Did you really drive *that* quickly 'back in the day'?
Discussion
Started driving in the mid Nineties, I had a heavy right foot and little concept of speed limits (unless I spotted a police car). I drove slow cars as fast as I dared. Pulled off overtakes in places I wouldn't even consider now.
On the basis that I have become middle aged, sensible and rarely break speed limits (which are lower for longer now). I definitely don't go as quickly as I did.
On the basis that I have become middle aged, sensible and rarely break speed limits (which are lower for longer now). I definitely don't go as quickly as I did.
DazzaSport said:
This is the reason why I wanted to get back into small, lightweight hot hatches 4 years ago. I've drove big heavy V6 and V8 cars / sports cars for a number of years. They were fast and powerful yes. But you had to go like stink to get a feeling of speed out of them. It's even worse with overweight and isolated German cars. A LOT of automotive Youtubers desire a German car - then tune them to ridiculous levels - just to drive them at truly insane speeds on the public road. Which they have to - in order to get a buzz out of their overweight, numb and isolated car.
I get just as much of a buzz out of small lightweight hot hatch as any fast car I've owned / driven in the past. The difference of course is that small, lightweight cars with a reasonable amount of power can 'feel' quick at much saner speeds. You get a great feeling of speed and will never need to go over a license losing 100+ MPH for kicks.
LLF, Officially Gassed and the like are obsessed with big power and speed, and I'm pretty sure they've been in cars on the public road doing way north of 150 MPH on many occasion. They hardly ever talk about the handling balance or feel of a car. They do not review the cars per se. All they are interested in is the mods, and how much power it has. Then the buzz they need to feel by going break neck speed in such cars. The common theme is German cars - mostly bland, numb and isolated to drive. But hey, they've got huge power and can go really fast. FFS. LOL.
This is what id of said too, perfect description.I get just as much of a buzz out of small lightweight hot hatch as any fast car I've owned / driven in the past. The difference of course is that small, lightweight cars with a reasonable amount of power can 'feel' quick at much saner speeds. You get a great feeling of speed and will never need to go over a license losing 100+ MPH for kicks.
LLF, Officially Gassed and the like are obsessed with big power and speed, and I'm pretty sure they've been in cars on the public road doing way north of 150 MPH on many occasion. They hardly ever talk about the handling balance or feel of a car. They do not review the cars per se. All they are interested in is the mods, and how much power it has. Then the buzz they need to feel by going break neck speed in such cars. The common theme is German cars - mostly bland, numb and isolated to drive. But hey, they've got huge power and can go really fast. FFS. LOL.
BoggoStump said:
DazzaSport said:
This is the reason why I wanted to get back into small, lightweight hot hatches 4 years ago. I've drove big heavy V6 and V8 cars / sports cars for a number of years. They were fast and powerful yes. But you had to go like stink to get a feeling of speed out of them. It's even worse with overweight and isolated German cars. A LOT of automotive Youtubers desire a German car - then tune them to ridiculous levels - just to drive them at truly insane speeds on the public road. Which they have to - in order to get a buzz out of their overweight, numb and isolated car.
I get just as much of a buzz out of small lightweight hot hatch as any fast car I've owned / driven in the past. The difference of course is that small, lightweight cars with a reasonable amount of power can 'feel' quick at much saner speeds. You get a great feeling of speed and will never need to go over a license losing 100+ MPH for kicks.
LLF, Officially Gassed and the like are obsessed with big power and speed, and I'm pretty sure they've been in cars on the public road doing way north of 150 MPH on many occasion. They hardly ever talk about the handling balance or feel of a car. They do not review the cars per se. All they are interested in is the mods, and how much power it has. Then the buzz they need to feel by going break neck speed in such cars. The common theme is German cars - mostly bland, numb and isolated to drive. But hey, they've got huge power and can go really fast. FFS. LOL.
This is what id of said too, perfect description.I get just as much of a buzz out of small lightweight hot hatch as any fast car I've owned / driven in the past. The difference of course is that small, lightweight cars with a reasonable amount of power can 'feel' quick at much saner speeds. You get a great feeling of speed and will never need to go over a license losing 100+ MPH for kicks.
LLF, Officially Gassed and the like are obsessed with big power and speed, and I'm pretty sure they've been in cars on the public road doing way north of 150 MPH on many occasion. They hardly ever talk about the handling balance or feel of a car. They do not review the cars per se. All they are interested in is the mods, and how much power it has. Then the buzz they need to feel by going break neck speed in such cars. The common theme is German cars - mostly bland, numb and isolated to drive. But hey, they've got huge power and can go really fast. FFS. LOL.
My Cayman on the other hand is just getting into its stride..
When I got my Evo 8 in early 2004, I did 14000 miles in it that year. The service schedules are every 4.5k miles, meaning it had 3 services that year. I had to have all 4 tyres replaced at all 3 services.....
If it wasn't for the memory of things like that, I might have said that I probably didn't drive that hard back in the day, but the Evo really brought out the worst in me for it back then. I hadn't had anything that could get around a corner like that, and I was fascinated with it.
When it was in for the last of those 3 services, I was asked if I lived near J8 of the M27, which I did back then. I used to get home late, the roundabout would be devoid of traffic, and I'd do 10 or 12 laps of it as fast and sideways as was possible for my mediocre abilities. Apparently I'd been spotted by a member of staff from the dealership one night who had recognised the car ( Evos tended to get noticed back then ),it had supposedly helped clear up the mystery of the frequent requirement for new tyres.
Happy days for me, not very pc, but I've somehow managed to cope with the guilt! Still got the Evo.
If it wasn't for the memory of things like that, I might have said that I probably didn't drive that hard back in the day, but the Evo really brought out the worst in me for it back then. I hadn't had anything that could get around a corner like that, and I was fascinated with it.
When it was in for the last of those 3 services, I was asked if I lived near J8 of the M27, which I did back then. I used to get home late, the roundabout would be devoid of traffic, and I'd do 10 or 12 laps of it as fast and sideways as was possible for my mediocre abilities. Apparently I'd been spotted by a member of staff from the dealership one night who had recognised the car ( Evos tended to get noticed back then ),it had supposedly helped clear up the mystery of the frequent requirement for new tyres.
Happy days for me, not very pc, but I've somehow managed to cope with the guilt! Still got the Evo.
As a youth, there was a motorway bridge near where I lived, you turned off the main road as fast as you dared, floored it, then on the other side of the bridge there was another turning to the left, the challenge was to hit sixty and still make the left turn. My old man managed it in his Dolly Sprint, and a mate did it in his souped up RS2000, most other cars struggled, it wasn't until I got my modified XR3 (no i) that I managed it, and then it was a bit sketchy on the turn.
The wife's diesel XC60 will do it with ease.
I tried it in my V70 Turbo, with a sedate first turn. I was up to sixty and back down to zero before I was within 100 yards of the left turn we all used to struggle to make.
I might drive the same speed as I did back in the day, but it is a lot more comfortable now, and much quieter.
The wife's diesel XC60 will do it with ease.
I tried it in my V70 Turbo, with a sedate first turn. I was up to sixty and back down to zero before I was within 100 yards of the left turn we all used to struggle to make.
I might drive the same speed as I did back in the day, but it is a lot more comfortable now, and much quieter.
11110111 said:
Things you do when younger... Teddington to Glasgow just a shade over 5 hours, incl stop off forcfuel
Not likely to happen again, unless by train
Lol, more things never likely to happen again......190 mph in an Audi R8 in Crete.Not likely to happen again, unless by train
17 attempts in one trip from Crete back to the UK trying to crack 200mph. Didn't happen, sadly.
5 hours 20 mins from Southampton to Edinburgh in a Corrado VR6. 440 miles.
Southampton to Newcastle 3 hours 45 mins. 335 miles. In a Corolla GTI.
Being disappointed at the supposedly de-restricted V10 M5 we had topping out at 180. It was supposed to be able to manage 205.
Taking two interested parties out in the Evo from a PH pub meet in Hants and seeing their faces 10 mins later after it had hit an indicated 170 mph.
Great memories, but it's all over now.
Edited by Heaveho on Thursday 21st May 00:28
Yes! I would still do it if I could get away with it. I used to travel the country with my dad who filmed motorsport. Quite often we would drive straight home from events or sometimes to other events. Quite often sitting at 120mph plus most of the way in his Sierra 4x4 2.9 Ghia estate. When I was 21 he had a Vectra V6 press car. He drove down to Donnington from Stirling for an 8 am call time for the BTCC. We left at 4 am. Full days filming and racing complete, I drove back while he slept. He woke up while i was doing 140 up the M6. Asked me to slow down to 120 and went back to sleep.
Did some epic drives in my Impreza Turbo. Very easy car to cover big distances at silly speed.
Did some epic drives in my Impreza Turbo. Very easy car to cover big distances at silly speed.
Funnily enough I've always thought it takes real skill to drive a slow car fast. I once had a fiat 126, and used to drive across country to work rather than use the motorway which was further..
Apart from occassional 360 spin in the snow, and the lack of heating, the thing I remember was my policy of never having my foot off the accelerator. I'm sure I did use the brakes, but the power output was so poor, that I attempted most obstacles flat out. I remember I had a short dual carriage way stretch where I'd join it, move to right hand lane and then take the 4th exit at the next roundabout about 300 yards along. One morning i found I couldn't get into the fast lane due to a 911 being in it. Rather than slow down and let him pass, I just kept my foot down and waited until he was braking, before pulling across in front of him and going right, without lifting off.
I drove that way the other month 30 years later, and I must have been mental.
Apart from occassional 360 spin in the snow, and the lack of heating, the thing I remember was my policy of never having my foot off the accelerator. I'm sure I did use the brakes, but the power output was so poor, that I attempted most obstacles flat out. I remember I had a short dual carriage way stretch where I'd join it, move to right hand lane and then take the 4th exit at the next roundabout about 300 yards along. One morning i found I couldn't get into the fast lane due to a 911 being in it. Rather than slow down and let him pass, I just kept my foot down and waited until he was braking, before pulling across in front of him and going right, without lifting off.
I drove that way the other month 30 years later, and I must have been mental.
I used to drive around Hever in Kent as a teen and would think nothing of aiming for and sitting at the NSL. When I drive these roads today, yes they feel narrower because cars are bigger, but I never noticed the little stream at roadside or the bank that would enable you to flip the car when I was younger.
Getting old gives you better imagination better awareness and gets you more in touch with your own mortality.
I feel like I'm "on it" someday at 2/3 of the pace!
Getting old gives you better imagination better awareness and gets you more in touch with your own mortality.
I feel like I'm "on it" someday at 2/3 of the pace!
Did 1100 miles in a 86 911 Carrara In 9 hrs inc pit stops returning from the Monaco GP .
That car was as tough as nails , at some points On French autoroutes sat @140 Mph .Slats on the whale tail face forwards ....so I guess quite a lot of air forced through the engine compartment at high speeds .
New 968 CS with few miles returned from Metz to Calais irrc 400 miles in less than 3 hrs touching 170 cruising @150 + mph in early hrs in June .
Next day home pools of oil under the rear transaxle ......both drive shaft oil seals had blown out .Warranty job , flatbed to the OPC
“ we have never seen theses go before sir “
Car had then 3000 miles and was 3 months old in 94
On a flat motorway straight 187 Mph in a Testarossa ....it bounces off the redline and goes like stink from 140 up .The Pork creeps up that last 10-15 mph .Not this .Steering lightens up above 140 bit too light tbo .
2008 December ( shorty after U.K. launch ) in a new X6 3.0 d on German autobahn 130 mph , slight crap to clean off the screen the headlight washers come on every 4 wiper sweeps or something.Got home to find the bumper covers had flown off .....just leaving the pipes / nozzles .
Warranty job ....aero dynamically as they rise up to squirt they resemble a x section of a wing and the excess lift @ high I presume must had ripped them off .
Again back in the U.K.
“ we have never seen anything like this sir “
I suspect they modded the part eventually as others round the EU would inevitably find out .
Theses days are gone , born in the early 60 ,s and roads caked in scam - cameras , I drive sedately now even on French autoroutes never really exceed 82 .In the U.K. theses days ...no chance
That car was as tough as nails , at some points On French autoroutes sat @140 Mph .Slats on the whale tail face forwards ....so I guess quite a lot of air forced through the engine compartment at high speeds .
New 968 CS with few miles returned from Metz to Calais irrc 400 miles in less than 3 hrs touching 170 cruising @150 + mph in early hrs in June .
Next day home pools of oil under the rear transaxle ......both drive shaft oil seals had blown out .Warranty job , flatbed to the OPC
“ we have never seen theses go before sir “
Car had then 3000 miles and was 3 months old in 94
On a flat motorway straight 187 Mph in a Testarossa ....it bounces off the redline and goes like stink from 140 up .The Pork creeps up that last 10-15 mph .Not this .Steering lightens up above 140 bit too light tbo .
2008 December ( shorty after U.K. launch ) in a new X6 3.0 d on German autobahn 130 mph , slight crap to clean off the screen the headlight washers come on every 4 wiper sweeps or something.Got home to find the bumper covers had flown off .....just leaving the pipes / nozzles .
Warranty job ....aero dynamically as they rise up to squirt they resemble a x section of a wing and the excess lift @ high I presume must had ripped them off .
Again back in the U.K.
“ we have never seen anything like this sir “
I suspect they modded the part eventually as others round the EU would inevitably find out .
