Underpowered cars = Dangerous?
Discussion
I'll say it for you: Nope, idiot drivers = dangerous.
BUT, let me put it out there that underpowered cars can be a risk when presented with the only option to avoid danger is to accelerate out of it.
I have a 1.6 Vectra C as a loan car at the moment whilst my BMW is being fettled before sale. I've no real issues with the rest of car (drabness aside) but it is SO underpowered as to be lethal! Last night on the motorway, I had an incident where the traffic suddenly slowed in front of me, forcing the two cars in front to pull out suddenly AND the car behind me to do the same. I saw it happen and was going to do the same but couldn't - there wasn't enough go in the engine to keep pace with the lane to my right and as a result, I had to temporarily move myself into the hard shoulder to avoid rear-ending the car in front. I was a decent distance away from the cars in front, but we're talking a practically 70mph -> 10mph speed reduction in my lane, quickly.
I dare say there was probably something else I could have done, I'm only human and I guess I should have been further away (and will moderate my driving in future for sure) but it genuinely shook me up as the lack of power I had meant there was no chance of accelerating out of an issue.
Scary moment, I shall try and remember this the next time I'm tempted to tailgate someone or even consider narrowing a gap temporarily.
BUT, let me put it out there that underpowered cars can be a risk when presented with the only option to avoid danger is to accelerate out of it.
I have a 1.6 Vectra C as a loan car at the moment whilst my BMW is being fettled before sale. I've no real issues with the rest of car (drabness aside) but it is SO underpowered as to be lethal! Last night on the motorway, I had an incident where the traffic suddenly slowed in front of me, forcing the two cars in front to pull out suddenly AND the car behind me to do the same. I saw it happen and was going to do the same but couldn't - there wasn't enough go in the engine to keep pace with the lane to my right and as a result, I had to temporarily move myself into the hard shoulder to avoid rear-ending the car in front. I was a decent distance away from the cars in front, but we're talking a practically 70mph -> 10mph speed reduction in my lane, quickly.
I dare say there was probably something else I could have done, I'm only human and I guess I should have been further away (and will moderate my driving in future for sure) but it genuinely shook me up as the lack of power I had meant there was no chance of accelerating out of an issue.
Scary moment, I shall try and remember this the next time I'm tempted to tailgate someone or even consider narrowing a gap temporarily.
Moos3h said:
I'll say it for you: Nope, idiot drivers = dangerous.
BUT, let me put it out there that underpowered cars can be a risk when presented with the only option to avoid danger is to accelerate out of it.
I have a 1.6 Vectra C as a loan car at the moment whilst my BMW is being fettled before sale. I've no real issues with the rest of car (drabness aside) but it is SO underpowered as to be lethal! Last night on the motorway, I had an incident where the traffic suddenly slowed in front of me, forcing the two cars in front to pull out suddenly AND the car behind me to do the same. I saw it happen and was going to do the same but couldn't - there wasn't enough go in the engine to keep pace with the lane to my right and as a result, I had to temporarily move myself into the hard shoulder to avoid rear-ending the car in front. I was a decent distance away from the cars in front, but we're talking a practically 70mph -> 10mph speed reduction in my lane, quickly.
I dare say there was probably something else I could have done, I'm only human and I guess I should have been further away (and will moderate my driving in future for sure) but it genuinely shook me up as the lack of power I had meant there was no chance of accelerating out of an issue.
Scary moment, I shall try and remember this the next time I'm tempted to tailgate someone or even consider narrowing a gap temporarily.
So what was wrong with the brake pedal, and just how close were you (and three other cars!) following each other that you couldn't stop before hitting the slow car? BUT, let me put it out there that underpowered cars can be a risk when presented with the only option to avoid danger is to accelerate out of it.
I have a 1.6 Vectra C as a loan car at the moment whilst my BMW is being fettled before sale. I've no real issues with the rest of car (drabness aside) but it is SO underpowered as to be lethal! Last night on the motorway, I had an incident where the traffic suddenly slowed in front of me, forcing the two cars in front to pull out suddenly AND the car behind me to do the same. I saw it happen and was going to do the same but couldn't - there wasn't enough go in the engine to keep pace with the lane to my right and as a result, I had to temporarily move myself into the hard shoulder to avoid rear-ending the car in front. I was a decent distance away from the cars in front, but we're talking a practically 70mph -> 10mph speed reduction in my lane, quickly.
I dare say there was probably something else I could have done, I'm only human and I guess I should have been further away (and will moderate my driving in future for sure) but it genuinely shook me up as the lack of power I had meant there was no chance of accelerating out of an issue.
Scary moment, I shall try and remember this the next time I'm tempted to tailgate someone or even consider narrowing a gap temporarily.
EDLT said:
Moos3h said:
I'll say it for you: Nope, idiot drivers = dangerous.
BUT, let me put it out there that underpowered cars can be a risk when presented with the only option to avoid danger is to accelerate out of it.
I have a 1.6 Vectra C as a loan car at the moment whilst my BMW is being fettled before sale. I've no real issues with the rest of car (drabness aside) but it is SO underpowered as to be lethal! Last night on the motorway, I had an incident where the traffic suddenly slowed in front of me, forcing the two cars in front to pull out suddenly AND the car behind me to do the same. I saw it happen and was going to do the same but couldn't - there wasn't enough go in the engine to keep pace with the lane to my right and as a result, I had to temporarily move myself into the hard shoulder to avoid rear-ending the car in front. I was a decent distance away from the cars in front, but we're talking a practically 70mph -> 10mph speed reduction in my lane, quickly.
