Anyone else falling out of love with driving a 'fast' car?
Discussion
ClockworkCupcake said:
Yup. I'm finding I drive the Sagaris less and less these days, to the point that months can go by between drives.
It's just too fast for the roads in my area these days, the suspension is too compromised to deal with the state of the roads these days, chances to overtake are too rare, sometimes other motorists tend to get freaked out when I do overtake (I think they simply cannot comprehend how fast it accelerates), and in short the joy of driving it is fast disappearing. It might be time to sell. Still, I have owed it for over 8 years now.
In what way do they freak out? I used to find in my supercharged exige would would often flash when I overtook probably as they sIt's just too fast for the roads in my area these days, the suspension is too compromised to deal with the state of the roads these days, chances to overtake are too rare, sometimes other motorists tend to get freaked out when I do overtake (I think they simply cannot comprehend how fast it accelerates), and in short the joy of driving it is fast disappearing. It might be time to sell. Still, I have owed it for over 8 years now.
t their pants at the shock of something accelerating so fastjohnwilliams77 said:
In what way do they freak out? I used to find in my supercharged exige would would often flash when I overtook probably as they st their pants at the shock of something accelerating so fast
Pretty much. Usually after you're back in again. Ironically. t their pants at the shock of something accelerating so fastFlash, gesticulate, swerve as they jolt awake out of their reverie, w
ker gesture, stuff like that.And before anyone assumes it must be my driving, I allow absolutely huge margins of error on overtakes but do use the full acceleration of the car to minimise Time Exposed to Danger.
I was debating this topic with myself recently while deciding what to buy after a fortunate windfall.
I've gone for a M3 E93 cab. It is undoubtedly a fast car when you use all the rev range although not super fast due to its porky kerb weight. But it has that V8 to occasionally enjoy through the lower gears and if you stick it in auto, slacken the dampers and put the roof down it can be quite a convincing cruiser so I really don't have to break the speed limits by miles to enjoy it.
The key is that it is a weekend car mostly. I bought a big scooter for my 10 mile commute (half dual carriageway/half congested city streets). I think if I drove the M3 regularly in London, like I did with with my 996 cab of two years ago, I would rapidly fall out of love with it.
For thrills I am planning to do some karting (Rotax engined jobs) with a couple of mates which I think will be more intense than any non crazy road driving.
I've gone for a M3 E93 cab. It is undoubtedly a fast car when you use all the rev range although not super fast due to its porky kerb weight. But it has that V8 to occasionally enjoy through the lower gears and if you stick it in auto, slacken the dampers and put the roof down it can be quite a convincing cruiser so I really don't have to break the speed limits by miles to enjoy it.
The key is that it is a weekend car mostly. I bought a big scooter for my 10 mile commute (half dual carriageway/half congested city streets). I think if I drove the M3 regularly in London, like I did with with my 996 cab of two years ago, I would rapidly fall out of love with it.
For thrills I am planning to do some karting (Rotax engined jobs) with a couple of mates which I think will be more intense than any non crazy road driving.
ClockworkCupcake said:
johnwilliams77 said:
In what way do they freak out? I used to find in my supercharged exige would would often flash when I overtook probably as they st their pants at the shock of something accelerating so fast
Pretty much. Usually after you're back in again. Ironically. t their pants at the shock of something accelerating so fastFlash, gesticulate, swerve as they jolt awake out of their reverie, w
ker gesture, stuff like that.And before anyone assumes it must be my driving, I allow absolutely huge margins of error on overtakes but do use the full acceleration of the car to minimise Time Exposed to Danger.
Really enjoyed the other day - roof off aftert work. Then topped of with a cold beer in a pub by the river.
rev-erend said:
ClockworkCupcake said:
johnwilliams77 said:
In what way do they freak out? I used to find in my supercharged exige would would often flash when I overtook probably as they st their pants at the shock of something accelerating so fast
Pretty much. Usually after you're back in again. Ironically. t their pants at the shock of something accelerating so fastFlash, gesticulate, swerve as they jolt awake out of their reverie, w
ker gesture, stuff like that.And before anyone assumes it must be my driving, I allow absolutely huge margins of error on overtakes but do use the full acceleration of the car to minimise Time Exposed to Danger.
Really enjoyed the other day - roof off aftert work. Then topped of with a cold beer in a pub by the river.
MKnight702 said:
rev-erend said:
ClockworkCupcake said:
johnwilliams77 said:
In what way do they freak out? I used to find in my supercharged exige would would often flash when I overtook probably as they st their pants at the shock of something accelerating so fast
Pretty much. Usually after you're back in again. Ironically. t their pants at the shock of something accelerating so fastFlash, gesticulate, swerve as they jolt awake out of their reverie, w
ker gesture, stuff like that.And before anyone assumes it must be my driving, I allow absolutely huge margins of error on overtakes but do use the full acceleration of the car to minimise Time Exposed to Danger.
Really enjoyed the other day - roof off aftert work. Then topped of with a cold beer in a pub by the river.
First rule of Italian driving .. throw away the rear view mirror
swisstoni said:
BIRMA said:
Interesting thread because I've just sold my SL63 AMG having hardly used it and decided to use my motorbikes for the summer.
Well I'll miss your SL related contributions but the bikes look like a lot of fun 
ClockworkCupcake said:
BIRMA said:
Interesting thread because I've just sold my SL63 AMG having hardly used it and decided to use my motorbikes for the summer.
Absolutely loving the Art Deco / Streamline Moderne vibe of that bike, and I'm not even into bikes. Only about 20 Honda Runes in the country
BIRMA said:
ClockworkCupcake said:
BIRMA said:
Interesting thread because I've just sold my SL63 AMG having hardly used it and decided to use my motorbikes for the summer.
Absolutely loving the Art Deco / Streamline Moderne vibe of that bike, and I'm not even into bikes. Only about 20 Honda Runes in the country
Now, the Shell Blue thing of beauty that is being hidden by that awful Honda on the other hand
aeropilot said:
Marmite indeed......but beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that....
Certainly is. I'm looking at it as art, as I have no interest in bikes, and I very much love Streamline Moderne / Dieselpunk / Googie architecture, so it is natural for me love the look of that. But I can also see how it would not appeal to all. ClockworkCupcake said:
It's just too fast for the roads in my area these days
the suspension is too compromised to deal with the state of the roads these days
Still, I have owed it for over 8 years now.
This is an interesting observation. Do we really think that the roads have become appreciably/significantly more busy and of worse condition in the past decade?the suspension is too compromised to deal with the state of the roads these days
Still, I have owed it for over 8 years now.
I can't say I've noticed a major issue. In fact, if you were to look back 8yrs on PH (not that I have), I'm sure you will find plenty of moans about the state of the roads and the volume of traffic.
Is it possible that the change is in the driver, rather than the roads?
C70R said:
ClockworkCupcake said:
It's just too fast for the roads in my area these days
the suspension is too compromised to deal with the state of the roads these days
Still, I have owed it for over 8 years now.
This is an interesting observation. Do we really think that the roads have become appreciably/significantly more busy and of worse condition in the past decade?the suspension is too compromised to deal with the state of the roads these days
Still, I have owed it for over 8 years now.
I can't say I've noticed a major issue. In fact, if you were to look back 8yrs on PH (not that I have), I'm sure you will find plenty of moans about the state of the roads and the volume of traffic.
Is it possible that the change is in the driver, rather than the roads?
To the extent that they will send someone out to dob a bit of tar into a bad pothole (one that strictly qualifies their criteria - i.e. dangerous) and totally ignore one next to it that's almost as bad.
I think road resurfacing is now totally off the menu unless its some very busy road.
swisstoni said:
C70R said:
This is an interesting observation. Do we really think that the roads have become appreciably/significantly more busy and of worse condition in the past decade?
I can't say I've noticed a major issue. In fact, if you were to look back 8yrs on PH (not that I have), I'm sure you will find plenty of moans about the state of the roads and the volume of traffic.
Is it possible that the change is in the driver, rather than the roads?
I would argue that its very local authority dependant. Ours has very noticeably gone lights-on only in terms of maintenance.I can't say I've noticed a major issue. In fact, if you were to look back 8yrs on PH (not that I have), I'm sure you will find plenty of moans about the state of the roads and the volume of traffic.
Is it possible that the change is in the driver, rather than the roads?
To the extent that they will send someone out to dob a bit of tar into a bad pothole (one that strictly qualifies their criteria - i.e. dangerous) and totally ignore one next to it that's almost as bad.
I think road resurfacing is now totally off the menu unless its some very busy road.
I have lived on the Surrey / Hampshire border for 15 years now and I have observed the A30 from Basingstoke to Blackbushe airport change from a fast two lane NSL dual carriageway for much of its length to a single lane at 50mph, with 40mph zones extended.
I've also seen decent NSL roads reduced to 40mph, with far more double white lines too. I've also found people are more likely to follow the car in front rather than overtake, and not leave a big enough gap should they wish to. In fact, many drivers now seem to consider overtaking as reckless behaviour it seems.
Roads are definitely in a worse state of repair too, although I concede that perhaps the suspension on the Sagaris is getting a little tired after 8 years (although at least 1 rear shock has been replaced in that time).
So, no, I don't think it is the driver in this instance.
C70R - your profile doesn't say where in the country you are. Perhaps things are better for you wherever you are based.
Edited by ClockworkCupcake on Monday 9th May 12:32
ClockworkCupcake said:
swisstoni said:
C70R said:
This is an interesting observation. Do we really think that the roads have become appreciably/significantly more busy and of worse condition in the past decade?
I can't say I've noticed a major issue. In fact, if you were to look back 8yrs on PH (not that I have), I'm sure you will find plenty of moans about the state of the roads and the volume of traffic.
Is it possible that the change is in the driver, rather than the roads?
I would argue that its very local authority dependant. Ours has very noticeably gone lights-on only in terms of maintenance.I can't say I've noticed a major issue. In fact, if you were to look back 8yrs on PH (not that I have), I'm sure you will find plenty of moans about the state of the roads and the volume of traffic.
Is it possible that the change is in the driver, rather than the roads?
To the extent that they will send someone out to dob a bit of tar into a bad pothole (one that strictly qualifies their criteria - i.e. dangerous) and totally ignore one next to it that's almost as bad.
I think road resurfacing is now totally off the menu unless its some very busy road.
I have lived on the Surrey / Hampshire border for 15 years now and I have observed the A30 from Basingstoke to Blackbushe airport change from a fast two lane NSL dual carriageway for much of its length to a single lane at 50mph, with 40mph zones extended.
I've also seen decent NSL roads reduced to 40mph, with far more double white lines too. I've also found people are more likely to follow the car in front rather than overtake, and not leave a big enough gap should they wish to. In fact, many drivers now seem to consider overtaking as reckless behaviour it seems.
Roads are definitely in a worse state of repair too, although I concede that perhaps the suspension on the Sagaris is getting a little tired after 8 years (although at least 1 rear shock has been replaced in that time).
So, no, I don't think it is the driver in this instance.
C70R - your profile doesn't say where in the country you are. Perhaps things are better for you wherever you are based.
Edited by ClockworkCupcake on Monday 9th May 12:32
There's nearly 2 million extra cars on the road in the last 10 years and we had a recession in that time, if you count 15 years it's more like 6 or 7 million extra.
To be honest I find overtaking pointless when it's semi busy , because all you do is join the back of another queue further down the road
To be honest I find overtaking pointless when it's semi busy , because all you do is join the back of another queue further down the road
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