

Yesterday, I was at VIMC along with more GT3s then I thought existed in BC, plus a number of other Porsches. I don't recall any drama from them even though I did hear some talk of poor driving. Even in the first timers group (my first time to that track) there was one 992 driver that had no idea how to drive fast and they didn't have any spins.


edit: I also had an e36 m3, and two of my friends spun that at auto-x. :troll:

^ I think it's hard to spin a non GT 991/2 if you leave the traction control on in fairweather conditions. The electronic safety nets on these cars are really powerful unless you actively purposely try really hard to scandi flick the car into the wall. Even if you turn the system partially off, an average driver trying to push the car and not being an idiot would probably be ok unless they just straight up carried way too much speed into a corner. They can bend physics, but not defeat it.

This is from experience driving older Mazdas vs newer ones, and the bunch of BMW products we've had. On my MS3 and NC Miata, it's really just traction control and all it does is cut power and hope for the best.
I had a current gen Mazda3 for an extended period of time and I could feel the traction and stability control working on that much hard than the older stuff.

Then with BMW stuff. Our F56 Mini I can feel the system grabbing individual brakes to straighten out the car. I've tried it in full traction, no traction but with stability, and full off. You can feel the difference in terms of intervention.
It's the same with my M3. I can't break traction in the dry easily with all the systems on, it keeps a really close watch on everything. In MDM mode which is partial intervention, it'll let me hold a drift even with 200TW but will catch you if you get too far out of line.
If it's wet though.... lol.....

If you spin a modern 911 with all the nanny controls, you should stick to a Translink pass.

*rare AMGs

They say the Civic Type R has similar kind of traction control and vehicle stability assistance systems. My list of cars are in my sig, but none of those have "good traction control". I drive on track with full off and on the street with no traction but with stability. But I can't say I can feel the individual systems working. That said, full off in the CTR still isn't full off. Needs a pedal dance to be completely off. I know other people like, 325msport, who have driven my car on track on commented on the "video game" feeling.

It's frustrating that you can't turn everything off easily. You might not be faster than the computer, but it's definitely more fun. I've gone on track before forgetting to turn everything off, it's frustrating.

Sent this to a friend. He thought I painted my turbo.

https://i.ibb.co/Ycy3GZy/ac201f84-51...4113c10394.jpg

Loving the 86 experience so far!


https://i.imgur.com/piHqQpE.jpeg

https://i.imgur.com/bXDZ8DZ.jpeg

so clean

So I’ve been looking at wheels for a while now. Initially I ordered TRD wheels but after waiting like 6+ months with no response from the seller (Lexus boutique.com) I gave up and got a refund through my credit card.

Then I tried to find advan or enkeis but nothing in 21 inches I like. I did find some work wheels but once again probably 6+ month and 8-10k after said and done. A bit too steep for stinking wheels. I even priced OEM 2024 wheels from Lexus and they were 13k!
Screw that bs.

So 69style found these ]pretty sweet looking Rohananannaahhhs for like 4500 bucks.
Made in the USA and i think it’ll look nice even if I take the wrap off later with red on red and bronze wheels.

https://i.postimg.cc/QNy36zT6/IMG-82...T-Original.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/MTbGfJKZ/IMG-8185.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/yNs4g4MN/IMG-8252.jpg

Billy @ Aria did the install for 140 bucks! Thanks Dark and 68stylez for that hookup too. Good guy that Billy

with that wheel design, bronze was the right choice. they look like a PITA to keep clean

Bronze wheels FTW. Those wheels look awesome Hobz.

https://i.imgur.com/DQ0NpF2.jpeg

I'm in Anaheim taking the kid to Disneyland this week and picked up an A5 Sportback as rental for the first day. The Germans sure like their (flat) reds with a lot of orange in them - the BMW red is almost the same as the Audi red and the Merc red is just a metallic version of it.

Such a lovely car to drive and, in this market, not unreasonably priced - $70-75k all in for a nicely equipped model. Shame there's no hybrid or PHEV version of the wagon.

I'm renting from National out of John Wayne Airport and they've got a lot of selection for luxury cars - I was offered an A4, A5, and a S60 and I saw a 3 series, an A3, and some luxury SUVs as well (including a Defender!!!). I'll be grabbing a car twice more this week but from the Anaheim shop - interested to see what luxury cars they carry.

https://i.imgur.com/SqSnCkk.jpg

Grab the defender and let us know how that is. It seems grossly over priced for being range rovers small truck.

Ohhhh that red on bronze for your Acura works really well too !!! I’m glad I chose that.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...35424167_b.jpg

First time getting everything together for a day at VIMC. I was honestly for more worried about the drive down than the actual track day. But everything worked well! Next stop is area 27!

If you're alluding to the A5, used S5 Sportbacks are in the $50K range. Good to hear that it's a nice car to drive. Was thinking about S5 Sportback or Golf R.

If there was only an Audi S5 wagon in the $70K range ... RS6 wagon > $100K is a bit out of reach and excessive. Too bad us Canadians aren't as refined as the Europeans when it comes to hot wagons.

Huh, I had an A5 Sportback and I thought it was competent but not amazing.
Personal opinion is the GTI/Sportback/Audi wagons get hyped to the moon.

https://i.imgur.com/0oOeE0C.jpeg

I rented mine for a 400km daytrip to Port Angeles with a road bike.
TBH folding seats & stuffing/removing bike from trunk was more difficult on my back than with the bike rack on my s2000.

https://i.imgur.com/fIDLSXW.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/WsPtjvo.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/6Zf73zP.jpeg

252hp was just enough power for a little bit of 1 lane road passing but DCT felt jerky on takeoff
Suspension was soft but had a ton of dive/squirm on hard braking so doesn't feel confident
Infotainment was very confusing and always had 4 popups on startup
Mild hybrid system never did anything

S5 also felt too mild for me as well, not as emotional as W205 C43 or M340i.
IMO the convertible is where the thoughtful/'niceness' of the Audi pays off with the seatbelt mic, folddown rear seats, no weird luggage contraption, neck heaters.

Ended up doing a similar trip to Rainier with the S2000, was just fine lol
https://i.imgur.com/EA7n2Bd.jpeg

Don't we get the C300 and C43 wagon that the US never got?

IMO, the C43 with the driver's pack is lighter, more emotional, rewarding to drive than the S/RS5 unless you're sending it hard enough that you're really working the sport diff.

Is an S5 and golf r comparable in price cuz the difference in speed is quite noticeable. I wouldn't have guessed they're competitors when car shopping.

If a Golf GTI/R Wagon had been available here a few years ago when I got my RDX that would have been my first choice. The base wagon was nice but lacked enough nice features on it. A non-Allroad A4 Avant would be great - not sure the back seat would be big enough for my needs but it's close.

I wouldn't say it's amazing but for a $70k (tax included) daily driver it's quite nice. A TLX goes from $65-75k and the A5 blows it away for about the same money. A loaded RDX goes for that kinda money as well and the A5 is WAY more sorted out than the RDX - much better transmission programming, smoother engine, better ride quality etc. Other than cargo space the RDX is beat everywhere, the TLX doesn't beat the A5 in any category at all.

I think the A4/A5/C300/330i group of really well designed and polished cars - nothing earth shattering but great daily drivers.

We did for the last gen - I test drove the C300 wagon, nice little car. At time I was quite impressed with the assisted parallel parking feature. I did prefer the drive of the A5 though - rolled down the road a bit more tied to the ground IMO.

Yeah, I test drove the Allroad / GTI / R when I was shopping in 2020. The 1.8 really wasn't enough to move the Sportwagon.

I just didn't think the A5 were that much better overall than a Golf R or even the base Golf I drove in college, they have very similar strengths and weaknesses.

Financially, Audi's lease programs are also a lot worse than BMW's - prior to the thiccc costco discounts, A5 Sportbacks leased for ~50 bux of the M340i

When I think about a road trip car, if National's got the alticamcords on Exec Aisle, I always grab a Dodge Charger/Challenger. The ZF8 trans, seats and double paned glass are a gem ... and the steering/suspension/controls tuning from the W210/211 are executed beyond the base Germans generally have.

I think when the buyer segment that lives city-ish, wants a decent badge, german dynamics and AWD ... there are only so many options

If a wagon was offered when I bought my Golf R, that would be of been my first choice in a heartbeat.

supafamous, I think I saw you/your car at the sushi place on Boundary a few months ago. I recognized the red Acura with bronze wheels. Coincidentally I'm trying to plan a family trip to Anaheim right now

dont get mugged! and dont forget to pay for speedpass.... otherwise your magical vacation at ratland will turn into a queue-a-thon like youre a horny 40 year old skank waiting for BTS tickets..... uhhhh