Discussion
I have had an extremely busy year so far but recently I had some time free so I thought I would take the car out for a drive.
I had no clear idea of where I wanted to go but I knew the roads I wanted to drive so that sort of dictated my route.
Anyway, to cut to the chase the drive was absolutely epic. The kind of late-evening summer night drive that will be etched into my memory for a long time. There was hardly another car on the road and those that I did come up behind were overtaken cleanly and courteously and then forgotten as the road unravelled in front of me. The engine was singing above 7,000 rpm and the tyres were warm, sticky and keyed into the road.
Accelerate, brake, blip, change gear, flow through the corner, feed in the power, change gear - nothing else mattered at that moment. Every gear change was made when my ears told me. Everything else was at the back of my mind and all my concentration was on driving that car. Third, fourth, deep into fifth, then I glanced down…..I saw the number on the dash and ……… quite frankly it scared the crap out of me and I slowed down and pooled along for a few miles thinking about it.
I drove home that evening at a slower pace and right now, a few days later, I am still thinking of that number.
I know that most of the owners on here use their cars as they should be used and so logically that tells me that you have all seen these big numbers too. Indeed some of the newer cars are easily able to achieve these numbers with a few gears to spare.
Of course I am not saying I am a stranger to these numbers but It’s really started me thinking though, do I need to see these big numbers to get the same feeling I get from my car?
I’m sat here genuinely wishing my car was slower. I don’t want anything else to change, I just want it to be slower
I had no clear idea of where I wanted to go but I knew the roads I wanted to drive so that sort of dictated my route.
Anyway, to cut to the chase the drive was absolutely epic. The kind of late-evening summer night drive that will be etched into my memory for a long time. There was hardly another car on the road and those that I did come up behind were overtaken cleanly and courteously and then forgotten as the road unravelled in front of me. The engine was singing above 7,000 rpm and the tyres were warm, sticky and keyed into the road.
Accelerate, brake, blip, change gear, flow through the corner, feed in the power, change gear - nothing else mattered at that moment. Every gear change was made when my ears told me. Everything else was at the back of my mind and all my concentration was on driving that car. Third, fourth, deep into fifth, then I glanced down…..I saw the number on the dash and ……… quite frankly it scared the crap out of me and I slowed down and pooled along for a few miles thinking about it.
I drove home that evening at a slower pace and right now, a few days later, I am still thinking of that number.
I know that most of the owners on here use their cars as they should be used and so logically that tells me that you have all seen these big numbers too. Indeed some of the newer cars are easily able to achieve these numbers with a few gears to spare.
Of course I am not saying I am a stranger to these numbers but It’s really started me thinking though, do I need to see these big numbers to get the same feeling I get from my car?
I’m sat here genuinely wishing my car was slower. I don’t want anything else to change, I just want it to be slower
yep, it's a big issue imo, but you tend to find you want the power to over take the stupid cars who don't over take that lorry.
I went out the other night got flashed 3 times and beeped at, but you get 3 or 4 cars sitting at 45 mph behind a granny/lorry and NO one over takes !!
So you do have to be assertive all be it fair, or over take all 4 (not always possible) so you do have to slot in.
Then as you say you find a clear bit of road and the speeds are not want you want to see.
My GT4 was a s
tter for that, way to fast to hit the "fun" angle of the car.
The 718 GTS I just tested was way too fast vs the fun, in fact all my cars are too fast with too long gearing !!!
The most fun can be my Golf CS some times, very short gearing and in 4th at 80, not still in 2nd !!!
I am up for a big change soon and selling all 5 of mine for a turbo some thing for daily over takes, and some thing like a Elise cup for the fun.
I love all my cars but when you own what I deem to be some of the best Porsche make atm and thinking about buying a £35k Elise to have fun in some thing is wrong !
I am sure you under stand why now the best drivers car I have and have had for 7 years is my light weight 987.2 Spyder.
with the big brakes and monoball sus it = feed back and fun at slower speeds than GT cars and night time driving is amazing roof off.
people in modern cars who say they are having fun at slow speeds are on hash cakes !!
