GT350 on the backroads

[icormba]

It could be worst. You could be at the bottom of a mountain.

I currently live at the bottom of a mountain. :eyebulge:

Dont forget this gem

http://blog.sfgate.com/ontheblock/2016/06/17/this-tear-down-is-what-5-5m-buys-you-in-palo-alto/

Shoot! I feel ripped off now. We sold our 900sqft, 2 bedroom, 1 car garage, 2 bath condo for only $575,000 last month. Should have held out for $1mil.

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[robertwsimpson]

That condo in Palo Alto, who knows.

 

[krt22]

Not the home itself its the lot, 10,000sq ft just outside of downtown PA and very close to Zuckerbergs pad.

 

[robertwsimpson]

Yeah but even condos with no view are going for over a mil around palo alto area... even spreading north, which is good for me!

 

[SpursFan]

Well come to Texas as some as you can and you will see how far your California housing dollar can go.

I'm from Texas and live in the bay area, the thought of cashing out has been on our mind!

 

[straightliner1]

Well come to Texas as some as you can and you will see how far your California housing dollar can go.

That's one hell of a commute!

 

[lemers]

That's one hell of a commute!

Well with what you are saving in housing it just maybe worth it.

 

[SpursFan]

Well with what you are saving in housing it just maybe worth it.

Hell I'm talking almost retiring on cash out!

 

[lemers]

Hell I'm talking almost retiring on cash out!

I've got 4 more years of service then I can retire.

 

[ghig302]

Too me, very few Mustangs that look better than the GHIG Boss...great pic by the way.

Dave

 

[Caballus]

I don't mind folks adding to this thread. I think it's cool seeing the great roads from all around the country and beyond... the greens of the North East, Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains, Canada, and everywhere else make great add on stories. Wouldn't mind seeing some German Autobahn or Alps add-ons too! :cheers:

The map doesn’t show the entire route, but it shows some of the best parts. Off to the west of the route shown, the world famous B500 winds through Baden-Baden and on into France’s A35 (Highway of the Storks…). B500 is a beautiful drive, but doesn’t compare to the route outlined below. 500 is like a state road in the US. The Autobahn (all of which begin with A—A5 and A8, for example) is like our interstate (I95, I5, I40…). Much of the route highlighted on the map consists of our version of county roads. In this case, they are twisty Black Forest mountain roads. Besides being narrow, trafficked by everything from cars to motorcycles to bicycles, and having no shoulders, these in the remote areas of the Black Forest are also among the few roads in Germany that are not totally smooth. In fact, although there are no potholes, they are extremely bumpy in some areas. At 100kph (same speed limit as B500), the drive can become quite exciting. Notice the road from Forbach (south center of map) to B500; another exciting drive…

Although all three drivers get together regularly, one of the cars was a new addition. The M4 driver just replaced his Mini the day before. The BMW was previously owned, but is in perfect condition, which meant he had no break-in to be concerned about and could put it through the ringer. He did just that, and the car wasn’t phased by it.

The 50th Anniversary 911 was bought in and delivered from the States. Local Porsche enthusiasts, of which there are many, note that immediately because of the US-sized license plate, making it an instant conversation piece, even in the home of Porsche. (For what it’s worth, all three cars are US vice German spec).

Speaking of the land of Porsche, a large section of the route is also a Panamera test course. On a normal weekend drive, you encounter 5-7 on the loop. As the M4 driver noted, it’s a great place to test, because if a car can handle smoothly on this road, it can handle smoothly on any road—reminding me that for the first time, I noted a rattle from the shifter when in 2nd gear…

Of course, no drive through the Black Forest could ever be complete without a stop at a local bakery. Happens to be the same one that the Panamera drivers use. This time they had a GT4 with them too…

 

[TDC]

Beautiful photos.

 

[icormba]

The 50th Anniversary 911 was bought in and delivered from the States. Local Porsche enthusiasts, of which there are many, note that immediately because of the US-sized license plate, making it an instant conversation piece, even in the home of Porsche. (For what it’s worth, all three cars are US vice German spec).

In Germany, how odd. ;)

I like how the GT350 doesn't look out of place in that small group.
... and awesome pictures!

 

[Caballus]

In Germany, how odd. ;)

I like how the GT350 doesn't look out of place in that small group.
... and awesome pictures!

Thanks...pictures are from a camera that make a non-photographer look good...

The GT350 is among equals in many ways here. Price wise, a 2016 Tech Pkg is a little over $100k in Germany (more elsewhere), making it more expensive than the M3/4 and on par with the 911. It's much rarer and receives more attention than either of them (or even than Ferraris or Aston Martins--though higher end, they are European cars, so far more common)

When you meet them on the Autobahn, supercars like Ferraris and Aston Martins are clearly in a different class (not talking about 911s or M3/M4s). However, the GT350 still holds it's own as well, particularly in the max torque range. Several European cars have a higher top speed, as does the Hellcat in the previously posted picture below (did 204 on the Autobahn), but few can pull away when the GT350 hits its torque/HP sweet spot; in fact, I have not found one yet that can.

On the backroads, it boils down to confidence--or craziness. If you push on these roads (safely) it's more demanding driving than on the track (in a different way). On European backroads, it's hard to separate the GT350, Porsche, and BMW (M3/M4 and M5). The WRX holds its own, but is clearly in a different class. The Mini, when it was part of the group, could handle extremely well, but ultimately didn't have the power to keep up.

I'll leave it at that and won't ruin it by talking about limp mode...grrrrr...

 

[icormba]

Season 2 Episode 2
Canepa Cars and Coffee

Route:

Special notes... raiderjatt02 drove an extra 45 minutes and had to wake up at 5am, or something. ;) He pushed on, regardless, to meet up with me (icormba) at the most convenient Starbucks location and the drive was on. The two of us met up with live2ride90 at another Starbucks just minutes from our destination.

Video:
Hopefully nobody will request 7 minutes of their lives back after watching this. p.s. video mark 1.29 is for you, @HizliBullet.
[ame]


Seeing a 959 in person was something of a delight, but who could have imagined seeing 5 in one spot?

Departure:
[ame]

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