Grand Touring ideas

[herr_oberst]

Took the Carrera on a 1200 mile trip last weekend, I had a lot of fun, no problems, but had plenty of time to think.

Obviously, this car is no Grand Touring car - it's noisy, hot, and I always feel that I need to be the slowest car in a group no matter how fast or slow the traffic is moving because my feeling (right or wrong) is that a cop would be most likely to give the guy in the Porsche the ticket. They aren't exactly everywhere on I84 between Boise and Portland.

So what would a good Grand Touring car look like?

It would have to be fast, and handle very well at 80 to 100 mph. It would have to be comfortable, and quiet with a really nice stereo system. It would need to be reliable, and also, parts would need to be available in case it did break down. It would have to be invisible to cops and it would have to have a good range (I really like driving 400 miles at a time with no stops). And, it would also have to appeal to like-minded enthusiasts.

What would a modern 928 look like? The new Cadillacs? Probably not, too avante-garde looking. I think something from GM like a Buick in a dark grey color would be more or less invisible to the cops. The problem is, it is a GM product. Anybody have any ideas? Anybody ever build up a GT car from something cool that fits those criteria?

[masraum]

Audi? They are, to me, pretty plain compared to a Porsche, Mercedes, BMW or ever Volvo's these days (Well, before they added the LED eye liner to the headlights). Maybe one of the old boxy Volvo station wagons. Two other choices, Ford Crown Victoria or Chevy Impala in white with steel wheels.

[Talewinds]

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by Talewinds

Perfect. Now, make it easy to get parts in Marsing, Idaho, invisible to cops and affordable and we will have something. (The attributes of the Bentley in the shell of the Caprice)

[Heel n Toe]

[Talewinds]

"The attributes of the Bentley in the shell of the Caprice"

It's painful how right you are.

(As a side note, to mirror your comments above regarding the need to be the slow car in the group, I was recently plucked from an interstate FULL of cars, all doing roughly 80. I was the lucky winner of the ticket, I accept that. Or was my Carrera the lucky winner of the ticket? Coincidence? I have my doubts.)

[Talewinds]

WTF is that? A G8 GT with Breytons?
I like the monotone color scheme. Subtle.
Your car?

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by Heel n Toe

Yep, something like this, but with the stealth turned up one or two notches. Maybe a more subtle wheel/tire package, and perhaps lose the scoops?

[Heel n Toe]

Not my car... just a pic I found.

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Yep, something like this, but with the stealth turned up one or two notches. Maybe a more subtle wheel/tire package, and perhaps lose the scoops?

Well then... all the heavy lifting has been done. You should be able to handle those minor details. Chop, chop.

[MattKellett]

I love touring my Passat W8 wagon. I have the standard suspension so it's a fairly cushy ride.

No one takes a second look at this thing, but with a 6.5 sec 0-60 and limited at 155 it flies. Last trip we took from San Jose to Vegas with 3 adults was so easy I'm not sure why anyone would fly with all the hassle that flying this days entails.

This car is smooth and whisper quiet at 85, in fact its too smooth and powerful that it's very easy to be zipping along at 95 and not even realize.

[gprsh924]

330, M3, 540/545...any of those in a subtle color

While my 525 doesn't quite fit the "fast" criteria, it runs all day at 90-100 without breaking a sweat. I would love to see it with 50-100 more hp

[daepp]

The Lexus SC430. Not visually striking, runs like a sewing machine, convertible hard top, phenomenally comfortable ride.

Say what you want about Lexus, they make fast comfortable reliable cars.

[Talewinds]

Volvo S60R
If you're not familiar with or inspected the interior quality/appointments in this car it's worth a look. The only downside is that a similar year and vastly superior E63 AMG can be had for about the same coin.

[herr_oberst]

The Lexus got me thinking. This might be what I'm looking for. GS300. Get one of these in a dark green, or brown, keep it stock, not top of the line Lexus, not a Camry either.

Plenty of go, smooth, quiet, capable, stealthy,

To me, the idea of a Grand Tour, is to be able to cruise the long stretches of interstate at a decent clip without attracting attention.

[livi]

Panamera.


Seriously.

[pwd72s]

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by livi

Panamera.


Seriously.

Panamera or Maserati negates the stealth factor.

[pwd72s]

As long as the road was straight...one of these would roll 80-90 all day.

[daepp]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Isn't that a GS?