Is there any point having a fast road car?

Michaelk20 said:
Bet (I'm guessing) your MPS pulls well though ;)
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It does, but the gearchange is nothing like, and its quite refined so while it has 100bhp more doesn't quite have that rawness about it which you can miss at times
 
nilagin said:
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.
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When I started driving, my first car was a rear wheel drive Opel Kadett (Chevette). I had so much fun in that car as the limits were low. Therefore I could have fun at low speeds. Breaking traction was easy in the wet and controllable.

Now - taking our current car (which is still rear wheel drive, but much more powerful), the traction is so much greater. The road holding so much better. So for me to have the same amount of fun................ The public road is not the right place for this sort of speed.

Cheers.

Dav
 
I think it's still possible to enjoy the acceleration and handling of a fast car without driving at licence threatening speeds and indeed I do exactly this. When I want to go faster I'll do some track based motorsport.
 
onomatopoeia said:
I think it's still possible to enjoy the acceleration and handling of a fast car without driving at licence threatening speeds and indeed I do exactly this. When I want to go faster I'll do some track based motorsport.
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Trouble is that acceleration is addictive - and in a fast car, 60 comes and goes very quickly indeed :(

Dav
 
FlyTVR said:
Trouble is that acceleration is addictive - and in a fast car, 60 comes and goes very quickly indeed :(

Dav
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But life is not just a straight line, it's not just the acceleration, but handling too, you can still have fun and fast driving within the speed limits even if your not pushing the boundaries of the car to it's limits.
 
nilagin said:
But life is not just a straight line, it's not just the acceleration, but handling too, you can still have fun and fast driving within the speed limits even if your not pushing the boundaries of the car to it's limits.
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BUT - not pushing the boundaries in a modern performance car probably means you are already going fast / breaking the law. The grip levels offered by modern cars are just so high.

Cheers.

Dav
 
onomatopoeia said:
I think it's still possible to enjoy the acceleration and handling of a fast car without driving at licence threatening speeds and indeed I do exactly this. When I want to go faster I'll do some track based motorsport.
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This.

My pet hobby is showing up bikers on twisty roads! :D

Although I have a sensible car now it still has less than sensible suspension setup and tyres to match, makes the trip to work so much more enjoyable.

Very tempted by a Mk1 MX5 for just this reason, but not sure if the seats are in the same position as a mk3, which I don't fit in. :thumbsdown:
 
But you don't need to brake traction to have fun. As I wrote previously the country roads I use I can drive at the speed limit without having to brake often, the car can travel fast and safely within speed limits where others have to slow down, loss of traction would be dangerous. Perhaps your car is just too detached from the driving experience. My car has ESP yet it isn't overly sensitive, I can't remember the last time it actually had to work, the car seems near perfectly balanced even with the extra power over standard and I enjoy the driving experience when ever I get behind the wheel.
 
A car for me is just a means of transport, as long as it starts and gets me there that is all I need. But I still enjoy track days on the bikes.
 
Aside from a 1.1 metro, I've always gone for moderately quick cars (Primera GT, Vectra GSi, Leon Cupra R - that was rapido) but I really got it out of my system while driving the Cupra R and in the end, plumped for a 2.4 D5 Volvo S60.... not a slow car by any means but it promotes more sedate cruising behaviour on the road.

I look at this way; aside from my license being absolutely imperetive to me being able to do my job, fuel economy goes out the window when you thrape a regular car and 80mph is more than enough speed for me. It also coincides with becoming a Dad, as I now drive more carefully than ever before when the family are in the car.

I can see the allure of a decent performance car - it's nice to have some extra oomph available when overtaking and often the handling is very good, which comes in handy on twisty roads - but I'm of the opinion that supercars and the like are only bought by certain types of people (the wealthy usually) because; A) they can afford them, and B) iot's a bit of a status symbol.
 
I gave up on fast cars years ago and on bikes more recently.

Even our roads up here are well dodgey for leaden right feet or hands!
 
As a callow youth (19), I enjoyed a Frogeye Sprite immensely. Bum a few inches off the road and I could reach over the door to strike a Swan off the tarmac :) . A few years on (and a few doggy old sheds!) and I also enjoyed a Firenza quite a bit - not a droop snoot but a gently breathed on 2 door Viva HE. Narrow tyres made that a hoot until the rad broke off its brackets and ground through the bottom hose on the crank pulley, resulting in a totally FUBARed motor - well beyond economic repair.

Nowt interesting for a few years until a dodgy dealer ;) made us an offer we couldn't refuse on an MX5 as a toy for HER (with my sensible Picasso as the practical car). Still got the MX5 and will almost certainly keep it until it dies. IMO (and not just because there's one in the family), it's the best looking of the bunch (Mk 2.5), without the popups of the Mk 1 and the tacked on looking arches of the Mk 3. Having driven Mum's 1.6 Mk 1 a few times, HER 1.8 Mk 2.5 is also a much nicer drive. (Alan C, not sure what size and shape you are but I'm 6'1", short legs and long body, with a rather sensitive crown and I fit in the Mk 2.5 very easily and can get myself in and out of it too now. I fitted into the Mk 1 as well.)

Did the bike thing as well. Never into sports bikes (too much weight on my wrists is bloody uncomfortable and stays that way until naughty MPH!) hence my current ride, a Royal Enfield EFI 500. 70 on the clock at flat chat will keep me out of trouble! Looked after an 88" Shovel lowrider for a while - probably the biggest grin of all the bikes I've had custody of! I know why Harley riders always have a big grin on their faces - it's to stop their fillings rattling out. Only real problem with the thing was no speedo (frame first registered in 1925 so it didn't need one) but I never got a ticket on it.

Tomorrow is J day! I pick up my shiny new (well, new to me but just over 3 years old) XF. Not the fastest of them (not even the fastest Diesel one) but still capable of twice the limit if pushed. Driven sensibly though, it'll be more frugal than the Picasso (37ish MPG) and a lot more fun.
 
I'm lucky enough to a only a few minutes from interesting roads that even at the nsl can be a challenge, 5mph to 60 in vtec with the top down is fun although to go a few leptons faster is so easy to do especially in company of another driver you trust, only ever done on our private race track of course.
 
Well I found the opposite, my 4x4 beats the life out of the gti's, and boy racer r types etc, but it sort of makes you go around more sedately... Safe in the knowledge that the loud peddle is there if needed.

That and the fact at high speed on the motorway it scares the crap out of you, not the most stable car I have driven :)
 
I do miss my car, the noise more than anything. Screaming up to 8400rpm! The sound of the throttle bodies were immense!!

It was quite quick for what it was but that noise!!!! :(
 
Is there a point - yes there is - they're fun!!

I'm not talking about doing stupid things on the roads or some kind of speed freak compulsion but I quite like being in control of something that's "quicker than average" - same reason I have bikes as well as a reasonably quick car - I like going out in/on them for no other reason than I enjoy it.

People who just think of their car as a machine for moving them/kids/shopping from A to B can say that there is no practical justification for high performance cars - and (with some exceptions) I'd say "fair enough" - but who wants to live their life restricted to just being practical.

I enjoy my car - that's point enough for me.
 
FlyTVR said:
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
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It's one of the reasons that I recently sold my Z4M.


DSC_4786 by kas10, on Flickr
 
Mank said:
I do miss my car, the noise more than anything. Screaming up to 8400rpm! The sound of the throttle bodies were immense!!
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8400 is quite a lot for a road car. What was it?
 
onomatopoeia said:
8400 is quite a lot for a road car. What was it?
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A fiesta :lol:

Forged bottom end, ported head, race cams, jenvey throttle bodies, omex600 etc... 1600 zetec SE was good fun. Only issue is i didnt key the crank :(
 
Wragging a small engined cheap car gives the most fun but love the thrill and sound of the straight six hitting 80 in third. lol ;):cool:
 
I have a fasting diesel for the road (Leon FR) but I get my fix karting.


Will progress to kit cars and track days after we move and we get a garage.
 
The Big Yin said:
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.
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I agree

I don't have a fast car anymore - estate car / people carrier.

Driving around Scotland there is little in the way of Motorways. Whilst I may not want to travel around like a maniac It's good to have power on tap to make a move to pass slow traffic safely.
 
dinners said:
I agree
It's good to have power on tap to make a move to pass slow traffic safely.
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I completely agree :thumbs:
Although I used to find it scary, watching the fuel consumption needle
plummet :(

I have however solved that now :thumbs:
I just don't look at the damned thing anymore :D
 
My daily work car is a £1500 diesel mondeo with 175k on it! My fun is my Honda fireblade! 0-60 under 3 seconds and the limiter doesn't hit until 14k! Love the thrill a bike gives you!

Clarke.
 
Reading this thread reminded me how much I miss my Lancia Delta Integrale :) A car all about acceleration and grip and FUN!

Driving a Volvo V70 T5 now which is probably quicker in a straight line, but nowhere near the fun of the Lancia and driving should be fun!
 
lol loving this thread my mk1 escort was that loud you could hear it start up 5 doors down the road if you were going down a side street late at night the vibration of the exaust used to set car alarms off lol used to love when i went throu a tunnel used to put the window down and dump a gear i loved the rumble,i drive a ix35 now ,a push bike could prob over take me up hill now
 
Mank said:
A fiesta :lol:

Forged bottom end, ported head, race cams, jenvey throttle bodies, omex600 etc... 1600 zetec SE was good fun. Only issue is i didnt key the crank :(
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ah the old interference fit crank pulley leading to a rapidly deminishing valve to piston clearance? :shake:
 
I miss the jag... Yes expensive, Yes only had an inch of tyre, Yes the skirt was so low that snow made it into a plough and road kill would rip the spoiler off.

But when you hit a 'S' button and the computer kicked in and changed it from tourer to Scalextric car......

Yes i will get another.... And I love Range Rovers and Defenders.....

