What was your first 'supercar' experience?
Discussion
At the ripe old age of 53, I had my first drive, as a passenger, in a Ferrari F430 yesterday. I confess to feeling slightly underwhelmed as we bounced along the bumpy country road when the car was stone cold, its auto paddle shift box wasn't smooth, it rode very harshly and there were rattles and squeaks. I now know this was akin to a jockey sitting on a highly strung racing horse before the off, the horse prancing and shimmying back and forth blowing hot air from its nostrils and shaking and shivering in anticipation of the imminent chase.
Once the car was fully warm, my mate ran it through the gears up to about 6k revs, christ it felt fast to me. He then pointed out it ran to 9k and gave it a quick boot right up the rev range. All thoughts of being underwhelmed evaporated, that engine, that rush of acceleration, the noise, the thump of the gearchange, wow, what an experience. And yes, I know a 430 is an older 'supercar' now and many are much quicker but for those fleeting moments where the car attempted to headbut the horizon with that V8 bellowing its cultured wail behind my head, I got it, I really got it. What a wonderful experience
What was your first 'supercar' experience, has it stayed with you?
Sobering moment on the way back though when we were sitting on the dual carriageway and my mate came up behind an rs4 Audi and pulled into the inside lane rather than sit behind it. 'Lots of drivers of fast cars think you want to race' he said so I always make it clear I don't', before pointing out that lots of these saloons and hatches would drive away from his Ferrari these days anyway!! He says there remains a certain stigma about these cars, and admitted not being entirely comfortable with the positive, and negative attention it sometimes gets. Shame others can't just appreciate such a thing of beauty!
Once the car was fully warm, my mate ran it through the gears up to about 6k revs, christ it felt fast to me. He then pointed out it ran to 9k and gave it a quick boot right up the rev range. All thoughts of being underwhelmed evaporated, that engine, that rush of acceleration, the noise, the thump of the gearchange, wow, what an experience. And yes, I know a 430 is an older 'supercar' now and many are much quicker but for those fleeting moments where the car attempted to headbut the horizon with that V8 bellowing its cultured wail behind my head, I got it, I really got it. What a wonderful experience
What was your first 'supercar' experience, has it stayed with you?
Sobering moment on the way back though when we were sitting on the dual carriageway and my mate came up behind an rs4 Audi and pulled into the inside lane rather than sit behind it. 'Lots of drivers of fast cars think you want to race' he said so I always make it clear I don't', before pointing out that lots of these saloons and hatches would drive away from his Ferrari these days anyway!! He says there remains a certain stigma about these cars, and admitted not being entirely comfortable with the positive, and negative attention it sometimes gets. Shame others can't just appreciate such a thing of beauty!
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 30th July 09:31
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 30th July 09:32
The key with these types of cars is the usage, especially the older ones. They are pretty crap ‘cars’ and need to be used for their intended purpose to see what they are about.
My first experience was a 360 when I was 21 (12 years ago) at three sisters in Wigan, a go kart track. To say I was underwhelmed is an understatement. Being told to change up about 4k and the instructor almost constantly riding the brakes was just a rubbish experience.
One of the best experiences I had was at oulton park, my mates dad had an M4 experience that he couldn’t make last minute so I went instead thought I’d get a feel for the M4 as I had a c63 at the time. These types of days are full of non car people really and potter around in a formation, but when chatting with my instructor and discussing I’d been here loads of times on track days etc he really pushed me hard! He was flashing all the other instructors in front so we could blast past and get some quick laps in, then another instructor doing fast lap rides came up and he had me sitting right on his tail as the instructor in front was sliding his m4 about it was a brilliant 20 minutes!
My first experience was a 360 when I was 21 (12 years ago) at three sisters in Wigan, a go kart track. To say I was underwhelmed is an understatement. Being told to change up about 4k and the instructor almost constantly riding the brakes was just a rubbish experience.
One of the best experiences I had was at oulton park, my mates dad had an M4 experience that he couldn’t make last minute so I went instead thought I’d get a feel for the M4 as I had a c63 at the time. These types of days are full of non car people really and potter around in a formation, but when chatting with my instructor and discussing I’d been here loads of times on track days etc he really pushed me hard! He was flashing all the other instructors in front so we could blast past and get some quick laps in, then another instructor doing fast lap rides came up and he had me sitting right on his tail as the instructor in front was sliding his m4 about it was a brilliant 20 minutes!
Lamborghini Gallardo on a super car experience day. Similar thoughts to you. The instructor made you up shift so early that the car barely got going. The pedals were so offset as well. Terrible ergonomics. The Nissan GTR I went in next was way better and quicker. Helped by the instructor being more lenient. Last car was an arial atom which they made you drive the whole time in 5th gear. Also a rubbish experience. The guy before me spun it off track which probably didn’t help.
I think it's only the Japs who can make any car as easy to drive as nan's Micra, no matter the potential. I remember a first drive in a Mitsubishi Evo TME, I felt like I had been driving it for years (with the exception of the on-off clutch fitted, that was unusable in traffic).
An F355 probably first very fast (for it's time) car.
An F355 probably first very fast (for it's time) car.
First ever experience:
Guy I worked for bought a Lotus Esprit GT3 when they were new. Had a few rides in it. It was comically fast around corners, He didn't bother slowing down, he just turned the wheel and it went round the bend with no drama. However, it felt slower than the E36 BMW M3 that he had before it, possibly because it was lighter and more agile so it handled extremes of driving with less of a sensation of weight moving around.
My first driving experience:
Back-to-back Ferrari 360 and Lamborghini Gallardo. The Ferrari felt beautifully resolved and, despite my light 5'7" frame, seemed to fit me like a tailored suit. It didn't feel as fast or dramatic as I expected but that might be because I was restricted to 6,000 rpm by the instructor. The Lamborghini felt far less resolved but had a ridiculous amount of traction. It was like lighting a rocket and then hanging on for dear life. My mouth was dry by the time I stepped out of it. In a game of snog/marry/avoid, the Lamborghini would be snog, the Ferrari would be marry.
Guy I worked for bought a Lotus Esprit GT3 when they were new. Had a few rides in it. It was comically fast around corners, He didn't bother slowing down, he just turned the wheel and it went round the bend with no drama. However, it felt slower than the E36 BMW M3 that he had before it, possibly because it was lighter and more agile so it handled extremes of driving with less of a sensation of weight moving around.
My first driving experience:
Back-to-back Ferrari 360 and Lamborghini Gallardo. The Ferrari felt beautifully resolved and, despite my light 5'7" frame, seemed to fit me like a tailored suit. It didn't feel as fast or dramatic as I expected but that might be because I was restricted to 6,000 rpm by the instructor. The Lamborghini felt far less resolved but had a ridiculous amount of traction. It was like lighting a rocket and then hanging on for dear life. My mouth was dry by the time I stepped out of it. In a game of snog/marry/avoid, the Lamborghini would be snog, the Ferrari would be marry.
I am very old! My first super car experience was also an E-type Jag. At the tender age of 18 in 1980 I worked at a rolling road tuning garage in Morecambe. E-Types were a common car to sort out, usually carb problems and dubious points. After a session on the rolls everything was run up the road to check it out. One Saturday my boss threw the keys to me of a lovely blue E-type with the immortal words take that for a blast and make sure it’s OK. I absolutely loved it, somewhat faster than my knackered 850 Mini Traveller 
That wasn’t the best car I got a drive in. I got to drive a brand new E12 M535i that was in for something to be sorted and I got to deliver it back to the BMW dealer. That car was class, so smooth and quick.
These cars are bog slow nowadays but to the spotty young me they were otherworldly. Mrs BigM’s electric car would blow the doors off them both
That wasn’t the best car I got a drive in. I got to drive a brand new E12 M535i that was in for something to be sorted and I got to deliver it back to the BMW dealer. That car was class, so smooth and quick.
These cars are bog slow nowadays but to the spotty young me they were otherworldly. Mrs BigM’s electric car would blow the doors off them both
My first supercar experience was on my seventh birthday. Coming home from school I came round a corner into our road to see as usual the entire road clear of parked cars (this was the 70s after all) apart from a single low, wide 'spaceship'. Painted gold. Getting closer I could see it was parked outside our house! I could see over the top of it - a first for me and it had the longest name badge. L - a - m... Lamborghini!
Turns out my long 'lost' uncle ('lost' as he regularly had to leave the country to hide from people he owed money to or from their wives and girlfriends) had borrowed the Lambo from a friend to take me out for a drive for my birthday (and likely borrow some money from my Mum).
Not sure which model it was (I wasn't taking notes and no camera to mark the occasion) but as it would have been early 1974 and I remember it having a more angular than curvy rear that narrows it to a couple of things - Espada, Jarama, maybe Urraco.
I assume his friend got the car back...
Turns out my long 'lost' uncle ('lost' as he regularly had to leave the country to hide from people he owed money to or from their wives and girlfriends) had borrowed the Lambo from a friend to take me out for a drive for my birthday (and likely borrow some money from my Mum).
Not sure which model it was (I wasn't taking notes and no camera to mark the occasion) but as it would have been early 1974 and I remember it having a more angular than curvy rear that narrows it to a couple of things - Espada, Jarama, maybe Urraco.
I assume his friend got the car back...
I’ve had some quick cars, bmw Ms in 3 and 5 series guises, but I’d say the current 992 that I drove at Silverstone PEC (C4S) opened my eyes to how fast you can go and how hard you can push before things get dangerous.
I think the best bit was you were not limited to changing gear at X rpm or being told to slow down, the instructor just pushed and pushed to make me accelerate and brake harder, turn sharper, generally just be more aggressive with the car.
Overtook various other Porsches, got tailed by a cayman driving just as hard, still I reckon I was at about 40% of how hard you can push, but 100% at the limit of my driving skill!
I think the best bit was you were not limited to changing gear at X rpm or being told to slow down, the instructor just pushed and pushed to make me accelerate and brake harder, turn sharper, generally just be more aggressive with the car.
Overtook various other Porsches, got tailed by a cayman driving just as hard, still I reckon I was at about 40% of how hard you can push, but 100% at the limit of my driving skill!
I havent even seen a supercar mentioned yet..
Mine was a Diablo round Mallory circa 1995, very intimidating and exactly what i expected & wanted from a supercar, easy use? Wtf! Nah, needs to be something that scares the frap out of you, needs respect and then you have a relationship, not something that mollycoddles you! Thats other cars roles imo, not a supercar.
I now own a real supercar, i have other cars that are quicker but dont deem them supercars.
Speed is essential but a very small part of a true supercar experience imo.
Mine was a Diablo round Mallory circa 1995, very intimidating and exactly what i expected & wanted from a supercar, easy use? Wtf! Nah, needs to be something that scares the frap out of you, needs respect and then you have a relationship, not something that mollycoddles you! Thats other cars roles imo, not a supercar.
I now own a real supercar, i have other cars that are quicker but dont deem them supercars.
Speed is essential but a very small part of a true supercar experience imo.
I did a a Silverstone experience day about ten years ago.
The first part was laps in some sort of quick-ish Renault. It was a miserable experience. The car was rubbish and my instructor was an up-tight bag of nerves.
The second part of the afternoon was in a Ferrari F430 and it was great fun. My instructor was an amazing guy and he really made the whole thing as enjoyable as it could have been. I found out later he was a very experienced racing driver, which explained why he was as cool as a cucumber and let me really drive the car.
I’d agree with OP, while some of these modern hatches are just as quick, the noise, the gearshift, the smell etc are amazing.
The first part was laps in some sort of quick-ish Renault. It was a miserable experience. The car was rubbish and my instructor was an up-tight bag of nerves.
The second part of the afternoon was in a Ferrari F430 and it was great fun. My instructor was an amazing guy and he really made the whole thing as enjoyable as it could have been. I found out later he was a very experienced racing driver, which explained why he was as cool as a cucumber and let me really drive the car.
