What does "nippy" mean?
Discussion
How many times have you heard people describe small cars as being "nippy"? What does it even mean? Little cars like minis (when they were small) Ka's, C1s, Aygos etc.
Mat daily is a 997 Carrera S which I'm really fond of and have had for a few years. My step daughter though has been away for several months now, leaving her 12 year old Fiat 500 behind which I have been driving around town and I love it. It's really good fun. When I compare it to the Porsche I think it may be "nippy". Any thoughts??
Mat daily is a 997 Carrera S which I'm really fond of and have had for a few years. My step daughter though has been away for several months now, leaving her 12 year old Fiat 500 behind which I have been driving around town and I love it. It's really good fun. When I compare it to the Porsche I think it may be "nippy". Any thoughts??
I know exactly the feeling you mean, I get it from my ratty old Micra 160SR. Maybe it comes from the feeling of a lightweight car with adequate power and small dimensions. I normally find "nippy" cars are great around town and just about up to legal motorway speeds but are comically slow at gaining speed over 90mph.
To me nippy means direct and quick-moving in terms of changes of direction - so, a dragonfly could be described as nippy as it can accelerate quickly from a standing start and change direction rapidly.
So a small lightweight car with a quick throttle action (so generally turbo cars aren't nippy as they take a second to get moving) and direct steering with firm suspension to allow rapid changes of direction.
Big cars aren't nippy as they are too ponderous and hefty, even if they are fast once they get going
So a small lightweight car with a quick throttle action (so generally turbo cars aren't nippy as they take a second to get moving) and direct steering with firm suspension to allow rapid changes of direction.
Big cars aren't nippy as they are too ponderous and hefty, even if they are fast once they get going
I've found it's generally older people who use the term and given who I know that uses it and what they drive, I'd say it was pretty much a super mini or there abouts, light, revvy and is driven in traffic. Eg, it nips away from the lights and around mini roundabouts in the way a Bentley Continental never could. Cars that are described as nippy are rarely described as nippy on A roads it motorways and nor will they ever be deemed quick or fast. It's something that feels small, light and pointy. Not an Elise. My mother who's 62 has a Mazda 2 Sport that spends most it's time in town... it's described as "nippy"
Edited by Davie on Wednesday 10th November 16:49
dontlookdown said:
It means a small, slow car that feels a bit faster than it is because it is light and agile. Esp in city driving, small nippy cars get around better than big ones,even if they are faster.
This.My daughter has an Aygo which is slow, and low powered. Around town it feels faster than it is because its agile and in low gears has all the acceleration you need. It's actually quite fun to drive. In that scenario I would say "nippy" is the right term.
On motorways and twisty A roads it's just slow.
I suppose it's just down to interpretation.
I'd consider my Twingo 133 to be nippy or my mum's Audi A1 to be classed as nippy. Not outright fast but can get round tine quickly enough, gets off the line well and corners well too.
Like I say though, down to interpretation. I mean I've heard people refer to very average cars as 'proper fast' but it's just your own scale of reference really.
I'd consider my Twingo 133 to be nippy or my mum's Audi A1 to be classed as nippy. Not outright fast but can get round tine quickly enough, gets off the line well and corners well too.
Like I say though, down to interpretation. I mean I've heard people refer to very average cars as 'proper fast' but it's just your own scale of reference really.
Gixer968CS said:
How many times have you heard people describe small cars as being "nippy"? What does it even mean? Little cars like minis (when they were small) Ka's, C1s, Aygos etc.
Mat daily is a 997 Carrera S which I'm really fond of and have had for a few years. My step daughter though has been away for several months now, leaving her 12 year old Fiat 500 behind which I have been driving around town and I love it. It's really good fun. When I compare it to the Porsche I think it may be "nippy". Any thoughts??
It means different things to different people, it really isn't something that's worth worrying about. Mat daily is a 997 Carrera S which I'm really fond of and have had for a few years. My step daughter though has been away for several months now, leaving her 12 year old Fiat 500 behind which I have been driving around town and I love it. It's really good fun. When I compare it to the Porsche I think it may be "nippy". Any thoughts??
Alex_225 said:
I suppose it's just down to interpretation.
Exactly this! Compared to the wife’s macan or my old 2015 M5 my carrera 4S is nippy, zips around roundabouts and zooms around rather than feeling heavy and hard work to drive.Hire cars, little 3 cylinder turbo holiday cars… always nippy, work them hard to soon around.
Nippy to me is whippet as opposed to Labrador.
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