Test Drive Opel Speedster 2001 - 2005 Convertible
Ball lightning
This car can teach to enjoy life, even if you completely forgot about the cargo of everyday worries, as it is done. Mystery of nature
The hurricane wind suddenly verse stopped the rain, and silence complete to the stall to the ears. Suddenly somewhere in the distance, a light rustle is heard. He is rapidly approaching, growing, turns into a roar, and immediately crashed from the turn red, floating in space. Every moment she is more and more, everything is more dangerous. A clear glowing object is clearly visible, which inexorably grows next to you. Ball lightning! They say the only salvation do not move. Perhaps, will fly by. A few more seconds, and you understand that she really disappeared somewhere outside the forest.
What was it, damn it? The correct answer is Opel-speedster. And let my bright orange sports car far from the shining bowl. But I could not assume that he would be so similar to him in essence.
There is nothing new under the sun
A sonorous word speedster Speed \u200b\u200bLord (from Speed \u200b\u200bSpeed \u200b\u200bSpeed, Steer Manage) Americans at the beginning of the last century called the sports car body, the one that on this side of the Atlantic was painted by Roger. Models with the same name released different firms to mention Pakkard 1929. From 1952 to 1958, Porsche-356-speedster was produced. This machine has developed a huge at that time for the serial vehicle speed of 200 km / h, accelerating to hundreds for 10.5 s.
In 1989, the concept of Plymouth-speedster was debuted. Which, however, remained a show-stopper. It is curious that the vacuum cleaners were in a similar way earlier, and now the market for more and speeds are still on the market, scooters, boats and bicycles.
In the power of the element If you are fat, high or just over the years have forgotten what pleasant flexibility in the body, you can hardly fall inside this festy. Height is a little more than a meter. The threshold of the width of centimeters 40, located at an altitude not much lower than that of other southest road. In car dealerships, it is fitted to hang a sign: you can't do not fit. But I can, I can. Or or may I just seem?
I trust. From the side I, probably, now looks like a taxi, which is trying to climb a fox in Noura. I am squeaking, falling, I still fall and, finally, I turn out in the tough arms of the chair. I sit on almost on asphalt! Now I would still drag the left foot along with the torso. Formula 1 pilots 1 to be in the cockpit is hardly easier. There, even though the roof does not interfere. Her here, by the way, can be removed. But, you see when the street is minus two, this desire does not even occur.
Forget everything you knew about the convenience of landing. Narrow seat-beetroot with headrest, albeit is fairly hurt in the skin, you can call the chair with a large stretch. You or will fool yourself in this bucket, or not. In the second case, familiarity with this ball zipper is ordered.
I was able. Of all the numerous ingenious seats, the steering wheel, belts, and sometimes the pedals here are present here only one can move (fairness, it is worth noting a rather wide range of the bucket in length. But the most curious thing: I quite quickly understand what was well placed. Or maybe I'm just waiting for this monstrous element? Cleaned to pay attention to the little things like the inconvenience of the entrance and absence of electric drives?
Small but evil The engine here is started with that button, pointing to a modest round plaque on the front panel, one of the sellers of sellers rushes. And tiny, without an amplifier steering wheel as a fixed car to turn? But with this I am buried. Go.
In which ear is buzzing? Did not guess in both. Still a second ago, the monster, which came to life in several centimeters behind his back, issued its presence only with muffled turmon and hissing. But as it has changed now. What an inside should be a silica so that it could easily turn the car into the cannon kernel after each pressing of gas! Displacement in space is now reminded by fantastic teleportation. Noise in the cabin at the same time such that his voice is not heard.
How to describe what you feel, accelerating until hundreds of less than 5 seconds? Dry numbers after all, most of the most qualities will not say. This is faster not only Z4, SLK320, S2000, but also Ferrari-456GTA, Porsche 911-Carrera. Riding on the most steep American hills Children's entertainment compared to what you feel by clicking on the accelerator pedal in the speedster.
For me, the wonderful dynamics need this Opel necessarily. So that he knew how to instantly, like a lightning, disappear from the sight of the surrounding. After all, it is completely unbearable: Everything is stared on every traffic light! Behind the wheel of the speedster, sometimes you feel like a karapuz, on a toy typewriter who revealed on the highway for adult uncle. Even the zhiguli seem from here with big sorts, trolleybuses that moving rocks.
Let no air conditioner, let there not have music, mirrors and glass can only move manually with this I am ready to put up. But toned glasses should be here. What inside, let him remain a mystery. However, curious easily understand. I just had no one next to anyone, and suddenly, something bright orange, Grozno-squat, and even pouring suused through the nozzles on the sidewalls to the sidewalls.
Ahead of lumen. Finally.
Experiments on jumps in space The monstrous strength accelerates under howl as if no insulated turbine behind his back. Adrenaline in the blood should now be through the edge. Easy body, low center of gravity, excellent ravage and sharp, like a razor blade, handling. Constant, inseparable communication with the machine. Ride on the map and easily understand what I mean.
