Car just serviced - feels faster - just psychological?

[Mars]

Car back from servicing. Had opportunity to go for a blast this evening and thought it felt tighter and faster. I know a lot about car mechanics, and specifically that the servicing didn't incorporate any "tightening up" of anything. But it felt great.

The service centre said they couldn't find the cause of the knocking underneath the car so I tested a theory that it was in fact a loose bike carrier on the roof rack (I thought I'd ironed this out previously). I fixed that by tying it down. It worked. Also, the new tyres run quieter than the old ones. So the car seemed to glide along - albeit at speed.

Anyway, cars always feel faster at night don't they?

[driverrob]

Many years ago the story went that a (new) BMW driver took his car in for its first service, complaining that he was very disappointed in its performance; 0-60 etc.
When he tested it afterwards he proclaimed it much faster.
They'd swapped the inaccurate speedometer for a new one.

[Deva Link]

Mars said:

Anyway, cars always feel faster at night don't they?

It's because darker air has less resistance.

i used to do a lot of mileage in company cars so they were being serviced every 3mths or so. They always felt faster when I picked them up after service with no logical reason.

These days cars seem to feel worse - I always fear the garage has messed something up.

[swiftpete]

Yes to the faster at night theory. Cars also feel fast in car parks if you ever get the chance to put your foot down a bit. I reckon night time in a car park would feel pretty fast, that's probably why scumbags hang out around macdonalds in their stheaps doing donuts etc.

[h0b0]

If it is a modern car then it could have learnt the previous driver's style. The car's cpu does learn driving styles and accelerator response. This could mean that while the mechanics were testing for smoke out put they had their foot flat to the floor and your car believes that is how you want to drive.

I know my car transforms from day to day depending on the previous drive.

[collateral]

Mine always feel better with fresh oil. Sometimes a mech takes it upon himself to inflate your tires to a random psi, which can make things interesting

[Mars]

collateral said:

Sometimes a mech takes it upon himself to inflate your tires to a random psi, which can make things interesting

Hah Love that.

[omgus]

Mars said:

collateral said:

Sometimes a mech takes it upon himself to inflate your tires to a random psi, which can make things interesting

Hah Love that.

I had the rears in my scoob changed after one got a puncture, on the way home it felt a little tail happy

Turns out the rears where at 44psi!

Still use the same tyre shop, but i always stop round the corner at the BP to check before hooning it home.

[Garett]

Turbo charged cars will be faster at night, cooler therefore denser air!

[slomax]

Might be. If they replaced the spark plugs then you may be getting a stronger, sharper combustion improving engine response and torque.

[mnkiboy]

It's the reduction of weight in your wallet which makes your car faster.

Even if you paid on card.

Edited by mnkiboy on Thursday 4th November 11:28

[driverrob]

Garett said:

Turbo charged cars will be faster at night, cooler therefore denser air!

Drizzle is good, too. A bit like nature's water injection.

[collateral]

mnkiboy said:

It's the reduction of weight in your wallet which makes your car faster.

Even if you paid on card.

Edited by mnkiboy on Thursday 4th November 11:28

[Defcon5]

If they have replaced the air filter that may make a difference if the old one was a bit clogged up

[LuS1fer]

Night air is cold air. Cold air is denser and contains more oxygen. Your car is faster at night. Cold air induction kits for nothing save a daylight sacrifice.