More Driving Impressions 6.0

As most of you know, this car is new to me, and given the condition of the roads in the NE, covered with salt until a few days ago (still remnants left), i have not had alot of wheel time in the 6.0 yet.
I went out today for about 4 hours and was repeatedly amazed at how well this car cornered at relatively high speed (nothing insane, but at speeds that would have you concerned and focused) on reasonably twisty 2 lane roads. Not the supertight twisties, mind you, but big and wide enough where you could easily accelerate into the curve without reducing entry speed, at say 80 mph- fast enough. The 4 wheel drive must contribute to this, because the car is just too big and heavy to be that well balanced.
So far, the car has reminded me alot of my old BBi, but here's where the similarity ends- the Boxer had some torque, but its cornering capabilities were compromised by stone age tire technology and the difficulty of determining when the car was going to let go.
The Diablo has oodles more power, but that alone, would not make the difference. This thing feels really tight, and much smaller, in cornering at higher speed, than I would have thought possible for a car of this size.

I had a nice run on that road that runs behind west point, and then narrows to some chilling mountain twists above the Hudson, before leading into Cornwall on Hudson.

I am also getting a little better on right rear quarter visibility; i have the passenger mirror cranked really far out, but if i move my head a little bit, i can actually see my rear flank this way.

On the run back home, i cranked up an over that long hill on 9W South that goes thru StormKing. Whadda Blast!

Oh yea, one other observation: like they used to say about the Countach, at lower speeds this thing is a beast, but get it moving and it takes on an entirely different character. By comparison, my 550's were far more docile and manageable at low speeds.

 

Korr: i do have a camera mounted but it's soley for rear view. I still have my camera set up (lipstick camera and digital vid-recorder) from the Porsche, so i might do that, once i'm more familiar with the car.

U- my routes vary, but today, i took the Saw Mill, Taconic, to Rt. 35, then did a loop on 22 N/S back on 35 heading west, picked up the Bear Mtn. Pkwy, then, on 6, up to Central Valley, took the turn-off toward West Point and did that route, up thru Cornwall, then back south again, via 9W. There are some great roads off 22 as well, up in the Salem Ny area.

 

Hey AJ: 'tis a Rosso Vik/snowcorn with carbon wing that came out of mc i. purchased in early january, while you were on hiatus. here's a pic:
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aM: yeah, well compared to the Enzo, and some of the other cars you have access to, you'd probably take it to the supermarket. But, compared to a 550, it's got much heavier steering (which i love, i always thought the 550 was over-assisted, and dead-feeling), big, heavy and trucklike, particularly with AWD at low speed (not that it's bad, but again, it ain't a lithe little sports car) and i guess my point was, there's a real contrast once you start to pile on the power- it only comes alive then.

993 Guy: yeah, your photo too.

JeffB: write-up later; as to full page spread, you mean bigger pic? Cause we are bandwidth limited here, aren't we? I have a friend who is a pro photog who will start snapping pics now that we are thawing out...

 

Nope, other than a rear camera discreetly attached to my license plate frame- no drilling of body- and the installation of a pioneer a/v nav head to accomodate same (the alpine is in a box) everything is stock, and i'll probably keep it that way. The GT2 i just got rid of had an aftermarket exhaust, among other things, and you could hear me coming into the next county. I'll enjoy the peace and quiet, and it sounds nice when i get the revs up; as to lightening the car for increased performance, i consider that a sort of academic exercise, given that it's a pretty big beast to begin with, and a few lbs here or there (not considering my own bulk) probably won't make a huge difference to me. Why, whaddya got in mind

 

By popular demand:
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Mo, Mo,
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