Have we got it all wrong? Are cars too fast now?
Discussion
scoobygaz1 said:
Scobblelotcher said:
I think some of you folk who are non riders would enjoy the thrills of riding a motorbike. I've had 5 quick cars with my last one having just under 400bhp.
Riding a bike well takes a lot of skill but when you get it right it's very rewarding and you also have unbelievable performance if you ride a sports bike or most 1000+ bikes. My fairly average bike can do 0-60 in 3.1s and cost less than 5k. There are bikes massively quicker than mine.
I enjoy riding the bike without always going ballistic because of it's raw nature and ability to nip in and out of traffic with a lot of performance available, it's also very cheap to buy and run which pleases the skinflint in me.
I had super bikes back in the day exup fzr1000 etc and as I'm older now nearly 50 I had gsxr 750 8 years ago I felt more vulnerable than when I was younger and as in my above post my Impreza was a replacement for the bikes it still too quickl for today's traffic Riding a bike well takes a lot of skill but when you get it right it's very rewarding and you also have unbelievable performance if you ride a sports bike or most 1000+ bikes. My fairly average bike can do 0-60 in 3.1s and cost less than 5k. There are bikes massively quicker than mine.
I enjoy riding the bike without always going ballistic because of it's raw nature and ability to nip in and out of traffic with a lot of performance available, it's also very cheap to buy and run which pleases the skinflint in me.
A 500bhp+ classic will outrun nearly anything with its very low weight and AWD to be fair.
I'm not sure if I explained myself very well but with bikes it's so easy to have a lot of performance but getting the most out of a bike takes skill in anything other than a straightline and combined with the thrills of riding there's much more fun in my opinion to be had.
I felt some of my cars were fraustrating because they were costly to run but were much more difficult to make use of than my bikes.
Imo many that are into the 'great days' of many overrated so called classics conveniently forget the shortcomings of such cars.
Most are fine chugging away at 25mph en route to the pub on a summer afternoon in the summer, but for any serious rewarding driving or undertaking a journey of any length, they are often a joke.
Idiosyncracies are often seen as being characterful.....questionable reasoning at best.
Like the steam engine, evocative arriving at the station, but most end up in museums for a reason so that 'enthusiasts' can reminisce over the fantastic days of steam
Most are fine chugging away at 25mph en route to the pub on a summer afternoon in the summer, but for any serious rewarding driving or undertaking a journey of any length, they are often a joke.
Idiosyncracies are often seen as being characterful.....questionable reasoning at best.
Like the steam engine, evocative arriving at the station, but most end up in museums for a reason so that 'enthusiasts' can reminisce over the fantastic days of steam
av185 said:
Imo many that are into the 'great days' of many overrated so called classics conveniently forget the shortcomings of such cars.
Most are fine chugging away at 25mph en route to the pub on a summer afternoon in the summer, but for any serious rewarding driving or undertaking a journey of any length, they are often a joke.
Idiosyncracies are often seen as being characterful.....questionable reasoning at best.
Like the steam engine, evocative arriving at the station, but most end up in museums for a reason so that 'enthusiasts' can reminisce over the fantastic days of steam
Why don't you just say you don't understand classic car ownership rather than just write bMost are fine chugging away at 25mph en route to the pub on a summer afternoon in the summer, but for any serious rewarding driving or undertaking a journey of any length, they are often a joke.
Idiosyncracies are often seen as being characterful.....questionable reasoning at best.
Like the steam engine, evocative arriving at the station, but most end up in museums for a reason so that 'enthusiasts' can reminisce over the fantastic days of steam
ks 
CarsOrBikes said:
I think my 2005 Cooper S is there now in third at 7k haha, 1st is done at 30, 2nd at 45,
I deliberately lowered the final drive and it's like the old ones in a way (I have one of them too) it's top speed gearing is no longer 170 odd, but 140 odd and the wait trying to get to speed is way different, but the point is, how it works or changes speed and the involvement in doing it. The car's a hoot, it sounds like a touring car though as the gears are really very noisy haha, but hey it's 270hp and as mad as a box of frogs. Looking standard there isn't much of a clue haha.
That is absolutely mint.I deliberately lowered the final drive and it's like the old ones in a way (I have one of them too) it's top speed gearing is no longer 170 odd, but 140 odd and the wait trying to get to speed is way different, but the point is, how it works or changes speed and the involvement in doing it. The car's a hoot, it sounds like a touring car though as the gears are really very noisy haha, but hey it's 270hp and as mad as a box of frogs. Looking standard there isn't much of a clue haha.
It all comes down to bragging rights. Performance cars have been too fast for a while. I'm currently driving a 10 year old 1.8 Honda Civic and I actually think it's great - quick enough for sensible overtaking and light enough to have nimble handling.
Do I need something faster? No.
Would I like something faster? Yes, because I'm a tt!
Makes me feel a bit sad when I see a quick car driving about, and I know it'll never get used anywhere near to its full potential.
Do I need something faster? No.
Would I like something faster? Yes, because I'm a t
t!Makes me feel a bit sad when I see a quick car driving about, and I know it'll never get used anywhere near to its full potential.
I'm more than happy with my 960ish kg 140ish bhp mr2 for road driving, it's so raw and tiny that it feels visceral, enough power to overtake, always puts a smile on my face. I think cars simply feel too detached nowadays, which robs you of any fun. They are trying to compensate by adding power which for me isn't the answer. Tbh I don't give a toss how fast I am on the road as long as I'm having fun
Trexthedinosaur said:
rayyan171 said:
Jumpingjackflash said:
Good morning,
I am a current 12c owner and have owned all the usual suspects.
It has got to the point now when I'm driving on UK roads I am sh**ing myself giving the car the beans.
100MPH arrives far far too soon and you can not red line after second gear which is frustrating. The police are hiding everywhere because motorists are easy targets which helps the police with their targets (I have inside knowledge).
Track days are expensive and the scenery is not as good.
Maybe the chase for more power, faster, bigger, wider and louder is all wrong?
UK is a great country for driving, especially out of the way.
It must be difficult "downgrading" to an Elise (before Elise owners go mental I used to own one)
Discuss.....
Live in the wrong country mate. I suggest Germany, or Switzerland.I am a current 12c owner and have owned all the usual suspects.
It has got to the point now when I'm driving on UK roads I am sh**ing myself giving the car the beans.
100MPH arrives far far too soon and you can not red line after second gear which is frustrating. The police are hiding everywhere because motorists are easy targets which helps the police with their targets (I have inside knowledge).
Track days are expensive and the scenery is not as good.
Maybe the chase for more power, faster, bigger, wider and louder is all wrong?
UK is a great country for driving, especially out of the way.
It must be difficult "downgrading" to an Elise (before Elise owners go mental I used to own one)
Discuss.....
Speeding in Switzerland?! Are you mad?
May I suggest Russia? I assume a 12C can carry power to allow you to 'evade' the police when caught speeding.
Tankrizzo said:
Yipper said:
It's why F1 drivers are almost always retired long before 40...
Fitness and reactions go and the cars go faster than older folk can keep up with.
Yipper plsFitness and reactions go and the cars go faster than older folk can keep up with.
There is always an old git on track days who wipes the floor with most enthusiastic "youngsters". His reaction time may well be down 1% but his car control skills...
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