Who else prefers slower cars?
Discussion
Might just be me but I seem to prefer slower cars over faster cars.
I've owned my fair share of cars over they years and always seem to remember the slow ones the most fondly. Always remember how much fun they were and always hanker to buy another.
Don't get me wrong. I love power and speed. I would love to get behind the wheel of a supercar and give it some beans on the track. Just think that when driving in the real world, I prefer a less powerful car over a more powerful car. Just something about ragging the tits off a sub 1.6l engine that you don't get with a 2.5l that always has power.
I think it's also down to the fact that the last time I owned a "fast" car, I always found that as soon as I put my foot down, It didn't take long to be up someones arse and on the brakes again. That moment of full throttle power ruined by the fact there is nowhere you can really use it (legally), where as in a small engined car, you can floor it all day, throw it around and find your only just keeping up with other traffic.
As I said, maybe it's just me, but I doubt it. Come on, own up! Who else thinks that power isn't everything?
I've owned my fair share of cars over they years and always seem to remember the slow ones the most fondly. Always remember how much fun they were and always hanker to buy another.
Don't get me wrong. I love power and speed. I would love to get behind the wheel of a supercar and give it some beans on the track. Just think that when driving in the real world, I prefer a less powerful car over a more powerful car. Just something about ragging the tits off a sub 1.6l engine that you don't get with a 2.5l that always has power.
I think it's also down to the fact that the last time I owned a "fast" car, I always found that as soon as I put my foot down, It didn't take long to be up someones arse and on the brakes again. That moment of full throttle power ruined by the fact there is nowhere you can really use it (legally), where as in a small engined car, you can floor it all day, throw it around and find your only just keeping up with other traffic.
As I said, maybe it's just me, but I doubt it. Come on, own up! Who else thinks that power isn't everything?
I know what you mean. I'd say I prefer the illusion of speed rather than outright speed itself on normal public roads.
For example, when you read reports of performance cars these days doing 100+ and 'feeling like they're not trying', I do wonder 'what's the point'. It seems in cars like that the opportunities you'd actually have to truly enjoy the drive are fewer and further between than something lower-powered and slower, but that felt faster.
Being able to take the roof down helps too. Your body naturally cries 'enough' once enough wind has whipped into your face, but in a closed car you bypass that point often without noticing.
Also, I think driver involvement is key to experience. You can drive all 60bhp of an MG Midget on its doorhandles round a country lane, roof off, correcting oversteer and understeer, matching gearchanges to revs and generally enjoying a race/rally experience without ever troubling the speed limit. You could do the exact same route in an inert, heavily-assisted Audi with an automatic gearbox much faster but it'd feel no different to your morning commute.
For example, when you read reports of performance cars these days doing 100+ and 'feeling like they're not trying', I do wonder 'what's the point'. It seems in cars like that the opportunities you'd actually have to truly enjoy the drive are fewer and further between than something lower-powered and slower, but that felt faster.
Being able to take the roof down helps too. Your body naturally cries 'enough' once enough wind has whipped into your face, but in a closed car you bypass that point often without noticing.
Also, I think driver involvement is key to experience. You can drive all 60bhp of an MG Midget on its doorhandles round a country lane, roof off, correcting oversteer and understeer, matching gearchanges to revs and generally enjoying a race/rally experience without ever troubling the speed limit. You could do the exact same route in an inert, heavily-assisted Audi with an automatic gearbox much faster but it'd feel no different to your morning commute.
a few years back i had a 1.4 corsa merit automatic as a stop gap. it had no ABS or power steering (and the heaviest of any car i've ever driven incidentally), the worst seats in the world,wind up windows and tyres like a push bike.
but....
every drive was an event. the tyres screeched if you did more than 5mph round a bend, gaining speed was a real effort so keeping momentum was of the upmost importantance and the brakes were awful (but the lack of ABS was great and they werent over servoed) so you really had to drive it by the seat of your pants.
