Why do they bother?

[sjmoore]

Apologies for the Monday morning rant, but...

Was out driving yesterday on a really good piece of road: nice and twisty, good sight through the corners, uphill. Perfect. Then came across an obviously brand new 997 GTS Cabriolet. Being driven at around 40 mph. And even though the sun was out the roof was up. thought WTF. But it is a common sight here in Switzerland: very expensive, very fast cars being driven very, very slowly. Just makes me think why bother? Given that such cars will lose lots of their value, are less practical and more uncomfortable and use more fuel than (say) a BMW diesel then what drives people to buy one if they have no intention of using any of the available performance. Weird.

[Pints]

You'll have the usual lot along shortly with "because they can" and "don't be jealous", etc. but I totally agree with your sentiments. If you have money and want to indulge in a pootle-mobile, there are plenty of comfortable options available where the car wasn't designed to be driven in vigour.

It does seem an awful waste of good metal.

[Ozzie Osmond]

sjmoore said:

very expensive, very fast cars being driven very, very slowly.

You guys clearly have failed to notice the minor inconvenience of speed limits and the police.

It really is thick to start yet another thread telling car owners how to enjoy their vehicles.

[PHmember]

Is there some unwritten rule that says 'fast' cars must be ragged absolutely everywhere 100% of the time then?

[mercfunder]

PHmember said:

Is there some unwritten rule that says 'fast' cars must be ragged absolutely everywhere 100% of the time then?

There is on here! Freedom to make your own decisions must be checked in at the PH door.

[sjmoore]

Ozzie Osmond said:

You guys clearly have failed to notice the minor inconvenience of speed limits and the police.

It really is thick to start yet another thread telling car owners how to enjoy their vehicles.

I am well aware of speed limits and the police (living in Switzerland you can't avoid them) and they put a major restriction on my enjoyment. Almost to the extent that I've questioned myself whether having a fast car is worthwhile. But there are still some roads/occasions that make it worthwhile - particularly really tight and twisty roads where you can push the car without having to break the limit (or at least not by much).

How are you enjoying a 911 if not attempting to drive it fast? There are other ways of having fun in cars e.g. buying a classic that don't involve speed but why buy a car able to get to 60 in 4 seconds if you drive it like a Toyota Prius?

[Ari]

You own a 911 yet you're posting on the Internet? I don't understand why people bother buying a 911 if they're going to post on the internet instead of driving their car flat out constantly. Why don't you buy a Prius if that's what you're going to do!

Same logic.

[FatFace]

Just look at it this way, they are taking the hit in depreciation and running the car in without giving it abuse. So then a real enthusiast can buy a car that drives like new without the high purchase cost

[thinfourth2]

sjmoore said:

How are you enjoying a 911 if not attempting to drive it fast? There are other ways of having fun in cars e.g. buying a classic that don't involve speed but why buy a car able to get to 60 in 4 seconds if you drive it like a Toyota Prius?

So what you are saying is that a modern 911 is such an utterly awful car to be in that unless you are driving it flatout it is no better a driving experience then a prius.


An interesting point

[Dog Star]

The Swiss equivalent of the NSL is 50mph, is it not, and pretty strictly policed as well as having some pretty huge, income-related fines. Whenever I've been there I've noticed them driving very carefully and getting pretty shirty when overtaken by bikes.

Given this I'd not be surprised at how the 911 was being driven - I'd probably do the same.

[Alfanatic]

sjmoore said:

How are you enjoying a 911 if not attempting to drive it fast? There are other ways of having fun in cars e.g. buying a classic that don't involve speed but why buy a car able to get to 60 in 4 seconds if you drive it like a Toyota Prius?

Is a 911 boring when not being driven fast?

How do you know the other 911 owner wasn't driving quickly yesterday? Or was partying last night and has a hangover today? Or is capable of enjoying his car at any speed (unlike you it seems)? Or is driving someone elses car, isn't used to it and / or is petrified of bending it? Or it's a new car and they aren't used to it? Or the car is carrying some kind of mechanical problem and they're nursing it to base / garage / fuel station? Perhaps his assessment of safety on that particular road was different to yours?

Frankly, if a 911 isn't an enjoyable drive when below its limit, it isn't much good as a sportscar. Road tests, though, suggest that its one of the best. I haven't driven one personally, but since its reputation in general is for excellent feedback and engagement, I'd suggest that it's you missing the point of the car, not the other guy.

[6potdave]

It would appear a lot of people choose a car for many different reasons to how it drives. The most common is the 4x4 vehicle which hasn't seen so much as a muddy field in it's entire life.

Owning a fast car doesn't necessarily mean pushing it to the limit 100% of the time, but in the situation you describe any keen driver wouldn't be able to help themself. I was stuck behind an MX-5 the other night on some rather twisty roads, the driver had no idea what she was doing. Broke for every single corner, didn't exceed 45mph and generally pissed me off. Failing to mention I was in the OH's C-Max which handling qualities compare to that of a mobile bouncy castle.

[Beefmeister]

I had an LP560 Spyder for the weekend last summer, and went to a wedding on the saturday night. Let's just say that i drove it home very slowly the next day, as i had a killer hangover. Roof down + buffeting + LOUD V10 = me barfing. So for that hour I had the roof up and drove it very sedately...

[The Moose]

Ok - so the chap driving it is moving the car around for the owner and taking care of the vehicle.

Or - he is on the phone (handsfree) having a rather important conversation and is trying to keep the wind noise down.

Or - he has a puncture in his run flat tyre and is 'limping home'.

Or - his misses is giving him a blowjob.

All pretty damned good reasons why he might not be sliding the car around every corner

Cheers

The Moose

[sjmoore]

thinfourth2 said:

So what you are saying is that a modern 911 is such an utterly awful car to be in that unless you are driving it flatout it is no better a driving experience then a prius.


An interesting point

Not quite. My point was more that sport cars are designed to be driven fast and that involves certain compromises e.g. poorer fuel consumption, less comfortable, less practical and (often) more expensive. If you don't intend to drive fast, why bother buying a sports car when there are lots of other alternatives?

With reference to other replies....of course there could have been reasons for that particular driver to be going slowly (like hangover) but I wouldn't have bothered to post if I hadn't seen that behaviour so often in Switzerland. I'm sure strict laws here play their part.

Of course, people are free to buy what they want and without someone buying new there wouldn't be cars for less well-heeled enthusiasts buying second hand. So I'm happy. I just don't understand the point myself.

[jamiebae]

I thought the same yesterday while being held up by an SL55 AMG doing 40 on an NSL B road. At the end of the day it's their money to do what they want with but if I have no interest in something then I don't spend huge amounts of cash on it. For example, I have a 32" TV as I'm not a big movie buff and therefore don't see the point in a 60" 3D TV when all it's used for is standard def Freeview and the odd bit of Wii Sports.

[k-ink]

Why does half of the UK drive at 40mph on clear sunny 60mph roads? Because they are brain dead morons.

[sicarumba]

sjmoore said:

...obviously brand new 997 GTS Cabriolet...

Running in?

[TheEnd]

I'm of the impression that some people just buy an expensive sporty car because they want to have a flash one, rather than they wanted the fast one.

[m444ttb]

k-ink said:

Why does half of the UK drive at 40mph on clear sunny 60mph roads? Because they are brain dead morons.

...and continue doing 40mph once they reach a 30mph limit!