Low power cars

[greendiff]

I'm on holiday at the moment and my Omega V6 has munched the engine, so to get me about for a few weeks I have bought a cheap as chips 1.2 1996 Corsa. No power steering, no power windows, no power anything, including a no power engine!

Slow? Like a one legged dog on tranquillizers!

But I'm finding it great fun round the twisties and I'm driving differently to keep momentum going, especially at hills.

Anyone else find a similar thing happens when they get into a low power motor?

[rix]

Yep, its the art of not slowing down. For anything.

Admittedly it has power steering, but have a similar experience with Ms Rix's Aygo. Much fun.

[robsco]

Its fantastic fun, been able to mash the pedal into the carpet virtually everywhere with no danger of speeding fines I secretly love borrowing the C1s from work. Such perverse fun, especially with the 3-cylinder thrum. Its almost like pedalling half a 911!

[jbi]

good fun for the odd blast. Novelty wears off though

[Horns]

I know what you mine. When I'm not driving the turboswede I'm in the VW camper - 1.6 of diesel isn't much for a van full of cupboards and stuff. It's an interesting challenge in its own way, though, especially on the autobahn...

[AnotherClarkey]

jbi said:

good fun for the odd blast. Novelty wears off though

I feel exactly the same way about powerful cars. Much more lasting challenge in thrashing something willing but slow IMHO.

[Cotty]

AnotherClarkey said:

jbi said:

good fun for the odd blast. Novelty wears off though

I feel exactly the same way about powerful cars. Much more lasting challenge in thrashing something willing but slow IMHO.

No way. Mine isn't exactly super car fast but I would never think of getting a gutless car.

[Hell27]

Cotty said:

AnotherClarkey said:

jbi said:

good fun for the odd blast. Novelty wears off though

I feel exactly the same way about powerful cars. Much more lasting challenge in thrashing something willing but slow IMHO.

No way. Mine isn't exactly super car fast but I would never think of getting a gutless car.

You have a truly fantastic motor there mate. Good find!

[Horns]

Depends what for, too. Round London my car is a bit of a pain - not enough room to stretch its legs - but the girlfriends Micra is more fun, because you can put your foot down a bit more and chuck it around a bit...

[hyperblue]

jbi said:

good fun for the odd blast. Novelty wears off though

Definitely, I am currently driving a Ford Ka. Frequently finding myself wanting my MINI back so I can plant my foot and let the supercharger do its thing

[RobM77]

Without wishing to insult the OP's car, is a 1.2 Corsa really all that much slower than a V6 Omega?

[forsure]

Horns said:

Depends what for, too. Round London my car is a bit of a pain - not enough room to stretch its legs - but the girlfriends Micra is more fun, because you can put your foot down a bit more and chuck it around a bit...

Agreed, old Micras are a good way to make progress in the urban jungle. Tough, nimble and chuckable - and they don't attract attention.

[GavGav]

RobM77 said:

Without wishing to insult the OP's car, is a 1.2 Corsa really all that much slower than a V6 Omega?

Not just about speed though, is it. My car is not exactly lightning, but it's a different class to the 1.0 Micra I have just invested in, in speed, comfort and refinement. It is strangely liberating to drive a car that does 50mpg, won't brake down, or cost £100 per tyre, can be parked in tiny spaces, and supermarket car parks without fear, and is unlikely to get you done for speeding if you tried!!

And if anyone laughs at me, I just think that it's better than walking.

[slipstream 1985]

Cotty said:

AnotherClarkey said:

jbi said:

good fun for the odd blast. Novelty wears off though

I feel exactly the same way about powerful cars. Much more lasting challenge in thrashing something willing but slow IMHO.

No way. Mine isn't exactly super car fast but I would never think of getting a gutless car.

agreed, had a c2 for a while. totaly gutless, felt like i was wasteing my life away on the daily commute. yearned to get my normal daily dci clio back.

[Cotty]

Hell27 said:

Cotty said:

Mine isn't exactly super car fast but I would never think of getting a gutless car.

You have a truly fantastic motor there mate. Good find!

Thanks for the comment but its bit like Bagpuss "an old, saggy cloth cat, baggy, and a bit loose at the seams, but Emily loved him".

[Cotty]

GavGav said:

Not just about speed though, is it. My car is not exactly lightning, but it's a different class to the 1.0 Micra I have just invested in, in speed, comfort and refinement.
It is strangely liberating to drive a car that does 50mpg, maybe half that
won't brake down check
or cost £100 per tyre, check
can be parked in tiny spaces, normal spaces check
and supermarket car parks without fear check, maybe
and is unlikely to get you done for speeding if you tried!!maybe not
And if anyone laughs at me, I just think that it's better than walking.

Edited by Cotty on Thursday 16th September 00:56

[Papa Hotel]

slipstream 1985 said:

Cotty said:

AnotherClarkey said:

jbi said:

good fun for the odd blast. Novelty wears off though

I feel exactly the same way about powerful cars. Much more lasting challenge in thrashing something willing but slow IMHO.

No way. Mine isn't exactly super car fast but I would never think of getting a gutless car.

agreed, had a c2 for a while. totaly gutless, felt like i was wasteing my life away on the daily commute. yearned to get my normal daily dci clio back.

I know what you mean, there's nothing quite like a diesel Clio, is there? Are you trying to make this the new 335d (mapped)??

[slipstream 1985]

Papa Hotel said:

slipstream 1985 said:

Cotty said:

AnotherClarkey said:

jbi said:

good fun for the odd blast. Novelty wears off though

I feel exactly the same way about powerful cars. Much more lasting challenge in thrashing something willing but slow IMHO.

No way. Mine isn't exactly super car fast but I would never think of getting a gutless car.

agreed, had a c2 for a while. totaly gutless, felt like i was wasteing my life away on the daily commute. yearned to get my normal daily dci clio back.

I know what you mean, there's nothing quite like a diesel Clio, is there? Are you trying to make this the new 335d (mapped)??

no however for two cars that are aparently in the same class, small city commuter car. my clio was far more useable than a 1.0 c2.

[Defcon5]

I am the temporary owner of a VW Fox.

It has 3 cylinders. 1200cc of displacement and a tyre shredding 53bhp.

It was fun for about ten minutes

[ArtVandelay]

I frequently miss my C1, it loved being thrashed and was great fun on the twisties. I even had the back end out with a bit of lift off (thank you Eco Tyres!)

If I had the chance, I'd have another one. It would be my second car, with something with the power for when you need it as the C1 wasn't really at home on the motorway. It could do it, but you'd have to drop it into 3rd fairly often (although second was good for 65... so I hear)

Don't get me wrong, I love my current car too, effortless progress has its place. I just find that its limits are harder to come by in normal driving.