100 2.8 V6 auto (fwd)

[Joff <jjr21@hermes.cam.ac.uk>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 22 Jan 1995 21:20:19 +0000 (GMT)
From: Joff <jjr21@hermes.cam.ac.uk>
To: dans@ans.net
Subject: 100 2.8 V6 auto


Being English, I find the 2.8 litre six cylinder quite adequate where an 
American might prefer a V8 of somewhat larger capacity; the automatic 
transmission is certainly a boon, however, allowing me to drive 
cross-legged while in London or on long distance drives.

Recently I took it to the German formula 1 Grand Prix at Hockenheim, 
altogether a distance of nearly 1,000 miles from my home in 
Northumberland, a return trip of about 1,900! And this in three days, 
including one in which to watch the race, and several upon an English 
Channel ferry.

The car performed superbly. My only complaint is the average petrol 
consumption; I have not worked it out, but we drank $700 of what you 
fellows call gas. That equates to around 12 mpg.

The reason is simple: in America I understand the highways are sadly 
restricted. In France and Germany they are barren and unregulated. 
Between Reims and Calais, a distance of 180 miles, we averaged 110 
m.p.h., including a fuel stop to replenish the 18 gallon tank. Cruising 
at between 110 and 140 m.p.h. (maximum indicated was 145), the car was 
always sure-footed, smooth and confident. Never did I take the gearbox 
out of 'D' (although I enjoy tugging it down on the country roads around 
my farm) and never, even in very fast, tight bends was there any 
discombulation of the suspension to perturb me.

The car will accelerate rapidly to about 125, and beyond that it merely 
gathers pace with reassuring force. Despite hours cruising at speeds well 
in excess of 125 m.p.h., the temperature needle remained rock solid, a 
steadiness equalled only by the other guages: oil temp. and pressure 
similarly refused to fluctuate. The car is a consumate cruiser - capable 
of speeds which make the train appear slow and the aeroplane needlessly 
expensive, it was a thrill to give the car its head on the European 
continent. Here in Great Britain, it will blow the doors off pretenders 
with nothing more than a determined stab at the accelerator. I recommend 
the purchase of this car to all concerned; as far as I care, the lack of 
a three-pointed star or blue and white propeller make it more discreet 
and less offensive: less likely to attract the unwarranted attention of 
the law and the thieves. You Americans like chrome, but without such 
superfluous details, painted in metallic black, the car is a veritable 
stealth bomber.