GTAm

The vote results don't look too good after today's Japanese GP

Excuse me! "Gave Schumarcher a run for his money"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"but al the races were tensed up due to the fact that he always manages to keep up with MS..." On what planet have you been following F1 mate??????????????????? Are you crazy? Just to refresh your memory: Senna was the dominant driver in the late 80s and very early 90s. He won 03 world championships all with Mclaren. (Engines were Ford, Honda and TAG-Porsche) Yes he was an exceptionally talented driver. But a very nasty one too. He's the first driver to start unsporty driving like MS did in the early years - knocking out your opponent when your at the end of the season and leading. He even did this to his team mate Alain Prost one year. BTW Alain Prost won the championship 04 times and was a thinking driver and a nice guy unlike the arrogant Senna. Even though he was an extra-ordinary driver he was more a hot headed flat out guy rather than a strategist like Prost. Anyway after winging and complaining like a kid all year about the lack of power in the Mclaren he finally switched to Williams Renault in 94 which was the number one team by then. Young MS was in a Benetton Ford. The Ford engine was no match for the Renault on horsepower. And the Williams chassis was the best while the Bennetton was merely average. But all of a sudden Senna was out-classed by Shumy. At almost every race, before San Marino MS would out qualify and finish higher than Senna. Then the crash at San Marino and Ayrton sadly died. And then this new hero worship got a huge kick up its....., obviously since he died. I'm not trying to be rude and bash him. But I think lots of ppl have over rated him. As MS has proved for many years now. It's no point being ONLY quick. YOu have to think and stratergise the whole race. YOu need to know when not to over do it, saving your fuel and tires for a few laps longer. These together with his fantastic pace are the things that have won him 7 titles and counting.... For some reason MS is not a likable charachter Maybe it was his dirty play in the early 90s when he knocked out Damon Hill and tried the same on Jacques Vill. Perhaps if he crashes and dies the world will look at him different? But all in all there has not been a greater driver than him. And it's likely we will not see one as great in our life time. Overdrive, I Agree with your first para! Alonso is the best opponent Shuey has had since Mika Hakkinen....And the title chase is wide open any one of them can win. So interesting. However dude I think if you're going to wait for Alonso to win 7 championships, you are going to have a long wait and a dissapointing ending. No one has won 7 except Shuey. And the next best was 5 by Juan Manuel Fangio in the 50s!!!

Which Indian guy?? The last guy Kathikeyan wasn't that great. It was simply sponsorship money from Tata group that brought him there (The financially ailing Jordan team - which became the Midland team and now again has become the Spyker team). There were more competent drivers in F3 and Formula Renault etc.

From What's I've heard you can only bring in a LHD if you a) Convert it or bring a conversion kit. What's the car? And why not bring a RHD from UK since you are British.

Cause I've read so many raves about it. 50:50 weight distribution, RWD, Pin sharp steering and feel, One of the best handling cars of all time etc. etc.

Thanks mate. Yes I've been reading the buyers guide in the C&SC. Always wanted an MX5. But I've been so happy with my Alfa 156 that I'm still scratching my head and trying to figure what to do. I've just upgraded my stereo, wheels tyres etc. And have grown very attached to a car after a long time. And I've been driving so many brands, Various Jap Peugeots and BMWs mostly but none have crept under my skin like the Alfa. I'll be so frsutrated if the MX5 does not do that! So you see my problem? But since the MX is a pure sports car, I like it and the handling has been raved about. Hmmm I'm gonna sleep over this. Btw DSG (Dual clutch Sequential Gearbox ) is the new hot thing in town. Developed first by VW and now used even on the Bugatti Veyron. Ferrari is rushing to develop their own one!

It looks only a bit less hedeous than the current one. Bulky and heavy. Looks like a facelift of the old one. Likely to be that as Mitsu is strapped for cash these days. Not my cup of tea for sure!

Alfa will be back in the US by 2008. 50 8Cs are coming your way (through the Maserati dealers I think). Full range will follow. At last I think they have 'proper' management that will do their great cars justice!

The Alfa flagship the 8C Competizione was launched last week at teh paris motor show. Here are some official pics. Doesn't it look tasty? 4.7 liter V8 - 450bhp and 470lb.ft of torque. Rwd transaxle layout. Carbon fiber panels 0-100 in 4.2 secs, top speed 290km/h. Price 133,000 Euro.............My dream car!

Hi DSG, Thanks. I am seriously considering one now. But its' a big decision to let go one my car as well. I'll ponder on this for a few days. Btw your nickname is after the VW dual clutch transmission??

