Buying a fast car has had the opposite effect
Discussion
I got carried away in the scheme of things and bought a sub-5s car. I know by today's standards that isn't considered very fast but for me its plenty quick - almost too much in some respects.
The thing is, over the years I've seen performance cars being driven hard e.g. Golf R, Audi RS3, BMW M3 you name it.
I thought once I get mine I'm going Fast & Furious hunting for races but that's not whats happened at all. The complete opposite in fact.
I am now driving my fast car slower than my previous cars. I am travelling at strictly the speed limit or less if I feel the road warrants it. I used to get intimidated by normal cars tailgating me and and sped up, wished them away, or pullled over and now I just don't care because I could floor them if I wanted to. I have even become more polite and courteous like a rich man donating to charity.
Just curious if anyone else found this effect a bit surprising. I saw a Lamborghini Huracan a few weeks ago going 20mph in a 40mph and thought WTF is he doing. But now I think I get it.
The thing is, over the years I've seen performance cars being driven hard e.g. Golf R, Audi RS3, BMW M3 you name it.
I thought once I get mine I'm going Fast & Furious hunting for races but that's not whats happened at all. The complete opposite in fact.
I am now driving my fast car slower than my previous cars. I am travelling at strictly the speed limit or less if I feel the road warrants it. I used to get intimidated by normal cars tailgating me and and sped up, wished them away, or pullled over and now I just don't care because I could floor them if I wanted to. I have even become more polite and courteous like a rich man donating to charity.
Just curious if anyone else found this effect a bit surprising. I saw a Lamborghini Huracan a few weeks ago going 20mph in a 40mph and thought WTF is he doing. But now I think I get it.
Buying my first fast car I has minds-eye visions of how I'd exploit the but after three years of ownership 90% of them hadn't been realised. It turns out my Surrey commute didn't contain much in the way autobahns or sweeping upland A-roads.
I'd open the taps for the sake of the V8 histrionics but never felt any need to thrash about for the sake of it, especially not in anything like a suburban setting. The odd dick would do the pull-alongside "c'mon!" but aside from a guy in an SQ5 (who was a persistent offender and needed a reality check regarding the performance of his diesel cuckbox) I never did that stuff.
It's a learning experience; maybe you like something about the car that you hadn't foreseen liking, maybe what drew you to it doesn't actually please you much once you've had it a week, and maybe some part of the ownership experience steers you in a different direction for your next purchase...
I'd open the taps for the sake of the V8 histrionics but never felt any need to thrash about for the sake of it, especially not in anything like a suburban setting. The odd dick would do the pull-alongside "c'mon!" but aside from a guy in an SQ5 (who was a persistent offender and needed a reality check regarding the performance of his diesel cuckbox) I never did that stuff.
It's a learning experience; maybe you like something about the car that you hadn't foreseen liking, maybe what drew you to it doesn't actually please you much once you've had it a week, and maybe some part of the ownership experience steers you in a different direction for your next purchase...
I completely relate, OP.
Years of track driving and racing and being in a high-powered sports car on the road and I tend to cruise at the speed limit or a little under if it doesn't hold people up.
It is nice to know the power is there if you need it but often my cars are too powerful to really exploit on the public highway so why bother?
Even at illegal speeds, it not engaging without being on track.
And yet, when I'm in a 60bhp hatchback I'm pushing it so much harder.
Years of track driving and racing and being in a high-powered sports car on the road and I tend to cruise at the speed limit or a little under if it doesn't hold people up.
It is nice to know the power is there if you need it but often my cars are too powerful to really exploit on the public highway so why bother?
Even at illegal speeds, it not engaging without being on track.
And yet, when I'm in a 60bhp hatchback I'm pushing it so much harder.
I get this completely. I bought a 997 turbo a few years and found myself tootling around like an old granny. As somebody mentioned above, there was an element of nothing to prove, possibly. Also the vast amount of torque meant that revving the nuts off the car was pointless - hitting 100mph in towns wasn’t an option.
Put me in a 3-cylinder hatchback and I turn into a lunatic though.
Put me in a 3-cylinder hatchback and I turn into a lunatic though.
Can totally relate, however i think as someone else says above, maturity & also a fear of encountering a sneaky beaky with a radar gun &/or never knowing if a speed camera is live or not (with so many around), just tempers our enthusiasm.
Being honest 'knowing' you could is very close to being the same as 'doing' & having had many weeks on track & driving across Europe, i honestly think i've got most of my road warrior antics out of my system, so just knowing i could play/win is sufficient in 95% of scenarios.
Being honest 'knowing' you could is very close to being the same as 'doing' & having had many weeks on track & driving across Europe, i honestly think i've got most of my road warrior antics out of my system, so just knowing i could play/win is sufficient in 95% of scenarios.
Fast (new) cars are pretty dull.
Think we have been here once or twice before..
Man buys fast car. Man is well impressed. Man shows fast car to his mates who realise their mate is rich, successful and a proper "car guy". Respect is earned.
Man then find that fast car is a bit boring on road. Man realises he has made a big mistake but doesn't want to lose financially.
Man eventually gives in, takes a hit and buys something cheaper/older but more engaging. Man's mates think he is a loser.
The end.
Think we have been here once or twice before..
Man buys fast car. Man is well impressed. Man shows fast car to his mates who realise their mate is rich, successful and a proper "car guy". Respect is earned.
Man then find that fast car is a bit boring on road. Man realises he has made a big mistake but doesn't want to lose financially.
Man eventually gives in, takes a hit and buys something cheaper/older but more engaging. Man's mates think he is a loser.
The end.
CG2020UK said:
I think this is actually really common.
I also think there is loads of common misconceptions when people drive. Like being honest apart from a handful of idiots on instagram when do you ever actually see a ‘performance’ car being raked in real life?
I have never raked my car but occasionally rake the lawn to get rid of the moss.I also think there is loads of common misconceptions when people drive. Like being honest apart from a handful of idiots on instagram when do you ever actually see a ‘performance’ car being raked in real life?
It's probably more fun than driving new fast car though.
Puddenchucker said:
That, that right there, is absolutely brilliant!When I got my current car, the traffic light grand prix lost its appeal, felt uncouth even. Plus the well documented overly tall gearing means hearing the engine sing is putting you deep into licence loss territory.
It's a case of maturity plus a decent power to weight ratio equals no longer having a point to prove.
CG2020UK said:
I think this is actually really common.
I also think there is loads of common misconceptions when people drive. Like being honest apart from a handful of idiots on instagram when do you ever actually see a ‘performance’ car being raked in real life?
There are get togethers in this part of the world when you do see them ragged, usually poorly driven.I also think there is loads of common misconceptions when people drive. Like being honest apart from a handful of idiots on instagram when do you ever actually see a ‘performance’ car being raked in real life?
Often though, buying the thing has really stretched finances, making the fuel go as far as possible is a priority, or it is a rental for a treat or event, and cruising is the required " look at me " mode.
In this part of the world, rentals are very popular, mix it with laughing gas, an inexperienced driver, and this happens. This road is one the meet up guys use.
https://youtu.be/CpHQ6vjkxTk?feature=shared
An old Italian of my acquaintance once told me that the smaller the engine, the harder it’s driven.
Point proven in my case with my C63.
Maturity contributed, but I think that I probably looked like a proper tool when I extended that cars (considerable and shouty) capabilities.
I sold it, because it brought out the worst in every frustrated Ranger / bog-standard Audi / Zafira-dad I seemed to come across- which was unpleasant and dangerous.
Consequently, I pootled around, which made owning the car a pointless and expensive exercise.
The sense of achievement in planning and executing an overtake in my Citigo is way more fun.
I’m getting on a bit now though…
Point proven in my case with my C63.
Maturity contributed, but I think that I probably looked like a proper tool when I extended that cars (considerable and shouty) capabilities.
I sold it, because it brought out the worst in every frustrated Ranger / bog-standard Audi / Zafira-dad I seemed to come across- which was unpleasant and dangerous.
Consequently, I pootled around, which made owning the car a pointless and expensive exercise.
The sense of achievement in planning and executing an overtake in my Citigo is way more fun.
I’m getting on a bit now though…
anyoldcardave said:
There are get togethers in this part of the world when you do see them ragged, usually poorly driven.
Often though, buying the thing has really stretched finances, making the fuel go as far as possible is a priority, or it is a rental for a treat or event, and cruising is the required " look at me " mode.
In this part of the world, rentals are very popular, mix it with laughing gas, an inexperienced driver, and this happens. This road is one the meet up guys use.
https://youtu.be/CpHQ6vjkxTk?feature=shared
But I can sit at the side of the road and see more mundane cars being raked or driven down a road ragged. Often though, buying the thing has really stretched finances, making the fuel go as far as possible is a priority, or it is a rental for a treat or event, and cruising is the required " look at me " mode.
In this part of the world, rentals are very popular, mix it with laughing gas, an inexperienced driver, and this happens. This road is one the meet up guys use.
https://youtu.be/CpHQ6vjkxTk?feature=shared
A rental as in the video is a completely different proposition to someone owning. Especially as there are rental companies who work to a certain clientele who need a way to spend cash.
While I certainly don’t deny it happens how many people are pulled over in mundane cars or white vans for dangerous driving, drinking, speeding, drugs and what not? What about motorbikes how do they fit in proportionally?
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