Kevlar
12-07-2002, 06:50 PM
Test Drive Report from the Auto Show In Motion (featuring GM Products and a few of their competitors)
<b>MidSized Luxury Course - Merc Benz C240, Cadalliac CTS, Pontiac Bonneville (Smokin' Tires) SSEi, BMW 530</b>
The course consisted of a traction control test (dish soap and water on a slippery surface). A little steering work, emergency lane change and ABS test. All these cars were pretty boring except for the BMW 530. The traction control in the BMW was by far much better than any of the cars I drove. The steering in the BMW was great the rest of the cars were soft and mushy. The Bonneville had possibly the worst traction control system out of all the cars. The Bonneville was able to smoke tires and get slightly sideways on the skid pad during the acceleration test. On dry land, the car has plenty of power and on dry land can put down a chunk of rubber before the car figures out the tires are spinning. After the emergency lane change, I mashed the gas and the damn thing revved to 5k RPM and engaged drive and kicked the pig. Rear end went hopping and I was movin'
<b>Auto-X / Time Trial - Corvette Z06</b>
I never driven a Z06 before. Holy Crap. This thing is a beast! I don't know how they can compare the Z06 to the M3. The Z06 is crazy power/torque. First lap around the course is the one to find out where the course goes. Second lap... foot to the floor, fast as ass around the course. Damn, the thing can move. I have new respect for the Z06. Lots of power, good handling. Over 400Hp and 400lbs of torque... wow! That being said... the rest of the car is a piece of crap. The interior is horrible, the shifter is rough and the seating position is didn't feel all that wonderful. But damn... talk about raw power. I have new respect for the Z06.
<b>SUV Course - Cadilliac Escalade, Yukon Denali XL</b>
Bling, Bling... Nice smooth ride. The steering seems to take forever to turn. The damn thing should come with one of those balls that are on the 18wheel semis. Nice smooth ride. I never seen either of them with stock rims tho.
<b>Off Road Course - Hummer H2</b>
Damn thing is tall and huge and big. The interior... again, piece of crap. The exterior and the capabilities of the vehicle... pretty damn good. The thing can drive over lots of things. If I had a hummer, I would destroy the street so I would be one of the only people to drive on it. We went over some undulations that would twist and tear any suspension apart. It went over a 30 degree include and a ten inch wall like nothing. Then coming down the mountain... all you can see is concrete through the front windshield. You begin to thing it's going to nose down right into the concrete. Then driving on a 45 degree incline sideways. The thing was very capable...
Questions?
<b>MidSized Luxury Course - Merc Benz C240, Cadalliac CTS, Pontiac Bonneville (Smokin' Tires) SSEi, BMW 530</b>
The course consisted of a traction control test (dish soap and water on a slippery surface). A little steering work, emergency lane change and ABS test. All these cars were pretty boring except for the BMW 530. The traction control in the BMW was by far much better than any of the cars I drove. The steering in the BMW was great the rest of the cars were soft and mushy. The Bonneville had possibly the worst traction control system out of all the cars. The Bonneville was able to smoke tires and get slightly sideways on the skid pad during the acceleration test. On dry land, the car has plenty of power and on dry land can put down a chunk of rubber before the car figures out the tires are spinning. After the emergency lane change, I mashed the gas and the damn thing revved to 5k RPM and engaged drive and kicked the pig. Rear end went hopping and I was movin'
<b>Auto-X / Time Trial - Corvette Z06</b>
I never driven a Z06 before. Holy Crap. This thing is a beast! I don't know how they can compare the Z06 to the M3. The Z06 is crazy power/torque. First lap around the course is the one to find out where the course goes. Second lap... foot to the floor, fast as ass around the course. Damn, the thing can move. I have new respect for the Z06. Lots of power, good handling. Over 400Hp and 400lbs of torque... wow! That being said... the rest of the car is a piece of crap. The interior is horrible, the shifter is rough and the seating position is didn't feel all that wonderful. But damn... talk about raw power. I have new respect for the Z06.
<b>SUV Course - Cadilliac Escalade, Yukon Denali XL</b>
Bling, Bling... Nice smooth ride. The steering seems to take forever to turn. The damn thing should come with one of those balls that are on the 18wheel semis. Nice smooth ride. I never seen either of them with stock rims tho.
<b>Off Road Course - Hummer H2</b>
Damn thing is tall and huge and big. The interior... again, piece of crap. The exterior and the capabilities of the vehicle... pretty damn good. The thing can drive over lots of things. If I had a hummer, I would destroy the street so I would be one of the only people to drive on it. We went over some undulations that would twist and tear any suspension apart. It went over a 30 degree include and a ten inch wall like nothing. Then coming down the mountain... all you can see is concrete through the front windshield. You begin to thing it's going to nose down right into the concrete. Then driving on a 45 degree incline sideways. The thing was very capable...
Questions?