"LTK" (wkoblinsky)
11/07/2014 at 11:30 • Filed to: None
13
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"LTK" (wkoblinsky)
11/07/2014 at 11:30 • Filed to: None | 13
| 35 |
"Every. Single. F#@&ing. Morning," you think as your right foot moves to the brake and left leg begins to work the clutch as traffic grinds to a halt. You're ten minutes from the office, but it'll take another hour to get there. So, here you are, going 16 mph in a 160 mph car because some drivers decide their commute is the most important and insist on cutting each other off and slowing everybody down, or worse getting into accidents.
There's nothing wrong with a vehicle making you grin like a jack-fool when you let it unwind on a vacant backroad, but daily driving a high-performance racing machine is either dangerous, or at best, just wasteful. Now, it's your money and left knee to waste, but don't we often lambast the truck owner who daily drives a vehicle capable of towing six thousand tons for buying a vehicle based on 1% of his driving needs. Don't we do the same with our sporty cars? How often during your daily drive to work are you coming out of turn three in second gear, pedal to the floor? More realistically, how often does your car get over 75 mph? Or require 0-60 of 7 second or lower? If your answer is "often," well, you're the poster child for my next point.
If you're racing and weaving through crowded traffic where everyone is just trying to get safely to their destinations, then you're a jackass. If you miss your turn and decide to share your inconvenience with everybody else by stopping in the middle of the road and cutting across at the last second, then you're an asshole. If you're the moron who passed me at warp speed in a shifty old BMW with stretched tires yesterday in the torrential rain, you're a menace and don't deserve a license. You're imposing your risk tolerance on everybody around you. You're causing accidents, slowing traffic, and generally making everyone else suffer because it thrills you. Of course, we all act like it's everybody else and we're saints. "Look at that jackass/asshole/moron" we say judgmentally, when we know damn well we do it too sometimes. Running late, bad day, innuendous text from your significant other, or just feeling a little rebellious, we all justify it, but it's never right.
The goal of commuting should be to get to work efficiently, safely, and in a way that doesn't inflict your idiocy on society at large. Buy a nice multidimensional vehicle (like a Focus ST), leave a little early for work, and drive responsibly and defensively. Save the hooning for quiet backroads or track days. This generally leads to lower fuel and maintenance costs, better insurance premiums, and better resale value in your vehicles when you decide to sell it. You'll also impose less risk and stress on yourself and others around you. Or you could choose a bum knee, being car poor, dying young, and never actually getting to unwind your beauty.
Full disclosure: I drive a manual. I have no problems with manuals. Oh, and I love fast cars, too.
Edit: A lot of people are pointing out that you don't need to have a fast car to drive like an idiot. This is very true. Yet, when it comes time to buy a car, you don't always need to go for the bigger engine or the performance model. Sometimes those things just cost you money and end up sitting in traffic just like the four-banger would. Also, I know distracted driving is more dangerous, but everybody already harps on that.
Sweet Trav
> LTK
11/07/2014 at 15:34 |
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2014 Ford Fusion for the commute. 1986 Monte Carlo SS for fun.
SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
> LTK
11/07/2014 at 15:36 |
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don't we often lambast the truck owner who daily drives a vehicle capable of towing six thousand tons for buying a vehicle based on 1% of his driving needs.
No, we lambast the truck owner tho dailies is and bought it based on 0% of his or her driving needs.
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LTK
> SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
11/07/2014 at 15:38 |
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To be fair, I've criticism as high as 10%. To myself, I think 10% justifies the purchase, but I'm just a salesman. I'm not allowed to disagree with people.
macanamera
> LTK
11/07/2014 at 15:38 |
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This post is so good I had to comment on it with my phone right now even though I'm on the highway doing like 90 miles pe
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LTK
> macanamera
11/07/2014 at 15:41 |
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"doing like 90 miles pe" =
Forgetful
> LTK
11/07/2014 at 15:41 |
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I'd say that spirited driving is carving a canyon road or blasting down an empty stretch of deserted highway. What you describe is aggressive driving.
I see more assholes in compact cars and SUVs acting a fool in traffic than I do sports cars.
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macanamera
> LTK
11/07/2014 at 15:42 |
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Yep that was the joke.
Aaron M - MasoFiST
> LTK
11/07/2014 at 15:43 |
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My daily driver WRX I've tuned up to a significant amount of power. As karmic retribution, I needed to install a Stage 2 clutch when the stock one started to slip under load. Long story short, I commute by bicycle now.
