by "ImmoralMinority" (araimondo)
Published 06/01/2017 at 09:21
by "ImmoralMinority" (araimondo)
Published 06/01/2017 at 09:21
No Tags
STARS: 3
I went to a meeting yesterday with a farmer, his attorney, my client, and me. I called the attorney (who is also a friend who has a beautiful Kirkham Cobra), and let him know I was running late. He daid no problem, and told me where he was, which was quite a ways behind me. He caught up to me as I arrived at the farmer’s office, which was pretty remarkable.
At the start of the meeting, I mentioned it, and he laughed. He said he had driven abouut 100 mph the whole way. He was in some recent vintage big-ass BMW that I could not identify, because I find them boring and think they all look the same (sorry BMW Oppos). I am pretty sure it was a 7 series.
Then the farmer started talking about some crazy fast trip in his Challenger Hellcat, and his lawyer started talking about scaring Priuses in his Cobra. I didn’t have much to say.
I love a 150cc scooter that gets to 55 mph on a good day, and a 4 cylinder Toyota with a speedo that goes to 85, and put out MAYBE 100 hp when it left the factory 35 years ago. I am not going anywhere fast, and I think it is borderline psychotic to drive 100 mph on public highways.
Guys who compare horsepower kind of annoy me, because what good is it in the end? I would be terrified if I saw that Hellcat or big BMW bearing down on me at 100 mph in my little Sunchaser.
Don’t get me wrong, I have certainly enjoyed some fast, powerful cars, but I think the overall driving experience is the key. The best driving car I have ever owned was an RX-8, not because it was fast, but because it was a damn razor blade and so much fun to drive. I still miss driving that car in the twisties. But I love driving the Sunchaser for reasons that have nothing to do with peformanance, as alas, it does not perform.
If you have Hellcat bros all about horsepower at one end of the spectrum, and me who couldn’t care less about it at the other end, where do you fall?
[If you love big horsey numbers, I still love you. I just won’t be able to keep up. ;)]
"pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
06/01/2017 at 09:31, STARS: 1
a little power but not too much.
"cletus44 aka Clayton Seams" (cletus44)
06/01/2017 at 09:36, STARS: 3
I like both, honestly. Take for example my Corvette and Alex’s Datsun. I love mashing to 100 mph on freeway on-ramps and hole-shotting green lights in the Corvette. That said I get just as high (but a different high) when I get to slam the little 96 HP Datsun around some curves. It’s like beer vs wine. Both are good and sometimes you’re in the mood for one more than the other.
"CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
06/01/2017 at 09:39, STARS: 1
The older I get the more I want my car to be comfortable and cheap above all else.
"Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
06/01/2017 at 09:39, STARS: 2
I’m with you on this one. I have a blast driving my 94 Miata, and it’s not because it’s fast. I think I cared about speed a lot more when I was younger. I foolishly found out the top speed of every car I owned before I was 25, usually with the help of a nearby interstate that ran down a mountain before levelling off. I’m not proud of it, and it wasn’t the smartest idea I’ve ever had (although truthfully it wasn’t the dumbest idea I’ve had either). After buying the Miata, a younger coworker asked me how fast it went. I just shrugged. I don’t care to find out. The highway speed limit is 70, so I’ve probably done 80ish at the most. There’s more to fun cars than just power.
"Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94)
06/01/2017 at 09:40, STARS: 2
Somewhere in the middle. In general I subscribe to the train of thought of a vehicle being perfect with just 15% more power. And “15% more” is like tomorrow, it never comes.
However I can have all the power in the world, if the car doesn’t have a character that appeals to me... I don’t care. Eg, I love the Veyron from a technical POV, but I really just don’t care if I never see one, let alone drive one. And fwiw I’d rather a high-power version of something common than something special. Or even a common thing without the power if it’s special enough to me. If you held out the keys to our old 1988 Beauville and to a brand-new 488, I’ll have the old Chevy van every time.
http://oppositelock.kinja.com/oppofession-time-1793078718
"My X-type is too a real Jaguar" (TomSlick)
06/01/2017 at 09:42, STARS: 1
I currently drive a late model 535 here’s the thing about going 100 mph in it. It doesn’t feel like 100 mph. It is smooth and completely disconnected from the road. I had a 1965 Beetle with a 1776cc engine it would feel scary fast at 75 mph. I think driving a slow car fast is more fun.
"themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce)
06/01/2017 at 09:44, STARS: 1
As much as I love the burst torque and zippiness of the Fiesta ST, my KLR is great for lazy afternoons and meandering around. It’s like a vintage pickup truck in the way it moves. No need to hunker down over some clip-ons and rev the nuts off a 1000cc inline 4 when you can just sit on top of a big ol’ 650cc single banger and enjoy the sun.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
06/01/2017 at 09:48, STARS: 1
I love the RX-8 and almost bought one but at the time I found the power underwhelming and went with a Mazdaspeed 6 instead. This was partly because of the better power in the MS6 but also I was coming out of an NB Miata and I wanted more practicality and winter capability.
My 335xi at the moment has somewhere in the range of 350-375 whp (best guess based on other people’s dynos with similar mods). It’s overkill but it’s also something you kinda get used to. It’s also a very solid handler thanks to all my suspension mods but still not the same type of light-on-its-feet feeling as an RX-8.
In the back of my head I continually have thoughts about I should be driving something more practical and frugal but when it comes down to it I’m addicted to the powahhh.
"Berang" (berang)
06/01/2017 at 09:49, STARS: 1
"HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles" (hondasfordsvolvo)
06/01/2017 at 09:53, STARS: 1
Power is good, but it’s not the most important. My car makes maybe 200hp. In a 3100lb AWD sedan. The same amount of power that every auto journalist ever complained “wasn’t enough” in the FRS. Granted power delivery and torque numbers are way different.
But still I have no real interest in adding power, handling Yes that needs some work. But I’m very okay with the amount of power it has. O think the major difference is the kind of driving you’re doing.
If you just in a hurry on the freeway, then yes a car that gets up to 100 quick and stays there comfortablely is great. But me I get my kicks on curvy dirt roads where just keeping over 40 is scary, and challenging.
If you drove boring roads then yeah power is important, but if you take the time to find a fun road, then it’s your skill level that matters, right now if I dumped 5 grand into my car and it made 350hp I’d probably end to in a tree or ditch anyway,
"Your boy, BJR" (jerseyshoreben)
06/01/2017 at 09:55, STARS: 0
I agree that BMWs are stupid and all look the same.
I want to fight you over the MOPAR comments tho.
I’m very conflicted.
"HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles" (hondasfordsvolvo)
06/01/2017 at 09:56, STARS: 0
I get that, but that’s my wife’s cars job.
Although on the cheap front her car is still 3x more expensive than mine, it just doesn’t need 200 dollars worth of work every month.
"HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles" (hondasfordsvolvo)
06/01/2017 at 09:59, STARS: 1
Same here, within a week of getting my first car(92 Camry 4banger) I proudly boast that I did 104mph in it. Now I’m older and I do have a much faster car but I’ve never even hit 90 in it. Because i looooove having cheap insurance rates.
"HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles" (hondasfordsvolvo)
06/01/2017 at 10:00, STARS: 1
This reasoning is exactly why I bought my Galant VR-4 .
"Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94)
06/01/2017 at 10:07, STARS: 1
And why I no longer have plans to trade up from my truck.
"HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles" (hondasfordsvolvo)
06/01/2017 at 10:18, STARS: 5
I think you may have stumbled onto a dividing line between car guys, and car nerds.
"benjrblant" (benjblant)
06/01/2017 at 10:49, STARS: 1
I don’t understand the HP and numbers game either. I also drive an old, woefully under-powered Toyota product and I love it. It’s a dog in the mountains, but it’s so good off pavement that I don’t care.
"yamahog" (yamahog)
06/01/2017 at 11:42, STARS: 1
If that’s not enough fun for you, come on down to the auto industry where literally every meeting is car talk by default and most of them involve 2+ car people ready to go on a tangent about their own cars anyway
"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
06/01/2017 at 12:18, STARS: 1
I think I hit both sides of that spectrum. Cause my GTO will never be able to go fast enough or have enough power, but my Healey I can’t wait to drive the whole 69hp and enjoy the zippy little car.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/01/2017 at 15:36, STARS: 1
Depends. I like exploring trails in my cruiser which has a stomping 235hp to lug around 5500-6000 lbs; but I would love to have a modern sports sedan with over 400hp. I guess my goal is to get the HP to match the application. I can appreciate the Hellcat, but if its not usable, what’s the point?
"gmporschenut also a fan of hondas" (gmporschenut)
06/01/2017 at 23:29, STARS: 0
I know a few people that can’t talk about cars wihtout wanking off how fast they drive and how ___ doesn’t have enough horsepower. Unless your’re going to a strip its all useless and just dangerous. bragging about going 90 everywehere just shows me your’re self centered asshole that can’t plan ahead.
Muscle cars look and sound awesome, but in my twisty hilly area they handle and brake like shit. though part of me would like to resto mod some 60's iron, I know the vast majority of them I see on the road aren’t and that terrifies me.
"haveacarortwoorthree2" (haveacarortwoorthree2)
06/02/2017 at 09:23, STARS: 1
Darn, I missed this discussion yesterday! Stupid federal court in Miami wanting to have a hearing (1o minute hearing, lasted 3+ hours).
Since I own a 550bhp Jag and a 575bhp RS3 Mustang, I guess I fall more on the hp side of the house. But I also want a car that handles (reasonably) well, so I could never have a Hellcat (or, even worse, the Demon) since IMO those cars handle like crap.