Help - passion for driving is fading here
Discussion
Late to the party here but the OP is right about driving in the UK. Yes there is a lot of traffic in major conurbations (which are not like NZ major conurbations!) and that is a pain, but once out of town there are wonderful A and B roads, some of which have 'national speed limits'. This means that on a B road, one gets the chance to crack along at 60 mph all day long. Which, to my mind is as good as 120 mph on the motorway. It makes a Sunday morning blast possible, without worrying about ones driving licence being revoked. A dual carriageway national speed limit (usually A roads) is 70 mph; again, at no risk to one's licence.
Not only that but for a days drive you have the vastness of Spain, Germany (unlimited speeds allowed on some Autobahn - my last visit saw 155 mph) and all other European countries (ignore France and Switzerland as they don't like people who go fast or have sports cars!).
I have driven all over S. Island and there are some great roads to drive along but it can't compete with Europe for the true enthusiast. Sadly, I think that Europe may, eventually, become a speed-less zone, especially when all cars are electric and driven by a computer. Where will the Govt get their speeding and parking fine income then?
Not only that but for a days drive you have the vastness of Spain, Germany (unlimited speeds allowed on some Autobahn - my last visit saw 155 mph) and all other European countries (ignore France and Switzerland as they don't like people who go fast or have sports cars!).
I have driven all over S. Island and there are some great roads to drive along but it can't compete with Europe for the true enthusiast. Sadly, I think that Europe may, eventually, become a speed-less zone, especially when all cars are electric and driven by a computer. Where will the Govt get their speeding and parking fine income then?
A44RON said:
And then there’s the noisy slush the NZTA likes to call roads; still using that hideous chip-seal rubbish for the vast majority of surfaces, instead of building roads with proper asphalt tarmac like every other first-world country.
I find the roads in general here to be much better quality than the UK. I was back recently and ended up in Oxfordshire, the roads are absolutely awful. You had to keep steering round potholes or other general mess in the roads and it was just tiring. Here I can't think of any particular potholes I see around my area. The surface may not be the best quality but it is smooth and not full of holes.Edited by A44RON on Thursday 17th May 02:50
As for good driving roads, I don't know any that are good for speed, as any motorway tends to be somewhere congested, but I have a twisty road that is good fun if you aren't stuck behind a horse box about 5 minutes away and about an hour away I can have some fun on a gravel track.
You pick your moments in NZ, learn your environment, where gets policed often and where doesn't.
20 years ago you could A to B at really serious pace, I've averaged over 80 for 200 miles across twisty roads in the past but now it's more a brief point and squirt. We only have 3 roads north to south and they're policed by over zealous, brainwashed highway patrol who'll spout 'speed kills' at every opportunity whilst ignoring the unconscious biddies dangerously bumbling along in a world of their own.
A high end radar detector helps but won't stop you being flicked by the 'switch on/switch off' police patrol. I still have fun but, like the op says, it's not easy and I find myself becoming more and more CCU - cruise control unconscious.
But would I change it for British congestion? Never.
20 years ago you could A to B at really serious pace, I've averaged over 80 for 200 miles across twisty roads in the past but now it's more a brief point and squirt. We only have 3 roads north to south and they're policed by over zealous, brainwashed highway patrol who'll spout 'speed kills' at every opportunity whilst ignoring the unconscious biddies dangerously bumbling along in a world of their own.
A high end radar detector helps but won't stop you being flicked by the 'switch on/switch off' police patrol. I still have fun but, like the op says, it's not easy and I find myself becoming more and more CCU - cruise control unconscious.
But would I change it for British congestion? Never.
Excellent points made on this page - thanks all.
Well, I had it coming to me; last week late at night I got followed by an unmarked car the entire length of the Christchurch southern motorway. This was about 2am with no other car on the motorway in either direction, except for me and this chap about 20 metres behind me. I was sat at around 125-130kmh/80mph-ish and he just stayed behind me from start-to-finish. I know, schoolboy error, I should've been wiser.
A few minutes into the commute, I did think "if that's a police car, surely he'd pull me over at the first opportunity, 'safety-and-all'... Why goad me?." But he didn't, so I thought perhaps it was another car happy to stay relatively close to my tail. Anyway, the motorway ends and about 500m up the road the lights come on. He didn't have a radar in his car or wasn't using it, so he estimated what I was doing by his speedo. Apparently they are entitled to do this.
During the conversation, he naturally asked me how fast I was going. "I wasn't looking at my speedo, I was looking at the road and my mirrors". This didn't go down well. He didn't tell me exactly what he was booking me for, other than "too high speed and you'll get it in the post". Confirmed by the naughty letter received it was 130kmh. I'll take the medicine for my complacency.
Interestingly, he didn't carry out an alcohol breath test. I don't drink alcohol full-stop, so it wouldn't have bothered me. Would've respected him more for doing so.. But given the time of night I thought that was peculiar.