In the steering control no amplifier. Slug-wheels as if sticking to dry asphalt in turns. And overlook the speedster from the viragee in the turn, from a number of in a row it is possible with fantastic speed.
Now I know for sure that I am gathering over the bunch of turns at such a speed, which is not subject to one even the most acute BMW or Alpha Romeo. Huge side accelerations, tense work muscles and almost complete absence of rolls. 60 or 160 km / h on a speedometer after pressing the gas pedal speedster fits with any of these speeds.
How did it succeed in Cudesners-Engineers? How is just a 2-liter four car knows how to make such jumps in space?
Access the case is nahivny
It's all about its origin. Designed the car Designers of the English firm Lotos, having a colossal racing experience. On the account of this brand, six champion titles of Formula 1, victory in Indianapolis, other prestigious competitions. That is why the main raisin speedster is very easy and hard pureblasting chassis. Its base spatial aluminum monoclies (wide and high thresholds are just a fee for such a design) and fiberglass bodies.
Mass machine 930 kg. For a modern two-liter sports car, just a brilliant result is enough to say that competitors from Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Alpha Romeo on three or four centners harder.
Ideal from the point of view of manageability of the ravings achieved thanks to the medium-engine layout (as you guessed, the engine is located immediately behind the driver's seat). Motor with turbocharging issues 200 hp It turns out that every horsepower is lucky only 4.65 kg. For comparison: 506 (!) - A strong Dodge-Viper, this indicator is a little better than 3.01, Porsche Bister and Honda-S2000 are 5.2, and the new BMW-530 is 6.79. That's where the speedster from the speedster is crazy.
Recordsmen in the weight of the pen Despite the difference in the design it is easy to notice the similarity of the speedster with English lotus models of ELIZ and EXigence. Rodality of them (similar interior details, body design, chassis, assembly layout) is not at all by chance. After all, the speedster of the Englishman. All cars are collected at the lotus factory in Hesale, which is 150 km north-east of London. In November 2000, the first roadster under No. 0001 was released from the gate of this company and was sold at auction via the Internet.
At first, the car was equipped with only a 147-strong hopeless four, allowing the hundreds of 5.9 s. In September 2002, the ultralight (660 kg) eco-speedster with a 1.3-liter 112-strong diesel engine debuted in Paris. The car (in the picture) was distinguished by the enviable efficiency of only 2.54 liters of diesel fuel per 100 km. And finally, the most powerful and, perhaps, a 200-strong speedster turbo became the most justified name. His debut in the European market took place in April 2003.
For those whose life is stupid without risk How well knows how to ride (and maybe still fly?) This festy! It seems that the limit behind which she will not be able to lather to hold on to asphalt more, lies somewhere in infinity. In mind you understand this does not happen. Should she ever rolling.
It would be better not to try. Squeezing in turn by all four wheels, the speedster is inexorably clenwritten to the cuvette. And it does it so unexpectedly and quickly that nothing will help me now. For a long time I did not go ... only without panic. Now it is not a system of anti-slip and stabilization of the trajectory, they simply do not have them here and I am the exact movements of the steering wheel and the gas pedal pull out the car from the drift. Pulled out. Stopped on the sidelines. And I don't want it anymore.
Life is good. And the car is cool. What a pity that in the evening I will have to break up with him! Will I meet again with him? On the summer, as smooth as possible (the rigid sports suspension here is far from the ideals of energy intensity), replete turns of the road with pleasure.
And let the high ranks from Russelsheima reasonably notice that a gambling speedster is needed only to raise the image of the brand. This car is capable of much greater. After talking to him, I survived something bright, memorable, dangerous. As if played with ball lightning. And life now sparkles with fresh paints. The charter is resting in an extracting web of everybody, taking at least a few tens of kilometers on it, try to quickly get a dozen-other aggregates, and you will understand what I mean.
From his donor Lotus-Eliz Speedster borrowed many details of the front panel
Immediately behind the engine compartment, a rather modest (205 liter) trunk
In place of stylish aluminum handles, many probably would prefer to see more convenient buttons of power windows.
Speedster rarity. For three years of release, this is just 4648 cars
The dashboard itself is simplicity, but it is superbly reading in any weather.
Unlike many sports cars, pedals are quite comfortable
Large air intakes on the sidewalls One of the important parts of the engine cooling system with turbocharged
Opel Speedster Turbo.
Length x Width x Height, mm
3790x1710x1110
The volume of the trunk, l
205.
Radius of reversal, m
5,8.
Speed, km / h
243.
Acceleration time 0-100 km / h, with
4.9
Fuel consumption, l / 100 km city / highway
11.9 / 6.5
Engine
Working volume, SMZ
1988.
Power, hp at rpm
200/5500.
Torque, kgmm at rpm
25.5 / 1950.
Price
$ 45 808 (equipment: leather chairs,
ABS, driver airbag,
fog lights, disks made of light alloy,
immobilizer, security alarm)
Alexey Sergeev, photo of Alexander Sadovnikova
A source: Limousine magazine [01/04]
