What does it for you? Power or 'Feel'

[v8will]

As title suggests.

I've been lucky enough to drive quite a few cars and my preferences are more towards handling (handling feel, not grip)and general driving enjoyment. Breakdown as follows on a few I've owned/driven

Mazda MX5 (all models): Rev happy and fairly nimble, good fun to provoke a little oversteer on damp roads. Slow in a straight line but most of the fun was under 60MPH. Latest model felt a bit more solid than the MK1 but didn't feel so connected.

W210 E55 AMG: No shortage of power but didn't float my boat, hellish quick in a straight line but would have no desire to own one.

Original Mini on 10" wheels: Slow, go cart like - an absolute hoot

Volvo 850 T5: Good in a straight line, comfy, Titanic handling (think big boat). Practical and dependable but never felt like just going for a drive.

Ford Puma: Cheap and nasty build but sweet engine and piles of feedback

Porsche Boxster 3.2: Plenty of grunt, amazing steering feedback but a bit 'poser' Would love to own one, a fantastic drive and on a par with any 911 I've driven.

Porsche 911 3.3 turbo: Heavy, pig to drive sensibly - epic shove when on boost

Westfield Hayabusa: Driving at it's purist? like flying a microlight instead of a 747. Scared the crap out of me though!

Just a few of my thoughts but why do most people pursue outright power, styling and toys these days instead of something like a MX5 or Puma or even a new MINI cooper - stuff that makes you smile after every drive? When did mechanical grip suddenly become 'handling'

[Rannoch]

Ten years of Subaru ownership and modifying created an addiction to easy grip and immense power.

My compromise now is a GT3 which combines shove, epic noise and great handling.

The Caterfield thing just does not do it for me - I feel too exposed (must be getting old!)

[Jonboy_t]

A lot of people buy car for the perception they give to others as much as the straight line grunt. There is a lot to be said about doing someone on the straights and them trying to catch up in the corners!!

If I see a Merc with an AMG badge on it, I instantly have a lot more respect for the guy than I would have if he'd bought a top spec MX5.

[RB26DETT]

v8will said:

As title suggests.




Ford Puma: Cheap and nasty build but sweet engine and piles of feedback

Well i know its a cheap build but nasty ? Its only based on the Fiesta anyway.

And as a cheap build well its a fairly cheap car. So you get what you pay for.

[ewenm]

Feel and enough power for the weight. My paltry 160bhp gives 5s to 60 and continues pulling hard to 100mph, whilst housed in a car world-reknowned for it's handling, balance and feel. Not much good on autobahns, but I really don't care about that.

Edited by ewenm on Thursday 8th April 22:16

[Great Pretender]

Power and feel needn't be mutually exclusive. It'll cost you mind.

Me? I sit somewhere in the middle; not too much power but still a little bit of feel.

[Mars]

Caterham for the weekends, and something with sheer grunt but "safe" in terms of infallibility for the week.

[Fruitcake]

Feel.

Power is usually experienced every so often. Feel is there all the time.

I'd rather be behind the wheel of an Elise S, than a Dodge Viper.

[hotmelt]

Feel!!!!

[micky g]

Errr, depends on the road...

[sebhaque]

Feel - but I'd like it backed up with a bit of power. I don't want to feel a massive surge and realise I'm only doing 30 - then again I don't want to feel nothing and then see my speedo neatly planted at 120.

My old MG was all show and no go - it'd shove you back in your seat but only really get to 60 if you pushed it - whereas my dad's Merc doesn't feel fast at all but you're easily at over 100 before you realise what's going on. My Impreza's the best balance I've found so far - shoves you back like a pikey wanting your phone, but you can feel the speed you're pushing. Ridiculously addictive but it's great fun.

[Great Pretender]

Gaz. said:

On my own, feel. Sharing this little island with 60 million other people, power. There's nothing fun being held up in corners then blown away along the straights by someone else.

Precisely.

Spending your hard-earned on a sports car, only to be out-gunned by a diesel VAG, cannot be very good for one's esteem.

[ymwoods]

I like the feeling of being nimble. Does not have to be too powerfull but a little kick in the back when you drop it a gear most certainly feels good.

[TotalControl]

Feel. For me, if you're to only have one car, there's no point in having one with buckets of power if you're never going to use it. I'd rather have something enough to get me out of delicate situations but also possess good feel.