1337HPMustang
> LTK
11/07/2014 at 15:44 |
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First off, who ruins their knee pressing in a clutch, even if it is a heavy one? Second, my "performance" car has 275 mm of sticky rubber on all four corners with matching big brakes. If anything, I'm driving the safest damn car on the road for both myself and others. I'd rather everyone drove smaller cars than big lubmering SUVs that can't swerve, can't stop quickly, and carry enough inertia to compact a minivan into 1/3 their original size.
Also I see more people racing and weaving in shit cars than I do performance cars so your whole argument in my eyes carries no weight.
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LTK
> 1337HPMustang
11/07/2014 at 15:49 |
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Working a clutch in stop-and-go Boston traffic sucks, but the bum knee was tongue in cheek. You are right that your car is possibly the safest if safely driven, but the larger point is driving faster than conditions warrant. I *did* criticize driving too much vehicle for commuting, but I understand people have different thresholds for what's enough vehicle for them.
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LTK
> Forgetful
11/07/2014 at 15:50 |
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yeah, but my title would be less clever without it.
Clown Shoe Pilot
> LTK
11/07/2014 at 15:56 |
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I drive a lightly travelled 80mph toll road to work every day, and I work at a race track. Can I drive my overpowered sports car?
Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
> LTK
11/07/2014 at 15:59 |
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It doesn't bother me when people fly by me on the highway, as long as they're leaving proper clearances and signaling when changing lanes. It used to, but then I got a manual and started doing it myself. I found that spirited driving was much more engaging. I was far less likely to use my phone, eat, or even listen to the radio. I became intensely aware of my surroundings, reading the cars around me, watching for road hazards, studying the pedal feel in bad weather.
No, it's not the speeders who stress me out. It's the other ones. I've found that when a driver isn't paying attention, he or she tends to back off the gas instinctually. These are the ones I can't trust. The unpredictable ones who slam on their brakes or dive for their exits. I'd rather swim in a whole river of speeders than deal with a dozen Veronicas doing their nails.
But I don't have to deal with it anymore. I adjusted my route and schedule to involve as little traffic as possible, and it's never really a problem in the daily routine.
Jedidiah
> LTK
11/07/2014 at 16:05 |
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Why does it matter what kind of car you drive? You don't need to justify using it's max potential as long as you like driving it.
The problem are people who drive like idiots.
If a guy in the Viper is taking it easy at the speed limit, while a Camry is darting across three lanes without signaling, who is at fault here?
Bullitt Ride
> LTK
11/07/2014 at 16:09 |
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I drive safely and considerately 99% of the time on my daily commute... but my goodness if it's raining or snowing the ass end of my Volvo 740 is singing Oppo on almost every corner. The break away is so progressive, I only wish it had an LSD, then it would be perfect.
ACESandEIGHTS
> macanamera
11/07/2014 at 16:17 |
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Nice truncated message, Mac. Hope you're not in traction right now.
SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O)
> LTK
11/07/2014 at 16:17 |
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I'm with you on a lot of this, but I don't think spirited drivers are the biggest issue on the road. The kid who just few past me in his E36 doesn't bother me. The guy who just flew past me in his SLS to go to his day job doesn't bother me. The teenager driving a Honda Civic with his or her phone in front of their face, on the other hand, does bother me. Speed isn't dangerous by itself. Speed limits are set too low and, in my area, pretty arbitrary. The people who exceed the limit can exceed the limit. As long as they're signaling, leaving enough space around them, and not tailgating me, I don't care what their doing. But when some kid is tweeting a dick pick while changing lanes on a whim and makes me either slam on the brakes (not a great thing for me to do in a 40 year old car with no ABS) or move quickly into the shoulder (which is often riddled with debris and broken glass), he cant go fuck himself. I hope that kid's car burns to the ground at night and the his license disintegrates in his wallet. People like that bother me. People driving spiritedly, in a safe way (as apposed to driving aggressively) do not, regardless of the type of car their driving.
Dusty Ventures
> 1337HPMustang
11/07/2014 at 16:28 |
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You need to be introduced to the clutch in our rally car. Driving that regularly in stop-and-go traffic could definitely ruin someone's knee.
Tripper
> LTK
11/07/2014 at 16:43 |
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I definitely don't think it's a waste DDing a fast car. My E90 M3 is just as civil as a 328 on my way to work, I leave all of the aggressive M functions off, set the damping to its softest setting, and the needle on my tach rarely breaches 4500 rpm. I play a game with myself to see how little I can use my breaks by properly timing downshifts.
When I'm alone and on an uncrowded limited access highway or a favorite back road, and I'm feeling saucy I will give it the beans! I won't drive fast with passengers (including my dog) in the car.
The only area were I see a slight waste is gas mileage. I get 15mpg at best, but I have a short commute and the only time in my 11 car career that I considered gas mileage when buying a car, I ended up with a 2013 Jetta and I HATED it.
BZiel
> LTK
11/07/2014 at 16:47 |
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You're making a point about "spirited driving"...and you're from around Boston?
NOBODY in that ENTIRE STATE knows how to drive.
I've never seen more stupid shit on public roads anywhere in the world than in Boston.
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LTK
> BZiel
11/07/2014 at 17:07 |
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Zipper method, turn signals, and watching the road are all foreign concepts to drivers around here.
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LTK
> Tripper
11/07/2014 at 17:08 |
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How much car is too much is really a subjective topic. I get that.
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LTK
> Clown Shoe Pilot
11/07/2014 at 17:18 |
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color me jealous
Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
> LTK
11/07/2014 at 17:23 |
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Two points for honesty!
Mike_Smith
> LTK
11/07/2014 at 17:26 |
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Merging onto Long Island parkways with their 50-foot on-ramps? You bettah be able to reach 60 in less than 7...
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LTK
> Mike_Smith
11/07/2014 at 17:41 |
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I think I've been there. In a uhaul. Not fun.
n54 & s38
> LTK
11/07/2014 at 18:03 |
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Little moments man. It's all about the little moments. Like this morning, I decided to say fuck it and drive to work instead of taking the train because I wanted to take the M5 out before it snows this weekend. 90% of my drive was spent driving the speed limit in traffic. But as I was preparing to exit into downtown, the lane ahead of me cleared up. I enjoyed just taking the long sweeper off the exit in a lower gear than I needed just to hear the engine rev. Had some fun for a minute or two and then it was back to normal traffic. My DD, a 335xi is much quicker than my M5 and much more efficient. But the M5 is just fun to drive in those little moments, even slowly.
bpands
> Mike_Smith
11/07/2014 at 18:11 |
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If anything, cars with a 9 sec. 5-60 MPH should be banned from the Northern and Wantagh State Parkways. Might save the wrecks during the AM commutes from becoming a daily thing.
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PardonMyFlemish16
> LTK
11/07/2014 at 20:28 |
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Here's the problem.... about 2/3rds or 25 miles of one way of my commute IS back roads. And it's generally relatively empty too, aside from the folks I pass. Imagine a 2 lane road with a 55 MPH limit, filled with folks doing 45-50. I don't like being the asshole, but it's a downright travesty to see so many good roads going to waste.
I drive a 350Z and just paid off my 4th moving violation this year. That definitely slowed me down. But I'm still going to enjoy myself.
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Mike_Smith
> bpands
11/07/2014 at 21:15 |
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My most direct route home from work involves merging onto the Sunken Meadow from either the LIE or Vanderbilt Parkway. With the work they're doing over there right now? Yikes.
DrScientist
> 1337HPMustang
11/08/2014 at 03:29 |
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my 71 year old mother sold her manual bmw for a mercedes with an auto because her leg would hurt after >15 minutes driving and pressing in the clutch.
she's 5 feet tall on a good day, and maybe 95 lbs.
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DrScientist
> Tripper
11/08/2014 at 03:32 |
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15 mpg mixed? sounds like you split your driving spirited and conservative? i didnt realize the e90 m3 was so thirsty.
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Tripper
> DrScientist
11/08/2014 at 11:30 |
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15 is about it, my commute is short but filled with lights and stop signs. Even on the highway, I would have to cruise at 60 for 10 miles just to equal out all of the gas I dumped flooring it on the entrance ramp haha. I've not done much highway driving, but when I took it to VA and back from Philadelphia I averaged almost 18/mpg.
George McNally
> LTK
11/08/2014 at 19:06 |
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I go to work at 4:30 in the morning.....I have some really fun empty twisty back roads that go through heavily wooded areas.
Only problem this time of year are deer.....last week I came over a blind crest just a tad to fast and nearly creamed a deer standing in the middle of the road.
At least I found out how well my anti-lock brakes work.
AdverseMartyr
> Mike_Smith
11/09/2014 at 20:25 |
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This same thing, only Honolulu... and we have yield signs right at the end of the acceleration portion of the ramp/ beginning of the merge portion.