I've become bored of cars.
Discussion
For years and years, I have been passionate about cars. When I was younger I was always messing about with cars, I had a few decent cars in my 20s, but I became reasonably successful in my mid/late 30s and got into Porsches and Ferraris, and was fortunate enough to own a few of each.
Last year, I went and bought a practical sports car - an F80 M3. I've had it 12 months or so and I love it, and if you think there's a "but" coming here, you'd be right.
But...
It's too fast. I've come to realise that it's utterly, utterly pointless on the road. It smashes over bumps and crashes and bangs. And, at 400+bhp, there's no place for you to exercise it's legs. Near every time I go out in it I'm doing 100mph at some point; leave Tesco, nice long straight, braaaaaap and dong there goes the speed warning at 90mph and I'm doing 100mph by then.
I also have an old Focus worth about a grand, and a Pulsar GTIR. The Pulsar is pretty good fun because you don't have to be doing a million miles an hour for it to be fun. I had an old MX5 a few years ago - wish I'd kept that because you could thrash it everywhere and you'd still only be doing 80mph.
I think part of my problem is that these days supercars and sports cars are everywhere. When I was a kid, it was Athena posters on your bedroom wall and that was the only time you got to see a Lamborghini. This week, I've seen two and I don't exactly live in ametropolis. If I was so inclined to open up Instagram (and I'm not) I'm sure I'd see millions of them there, or YouTube, or Facebook, or whatever. It's like they're not special anymore. Every week there's a new model, more horsepower, more whatever.... I just think it's pointless. If we're all driving at 75-80mph on the motorways (even if you're not trying to save fuel), then what's the point in having a car that does 150mph+?
Or am i just becoming a grumpy old b
d?
Last year, I went and bought a practical sports car - an F80 M3. I've had it 12 months or so and I love it, and if you think there's a "but" coming here, you'd be right.
But...
It's too fast. I've come to realise that it's utterly, utterly pointless on the road. It smashes over bumps and crashes and bangs. And, at 400+bhp, there's no place for you to exercise it's legs. Near every time I go out in it I'm doing 100mph at some point; leave Tesco, nice long straight, braaaaaap and dong there goes the speed warning at 90mph and I'm doing 100mph by then.
I also have an old Focus worth about a grand, and a Pulsar GTIR. The Pulsar is pretty good fun because you don't have to be doing a million miles an hour for it to be fun. I had an old MX5 a few years ago - wish I'd kept that because you could thrash it everywhere and you'd still only be doing 80mph.
I think part of my problem is that these days supercars and sports cars are everywhere. When I was a kid, it was Athena posters on your bedroom wall and that was the only time you got to see a Lamborghini. This week, I've seen two and I don't exactly live in ametropolis. If I was so inclined to open up Instagram (and I'm not) I'm sure I'd see millions of them there, or YouTube, or Facebook, or whatever. It's like they're not special anymore. Every week there's a new model, more horsepower, more whatever.... I just think it's pointless. If we're all driving at 75-80mph on the motorways (even if you're not trying to save fuel), then what's the point in having a car that does 150mph+?
Or am i just becoming a grumpy old b
d?Panamax said:
What you've got there is a 2-door BMW saloon.
A sports car is an entirely different prospect and enjoyment is not solely dependent upon power and speed. Cars like MX5 and Boxster are popular for good reason. F-type convertible also available for reasonable prices.
Yup. Dump the M3 - it's a dull old boat on the road. Save some cash and get something more interesting.A sports car is an entirely different prospect and enjoyment is not solely dependent upon power and speed. Cars like MX5 and Boxster are popular for good reason. F-type convertible also available for reasonable prices.
M cars are not focused or engaging sports cars, particularly at normal speeds.
Not bored by cars, more bored by your current car.I tend to agree with the OP.
Cars like the MX5 give you fun & entertainment at legal speeds. Faster cars can at least give you a different dimension if they are a convertible. Proper sports cars give you a more raw experience, as do classic sports cars to a greater degree. Sound track is also an important part of the experience which is why fast EVs will never appeal to me
Highly accomplished fast modern enclosed cars, with lots of driver aids, seem to be engineered to the point of both excellence & boredom in equal measure unless doing highly illegal speeds.
