Is speed that important to you?
Discussion
Went for a spirited hoone this morning around Kent and east Sussex, me in my Vantage, and my son in his VXR Astra, with silly loud exhaust and something he calls a map!, The VXR won the day! and by some margin, so don't tell me to get 4.7 or go to BR, it wouldn't make much difference, the VXR would still top it. The thing is though.....I couldn't care less, I still love my Vantage, after nearly 5 years ownership, and that I believe is the thing about the AM brand, you either love it, or you don't... Simple.
( Look no spelling mistakes!, not bad for someone who is uneducated )
( Look no spelling mistakes!, not bad for someone who is uneducated )
I am definitely of the view that there is more to a car than absolute speed, especially among fast cars today where people say one is so much better than the other because it's 0.1 sec quicker 0-60. That said...
For an Astra VXR to be quicker than a 4.3 V8V, never mind a 4.7 or a BR-tweaked version -- well, it must have one HELL of a "map." Or the driver is better (or just less cautious)
For an Astra VXR to be quicker than a 4.3 V8V, never mind a 4.7 or a BR-tweaked version -- well, it must have one HELL of a "map." Or the driver is better (or just less cautious)
I think I drove like your son, when I was 26. Fortunately never hit anything.
Although I still enjoy speed (only when safe and no one looking), I am sometimes quite happy to drive my Vantage at
60 mph, along the inside lane of a motorway. Well, with 180mph capability, what is there to prove on a motorway?
Why do so many passengers in passing cars, want to take photographs though?
Edited by Jon39 on Sunday 23 March 21:02
It's all about "flow" rather than speed for me. I think this is a great article:
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/24980.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/24980.htm
Speedraser said:
I am definitely of the view that there is more to a car than absolute speed, especially among fast cars today where people say one is so much better than the other because it's 0.1 sec quicker 0-60. That said...
For an Astra VXR to be quicker than a 4.3 V8V, never mind a 4.7 or a BR-tweaked version -- well, it must have one HELL of a "map." Or the driver is better (or just less cautious)
My son an had a VXR Astra, mapped and with stiffened suspension and roll bars. It was extremely quick and I believed when he had it it would be quicker than the Vantage on normal roads, but obviously would lose ground on a long straight.For an Astra VXR to be quicker than a 4.3 V8V, never mind a 4.7 or a BR-tweaked version -- well, it must have one HELL of a "map." Or the driver is better (or just less cautious)
I would have to say speed is the least reason I selected the Aston, if I'd wanted out and out speed I would have bought a GTR.
More about the whole package I believe, the sense of occasion, that intangible factor whatever it is.
As above, speed is relative and if you just want to "go fast" you can always do it cheaper than an Aston Martin 
in fact £2k worth of used bike will out accelerate all but the most expensive road cars, if its just the rush you want
...otherwise there are a myriad of other reasons to own a nice car to go places in
....I guess a lot of us grow out of the "going fast " thing eventually....although I do like speed, I dont make my buying decisions based on a fraction of a second here and there....back in the real world on the road , there's only so fast you can drive whatever car you are in
.. if you want more, get a track car and take up competitive motorsport.....
in fact £2k worth of used bike will out accelerate all but the most expensive road cars, if its just the rush you want
...otherwise there are a myriad of other reasons to own a nice car to go places in
....I guess a lot of us grow out of the "going fast " thing eventually....although I do like speed, I dont make my buying decisions based on a fraction of a second here and there....back in the real world on the road , there's only so fast you can drive whatever car you are in
.. if you want more, get a track car and take up competitive motorsport.....
Buying the car was never about going from zero to a hundred in less than X seconds for me either...
Ownership of the AM has and always will be about driving a classic British brand with an amazing history and class.
Throughout my whole life I had never considered any other marque that ticked the same boxes. It was never going to be a Porsche of Ferrari over the AM.
The fact that it's fast, is a long way down the list in terms of priorities - The brand, the feeling of accomplishment, the enjoyment of ownership and that classic AM sound in any gear at any speed is enough for me!
(PS. The sound of a Merlin engine in a Spitfire also ticks the right boxes!) - AM's and Spitfires in the same clip here... http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hzumXyf2ueA
Ownership of the AM has and always will be about driving a classic British brand with an amazing history and class.
Throughout my whole life I had never considered any other marque that ticked the same boxes. It was never going to be a Porsche of Ferrari over the AM.
The fact that it's fast, is a long way down the list in terms of priorities - The brand, the feeling of accomplishment, the enjoyment of ownership and that classic AM sound in any gear at any speed is enough for me!
(PS. The sound of a Merlin engine in a Spitfire also ticks the right boxes!) - AM's and Spitfires in the same clip here... http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hzumXyf2ueA
Edited by Firebird777 on Tuesday 25th March 13:43
I feel the need... the NEED for SPEED!!!
For me it's how quickly you get there via torque that matters...whether sprinting off the line or powering out of corners...
Indeed, the Aston can lumber along very comfortably and for the majority of owners that's all that's asked of them...but for those of us with the speed gene, being able to do that while also confidently being able to open her up and carving fantastic rhythm sections of our favorite twisties or tearing up high speed sweepers is so satisfying...
Yes, there are cars that do it better in one way or another, but few do it with the class of an Aston...
For me it's how quickly you get there via torque that matters...whether sprinting off the line or powering out of corners...
Indeed, the Aston can lumber along very comfortably and for the majority of owners that's all that's asked of them...but for those of us with the speed gene, being able to do that while also confidently being able to open her up and carving fantastic rhythm sections of our favorite twisties or tearing up high speed sweepers is so satisfying...
Yes, there are cars that do it better in one way or another, but few do it with the class of an Aston...
yes i agree. it is nice to have some straight line power so that you aren't embarrassed by little Ford or vauxhalls.
i am not bothered that some others are faster like a GTR. thats all they are.
they have no charisma, so as soon as you stop driving them fast, what are they ?
mine excites me and it is still in the garage. i dont even have to be in it.
knowing it is there is sometimes enough.
i am not bothered that some others are faster like a GTR. thats all they are.
they have no charisma, so as soon as you stop driving them fast, what are they ?
mine excites me and it is still in the garage. i dont even have to be in it.
knowing it is there is sometimes enough.
SS972 said:
I love having a run on German autobahns ,I am planing a fast run in Germany in 2015 with one rule:the last at destination pays for the drinks.You cannot beat 500 kms at speed over 140mph where you can legaly Vmax you toy.
yeah, ive done that before from Hamburg to Calais, at the end of a European tour when I had a train to catch....after a few max speed moments, watching the fuel computer and some quick maths....it actually worked out quicker to cruise about 120mph ish to save on losing time during extra fuel stops ...the Autobahns are kind of self policing in that way if you are really worried about journey time
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