Think I've had enough

[magic torch]

[moan mode on]

Went for a Torch family day out today, and took the Porker which I haven't driven for a couple of weeks.

Driving cross town the short-shift gear change was a pain, having to punch home every change with force. The lowered suspension crashed over every bump. Dual carriageway out the city stuck behind the usual tts doing 30mph below the limit in the outside lane because they're turning right in 5 miles.

Then a run along the A27, managed to go above 60mph twice, sat behind car after car, refusing to pull over because they were travelling 0.001mph faster than someone 2 miles ahead.

Off the dual carriageway and onto some national speed limit single carriageways. Too much traffic to go above 40mph, and too much the other way to be able to overtake. 50mph zone, car in front doing 37mph, then a 30mph zone, car in front speeds up.

Same story on the way home. Came to the conclusion that living where I am, on the South Coast, is no place for a sports car. The roads are just too congested, and occupied by poor drivers.

Don't want to track the car, as I think it's too heavy, feel I'd be better off with a track special. I used to love driving. So, it's a sad day when I realise I now hate it, and in my dream car too.

[moan mode off]

I don't want to move, so what's the answer? Slower car that I can have fun in at low speeds?

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

[mbutchers]

Jamie- exactly the same happened to me - went for a C2 Cab in the end ...... The way I see it, is that I get the best of both worlds...... Cheer up.....

[dazren]

My solution is a couple of european driving holidays per year, early sunday morning blats and hooning around an airfield on VMAX days.

DAZ

[triple7]

It was a Sunday on a sunny summers day in the UK, what you expect! Go for a burn up the A24, was nothing on the roads all the way to G'ford today.....................

Either that or buy a classic, like an E-Type and just cruise around.

G

[DucatiGary]

sorry to hear that dude, cant believe its been enough to make you sick of your P&J though.

[cyberface]

I feel the same way. The south east sucks it down.

I'm looking at getting another bike - a Ducati 750SS has two seats (ok for bird) and looks lovely... not too fast like the superbikes out there either. Less than £2500 for a decent one by the looks of it as well.

For aural entertainment for normal driving I'm also getting an MG ZT V8 and putting silly exhausts on it. It's a bloody crying shame but I haven't enjoyed driving my 993 in ages (no doubt I will do on track days, of course) but on today's SE roads, forget it.

[magic torch]

Thanks for all your comments.

I know that being a sunny summer's day it's going to be busier, just feels like its always like this when I go out. The A24 is about an hours worth of driving amongst the tts from me too.

I'd love a few euro driving holidays, but pretty much all my spare time needs to involve my young family. Wouldn't get the time to drive through Europe on my own, and the kids would be very bad passengers.

Been out all times of the day, but I never seem to be able to string more than a few miles of empty roads together.

Looking like a cab could be the way to go, relax and enjoy the scenery.

Edited by magic torch on Sunday 30th July 22:05

[BliarOut]

magic torch said:

Thanks for all your comments.

I know that being a sunny summer's day it's going to be busier, just feels like its always like this when I go out. The A24 is about an hours worth of driving amongst the tts from me too.

I'd love a few euro driving holidays, but pretty much all my spare time needs to involve my young family. Wouldn't get the time to drive through Europe on my own, and the kids would be very bad passengers.

Been out all times of the day, but I never seem to be able to string more than a few miles of empty roads together.

Looking like a cab could be the way to go, relax and enjoy the scenery.

Edited by magic torch on Sunday 30th July 22:05

Now you know why I've got a C4 tip cab

[cyberface]

magic torch said:

I'd love a few euro driving holidays, but pretty much all my spare time needs to involve my young family. Wouldn't get the time to drive through Europe on my own, and the kids would be very bad passengers.

Sorry Jamie, sounds like my bike suggestion is pretty much irrelevant then...