Put the M3 on crossplies & you'll have fun at 30 mph........ Seriously though, a modern M3, or similar, is simply too good to have fun at legal speeds.
I have a R56 Mini JCW which seems to give a good balance of entertainment at sensible speeds & modern engineering prowess. I have it for sale at the moment, but I keep saying to myself 'why am I selling it' for this very reason
Cars like the MX5 give you fun & entertainment at legal speeds. Faster cars can at least give you a different dimension if they are a convertible. Proper sports cars give you a more raw experience, as do classic sports cars to a greater degree. Sound track is also an important part of the experience which is why fast EVs will never appeal to me
Highly accomplished fast modern enclosed cars, with lots of driver aids, seem to be engineered to the point of both excellence & boredom in equal measure unless doing highly illegal speeds.
Put the M3 on crossplies & you'll have fun at 30 mph........ Seriously though, a modern M3, or similar, is simply too good to have fun at legal speeds.
I have a R56 Mini JCW which seems to give a good balance of entertainment at sensible speeds & modern engineering prowess. I have it for sale at the moment, but I keep saying to myself 'why am I selling it' for this very reason
I was at a show the other day and I couldn't help but be bored by all the modern offerings, there were Lamborghinis there, McLarens, newer Ferraris and Porsches, and honestly found them dull, whilst capable I am sure but just found nothing interesting about them, and that seems to follow for all other modern cars, especially more now I have a TVR.
I did a bit with some Youtube guy the other day on E31 ownership, and we took the 8 out for a run, and he posed me a question "what would I do to upgrade the car?" and I sat there and thought, nothing, I may get the bluetooth adaption done on the old stereo, but it's not exactly a fast car, or a capable car, but what it does, it does so well and I how the experience of an older auto with a V8, refined but unrefined doesn't need anything more to make it a fun car to drive, same as the TVR, it has a crappy stereo, it isn't that fast, it's no frills of nothing and again I don't find myself wanting the comforts of our V90, heated seats and steering wheel, great sound system, electric seats, DAB (although that is fking ste).
I know that all these modern fast cars, have all the tech, and it just makes them a bit meh to me.
I did a bit with some Youtube guy the other day on E31 ownership, and we took the 8 out for a run, and he posed me a question "what would I do to upgrade the car?" and I sat there and thought, nothing, I may get the bluetooth adaption done on the old stereo, but it's not exactly a fast car, or a capable car, but what it does, it does so well and I how the experience of an older auto with a V8, refined but unrefined doesn't need anything more to make it a fun car to drive, same as the TVR, it has a crappy stereo, it isn't that fast, it's no frills of nothing and again I don't find myself wanting the comforts of our V90, heated seats and steering wheel, great sound system, electric seats, DAB (although that is f
king ste).I know that all these modern fast cars, have all the tech, and it just makes them a bit meh to me.
SidewaysSi said:
Panamax said:
What you've got there is a 2-door BMW saloon.
A sports car is an entirely different prospect and enjoyment is not solely dependent upon power and speed. Cars like MX5 and Boxster are popular for good reason. F-type convertible also available for reasonable prices.
A sports car is an entirely different prospect and enjoyment is not solely dependent upon power and speed. Cars like MX5 and Boxster are popular for good reason. F-type convertible also available for reasonable prices.
Yup. Dump the M3 - it's a dull old boat on the road. Save some cash and get something more interesting.
M cars are not focused or engaging sports cars, particularly at normal speeds.
A proper sports or classic car will feel more alive.
For modern stuff, the C63 feels more eventful because of the v8. It dominates the experience.
Think you answered your own question with your Pulsar.
You don’t need a million horsepower to have fun. You need lower powered car that has good handling and ride. Thrashing a lower powered car across winding roads is far, far, far more fun than a super saloon where you can only access 20% of its potential without risking your licence.
I’ve just had a brilliant few days in the Isle of Wight with my Pug 308GTI. The right amount of power for the roads and able to explore the full rev range whilst staying moderately sensible.
You don’t need a million horsepower to have fun. You need lower powered car that has good handling and ride. Thrashing a lower powered car across winding roads is far, far, far more fun than a super saloon where you can only access 20% of its potential without risking your licence.
I’ve just had a brilliant few days in the Isle of Wight with my Pug 308GTI. The right amount of power for the roads and able to explore the full rev range whilst staying moderately sensible.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff