corsachili
Well-Known Member
Today my new toy, affectionately referred to as The Silk Shark, shared driveway space with her big sister, a 3.0CSL. Sadly the aforementioned was not my own beloved E9, but that of my good friend Terry Conners, who drove his "Barn Find", aka, the Pansy Blue "Cecil" over to show me what sort of progress he'd made since acquiring the car a couple weeks ago. Terry does great work, he's a wiring genius. Without him, my CSL would probably still not be running. He's done some great work in the short amount of time that he's had it, and the car is looking and sounding fantastic.
Together we applied the Motorsport stripes that came with my M6 and went for a drive in both cars. It's fun to look at both cars sitting next to each other. The E9 is almost diminutive compared to the wide, aggressive and massive E24. I never thought I'd call an E9 small, but compared to the beastly M6 that's what comes to mind. Of course, the familial resemblance is there. On the road the CSL is definitely more sporting, more tactile, lighter and downright simpler. Of course it lacks some safety and refinement compared to the more modern coupe, but in terms of pure driving experience the CSL wins hands down.
If I had to choose between the two, I wouldn't. Frankly I always feel exposed and a bit vulnerable in my CSL, especially in modern use. I'm not saying that these cars shouldn't be driven, because they should, but for many things, I just appreciate a bit more safety and luxurious appointments. I cannot fathom feeling good about commuting in my CSL, but on an early Sunday summer morning, on a twisty mountain road, there are few cars that can deliver a better and more rewarding driving experience. And best of all, when you arrive at your destination, you can get out, turn around, and look at one of the prettiest damned cars ever to come out of Germany.
Together we applied the Motorsport stripes that came with my M6 and went for a drive in both cars. It's fun to look at both cars sitting next to each other. The E9 is almost diminutive compared to the wide, aggressive and massive E24. I never thought I'd call an E9 small, but compared to the beastly M6 that's what comes to mind. Of course, the familial resemblance is there. On the road the CSL is definitely more sporting, more tactile, lighter and downright simpler. Of course it lacks some safety and refinement compared to the more modern coupe, but in terms of pure driving experience the CSL wins hands down.
If I had to choose between the two, I wouldn't. Frankly I always feel exposed and a bit vulnerable in my CSL, especially in modern use. I'm not saying that these cars shouldn't be driven, because they should, but for many things, I just appreciate a bit more safety and luxurious appointments. I cannot fathom feeling good about commuting in my CSL, but on an early Sunday summer morning, on a twisty mountain road, there are few cars that can deliver a better and more rewarding driving experience. And best of all, when you arrive at your destination, you can get out, turn around, and look at one of the prettiest damned cars ever to come out of Germany.