Do you/Can you, really enjoy DRIVING your supercar anymore?
Discussion
I have followed this discussion and agree that there are a number of ways of enjoying supercars (but for me that does not include polishing - I consider that a chore) but yes, I do enjoy DRIVING my supercars both on road using only a fraction of their potential (limited by the law and common sense) and on track (still using only a fraction of their potential - limited by my lack of talent). I have had both cars in the Italian mountains on numerous occasions and anyone who says he/she doesn't enjoy driving a Ferrari over, say, the Futa Pass clearly doesn't get it. We are leaving tomorrow in the 458 Spider to go to the French Grand Prix and then spend some time on the French Riviera. When I get back I will post again to let you know whether I enjoyed driving the car.
willy wombat said:
I do enjoy DRIVING my supercars both on road using only a fraction of their potential (limited by the law and common sense) and on track (still using only a fraction of their potential - limited by my lack of talent).
I totally get that you enjoy driving them. For me, I can't get over frustration that I can't use the available power. I drove a few relatively tame 360s and a 430 before deciding I was much happier back in an old 308 where I could push through all the gears legally & safely pretty much every time I take it out. I don't have that frustration in my DD (Cayenne Turbo S). I suppose that's because, amazing as it is with its 550hp, I don't have the same sense of occasion with it. I guess modern supercars fulfil a need I don't have.Behemoth said:
I totally get that you enjoy driving them. For me, I can't get over frustration that I can't use the available power. I drove a few relatively tame 360s and a 430 before deciding I was much happier back in an old 308 where I could push through all the gears legally & safely pretty much every time I take it out. I don't have that frustration in my DD (Cayenne Turbo S). I suppose that's because, amazing as it is with its 550hp, I don't have the same sense of occasion with it. I guess modern supercars fulfil a need I don't have.
Agree.Paying for surplus power is pretty dead money, unless someone is inclined to brag about such surplus from a bar stool ofcourse
I was talking about this with friends the other day. Living in a city like London means you rarely ever get to use even 10% of the cars potential but I think the enjoyment comes from the 'sense of occasion' or 'it being an event' when you drive the car which is how one may measure it. Certainly for London you don't need anything more than 200bhp to have fun in the sense of driving it upto limits in each gear etc.
I hear all this but no one seems to be talking about the other aspects of supercars e.g. the handling, the braking performance, etc. Take a modern Ferrari round Goodwood for example. You can easily top 160 mph down Lavant then stand on the brakes as the Supershell building looms large and marvel every lap at the immense stopping power of a decent set of ceramics and at the car's ability to go round corners so much faster than you think it should be able to (and, as I pointed out in my earlier post, it would corner even faster if I had more talent). What's not to enjoy? I could write something similar about driving mountain passes. You don't need to get to the car's maximum speed to enjoy the acceleration, the braking and the handling.
willy wombat said:
You don't need to get to the car's maximum speed to enjoy the acceleration, the braking and the handling.
This is true and I've never tested my 308's maximum speed, never mind my Cayenne Turbo S. But what I have done regularly is hit 7.5k rpm in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and felt the rear loosen up at the apex of a curve, trail braking etc. A typical modern supercar won't let you do the first because law & available road and won't let you do much of the second because nanny aids. Switch all these off and you're likely over the cliff in an instant.Sure you can track it but then why not just get a great superlight track car: Caterham, Atom etc ?
Modern supercars are pointless....especially in speed revenue obsessed Australia. Unless you track them the only gear you can legally redline most of them in is 1st. And you can’t get track day insurance to cover your supercar here in Aus so you’d be tracking it with no insurance. Better off buying an older, slower and more sonorous classic with low grip levels that you can have some fun with at lower speeds.
RBH58 said:
Modern supercars are pointless....especially in speed revenue obsessed Australia. Unless you track them the only gear you can legally redline most of them in is 1st. And you can’t get track day insurance to cover your supercar here in Aus so you’d be tracking it with no insurance. Better off buying an older, slower and more sonorous classic with low grip levels that you can have some fun with at lower speeds.
It is different in Europe. We still have some unrestricted roads, and some great tracks to take the cars on.Driving across the Alps, and down to Monaco is still great fun, as is getting up to the Nighlands, or some of the great roads in Wales.
The fact is though that I enjoy driving even in London. I will still take the V10 car over the straight six if I have the choice just to go to the shops.
hunter 66 said:
Living in London I have a Tesla X and a .2GT3RS very different and yes I do enjoy the RS but it is an event not transport anymore as the Tesla has shown me . It is a faster ( in town ) nicer car to drive as transport simple.
