Rose tinted glasses?
 

Hi guys,

I really miss having a CSL in my life. I've had an odd car history since i left the fold, from Honda NSX, to Brabus Smart ForTwo, to Golf R, to 997 C4S.

I like the Porsche a lot. I think the 997 is a beautiful shape and it's lowered on BBS so looks awesome on the road. However, i find the PDK boring and - well - i just haven't bonded with it.

However, i'm aware that going back to an old car can be a dangerous move because you remember the good bits and forget the foibles! Of course, the most contentious issue is the SMG gearbox. I remember it being quite fun at the time, but a few years on will it feel archaic? I remember the ride being tolerable, but nudging 30yo will i curse it on my boring 45 minute commute on the M20?

I'm really interested to hear from people who moved away from the CSL, and then came back. If there are any generous owners in SE London or surrounding areas i'd really appreciate a passenger ride to get the feel again - in return i have a 991 GT3 (if it floats your boat) i'd be happy to reciprocate the offer!

Also, what's the going rate? I'd want a SG one which is mechanically sound but not pampered; i would plan on ragging the shit out of it so no point starting with a garage queen. On that note, what do i have to bear in mind when you get above - say - 60k miles?

Sorry for all the questions! :beer:

Cheers,
Rob

I'll say that they are exciting as you remember. Maybe even more so as all modern cars gradually morph into generic whooshy turbo torque-mobiles, economical and quick, but not very characterful.

I wouldn't use a CSL on a dull 45 minute motorway commute though. Defeats the point a little.

do what ever floats your boat mate, you might miss the creature comforts though on your drive to work.
im in the SE area and would be happy to go for a spin over the xmas break

I came to a realisation that as each new generation of "modern" cars comes along, a little bit faster, a little bit quieter, more fuel efficient then it slowly makes older cars comparatively worse (in a few measurable areas).

What this means however is that each new model, driven at the same speed, becomes more numb and more separated from reality and in turn easier to drive.

So really as long as you're not one of those 1000bhp Skyline-drag-racer-my-car-is-faster-than-everyone's type people, a CSL is always going to be one of the loudest, most aggressive and most exciting BMWs ever made because people just won't buy and BMW won't make an NA revbeast again because of the ever-increasing list of safety, noise and emissions regulations that also appear with each generation.

I always put my car away for the winter, and after a while I start having the usual recurring thoughts going around my head e.g. Is it that good a car? And is it really that noisy, exciting, special, etc? Perhaps those not in the know on the likes of Cutters and PH are actually correct, and it is just an old 3-series repmobile with a few go-faster bits

Then the Cesil comes back out on the road again in the late Spring and tells me to man the feck up and stop asking stupid questions of it :gayfight:

Get one bought again, you know you have to! Although I'm not selling anytime soon

you dont want to listen the the muppets over there1

Hi Rob
This time 4 week ago had 997 gt3 rs and csl sitting in garage one had to go, the csl still in garage no regrets outing porker csl more fun.
In Sevenoaks if you want a run out sometime:thumbs::thumbs:

"fun"

thats the difference between the CSL and more modern cars

I sold mine because I moved to New York from Ireland for my job. I think about that car all the time:smt055

Hard to say if I'd go back though, plenty of great cars out there to try. I have a Porsche hankering.

if you can afford to have a few cars laying about the garage then why not have it as one of the stable but I wouldn't use it for a commute, it takes the fun and excitement and sense of occasion out of it.