Has anyone changed their preference from sporty to wafty?

[Toltec]

TameRacingDriver said:

Even up here in the North East, I've noticed roads are very much busier than a few years ago.

Bugger, quiet roads is one of the reasons I've been wanting to move there for several years now.

[TameRacingDriver]

Toltec said:

TameRacingDriver said:

Even up here in the North East, I've noticed roads are very much busier than a few years ago.

Bugger, quiet roads is one of the reasons I've been wanting to move there for several years now.

Its still possible to find quiet roads, but you do have to travel further away to get to them. Still way, way, way better than down south I would imagine. But I've definitely noticed the roads are busier than they were a decade or so ago. Yesterday I was virtually in the middle of nowhere and still more traffic than I would have liked. Good weather does tend to bring people out more, and we get less of that up here so

[Muddle238]

Decent, wafty barges are getting hard to find. The days of most executive/large family saloons or estates running on soft suspension and small wheels are long gone; the likes of big old Rovers and Jags.

Nowadays very few car seats seem to be genuinely plush or padded - the foam structure feels quite stiff compared to the supple, softer foam of say, 20 years ago. They might have more lateral support now with bolsters and so on, plus loads of different ways of adjustment, but they’re fundamentally still much firmer than years ago.

Then there’s the whole wheel size thing that’s been done to death a million times on PH, I don’t know what the average alloy size is in the UK today but I would guess it’s around 18”? Whereas go back 20 years or so and I suspect it was closer to 15/16”. Of course there’s the devolution of the sidewall, coupled to the rise in AMG-line, R-design, M-sport, R-line and so on, where the spring rates and dampers seem to be aimed towards “sporty handling”, meaning to go round corners as flat as possible. Therefore every imperfection and fault in the road surface gets transposed through to the occupants arse, instead of being absorbed by sidewall, springs, dampers or seat cushioning.

For reference, I decided that comfort prioritised handling or hooning ability, so I bought a Rover 75 estate with 15” alloys and a slush box. One day when a replacement is required, I might try an X350 XJ, but otherwise I’m stumped at any more modern car that would provide the same level of comfort, other than perhaps one of the last hydropneumatic C5’s….?

[Drive it fix it repeat]

TameRacingDriver said:

I must admit the bit in bold is something I've been thinking about more recently. In my driving career I've seen quite a few accidents, funnily enough including a BBR MX5 that spun off into a field. Driver unharmed, but he was quite lucky.

Edited by TameRacingDriver on Sunday 6th June 14:03

I’ve always been quite pragmatic about the risks of hooning, I’ve always said that I know the risks and I’d deal with it if the worst ever happened. I don’t think I used to drive like an idiot but certainly quickly sometimes. Makes you think a bit more though after it does go wrong, I was very very lucky my car didn’t flip and when it did stop I was within touching distance of a very sturdy metal gate post inline with my soft top roof. Naturally I was heartbroken to lose the car but in many ways I was extremely lucky.

[How u doing]

Drive it fix it repeat said:

TameRacingDriver said:

I must admit the bit in bold is something I've been thinking about more recently. In my driving career I've seen quite a few accidents, funnily enough including a BBR MX5 that spun off into a field. Driver unharmed, but he was quite lucky.

Edited by TameRacingDriver on Sunday 6th June 14:03

I’ve always been quite pragmatic about the risks of hooning, I’ve always said that I know the risks and I’d deal with it if the worst ever happened. I don’t think I used to drive like an idiot but certainly quickly sometimes. Makes you think a bit more though after it does go wrong, I was very very lucky my car didn’t flip and when it did stop I was within touching distance of a very sturdy metal gate post inline with my soft top roof. Naturally I was heartbroken to lose the car but in many ways I was extremely lucky.

Hooning just got too fast, 40yrs ago we were just as out of control but at lower speeds.

[Haltamer]

In terms of ride comfort, on a well-done chassis it's quite possible to have the best of both worlds thanks to modern adaptive dampers, active roll bars etc.