How is the Tesla? I’m about to get a house where ai can charge one, so could switch.Is the handling enjoyable at all?
As an owner of a 720S who's just spent 3 weeks blasting it around Europe I'll chuck in my tuppence.
Previously on threads like these I've been in the "Even if you only get to blast it now and then it's still worth it" camp, now I'm not so sure.
I've previously driven Ferraris, Lambos and McLarens on long Euro tours and wrung their necks, or got very close to wringing their necks. The 720S, while a fabulous bit of kit, has stepped across a line for me, there just wasn't anywhere I could floor it through three gears, not even two gears really. While it sounds odd saying a car can be too quick I know I will never use the ridiculous speed of a 720S unless I take it on a track, which I never do.
For the first time in my driving history I can honestly say that I'm just never going to push it to it's optimal performance. It's a fantastic thing to blast (or pootle) around in but the best bits of it are wasted, at least on me, and on the road.
I really missed not having a roof I could put down and now I'm pretty sure It's going to be chopped in for a 570S Spider.
If you love cars by all means buy a Supercar, we work hard for the joy of owning them and I take my hat off to anyone that does but I've genuinely had more fun in slower cars, still very fast cars mind you but slower than this one.
Previously on threads like these I've been in the "Even if you only get to blast it now and then it's still worth it" camp, now I'm not so sure.
I've previously driven Ferraris, Lambos and McLarens on long Euro tours and wrung their necks, or got very close to wringing their necks. The 720S, while a fabulous bit of kit, has stepped across a line for me, there just wasn't anywhere I could floor it through three gears, not even two gears really. While it sounds odd saying a car can be too quick I know I will never use the ridiculous speed of a 720S unless I take it on a track, which I never do.
For the first time in my driving history I can honestly say that I'm just never going to push it to it's optimal performance. It's a fantastic thing to blast (or pootle) around in but the best bits of it are wasted, at least on me, and on the road.
I really missed not having a roof I could put down and now I'm pretty sure It's going to be chopped in for a 570S Spider.
If you love cars by all means buy a Supercar, we work hard for the joy of owning them and I take my hat off to anyone that does but I've genuinely had more fun in slower cars, still very fast cars mind you but slower than this one.
I do know what you mean about how much performance you can use on the road. I used to be in the never to much power club. But I can honestly say my 430 is enough for me I can redline through a few gears and use the top of the Rev range. Have looked at newer stuff but another 50-150 bhp I think would just be pointless. Even in the 430 I go out of my way for quite roads which in Norfolk we thankfully have plenty of.
Tesla handling in my experience depends on expectations.
Tesla handling in my experience depends on expectations.
br d said:
As an owner of a 720S who's just spent 3 weeks blasting it around Europe I'll chuck in my tuppence.
Previously on threads like these I've been in the "Even if you only get to blast it now and then it's still worth it" camp, now I'm not so sure.
I've previously driven Ferraris, Lambos and McLarens on long Euro tours and wrung their necks, or got very close to wringing their necks. The 720S, while a fabulous bit of kit, has stepped across a line for me, there just wasn't anywhere I could floor it through three gears, not even two gears really. While it sounds odd saying a car can be too quick I know I will never use the ridiculous speed of a 720S unless I take it on a track, which I never do.
To be fair, the 720S is hypercar rather than supercar by any measure other than price.Previously on threads like these I've been in the "Even if you only get to blast it now and then it's still worth it" camp, now I'm not so sure.
I've previously driven Ferraris, Lambos and McLarens on long Euro tours and wrung their necks, or got very close to wringing their necks. The 720S, while a fabulous bit of kit, has stepped across a line for me, there just wasn't anywhere I could floor it through three gears, not even two gears really. While it sounds odd saying a car can be too quick I know I will never use the ridiculous speed of a 720S unless I take it on a track, which I never do.
10 years ago performance would have been top of my list of criteria when choosing a car as a toy. These days all supercars (and many other cars) are faster than my driving ability and places to drive can exploit. This doesn't stop me enjoying my supercar but it does mean that I now choose one on the basis of looks, engine sound and reliability (I can't be doing with taking it to a dealer between services for faults) over outright performance.
While I’ve said above that you can still enjoy a supercar, it’s also the case that I’ve been seduced by power over other things a bit much.
The Elises I’ve had have been the most fun cars overall, and I’m sure that I’d love an MX5 too, yet have a 550 BHP V10 car sitting in the garage.
The Elises I’ve had have been the most fun cars overall, and I’m sure that I’d love an MX5 too, yet have a 550 BHP V10 car sitting in the garage.
ntiz said:
I do know what you mean about how much performance you can use on the road. I used to be in the never to much power club. But I can honestly say my 430 is enough for me I can redline through a few gears and use the top of the Rev range. Have looked at newer stuff but another 50-150 bhp I think would just be pointless. Even in the 430 I go out of my way for quite roads which in Norfolk we thankfully have plenty of.
I'm with you. I had a 430 and while I can never remember thinking "It needs more power" I still stared in awe at the figures for every new model.I have always been a sucker for buying on stats though, which is why the 720S was the natural progression because it just blows everything away on paper. I have to concede that for me it was a mistake, while it's a superlative thing I haven't gelled with it simply because I'm not some great driver or track demon and I can't use this car. It is lovely at low speeds, luxurious, highly engineered and all that but it's really about going at rocket ship speeds and I could only manage that for about 15 minutes of over 50 hours driving around Europe. And that will be way less in the UK if I want to stay out of prison.
I'm now going for a 570S Spider. I really miss putting down the roof and this car seems much more road focused. Still plenty quick, 0 - 60 in 3.1 is going to be more than enough for any situation but it's lighter, more fun and you can floor it without shifting into another dimension.
After a 15 year odyssey for more and more power I've decided to look at other factors, the 720S broke my insatiable lust for statistics. It's true I'm getting older and my reactions are no doubt slowing down but I feel in this climate of ever tightening driving restrictions Hypercar performance is something for the YouTube vids and fantasy discussions.
Perhaps I've thrown the towel in too early? Time will tell.
Edited by br d on Saturday 23 June 07:01
I can understand where you're coming from, and am intrigued how I will take to the 720S myself, as mine is imminent. I'm also planning to get the 7xxLT in time, so let's see how the 720S experience gels with me.
I will use it on track though, but not a lot.
My last v fast car was a bonkers modded S1 Exige (350bhp 750kg). It was quite a handful on the limit.
The 720S is much quicker, but has a lot of driver aids the Lotus never had (not even servo brakes), so I very much doubt I will have a problem taking to it.
I will use it on track though, but not a lot.
My last v fast car was a bonkers modded S1 Exige (350bhp 750kg). It was quite a handful on the limit.
The 720S is much quicker, but has a lot of driver aids the Lotus never had (not even servo brakes), so I very much doubt I will have a problem taking to it.
I’m of the opinion that super cars are harder to enjoy. Although there’s so many factors for each person, there isn’t a right or wrong.
For me, it comes down to the inability to extract the cars capability on our roads or tracks versus its cost. If I lived in Austria or Switzerland, then it would be easy to justify. But my short commute on A road and motorway, in traffic, raining half the year, s
t attitudes from others, pot holed roads and speed cameras just takes any enjoyment from it. The only enjoyment I’d get is a short burst of acceleration or the pops and crackles when down shifting on my route.
You could track the car (strong noise limits, higher costs) or drive twice a year to the Tyrol but I’d be pushed to fit that in time wise.
I might look at a V12 Vantage or 991.1 GTS next year in manual guise, as I think they’ll give me more reward based on limited roads and my journey.
If you want to go down the shops every Sunday in your Performante or 991.2 GT3, a short burst of acceleration and do less than a 1000 miles before moving it on at a premium, and you get your enjoyment from doing that, then that’s fine. But definitely not for me.
It’s worth noting my life goal is to buy a house in Austria and have a nice car there to enjoy. So that I can justify to myself and extract the enjoyment.
For me, it comes down to the inability to extract the cars capability on our roads or tracks versus its cost. If I lived in Austria or Switzerland, then it would be easy to justify. But my short commute on A road and motorway, in traffic, raining half the year, s
t attitudes from others, pot holed roads and speed cameras just takes any enjoyment from it. The only enjoyment I’d get is a short burst of acceleration or the pops and crackles when down shifting on my route.You could track the car (strong noise limits, higher costs) or drive twice a year to the Tyrol but I’d be pushed to fit that in time wise.
I might look at a V12 Vantage or 991.1 GTS next year in manual guise, as I think they’ll give me more reward based on limited roads and my journey.
If you want to go down the shops every Sunday in your Performante or 991.2 GT3, a short burst of acceleration and do less than a 1000 miles before moving it on at a premium, and you get your enjoyment from doing that, then that’s fine. But definitely not for me.
It’s worth noting my life goal is to buy a house in Austria and have a nice car there to enjoy. So that I can justify to myself and extract the enjoyment.
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