cossynut2

Jason PD, you have just proven what I say about a well maintained Cossy, they are as reliable as anything else. Some drive though in one day, you must have set off fairly early.! The Focus does look like a big car next to your Saff.

cossynut2

There is no point trying to compare a new Nissan GTR with a 28 year old Saff. With all its electronic gadgetry to help it have an instant solution to any problem and a gearbox that is faultless I would expect it to be faster than a Saff. They are worlds apart in technology but as I have never wanted one its of no interest to me.
Which car has more soul though, a flame spitting loud 2wd Saff properly sorted or your GTR?

lee2cossies

iTrader: (2)

Iv been in 2 new gtr's one standard and one 700hp, they are incredible cars but I actually found them quite boring they were so good! the one went around a roundabout faster than id ever been in anything before while he had 1 hand on the wheel, kind of taken the fun out of driving theres so many electronics on it, id never want one for that reason maybe later in life when im a lot older.

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

Rod yeh you did meet me at the rs central day show a few years ago. You were really nice to talk to if im been honest.

Martin-Hadland

iTrader: (2)

Own one and then say that I had a similar opinion before I bought my Murci and there's absolutely no way I'd go back.

scoooby slayer

iTrader: (4)

I'm not trying to compare them myself you took my post out of context, I was replying to a response about a 470 hp cossie being faster than a gtr which I know to be incorrect

All I can say is my gtr has kept me content for over 2 years, I mainly use it at just 650 hp as rarely is more needed, but it's there if I want it and it is mind blowing still at 950 hp I don't feel the need to tune it at all which is a first for me in many years lol

It feels special still to me I dont feel disconnected from it at all, if I want the loonacy your talking about it has a rwd switch which deactivates the traction control but I havnt used it it just goes with no fuss which I love about it

scoooby slayer

iTrader: (4)

I don't want one Martin it would have to be 1000 hp if I had one and there just to expensive to buy to start messing around with and adding turbos, I also must have 4 seats as I have children I have no interest in 2 seaters at all for that reason, I'd rather keep what I have and use my money to expand the plant hire business

I do really like the aventadors probably my favourite choice if I ever decide to spend big money on a proper supercar or hypercar whichever they are

ajamesc

What makes you say that's incorrect? What power is a gtr I thought they was 500? If so that's only 30 more plus they must weigh a fair bit more if the cosworth had the same torque as bhp I bet it would give the gtr a dam good run for its money. Yes the gtr is a far superior car no question

scoooby slayer

iTrader: (4)

Best time I could run was 13 seconds 30-130 mph with 470 hp stock gear ratios, which a stock gtr will match
I would never compare a new car to a 30 year old car it's silly to do so, times were stated so I replied with times I've run

cossynut2

Is your GTR a straight out the factory car? How come yours has power from "just" 650 bhp up to 950 bhp? Surely they are not capable of that sort of performance in standard tune or am I missing something?

ajamesc

Yeah but that's your time what turbo set up did you have? How much torque was your engine? Yes the skyline is a far far better car no doubt what so ever but I bet a modern spec cosworth with a good 480 or so and strong torque will level with a new skyline on the road in the real world. Yes tuned will be a very different story but again there be high power yb's out there that can live with it to a point.
But as already said it is point less comparing the 2 but you can't dismiss it because yours was not as quick times move on

scoooby slayer

iTrader: (4)

I'm not comparing my 30-130 time I havnt had a standard gtr to time it, but plenty have v boxed them at 13 seconds stock on gtroc running in 30-130 event

scoooby slayer

iTrader: (4)

T4 2.2 bar mapped by msd to 472 hp
I gave it death and managed 13 seconds, I remember rod telling me 12 seconds for a 500/500 cossie was about right

JasonPD

Yeah I kinda like grey, my van is matte grey as well so all 3 are grey in some variation!

I posted the pic on my Facebook at the weekend as I was horrified at the size difference.

JasonPD

Yep we usually set off at 5am to break the back before day break. Second time this year I've done the run in the cossie!

lee2cossies

iTrader: (2)

A guy local to me has a 500hp escort and that matched a new gtr when rolling upto about 150mph, obviously the gtr would then pull away, so would of thought a 2wd once it has traction should give one a really good run.

cossynut2

Good on you for using your car, not just doing a couple of miles a year "in case it breaks down" One thing I love about driving mine in cold weather is the heater, it is very easy to adjust and is far better than the climate control in my daily.

cossynut2

What threw me about the comments from Scoobyslayer was him saying he runs it at "just 650bhp"but it can do 950bhp. It is obviously not a standard Nissan GTR and I thought this is what he has.There hasnt been any comments from someone who has a standard one which could have been interesting.

scoooby slayer

iTrader: (4)

Let me explain my response a little further I am in agreance a 500 hp cossie would give a gtr a dam good run for its money, I was replying to a response which stated a gtr couldn't live with a 470 hp cossie, I've owned one and it will live with it being a very close match, a gtr is alot heavier but they have seamless gear changes which makes a big difference and a massive range of torque and hp, I love cossies always will I've never got into all the in the real world performance opinions, timed speed to speed pformance is undisputable, to make a comparison needs a repeatable measurable test without launch for real world driving and 30-130 timing is just that ime

ajamesc

Problem is there's many different 470bhp cosworths lol a t4 of the shelf chip built at home my mate said it's 470 (not saying that was yours) and a modern set up proper sorted cosworth. Them two alone are night and day different. It's a silly argument really but personally I can't really see the gtr being any faster or slower with only 30bhp more and all that extra porky weight lol

Staffi

iTrader: (1)

This is what you call a great 30-130 time, listen to the fuckibg thing too sounds like a jet. Running a GT42 bla bla

scoooby slayer

iTrader: (4)

That is seriously quick , best I've managed is 6.2 seconds so far

gjh

Agree with you 100% If I had the funds its what I would own.


Edit- that evo is fookin rapid too! Sounds evil!

Mike1

Weather has been brilliant just lately - roads haven't been salted yet round here

It's lovely seeing the swirling leaves in your mirror as you drive through the woods in their Autumn colours






The more you use them the better they are

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

Cool pic that Mike. I havent used mine much due to me and the mrs having our baby boy this year. My saff defo isnt going anywhere unless we are really desperate for some money.

JasonPD

Cool picture Mike, I've done my last drive for the year but that is just down to storage. Do you have an ariel on the roof of your staff? What's that for?

Glenn - I feel the same about my car, used less this year than I thought I was going to and personally plan to keep it forever. However, I am reasistic and if I needed money then it would have to go. Let's hope it never comes to that..

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

The price of some of the parts is starting to stop me from using it lol.

The cossie is part of my family now. Even the wife said she couldnt let me sell it.

Mike1

Hi Jason, yes, it is an aerial - just for digital radio

Looks like the weather is good this coming week too

May as well keep using it

R4N SS

iTrader: (6)

I use mine everyday but its a BOA so a bit more reliable and still drinks the bloody same as a YB

Mike1

Weather has been lovely here today - we've been very lucky as no salting as yet unlike some areas.

Really is so great to drive on the roads round here - steering is fantastic compared to my daily E46, much more feedback and as you're lower down you feel 'dialled in' to the car.
Makes a change from going to work every day in it, always feels better when you can go where you please with no schedule
Plus, as it was dark earlier today, a fantastic view of all the local firework displays from the high road across the ridge

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

Yeh i agree you know your driving a cossie unlike these modern cars which are so easy to drive.

Staffi

iTrader: (1)

E30 M3 for me all day long over a cossie for chassis,still now for me having owned many cracking cars not much compares.

gcfcos

Even though I'm ford mad I love e36 bmws. I've drifted them, used as family cars and all sorts and never once has one let me down. Had a few e30s too and really rated them also

turbotrev

Totally agree with this

Cheers Paul

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

How better does a saff handle with proper suspension and a 6 degree rear beam. From what ive heard these beams transform cossies.

Mike1

I made my decision on the M3/Sapphire front over 20 years back and I'm still happy with the choice I made. I've had about the same number of BMWs as Fords and currently still have one of each.

I had the old E21 323i after Mk2 Escorts, then did the XR4i and E30 325 Sport, of course this was back when they were all cheaper. The E30 M3 and Cosworth were the cars I really wanted to own - once I had a house with a garage it was a decision I had to make as even though they were cheap last century, either was a realistic proposition for me price wise, I couldn't afford both at that point.