I think my new GT3 is iconic, with the best engine Porsche has ever made imo, and while it's more immersive than a GT4 due to lower gearing and more cabin noise, it's ultimately stupid fast !
I have borrowed Macca's again the speeds are eye watering !!!
Ferrari's while they have short gearing which is so nice the speeds again mental.
Even on the Lotus forums you are getting people selling V6 Exiges and buying an Elise !
It's very tough to find the perfect fun car, with enough overtaking power, maybe I already own it !!!
93 cars and counting so it's been a fun trip with some of the most iconic cars so no regrets.
I went out the other night got flashed 3 times and beeped at, but you get 3 or 4 cars sitting at 45 mph behind a granny/lorry and NO one over takes !!
So you do have to be assertive all be it fair, or over take all 4 (not always possible) so you do have to slot in.
Then as you say you find a clear bit of road and the speeds are not want you want to see.
My GT4 was a s
tter for that, way to fast to hit the "fun" angle of the car.The 718 GTS I just tested was way too fast vs the fun, in fact all my cars are too fast with too long gearing !!!
The most fun can be my Golf CS some times, very short gearing and in 4th at 80, not still in 2nd !!!
I am up for a big change soon and selling all 5 of mine for a turbo some thing for daily over takes, and some thing like a Elise cup for the fun.
I love all my cars but when you own what I deem to be some of the best Porsche make atm and thinking about buying a £35k Elise to have fun in some thing is wrong !
I am sure you under stand why now the best drivers car I have and have had for 7 years is my light weight 987.2 Spyder.
with the big brakes and monoball sus it = feed back and fun at slower speeds than GT cars and night time driving is amazing roof off.
people in modern cars who say they are having fun at slow speeds are on hash cakes !!
I think my new GT3 is iconic, with the best engine Porsche has ever made imo, and while it's more immersive than a GT4 due to lower gearing and more cabin noise, it's ultimately stupid fast !
I have borrowed Macca's again the speeds are eye watering !!!
Ferrari's while they have short gearing which is so nice the speeds again mental.
Even on the Lotus forums you are getting people selling V6 Exiges and buying an Elise !
It's very tough to find the perfect fun car, with enough overtaking power, maybe I already own it !!!
93 cars and counting so it's been a fun trip with some of the most iconic cars so no regrets.
Edited by Porsche911R on Tuesday 1st May 14:52
I know what you mean, but I do think it also depends where you drive as much as what you drive.
Over Christmas I took my car down to Corsica. I did the southern half of the Island, all in 2nd and 3rd gear as its so twisty. So ultimately not that fast, but it was the best drive I've had so far.
Speed was low, but the revs were high. So it sounded amazing and the rear was squiggling about a bit to add to the adrenalin.
One tip for speed is to leave the speedo in KPH, then the numbers get big at a slower speed
Over Christmas I took my car down to Corsica. I did the southern half of the Island, all in 2nd and 3rd gear as its so twisty. So ultimately not that fast, but it was the best drive I've had so far.
Speed was low, but the revs were high. So it sounded amazing and the rear was squiggling about a bit to add to the adrenalin.
One tip for speed is to leave the speedo in KPH, then the numbers get big at a slower speed
I have to say that's why I like a my turbo. You don't need to get up to those high revs to get the best of the car. The thump of ridiculous torque can be enjoyed for short spells at legal speeds.
Whilst I get that a 9000 rev GT3 is fun in theory (and on a track), you can probably only hit 9000 revs in first, legally. And nobody enjoys first gear.
Whilst I get that a 9000 rev GT3 is fun in theory (and on a track), you can probably only hit 9000 revs in first, legally. And nobody enjoys first gear.
Generally I think modern cars have developed at a pace that far outstrips the skills of the average driver, but fast sells and who wants to buy a newer car thats slower than the old one?
Personally, when I saw these big numbers out in Europe it didnt really bother me but out on that drive I was more concerned about the 'at home' implications behind that number. How that number would affect me and my family. How that number would look plastered across the news and the ramifications of the scenario where that number suddenly became a zero.
