What is a drivers car to you?
Discussion
Steering feel, handling, good operator ergonomics, very organic feel to the brakes and powertrain and preferably a lack of mass.
I've had quick cars that are dull dull dull to drive and slow cars that are far more enjoyable. For me there's not a lot to do with speed and power and everything to do with how it puts its speed and power down.
I've had quick cars that are dull dull dull to drive and slow cars that are far more enjoyable. For me there's not a lot to do with speed and power and everything to do with how it puts its speed and power down.
SidewaysSi said:
Yep probably me...I am a big nobber especially to those who can't drive quickly enough. Don't tell me you have a Legacy as well?
But as I have a BMW, I like to heel and toe down the box, modulate the brakes to perfection then flick it into the roundabout, feeling the road through the great steering then play with the chassis balance to exit with some oversteer.
So yes, get out of the way..
I usually get out of the way about a mile after the roundabout, at that point I'm cruising at 60mph and the speeding nobber catches up with the old shopping car, and uses their straight line talent to put me in my place But as I have a BMW, I like to heel and toe down the box, modulate the brakes to perfection then flick it into the roundabout, feeling the road through the great steering then play with the chassis balance to exit with some oversteer.
So yes, get out of the way..
Edited by blade7 on Tuesday 17th December 23:09
Well I've always owned RWD BMWs since 2005 - but obviously never owned any Subaru as I'm not a driving god, although a mate of a mate turned up with a Legacy at a Goodwood track day and it promptly broke.
Mind you my mate's Sierra Cosworth broke at another track day at Silverstone when I was overtaking him in his XR4i.
(I'll never hear the last of that)!
But while I'm not obsessive about weight, less than 1.5 tonnes works for me so long as it has some grunt and handles well - and petrol engine, manual box and RWD are essentials for me.
I've loved my BMW E86 3.0Sis for over 5 years, but yesterday I put a deposit on a Z4M Coupe and I just can't wait to pick it up.
My early Xmas present to myself! Because why not.
Mind you my mate's Sierra Cosworth broke at another track day at Silverstone when I was overtaking him in his XR4i.
(I'll never hear the last of that)! But while I'm not obsessive about weight, less than 1.5 tonnes works for me so long as it has some grunt and handles well - and petrol engine, manual box and RWD are essentials for me.
I've loved my BMW E86 3.0Sis for over 5 years, but yesterday I put a deposit on a Z4M Coupe and I just can't wait to pick it up.
My early Xmas present to myself! Because why not.
Edited by Mr Tidy on Wednesday 18th December 01:30
A driver’s car should be a car you have to drive with the minimum of driver aids.
The driver does the driving and not the on-board computer. That’s a real driver’s car.
Early lotus Elise / Exige fits that bill.
They are a bit extreme for everyday driving so for a daily drive, I would suggest BMW M cars to be a good compromise. Yes, they have driver aids but you do feel more connected to the road than the “equivalent” Mercedes or Audi model.
The term Driver’s car has to relate to what’s available at the time. I know many would suggest none of today’s cars are true driver’s cars.
The driver does the driving and not the on-board computer. That’s a real driver’s car.
Early lotus Elise / Exige fits that bill.
They are a bit extreme for everyday driving so for a daily drive, I would suggest BMW M cars to be a good compromise. Yes, they have driver aids but you do feel more connected to the road than the “equivalent” Mercedes or Audi model.
The term Driver’s car has to relate to what’s available at the time. I know many would suggest none of today’s cars are true driver’s cars.
Mr Tidy said:
I've loved my BMW E86 3.0Sis for over 5 years, but yesterday I put a deposit on a Z4M Coupe and I just can't wait to pick it up.
My early Xmas present to myself! Because why not.
Great news! My early Xmas present to myself! Because why not.
At last!
Enjoy picking it up and I look forward to your views on it and seeing some pics of it.
Exige77 said:
A driver’s car should be a car you have to drive with the minimum of driver aids.
The driver does the driving and not the on-board computer. That’s a real driver’s car.
Early lotus Elise / Exige fits that bill.
They are a bit extreme for everyday driving so for a daily drive, I would suggest BMW M cars to be a good compromise. Yes, they have driver aids but you do feel more connected to the road than the “equivalent” Mercedes or Audi model.
Funny that people rate M cars as 'drivers' cars. I find them heavy and inert. Great cars, fast, easy to drive, cover ground well, but not to me a 'drivers' car (well, an E30 maybe).The driver does the driving and not the on-board computer. That’s a real driver’s car.
Early lotus Elise / Exige fits that bill.
They are a bit extreme for everyday driving so for a daily drive, I would suggest BMW M cars to be a good compromise. Yes, they have driver aids but you do feel more connected to the road than the “equivalent” Mercedes or Audi model.
Which means that the phrase 'drivers car' is about as meaningless as any other
MikeM6 said:
Gary C said:
Funny that people rate M cars as 'drivers' cars. I find them heavy and inert. Great cars, fast, easy to drive, cover ground well, but not to me a 'drivers' car (well, an E30 maybe).
Which means that the phrase 'drivers car' is about as meaningless as any other
Which means that the phrase 'drivers car' is about as meaningless as any other
Actually, just thinking about it, the think I really like in a drivers car is depth. A car that takes time to get to know it, that you have to master (if you ever do) but rewards when you get it right.
Many dislike the 911 because it can understeer and feel as if its fighting you, but when you learn how to shift the weight about and find that it responds better the more you learn, it rewards you and you want more, if it bites and if it doesn't scare you off, you want to learn what went wrong and become even more determined to drive it.
Edited by Gary C on Wednesday 18th December 20:42
I really liked my Cerbera as a drivers car, it wasn't especially light but I loved the fact that it didn't have any driving aids. It was a car that you respected but the more you got to know it the better you got at driving it.
It was a car that I enjoyed driving slow or fast because it was noisy and you felt involved driving it.
I really enjoyed the drive I had of a Caterham for obvious reasons but it wasn't a long enough drive to really appreciate it. I'd also love a go in an Elise or Exige too for sure.
It was a car that I enjoyed driving slow or fast because it was noisy and you felt involved driving it.
I really enjoyed the drive I had of a Caterham for obvious reasons but it wasn't a long enough drive to really appreciate it. I'd also love a go in an Elise or Exige too for sure.
Gary C said:
Dont get me wrong, great cars but to me 'drivers car' would mean something like a Lotus Exige so I think it probably means very different things to different people.
Actually, just thinking about it, the think I really like in a drivers car is depth. A car that takes time to get to know it, that you have to master (if you ever do) but rewards when you get it right.
Many dislike the 911 because it can understeer and feel as if its fighting you, but when you learn how to shift the weight about and find that it responds better the more you learn, it rewards you and you want more, if it bites and if it doesn't scare you off, you want to learn what went wrong and become even more determined to drive it.
I can understand you limiting the definition of a sports car to "something like a Lotus Exige", but drivers cars are far more varied and come in all shapes and sizes. A car aimed at the driver rather then passengers, fun rather than comfort, dynamic rather than practical.Actually, just thinking about it, the think I really like in a drivers car is depth. A car that takes time to get to know it, that you have to master (if you ever do) but rewards when you get it right.
Many dislike the 911 because it can understeer and feel as if its fighting you, but when you learn how to shift the weight about and find that it responds better the more you learn, it rewards you and you want more, if it bites and if it doesn't scare you off, you want to learn what went wrong and become even more determined to drive it.
Edited by Gary C on Wednesday 18th December 20:42
MikeM6 said:
I can understand you limiting the definition of a sports car to "something like a Lotus Exige", but drivers cars are far more varied and come in all shapes and sizes. A car aimed at the driver rather then passengers, fun rather than comfort, dynamic rather than practical.
Im only limiting the definition to me, to what I mean by 'drivers car;If I could go and buy a car just for driving I would buy a S1 Exige probably. It so focused on driving. My actual 'drivers car' is a 31 year old 911.
I would not buy an M3 as my 'drivers car' as it is to me too compromised and to me less of a 'drivers' car.
So 'drivers car' isnt something that can be easily defined and is confused by peoples perception.
Gary C said:
I would not buy an M3 as my 'drivers car' as it is to me too compromised and to me less of a 'drivers' car.
So 'drivers car' isnt something that can be easily defined and is confused by peoples perception.
Agree with this as well. The M3 is a lovely car to drive but because it tries very hard to be a "do it all car" it detracts it away from being a drivers car in many ways for me. So 'drivers car' isnt something that can be easily defined and is confused by peoples perception.
A drivers car is something more focused and less about practicality/comfort/NVH like the M3 is I reckon. It is all so subjective though for sure.
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