I’d agree with OP, while some of these modern hatches are just as quick, the noise, the gearshift, the smell etc are amazing.
I worked for a guy who was a bit of a mini newspaper magnate and in 1984 I persuaded him to go to Le Mans. We drove down in his Rosso Ferrari 308GTS and he let me drive it back.
Soon after he graduated to a Testarossa which he asked me to drive solo from Hastings to Egham for a service. I was 23 years old at the time, so it was something of a leap of faith on his part.
Soon after he graduated to a Testarossa which he asked me to drive solo from Hastings to Egham for a service. I was 23 years old at the time, so it was something of a leap of faith on his part.
Back in 2007 a 996tt which perhaps was a supercar back then. Felt heavy and cumbersome around Rockingham club circuit and not nearly as much fun as the Ferrari 360 that I drove next.
Interestingly I drove a 987 Cayman at Thruxton yesterday and whilst it was absolutely sh@gged it had the familiar heavy feel as the 996 all those years ago.
Interestingly I drove a 987 Cayman at Thruxton yesterday and whilst it was absolutely sh@gged it had the familiar heavy feel as the 996 all those years ago.
Aventador 700 said:
I havent even seen a supercar mentioned yet..
Mine was a Diablo round Mallory circa 1995, very intimidating and exactly what i expected & wanted from a supercar, easy use? Wtf! Nah, needs to be something that scares the frap out of you, needs respect and then you have a relationship, not something that mollycoddles you! Thats other cars roles imo, not a supercar.
I now own a real supercar, i have other cars that are quicker but dont deem them supercars.
Speed is essential but a very small part of a true supercar experience imo.
We have had Ferrari 360, F430 and a Gallardo, which are all supercars.Mine was a Diablo round Mallory circa 1995, very intimidating and exactly what i expected & wanted from a supercar, easy use? Wtf! Nah, needs to be something that scares the frap out of you, needs respect and then you have a relationship, not something that mollycoddles you! Thats other cars roles imo, not a supercar.
I now own a real supercar, i have other cars that are quicker but dont deem them supercars.
Speed is essential but a very small part of a true supercar experience imo.
I think the very first experience of a supercar that I can remember is sitting in a McLaren F1 at the Park Lane dealership when I was very young. The memory is very vague now, but I remember the car was silver and it was dark in the showroom. It was formative though!
I drove a Ferrari 360 on track and it was similar to others, not being allowed past 7k rpm and no real speed allowed. I enjoyed it as I was only young at the time (early 20s I think).
The only other driving experience that came close to a supercar was a Ferrari California in Modena. Despite being on a public road, the 'supervisor/instructor' really let me push it and have some fun, but that is more of a GT car.
I guess if I am really stretching definitions, I could say that the engine in my current car has what feels like a a supercar engine, so sort-of-a-little-bit-like-but-not-actually a supercar experience....
For clarity I am NOT saying that a Ferrari California or an old BMW are supercars!
MikeM6 said:
We have had Ferrari 360, F430 and a Gallardo, which are all supercars.
For clarity I am NOT saying that a Ferrari California or an old BMW are supercars!
I dont consider them to be personally and they were never considered to be in their day either, good cars but not supercars, they were the juniors of the supercar and marketed as such.For clarity I am NOT saying that a Ferrari California or an old BMW are supercars!
Of the era corresponding to each of those models:
360 - F50 Supercar
430 - Enzo Supercar
Gallardo - Murcielago Supercar
Aventador 700 said:
MikeM6 said:
We have had Ferrari 360, F430 and a Gallardo, which are all supercars.
For clarity I am NOT saying that a Ferrari California or an old BMW are supercars!
I dont consider them to be personally and they were never considered to be in their day either, good cars but not supercars, they were the juniors of the supercar and marketed as such.For clarity I am NOT saying that a Ferrari California or an old BMW are supercars!
Of the era corresponding to each of those models:
360 - F50 Supercar
430 - Enzo Supercar
Gallardo - Murcielago Supercar
All options may differ of course, but I would say they are supercars.
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