malthouse meet Thursday14th August (official thread)

[Lady Elanore]

As a comparison, I used to get around 43-45mpg out of my Octy 140 Tdi, if you can use that as an example of how heavy footed I am in a known car.

[Blade404]

Haven't you heard? CO2's warm the planet and given our rubbish weather we need to produce more!

But it's still 2.0 diesel, my mates Lexus 220d (2.2)does 47-50mpg on the motorway and he doesn't hang around.

On track I think the Octy vRS is still faster though.

The low down torque from my Focus is very diesel like, but much much better.

[Blade404]

Originally Posted by Lady Elanore

As a comparison, I used to get around 43-45mpg out of my Octy 140 Tdi, if you can use that as an example of how heavy footed I am in a known car.

Maybe you should get some lighter shoes?

[Lady Elanore]

I have rear wheel drive, bye bye Octy on the track, oh and 50/50 weight balance.


I have had 47 mpg over around 400 miles once but I was taking it easy

[Blade404]

Originally Posted by Lady Elanore

I have rear wheel drive, bye bye Octy on the track, oh and 50/50 weight balance.

Clicky... Not an extensive amount of data... but a start.

[Lady Elanore]

Originally Posted by Blade404

Clicky... Not an extensive amount of data... but a start.

You see now I will have to start digging around in my old Autocar copies for their test track data.

[Lady Elanore]

Which spec 123 was it? The one in the picture looks like a series 1


Just read about their testing methods, very dubious to say the least. but it's interesting how similar the lap times are.

[Blade404]

Originally Posted by Lady Elanore

Which spec 123 was it? The one in the picture looks like a series 1

Series 1?? The 123d only came out in Sept 07 didn't think they'd revised it at all?

[Lady Elanore]

Originally Posted by Blade404

Series 1?? The 123d only came out in Sept 07 didn't think they'd revised it at all?

That’s my point. The picture is of a car with the series 1 fog lights I think.


We will have to write to TG and get them to let Stiggy loose on the same day with both cars………… perhaps they wouldn’t be interested mind you

[Blade404]

Originally Posted by Lady Elanore

Which spec 123 was it? The one in the picture looks like a series 1


Just read about their testing methods, very dubious to say the least. but it's interesting how similar the lap times are.

Lap times
Main purpose for FastestLaps.com - Road legal sportscar lap times, stats, pictures and more! is to collect lap times from different tracks for different cars. All lap times seen in this portal are collected from various trusted sources - mainly automotive TV shows and car magazines. All hot laps are performed by professional racing drivers and cars are pushed to the limits.

Well considering power outputs of the 2 are pretty close, but you are carrying a 100kg weight penalty over the Octy...

[Blade404]

Originally Posted by Lady Elanore

That’s my point. The picture is of a car with the series 1 fog lights I think.


We will have to write to TG and get them to let Stiggy loose on the same day with both cars………… perhaps they wouldn’t be interested mind you

I wouldn't go by the pic of the car at all.. just look at the octy.

[Lady Elanore]

Originally Posted by Blade404

Lap times
Main purpose for FastestLaps.com - Road legal sportscar lap times, stats, pictures and more! is to collect lap times from different tracks for different cars. All lap times seen in this portal are collected from various trusted sources - mainly automotive TV shows and car magazines. All hot laps are performed by professional racing drivers and cars are pushed to the limits.

Well considering power outputs of the 2 are pretty close, but you are carrying a 100kg weight penalty over the Octy...

I think the better traction and balance of the car will make up for that, but they don’t test with the same driver and on the same day by the looks of it. Plus they don’t say which 123 they tested. But in any event, it shows how much times have changed when a standard diesel is posting figures similar to a turbo petrol gti and reducing emission and increasing mpg along the way (doesn’t sound as good though). Now if only I could get a 5.0 V8 petrol that did 45 mpg and produced less than 120gms emissions

[Lady Elanore]

Originally Posted by Blade404

I wouldn't go by the pic of the car at all.. just look at the octy.