Hi Dudes, Anyone has any experience with owning one and driving it on a daily basis? I mean in Good ol' SL of course. Have a two very brief drives and loved it. But a bit worried that I might tire of it in the daily grind. What do you think?

If you watched the China qualifying you wouldn't say that. The Bridgestones were simply useless and even a ball-less poof could have done reasonably well with Michelins over them. The Ferraris (and all the other Brindgestone shod cars) were understeering like crazy. Only MS because he's MS managed to qualify 6th. But look at the time difference! It was not small. I think ALonso is a great driver eventhough I may not like him for some reason. You have to consider that MS has be kept behind quite a few times by Alonso last season and this. And MS is showing his age. Quite a few mistakes last season and this. But MS is more versatile and is thinking and planning ahead all the time. That's what really seals the race for him, plus when it really matters he'll put in some blinding laps. Yes it's tied............so if MS wins the next race (Japan next week) and Alonso crashes. Michael gets his 8th title even if Alonso wins in Brazil and Michael crashes out. But of course if both don't crash in either race, it's the highest points scorer unless from both getting equal points. Anyway.................It's a great season that looks like it'll finish on a climax!

Not to mention the great A. Ranatunga who overstayed and left on the way down . If only he quit at the top..........

No mate. Digi Camera, not mine though. We are still pooling all the pics together will release a cd to the club members.

Here are a few pics. Will post more later.

Alonso is getting into lots of pole positions and lots of DNFs just like Kimi's been doing I guess Yep the Honda looked good in white. This green and white looks crap. I think they're bringing Hamilton in too early. Just like Nico he'll be very quick but unable to deliver the results. That will probably do more damage than good. I think the steps should be staggered and gradual. F1 is so intense. Totally agree with your first two paragraphs Well it's good to quit at the top. He's has nothing more to prove. If he wins this year it will be 8 world titles. We are very unlikely to see anyone come close to that. (in our lifetime at least). The closest rival is Juan Manuel Fangio with 5 world titles. And the young guys need a chance...........

It's an S500, but badged S550. 52 mill excactly I'm old

The Quattro was a great car. That car is the forefather of the WRXs and Mitsu Evos. The problem is that after the Original Quattro, Audi lost the plot a bit and put out cars with sanitised driving feel compared with BMWs. But they've caught up a lot in Europe mostly but, yes, less so in the States (Maybe not enough cup holders??) ). However I really think they have the best quality interiors far better than BM or Merc. And this is universally acknowledged by so many reviews. But the ride is horrendously hard and I would even call it Terrible on Sri Lankan roads. I'm talking about a previous model Audi A6 TDi. Anyone driven the new models? Is the suspension softer?

I am surprised. Have you actually sat in an recent Audi Interior? The quality is fantastic. And I can safely say that it's leagues ahead of Mercedes. I can't recall when I last sat in a new BM. The materials are top grade and have a geat feel to them. The exterior is, quite better too. I prefer the new A4 to the Korean looking BM 3 series and the dated C-class. The Gaping wide grille is questionable though, but they are supposed to hark back to the old Auto Union race cars driven by Tazio Nuvolari soon after WW2. I guess they wanted to make the Audi grille as distinctive as Merc or BM.

To add my little 2 cents worth to this....................... Why was the wraps taken off only from the Audi?

No. 4 is a Triumph Herald guys.

You cannot get anything road worthy for that price. Even a 80s car will be in junk yard condition. You guys are so lucky. Even your new cars cost only one third of what they cost here! There very few W126s in SL in god condition now. Most have been converted with Diesel engines. A W126 Merc in that condition will cost Rs. 1.5 to 2m. Nice cars to own if not to drive. My Bro owned a '82 one owner 280S. And I've got a '87 500SEC. 5.0 V8.

Hi Harris, My little two cents worth.................come here with a technical guy (partner) from where ever you are. Set up a modern specialist work shop for three or four (or even 2) European brands. And complement this with parts new and used. May I suggest, 1. Peugoet - The agents suck. 2. BMW - Agents are v expensive and Milroy is working at 110% 3. Volvo - Agents kind of suck and parts are very scarce and there are no outside specialists. 4. Mercedes - No proper outside specialists, Dimos are working at 110% and charging 300%! I'll bet you you will not fail!

That's quite absurd when Marutis and Suzukis are flying off the shelf in tens and hundreds. Perhaps Micro is under financed and need a boost of capital and some foreign know how. I went to the show room at Borella and I felt the build quality is not upto a decent level yet. And that interior........the fake fake wood...............boy who did that? The Trend was designed and engineered by Pininfarina and the design has been sold to Chinese and Malaysian manufacturers. Far from their usual Ferraris though !