it was an awful awful car in so many way ways but it was so much fun because of it. I gave it to my mum and she loved it
I think when she sold it it'd only done 26k in 18 years but it was failing apart.
but....
every drive was an event. the tyres screeched if you did more than 5mph round a bend, gaining speed was a real effort so keeping momentum was of the upmost importantance and the brakes were awful (but the lack of ABS was great and they werent over servoed) so you really had to drive it by the seat of your pants.
it was an awful awful car in so many way ways but it was so much fun because of it. I gave it to my mum and she loved it
I think when she sold it it'd only done 26k in 18 years but it was failing apart.
I prefer a car that is fun at legal (and high) speeds rather than one that is only fun at high speeds. In the Caterham, I can commute to work (4 miles, 30 limit the whole way) and arrive with a big grin - my sort of car 
Edit: Similarly, the Mustang is more fun than the Volvo despite the Volvo being faster <shrug>
Not suggesting the Caterham is a "slow" car but it is a car that is fun at all speeds.
Edit: Similarly, the Mustang is more fun than the Volvo despite the Volvo being faster <shrug>
Not suggesting the Caterham is a "slow" car but it is a car that is fun at all speeds.
Edited by ewenm on Saturday 26th February 20:29
I think there is a happy medium really. I mean, a dog slow car that can't make it up a hill - not fun...
Saying that, I am also quite happy in the TVR at any speeds (I think the real pleasure is in the machine that can potter along quite happily but then go like a rocket when you ask her to).
Saying that, I am also quite happy in the TVR at any speeds (I think the real pleasure is in the machine that can potter along quite happily but then go like a rocket when you ask her to).
I've found that with my parents Suzuki Swift. I've been driving it for the last few weeks while waiting for tyres and it's really fun to drive. It's really chuckable and you never need to break the speed limit. It's a fantastic drive. Jumped back in my vRS which isn't a fast car but a good bit faster than the Swift and all I found myself doing was accelerating hard to catch the next car and most of the time I was on the brakes.
There is definately something fun about pushing an underpowered car to it's limit.
There is definately something fun about pushing an underpowered car to it's limit.
Jasandjules said:
I think there is a happy medium really. I mean, a dog slow car that can't make it up a hill - not fun...
Thats a fair point, i had a renault twingo hire car a while back. I was sitting at 70mph on the motorway (anything over that was painful on my ears), i could only really use the inside lane as overtaking was a non event unless i had a 6 mile gap to pull out into and when it hit big hills the speed dropped very very quickly and then you had to drop it a gear and get the blender spinning up again.I'll agree to this, I've never owned anything properly fast but I have driven some quick cars on track. I'm quite happy to keep it that way, I've had loads of fun in the cars I've owned, especialy the Focus and Puma. My old 1.2l corsa b was a crap daily drive but on the rare occasions I found my self on tight twisty back roads it was a hoot then I'd look down and see I was only doing 40-50mph.
Next car might be an Ignis sport, 1.5l/107hp of smiles!
Next car might be an Ignis sport, 1.5l/107hp of smiles!
I love my Dodge Viper because it can potter along, wafting past trucks, cruising at 70 but at the same time I know I could be in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th gear at that speed. All depending on my mood. Driving it to a track, stretching its legs and then pootling home is great too. If I'm feeling mischievious I can find a quiet stretch of road and press on, accompanied by a glorious noise. All of this with the roof down...
When I needed a more economical commuter I went for a Fiat Panda 100HP. Not only did this car also look funky but it whizzed along, handled and sounded nice. Much lower top speed but critically just as involving as the Dodge. I think all the best cars are involving whatever speed you're doing, that seems to be the key
When I needed a more economical commuter I went for a Fiat Panda 100HP. Not only did this car also look funky but it whizzed along, handled and sounded nice. Much lower top speed but critically just as involving as the Dodge. I think all the best cars are involving whatever speed you're doing, that seems to be the key
I agree with this. Its one of the reasons i decided not to keep my R8, it only gets used at weekends because it just feels uncomfortable at normal speeds, its always trying to get a wiggle on. You can also go very quickly without trying, which one day was going to lose me my license through not paying attention.
One of my favourite cars for a weekend bit of fun was my old 2litre Z4. It was rubbish car but you could use it, wring its neck and still be within the speed limit and not driving like a lunatic. Same goes for my old S2 Escort RS Turbo. And an ex's 1 litre micra.
Sometimes less is more.
One of my favourite cars for a weekend bit of fun was my old 2litre Z4. It was rubbish car but you could use it, wring its neck and still be within the speed limit and not driving like a lunatic. Same goes for my old S2 Escort RS Turbo. And an ex's 1 litre micra.
Sometimes less is more.
MondeoMan1981 said:
I know what you mean OP.
In the last few years I've had great fun driving an ex's Ka and getting a shot of a Honda Jazz and holding the gears above 4000rpm just for the noise...
We had a Ka as a hire car in Menorca a few years ago. After thrashing it for a fortnight I wanted to buy it off Europcar and ship it home!In the last few years I've had great fun driving an ex's Ka and getting a shot of a Honda Jazz and holding the gears above 4000rpm just for the noise...
Deluded said:
Might just be me but I seem to prefer slower cars over faster cars.
I've owned my fair share of cars over they years and always seem to remember the slow ones the most fondly. Always remember how much fun they were and always hanker to buy another.
Don't get me wrong. I love power and speed. I would love to get behind the wheel of a supercar and give it some beans on the track. Just think that when driving in the real world, I prefer a less powerful car over a more powerful car. Just something about ragging the tits off a sub 1.6l engine that you don't get with a 2.5l that always has power.
I think it's also down to the fact that the last time I owned a "fast" car, I always found that as soon as I put my foot down, It didn't take long to be up someones arse and on the brakes again. That moment of full throttle power ruined by the fact there is nowhere you can really use it (legally), where as in a small engined car, you can floor it all day, throw it around and find your only just keeping up with other traffic.
As I said, maybe it's just me, but I doubt it. Come on, own up! Who else thinks that power isn't everything?
Have you tried a smart Roadster? If not, you should I've owned my fair share of cars over they years and always seem to remember the slow ones the most fondly. Always remember how much fun they were and always hanker to buy another.
Don't get me wrong. I love power and speed. I would love to get behind the wheel of a supercar and give it some beans on the track. Just think that when driving in the real world, I prefer a less powerful car over a more powerful car. Just something about ragging the tits off a sub 1.6l engine that you don't get with a 2.5l that always has power.
I think it's also down to the fact that the last time I owned a "fast" car, I always found that as soon as I put my foot down, It didn't take long to be up someones arse and on the brakes again. That moment of full throttle power ruined by the fact there is nowhere you can really use it (legally), where as in a small engined car, you can floor it all day, throw it around and find your only just keeping up with other traffic.
As I said, maybe it's just me, but I doubt it. Come on, own up! Who else thinks that power isn't everything?
My missus has a '99 Colt 1.3 and ive nicknamed it the angry terrier 'cus although it doesnt have much poke, the thing revs and revs, and its such a light little car we've embarassed many a boy racer whove had a go.
I totally agree with what people are saying, having a slower car doesnt neccesarily mean not having any fun..you're much more able to discover the limits of the car and yourself whilst keeping overall speed within the legal limits, whereas in a sports car, you gotta go to a track or similar to even get an insight into how far you can push it!
Total thumbs up for slow cars!
I totally agree with what people are saying, having a slower car doesnt neccesarily mean not having any fun..you're much more able to discover the limits of the car and yourself whilst keeping overall speed within the legal limits, whereas in a sports car, you gotta go to a track or similar to even get an insight into how far you can push it!
Total thumbs up for slow cars!
Edited by bejc on Saturday 26th February 23:28
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