Is there any point having a fast road car?

FlyTVR

FlyTVR

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Like many people, I love cars. But more recently, I've been asking whether there is any point in having a fast road car.

There are speed cameras and traffic police everywhere and the roads are just too busy.

Thoughts?

Cheers.

Dav
 
I couldn't bare getting rid of mine for something slower. It's not the fastest car ever but I love it too much haha.

It's moments like this that make it all worth while.
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There are also speed limits ;) :D
 
Totally agree with you Dav. Both of my current cars couldn't be described as slow but gave up on the really quick stuff a long time ago for reasons you mentioned.. I do miss it.
 
Good question.
Last night, I drove to London and back for a meeting, just over 400 miles, and I did it in my lump of a 4 x 4. I don't think that I would have saved more than 5 minutes in total if I'd had a faster car. The only advantage would have been faster acceleration, this would have allowed me to move into another lane more easily sometimes.

But a few months ago, my youngest son, who has a very fast car (supercharged Merc) found himself chasing another vehicle until the police were able to get involved and arrest the driver. On that occasion, a 150 mph car came into its own - but how often does that sort of situation occur?
 
Garry Edwards said:
Good question.
Last night, I drove to London and back for a meeting, just over 400 miles, and I did it in my lump of a 4 x 4. I don't think that I would have saved more than 5 minutes in total if I'd had a faster car. The only advantage would have been faster acceleration, this would have allowed me to move into another lane more easily sometimes.

But a few months ago, my youngest son, who has a very fast car (supercharged Merc) found himself chasing another vehicle until the police were able to get involved and arrest the driver. On that occasion, a 150 mph car came into its own - but how often does that sort of situation occur?
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Interesting story. Didn't your son get arrested as well?

Cheers.

Dav
 
It's just very nice to know it can do it. And for the twice yearly sojourn to Germany. And jusy occasionally the traffic light gp, when some little boy racer thinks he can outrun a diesel Mondy! haha.
A contentious issue maybe, but the way to go with road safety is not by stricter and stricter speeding laws, but as they do on the continent, with education to drive to the conditions. At 3am, a French gendarmerie does not care that you're traveling at 90+ on his bit of motorway (or autoroute) but he'll nick you straight away if you're doing it dangerously, or especially if you don't observe lane discipline. The road laws in this country are designed for one thing....to relieve you of your hard earned!
 
You're twenty years behind me, Dav! [Possibly twenty years younger too].

I decided the same in the early '90s when cameras and enforcement started to grow. My 911 only got interesting at about one-and-a-vicars. And anyway it's only slow drivers who need fast cars! ... Thrill as lots of them post in this thread! :p

Back then I remembered [and still remember] James Hunt's story that he owned an old Austin A35 Countryman and could be on the absolute limit of the car's ability and adhesion ... and no one would know! ;)

Back then, I figured what I wanted was a modern Frogeye Sprite - go-kart handling but damn all top speed. With a few quicker car diversions, most notably an E30 M3 and a VX220, I've negotiated my way down through a couple of MX5s to a 998cc Mini.

Even more brilliantly my reactions, car control and eyesight have kept pace with each new car's performance! :lol:

But I've always found more driving pleasure and satisfaction working [say] a Trafic van on the limit than poncing down the fast lane [as I'm sure they call it] in any Audi!
 
JayD said:
It's just very nice to know it can do it. And for the twice yearly sojourn to Germany. And jusy occasionally the traffic light gp, when some little boy racer thinks he can outrun a diesel Mondy! haha.
A contentious issue maybe, but the way to go with road safety is not by stricter and stricter speeding laws, but as they do on the continent, with education to drive to the conditions. At 3am, a French gendarmerie does not care that you're traveling at 90+ on his bit of motorway (or autoroute) but he'll nick you straight away if you're doing it dangerously, or especially if you don't observe lane discipline. The road laws in this country are designed for one thing....to relieve you of your hard earned!
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But it only relieves you if you break 'em ;)
 
It can be worth it at certain times and places, But I often think of changing...
 
Yves Geza said:
But I've always found more driving pleasure and satisfaction working [say] a Trafic van on the limit than poncing down the fast lane [as I'm sure they call it] in any Audi!
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Oh my God how I agree with that. There was very little, maybe a very enthusiastically driven car, that could stay with my Merc Sprinter on the A458 to Aberystwyth. I drove it for over 120k each year, So i knew it better than i knew my own hand. I could drive that thing completely on the edge for a whole 14 hour day and never get bored. As was proven by my consistent killing of discs and pads every 12k miles! lol.
 
I couldn't live with a slow car!
It's not just the fact it goes fast. I hate passing cars in a slow car! I just find it dangerous. A fast car last you safely pass, with the risk of oncoming traffic, or needing a mile long run lol.
 
I am managing fine with a 1.6 focus, but i miss the likes of my XR2 and RS Turbo, currently saving for a Focus ST.
 
I'd be surprised if anyone that's had a fast car says they don't miss it!!

My previous car was a mk1V supra and my pride and joy, I now have a Citroen C3!! It's got as much go as a snail and I hate it...... But it's cheap to run...... When it works!
 
Several fast cars, even faster bikes. One very clean licence. It's all about knowing where and when! I'm very old school like that. It's a cat and mouse game. But woe betide anyone who drives at more than 15mph past a school at kicking out time. They will have the full force of my wrath.
As with everything, there's a time and a place.
 