Looking forward to getting reacquainted with British roads in October.
Well, I had it coming to me; last week late at night I got followed by an unmarked car the entire length of the Christchurch southern motorway. This was about 2am with no other car on the motorway in either direction, except for me and this chap about 20 metres behind me. I was sat at around 125-130kmh/80mph-ish and he just stayed behind me from start-to-finish. I know, schoolboy error, I should've been wiser.
A few minutes into the commute, I did think "if that's a police car, surely he'd pull me over at the first opportunity, 'safety-and-all'... Why goad me?." But he didn't, so I thought perhaps it was another car happy to stay relatively close to my tail. Anyway, the motorway ends and about 500m up the road the lights come on. He didn't have a radar in his car or wasn't using it, so he estimated what I was doing by his speedo. Apparently they are entitled to do this.
During the conversation, he naturally asked me how fast I was going. "I wasn't looking at my speedo, I was looking at the road and my mirrors". This didn't go down well. He didn't tell me exactly what he was booking me for, other than "too high speed and you'll get it in the post". Confirmed by the naughty letter received it was 130kmh. I'll take the medicine for my complacency.
Interestingly, he didn't carry out an alcohol breath test. I don't drink alcohol full-stop, so it wouldn't have bothered me. Would've respected him more for doing so.. But given the time of night I thought that was peculiar.
Looking forward to getting reacquainted with British roads in October.
A44RON said:
Last week I got followed by an unmarked car the entire length of the Christchurch southern motorway.
This was about 2am with no other car on the motorway, I was sat at around 125-130kmh/80mph-ish
Probably the smoothest, safest, best sighted piece of road in New Zealand, you could stick cruise control on at 200kph, jump in the back seat, roll a ciggie and still not crash.This was about 2am with no other car on the motorway, I was sat at around 125-130kmh/80mph-ish
A44RON said:
Excellent points made on this page - thanks all.
Well, I had it coming to me; last week late at night I got followed by an unmarked car the entire length of the Christchurch southern motorway. This was about 2am with no other car on the motorway in either direction, except for me and this chap about 20 metres behind me. I was sat at around 125-130kmh/80mph-ish and he just stayed behind me from start-to-finish. I know, schoolboy error, I should've been wiser.
A few minutes into the commute, I did think "if that's a police car, surely he'd pull me over at the first opportunity, 'safety-and-all'... Why goad me?." But he didn't, so I thought perhaps it was another car happy to stay relatively close to my tail. Anyway, the motorway ends and about 500m up the road the lights come on. He didn't have a radar in his car or wasn't using it, so he estimated what I was doing by his speedo. Apparently they are entitled to do this.
But isn't it all about safety? The officer was happy to let you travel at a speed that should have instantly killed you for a prolonged period of time! Well, I had it coming to me; last week late at night I got followed by an unmarked car the entire length of the Christchurch southern motorway. This was about 2am with no other car on the motorway in either direction, except for me and this chap about 20 metres behind me. I was sat at around 125-130kmh/80mph-ish and he just stayed behind me from start-to-finish. I know, schoolboy error, I should've been wiser.
A few minutes into the commute, I did think "if that's a police car, surely he'd pull me over at the first opportunity, 'safety-and-all'... Why goad me?." But he didn't, so I thought perhaps it was another car happy to stay relatively close to my tail. Anyway, the motorway ends and about 500m up the road the lights come on. He didn't have a radar in his car or wasn't using it, so he estimated what I was doing by his speedo. Apparently they are entitled to do this.
Where is the duty of care here? And more importantly how on earth did you survive going so fast for so long?
I am starting to think the constant campaigning telling me that going a mere 5km/h over the limit will kill me and everyone i know in an instant might be a misrepresentation the truth.
Its tricky i know, i live in Australia and we are much the same with our laws. I would say buy a slower car. I have a Fiesta ST and i honestly think it is as quick as is usable on the roads.
My boss has an RS4 Avant and just drives it around terrified to even tickle the throttle because doing so will be licence and car gone. I am not sure the point of it without an autobahn commute.
Where as i drive about with the pedal to the floor on a regular basis making silly whoosy turbo noises and giggling like a child.
Or, as you are in the land of the gravel road, get a rally car (or rally like car). You dont have to compete you can just take it out and be silly away from people.
AussieFozzy said:
I would say buy a slower car. I have a Fiesta ST
I drive about with the pedal to the floor on a regular basis making silly whoosy turbo noises and giggling like a child.
Buying a car to suit your local environment, lifestyle and traffic laws is big step in the right direction.I drive about with the pedal to the floor on a regular basis making silly whoosy turbo noises and giggling like a child.
When I moved to the countryside I had a 123D M/Sport, accomplished thing but always going 40kph faster than it felt so I bought an Amarok but never really used it as a ute so I chopped that for a V8 X5, perfect in every respect except that I never went off road and when it snowed I'd stay at home so that went and I've now got a V6 hatch that's quick for the odd blat or overtake but smooth, refined and comfortable for the other 99.9% of the time.
A Fiesta ST would get me in trouble, feisty little things and not exactly slow but then again nowadays just about anything will break the speed limit in 2nd gear and top 200kph.
cheddar said:
AussieFozzy said:
I would say buy a slower car. I have a Fiesta ST
I drive about with the pedal to the floor on a regular basis making silly whoosy turbo noises and giggling like a child.
Buying a car to suit your local environment, lifestyle and traffic laws is big step in the right direction.I drive about with the pedal to the floor on a regular basis making silly whoosy turbo noises and giggling like a child.
When I moved to the countryside I had a 123D M/Sport, accomplished thing but always going 40kph faster than it felt so I bought an Amarok but never really used it as a ute so I chopped that for a V8 X5, perfect in every respect except that I never went off road and when it snowed I'd stay at home so that went and I've now got a V6 hatch that's quick for the odd blat or overtake but smooth, refined and comfortable for the other 99.9% of the time.
A Fiesta ST would get me in trouble, feisty little things and not exactly slow but then again nowadays just about anything will break the speed limit in 2nd gear and top 200kph.
V6 hatchbacks are like hens teeth here - Alfa 147 GTA or Toyota Blademaster 3.5 V6? I think the latter gives my mate's Golf R32 a run for its money - rockets!
A44RON said:
Great points. I'm now thinking of selling the Z4 Coupe and getting a wafty comfortable barge, like a 2006-2009 Jaguar XJ 4.2 Sovereign. Hugely tempting.
V6 hatchbacks are like hens teeth here - Alfa 147 GTA or Toyota Blademaster 3.5 V6? I think the latter gives my mate's Golf R32 a run for its money - rockets!
The Jag's a great choice, or any of the high end barges, I'd be too chicken for the Jag and go with a Lexus to completely cancel out that coarse road chip noise we have.V6 hatchbacks are like hens teeth here - Alfa 147 GTA or Toyota Blademaster 3.5 V6? I think the latter gives my mate's Golf R32 a run for its money - rockets!
Yep, my hatch is a Blademaster, 30bhp more than your friends R32 and weighs 100kg less, I've driven both and this feels quite a bit quicker, it wouldn't see which way an R32 went though the twisties but it's much comfier.
A44RON said:
Great points. I'm now thinking of selling the Z4 Coupe and getting a wafty comfortable barge, like a 2006-2009 Jaguar XJ 4.2 Sovereign. Hugely tempting.
V6 hatchbacks are like hens teeth here - Alfa 147 GTA or Toyota Blademaster 3.5 V6? I think the latter gives my mate's Golf R32 a run for its money - rockets!
Thats the way to go about things. Passion and love for driving comes in all forms. Sports cars, hot hatches, luxury barges, 4x4's and everything in between. V6 hatchbacks are like hens teeth here - Alfa 147 GTA or Toyota Blademaster 3.5 V6? I think the latter gives my mate's Golf R32 a run for its money - rockets!
I dont think anyone is less of an enthusiast just because they are not going as fast as possible everywhere they go.
One of the best things about cars is that unlike getting a bit bored with your partner you can just go get another one without much hassle.
And if you try out a big comfortable British one but dont like it, just go get something else like a little Japanese one instead.
As long as you get enjoyment out of it and it lets you forget about your worries for a while then you are doing it right.
Well, Since moving here a year ago and doing a bit of adventuring around I felt the need to get a toy, I imported a mint Evo9MR and have been having a blast on the country roads around here ever since! 100kph limit on a windy road is plenty. I have no interest in going fast on a highway.
Spirited driving is alive and well in Auckland, I just wish there was more of us. Too many plonkers in poorly modified deathtraps who cant drive for s
t. I met some lads from Rennsport and they seem to have the same enthusiast gene, hopefully I'll go on a drive out with them soon. 
Spirited driving is alive and well in Auckland, I just wish there was more of us. Too many plonkers in poorly modified deathtraps who cant drive for s
t. I met some lads from Rennsport and they seem to have the same enthusiast gene, hopefully I'll go on a drive out with them soon. A44RON said:
Just been informed by a colleague the night I got followed by the police car doing 130kmh on an empty motorway their friend's home got broken into - but there were "no available units to attend" 
What an outfit.
Sounds about right, I remember them copping some well-deserved flak a few years back for 'not being available to attend' a drowning at a beach... being terribly busy parked up waiting for possible speeding cars about 2km down the road.What an outfit.
Knowing a few cops though I'd have say the problem is not generally with the guys on the street, its the bureaucracy of the institution.
AussieFozzy said:
Or, as you are in the land of the gravel road, get a rally car (or rally like car). You dont have to compete you can just take it out and be silly away from people.
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