SLEEPERS! Anyone have a street sleeper here?
Discussion
Don1 said:
So a fast car has been made faster. Akin to a GTR being posted on here saying "it's sleeper because is now 1000bhp and not 500..."
The word people seem to be missing is perception. Do people perceive a hot hatch as slow? No? Then how can it be a sleeper.
I would say it DEFINITELY belongs on the well modified thread as it is gorgeous. You have to be very happy with it?
But, it sounds like some M140i owners and an SVR driver had a bit of a surprise along the way "Oh look sporty red car, I will show him how much faster my sporty car is"The word people seem to be missing is perception. Do people perceive a hot hatch as slow? No? Then how can it be a sleeper.
I would say it DEFINITELY belongs on the well modified thread as it is gorgeous. You have to be very happy with it?
"Err, that wasnt meant to happen, why is it still there, mummy, make it go away !"
And not sure where the perception is that cars power dwindles with age, its not like some guaranteed percentage loss per year, am sure on badly maintained or worn out examples it happens but have had some right old knackers that seem unreasonably quick, plus folk tune cars or by the age of that lovely 205, will have replaced most of it, if it looks that clean its unlikely that the engine is on its last legs and only producing 80 bhp instead of 115/130.
I think sleeper represent the absolutely bog basic models but the 205 is a bit like my own Fiesta ST, which has over 100 bhp more than standard, thing is other drivers dont tend to bother if its too sleepy perhaps ? so a standard looking lower end hot hatch with masses more power is hilarious when they get a surprise.
Afromonk said:
Slowest model of these seems to be some 130bhp TD lump that does 0-60 in 10.
But do the unwashed on the street really think “oohee audi badge, fast!” ?!?!
If so either i should go out more or possibly never go out again
Erm, yes they do. Badge trumps engine for most people. But do the unwashed on the street really think “oohee audi badge, fast!” ?!?!
If so either i should go out more or possibly never go out again
Fastdruid said:
Afromonk said:
Slowest model of these seems to be some 130bhp TD lump that does 0-60 in 10.
But do the unwashed on the street really think “oohee audi badge, fast!” ?!?!
If so either i should go out more or possibly never go out again
Erm, yes they do. Badge trumps engine for most people. But do the unwashed on the street really think “oohee audi badge, fast!” ?!?!
If so either i should go out more or possibly never go out again
Afromonk said:
Slowest model of these seems to be some 130bhp TD lump that does 0-60 in 10.
But do the unwashed on the street really think “oohee audi badge, fast!” ?!?!
If so either i should go out more or possibly never go out again
Many of the slow models are the opposite of sleepers - sheep in wolf's clothing. But do the unwashed on the street really think “oohee audi badge, fast!” ?!?!
If so either i should go out more or possibly never go out again
Most people will assume an Audi estate is a fast car and the surprise would be if it's not.
Edited by braddo on Friday 17th June 12:36
braddo said:
May of the slow models are the opposite of sleepers - sheep in wolf's clothing.
Most people will assume an Audi estate is a fast car and the surprise would be if it's not.
I think that might well be it. The various S-line, M-Sport, R-line, ST-line things are definitely sheeps in wolf's clothing.Most people will assume an Audi estate is a fast car and the surprise would be if it's not.
Also, on the badge thing, if you put an Audi A3 S-Line and a Skoda Octavia VRS next to each other, most non-car people would probably assume the Skoda was the one with all the bling & no go because of the badge, not that they're the same platform underneath and the Skoda is the quick one.
The problem with trying to account for the thoughts of a while population is that they all have different frames of reference.
A lot of the great unwashed think their cars are savages these days because of low down turbo torque. They never venture beyond 3k rpm and don’t realise their car tails off very rapidly compared to something actually fast.
I’ve had a few people telling me how fast their normie car is, then when taken out in mine they have nigh on shat themselves, and moving the scale on I’m always reluctant to call mine fast because I’ve experienced the world of 800+ bhp or 400+bhp/t which really are quite fast.
People like the ones I’ve taken out would be shocked by how quick a standard 205gti went when pushed
A lot of the great unwashed think their cars are savages these days because of low down turbo torque. They never venture beyond 3k rpm and don’t realise their car tails off very rapidly compared to something actually fast.
I’ve had a few people telling me how fast their normie car is, then when taken out in mine they have nigh on shat themselves, and moving the scale on I’m always reluctant to call mine fast because I’ve experienced the world of 800+ bhp or 400+bhp/t which really are quite fast.
People like the ones I’ve taken out would be shocked by how quick a standard 205gti went when pushed
Don1 said:
Once again - perception.
What is expected to be quick? German cars? Yes. Hot hatches? Yes.
Would I expect a dented Astra (so sorry to see that Turkish) to go up the road at that rate of knots? No, I wouldn't have.
If you were in a BMW M4, would you expect a standard looking warm hatch to keep up ?What is expected to be quick? German cars? Yes. Hot hatches? Yes.
Would I expect a dented Astra (so sorry to see that Turkish) to go up the road at that rate of knots? No, I wouldn't have.
Fastdruid said:
Erm, yes they do. Badge trumps engine for most people.
How many times have we been held up by a poverty spec German car in L3? Too many to mentionI have a Kia Ceed GT, it is definitely not a sleeper car but because it's 'just a Kia' there has been more than one occasion at the lights where the car next to me creeps forward ready to make a quick get away and nip back in front of me, and just can't because badge < power.
Charlie Foxtrot said:
Fastdruid said:
Erm, yes they do. Badge trumps engine for most people.
How many times have we been held up by a poverty spec German car in L3? Too many to mentionI have a Kia Ceed GT, it is definitely not a sleeper car but because it's 'just a Kia' there has been more than one occasion at the lights where the car next to me creeps forward ready to make a quick get away and nip back in front of me, and just can't because badge < power.
RB Will said:
The problem with trying to account for the thoughts of a while population is that they all have different frames of reference.
A lot of the great unwashed think their cars are savages these days because of low down turbo torque. They never venture beyond 3k rpm and don’t realise their car tails off very rapidly compared to something actually fast.
I’ve had a few people telling me how fast their normie car is, then when taken out in mine they have nigh on shat themselves, and moving the scale on I’m always reluctant to call mine fast because I’ve experienced the world of 800+ bhp or 400+bhp/t which really are quite fast.
People like the ones I’ve taken out would be shocked by how quick a standard 205gti went when pushed
This.A lot of the great unwashed think their cars are savages these days because of low down turbo torque. They never venture beyond 3k rpm and don’t realise their car tails off very rapidly compared to something actually fast.
I’ve had a few people telling me how fast their normie car is, then when taken out in mine they have nigh on shat themselves, and moving the scale on I’m always reluctant to call mine fast because I’ve experienced the world of 800+ bhp or 400+bhp/t which really are quite fast.
People like the ones I’ve taken out would be shocked by how quick a standard 205gti went when pushed
Frankly, using a normal persons opinion to determine what is a sleeper is stupid as they wouldn't know what a sleeper is, nor could they judge if a normal car is slow or fast.
A sleeper should be a car that is known to be not fast, appears to look like the normal version yet be hiding a level of speed someone familiar with the normal car would not expect.
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