Tall drivers - advice wanted (road trip content)

philgarner · Aug 4, 2015

Ok guys, we're on a serious road trip in the GS. Wife, kids and all our stuff (including special needs buggy) for one week. Drove from Croydon to Bitburg (near Nurburgring) yesterday. About 320 miles. Doing about 21mpg I think.

So the fact you can do this at all in a 400ps sports car is pretty good, but I've got some gripes.

First, it is way too hard. Every bit of road surface that isn't perfect causes a grimace. Surely it shouldn't be like this? I had it loaded down with stuff, obviously, but still. I couldn't keep up with a V6 Touraeg TDI on the autobahn as I was worried about the state of the road and it throwing me off. It doesn't pull or have any other unusual handling traits.

The other bits are tall guy problems. Pedals are too close, but I have an Alfa cruise stalk to retrofit to cope with that. Finally the seatbelt rubs on my collarbone and makes it very uncomfortable. Anyone else have this?

Maseratiman · Aug 4, 2015

x 2 for the pedals - they are deadly! I have nearly accelerated into a wall when parking by pressing wrong pedal!

Non sports mode makes ride quite smooth for us, though I haven't driven longer than hour or so. Though I do have front linkages to sort out as there is a knock down there and its clunky now..

Havent noticed the collarbone thing - I'm 6'2" - could the leather thing on the side of the seat hold the belt differently somehow? or a chair forward/back job?

Sham83 · Aug 4, 2015

sounds like you need to upgrade to a GTS!

Maseratiman · Aug 4, 2015

OK, lets swap cars.

2b1ask1 · Aug 4, 2015

Virtually the same height but all legs, cruise helps a lot seriously think about driving barefoot or get some racing boots, I find this really helps on long journeys in any vehicle.

Yes I totally get the seatbelt rubbing just over the t-shirt collar! Adjust the top mount all the way down on your side and think about getting a soft sleeve from a supermarket/Halfrauds type place.

And as suggested keep it out of sports. The GS has even lower profile tyres than the 4200 I think, this is probably adding to the stress!

Good luck and I hope it gets better for you.

philgarner · Aug 4, 2015

Sham83 said:
sounds like you need to upgrade to a GTS!

Ha I would but definitely out of budget! But that said, I liked the compromise the GS offers but still find it is too hard to exploit the performance on roads where you can. Perhaps I need to go through the bushes and replace it all.

Emtee · Aug 4, 2015

The GS is a funny old codger when fully occupied. Despite its 'sporty' designation it's still quite softly sprung, so if you're loaded up you'll have little left to smooth the ride, and the low profile tyres won't help. Did it feel taily? Passengers in the back, a full boot and compressed springs would do this as the back end weight becomes a bit of a pendulum? As for the seat belt, have you adjusted the height in the door pillar?

safrane · Aug 4, 2015

I feel your pain, this is the main reason I have struggled to bond with the GS in comparison to my two previous 4200's; so much so I would, if the choice came again, plump for a 4200 and have a smoother ride and Â£10k in my pocket.

Retro fitting some 18" wheels from the 4200 may make it better, but would look a little out of place.

Maseratiman · Aug 4, 2015

I don't want to hijack as OP needs answers but is it worth doing a suspension bush (is that what they're called) change all round be a worthwhile job on a 2005 GS - how hard a job for a mechanic is this? Mines going in for front ARB linkage change so wondered if worth doing at same time..

Emtee · Aug 4, 2015

Yes 18" wheels would help, but so would different spring rates for straight line comfort. ARB's as well if you want to improve the cornering, but it depends how far you want to go.

Emtee · Aug 4, 2015

Maseratiman said:
I don't want to hijack as OP needs answers but is it worth doing a suspension bush (is that what they're called) change all round be a worthwhile job on a 2005 GS - how hard a job for a mechanic is this? Mines going in for front ARB linkage change so wondered if worth doing at same time..

Assuming they've not been changed before, then renewing the bushes has to be a prudent move on a 10 year old car, but this won't change the characteristics of the handling as such. Just depends how far you want to go to make the car behave as you want rather than how it was designed.

mjheathcote · Aug 4, 2015

Seeing as the springs on the GS are the same as the '03 on 4200, it's down to the silly, style over function, made of cheese, 19 inch wheels!

philgarner · Aug 4, 2015

Seatbelt - yep tried the height and have one of those pad things but it is still annoying. I can live with it though if I had cruise.

Just trying to imagine the factory guys taking up in the hills above modena and thing "yeah, this feels about right". I just can't see it!

Its not just when its loaded, I've driven it on b roads just me and it is a bit better, but still too hard. Sure it'd work on a track but in a car like this you want the power to be usable on roads where you can - A/B roads out in the sticks.

safrane · Aug 4, 2015

As I said, the ride is v.poor on all but the best roads... and more so in Sports mode

Maseratiman · Aug 4, 2015

Ref the bushes - are they rubber that goes harder over time and new ones are softer or will I be replacing like for like (and ride will feel the same)

Emtee · Aug 4, 2015

I find your experiences surprising Phil? Believe me, they're comparatively cr@p on a track, so that's not a saving grace. What tyres are you running? Do you know if it's been dropped on its original springs?

Steve GS · Aug 4, 2015

When I first got my gs I drive to Monaco and back over 2k miles and enjoyed every mile. I haven't bought a luxury saloon and it loved the twisty roads on route Napolian sport mode all the way.

philgarner · Aug 4, 2015

Emtee said:
I find your experiences surprising Phil? Believe me, they're comparatively cr@p on a track, so that's not a saving grace. What tyres are you running? Do you know if it's been dropped on its original springs?

Only had it a few weeks, it has Marshal Matrac (I know, I know) tyres on the front, look pretty new, Kumho Ecstas on the back (prob half worn).

Don't think it has been lowered, it looks low but then they all do.

Emtee · Aug 4, 2015

You and me too Steve. Route Napoleon and the is it the 997 down? Fabulous and not at all harsh, though we weren't really loaded up with stuff.

MAF260 · Aug 4, 2015

philgarner said:
Only had it a few weeks, it has Marshal Matrac (I know, I know) tyres on the front, look pretty new, Kumho Ecstas on the back (prob half worn).

Don't think it has been lowered, it looks low but then they all do.

Sounds like some real ditch-finders! Get some decent rubber on the car all round and get the geometry checked and set up. I guarantee you'll notice a significant difference.

Tall drivers - advice wanted (road trip content)

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