stewartwillsher
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- May 15, 2017
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- Location
- Western Spain and Costa de la Luz
This is the first decent run La Gata Negra has had under my ownership, so I give you my impressions in a WAFFLE with sections you can skip if not interested.
Why the trip?
The forecast by the state met office AEmet flagged up an alert with temp expected to rise above forty degrees C.
Our normal high for August is mid to upper thirties so evacuation plans were made, first checking forecasts for prospective destinations not wishing to leap from frying pan into the fire.
Daughter and family live close to the mountains north of Madrid where max expected to be about five degrees cooler.
Stocked up with treats for grandchildren; wife cooked a few dishes, a cake and we collected ripe veg from our plot.
The RCZ boot swallowed everything with space to spare, first throwing a huge old towel and sheet in to protect carpet and also stop things sliding about.
Set off at about ten a.m. before the heat ramped up; it also being after the slight surge in traffic early morning.
The route.
Outward journey: Madrid and back is quite a regular excursion for us, either to the airport to collect or dispatch visitors, or to our daughter and family.
This time it was to daughter, so no time constraints; chose a departure time that would give us as clear a run as possible, not that it ever comes close to the traffic density of SE England, even before we escaped, in 2005.
First 35kms or thereabouts is usually a half hour depending on what we encounter on what is a difficult stretch for overtaking, except if you have the grunt of an RCZ; ho, ho!
It is single carriageway with a limit of 90kph and a few restrictions at junctions of 70kph, one of 60kph and a silly one of 50kph.
Before joining the Autovia (motorway) the large town of Navalmoral de la Mata is a few kms across and at 50kph with numerous unfriendly raised crossings and other humps.
Then onto the Autovia heading towards Madrid.
Always, with rarely an exception, once I have filtered, if any traffic, onto the road, cruise control can be selected and left on for maybe just an hour or over, with momentary deselection if some laggard is overtaking an artic from Portugal.
Sadly (grrrr!!), there are the money making cameras in several spots on the A5, so it is pushing one's luck to cruise at more than an indicated 130kph, unless very confident on their locations.
That section is about 140 kms.
But, every cloud has a silver lining and all that; there is a chunk of our journey which we, unlike most of the tight Spaniards, are willing to pay a few extra euros, on the toll road R5.
Occasionally a helicopter will nab a few chancers, but there are no trafico (cops) patrols nor cameras, so stretching one's legs to 140 or 150 is quite risk free.
Trouble is, it is over so quickly at that speed and the pay booths quickly appear.
That was about 25kms.
A stretch of Madrid orbital Autovia (25kms)is followed by a radial Autovia heading North West.
This piece of road is not particularly pleasant as there are twists and turns with limits (80kph) and idiots not keeping within the lane markings; four lanes mostly.
The heavies and coaches have to be given a little more consideration, as the constraints for them must be even worse.
That was about 15kms.
Once I leave that road it is single carriageway with a couple of 50kph villages with the dreaded bumps again (10kms).
Autovia (Motorway).
One pleasing aspect of driving the RCZ on the Autovias here is at intersections when switching roads because the clover leaf design has very tight curves.
The RCZ is as if on rails and a little throttle can increase side G force; a pleasant sensation with no body roll and the sports seats give excellent lateral support.
What is the difference between 120kph-ish (plus a bit!) in the 5008 and the RCZ?
Well, not a lot, except the head turning of other motorists, and the quicker than usual swerve to the nearside lane to let me pass.
The low profile styling together with good aerodynamic properties means stability and quiet.
This is most noticeable on the Autovia in windy conditions or passing large vehicles.
The driving position, being closer to the ground, does feel as if it is faster and trucks are a bit higher.
But, to be honest, the Autovia is not the best environment to experience the RCZ, although in some countries, where there is a higher or no speed limit, I bet it is a buzz.
Other roads.
On the twisty single carriageway parts, when not stuck behind someone, the RCZ feels fantastic.
Road holding combined with performance and comfort make this car a dream.
In built up areas with a 50kph limit it is fun, for just a few seconds, getting to 50-ish instantly after lights or giving way at junctions, etc.
Without experience of the "R" nor the faster petrol models, I can only say "wow!", where the diesel is all I know.
Getting to know her.
I am pleasantly surprised at the calm unfussy character of my RCZ.
It may be an age thing or simply that a challenge was not what I was looking for so a relaxing but sporty drive is most appreciated.
After over thirty vehicles I think I am qualified to talk about stepping into a new motor.
In the bad old days every car had its quirks, so it may have taken time, albeit a short period, for accustomisation before being comfortable; even mundane hire cars could present a slight challenge.
But what a pleasure it was to step into the RCZ and just go.
Part of this easy familiarization was due to the somewhat crazy similarity with our 5008; needless to say that they do not look the same, perform the same nor match each other functionally, but being the same age with near identical controls made it a doddle of a transition possibly the easiest ever.
Quibbles.
Very difficult to find fault with the car.
Hot knob and fingers:
Temps here this time of year, with the full blast of the sun almost overhead early afternoon, even deploying the shade, does not prevent extreme heat inside the car.
I now have an old pair of light driving gloves (string back leather) to save my fingertips and right palm from being burned on metal top of gear knob and steering wheel.
Distant slot:
I seem to have plenty of room between left shoulder and door window much more than in the 5008; so what's the problem?
Well, I have to lean head and shoulder right out of the window to feed card into slot at toll booths; nearly lost my hat resuming seat; might try folding mirrors to get closer.
Madam has a similar problem; if to enter, she has swung the door fully open then she cannot reach the handle from the normal seated position to close it.
Being a gentleman, I have, on occasions, gone round the car to close the door for her; sweet, eh.
Delights.
Where to start and what to include?
Boudoir:
Luxurious interior (full leather with Alcantara seat panels) oozes class and is extremely comfortable.
Once I chucked the pongy air freshener, the gorgeous smell of leather is returning.
Stiff neck:
From looking back after parking at the most beautiful creature around (wife excepted of course).
Show off:
Being curator to work of art; having to explain what it is and extolling its virtues to the uneducated.
Street cred:
Known as the crazy English by most in the village, especially when roaring around in the zero, we now receive a nod of approval with the RCZ.
Flexibility:
I can only comment on my diesel variant which satisfies me no matter the mood or circumstances; I can drive it sedately or in a spirited fashion or in between; it is equally at home on Autovia or twisty lanes, in cities or narrow village streets (not too narrow though).
Bargain:
As is often the case and of my own choosing, I paid top whack for a high spec motor; but I still feel that I got exceptional value for the money and can think of no other comparable vehicle.
Pedaling:
I thought from the photos that the metal pedals were drilled, which I have experienced on competition cars, and do not have a good grip (glued sandpaper on them), but no, what looks like holes are actually rubber and are excellent.
Economy:
Although the running costs were way down in the priorities when assembling the criteria which resulted in an RCZ, it is pleasing to see that there appears to be very little difference in fuel consumption on this trip between the 5008 and RCZ.
There you have it, a broad critique of my first real journey in La Gata Negra; and both wife and I have responded to queries of "how was it" from mechanics, neighbours, friends and family, with a big smile and big nod of the head.
Next outing of note should be there and back to our holiday home in the South, which is five hundred kms each way; looking forward to it, muchly!
Why the trip?
The forecast by the state met office AEmet flagged up an alert with temp expected to rise above forty degrees C.
Our normal high for August is mid to upper thirties so evacuation plans were made, first checking forecasts for prospective destinations not wishing to leap from frying pan into the fire.
Daughter and family live close to the mountains north of Madrid where max expected to be about five degrees cooler.
Stocked up with treats for grandchildren; wife cooked a few dishes, a cake and we collected ripe veg from our plot.
The RCZ boot swallowed everything with space to spare, first throwing a huge old towel and sheet in to protect carpet and also stop things sliding about.
Set off at about ten a.m. before the heat ramped up; it also being after the slight surge in traffic early morning.
The route.
Outward journey: Madrid and back is quite a regular excursion for us, either to the airport to collect or dispatch visitors, or to our daughter and family.
This time it was to daughter, so no time constraints; chose a departure time that would give us as clear a run as possible, not that it ever comes close to the traffic density of SE England, even before we escaped, in 2005.
First 35kms or thereabouts is usually a half hour depending on what we encounter on what is a difficult stretch for overtaking, except if you have the grunt of an RCZ; ho, ho!
It is single carriageway with a limit of 90kph and a few restrictions at junctions of 70kph, one of 60kph and a silly one of 50kph.
Before joining the Autovia (motorway) the large town of Navalmoral de la Mata is a few kms across and at 50kph with numerous unfriendly raised crossings and other humps.
Then onto the Autovia heading towards Madrid.
Always, with rarely an exception, once I have filtered, if any traffic, onto the road, cruise control can be selected and left on for maybe just an hour or over, with momentary deselection if some laggard is overtaking an artic from Portugal.
Sadly (grrrr!!), there are the money making cameras in several spots on the A5, so it is pushing one's luck to cruise at more than an indicated 130kph, unless very confident on their locations.
That section is about 140 kms.
But, every cloud has a silver lining and all that; there is a chunk of our journey which we, unlike most of the tight Spaniards, are willing to pay a few extra euros, on the toll road R5.
Occasionally a helicopter will nab a few chancers, but there are no trafico (cops) patrols nor cameras, so stretching one's legs to 140 or 150 is quite risk free.
Trouble is, it is over so quickly at that speed and the pay booths quickly appear.
That was about 25kms.
A stretch of Madrid orbital Autovia (25kms)is followed by a radial Autovia heading North West.
This piece of road is not particularly pleasant as there are twists and turns with limits (80kph) and idiots not keeping within the lane markings; four lanes mostly.
The heavies and coaches have to be given a little more consideration, as the constraints for them must be even worse.
That was about 15kms.
Once I leave that road it is single carriageway with a couple of 50kph villages with the dreaded bumps again (10kms).
Autovia (Motorway).
One pleasing aspect of driving the RCZ on the Autovias here is at intersections when switching roads because the clover leaf design has very tight curves.
The RCZ is as if on rails and a little throttle can increase side G force; a pleasant sensation with no body roll and the sports seats give excellent lateral support.
What is the difference between 120kph-ish (plus a bit!) in the 5008 and the RCZ?
Well, not a lot, except the head turning of other motorists, and the quicker than usual swerve to the nearside lane to let me pass.
The low profile styling together with good aerodynamic properties means stability and quiet.
This is most noticeable on the Autovia in windy conditions or passing large vehicles.
The driving position, being closer to the ground, does feel as if it is faster and trucks are a bit higher.
But, to be honest, the Autovia is not the best environment to experience the RCZ, although in some countries, where there is a higher or no speed limit, I bet it is a buzz.
Other roads.
On the twisty single carriageway parts, when not stuck behind someone, the RCZ feels fantastic.
Road holding combined with performance and comfort make this car a dream.
In built up areas with a 50kph limit it is fun, for just a few seconds, getting to 50-ish instantly after lights or giving way at junctions, etc.
Without experience of the "R" nor the faster petrol models, I can only say "wow!", where the diesel is all I know.
Getting to know her.
I am pleasantly surprised at the calm unfussy character of my RCZ.
It may be an age thing or simply that a challenge was not what I was looking for so a relaxing but sporty drive is most appreciated.
After over thirty vehicles I think I am qualified to talk about stepping into a new motor.
In the bad old days every car had its quirks, so it may have taken time, albeit a short period, for accustomisation before being comfortable; even mundane hire cars could present a slight challenge.
But what a pleasure it was to step into the RCZ and just go.
Part of this easy familiarization was due to the somewhat crazy similarity with our 5008; needless to say that they do not look the same, perform the same nor match each other functionally, but being the same age with near identical controls made it a doddle of a transition possibly the easiest ever.
Quibbles.
Very difficult to find fault with the car.
Hot knob and fingers:
Temps here this time of year, with the full blast of the sun almost overhead early afternoon, even deploying the shade, does not prevent extreme heat inside the car.
I now have an old pair of light driving gloves (string back leather) to save my fingertips and right palm from being burned on metal top of gear knob and steering wheel.
Distant slot:
I seem to have plenty of room between left shoulder and door window much more than in the 5008; so what's the problem?
Well, I have to lean head and shoulder right out of the window to feed card into slot at toll booths; nearly lost my hat resuming seat; might try folding mirrors to get closer.
Madam has a similar problem; if to enter, she has swung the door fully open then she cannot reach the handle from the normal seated position to close it.
Being a gentleman, I have, on occasions, gone round the car to close the door for her; sweet, eh.
Delights.
Where to start and what to include?
Boudoir:
Luxurious interior (full leather with Alcantara seat panels) oozes class and is extremely comfortable.
Once I chucked the pongy air freshener, the gorgeous smell of leather is returning.
Stiff neck:
From looking back after parking at the most beautiful creature around (wife excepted of course).
Show off:
Being curator to work of art; having to explain what it is and extolling its virtues to the uneducated.
Street cred:
Known as the crazy English by most in the village, especially when roaring around in the zero, we now receive a nod of approval with the RCZ.
Flexibility:
I can only comment on my diesel variant which satisfies me no matter the mood or circumstances; I can drive it sedately or in a spirited fashion or in between; it is equally at home on Autovia or twisty lanes, in cities or narrow village streets (not too narrow though).
Bargain:
As is often the case and of my own choosing, I paid top whack for a high spec motor; but I still feel that I got exceptional value for the money and can think of no other comparable vehicle.
Pedaling:
I thought from the photos that the metal pedals were drilled, which I have experienced on competition cars, and do not have a good grip (glued sandpaper on them), but no, what looks like holes are actually rubber and are excellent.
Economy:
Although the running costs were way down in the priorities when assembling the criteria which resulted in an RCZ, it is pleasing to see that there appears to be very little difference in fuel consumption on this trip between the 5008 and RCZ.
There you have it, a broad critique of my first real journey in La Gata Negra; and both wife and I have responded to queries of "how was it" from mechanics, neighbours, friends and family, with a big smile and big nod of the head.
Next outing of note should be there and back to our holiday home in the South, which is five hundred kms each way; looking forward to it, muchly!
