by "davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
Published 09/22/2017 at 09:59
by "davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
Published 09/22/2017 at 09:59
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STARS: 0
What’s your opinion, OPPO? (a continuation of a conversation I had with Jarod Rose ) Should you drive your fun, powerful car as much as possible, or (if you have the means) should you keep it in the garage so that every drive in it is truly a special one? So far, for the past 5 years, I’ve gone with the former (105k miles on my M3), but I do understand why some prefer the latter. Clearly personal preference, just wondering about your take on it.
——————-
J: When a 460hp car weighing less than 3400 pounds and hitting 60 in under 4 seconds is considered, “underpowered” by the new MotorTrend Best Driver’s Car. I am starting to wonder if these automotive journalist are just spoiled. I have a feeling most people have never and will never feel acceleration that fast.
d: From experience, it’s incredibly easy to “normalize” to power. They are definitely spoiled for power, as I’m afraid I am at this point as well... 8.2 lbs per hp will do that to you. That GS would still feel fast to me, though, so there is hope for me yet.
I think the underpowered thing comes from driving a car with such a great chassis that it could take significantly more power. See also: any Boxster/Cayman, Miata, FR-S/BRZ/86...
J: Well shit. I never want to get normalized to that much power. It takes the fun out of it all.
And I do think a sweet spot 500hp Stingray would be pretty fantastic but I don’t see Corvette doing that anytime soon unless they update the base Stingray to hit those numbers.
d: I think that’s why a lot of people with high powered cars have a “normal” daily they use, so whenever they get into their fun car, it’s a revelation. I daily mine, and don’t get me wrong, I enjoy it every damn day, but the sensation of power and speed is not the same as it was during the “honeymoon”. Like any drug, I suppose - you’re always trying to chase that first high.
FWIW, when I test drove a new Miata a while back, I enjoyed it plenty. Same with an Elise. Going lighter, lower & raw-er (more tactile) helps to mask the difference in outright performance, at least until you get beat off the line by a Camry - ha!
J:
Those Camry drivers can be pretty aggressive.
"Party-vi" (party-vi)
09/22/2017 at 10:04, STARS: 1
I drove the Willys so hard and often that I turned the transfercase into gear soup. Always drive your toy hard.
"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
09/22/2017 at 10:07, STARS: 0
I do. Glad mine’s held up so far!
"random001" (random001)
09/22/2017 at 10:12, STARS: 1
I daily drove a 450 hp C5 Z06, except when I needed to drive the lunchbox to haul stuff. Don’t regret that one bit. I drive a much lighter car with much less HP now, but it has so much personality that it’s just stupid fun.
"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
09/22/2017 at 10:14, STARS: 0
Might light makes right!
"Tripper" (tripe46)
09/22/2017 at 10:17, STARS: 1
I’m a “drive em if you got em” guy. My M3 resides at my parents house now because they have a garage and I don’t. They’re also car people, so they have no beef with me taking up one side, but I don’t drive it as much as I would if it was at my house and that makes me sad. I’m also OCD about that car in particular.
However it was my dd for 7 years and it made every day better just driving it. It sounds crazy but I feel a similar way about my Ranger, even though it’s not fast or a car.
The S3 is a great dd because it is both fast and comfortable, but that is also part of why it probably won’t be a “forever car” for me. After having it a couple of years I’m feeling more than ever that I want something a little more hardcore as a dd. Certainly something with 3 pedals.
"DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back" (karsonkinja)
09/22/2017 at 10:19, STARS: 2
The whole point of having a car is to drive it. If I’m not using it, then what is the point? Now that being said..
I think there is a point reached where the performance potential of a DD crosses the line from “fun” to “nuisance”. I may
only
have 268hp but I barely use it on a day to day basis. The limits of my WRX are beyond my driving skill and beyond the limits of public roads. I can only imagine if I had a E90 or E92 M3, and could hardly ever bring it to its 8300 rpm redline. And when you factor in the expenses of daily driving such a car...
Really I think it comes down to individual circumstances, such as money, time, personal enjoyment, etc. There is a car, or a pair of cars that fits individual circumstances. Whether you have a Miata for weekend warrior duty and a Mazda 3 hatch for DD duty, or a GTI as an all rounder. The point is to love what you drive, and more importantly, drive it .
"random001" (random001)
09/22/2017 at 10:25, STARS: 1
Sad that I say much lighter, when it’s only like 500 lbs lighter, because that Z06 was a couple pounds under 3000....
"Nerd-Vol" (Nerd-Vol)
09/22/2017 at 10:31, STARS: 0
Depends on the commute. At my new job the commute is a ton of traffic and my fun car is a burden under those situations. Unfortunately, that now makes my toy a true weekend toy.
"CobraJoe" (cobrajoe)
09/22/2017 at 10:50, STARS: 1
Drive the toy often.
It might make the commute more fun (especially if you can take the long way on occasion), and the special occasions that you take it out for a long drive or track day will still be special.
"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
09/22/2017 at 11:11, STARS: 0
I’m with you!
"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
09/22/2017 at 11:15, STARS: 1
That sucks. Thankfully I only really deal with some heavy traffic for a few minutes on my way home.
"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
09/22/2017 at 11:20, STARS: 1
I’ll be dailying a car with three pedals until my body or my government doesn’t allow it...
(or I have to move somewhere with a truly brutal commute)
"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
09/22/2017 at 11:29, STARS: 1
I agree. Hate hearing about amazing cars that just sit in their owner’s garages for years. I may not reach my 8600 rpm (w tune) redline daily, but I definitely wind it out and get close a few times every day! I am very glad I waited until I could truly afford my car before I bought it. If it felt like a constant drain on our finances, I clearly couldn’t enjoy it as much as I do. And 5 years on, with an almost 10 year old car, there’s nothing else with 4 doors that I really feel like I’d enjoy more. Love the idea of keeping it in the stable for the long haul.
I loved my ‘05 Mazda 3s hatch for 7 years and 90k miles. What a great little car to flog around town...
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
09/22/2017 at 11:45, STARS: 2
I say drive it. What is the point of having nice things, if you never use them?
"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
09/22/2017 at 11:47, STARS: 1
I’m with you. I’ll keep doing just that!
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
09/22/2017 at 11:58, STARS: 1
Good!
"Nerd-Vol" (Nerd-Vol)
09/22/2017 at 12:32, STARS: 1
In that case go for it. I miss having a Mazdaspeed 3 as a daily. I never got sick of the power.
Now that my daily is a fuel efficient 2016 Mazda 3 2.0 6MT, I long for something with real torque. Especially since my play car only musters 162ftlbs and 240hp. Wildly fun car though.
"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
09/22/2017 at 12:37, STARS: 0
We were a two Mazda family at one time. That company will always have a piece of my heart, and I’ll surely own another one day.
"Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction" (rustholes-are-weight-reduction)
09/28/2017 at 07:09, STARS: 1
Although I would like to say daily the car you love, experience tells me otherwise.
I’ll elaborate:
A year ago, my two main cars were a 1.9 TDI Audi A4 with all of 116hp and a 230hp Mazda RX-8. I used the RX-8 on week-ends and when I was in the mood to drive something fun. Every drive with the Mazda was an event. To this day, I consider it is the best feeling car I’ve ever driven.
Today, I mainly use my 265hp Mégane RS (currently for sale), and a 84hp Pajero. I use the RS as a daily driver, and it’s a blast to drive, and definitely a better daily driver than the RX-8 (mainly because of fuel economy), But using it as a daily took all the emotion out of it, and I have more fun driving the Pajero. It’s also really frustrating being stuck behind slow drivers in the Mégane without the possibility to overtake.
"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
09/28/2017 at 09:19, STARS: 0
I definitely understand what you’re going through! Thankfully, my drive in the morning has some opportunities for a little fun, and the traffic isn’t too bad.