The difference between +R Mode and Comfort mode on the CTR is quite staggering.

[slipknotted]

I haven't changed cars and my prelude's still on coilovers but I've making/saving for a few changes to make it more wafty than sporty. When I'm driving around town for dominos or whoever a loud exhaust and decent handling is fun, even for 6 hours at a time, but now I'm doing ~10hrs of motorway driving a week I don't want constant migraines so my prelude can be the boat it always wanted to be (seriously it's longer than a CR-V!)

already done:
-unstrip the interior, fix rattles and add more sound deafening
-swap the fartcan for the stock exhaust
-swap the semi-slicks for some quiet, efficient tyres with a decent sidewall

saving for:
-potential 2.2 cdti mk8 civic engine swap
-stock bushes instead of polybushes (when they need replacing in the near future)
-retrofit oem cruise control and power folding mirrors

As other posters have said, it's all about what your needs from a car are, if you live in the middle of the peak district and can hoon it on the way to work then a Type-R is probably in order but if you're a glutton for punishment on the M25 then I totally get why you'd want something wafty. In the way of recommendations in your budget, a clean E39 530d would be good, for something newer ofc there's the german exec saloons in your price range, Ovlov S90s are real nice, maybe even a top-spec Skoda Superb. Good luck with whatever you set your sights on!

[TyrannosauRoss Lex]

For me, most of my driving is around town or the motorway, very little in way of spirited driving or random drives down flowing country roads. Wafting just makes more sense, and my Lexus LS460 does that pretty well indeed. It doesn't do sporty at all though

I'm the ripe old age of 32, too.

[Milemuncher]

Nearly all my miles these days are with the family on days out or long motorway trips for work.

I had (have) promised myself a 911 this year as I have a big birthday coming up in a few months. Test drove a few a couple of months ago but while I love them, they just aren’t the right everyday car for my current usage.

Still fancy one as a fun car though…and still looking, but will probably wait now until the current price bubble has passed.

ETA - currently on a FFRR for family stuff (ultra-wafty) and X351 XJ for work (good balance between wafty and a decent steer)

Edited by Milemuncher on Sunday 6th June 21:37

[miniman]

Milemuncher said:

Nearly all my miles these days are with the family on days out or long motorway trips for work.

I had (have) promised myself a 911 this year as I have a big birthday coming up in a few months. Test drove a few a couple of months ago but while I love them, they just aren’t the right everyday car for my current usage.

Still fancy one as a fun car though…and still looking, but will probably wait now until the current price bubble has passed.

ETA - currently on a FFRR for family stuff (ultra-wafty) and X351 XJ for work (good balance between wafty and a decent steer)

I’m have a (moderately) similar conundrum - significantly reduced mileage unlikely to go up again any time soon makes me very likely to scratch a Boxster itch, but the family Disco 4 is currently my significant preference over my 420i. I think this is as much that the BMW is just a bit gutless and needs thrashing as anything else, but I could convince myself that a nice old E39 540i could be the right answer.

[Gad-Westy]

Earlier this year, we needed to get a new car for my other half. I always really fancied a MK5 Golf GTi and it ticked enough boxes to work for her so we got one. I expected to be constantly pinching the keys to it but once the new car novelty wore off a bit, I've found that I just gravitate towards my wafty 5 series for day to day stuff. I just can't be bothered with the harder ride and scrabbly traction. It is far more fun when I'm in the mood but most of the time I prefer something more relaxing.

[Milemuncher]

miniman said:

I’m have a (moderately) similar conundrum - significantly reduced mileage unlikely to go up again any time soon makes me very likely to scratch a Boxster itch, but the family Disco 4 is currently my significant preference over my 420i. I think this is as much that the BMW is just a bit gutless and needs thrashing as anything else, but I could convince myself that a nice old E39 540i could be the right answer.

I’ve found myself looking at Boxsters since I’ve given up on the idea of a 911 as an everyday car (and particularly on days when the sun shines). Could easily be tempted into a GTS 4.0, notwithstanding current conrod issues.

[Maxym]

Defo keen to change my Golf GTI Mk 7 manual for a diesel auto (3 Series or C Class?) for effortless progress but must have a bit of sporting feel. So I fancy wafting but not in some softly sprung barge.

Could be an age thing but more likely just fancy an auto.

[Ron240]

Maxym said:

Defo keen to change my Golf GTI Mk 7 manual for a diesel auto (3 Series or C Class?) for effortless progress but must have a bit of sporting feel. So I fancy wafting but not in some softly sprung barge.
Could be an age thing but more likely just fancy an auto.

My current and previous German cars are auto only with no option for a manual and not what you would call slow...it's definitely the way forward.

[Nickbrapp]

Not sporty persay, but I am now all about comfort, when we got our current A3, we picked the S line trim because it was the best looking on the outside, the trade off was even with the comfort suspension it was still firm

This time we’re going for a 1 series “sport” which for some reason would essentially be a comfort type, small wheels, soft suspension, nice cloth seats, auto box and quite a nice Interor

What I object to the most is with the premium brands, you lose out on so much if you chose not to have the sporty trim, take the current A3 for example, if you don’t get a S line, for some reason you can’t get decent LED headlights, or a sunroof. Why?

Same with a A class, unless you want a AMG line you can’t have a sunroof and you get halogen headlights. How crap is that?

Volvo seem to be the only people where the cars look decent in non R design trim

[Om]

Another shout here for the 370Z (or something similar). I have the GT spec coupe with the paddle shift auto box which for me bisects the sporty/wafty thing nicely and allows you to lean more one way or the other depending on how the mood takes you.

I have had more 'focused' cars in the past and whilst exhilarating they can also become tiresome/annoying quite easily so I have now settled on something a little more rounded that can be enjoyable to drive whether its pootling along at 20mph or pushing on down twisty lanes and looks like its owner (however deluded) hasn't given up on life quite yet.

[swisstoni]

Age has a lot to do with it.
Getting rattled around becomes increasingly more physically uncomfortable as you age.

And mentally, tearing around just for the sheer fun of it, starts to seem a bit less of a draw.

Edited by swisstoni on Monday 7th June 00:05

[RDMcG]

swisstoni said:

Age has a lot to do with it.
Getting rattled around becomes increasingly more physically uncomfortable as you age.

And mentally, tearing around just for the sheer fun of it, starts to seem a bit less of a draw.

Edited by swisstoni on Monday 7th June 00:05

Depends on who you are and your physical condition.I am 72 and have a 992RS reserved to add to my garage and I will track it of course. Silly not to....

I drive most of my hard cars on track periodically. I like the RS type of car and have a few of them. As for wafty, a Panamera Twin Turbo ST is a very quiet civilized car and one that I use for long distances. Plenty fast but is very comfortable for passengers. The track-focused cars are not for cruising.

Of course I will hit a stage when this stuff is all history. We all do. At that point I will clear out the garage or give the cars to my son if he wants them; no regrets. I won't work any more either I expect-that is a harder concept.. ; get some electronically controlled magic carpet for duffers and eventually not drive at all. Can't see driving the Nordschleife at 85!

[hammo19]

Yes I have slowed down a lot. Why rush around? Got me a 15 year old Range Rover that wafts around all day long. Those are the keys I grab first to travel anywhere up here in the North East.

[cerb4.5lee]

swisstoni said:

Age has a lot to do with it.
Getting rattled around becomes increasingly more physically uncomfortable as you age.

And mentally, tearing around just for the sheer fun of it, starts to seem a bit less of a draw.

Edited by swisstoni on Monday 7th June 00:05

I really hate the "what if?" that you get with age. When I was younger I would overtake pretty much everyone that was in front of me and I would often take questionable risks. Whereas now I'm older I seem to have such a boring outlook on driving which I find to be a shame(sensible but a shame). Plus the traffic volume is much higher now than it was when I first started driving too(1990).