Own a drivers car but no interest in cars!
Discussion
There are definitely plenty who end up with the sporty one just because it is the top of the range. Even in my own tiny circle of friends and family I can think of numerous ones.
The Legacy Spec B I had was a 1 owner car, belonged to a farmers wife, had a hard life that would definitely been more suited to an Outback.
My Mum has had a Corolla T Sport which despite a 8,200rpm redline never would have gone beyond 4.5k with her driving let alone into the higher cam, she also had an Impreza STI which with her driving never saw full boost.
My dad has always bought the top of the range whatever he has had, probably stems from the old days of company car schemes so once he hit management nothing less than the top spec would do.
My Dads current other half has an E63 AMG as a daily just because it’s the top spec E. she never has and is not capable of driving it quickly. Near on had a heart attack when we went out for a meal and she let me drive and show her what it could do.
My wife had a Mini Cooper S despite no interest in speed. It just came in the right wheel and colour combo to look nice, she didn’t even like driving it, too bouncy but it was cute and what she had always wanted.
There is a local guy with a Skyline R34 GTR, old boy who just babies it everywhere, he has even taken it on track but even then was about 30 sec a lap off the pace.
Also to add to the “mythical” supercars owner who isn’t into cars idea my sister isn’t into cars whatsoever, moans about me wasting money on mine, couldn’t tell you what any cars are etc and her last 2 cars have been beaten up Yaris and Swift but if she had the money she definitely wants to have and drive an Aston because James Bond. It would never do more than short trips around town.
The Legacy Spec B I had was a 1 owner car, belonged to a farmers wife, had a hard life that would definitely been more suited to an Outback.
My Mum has had a Corolla T Sport which despite a 8,200rpm redline never would have gone beyond 4.5k with her driving let alone into the higher cam, she also had an Impreza STI which with her driving never saw full boost.
My dad has always bought the top of the range whatever he has had, probably stems from the old days of company car schemes so once he hit management nothing less than the top spec would do.
My Dads current other half has an E63 AMG as a daily just because it’s the top spec E. she never has and is not capable of driving it quickly. Near on had a heart attack when we went out for a meal and she let me drive and show her what it could do.
My wife had a Mini Cooper S despite no interest in speed. It just came in the right wheel and colour combo to look nice, she didn’t even like driving it, too bouncy but it was cute and what she had always wanted.
There is a local guy with a Skyline R34 GTR, old boy who just babies it everywhere, he has even taken it on track but even then was about 30 sec a lap off the pace.
Also to add to the “mythical” supercars owner who isn’t into cars idea my sister isn’t into cars whatsoever, moans about me wasting money on mine, couldn’t tell you what any cars are etc and her last 2 cars have been beaten up Yaris and Swift but if she had the money she definitely wants to have and drive an Aston because James Bond. It would never do more than short trips around town.
I drove my wife down to her friends big country place where there were other lady's who lunch.
I was chatting to one of the women who asked me at the end of the meal if I could help strap her baby chair into the seat of her car.
"Some thing my husband insists I drive, I find it completely impractical, and he has two more at home."
It's was a completely pristine Jaguar E Type.
She couldn't understand my excitement and offered me the keys. I was so tempted but as I had had at least a bottle of wine, I sadly declined.
I was chatting to one of the women who asked me at the end of the meal if I could help strap her baby chair into the seat of her car.
"Some thing my husband insists I drive, I find it completely impractical, and he has two more at home."
It's was a completely pristine Jaguar E Type.
She couldn't understand my excitement and offered me the keys. I was so tempted but as I had had at least a bottle of wine, I sadly declined.
croyde said:
I drove my wife down to her friends big country place where there were other lady's who lunch.
I was chatting to one of the women who asked me at the end of the meal if I could help strap her baby chair into the seat of her car.
"Some thing my husband insists I drive, I find it completely impractical, and he has two more at home."
It's was a completely pristine Jaguar E Type.
She couldn't understand my excitement and offered me the keys. I was so tempted but as I had had at least a bottle of wine, I sadly declined.
I used to drive my little lad round in my father in Law V12 EType in his car seat, he loved it and people thought it was hilarious seeing a 2 year old in an E Type.I was chatting to one of the women who asked me at the end of the meal if I could help strap her baby chair into the seat of her car.
"Some thing my husband insists I drive, I find it completely impractical, and he has two more at home."
It's was a completely pristine Jaguar E Type.
She couldn't understand my excitement and offered me the keys. I was so tempted but as I had had at least a bottle of wine, I sadly declined.
It doesn't always go that way. Years ago a recently-retired teacher friend decided to upgrade from her old faded-red Mk 2 Golf to whatever was the contemporary model.
She wanted another auto but when she went into Downey's they only had an R32 with the paddle-box. She didn't know what that was so took it for a test drive and scared the crap out of herself.
At that point she bought a Suzuki Splash auto!
She wanted another auto but when she went into Downey's they only had an R32 with the paddle-box. She didn't know what that was so took it for a test drive and scared the crap out of herself.
At that point she bought a Suzuki Splash auto!
havoc said:
rustfalia said:
A 5 door mk5 Golf gti is hardly a drivers car.
