Where have all the enthusiasts gone?
Discussion
What's happening to PH? It's all about finance, leasing and slagging off any new car that comes out, however many questions it answers.
Is anyone like me in that if they see anything "interesting" they smile and appreciate it; be it a super plain looking Audi with a subtle 4.2 engine badge or a winged up fast rally rep?
We have a cracking choice of cars at the moment, many at the more or less affordable end of the market yet all we get is "it's too ugly, it's too dull, it's just a Beetle, it's too Playstation, it's too much of a handful, it weighs 3kg too much, blah blah blah"
There are some proper enthusiasts buried in amongst the waffling goons but they seem to be getting edged out.
Let's have more threads on the fun of driving, appreciate good cars new, old and in between, cut the elitist nonsense some (especially M car owners…) and bring back a little more smiles.
There's an overused cliche in surfing - the best surfer is the one having the most fun. I think this applies directly to driving too. We picked up our M135i today after it went in (at two weeks old!) for a bit of paint correction and I just grinned all the way home - the noise, the alertness of the chassis, the grip, the power; all hilarious fun for me and the family.
Come on guys (for there are very few girls), cheer up - It's Spring soon; drier roads, cool air; ideal driving conditions!!
Is anyone like me in that if they see anything "interesting" they smile and appreciate it; be it a super plain looking Audi with a subtle 4.2 engine badge or a winged up fast rally rep?
We have a cracking choice of cars at the moment, many at the more or less affordable end of the market yet all we get is "it's too ugly, it's too dull, it's just a Beetle, it's too Playstation, it's too much of a handful, it weighs 3kg too much, blah blah blah"
There are some proper enthusiasts buried in amongst the waffling goons but they seem to be getting edged out.
Let's have more threads on the fun of driving, appreciate good cars new, old and in between, cut the elitist nonsense some (especially M car owners…) and bring back a little more smiles.
There's an overused cliche in surfing - the best surfer is the one having the most fun. I think this applies directly to driving too. We picked up our M135i today after it went in (at two weeks old!) for a bit of paint correction and I just grinned all the way home - the noise, the alertness of the chassis, the grip, the power; all hilarious fun for me and the family.
Come on guys (for there are very few girls), cheer up - It's Spring soon; drier roads, cool air; ideal driving conditions!!
poing said:
As much as I agree with you, because I'm a terminal car bore, we have to accept that times change. Some people (however misguided) care about image and what they think the car says about them.
A lot of modern cars are being heavily developed by the marketing department rather than the engineers. They have to do whatever makes them money I guess and the average person on the street just see's a car as a way to get from A to B and boast to the friends about it having the most fashionable badge this week. The modern car enthusiast represents this change.
There are a few of us left that can have just as much fun driving an F40, Ford KA or a ratty old van because we love driving.
Very well put. I think I'd have a lot of fun in an F40; right until I ended up backwards in a hedge.A lot of modern cars are being heavily developed by the marketing department rather than the engineers. They have to do whatever makes them money I guess and the average person on the street just see's a car as a way to get from A to B and boast to the friends about it having the most fashionable badge this week. The modern car enthusiast represents this change.
There are a few of us left that can have just as much fun driving an F40, Ford KA or a ratty old van because we love driving.
Sorry delta but you were ignored the FIRST time; are you still trying to make your voice heard? You and any other moaning old tarts will be ignored. This isn't a thread for your sort. Please set up your own entitled "the bleating old women who b
h more than a cheap sleb magazine thread."
You'll fit right in.
Anyway it's good to see a few of the good ones in here. The roads were actually almost DRY today; sadly it's battering it down again tomorrow...
h more than a cheap sleb magazine thread."You'll fit right in.
Anyway it's good to see a few of the good ones in here. The roads were actually almost DRY today; sadly it's battering it down again tomorrow...
SEE YA said:
My hobby is classic cars, for the last twenty years + I do not drink or smoke, the cash goes on old cars. We go to over ten shows a year about classic cars. I have done a few restorations as well.
I can see a lovely 911 and an Aston in your pic. Any others?I think I should build myself a Westfield or similar at some stage. I have a big Halfords Professional tool kit so what could possibly go wrong?
Pablo68 said:
Vlad wanted to ask... I nearly bought a 135i recently but in the end plumped for a 335i because I could drive it more "sedately" when the missus was in with me. How have you found it in terms of day to day driving?
My missus is quite a petrol head too which helps but it needed to be comfortable. It's busier than our 335d but perfectly acceptable and it's fairly refined inside too. The 3 series has a few nicer touches though; just little things like the sun blinds, window switches, etc. St John Smythe said:
What's amusing is the fact he banged on about his 335d being an SE with no silly M Sport kit or useless iDrive. So then he goes out and gets an 'M' 135i with yep, you guessed it, iDrive 
Tell me you think early (2006ish) I-drive was good. Then tell me you don't think it has improved a massive amount since then.Then come back with your half ar5ed sniping efforts.
slippery said:
Why are you so aggressive/bitter towards people who don't pay cash for their cars Vlad? Surely it doesn't make them less of an enthusiast?
Why are you so angry and bitter that you have decided this is the case and keep asking?I ONLY bite when someone tells me how stupid I am for buying cars with cash.
If people lease/finance theres that's fine; it's just not for us and while it seems fine to "defend" non cash buying, justifying cash buying seems to bring PHers out in hives. Very one sided as usual.
daemon said:
Hmmm.
I dont recall anyone saying you personally were stupid for buying with cash, though i'm happy to be corrected.
Any links to posts?
Countless leasing threads telling everyone you'd be mad to buy with cash, etc, etc.I dont recall anyone saying you personally were stupid for buying with cash, though i'm happy to be corrected.
Any links to posts?
Slippery - clearly that isn't the intention. There are 100s of PHers much, much better off than me on here anyway.
Now let's steer this back on course shall we? We have near floods here AGAIN so today is looking like a cr4p driving day. ARRGHHH!!!
St John Smythe said:
Chill, didn't you see the smily at the end of my post?
I did but I was annoyed so had smiley blindness. Apologies.Just drivena fair way in the VW CC; I half like it, half don't. A good wafter but easy to get it out of shape on the bends. Putting the dampers into sport mode seems to just make it harder but not handle any better. But the satnav works well (screen too small) and it's definitely comfortable. A few cheap stalks and switches though but great seats.
Edited by Vladimir on Sunday 26th January 17:18
SidewaysSi said:
I think there is, however undeniably the market is small. There are relatively few people willing to give up their comforts for a sharper drive these days. Particularly if the compromise is less passive safety or a nice interior to impress their mates.
Totally agree - look at the last M3; loaded with all sorts of gizmos, many of them very heavy. And the 911 is getting heavier and heavier. At least the new M3/4 hacks a load of lard off.The materials technology is there to shave weight but manufacturers seem to have been getting away with more weight for a long time. When a performance icon (the GTR) is around 1800kgs, when the M6 is two tonnes and when most small hatches hover near 1500kgs, you know it's got a bit silly.
One of the first things I look at when a new car comes out is it's weight.
Leins said:
Noisy? Yes, but what a noise! Like the rest of the car it's not ideal for city centre multistorey car parks on a Saturday morning really, but out on deserted and open mountain roads...
Ahhh yes, those famous mountain passes of Southern Ireland… Edited by Leins on Sunday 26th January 22:57
), Wales, South Germany / Austria,...okie592 said:
I would love to be able to say it to your face but I'm afraid your just such a driving god I wouldn't be able to keep up with your turbocharged unique powerhouse m135i with a few extras paid cash in my leased diesel golf :/ real shame really. Maybe il have a chance on the snow if your in your van, oh wait 4wd. I'm screwed for life.
Shame.
Genuinely funny post. Message received and understood. I think.Shame.
St John Smythe said:
I've driven most of the South Island in New Zealand. It's ok, but I found most of the roads to be dead straight between towns. Head over to the Alps is my advice and hit the passes, Furka, St Bernard, etc. Nothing beats it
I've done some of the European Alps but not extensively. Planning to drive to a wedding in the Black Forest in May; might take the scenic route!IoM does appeal; will have to suggest it to the missus.
I found NZ really good; we drove right through the mountains with cracking views and some great roads IMO.
Also done the mountains of North Italy just South of Milan (2 hours South). Some good roads but easily the worst drivers of any nation; total psyco nutters.
Northern Spain (Picos mountains) is fun as well as the Pyrenees but that was in the van...!
The roads around here are pretty good out of the silly season; quite spoilt really.
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