Old people and hot hatches

[mpcdonald]

last year I saw an old guy 70+ in a yellow 458 spider at the ring. he arrived driving very slow with his nose against the wheel and a lots of people were laughing. But as he went for a few laps, he was flying and left everybody with an open mouth. Just saying, enjoy yourself whatever your age.

[rsbmw]

s m said:

Factually accurate

[Hoofy]

s m said:

So true. #dayafterlegsday

Oh, they didn't mean that.

[Skyedriver]

s'funny really
I'm 63, drive a TVR Chimaera have a Caterham in the garage, waiting to be put back together (and an old Volvo Estate).

Was in Aldi at the weekend and saw a big bloke about 50ish getting out of a lowered Golf with big wheels sticking out at jaunty angles and thought - he's a bit old for that......

[cologne2792]

Capri at 18 and still driving one at 47 - along with a Ford Ranger and 406 coupe.

[Dave Hedgehog]

49 and driving an RS3 with red and black rims

my OH who is still in her 30s (honest) has a polo GTi

Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Wednesday 6th July 13:23

[SD_1]

My Dad was considering buying an RS3 in a year or so when he retires, didn't even cross his mind that it is a "young" persons car in the eyes of some

Decided against it as the boot is far too small for what he wants, so will probably end up with an S4.

[Johnnytheboy]

cologne2792 said:

Capri at 18 and still driving one at 47

You must be exhausted!

[swisstoni]

wormus said:

As the antithesis of the "Young people and sensible boring saloons" thread, I thought I'd start this.

Do you know of anyone who drives a modern car that's "too young" for them? I'm 45 and would drive something like a Sunbeam Lotus or 205 GTI as I grew up in the hot hatch era and that's OK. However, I wouldn't buy a new Focus RS or Honda Type R as I believe I'd feel foolish in it. A bit like wearing skinny jeans or a baseball cap.

Am I doing this right?

Nope, looks like it's just you.
I think there are people who have cars to 'say something' about themselves, and there are people who just like cars. I hope I fit into the latter category but threads like this do start to make me feel a bit self conscious.

[Dave Hedgehog]

SD_1 said:

My Dad was considering buying an RS3 in a year or so when he retires, didn't even cross his mind that it is a "young" persons car in the eyes of some

Decided against it as the boot is far too small for what he wants, so will probably end up with an S4.

my friend has just retired and bought a new one, i wont go out with him as he's a total head case, his M135i sideways at 120 was bad enough, there wont be many people following him that's for sure lol

oh and his OH who is also retired has a new leon cupra

Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Wednesday 6th July 13:22

[Maracus]

I passed a blue BMW Z3 Coupe breadvan on the slip road from the M42 to the M40 last month.

It was being driven by a lady in her 60s

[blade7]

Around 10 years ago there was an advert in the local paper for a 944 turbo. I went round to see it and a duffer in his mid 70's was the owner, he took me for a demo on the A1 and I've never been in a car with such an aggressive driver. He was 2 ft off the rear bumper of anything that didn't get out of his way quickly

[J4CKO]

My dad is 67, he just got rid of his Fireblade.

I think people have realised you dont have to sit wearing a suit, reading the paper whilst smoking a pipe when you get to thirty, it isnt the 1950s.

[enginebuilder]

I am 62, new Corsa VXR on the cheap Vauxhall lease, always had performance cars from passing my test, inc Lotus Cortina's, Mini Cooper S, Subaru STI's

Westfields etc, wish I had kept the Cortina & Mini, seeing as I only paid £450.00 each for them at 6-7 years old at time.

[cologne2792]

Johnnytheboy said:

cologne2792 said:

Capri at 18 and still driving one at 47

You must be exhausted!

" I had been driving for 40 years when I fell asleep at the wheel "

[Johnnytheboy]

My father had an 80th birthday bash at a posh hotel in Winchester this winter.

The guests were all friends from his career in motorsport/motoring journalism, and therefore were asked to arrive in as interesting a car as they had access to. We had an E-Type, a couple of 911s etc., though amusingly the man with the pick of any of a motoring magazine's test fleet turned up in an Astra.

Anyway, a metallic sky-blue Audi R8 rumbled in to the car park; we all looked round, assuming this was one of his petrolhead guests.

But no, a little old lady got out and said she was going for lunch with a couple of little old lady friends.

One of our assembled group of industry hacks/journos asked her about the unusual colour and she replied "I asked for it to be painted that colour because it makes it look faster."

[J4CKO]

Not all petrolheads will see themselves and identify themselves as such, it is possible to like cars but not go to events, go on forums, wear "merchandise", read car magazines etc.

Also, you get people who claim to be Petrolheads but dont have a clue.

[anonymous-user]

J4CKO said:

I think people have realised you dont have to sit wearing a suit, reading the paper whilst smoking a pipe when you get to thirty, it isnt the 1950s.

Why didn't anyone tell me? 15 years wasted driving an Austin A40 and smoking old shag when I could have been vaping in a leased Golf R. The shame!

[Toolslinger]

Speed 3 said:

Lots of timeless hot hatches here, a bit different with new blinged up stuff. I must admit at last change for our urban runabout when it came down to Fiesta ST vs Mini Cooper S, at the age of 49, I thought I'd look a bit of a dick in the ST whereas the Mini still has everyman appeal.

Edited by Speed 3 on Tuesday 5th July 18:31

I'm 51,these were my two choices,in the end I thought sod the image went for the fiesta st.its a brilliant drivers car.

[ian2144]

I'm just about to turn 61 current toy Toyota GT86 Aero. Funny thing is, it's just replaced my Sunbeam Lotus