It was easy to get the low-down on both these cars, there was a specialist for both cars within 15 miles of home, Moseley Motors for the E30 M3 and Severn Valley a few miles from them. I went out in the M3s, tried a 3-door courtesy of a friend, ummed and aahed, re-read every comparison test, still wasn't sure what to get ( I tend to keep most of my cars for ages so spend a long time deliberating ). It was a go in Ridgey's Sapphire when it was a newer, standard car that put me onto the 4-door. I loved the racer feel of the M3, the steering feel ... but not the response so much - it had the same 'interior feel' of my old E21/E30 obviously. The Sapphire seemed to ride the bumps better, less prone to getting jolted off line mid corner, there was less arm-twirling through a fast mini roundabout or series of Esses thanks to the faster steering ratio, the seats seemed to fit me better and the brakes seemed fantastic. Plus, although the throttle response was exponential, it somehow seemed more exciting when it was firing you out of a fast bend.
Which you prefer is obviously down to personal preference but it's interesting that many twin tests of the time rated the Sapphire as equal to ( or even superior ) the M3 handling-wise.....swings and roundabouts as they say. Certainly did the numbers on track even against stuff like the 220bhp 944 Turbo, Esprit Turbo and E30 M3 - all with same amount of power and grip. Fast Lane and CAR mags had to concede it was a fantastic drivers car.....even though it was a Ford.
That's forgotten now, memories hazy, the Cosworths just a wobbly turbo dragster, the E30 M3 the pinnacle of M-car handling and constantly cited as the ultimate 80s sports saloon

Now I have to say that your impressions of a car are always going to be tempered by the examples you drive. Once I'd decided what to get it was surprising how different individual examples could feel. Different makes of tyres on the same car can give a markedly different 'feel' so once you'd taken that into account, knackered bushes, 'soft' dampers or ill-chosen aftermarket suspension set-ups shine through on a test drive and can put you off an example of that car very quick.

The car I bought was basically standard apart from a stainless exhaust but pretty well maintained - I looked at and drove a fair few, mostly near standard. It was certainly not mint bodywise 20 years ago, but from my perspective, it drove the best.

I've had an E36 328, E46 330, 320 and just latterly a 325 since they became cheaper cars - they make great daily transport and drivers and keep the winter salt off my Sierra - plus they mean the Ford still has that 'special to drive' feel for me

I guess, as friends remind me, I could have bought an E30 M3 and it might be worth double what my Sierra is. It's a moot point though, I wouldn't have bought either thinking of selling it, plus if you sell it, you can't drive it anymore. I don't regret my choice - It's never rested for the winter, always ready for that dry salt-free day, ready to drive


That's the fun of it for me

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

Nice read that. Looking at the pic of both the saff and the bm, i think the saff has aged well. The bm in the pic looks dated compared to the saff imo.

jontysafe

I had a little play with a GTR back a bit ago, I guess I was running about 430bhp-ish. Up to about 140mph I just walked away from it. Above that I`m sure he would walk away from me but from 25mph-140-150ish (on a private road) I was so far up the road he couldn`t see me waving.
In typical fashion it melted a piston 10 minutes later!!
430bhp ish and 600kgs is going to be hard to beat to those kind of speeds.

lee2cossies

iTrader: (2)

Great read, I too remember reading the autocar magazine where the cosworth was against the e30 me, 190e cosworth and the cosworth was their choice, also 4 seconds a lap faster around a reverse castle combe than the m3, always think its unfair when people rave about the e30 m3 and rubbish the cosworth in comparison, hands down regardless of value id take the sapphire.

Mike1

To be fair to the M£ in that Autocar article, it was slightly hobbled by being a Birds rhd conversion.

That meant it had a normal 325i rack which was 4.1 turns lock to lock rather than the 3.6 turns of the M3.

Also they had to hack the exhaust manifold around to get the rhd rack to fit which meant it was a bit strangled and around 10-15bhp down on the normal power.

Ian Godney's manifold on his M3 was a lot better solution. I've seen another one that was done for an Australian car that was a lot better resolved as well and meant minimal power loss.

I nearly bought a Birds conversion one a few years after my Sapphire as they were pretty cheap being 'modded' cars - missed out and got an E46 330 instead - if I'd have had it, it would have got a quicker rack and better manifold though.

Notwithstanding all the above, even the lhd cars, as they came from factory, never convincingly won over the Sapphire 2wd in the handling stakes when both cars were tested new though