Theses days are gone , born in the early 60 ,s and roads caked in scam - cameras , I drive sedately now even on French autoroutes never really exceed 82 .In the U.K. theses days ...no chance
Many people on here say that they now never drive fast. I've noticed that many of my friends have become quite sedate too.
Whilst I may be a lot less erratic and furious than I was years ago (and tyres and brakes now last a lot longer), am I alone in still enjoying a fast drive or ride along twisty moorland/mountain roads, in my 40s, when I get the chance?
Whilst I may be a lot less erratic and furious than I was years ago (and tyres and brakes now last a lot longer), am I alone in still enjoying a fast drive or ride along twisty moorland/mountain roads, in my 40s, when I get the chance?
Edited by MC Bodge on Thursday 21st May 08:10
My local town had an impressively long one way system when I was growing up.
But in the evenings, at a time before speed cameras were commonplace, you never actually did a circuit of the town without one or two cars with you. IYSWIM.
The place where the cars used to park up and wait their turn to head out, has its own dedicated facebook site now.
But in the evenings, at a time before speed cameras were commonplace, you never actually did a circuit of the town without one or two cars with you. IYSWIM.
The place where the cars used to park up and wait their turn to head out, has its own dedicated facebook site now.
velocemitch said:
I remember doing a very fast trip from Yorkshire to Inverness, using the A1 A68 and A9. When I checked the average speed it was almost 70mph.
Could never get anywhere near that now, even if I was daft enough to try.
That is what I was gauging it on too, I still do a run that I used to average over 70mph on, but 60mph would now be considered good. Could never get anywhere near that now, even if I was daft enough to try.
MC Bodge said:
Many people on here say that they now never drive fast. I've noticed that many of my friends have become quite sedate too.
Whilst I may be a lot less erratic and furious than I was years ago (and tyres and brakes now last a lot longer), am I alone in still enjoying a fast drive or ride along twisty moorland/mountain roads, in my 40s, when I get the chance?
No your not.Whilst I may be a lot less erratic and furious than I was years ago (and tyres and brakes now last a lot longer), am I alone in still enjoying a fast drive or ride along twisty moorland/mountain roads, in my 40s, when I get the chance?
Edited by MC Bodge on Thursday 21st May 08:10
Tbh I read most of this thread as a weird PH flex anyway.
I am not a manic like when I was in my twenties but I drive much faster on occasion because my car is much faster.
There are some very good A roads near me that I love to hoon down.
Not in built up areas though and not if the roads are busy.
People that say you can’t hoon in the U.K., your on the wrong roads.
Looking back yes although I was never one for smashing out high speeds on dual carriageways - the fear of traffic police popping out from behind a bush was too great 
My 'poison' was going quickly on A/B country roads; fortunately (or not) I fancied myself as a 'smooth driver' and I think that stopped me from driving like an absolute lunatic.
I'd like to see that stats for male, U25 drivers today in comparison to 10 or 20 years ago.
My 'poison' was going quickly on A/B country roads; fortunately (or not) I fancied myself as a 'smooth driver' and I think that stopped me from driving like an absolute lunatic.
I'd like to see that stats for male, U25 drivers today in comparison to 10 or 20 years ago.
jamiem555 said:
Did some epic drives in my Impreza Turbo. Very easy car to cover big distances at silly speed.
Absolutely! We would think nothing of leaving at 4am from Norfolk to go to North Wales to see McRae, Burns and co at the RAC Rally... and still arrive in good time to not have to queue up very long to park. Scoobys really did cover the ground quite well in the days before blanket reduced limits and widespread speed camera usage! Going further back than that we also used to follow the BTCC in its glory days (Harvey, Cleland, Soper & co). We were ‘20-something’ motorsport fans tooled up’ with 205GTis, 16v Clios and the like, trekking up and down the country on camera free roads catching several rounds each season. Thinking back we some of the liberties we took were just crazy and it’s amazing we (mostly) got away with it. A modern day me would be very disapproving that’s for sure.Genuine Barn Find said:
Fatball said:
I drove way too quickly for the conditions/certain roads back then.
Me too..... I hit 180 mph down a dual carriageway after getting flashed by an AMG who wanted to play. I wouldn’t dream of such a thing these days - the two little people that often sit behind me are a sobering reminder that it’s not just me that could have got hurt had i ran out of talent.ironically, in almost 30 years of driving i’ve never had any any points and the only time i’ve bent a car is when i drove into a bollard after a very pretty girl distracted me.
Also took it up and down the Hardknott Pass, me and 3 friends. You learn a lot on the way down when you have the brake pedal all the way down, the handbrake all the way up with the clutch up in 1st gear and it still won’t stop.
I loved that metro.
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