Personally, when I saw these big numbers out in Europe it didnt really bother me but out on that drive I was more concerned about the 'at home' implications behind that number. How that number would affect me and my family. How that number would look plastered across the news and the ramifications of the scenario where that number suddenly became a zero.
hunter 66 said:
This is modern life ... I only use a tenth of my computers capacity , yet am still happy
Computers like most new cars are a lifestyle product. depends if you are happy to be seen in a car over enjoy driving it I guess :-)I think 70% posters are life style owners, nothing wrong in that, nice things are still nice at 60mph.
Edited by Porsche911R on Tuesday 1st May 15:43
Its a very interesting point.
At SPA last month I drove a Caterham and I had an epiphany. What an amazing, raw, visceral little car. Made the 911 feel utterly benign...
So a Caterham is arriving next week
And I suspect a Supercar or 400bhp+ Porsche won't happen for many years. Just cannot get the same enjoyment out of them any more on road (or track).
At SPA last month I drove a Caterham and I had an epiphany. What an amazing, raw, visceral little car. Made the 911 feel utterly benign...
So a Caterham is arriving next week
And I suspect a Supercar or 400bhp+ Porsche won't happen for many years. Just cannot get the same enjoyment out of them any more on road (or track).
PGNSagaris said:
Its a very interesting point.
At SPA last month I drove a Caterham and I had an epiphany. What an amazing, raw, visceral little car. Made the 911 feel utterly benign...
So a Caterham is arriving next week
And I suspect a Supercar or 400bhp+ Porsche won't happen for many years. Just cannot get the same enjoyment out of them any more on road (or track).
I try and like the Caterhams, but the standard one is too small and the wide body one too big !! I would not want to crash it either or get hit by another car. Todays roads again are not Caterham friendly :-( bit like Bikes, too dangerous , but at least I did the bike thing when I was younger and got away with it. Caterham, no thanks not at coming upto 50 years old :-(At SPA last month I drove a Caterham and I had an epiphany. What an amazing, raw, visceral little car. Made the 911 feel utterly benign...
So a Caterham is arriving next week
And I suspect a Supercar or 400bhp+ Porsche won't happen for many years. Just cannot get the same enjoyment out of them any more on road (or track).
I still think the Elise takes some beating as a drivers car and is a bit safer and easier to get in/out.
I am looking forward to Lotus making a cracker in 2020 , fingers crossed.
AinsleyB said:
I know what you mean, but I do think it also depends where you drive as much as what you drive.
Over Christmas I took my car down to Corsica. I did the southern half of the Island, all in 2nd and 3rd gear as its so twisty. So ultimately not that fast, but it was the best drive I've had so far.
Speed was low, but the revs were high. So it sounded amazing and the rear was squiggling about a bit to add to the adrenalin.
One tip for speed is to leave the speedo in KPH, then the numbers get big at a slower speed
I think in part this is correct...... I know most on here have been to PEC ... but I found both tracks are pretty fun and the speed isn’t getting particularly high... Over Christmas I took my car down to Corsica. I did the southern half of the Island, all in 2nd and 3rd gear as its so twisty. So ultimately not that fast, but it was the best drive I've had so far.
Speed was low, but the revs were high. So it sounded amazing and the rear was squiggling about a bit to add to the adrenalin.
One tip for speed is to leave the speedo in KPH, then the numbers get big at a slower speed
On long straights and sweeping curves any Porsche will do a serious speed one where you will lose you Licence in seconds. The sweet spot for me is finding the right A or good B road with a national speed limit where you are continually hovering around that said limit......with twists and turns, different cambers and more importantly minimal traffic....
They are a rare find but once you do ....you’ve found your therapy..!
I also have a new GT3 which as Mr D said has one of the best engines of all time,however its bonkers fast and you really need to have an eye on the speedo..I test drove a 981 Spyder yesterday and was highly impressed with the extra thrills with the top down..I commented to my sales guy that even that car was too fast for UK roads but with the top down it gave it another dimension..At lower speeds it was more fun than my old GT4 and my GT3 as the sensations were amplified by the extra noise.