85Carrera said:
Exactly what I thought. Not a driver’s car at all. Presumably just what was within her monthly PCP budget like the other sheep.
You've both clearly not driven one then. No it's not a 'corner on the doorhandles with your hair on fire' sort of car, but it's got a cracking chassis and does a passable impersonation of steering feel and chassis feedback. And no, I'm not an owner / ex-owner - my wife had one for 5 or 6 years. I DO tend to go for the hardcore stuff that you're professing that we all should own, but I still enjoyed many a drive in the Mk5...probably the best chassis VW have ever done, and comparable to the Mk1 Focus (which I believe they used as a benchmark).
Wonder what sort of tyres it's running on...
sxmwht said:
GrizzlyBear said:
Loads of people like to own the GTi for the image, but drive them quietly down the road, they just like the idea it is a GTi as they are usually stuck in a traffic jam at 5mph. Hence why marketing is so important to get people to buy sufficient numbers of the sporty one to make it viable.
Then you get boy racers in fiestas adding additional tiny "fins" to the roof "cos it will make it go fast, like, init!" oh yes, the best one was "alloy wheels are like, well heavy so it weighs the car down in the corners"... I could barely stop myself from laughing in his face at that one, I couldn't be bother to explain it to him as I am guessing I would have to speak slowly and repeat myself a lot.
Lots of people: Go to car dealer, look at cars, they find one they like the look of in a colour they like and those wheels look nice... then buy it. Nothing wrong with that, pay your money and take your choice...
What's a GTi?Then you get boy racers in fiestas adding additional tiny "fins" to the roof "cos it will make it go fast, like, init!" oh yes, the best one was "alloy wheels are like, well heavy so it weighs the car down in the corners"... I could barely stop myself from laughing in his face at that one, I couldn't be bother to explain it to him as I am guessing I would have to speak slowly and repeat myself a lot.
Lots of people: Go to car dealer, look at cars, they find one they like the look of in a colour they like and those wheels look nice... then buy it. Nothing wrong with that, pay your money and take your choice...
Got a lift from someone who worked in finance couple of years ago in a Scirocco R. Me thinking that as it was an "R" the guy was probably a bit of a petrol head started talking about cars. Turns out he had next to no interest in cars, they were a means for him to get from A to B. His Mrs also drove a Audi S3 with zero interests in cars.
After some chat, it appears that since the early 2000s he exclusively bought top or near top models of his cars. His reasoning is that he buys them as ex demos with a chunk off. They're usually full of the latest creature comforts and usually have Leather interior. This would be expensive to spec on lower models. By the time he got rid of his car, the depreciation it's received seemed to be on par or lower than lesser models. He's generally cash rich, so he'd buy these cars with no finance so all he's ever paying for is the depreciation and zero interest on a higher value item.
If it were completely practical, he suggested he would be in a much older and (now cheaper) car. But as he goes out seeing clients often he would like to keep up appearances. After all, who would trust a financial advisor who drives around in a snotter?
Most ironic thing I gathered from the conversation is that in his garage he also had a classic car (can't for the love of me remember what it was) which was inherited to him which he keeps ticking and also a MX5 because the Mrs wanted a convertible for Sunny day drives to the beach for ice cream.
TL:DR, met guy, zero interest in cars, buys top models for free specs and avoids depreciation.
After some chat, it appears that since the early 2000s he exclusively bought top or near top models of his cars. His reasoning is that he buys them as ex demos with a chunk off. They're usually full of the latest creature comforts and usually have Leather interior. This would be expensive to spec on lower models. By the time he got rid of his car, the depreciation it's received seemed to be on par or lower than lesser models. He's generally cash rich, so he'd buy these cars with no finance so all he's ever paying for is the depreciation and zero interest on a higher value item.
If it were completely practical, he suggested he would be in a much older and (now cheaper) car. But as he goes out seeing clients often he would like to keep up appearances. After all, who would trust a financial advisor who drives around in a snotter?
Most ironic thing I gathered from the conversation is that in his garage he also had a classic car (can't for the love of me remember what it was) which was inherited to him which he keeps ticking and also a MX5 because the Mrs wanted a convertible for Sunny day drives to the beach for ice cream.
TL:DR, met guy, zero interest in cars, buys top models for free specs and avoids depreciation.
eddharris said:
I feel a little useless compared to some posters as I've never even handbrake turned into a parking space!
Really? Have you never had the experience of over-doing it and sliding much too far sideways then colliding with a stationary object?I must live in a bubble...
Edited by MC Bodge on Monday 29th June 21:04
plenty said:
RDMcG said:
Zero interest in tracking or taking track lessons.
That’s not a definitive benchmark, though. I’ve been a lifelong enthusiast and much of my free time is spent planning and executing road trips and opportunities to drive spiritedly pn the road. I’ve done 15 or so track days but never got the bug, and wouldn’t be bothered if I never did another one. However my road blats are as important to me as food and water.Track driving is certainly becoming the default as fast-road is becoming more difficult to enjoy without attracting attention. But if you’re lucky enough to live in a country where it’s still possible and make the effort to plan accordingly, it’s still the purest way to enjoy driving imo.
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