Comments on: Gran Turismo Omologato–the prancing pony. https://habitablezone.com/2023/07/02/dino-206/ Tue, 07 Apr 2026 04:45:30 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: podrock https://habitablezone.com/2023/07/02/dino-206/#comment-52059 podrock Tue, 04 Jul 2023 02:08:30 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=100139#comment-52059 It was a Subaru 1982 sedan, standard trans, quite sporty. And even at that speed it was on rails. Could steer that car with my knee. I've rented a lot of different cars over the years, driven them in lots of different conditions. Came to the conclusion that America builds (mostly) the best trucks. I'll take a Ford Bronco off road any day. You could beat the crap out it and still get back at the end of the day. If I want a pavement hugging experience, it ain't from here. Want to have fun in the Blue Ridge mountains? Rent a BMW convertible and explore the two lane roads. You'll get your curves in. It was a Subaru 1982 sedan, standard trans, quite sporty. And even at that speed it was on rails. Could steer that car with my knee.

I’ve rented a lot of different cars over the years, driven them in lots of different conditions. Came to the conclusion that America builds (mostly) the best trucks. I’ll take a Ford Bronco off road any day. You could beat the crap out it and still get back at the end of the day.

If I want a pavement hugging experience, it ain’t from here. Want to have fun in the Blue Ridge mountains? Rent a BMW convertible and explore the two lane roads. You’ll get your curves in.

]]> By: ER https://habitablezone.com/2023/07/02/dino-206/#comment-52058 ER Tue, 04 Jul 2023 01:24:24 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=100139#comment-52058 the Jag was rock solid and stable. It felt perfectly safe and controllable and I felt perfectly secure and in charge and it felt capable of keeping it up all night long. I never felt that way in Detroit iron. I've never driven a Corvette (the Jaguar's USA comparison) but I suspect that off the dragstrip, it is not as stable and safe. Cars should be made to take curves, not just accelerate. That's why I've never owned an American car. The Volkswagens and Japanese sedans I've driven all my life weren't race cars by any stretch of the imagination, but they handled predictably and safely, even on wet pavement. That is much more important than just going fast. the Jag was rock solid and stable. It felt perfectly safe and controllable and I felt perfectly secure and in charge
and it felt capable of keeping it up all night long.

I never felt that way in Detroit iron. I’ve never driven a Corvette (the Jaguar’s USA comparison) but I suspect that off the dragstrip,
it is not as stable and safe. Cars should be made to take curves, not just accelerate. That’s why I’ve never owned an American car. The Volkswagens and Japanese sedans
I’ve driven all my life weren’t race cars by any stretch of the imagination, but they handled predictably and safely, even on wet pavement. That is much more important than just going fast.

]]> By: podrock https://habitablezone.com/2023/07/02/dino-206/#comment-52055 podrock Mon, 03 Jul 2023 15:59:58 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=100139#comment-52055 You've got me beat on the max MPH, I topped out at 110 on a quiet Wyoming highway one Sunday morning, but I did that for about half an hour. I really wanted to get home. You’ve got me beat on the max MPH, I topped out at 110 on a quiet Wyoming highway one Sunday morning, but I did that for about half an hour.

I really wanted to get home.

]]> By: podrock https://habitablezone.com/2023/07/02/dino-206/#comment-52054 podrock Mon, 03 Jul 2023 15:53:52 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=100139#comment-52054 Minus all the tracking code: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_IybqJMOBIc" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> Would love to clutch that car. Minus all the tracking code:

Would love to clutch that car.

]]> By: ER https://habitablezone.com/2023/07/02/dino-206/#comment-52053 ER Mon, 03 Jul 2023 01:28:38 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=100139#comment-52053 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzNNisfd2C4 Like Jay says; <em>"You never forget your first love."</em> Thanks for indulging me, you guys. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzNNisfd2C4

Like Jay says; “You never forget your first love.”

Thanks for indulging me, you guys.

]]> By: ER https://habitablezone.com/2023/07/02/dino-206/#comment-52052 ER Mon, 03 Jul 2023 00:44:49 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=100139#comment-52052 My roommate rolled my '64 VW beetle. My car was in the shop for a while, so he loaned me his 120 Jag until the bug was repaired. I got to drive this beast for about a month. And yes, I had to double-clutch when downshifting. I got it up to 140 one night, on the 8 mile extension to Pasco County and the tach still had another 500 RPM to go before red line. But then the headlamps went out. I had to open the door and look for the centerline stripe so I could keep it on the road until it slowed down to about 40 mph. Then the lamps came back on. That's why the Brits drink warm beer, Lucas makes the refrigerators. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXPp5xO_0S4 My roommate rolled my ’64 VW beetle.

My car was in the shop for a while, so he loaned me his 120 Jag until the bug was repaired. I got to drive this beast for about a month. And yes, I had to double-clutch when downshifting.

I got it up to 140 one night, on the 8 mile extension to Pasco County and the tach still had another 500 RPM to go before red line. But then the headlamps went out. I had to open the door and look for the centerline stripe so I could keep it on the road until it slowed down to about 40 mph. Then the lamps came back on.

That’s why the Brits drink warm beer, Lucas makes the refrigerators.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXPp5xO_0S4

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