RE: Scream if you want to go faster: PH Blog
Discussion
The perception of speed is important, as has been mentioned above. I took my mum out in my Ferrari 328 GTS with the roof off and she told me that she didn't feel comfortable going at that speed. On another day I took her on the same route in my then daily driver - a diesel Focus and then told her that we we had been going at the same speed - the sound, being low to the road and the bumpy ride all made the 328 seem much faster.
I learnt about showing off many years ago in my Mk2 Escort Harrier which I managed to put in a field. No damage except to my pride, but it would have been very different if there had been a tree or a ditch. I was extremely embarrassed and felt very foolish (but I did learn a lesson about over-correction).
The advice from IanH755 is good - ask them what they would like - do they just want to pootle around or at least get a little taste of what it can do.
I learnt about showing off many years ago in my Mk2 Escort Harrier which I managed to put in a field. No damage except to my pride, but it would have been very different if there had been a tree or a ditch. I was extremely embarrassed and felt very foolish (but I did learn a lesson about over-correction).
The advice from IanH755 is good - ask them what they would like - do they just want to pootle around or at least get a little taste of what it can do.
funkyrobot said:
Why the kittens remark? Oh I see, because I think it's silly to show off on a public road. 
Accelerating fast isn't that exciting at all. Proper fun is had during cornering and braking
I don't entirely agree, full acceleration in a Mclaren is definitely a kind of fun, especially the first time you experience it, it's quite exciting! Accelerating fast isn't that exciting at all. Proper fun is had during cornering and braking
Really depends on the passenger, non petrolheads are easy to impress usually. Drive normally, then exit slow corner (with full view) while fully accelerating usually does it. Contrast of things and all that. All with limits of decency and safety.
Rather then with performance, I'd rather get a compliment for excellent driving. Enjoyable but safe progress...
Rather then with performance, I'd rather get a compliment for excellent driving. Enjoyable but safe progress...
I think the best way to impress someone and demonstrate a car is to drive in a manner which is quite calm for a few miles, then when the road opens up give it some but dont ever go beyond what you know you're capable of.
Took my uncle out in my mx5 a month or so back. (Yes its not a fast car but he's used to driving an old transit connect) we pottered out of town with him remarking how small it was inside and how low to the ground you are. Soon as we got to one of my favourite bits of road it was a quick downshift into 2nd then redline through 2nd and 3rd with a mix of a few corners. He was white as a sheet as he wasnt expecting it
Took my uncle out in my mx5 a month or so back. (Yes its not a fast car but he's used to driving an old transit connect) we pottered out of town with him remarking how small it was inside and how low to the ground you are. Soon as we got to one of my favourite bits of road it was a quick downshift into 2nd then redline through 2nd and 3rd with a mix of a few corners. He was white as a sheet as he wasnt expecting it
Edited by SirSquidalot on Monday 24th April 17:07
Going for the boost monkey approach can have some entertaining effects, but to be honest the most drastic WTF moments from passengers have in my experience resulted from winding on a bit of speed and (with a very long and clear sight line behind you) dropping the anchor. People are usually much more used to being squeezed back into their seats than they are being thrown against the seat belt. Throwing the nose into roundabouts (again - only where you can see that all is clear and safe) also tends to incite a little enjoyment without having to risk your licence against speed limits.
All said though, for many you don't even need to drive it to make somebody's day. If kids out with their parents are taking an excessive interest in the car when it is parked, just offer them the chance to sit in the driver's seat. Invariably they will have the parent take a picture and they leave as happy as Larry.
All said though, for many you don't even need to drive it to make somebody's day. If kids out with their parents are taking an excessive interest in the car when it is parked, just offer them the chance to sit in the driver's seat. Invariably they will have the parent take a picture and they leave as happy as Larry.
Rule 1 - It's always more enjoyable to be the one driving the fast car than sat in the passenger seat.
Rule 2 - If your passenger doesn't seem enamoured with how wonderful all that sharp acceleration/braking/cornering is - refer to rule 1.
On the occasions I have had access to a fast(ish) car and a passenger or passengers - I've never really felt the need to make everyone wish they'd taken a lift with someone else.
Hell, I sound like my father now.
Rule 2 - If your passenger doesn't seem enamoured with how wonderful all that sharp acceleration/braking/cornering is - refer to rule 1.
On the occasions I have had access to a fast(ish) car and a passenger or passengers - I've never really felt the need to make everyone wish they'd taken a lift with someone else.