I think for fun UK driving the 981 Spyder hits the sweet spot and more suitable than any Ferrari or Macca you care to mention..
The problem for fun driving for drivers like myself who drives quicker than most is the vast number of slow drivers which you have to overtake to make any kind of swift progress..The faster you overtake a slow driver, the less time you spend on the wrong side, however a lot of people these days are deeply offended by being passed..
I think for fun UK driving the 981 Spyder hits the sweet spot and more suitable than any Ferrari or Macca you care to mention..
The problem for fun driving for drivers like myself who drives quicker than most is the vast number of slow drivers which you have to overtake to make any kind of swift progress..The faster you overtake a slow driver, the less time you spend on the wrong side, however a lot of people these days are deeply offended by being passed..
Porsche911R said:
yep, it's a big issue imo, but you tend to find you want the power to over take the stupid cars who don't over take that lorry.
I went out the other night got flashed 3 times and beeped at, but you get 3 or 4 cars sitting at 45 mph behind a granny/lorry and NO one over takes !!
So you do have to be assertive all be it fair, or over take all 4 (not always possible) so you do have to slot in.
....
If you're having to force your way into a queue then you've misjudged it, irrespective of whether you think the others should be overtaking or not.I went out the other night got flashed 3 times and beeped at, but you get 3 or 4 cars sitting at 45 mph behind a granny/lorry and NO one over takes !!
So you do have to be assertive all be it fair, or over take all 4 (not always possible) so you do have to slot in.
....
Patience is a virtue (allegedly).
Paynewright said:
Thats why my caterham engine hasn’t been upgraded. 140 bhp in a car thats 550 kilos makes for a fun and exploitable car.
Ian
Yeap totally. Went from a 996 GT3 to a Caterham Supersport 140. The Caterham was much more "fun" at much lower speeds. Wouldn't have wanted to be in a crash in it though...Ian
Taffy66 said:
I also have a new GT3 which as Mr D said has one of the best engines of all time,however its bonkers fast and you really need to have an eye on the speedo..I test drove a 981 Spyder yesterday and was highly impressed with the extra thrills with the top down..I commented to my sales guy that even that car was too fast for UK roads but with the top down it gave it another dimension..At lower speeds it was more fun than my old GT4 and my GT3 as the sensations were amplified by the extra noise.
I think for fun UK driving the 981 Spyder hits the sweet spot and more suitable than any Ferrari or Macca you care to mention..
The problem for fun driving for drivers like myself who drives quicker than most is the vast number of slow drivers which you have to overtake to make any kind of swift progress..The faster you overtake a slow driver, the less time you spend on the wrong side, however a lot of people these days are deeply offended by being passed..
I re-insured my 981 Spyder today :-), while the 987.2 Spyder is a better drivers car, the 981 is more usable, I have been in the 981 all day though roof off ;-)I think for fun UK driving the 981 Spyder hits the sweet spot and more suitable than any Ferrari or Macca you care to mention..
The problem for fun driving for drivers like myself who drives quicker than most is the vast number of slow drivers which you have to overtake to make any kind of swift progress..The faster you overtake a slow driver, the less time you spend on the wrong side, however a lot of people these days are deeply offended by being passed..
it's an asbo car pse on lol, I am still selling it in 2 months mind you as it stops me using my 987.2 Spyder (or making the effort to move cars and get it out the garage) once a few cars have sold I am sure I will drive my 987.2 Spdyer more this year.
Murph7355 said:
If you're having to force your way into a queue then you've misjudged it, irrespective of whether you think the others should be overtaking or not.
Patience is a virtue (allegedly).
I said "you do have to be assertive all be it fair" !!! people don't like being overtaken but they also will not over take, so you have to be "assertive"Patience is a virtue (allegedly).
nothing is misjudged. just one of todays extra skills needed imo.
Edited by Porsche911R on Tuesday 1st May 18:26
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