Perhaps something that sounds really fast when you're crawling through traffic jams? Supercup exhausts on the 911? or something comfy with a ing enormous V8 engine (no, not a Cayenne )

[magic torch]

BliarOut said:

Now you know why I've got a C4 tip cab

Nope, still can't work that one out.

cyberface said:

magic torch said:

I'd love a few euro driving holidays, but pretty much all my spare time needs to involve my young family. Wouldn't get the time to drive through Europe on my own, and the kids would be very bad passengers.

Sorry Jamie, sounds like my bike suggestion is pretty much irrelevant then...

Perhaps something that sounds really fast when you're crawling through traffic jams? Supercup exhausts on the 911? or something comfy with a ing enormous V8 engine (no, not a Cayenne )

Car sounds great with it's Techart exhaust, just makes me want to floor it even more.

Yep, bike would be an answer, but not for a few years...

V8 appeals massively, just didn't want my Porsche dream to end like this.

[cyberface]

Probably better than ending up like mine - a car I love that looks bloody beautiful, that I utterly love driving, that I drive less than once every 2 weeks because all I do is get stuck in traffic. Early mornings aren't really a goer with me at the moment.

I've worked all weekend in the stifling heat in my cellar office on desperately tedious data mapping work so I am particularly depressed at the mo... surely it's not that bad...

[peterpeter]

so the car has a short shift and its been lowered...
and you dont want to track it because its too heavy??
Is it a c2??

I ran a 996C2 for three years doing over 20 track days and had a fantastic time in it with no hassles and not especially bad running costs either.

it was lowered too, and was extremely good fun.

I live in the SE too, and quite frankly back then I knew that if I didnt do track days, I wouldnt bother owning a porcshe either.
Get it on track asap, get the bug, then flog it and buy a gt3 and join the mafia.

[magic torch]

Sad to read this.

cyberface said:

I haven't enjoyed driving my 993 in ages

I've also got an Integrale which I used to track a lot, ended up costing me a fg fortune. Always said that if I was going to go down the track route it'd be something light, ie easy on brakes, tyres, etc. Interesting what you say about 996C2 running costs though.

I used to do a lot of single seater stuff, which I love, but I'm looking for something to get my kicks on the road with.

[ballcock]

Shite Pony , you're breaking me out in a sweat here ... DON'T LEAVE US!!!.. Still and all I can see exactly where you're coming from .. I get days like that and then I get a good one where the roads just happen to be quiet , or someone shouts nice car , or it just comes together and you feel at one with your steed (This one doesn't happen too often!!) ,and I'm back on the saddle again , as enthusiastic as ever .. Hopefully you're going down the same road....

[cyberface]

Well it's more that the frustration of being held up *all* the time outweighs the short times when it all comes together and I love the car. Don't get me wrong, when the road is clear or there's enough visibility to hoon round a corner, I utterly adore the car. However the times I get to drive it these days are weekends only, and in general I'm reduced to a Sunday-driver cruise in a queue of 40523 cars doing 41 mph everywhere with nowhere to overtake.

But take what I say with a pinch of salt, I'm really down at the moment In general all it takes is one clear-road thrash and I'm in love with it again... just hasn't been one of those for weeks now. It really seems to be getting worse around here month on month.


Edit - to balance the depression here.... at least I've got Brands GP on 17th August... wahey!!!

Edited by cyberface on Sunday 30th July 22:49

[magic torch]

ballcock said:

Shite Pony , you're breaking me out in a sweat here ... DON'T LEAVE US!!!..

Just went and had a little peek at it, now it could be the Cava (shared ), but I'm getting a warm glow.

cyberface said:

Summed up how I feel, but with a nice positive

Don't want it to end up all Dead Poet's on here. Determined to come back tomorrow and post something really positive about it.

[ballcock]

Hope Mrs. Pony had more than a glass!! .....

[DanH]

Get up early and go for a proper drive when the roads are clear.

I had a great blat with Trackdemon across essex today. There was a bit of traffic, but nothing we couldn't get past.

[gumballer]

Summer Holidays probably don't help the roads at the moment, if you want a good run then you'll need to head out after dark or take the back roads like going from from havant to chichester via funtington.