3.7 Roadster, first impressions.
OK, here they are.
As you sit in the car, the depth of the dash strikes you. The hand brake looks as if it will be a problem as it's hidden away below the dash, but in practice, it's no worse than the Mk1 Roadster. The footwell is rather cramped. There's a metal channel covered with carpet covering the steering column & I found my foot fouling this when operating the clutch. You either have to use your toe or the side of your foot. I think it's something I will get used to.
The gears are very close together. The total side to side travel of the gear knob is about 1.12 inches (about 28mm to our continental friends) with about .35 inches (9mm) from centre to the left. The change felt fine & after 1/2 hour or so I found where the gears are!
The steering feels rather tight ( not heavy, just tight) as does the engine.
There's no need to worry about the dashboard display, it's so dim you can't see it!
The handbook is for the old model, so using the controls is largely guesswork. I still haven't found the heater control...
The underside of the dash is a lot tidier than the Mk1 roadster, which means I can't see what's rattling :-)
After doing 30,000 or so miles in the old Roadster, I expected to feel quite at home in this one, but it is a very different animal. But I think we will be friends!
Ian
Last edited by shiremog; 25/05/12 04:53 PM.