Hell, I sound like my father now.
Pfft, you don't need a Mclaren for such high japes and jinkers.
You ought to see my dogs expresssions on the twisty road to the dog walk in my Yaris as I go all Ari Vatanen. True, the speeds are less than your 570, but then again when it happens your dad hasn't go his head out of the window with his tongue hanging out. Or has he?
You ought to see my dogs expresssions on the twisty road to the dog walk in my Yaris as I go all Ari Vatanen. True, the speeds are less than your 570, but then again when it happens your dad hasn't go his head out of the window with his tongue hanging out. Or has he?
S3Swiss said:
anyone else remember the audio cassette you got with one of the car mags in the 80s featuring the noise of supercars? It was fantastic for a young lad (as I was then) as it also featured the sound Vicki Bulter-Henderson made as a passenger in the cars 
It was Fast Lane and it wasn't Vicki. It was laps of Donnington with Mark Hales doing such cars such as the Audi quattro, F40 and a Porsche 911 ClubSport that was then bought by a young Chris Harris. I did a few passenger rides in my RX-7 at Cadwell, one guy was good enough to describe it as 'like Alton Towers' :-) I actually find I tend to drive more within my limits with a passenger than alone, but there's still enough room to demonstrate what a fast car is like.
On the road, as ever lines of sight and hazards are the issue, if you can see a straight bit with no side-turnings it's often a good point to run up through the gears. The other opportunity is coming off a roundabout onto a dual carriageway. Of course, only if the passenger is interested, not if they just innocently asked for a lift to the station ;-)
I think a lot of folk havent been in many truly quick cars, the ones that say "Is this car fast, I went in an XR3i once and my Yaris is quite nippy", depends on the power available and how it is delivered to a certain extent, I think sometimes a bit of noise gives them a thrill without the unease, my 350Z for example didnt bother my wife, my CLS is faster but its the delivery, very quiet and a lot more shove, a lot on here would just keep on yattering as so used to it but she grabs the seat then tells me off for it, god knows what something truly quick would do to her mental state.
I took my grandad out when I got an 850 T5, I asked him if he wanted me to put my foot down, he said to go for it and it was the only time I heard him drop an F bomb
he was only used to 1.1 Metros and Fiestas, so four times more power.
Teslas must be good for shutting passengers up, I went in a P95D and was amazed, so instant and rapid.
I took my grandad out when I got an 850 T5, I asked him if he wanted me to put my foot down, he said to go for it and it was the only time I heard him drop an F bomb
he was only used to 1.1 Metros and Fiestas, so four times more power.Teslas must be good for shutting passengers up, I went in a P95D and was amazed, so instant and rapid.
julian64 said:
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?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...
The experience seemed to enjoy it though.
My top tip - try and drive in a way that doesn't scare the passenger.
Also - going to sound like a old fart now - if you think the passenger might be...
(I) not the driving god you are, and
(2) slightly impressionable/ or young/ or perhaps not the sharpest tool in the box
(3) male
...then don't drive fast at all. I've seen a couple of potential fatal accidents where mates I'd driven before must have felt the need to "impress" due to pride / ego / testosterone....and afterwards were thankfully still around to say "sorry that was a bit stupid don't know why I did that".
Also - going to sound like a old fart now - if you think the passenger might be...
(I) not the driving god you are, and
(2) slightly impressionable/ or young/ or perhaps not the sharpest tool in the box
(3) male
...then don't drive fast at all. I've seen a couple of potential fatal accidents where mates I'd driven before must have felt the need to "impress" due to pride / ego / testosterone....and afterwards were thankfully still around to say "sorry that was a bit stupid don't know why I did that".
Gandahar said:
S3Swiss said:
anyone else remember the audio cassette you got with one of the car mags in the 80s featuring the noise of supercars? It was fantastic for a young lad (as I was then) as it also featured the sound Vicki Bulter-Henderson made as a passenger in the cars
It was Fast Lane and it wasn't Vicki. It was laps of Donnington with Mark Hales doing such cars such as the Audi quattro, F40 and a Porsche 911 ClubSport that was then bought by a young Chris Harris. The other tape 'Now Hear This' was with Dilly Barlow from Radio 4
I found with my Westfield, which in "normal" car terms was quite quick, but not compared to a properly fast car, the way to impress was to demo the braking performance, e.g. still be hard on the throttle at the 100 yard board before a roundabout. Best check the location on one's own first however....
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff