RE: Scream if you want to go faster: PH Blog

RE: Scream if you want to go faster: PH Blog

Monday 24th April 2017

Scream if you want to go faster: PH Blog

The etiquette of demonstrating a fast car to impressionable passengers



I'm thinking of getting a swear box installed in the PH Fleet McLaren 570GT. Because when the six months is up and I have to give the car back I reckon I'll have accumulated enough to drown my sorrows. Certainly if the reactions it provokes from the passenger seat are anything to go by, even my dad letting rip with an involuntary and most uncharacteristic f-bomb when we passed our first NSL sign and I was able to give it just a little squeeze.


Obviously you have to watch yourself in a car that quick because you're far beyond 'points not ban' in a very short space of time. Something I was especially wary of, given my dad is a magistrate and more aware of EXACTLY where that threshold lies than most. But that's the thing I'm learning about running a car like the McLaren. Everybody wants a ride in it. And I'm equally enthusiastic to share the giddiness 'ownership' (OK, temporary custody) of a properly exotic car brings. After all, what's the point of such cars if you're not spreading the love? I'd go as far as considering it an obligation!

Knowing how to 'demonstrate' a fast car in a way that is both enjoyable for your passenger and maintains a semblance of social responsibility is a delicate balance though. YouTube is, of course, full of 'watch this' moments gone wrong. Most are comedic, some end in tragedy. Neither outcome is desirable.

But the chances are you'll have been there and egged on into proving what your pride and joy can do. What are the techniques for doing so? Noisy cars are obviously useful for contriving a sense of speed, the extravagantly blipped and unnecessary downshift another key tool in the armoury. Like any good punchline the joke is in the timing too - knowing the road and lulling your passenger into a false sense of security by bimbling along and engaging in innocent chit-chat before suddenly letting rip is always a good tactic for getting a reaction.


Choose your weapon too. I know turbo cars get a lot of flak but in this respect the McLaren's old-school rush of boost is really useful - you get that kick in the back and Millennium Falcon style sense of things going blurry long before the numbers actually turn silly. For someone not used to fast cars it feels properly exciting but as the driver (and licence holder) you can remain well within the realms of respectability. Revvy, naturally-aspirated cars like the Audi R8 you might consider a rival sound amazing and are much more impressive than the McLaren from a noise point of view. But to get to the really, really impressive acceleration you need to be well up in the revs and well beyond what might be considered sensible speed-wise.

An appreciation of your passenger's threshold is always good practice too. I took my sister-in-law out for a few laps on a track day once and my brother's advice as she was strapping in was simple - "If she's screaming or giggling that's fine - if she goes quiet you're in trouble!" My rule of thumb is whooping, swearing and scrabbling for a handhold is fine. Silence, a middle-distance stare and both hands gripping the seat cushion and you've probably gone too far.

So those are my tips. Anyone got any more to share?

Dan

Author
Discussion

Reg Local

Original Poster:

2,676 posts

207 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
If you've got a passenger who is unfamiliar with high performance cars, drive along at 30, tell them to put their head back against the headrest and hold it there (to avoid the unexpected thump in the back of the head) and then change down to a gear which puts you right in the middle of the power band / torque curve.

Then count them down, 3-2-1 and give it full beans up to the red line and into the next gear.

Rinse and repeat a couple of times and they'll be hooked!

Ahem - all within legal limits, of course...

gdaybruce

753 posts

224 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
A day at the Phil Price Rally School is rounded off by a passenger lap of the full stage alongside Phil driving his full house Impreza. He only tells you afterwards that there's a camera directed at the passenger and some of the video footage is absolutely hilarious (with the air turned very, very blue).

On a more prosaic note I find I can impress passengers in my Honda S2000 just by holding on to 2nd gear. As you pass 6000rpm they're politely impressed and expecting a change of gear. By the time we reach 9000 they tend to be mor fulsome in their comments!

TurboHatchback

4,151 posts

152 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
My opinion would be, on the road, don't. There simply isn't the space on the roads for a truly fast car to demonstrate its abilities and there is a reason the immortal words "watch this" are often followed by calamity and embarrasment. Also I hate being driven fast by other people, it's terrifying so I don't subject passengers to the experience either.

SturdyHSV

10,083 posts

166 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
A big NA motor can impress / unsettle an unsuspecting passenger in the way that what initially feels like a big kick in the back as you begin to accelerate at low revs then continues with that wonderful sense of unending power. Ideally to be carried out whilst travelling up towards the top of a hill to give the full 'take off' sensation hehe

Certainly it has raised quite childish giggles from some grown men, but equally whilst the initial acceleration is fine, my other half for example finds the continued acceleration progressively more unsettling. Having been in the passenger seat the gear / acceleration does seem to go on forever and obviously not being in control you really don't know how long it's going to continue for.

This is only in the Monaro so by no means a rocketship, but certainly compared to a 320d or what have you, yes it gives a similar 400lb ft shove, but it the continues to pull. It sounds a bit more apocalyptic as well. As mentioned epic NA noise does give an extra edge to proceedings cloud9


IanH755

1,849 posts

119 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
I've done a few "passenger rides" days at Bruntingthorpe (so 60-70 pax over 2 days) in both my 500hp '03 RS6 in 2014 and my 740hp (at the time) '58 RS6 in 2015 and I easily get more fun out of doing 7/10ths of my ability with passengers onboard over doing 10/10ths alone on a track.

I had a little "brief" I gave to all the passengers but long story short it was "this is your experience, how do you want me to drive?" and I got every kind of answer from "make me pee myself" to "I just want to drive around nicely, my grandson bought me the ticket" biggrin

As the runs were video'd (for youtube) it's always fun to watch back the replays and find that, even though a pax didn't seem to make much noise (which is fine), watching their face and realising they weren't bored but instead just couldn't speak is always fun.

Knowing your cars exciting points is a must. For example I know that if I do 40mph in 5th and floor it the gearbox drops to 2nd at 5k rpm and the car rockets off, yet at 50mph it only drops to 3rd at 4k rpm so the acceleration "feels" less violent, despite still being stupidly quick. Aside from the acceleration I also like to show how fast it can stop somewhere near the start too, just so the pax can appreciate how quickly we can stop should we need to and combo of the acceleration + stop + accceleration has left a few pax feeling a little light-headed before biggrin

I also don't tend to corner fast with pax on the roads (well maybe with a friend) and leave that to track driving and most are happy just to feel the acceleration alone.

Edited by IanH755 on Monday 24th April 13:54

funkyrobot

18,789 posts

227 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
Shouldn't this article be in something like Max Power?

Unfortunately, I think that modern roads are too busy and too dangerous to start showing off to passengers. It doesn't take much to take it too far. Just look at that thread we had on here years ago by someone who was out for a spirited drive when it all went wrong.

The best way to do any showing off is on a track. At least you don't have to contend with public road dangers there.

Also, I think there is more to showing off than just accelerating fast.

Coming up next week on PH - how many vehicles can you overtake in one go on a rural road?

Dalto123

3,198 posts

162 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
As my car isn't too fast, I prefer to demonstrate to my passengers the acceleration of the car (which is much more exciting). Most have never been in a car like mine, so being low to the ground with no roof and a loud exhaust is usually enough of an experience that they go away beaming - but when I show them the 0-60 performance (all within the law, officer!) they love it biggrin

Zippee

13,441 posts

233 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
I do a few dream rides events for the sporting bears in my TVR. It’s a rebuilt 4.3l engine (standard is 3.6) putting out around 420bhp in a car weighing in around 1100kg so is quite nippy.
However, I always take the attitude you can do 100mph in pretty much any car nowadays so after checking the sort of ride a passenger is looking forward to I demonstrate some standing and mid range acceleration, braking (sometimes even more of a shock than the acceleration), the noise (131db helps there though) and the general theatre of the car. I won’t drive anywhere near my limits or the cars, I have a passenger I’ve never met before who’s generously paid to have a ride that’s fun but safe. Most passengers have never been in a sportscar before, let alone a TVR so are more than happy taking it all in at 7/10ths than being scared half to death in the passenger seat.

suffolk009

5,344 posts

164 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
I was out in a friends new Audi A8 a few weeks ago. First he drove, then he let me have a go. It's interesting that the acceleration seems much more ferocious as a passenger than when you're driving it yourself. After 20-30 minutes behind the wheel I was getting quite used to it...

julian64

14,317 posts

253 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
Reg Local said:
If you've got a passenger who is unfamiliar with high performance cars, drive along at 30, tell them to put their head back against the headrest and hold it there (to avoid the unexpected thump in the back of the head) and then change down to a gear which puts you right in the middle of the power band / torque curve.

Then count them down, 3-2-1 and give it full beans up to the red line and into the next gear.

Rinse and repeat a couple of times and they'll be hooked!

Ahem - all within legal limits, of course...
Did you really, as a first post, try to suck the joy out of the experience?

Itsallicanafford

2,759 posts

158 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
...took a client out in my 106 Rallye the other day...gave it the full potatoes and he was impressed with the performance...i think i might have even hit 70 at one point...

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
funkyrobot said:
Shouldn't this article be in something like Max Power?

Unfortunately, I think that modern roads are too busy and too dangerous to start showing off to passengers. It doesn't take much to take it too far. Just look at that thread we had on here years ago by someone who was out for a spirited drive when it all went wrong.

The best way to do any showing off is on a track. At least you don't have to contend with public road dangers there.

Also, I think there is more to showing off than just accelerating fast.

Coming up next week on PH - how many vehicles can you overtake in one go on a rural road?
Quite the contrary. If someone is used to the acceleration from some 2.0 TDi and thinks that is fast then a quick squirt up to 60 in something properly fast can be deeply and profoundly impressive without endangering any kittens or fieldmice at all.

funkyrobot

18,789 posts

227 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
dme123 said:
funkyrobot said:
Shouldn't this article be in something like Max Power?

Unfortunately, I think that modern roads are too busy and too dangerous to start showing off to passengers. It doesn't take much to take it too far. Just look at that thread we had on here years ago by someone who was out for a spirited drive when it all went wrong.

The best way to do any showing off is on a track. At least you don't have to contend with public road dangers there.

Also, I think there is more to showing off than just accelerating fast.

Coming up next week on PH - how many vehicles can you overtake in one go on a rural road?
Quite the contrary. If someone is used to the acceleration from some 2.0 TDi and thinks that is fast then a quick squirt up to 60 in something properly fast can be deeply and profoundly impressive without endangering any kittens or fieldmice at all.
Why the kittens remark? Oh I see, because I think it's silly to show off on a public road. rolleyes

Accelerating fast isn't that exciting at all. Proper fun is had during cornering and braking yes

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
funkyrobot said:
dme123 said:
funkyrobot said:
Shouldn't this article be in something like Max Power?

Unfortunately, I think that modern roads are too busy and too dangerous to start showing off to passengers. It doesn't take much to take it too far. Just look at that thread we had on here years ago by someone who was out for a spirited drive when it all went wrong.

The best way to do any showing off is on a track. At least you don't have to contend with public road dangers there.

Also, I think there is more to showing off than just accelerating fast.

Coming up next week on PH - how many vehicles can you overtake in one go on a rural road?
Quite the contrary. If someone is used to the acceleration from some 2.0 TDi and thinks that is fast then a quick squirt up to 60 in something properly fast can be deeply and profoundly impressive without endangering any kittens or fieldmice at all.
Why the kittens remark? Oh I see, because I think it's silly to show off on a public road. rolleyes

Accelerating fast isn't that exciting at all. Proper fun is had during cornering. yes
That's because you're used to it maybe. For your average non petrolhead straight line heroics in something with three to four times the power of their Golf is extremely exciting. Accelerating round a bend quickly but safely will also be a thrill for someone who normally wobbles round at 40.

Yes you won't impress a steely eyed powerfully build PHer on the public road without getting silly, but most other people can be provoked into exclamations of shock quite easily.

jeremyc

23,335 posts

283 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
You should try impressing a large white rabbit as a passenger. wink



Or indeed a dog. biggrin



Edited by jeremyc on Monday 24th April 14:47

mwstewart

7,554 posts

187 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
jeremyc said:
You should try impressing a large white rabbit as a passenger. wink

Haha! You were good letting that in...

mwstewart

7,554 posts

187 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
It's always nice to give someone a pleasure ride. I've had many happy faces leave my car, and not all of them were in a Forestry Commission car park.

SturdyHSV

10,083 posts

166 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
funkyrobot said:
dme123 said:
funkyrobot said:
Shouldn't this article be in something like Max Power?

Unfortunately, I think that modern roads are too busy and too dangerous to start showing off to passengers. It doesn't take much to take it too far. Just look at that thread we had on here years ago by someone who was out for a spirited drive when it all went wrong.

The best way to do any showing off is on a track. At least you don't have to contend with public road dangers there.

Also, I think there is more to showing off than just accelerating fast.

Coming up next week on PH - how many vehicles can you overtake in one go on a rural road?
Quite the contrary. If someone is used to the acceleration from some 2.0 TDi and thinks that is fast then a quick squirt up to 60 in something properly fast can be deeply and profoundly impressive without endangering any kittens or fieldmice at all.
Why the kittens remark? Oh I see, because I think it's silly to show off on a public road. rolleyes

Accelerating fast isn't that exciting at all. Proper fun is had during cornering and braking yes
No accelerating fast isn't that exciting at all to you. Because you are (presumably) a seasoned driving enthusiast and have lots of experience of accelerating very fast and cornering very fast on track and balancing at the limit of grip as the car squirms around and so on.

To the normal population, accelerating probably multiple times faster than they've ever experienced, whilst sat in the passenger seat (which very much amplifies the sensation of speed) in something loud and unusual is in fact quite exciting. Normally at quite a simplistic emotional level that leads to unexpected expletives or noises. Which is fun.

Dream355r

11 posts

175 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
Few years ago we did sporting bears runs on a prescribed route on public roads.

Whilst I agree with asking the passenger what kind of run they are looking for I always asked if they were police!

Not so important to ask now but friend took young girl out before mobiles became quite as ubiquitous and perhaps when
she asked to go faster....faster he should have asked her to turn the phone off.

He was extremely nervous all the way home after she said she would be posting the footage to her Facebook page....redfaceredface

phil4

1,203 posts

237 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
SturdyHSV said:
Ideally to be carried out whilst travelling up towards the top of a hill to give the full 'take off' sensation hehe
That's definately a tactic I use. Couple that with the slow 30mph through town, this being the road out, and a launch as we leave the 30, up a hill. I've most definatley been told the passenger thought we'd take off.

That being said, I also had one worried we'd roll over, and that was at about 30mph, within a few meters of setting off, and on flat roads. Not much chance I'd have said.