Bfg Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 Define Grand Touring ? Do you mean sitting on a motorway at 120mph with barely enough time in the schedule to stop for a pee at the Autoroute's services, or do you mean enjoying the journey with good friends., taking the time to see the scenery., stopping occasionally for a fine pipe or to make a cup of English tea besides a bubbling stream., before winding your way through the pleasant villages & countryside and half way up the mountainside to a rather splendid little chateau ? ..Grand Touring as used to be when the phrase was first coined. Grand translates to Big, as in ; enjoying the journey over exceptional distance and wonderous diversity. Nothing to do with how big your fuel pump is ! ^ I drove my 3.3 ltr V6 Chrysler Voyager LWB auto down to Slovenia, where I was working at the time, and took with me books on audio - because I knew I'd be bored driving. Blue-Grey metallic, with blue-grey interior. "Effortless, pretty, airy, cosmopolitan, roomy, comfortable, and still largely undesirable (not to me) shite, Every box ticked". A truly superb and effortless vehicle - which didn't get near touching my soul. I did exactly the same journey in my little ol' Daimler V8.., and it was a very pleasant journey indeed. The car was much admired through every town we visited and it seemed as if other drivers were especially courteous. In black with chrome wires, with cream leather and walnut dashboard - she was lovely. The car added to the journey. It was not just the means of comfortable & efficient conveyance. forddeliveryboy, Lacquer Peel, eddyramrod and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bfg Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 I think Norfolk's just won the thread with that SLC. Effortless, pretty, airy, cosmopolitan, roomy, comfortable, and still largely undesirable (not to me) shite, Every box ticked. No I'd say the Dvee8's Daimler is clearly ahead on 'likes'. ..and which must be shite because it's not the Jaguar 3.8 with a Granny Ford chasing it ! DVee8 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghosty Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 mercrocker, NorfolkNWeigh, eddyramrod and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faker Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 You can have a wee spin in mine when it's finished if you want Mr fake...I'll hold you to that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honey Badger Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 No I'd say the Dvee8's Daimler is clearly ahead on 'likes'. ..and which must be shite because it's not the Jaguar 3.8 with a Ford Granada chasing it ! Yes but Dvee8s Daimler and your jag have too many doors vs the original posters requirements, there for cant be included. Modern shite GT, an SC430 might count. They look awful but could cover continents with ease with the Toyota V8 and the seats are soooo comfortable. The drawback is that you can only pack a spare pair of pants for the holiday due to tiny boot space. mercrocker and DVee8 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bfg Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 ^ yeah OK Ghostly I (almost) concede - That is a car I could really enjoy through the Alpine countries .. and with room enough for a box of cigars .. but is it a 'Grand Tourer' or just another stunningly attractive 'sports coupe' ? ..of which there are many fine examples. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bfg Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 how many doors ? mercrocker and RayMK 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twiggy Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 Not seen one of these yet... Honey Badger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeeExEll Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 Supposedly used for moonshine running by a crew called Dexy's Midnight Runners from Birmingham, Alabama. Steve Earl's song Copperhead Road sort of tells the story but it has to be played loud. brownnova, garethj, mercrocker and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surprisingskoda Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 I'll hold you to that! By all means. Due to be finished in January, all being well. I'd love to build myself a manual V8 6er some day, that would be just about perfect. Even an auto would be good. Ach no! now its stuck in my head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardmorris Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 Where did I mention a constant 70mph and what's all this physicality required to drive a 2cv unless parking in a small space with cheapo tyres, worn steering and other nasties? Is your clutch cable made of salami, the chassis of dubious provenance, iffy brakes and a gearlever tube lubricated with oil? I is mystified, and massively enjoy driving both. The little Cits should be so light to operate, if pre-1986 and in good order. And even some of the last ones aren't that bad. Neither car is a Grand Tourer. A Cit A-series is an oddity. A 124 is a humdrum saloon car/taxi made to high standards. Compared with a CX it's like an earnest, well-educated but hamfisted, angst-ridden teenage boy on his first date. A Citroën SM is a GT.The topic is about GT cars. Crossing Europe in a day or two. Try that in a 2cv and your ears will be ringing and nerves frayed. Physically you need to concentrate and plan well ahead, change gear frequently and be prepared for ignorant shits trying to park in the boot. Luggage for a fortnight plus space for ten cases of wine? Effortless is what make a GT . As in an sm not a 2cv. You're ignored Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bfg Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 ^ Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change? NorfolkNWeigh, eddyramrod, DVee8 and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddyramrod Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 Well if a Sherman was good enough for Oddball.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forddeliveryboy Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 The topic is about GT cars. Crossing Europe in a day or two. Try that in a 2cv and your ears will be ringing and nerves frayed. Physically you need to concentrate and plan well ahead, change gear frequently and be prepared for ignorant shits trying to park in the boot. Luggage for a fortnight plus space for ten cases of wine? Effortless is what make a GT . As in an sm not a 2cv.You're ignored Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorfolkNWeigh Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 Just don't mention these in front of Oddball eddyramrod 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forddeliveryboy Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 Anyone mentioned MGFs yet? Not sure if there's room for ten cases of wine and suitcases like in a rotary-engined Ami coupe, but I'd hoon across Europe in one. With the suspension units still in good order, comfortable at speed over all sorts of road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bfg Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 Well if a Sherman was good enough for Oddball.... "No more than 2 doors, must have had style, grace and some pace in its day. not overly sporty but should be reasonably involving to drive and make a nice noise." ^ Seems like the Sherman fits the bill, and even doesn't have too many doors to be classed as a GT.. Also well proven to drive across Europe ! ..and who the flock needs roads ? eddyramrod and They_all_do_that_sir 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownnova Posted December 22, 2016 Share Posted December 22, 2016 Comfy, swift, and plenty of room for wine. What else could one require! Jim Bergerac, M'coli, NorfolkNWeigh and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bfg Posted December 22, 2016 Share Posted December 22, 2016 ^ a fuel bowser as a follow up vehicle ? ... and a great big opening sunroof would be nice too (..or a Porsche Targa) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DVee8 Posted December 22, 2016 Share Posted December 22, 2016 Paaaahhhhhh to many doors...OKAY then mercrocker and They_all_do_that_sir 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeeExEll Posted December 22, 2016 Share Posted December 22, 2016 Le Kowalski off to le boulangerie for some baguettes. 6am and been up for 48 hours. eddyramrod, ShiteRider and danthecapriman 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Breadvan72 Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 I did a European Grand Tour in a Jensen Interceptor II, back in 2010. London to the Abruzzo and back. It was great fun. The ideal grand tourer should waft you from one Martini to the next, with room for a blonde and her extensive luggage on board. Sadly, Interceptors have since become mucho spenner. Here is the car in Burgundy and in Umbria. Naturally, there was a good deal of this sort of thing:- I also did a long tour in a Fiat Coupe Turbo, which was ace, and some manky Hyundai, which was crap. Another option would be a late model Lotus Excel, but a rusty XJS is perhaps the most Autoshitey choice. mercrocker, They_all_do_that_sir, ShiteRider and 8 others 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cort16 Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 There's a nice bit on Interceptors on Jay Lenos garage this week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghosty Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 Supposedly used for moonshine running by a crew called Dexy's Midnight Runners from Birmingham, Alabama. Steve Earl's song Copperhead Road sort of tells the story but it has to be played loud. It does have a bit of 'eye lean', doesn't it? One up, one down. Alanism 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheggers Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 Ahem... Sent from my SM-A310F using Tapatalk Skizzer and They_all_do_that_sir 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
They_all_do_that_sir Posted December 27, 2016 Author Share Posted December 27, 2016 Ahem... Sent from my SM-A310F using TapatalkThese seem nowhere near as expensive as I thought. They also scare the shit out of me. I bet they are easy* to fix Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bub2006 Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 Supposedly used for moonshine running by a crew called Dexy's Midnight Runners from Birmingham, Alabama. Steve Earl's song Copperhead Road sort of tells the story but it has to be played loud. I thought you could only play Copperhead Road full tilt! mercrocker 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheggers Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 These seem nowhere near as expensive as I thought. They also scare the shit out of me. I bet they are easy* to fix Sent from my D6603 using TapatalkParts can be buttock-clenchingly pricey. Mechanically they're not much more complex than any other modern, electronically controlled motor, but some of the toys (especially the roof) can be complicated and over engineered - The car has 2 batteries, one for starting and a separate one for all the other shit. The problem is that they are now very affordable, so a lot of folks buy them and neglect the servicing and maintenance. Try to find one with a solid service history and respectable amount of owners and you should be OK. Sent from my SM-A310F using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bfg Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 ^ I'd still prefer the 1960's S-type Jag straight six manual with overdrive with it's leather aroma and burr walnut dash and door cappings ..never mind the jet age I like props ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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