Volkswagen Golf GTi 2012

 

Seen in Manchester on the Cathedral car park, this dark grey icon, the Volkswagen Golf GTi. With a 2.0l Turbo 4-cylinder engine and 210bhp, the GTi covers 0-62 in 6.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 149mph or 235km/h

Ford Focus RS 2009

 

Parked in Old Trafford, the Ford Focus RS with a 2.5l  straight 5-cylinder, 305bhp, 0-62 in 5.9 seconds and top speed of 163mph or 262km/h.

Chevrolet Camaro V8 2013

 

Still in Old Trafford tonight, with one of United's sponsors, Chevrolet. This particular one is a brand new Camaro V8 Convertible in white with red stripes! 6.2 V8 engine and 405bhp!!! 5.4 seconds to complete 0=62 and a limited top speed of 155mph (250km/h)

Audi R8 V8 2007

 

Picture taken on the car park at Old Trafford before the match Manchester United - Liverpool. This is an Audi R8 V8 with an unusual matte black roof. As usual with the V8, we have a 4.2l engine with 420bhp. It can reach 62mph in 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 187mph (300km/h).

Volkswagen Phaeton 3.0 TDi 2011

Here is the big Volkswagen Phaeton. This is a great looking executive car which is, I believe, very under-rated. It is a very well equipped, quality car, which is indeed rather expensive. The VW badge on that type of car struggles to compete with its German cousins Mercedes S-class, BMW 7-series and Audi A8! That is why you don't see many of them around. This particular one has a "small" diesel engine - 3.0 V6 TDi with 237bhp- but if you need more power, you can still opt for the W12 version with 444bhp! With the V6 diesel power plant, you will reach 62mph in 8.3 seconds and a top speed of 147mph or 237km/h.

Porsche Cayenne Diesel

 

Another Porsche Cayenne spotted in Knutsford, diesel this time. 3.0 V6 TDI producing 240bhp, 0-62 in 7.8 seconds and top speed of 135mph (217km/h)

Mercedes CL500

 

We had the older model a few days ago, now a more recent 2007 Mercedes CL500. 5.5 V8, 388bhp, 0-62 in 5.5 seconds and top speed of 155mph (250km/h), not bad for such a big coupe (well a 3-door S-class really!!!)

Bentley Continental GTC V8

 



In Manchester again, a Bentley Continental GTC, this one with the V8 engine, not the W12. the V8 is a 4.0l engine with 507bhp. 0-62 takes 4.7 seconds and the top speed is 187mph or 301km/h. That's a very fast convertible!

Porsche 911 Carrera 4S

 

Here we have a Porsche 911 Carrera 4S seen in Manchester. The 4S has a 3.8 flat 6 engine with 385bhp. 0-62 takes 4.7 seconds and the top speed is 185mph (298km/h)

Ford Mondeo ST220

Rarer than an Aston Martin DB9 according to Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear (Series 8): a Ford Mondeo ST220. Under the bonnet, it has a  3.0 V6 with 226bhp. As far as performance is concerned, 0-62 in 7.6 seconds and top speed of 155mph (250km/h).

BMW M6 V8

 

A new BMW M6 seen near St Ann Square. This new M6 has a 552bhp, 4.4l twin-turbo V8 engine. It is capable of 0-62 in 4.2 seconds and of a top speed of 155mph (250km/h) electronically limited. As mentioned in a previous post, the car is also available with what BMW call the "M Driver's Package" which removes the electronic speed limit and allows the driver to reach 189mph (304km/h).

Peugeot RCZ

 

Up King Street in Manchester, third French car of the blog, the little 2-seater sport coupe, the Peugeot RCZ. The RCZ is what I had been waiting for, always wondering why more affordable makes couldn't produce nice and affordable, sporty looking, everyday cars. Well in my opinion, Peugeot did just that. This particular model has the 2.0 HDi 4-cylinder engine which produces 163bhp: 0-62 is covered in 8.7 seconds and the top speed is 137mph (220km/h). But the main attraction with this RCZ -apart from its look- is the fact that it is economical. You can probably achieve about 45mpg on combined cycles, road tax is around £120 a year and the car itself costs from around £23,500 new.

I know, it still is a Peugeot, but for the price, I do think it is worth it!

Aston Martin DBS

And another one, my dream car, the Aston Martin DBS seen on Deansgate Manchester. As usual, under the bonnet there is a 6.0 V12 engine with 510bhp. 0-62 takes 4.3 seconds, and the top speed is 191mph (307km/h)

Porsche Cayenne GTS

 

Seen on one of Knutsford side street, this is a (dirty) Porsche Cayenne GTS. The GTS isn't the top of the range Cayenne but it still has a 4.8 V8 producing 405bhp and is capable of covering the 0-62 in 6.1 seconds with a top speed of 157mph (253km/h)

Dream car for many, this is far from being mine!

Mercedes CL500

Parked in a side street in Alderley Edge, a Mercedes CL500 with a 5.0 V8 306bhp: 0-62 in 7.3 seconds and top speed of 155mph (250km/h)

BMW 640d

Seen in Alderley Edge a few months ago, a new shape 6-series BMW: the 640d. Under the bonnet there is a 3.0 diesel 6-cylinder with 313bhp: 0-62 in 5.3 seconds and a top speed of 155mph (250km/h) Good mix of look, performance and economy for BMW lovers!

5,000 already!!!

Once more, thank you all for your interest and continued support! I didn't think I would reach 5,000 views after just a few months! I do hope that you enjoy the content of my blog and if you have any suggestions, questions or anything to say about cars, make sure you leave a comment!

 

E.

Ferrari F430 Spider

 

Seen in Wilmslow, a Ferrari F430 Spider with a 4.3 V8 and 483bhp. 0-62 is covered in 4.1 seconds and the top speed is 193mph (311km/h)
Where are the keys...?!?!?!

Nissan GTR

Today, seen in the car park of the Trafford Center, a Nissan GTR. The Japanese muscle car has a  3.8 V6 with 479bhp, which allows it astonishing performance: 0-62 in 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 193mph (311km/h). On the Nurburgring, the GTR completed its lap in 7:24.22, faster than a Ferrari Enzo or a Maserati MC12, and all that for a fraction of the price!!!

Rover 3500 Vanden Plas EFi

 

Back to the Classics Tatton show today, with a rare Rover 3500 Vanden Plas EFi (only 24 left on UK roads!) This one rolled out of the production lines in 1984, and is the top of the range model. According to www.roversd1.info, the Vanden Plas SD1 (or 3500) was "basically a more luxurious version of the Rover Vitesse, using the same engine, suspension and brakes but with the Vanden Plas specification bodyshell." I must however say that having researched the different models online, I didn't manage to come across a 3500 with such body kit. I therefore presume that it is custom-made.

The car should have a 3.5 V8 engine with 190bhp: 0-62 in 8.2 seconds and top speed of 130mph (209km/h)

Lotus Elise

Back to the car park of the Tatton Classic Cars show with this Lotus Elise. With a 1.8l engine, 122bhp and a weight of only 1,000kg, the little Elise can reach 62mph in just 5.7 seconds for a top speed of 128mph (206km/h). Once again, a great car to take out on a track day!

Vauxhall Monaro

Vauxhall Monaro spotted at the Trafford Center. 5.7 V8 with 328bhp. 0-62 in 6 seconds and 165mph (265km/h) top speed.

Insider 14 - Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante

Aston Martin again, DB9 from the outside yesterday, V8 Vantage convertible from the inside today!
Enjoy!