We took our old touring caravan to a farm site at the very tip of the Llyn peninsula in north Wales, where it will become our static base for holidays with the grand kids. The MG ZTT 260 (supercharged engine and VHS uprated lowering springs) makes light work of towing duties but still demands smooth driver inputs and careful planning to make safe progress. I always enjoy our caravan holidays, but this one was different. No need to hitch up for the drive home. The caravan was permanently pitched and the 260 could be driven solo for a change. The route home traverses some of the best driving roads, bar none. You will agree, assuming that you like driving and that the car you have chosen is well sorted. I do and my 260 is. We made excellent time and enjoyed the views (and the gloriousness of a revving V8 during the occasional overtake). The same driving approach works well. Keep concentrating when you drive and we will all be happier!
Now it is permanently available, a brief visit to the caravan to do a few jobs and stroll along the cliff paths was no hardship. Off we went in the daily driver, our Rover 75 V6. Rather well loaded, (including 6 paving slabs in the boot – don’t ask) and working noticeably harder up the hills (can a ‘solo’ 75 V6 really be slowed down by inclines that the 260 plus caravan doesn’t notice?), the smoothness of driver inputs really works. Anticipating that the car will roll in direction changes and take longer to settle over large undulations brings a heightened sense of driver control that can be enjoyed.
Ah yes, driver enjoyment. Relieved of payload, we could once again make the journey home. This time, maintaining momentum was key so as to avoid too many auto down-changes when accelerating. The car flows well and remains pleasantly unflustered over challenging surfaces. A fine result for what is now a 23-year-old car. Well done VHS I thought.
Oh, wait a minute. My 75 is completely standard. Not a VHS product in sight (apart from the window sticker). So, I can’t claim any credit for the dynamic performance (well, other than heading up the Chassis Development team from concept to production). Or can I? Well, the car is kept in fine fettle. Most parts are original, but consumables are replaced at the service schedule and the wheel alignment is spot on. As are the tyre pressures. And I treat the car with respect, matching driver inputs to the roll and yaw characteristics of the chassis. So maybe it does have something to do with VHS.
Enjoy the art of driving. Decent vehicle dynamics can help. Treat your car to an upgrade and think about the driver inputs.