I've had my fair share of quick cars over the years (Lotus Esprit, Elise, Westfields etc) but now just got the A4. I have to say I miss the Westfield as you know you can go for a drive and rarely get stuck behind someone, as you can get past without the mile long straight the A4 needs!
I often drove up in the hills near us and didn't need to break the 60 mph speed limit to have fun on the twisty roads. :thumbs:
 
I agree with several points made so far.

If you have a modern car, you have to go faster to enjoy it. Then, when things do go wrong, you end up in trouble whilst travelling at a high speed. EEEEK!

Dav
 
wippers said:
I've had my fair share of quick cars over the years (Lotus Esprit, Elise, Westfields etc) but now just got the A4. I have to say I miss the Westfield as you know you can go for a drive and rarely get stuck behind someone, as you can get past without the mile long straight the A4 needs!
I often drove up in the hills near us and didn't need to break the 60 mph speed limit to have fun on the twisty roads. :thumbs:
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You and my husband would get on :)
 
Cg_Girl said:
My previous car was a mk1V supra and my pride and joy, I now have a Citroen C3!! It's got as much go as a snail and I hate it...... But it's cheap to run...... When it works!
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Have to agree with this. As much as i love the Type-R it's nice to get some mpg out of a smaller car from time to time!
 
I find having a cheaper car saves double the money, as well as the commutes being cheaper, i no longer get the urge to just go out for a random drive anymore, used to love driving over Rivington at night the road all to myself.
 
Michaelk20 said:
Have to agree with this. As much as i love the Type-R it's nice to get some mpg out of a smaller car from time to time!
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Type R is lovely to drive!

The pocket may love the mpg change but I hate watching everyone goes past me when it then takes half an hour for me to go up the smallest incline or get past anybody else! Lol
 
FlyTVR said:
Interesting story. Didn't your son get arrested as well?

Cheers.

Dav
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Yes he did, but at 3 p.m. today he will finally be told that the police will take no action against him. Long story, will update later
 
Garry Edwards said:
Yes he did, but at 3 p.m. today he will finally be told that the police will take no action against him. Long story, will update later
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Now even I'm intrigued :thinking:
 
I think my favourite petrol car was a 3.3 litre, modded, lowered very knackered looking green Peugeot estate. It looked such a dead loss, but would keep up with (almost) and Beemer or Merx, and would surprise an awful lot of Porsches with it 287bhp motor. Yes, it killed the gearbox!
 
Cg_Girl said:
Type R is lovely to drive!

The pocket may love the mpg change but I hate watching everyone goes past me when it then takes half an hour for me to go up the smallest incline or get past anybody else! Lol
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And that's why I wouldn't get rid! She's a beaut!

I used my parents Civic the other week to drive down to London. Wasn't the same :(
 
Cg_Girl said:
Type R is lovely to drive!

The pocket may love the mpg change but I hate watching everyone goes past me when it then takes half an hour for me to go up the smallest incline or get past anybody else! Lol
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Any 2 lire petrol car would probably offer a reasonable compromise between economy and performance. If you can stand the clattering modern BMW and Honda diesels are quite good for both.

Supra to a shopping cart is probably a step too far :-)
 
srichards said:
Any 2 lire petrol car would probably offer a reasonable compromise between economy and performance. If you can stand the clattering modern BMW and Honda diesels are quite good for both.

Supra to a shopping cart is probably a step too far :-)
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Yeah big change wasn't it! No wonder I'm grumpy! :-)
I didn't have a choice tho
 
srichards said:
Any 2 lire petrol car would probably offer a reasonable compromise between economy and performance. If you can stand the clattering modern BMW and Honda diesels are quite good for both.

Supra to a shopping cart is probably a step too far :-)
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Yeah, it's not too bad to be honest, 70mph in 6th gear is low enough on the revs for no VTEC so it's good in that sense.
 
Cg_Girl said:
Yeah big change wasn't it! No wonder I'm grumpy! :-)
I didn't have a choice tho
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Get about 33 out of my 2 litre spider. A lot less painful than the 17 or 18 I used to get out the skyline I had. Boring car in comparison but at least it's a soft top and doesn't cost 2k a year in garage bills :)
 
i also have had a few fast ish cars over the years xr3is rs turbos a cosworth and a few scoobies /and loads of cabriolets to name but a few and the 1 i miss the most of them all was 1 of my older mk1 escorts that i had 2.1, full cage fitted, buckets, billies,and a custom janspeed exaust even when the 40s were not on full chat it made a beautiful note lol
 
FlyTVR said:
I agree with several points made so far.

If you have a modern car, you have to go faster to enjoy it. Then, when things do go wrong, you end up in trouble whilst travelling at a high speed. EEEEK!

Dav
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How Modern? I enjoy my ST TDCi (6 years old) whether driven fast or normal, I very rarely do slow, on lanes around my way, it can sit happily at 50mph (speed limit) on all the bends whilst alot of other cars have to slow down and reaccelerate, they soon get left behind unless they speed on the straight sections.
It's easy to have fun with the car and still remain within speed limits and not drive dangerously.
Cg_Girl said:
The pocket may love the mpg change but I hate watching everyone goes past me when it then takes half an hour for me to go up the smallest incline or get past anybody else! Lol
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I suspect you picked the wrong car/engine combo.
My driving consists of 70mph motorway/dual carriageway driving and urban driving with some enthusiastic acceleration at least once each journey to clear the pipes, especially to clear the build up after a motorway cruise and I average 50 mpg. If I do alot of motorway cruising at 60mph when not in a hurry I get closer to 60mpg average.
 
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