Be happy, fleece the Worlds resources..... One life, live it!
 
Cobra said:
I completely agree :thumbs:
Although I used to find it scary, watching the fuel consumption needle
plummet :(
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This has been the death of me as a human being.

Not a needle but a digital read out that if set to 'constant' rather than 'average' has made me realise just how much my driving style affects fuel consumption.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not letting it rule my life but there are times when I'm bored stiff so - look further ahead to avoid breaking and therefore speeding up again / changing gear at unusual revs / tucking in behind a lorry etc.

It's become a bit of a game when I'm not in a rush but it's shocking what a difference it makes.:bonk:
 
Daryl said:
Be happy, fleece the Worlds resources..... One life, live it!
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At last, Someone who thinks like me. Sod our childrens children, use it now and let the grandkids use hydrogen! :D
 
dinners said:
This has been the death of me as a human being.

Not a needle but a digital read out that if set to 'constant' rather than 'average' has made me realise just how much my driving style affects fuel consumption.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not letting it rule my life but there are times when I'm bored stiff so - look further ahead to avoid breaking and therefore speeding up again / changing gear at unusual revs / tucking in behind a lorry etc.

It's become a bit of a game when I'm not in a rush but it's shocking what a difference it makes.:bonk:
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56mph, cruise control, tucked behind a truck and I see well over 70mpg in the Mondy.

I thought to myself, If I could do this speed all the way to Germany and back, I'd save a fortune.

Damn right I'd save a fortune, Id miss the bleedin' ferry! :D
 
mj4456 said:
I'm lucky enough to a only a few minutes from interesting roads that even at the nsl can be a challenge, 5mph to 60 in vtec with the top down is fun although to go a few leptons faster is so easy to do especially in company of another driver you trust, only ever done on our private race track of course.
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S2k? :love:
 
I've had V6 power and latterly 1.6L supercharged... that all moved reasonably well, and handled nicely.

In fairness, I don't particularly miss them.

You just have to adapt and move on. :)
 
JayD said:
56mph, cruise control, tucked behind a truck and I see well over 70mpg in the Mondy.

I thought to myself, If I could do this speed all the way to Germany and back, I'd save a fortune.

Damn right I'd save a fortune, Id miss the bleedin' ferry! :D
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....:lol:
 
kevshore said:
It's one of the reasons that I recently sold my Z4M.


DSC_4786 by kas10, on Flickr
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Yep that is a performance car! Had an encounter with one of those in my old mk5 Golf R32. Mullered me on a straight.

0-60 in a 300bhp+ car goes so quickly. It will eventually get you into trouble :(

Dav
 
dinners said:
This has been the death of me as a human being.

Not a needle but a digital read out that if set to 'constant' rather than 'average' has made me realise just how much my driving style affects fuel consumption.

It's become a bit of a game when I'm not in a rush but it's shocking what a difference it makes.:bonk:
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I have that in the van, I've not yet managed to get it to read below
8 but I'm "on it" :D
(I don't pay the fuel BTW :D)

JayD said:
56mph, cruise control, tucked behind a truck and I see well over 70mpg in the Mondy.
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OK Hands up all those that have set the cruise control at 70 on a long motorway journey and realised just how erratic other drivers speeds are?
Passing some, and then having them pass you, further down the road ?;)
.....and so the "game" continues :D

JayD said:
Damn right I'd save a fortune, Id miss the bleedin' ferry! :D
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:lol::lol::lol:
 
Cobra said:
OK Hands up all those that have set the cruise control at 70 on a long motorway journey and realised just how erratic other drivers speeds are?
Passing some, and then having them pass you, further down the road ?;)
.....and so the "game" continues :D


:lol::lol::lol:
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Every blooming day. It's not just at 70 neither, I've set mine at 60 and had exactly the same problem. These are usually the same people that only use the inside lane to join or leave the motorways too.
 
I've only ever owned 3 cars in just over 17 years of driving.....

J reg 1.4 Astra Estate
X reg 1.8 Focus Estate
55 plate 2.0TDCi Focus Estate

(Internet cookie for spotting a common theme :lol:)

Now none of them are ever going to set the World alight in terms of speed/acceleration.

Less than a 18 months after passing my test, I started working at a place that was a 30 odd mile round trip away. The cost of fuel in the Astra was managable but anything thirstier would have caused me problems, not to mention the cost of repair when things start going wrong. My view is the faster it goes, the more expensive it's going to be to repair when it breaks down :lol:

I do love speed & acceleration but let's face it, as the OP says the roads just aren't built for that and it you do dare go a little crazy even once in a blue moon, there's a good chance you're be relieved of some hard earned cash and get some points for your troubles too!

Having said that, my current Focus is far from a slouch, plenty of torque which makes the rare occasions I go on the motorway and effortless affair and I can also get 50-60MPG too.

Cars are a moneypit, some more so than others. Unless I get to a point in life where I've got money to burn, I definitely won't buy a performance car as it's simply not worth it.
 
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