I was really curious if they had used the sporting 123M or not

[Blade404]

Looking at this.. clicky.. the two are fairly close, and the 130i will do the 'Ring in 8:35 and the top gear track in 1:31.9.. so 123d shouldn't be that far behind...

Focus ST will do the 'Ring in 8:35 as well, and a wet lap of the Top Gear track is 1:34.9

[Blade404]

Originally Posted by Lady Elanore

I was really curious if they had used the sporting 123M or not

It's not the site doing the testing, they're purely collating data.

[Lady Elanore]

Originally Posted by Blade404

Looking at this.. clicky.. the two are fairly close, and the 130i will do the 'Ring in 8:35 and the top gear track in 1:31.9.. so 123d shouldn't be that far behind...

Focus ST will do the 'Ring in 8:35 as well, and a wet lap of the Top Gear track is 1:34.9

Funnily enough the 123D has better weight distribution than the 130i.

I was hoping Andy was going to buy the 135 Coupe but it doesn’t look likely now

[Blade404]

Originally Posted by Lady Elanore

I think the better traction and balance of the car will make up for that, but they don’t test with the same driver and on the same day by the looks of it. Plus they don’t say which 123 they tested. But in any event, it shows how much times have changed when a standard diesel is posting figures similar to a turbo petrol gti and reducing emission and increasing mpg along the way (doesn’t sound as good though).

Granted its pretty impressive... I still prefer the sound of my 5 pot though

[Blade404]

Originally Posted by Lady Elanore

Funnily enough the 123D has better weight distribution than the 130i.

I was hoping Andy was going to buy the 135 Coupe but it doesn’t look likely now

Really not keen on the coupe, I don't mind the convertible but I much prefer the hatchback.

Shame the 135i is limited to the coupe as well.

[Lady Elanore]

Originally Posted by Blade404

Really not keen on the coupe, I don't mind the convertible but I much prefer the hatchback.

Shame the 135i is limited to the coupe as well.

I don't mind the Coupe looks, but the folding down seats in the hatch is more useful to me than the bigger boot of the Coupe.


On a separate note......


Good grief they give ZERO FL points to the following cars!!!

Porsche 944 TurboS (isn’t that the car that Derek Bell loves?)
Impreza GT Turbo (I know 4x4s aren’t necessarily great on tracks, but come on)
Ford Focus 2.0
Audi RS6
Lotus Exige
Esprit 350


I don’t think I credit the site too much after that little lot and there are many many more like that……. Diablo 0 points! Presumably they didn’t do enough laps as they say that cars that don’t do 10, are discounted.

[Lady Elanore]

I like all the odd cylinder engines sounds, 3, 5 and V5 all sound really interesting.

[Blade404]

Originally Posted by Lady Elanore

[color=magenta]On a separate note......

Good grief they give ZERO FL points to the following cars!!!

Porsche 944 TurboS (isn’t that the car that Derek Bell loves?)
Impreza GT Turbo (I know 4x4s aren’t necessarily great on tracks, but come on)
Ford Focus 2.0
Audi RS6
Lotus Exige
Esprit 350


I don’t think I credit the site too much after that little lot and there are many many more like that……. Diablo 0 points! Presumably they didn’t do enough laps as they say that cars that don’t do 10, are discounted.

You have to bare in mind that they are limited by the data that has been submitted for those cars... they aren't out to test every car, simply collate as much data in one place as possible, and Focus 2.0 well they are rubbish anyway don't need that site to tell me that.

[Lady Elanore]

At first I thought it was an authoritative site, but full credit to them for making the effort. Wish they had more data and write ups about the cars. They have some very lovely cars on their books.

Do you think we might have gone a little OT btw?

[Blade404]

Originally Posted by Lady Elanore

At first I thought it was an authoritative site, but full credit to them for making the effort. Wish they had more data and write ups about the cars. They have some very lovely cars on their books.

Do you think we might have gone a little OT btw?

It's more like wikipedia for cars...

Just a little OT I did consider suggesting we move the convo to the wait for it thread...