My car featured in the February Issue of Performance Car !

[XPorker]

I picked up the February copy of Performance Car yesterday, mainly because it's got a section devoted to M Power cars (amongst which I saw they were comparing a CSL against an E30 M3 Evo Sport and an E36 M3 GT)

I flicked through the rest of the mag and started to read the feature last night.

As I looked at the pictures I thought the registration number looked familiar . . . . . . .

'Tis my car !!! It must have been used before I bought it off Nick Johnson as I knew nothing about the article prior to seeing the mag yesterday :thumbs:

And just for the record, if any of the light fingered brigade should be looking in on the forum for anything less than savoury reasons, it's no longer on that plate :birdman:

[Andyk]

Nice....will get a copy this week...is it a good read?

[Nords]

Hummm, as in EVO, they say the e30 is 'better'!

That photo on the left hand page looks like you have some serious neg camber on the front, but I think it is an optical illusion, ie normal camber?

[Andyk]

Cheers Nords was looking forward to the read......don't think I'll get it now I know the outcome...

:rolleye: :-D

[Nords]

Worth a look to see the optical illusion pic?????

:whistle:

[englebert]

Cool...

Have to say i don't rate Performance Car nor the BMW mags. Its really exciting to see a CSL on the front cover, then you read it and its a glorified press release with fancy photos.

[Andyk]

Cool...

Have to say i don't rate Performance Car nor the BMW mags. Its really exciting to see a CSL on the front cover, then you read it and its a glorified press release with fancy photos.

I did enjoy the BMW CAR magazine used buy on the CSL last year, but with you on Performance Car mag. Got the first two copies then stopped.

[XPorker]

Yep it was running a fair amount of camber both front and rear.

The article in Performance Car is a rehash of one in BMW Car a couple of years ago (I think)
They made a comment about the ride being hard (have these people never driven a 964 RS ?) :banghead:
IMO The CSL is fantastically compliant and that along with it's long travel supension makes it perfect for cross country dashes on undulating and bumpy (ish) roads. :thumbs:

[anissut]

Got the mag yesterday and had a read of the article. It's not the best written magazine but that specific article was interesting for us CSL owners. Certain lines stood out such as "automotive royalty." The M1 came last, then the CSL and the winner was the E30 M3 Sport Evo which you can understand I guess due to its racing pedigree and the fact it is still highly respected nearly 20 years on. Maybe in another 10 years the CSL will be regarded in this manner.

[Trawler]

It was driving the csl on that test day that made up my mind to get one. It was thrashed to an inch of its life by all present :bigcry:


Only joking, in actual fact not a lot of driving took place.

[Andyk]

Was that the BMW car article Peter?

[XPorker]

It was driving the csl on that test day that made up my mind to get one. It was thrashed to an inch of its life by all present :bigcry:


Only joking, in actual fact not a lot of driving took place.

They're meant to be thrashed :-D
Out of the three CSLs I've driven, this one felt the quickest and the engine the loosest :thumbs:

[englebert]

the winner was the E30 M3 Sport Evo which you can understand I guess due to its racing pedigree and the fact it is still highly respected nearly 20 years on. Maybe in another 10 years the CSL will be regarded in this manner.

Not a chance!

The E46 M3 shape may have done alright as the V8 GTR, but the E30 caused a storm in the racing world. I think the CSL will have some value, but it won't replicate the E30 M3.

[Andyk]

the winner was the E30 M3 Sport Evo which you can understand I guess due to its racing pedigree and the fact it is still highly respected nearly 20 years on. Maybe in another 10 years the CSL will be regarded in this manner.

Not a chance!

The E46 M3 shape may have done alright as the V8 GTR, but the E30 caused a storm in the racing world. I think the CSL will have some value, but it won't replicate the E30 M3.


Would have to agree with englebert

[Windowlicker]

Just got the mag, your car looks great dude, (though is that a small dent in the offside rear quarter :119: :hahaha: )
Will get it read tonight come bathtime, (the only time i get any peace and quiet :whistle: )

[Trawler]

Andy,

BMW Car published the article in the July 2004 issue. I will have to check if the Performance Car version is an exact copy.

XPorker,

could not agree more, the more you thrash it the more you love it. :smt055

[Andyk]

Andy,

BMW Car published the article in the July 2004 issue. I will have to check if the Performance Car version is an exact copy.

:smt055

Oh yes Peter remember you telling me at Goodwood....Hows the car?

[XPorker]

Just got the mag, your car looks great dude, (though is that a small dent in the offside rear quarter :119: :hahaha: )
Will get it read tonight come bathtime, (the only time i get any peace and quiet :whistle: )

In the picture on page 132 ? above the swage line ? Not a dent, merely a break in the clouds ! :wink: :hahaha:


I had a big moment in the car last night at what I admit was "excessive speed". Whilst driving down a twisty B road I hit a large section of standing water in freezing conditions. The front end ploughed through the water untroubled. The rear didn't . . . . .

