Stupid Things Petrolheads Say
Discussion
You've got to admit, we in the Petrolhead fraternity say some pretty stupid things as well. Here are a few that are unlikely to win you friends:
1. "A little dab of oppo" - marks you out as a bit of a t*t really. Just repeat to yourself a few times and see how stupid it sounds. Then try it with the shoulders twisted, arms spinning imaginary steering wheel motion. Embarassing isn't it?
2. "Point to point, faster than xxxx"; usually in regards to some Subarishi rally rep - probably originated in Evo magazine who seem to believe (less so lately) that driving fast down a farm track is the only measure of a performance car. Surely depends on the points in question, the driver, traffic, etc. "So your £25k Scooby is faster than the latest 600hp Lambo, eh?" Right....
3. "It would kill a xxxx on a track" - as though track driving has any bearing whatsoever on road cars.
4. Any mention of superior 'Ring times. Unless your commute takes in the 'Ring, who cares what time a professional driver with a specially fettled example of a car sets?
5. "Well, Clarkson says..." - As if Moses himself had brought it carved in stone down the mountain.
6. "A remapped 335d..." - aaarrrggghhh
1. "A little dab of oppo" - marks you out as a bit of a t*t really. Just repeat to yourself a few times and see how stupid it sounds. Then try it with the shoulders twisted, arms spinning imaginary steering wheel motion. Embarassing isn't it?
2. "Point to point, faster than xxxx"; usually in regards to some Subarishi rally rep - probably originated in Evo magazine who seem to believe (less so lately) that driving fast down a farm track is the only measure of a performance car. Surely depends on the points in question, the driver, traffic, etc. "So your £25k Scooby is faster than the latest 600hp Lambo, eh?" Right....
3. "It would kill a xxxx on a track" - as though track driving has any bearing whatsoever on road cars.
4. Any mention of superior 'Ring times. Unless your commute takes in the 'Ring, who cares what time a professional driver with a specially fettled example of a car sets?
5. "Well, Clarkson says..." - As if Moses himself had brought it carved in stone down the mountain.
6. "A remapped 335d..." - aaarrrggghhh
kbee540 said:
5. "Well, Clarkson says..." - As if Moses himself had brought it carved in stone down the mountain.
This actually really annoys me. I happen to think that Clarkson has a talent for 'making things real' to people who haven't driven the latest metal, and some things are very sharp. But parroting whatever he chose to say at a given time (to serve the point he was trying to make - he contradicts himself all the time) is bloody ridiculous.
t/smokey/old/etc...."
kbee540 said:
2. "Point to point, faster than xxxx"; usually in regards to some Subarishi rally rep - probably originated in Evo magazine who seem to believe (less so lately) that driving fast down a farm track is the only measure of a performance car. Surely depends on the points in question, the driver, traffic, etc. "So your £25k Scooby is faster than the latest 600hp Lambo, eh?" Right....
Sorry but I think that statement still holds water. It's not about outright performance.. it's about how well the car grips and how well it can use the power available to it. On point to point type twisty roads, I'd still say that a very well sorted grippy car like the Impreza would punish a big brutal supercar. I'm sure there have been many road tests which show this to be the case... And I don't say that as someone who owns a car which would compete in either the "quick & grippy" or supercar stakes - it just seems blindingly obvious.
I was going to start this very thread a few days ago, after some recent discussion about frequently used petrolhead terminology on here.
We came up with a few phrases that really annoy us
We came up with a few phrases that really annoy us
- "450nm/lb ft of twist"
- "really start wrestling with her"
- "kept me honest on the twisties"
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff