Is this what it feels like to be a noob?

[Motu]

I've been driving an NX Coupe this week,and after the Pajero it feels light and nimble...I was thinking I better try it out on some more challenging roads.So seeing as I need the Pajero to haul some stuff on sunday,I decided to take the long way home - SH22.

I stop for a leak at Mercer,go over the Caesar Roose Bridge and up to SH22 via Mercer Ferry Rd.It's dark,kinda wet/damp/dry and the lights are hopless on the Nissan,and just after Pukekawa I pick up a ute,then something with driving lights gets up my arse.The ute pulls over and I get on with it,but the guy behind is pushing and he goes past - it's a new Toyota ute with CAT on the side.Shit,is he haulin' arse!! I guess I'm still not fully mature yet and I say I'm gunna stick with him - not a hope in hell.I know 22 pretty well,but not in the dark,and my lights don't give me much idea of what's going on.I push the NX as hard as I can,totaly too fast for the conditions,I'm into the corners deep before I realise where they are going,I'm hanging on by the skin of my teeth.By Glenn Murray he's on the ridge as I start to climb,by Thunder Valley he's gone,never to be seen again.But I have a fun time pushing the little car all the way home,down to Huntly via Heatherington Rd.

Now don't take it that I was being dangerous,I was pushing the car's and my limits a bit,but the car was sticking to the road,and I was well within my ability to cope with most situations that could crop up - I even managed to swerve mid corner to miss a possum.I think I am actualy a better car driver than bike rider....just that bikes are more fun.

But I imagine that this situation is what the 250 riders get into on a group ride - to chase the hare.So ok,my libido may have gone missing,but the old male competition spirit is still alive and well.....I knew what I was doing....but if I wasn't aware of the whole situation I can imagine getting sucked in way over my head.

Oh boy - to be owned in a sporty coupe by a bloody truck!! Oh the shame,the shame!

[Sniper]

Se la Vie, life goes on.

[sAsLEX]

Oh boy - to be owned in a sporty coupe by a bloody truck!! Oh the shame,the shame!

If you have seen DSS hustle a truck down 22 you wouldnt be to ashamed

[Motu]

I haven't been able to check out one of these new Toyota utes yet,this one was obviously a V6,not sure if it was 4x4 or not - but as someone who drives a 4x4 everyday it's hard to imagine it handling that well.Guess he knows the road better than me....and better lights too of course.

[onearmedbandit]

Nissan NX-Coupe and 'sporty coupe'? No no no no no no. C'mon Motu.

[Shadows]

I was well within my ability to cope with most situations that could crop up - I even managed to swerve mid corner to miss a possum.

Surely you mean you managed to swerve mid corner to hit a possum don't you?!?!!?

[Kickaha]

I haven't been able to check out one of these new Toyota utes yet,this one was obviously a V6,not sure if it was 4x4 or not - but as someone who drives a 4x4 everyday it's hard to imagine it handling that well.Guess he knows the road better than me....and better lights too of course.

I run one of the new Hilux Diesels 2WD and they can be hustled along fairly quick, they'll hit 160kmh+ with two bikes on the back (closed private road testing of course) and the V6 obviously faster again, brakes aren't quite as good as the previous model and they roll around on the stock tyres, but a upgrade tobigger wheels and lower profile made a world of difference

[Motu]

Nissan NX-Coupe and 'sporty coupe'? No no no no no no. C'mon Motu.

I've certainly never considered the NX Coupe as sporty - I drive a lot of vehicles every day,but just a quick blat around the block for a WoF,and a max of 5km around the back streets for test drives,but it's only a quick impression.Using the NX on my daily 85km commute has shown a different side,and I suspected it might be better than I thought.It's a well balanced little package,even with crappy Enduro tyres (although on 185-70x13,standard are just 155s) the front stayed planted,no understeer,no torquesteer,even in the wet,and with the shorter,lower and lighter coupe body there is none of the body roll and then breakaway you get with a sedan body.It is an auto,so that was a major disadvantage.As far as any small Nissan built on the Sentra/Pulsar platform with a GA engine,the NX Coupe with the GA16DE is one of the best,most we get are GA15 with throttle body injection,the GA16DE is multipoint,and has provision for variable valve timing,although I've never seen one fitted....also found in the N14 Pulsar.

I got the impression of a learner rider on a 250 seeing another bike pull effortlessly away,and the harder I tried to keep up the more trouble I got into...and if I really was a learner,or inexperianced then I certainly might have come to grief.I thought it was kinda funny to tap into my more imature self...stand back and watch him make a mess of it all and get cleaned up by a pickup.

[Lou Girardin]

I think I am actualy a better car driver than bike rider....just that bikes are more fun.

Same here, funny that.

[Lazy7]

an NX coupe wouldn't keep up with one of those hilux's in a straight line let alone around corners. they are making them with over 200kw now and that nx coupe probably lucky if its got 75kw.

plus with the wider track, bigger tyres etc and with somebody behind the wheel who knows the corners - it was probably over before it begun.

as they say - never bring a small hatch back to a gun fight

[Lazy7]

Same here, funny that.

ditto.

10 chars

[sAsLEX]

I haven't been able to check out one of these new Toyota utes yet,this one was obviously a V6,not sure if it was 4x4 or not - but as someone who drives a 4x4 everyday it's hard to imagine it handling that well.Guess he knows the road better than me....and better lights too of course.

I driven one, and they hustle fair well, mine was a diesel turbo one, only thing I thought was weird that the engine had what I would call "inertia" in that the you would have to throttle on off earlier than petrol I am used to.

But while towing a big tandem axle horse float packed to the gunnels I hardly needed to change gears for hills, hustled very well considering the load I was towing.

[Motu]

We are talking 16 years age difference,so kinda a no show in that dept anyway.There is a whole world of difference between my old '89 Pajero and a Series 2A Landrover or FJ40 Landcruiser,and the same gap between my old job and a new Pajero.I think the NX Coupe could of shown a clean pair of heals to a 1990 Hi Lux with a 3Y motor....

He was obviously a local....I know the road fairly well,but at night with very poor lights I was flying blind,but it was a good ''learn''.

[C_A]

I driven one, and they hustle fair well, mine was a diesel turbo one, only thing I thought was weird that the engine had what I would call "inertia" in that the you would have to throttle on off earlier than petrol I am used to.

But while towing a big tandem axle horse float packed to the gunnels I hardly needed to change gears for hills, hustled very well considering the load I was towing.

the inertia thing is due to emmisions, EGR diesels are always like that. perhaps a little turbo lag on top etc.

my 95 l300's a great tow wagon, never have to shift gears over most stuff, even hauling close to 2000kg on it's arse, and 100kph is a nothing.

back to the topic though. you'd be surprised how fast you can pedal a 4wd thru the twisties, it's all driver...... my aforementioned l300 gives my mates bmw with sportier suspension a run for it's money. it's all about knowing your limits etc.....
pit his bmw against my gti and there's absolutley no competition :P

[sAsLEX]

the inertia thing is due to emmisions, EGR diesels are always like that. perhaps a little turbo lag on top etc.

Expected it when putting the boot down but found it on upchanges, that it would carry on gaining revs after you taking the foot off the gas