Fortunately luck was on my side as this happened at the widest section of the road

Once the rear of the car had swung to the right and sent me onto the soft grass verge on the N/S, I was treated to the sight of the hedge rushing towards me.

At that point I was 100 % convinced that I was going to go straight through the hedge at huge velocity.

Luck was on my side again as the grass verge ended and blended into someones visability splay for their drive.

However as soon as the car hit the tarmac of the splay, it snapped the other way . . . .

At this point I was determined that I was going to do all in my power to ensure the car didn't get damaged. ! I thus had the presence of mind to wind a large portion of opposite lock on!

Possibly I wound on too much lock, for I rapidly found the car headed for the nearside hedge again ! Applying another dose of lock the opposite way saw the car caught, but once again heading for the offside hedge !

I counted doing this several times before I finally managed to get the car straight and slowed down to approximately 40mph. . . . .

I drove off suitably chastened !

I use this road fairly frequently and "assumed" that because it hadn't rained for the past 48 hours there wouldn't be any standing water about . . . . .

Having owned several GT 911s and I think it's safe to say they would have all aquaplaned off the road (nose first) at high velocity in similar circumstances.

The CSL incomparison is so well balanced and so forgiving, I have no doubt whatsoever it's forgiving nature saved me from a high speed trip into the the scenery.

[Windowlicker]

:119: :smokin: Jammy bugger !! Well Held :smokin:
Lucky there were no decorative rocks at the top of the drive.

You were nearly out of run off as well, you spawny get :hahaha:
Any damage to the wheels or will they clean up ok?

[shimmy]

tarmac stage?

get your geo checked and nicely held. :-D

[Trawler]

Glad you are ok. Hope no damage was done to the car, but I've seen less mud on a tractor.

[XPorker]

Not sure it was skill on my part. I think the car and it's inherant balance has to take the largest part of the credit.

It's saved my neck in a previous incident which saw me approaching a crest waaaaay too fast. It was signposted as requiring caution but as the road was empty (and the crest wasn't blind) I thought it wouldn't hurt to carry some speed over said crest . . . . .
As soon as I launched off it, I realised it did indeed need caution as it was a vicious launch ramp and to make matters worse, the road curved slightly to the nearside after the crest. Thus on landing I found myself on the "wrong" side of the road.
The cars superb long travel (and compliant) suspension soaked the landing up perfectly and rather than spitting me off the road, I retained control and continued on my way.

[bryce]

Jeeeze, you get up to some adventures in your CSL dont you. Good to hear everythings ok.

[XPorker]

I guess so ? It allows you to take liberties that would be severely punished in a quick 911.

Of all the cars I've owned the CSL is without a doubt the most fun to drive. I think it inspires so much confidence that it encourages you to enjoy it's limits without fear of being bitten in the way the 911 does.

ALL of the "incidents" I've described here would have ended in tears and a sizeable insurance claim had I been in the GT2 or GT3, of that I have NO doubt.

Some may say I wouldn't have been pushing the envelope so hard had I been driving the GT2 or 3 in these instances, that may be true, but it says a lot for the CSLs inherent balance and "rightness" that it gives you the confidence to push the envelope.

[RichW]

I've had a couple of close shaves in my CSL whilst hitting standing water, each time requiring a fast snap of the steering to catch, each time i think i would have failed to do it in any of my past Mitsi Evo's

You got to love the CSL :smt055

[bryce]

Its good to hear your opinions having come from Porka's, the progression is usually the opposite. Im kinda set on a 997GT3 (RS hopefully) next, and Im hoping it'll be the next step in kicks, thrills, and scares.

Out of interest, what 911's have you had?

[Mark CSL]

XPorker
Well done :smt038 good to see you had some fun.
Now is there any chance you could come and dig my garden with your CSL :whistle:

[SMD]

Must remember never to buy XPorkers's CSL if it came up for sale! :hahaha:

Well held mate! :thumbs:

[Rags]

Must remember never to buy XPorkers's CSL if it came up for sale! :hahaha:

Well held mate! :thumbs:

Ditto

[XPorker]

Must remember never to buy XPorkers's CSL if it came up for sale! :hahaha:

Well held mate! :thumbs:

Ditto

Well you could never accuse it of being a garage queen !! :hahaha:

The 993 RS in the list above was a "garage queen". After I'd owned it, I vowed never to own a car again that I'd be more concerned about how clean it was (and cleaning it) than driving it :wink:

My CSL is driven as it's makers intended, never abused, always warmed up before being used hard. From my perspective a bit of mud on the wheels and inside the rear bumper is FAR a far more preferable history that a car that's done lap upon lap around the UKs race circuits or been thrashed mercilessly around the 'Ring. But that is only my personal view :wink: