Headaches out of the way, I took the car out for the first time today. I could not have picked a worse time to go for a ride, however, as it was during rush hour traffic. I did not care. I just wanted to take it out.
First impressions - Plain and simple, I have to learn the car. Without even putting the car in gear, the technology, at first brush, can be overwhelming. There are a lot of settings and options and personalizations with which I need to become comfortable. Once I gain some confidence and learn what every light and button means, I will feel more at home behind the wheel.
Some of these buttons, knobs, settings, and personalizations will be relatively easy to figure out. It is just a matter of spending some time in the car, even just sitting in park and playing with everything. Others, however, will take some more time and effort.
Having the car sitting for a couple weeks without being able to legally drive it, my only desire today was to take it for a spin. I was not too concerned with the technology and 'becoming one' with my new project. I just wanted to drive it. So, I did. I drove about 50 miles on both backroads and highway. I did play around a little bit with the sport settings for steering, suspension, and throttle, but other than that, I just drove. I did not mess with the DCT (dual clutch) or paddles, but I promise I will.
With limited drive time under my belt and less-than-ideal driving conditions (time of day), I do not feel as though I can comment too thoroughly on the driving characteristics of the car, but I can say that I enjoyed the few times that I was able to accelerate. The handling feels tight and stable, though I am transitioning from a 5,100-pound SUV, so a Lincoln Towncar might feel taut to me right now. The braking is fantastic. Granted, I was not doing any 100 to 0 runs, but I did definitely underestimate the distance when coming to a stop at a few red lights, akin to gliding on ice then hitting a patch of rubber. (Again, I am coming from a 5,100-pound SUV.)
One further opinion I have is that the exhaust note needs to be meaner. Perhaps this opinion is due to my own personal preferences and experiences, but, sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic with the windows down, I want to hear the car bit when I hit the gas pedal. I did not get to "open it up" at all, but when I do, I want the car to growl. This "concern" will be addressed in due time...
I look forward to learning this car. And I look forward to driving this car. I also look forward to sharing more...
JDMphasis... Innovation over Imitation