I dare say there was probably something else I could have done, I'm only human and I guess I should have been further away (and will moderate my driving in future for sure) but it genuinely shook me up as the lack of power I had meant there was no chance of accelerating out of an issue.
Scary moment, I shall try and remember this the next time I'm tempted to tailgate someone or even consider narrowing a gap temporarily.
So what was wrong with the brake pedal, and just how close were you (and three other cars!) following each other that you couldn't stop before hitting the slow car? BUT, let me put it out there that underpowered cars can be a risk when presented with the only option to avoid danger is to accelerate out of it.
I have a 1.6 Vectra C as a loan car at the moment whilst my BMW is being fettled before sale. I've no real issues with the rest of car (drabness aside) but it is SO underpowered as to be lethal! Last night on the motorway, I had an incident where the traffic suddenly slowed in front of me, forcing the two cars in front to pull out suddenly AND the car behind me to do the same. I saw it happen and was going to do the same but couldn't - there wasn't enough go in the engine to keep pace with the lane to my right and as a result, I had to temporarily move myself into the hard shoulder to avoid rear-ending the car in front. I was a decent distance away from the cars in front, but we're talking a practically 70mph -> 10mph speed reduction in my lane, quickly.
I dare say there was probably something else I could have done, I'm only human and I guess I should have been further away (and will moderate my driving in future for sure) but it genuinely shook me up as the lack of power I had meant there was no chance of accelerating out of an issue.
Scary moment, I shall try and remember this the next time I'm tempted to tailgate someone or even consider narrowing a gap temporarily.
You kind of covered it in your first line.
Rant Fail.
ETA: Actually, respect to the OP for actually admitting this failure in his post. I guess you need to bear in mind the capabilities of the car your driving. In the BMW maybe accelerating would be an option. But in the vectra it wasn't so you will learn to modify your driving to suit the car you're in.
Edited by mrmr96 on Saturday 9th July 15:08
), just read the road and the vehicles around me like I always do.mrmr96 said:
I'm with EDLT. You should have left yourself more space.
You kind of covered it in your first line.
Rant Fail.
You obviously don't know how it works:You kind of covered it in your first line.
Rant Fail.
It can't be his fault.
The other drivers were to blame for driving so close in front of him and using the brakes when they were in his way.
The car was at fault for not being as good as his normal car.
He was NOT in any way at fault.
I hope this explains things.
RH
I've already highlighted I could have done things better, I guess what I was saying was that had I had some power. I feel I could have had other options! If I wasn't driving so close, I'd have had all the time in the world and it wouldn't have been an issue - it's not really meant as a rant, just an observation/discussion point as I'm sure we've all travelled too close to the car in front (even if we haven't noticed it because nothing has gone wrong).
And I guess it must be a 1.8, I just assumed it was a 1.6 because it's so astoundingly gutless! Perhaps there's something wrong with it (or me).
As I mentioned earlier, the fact that the cars in front practically stopped meant that what I considered was an acceptable gap, clearly wasn't but I do feel more power would have given me an alternative option.
And I guess it must be a 1.8, I just assumed it was a 1.6 because it's so astoundingly gutless! Perhaps there's something wrong with it (or me).
As I mentioned earlier, the fact that the cars in front practically stopped meant that what I considered was an acceptable gap, clearly wasn't but I do feel more power would have given me an alternative option.
Try going from a 330 to a 1.25 Fiesta. Made quite a difference but even the lack of power didn't make it feel dangerous. Now motorbikes on the other hand, yes. Not having enough power on a bike keeps you with traffic and unable to get away from idiots. And in my case ended up in a trip to hospital due to a car smashing me up the backside no a straight road. Had I a bigger bike at the time, I probably would have rode a bit faster. I'm not too fond of 125cc's!
Going from a 2.0 turbo to a 1.4 n/a has made me realise just how dangerously underpowered these 'eco' shopping cars are.
(here are some facts and figures - 0-60 in 12.1s, 88hp and 92lb-ft, against 0-60 in 9s, 163hp and 230lb-ft torque)
I have to seemingly pedal to keep it at the NSL, let alone doing anything else - and when the average speed on roads like the M1 hovers around 85-90mph, it leaves you feeling very vulnerable when you come across someone doing 60mph and have to overtake.
It runs out of the torque band at about 4500rpm, and forget any kind of in-gear acceleration in 5th - you have to row down the box to get any kind of forward momentum at more than your current speed at anything above 60mph. It is simply a horrible, despicable, woefully underpowered dangerbox.
(here are some facts and figures - 0-60 in 12.1s, 88hp and 92lb-ft, against 0-60 in 9s, 163hp and 230lb-ft torque)
I have to seemingly pedal to keep it at the NSL, let alone doing anything else - and when the average speed on roads like the M1 hovers around 85-90mph, it leaves you feeling very vulnerable when you come across someone doing 60mph and have to overtake.
It runs out of the torque band at about 4500rpm, and forget any kind of in-gear acceleration in 5th - you have to row down the box to get any kind of forward momentum at more than your current speed at anything above 60mph. It is simply a horrible, despicable, woefully underpowered dangerbox.
Edited by Mr Happy on Saturday 9th July 16:06
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