Slow Cars, Better Drivers. Or- How Italians Do It Better

"Sinanigans" (Sinanigans) 08/10/2015 at 00:22 • Filed to: None

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I just came back from 17 days in Italy and enjoyed the many of the sights, sounds, and flavors that this beautiful country has to offer. I stayed in Tuscany for a week and then Roma for 10 days. I’ve made a few observations from my trip there.

1) The Italians are very adventurous with the colors of their cars - and that’s a great thing. For a country that puts such an emphasis on individuality, I feel like Americans can’t get past buying certain colors (silver, black, white, some dark blues). I remember reading an article a few years back in Bimmer magazine about how auto execs curtailed the Individualization program in the US because Americans stick to certain colors and color combinations. For me to see cars in baby blues, yellows, oranges, and all sorts of greens and browns... wow!

2) While the Italians are known for being crazy behind the wheel (especially in Roma), they are generally damn good drivers. I think it comes down to three very important important reasons:

a) Everyone drives a stick. Let’s end the debate once and for all. Manual driving requires you to pay lots of attention and holds you responsible for your actions. Since the overwhelming majority of people are driving stick, it creates a driving environment where most people are engaged in the process of driving. Which means, at least to some extent they’re paying attention. Much more so than than the auto driving masses in the US. It is what it is.

b) The roads, especially in Tuscany, are windy. Like 1st and 2nd gear windy. Not only are the roads windy, but they’re extremely narrow. This means that you have to know the dimensions of your car really well. Not only were many of the roads windy - they were also very hilly. Which meant that many drivers had to haul ass and use momentum for the driving style. This meant that drivers had to really know the limits of the handling of their cars. It was great fun to watch little Smart cars, Fiat 500’s, and Renault Twingo’s being pushed to their limits on the mountain roads we were driving through. I finally understood why so many great racecar drivers came from Italy. Their environment made them better drivers.

c) Finally, and I think, most importantly, the cars are slow. Seriously, they make very little power. Between fuel costing an arm and a leg, and various taxes on cars with bigger displacement engines, many cars are small displacement diesels. These engines sip fuel and produce very low emissions; but they’re peppy at best. Because these cars don’t have much power, they force drivers to really plan ahead in their driving. Wanna pass a slow moving car or truck? You keep your eyes on rearview mirror before you get on to the fast lane. Don’t want to bog going uphill on that tight corner? Attack said corner with gusto. The base engines of many cars sold in the US, are top of the line or near top of the line for many cars sold in Europe. While I don’t object to having powerful cars, I see how the extra power in American cars promotes lazy driving. And lazy driving promotes inattentiveness. And inattentiveness promotes poor driving.

I got to experience this concept firsthand because we rented (quite possibly) the last rental car in all 0f Rome, a Renault Trafic (with one “f”). The Renault Trafic (with one “f”) is ~6,000lbs full size van powered by a 2.0l turbodiesel. It was a heroic little motor, but physics is physics and this thing was a pig with a usable powerband of less than 2,000rpm, and no shortage of turbo lag. It was a behemoth car that required civil engineering levels of planning to pilot. However, by then end of the seven days of having the car, I had become a much better driver. The Trafic (with one “f”) had forced me to really pay attention, and really think about every move I planned on making. If the Trafic (with one “f”) could do that for me in one week, imagine what it could have done for me in a year, or five years, or ten years. Not only had I become more attentive as a driver, but it was actually a lot of fun to push the Trafic (with one “f”) closer to it’s limits on public roads! I wasn’t detached from the experience of driving. And this coming from a person who’s drives a BRZ everyday!

This was a revelation for me! Quite contrarian thinking, but what if we in the states had much less powerful cars? We could have a new generation of smarter, more involved, and thoughtful drivers! These cars could be more efficient and produce less pollution. They’d actually be more fun to drive on the public roads because they’d have to be pushed closer to their limits. I have dream!!! Imagine an America with more Mini’s, Fiat 500’s, and Renault Twingo’s and less Suburbans and crossovers!

Big Blue:

Some cool cars - I didn’t take many pics of cars and I really regret that... But here’s what I got.

They love motorcycles and scooters:

The HJ61 the landlord owned - I loved this thing.

Things I loved:

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > Sinanigans 08/10/2015 at 01:45

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What I tended to see was that to the Italians, cars are used and abused as a tool. If I had a penny for every car in Rome that didn't have a dent or scratch on them, I'd be no richer. The Italians are some of the most aggressive drivers I've ever seen - not necessarily a bad thing though, it's hilarious when riding along.

SlickMcRick > Sinanigans 08/10/2015 at 01:51

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One key reason we have more powerful and larger cars other than because we can is that we have major highways that are often long and straight. We’d still get bored behind the wheel thus we wouldn’t be better drivers as a whole. The main ones to benefit from your thinking are ones that live in areas with winding roads. I wish I lived somewhere with daily twists and turns.

SlickMcRick > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut 08/10/2015 at 02:09

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Take a ride in Washington, D.C. I can almost guarantee it gets worse than Italy.

P1800stilinpieces > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut 08/10/2015 at 02:30

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Agreed. As you work your way towards Rome the frequency and intesity of damage increases from scratches and dents to a point where 1 in 5 cars has decent damage to 1 or two body panels. And I don’t think any of it gets fixed, just like nicks in a tool as badges of honor. We rented our Fiat 500xl (slow) with a Visa of some type and they are covering damage from a break- in in Florence. We rented with a Visa card as Am-Ex excludes rental coverage in Italy. From Am-Ex website - “Coverage is available internationally, except for vehicles rented in Australia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, and New Zealand. Please note that, in the event any coverage provided by this policy would be in violation of US economic or trade sanctions, such coverage shall be null and void.”

duurtlang > Sinanigans 08/10/2015 at 04:00

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I’ve been in Italy recently as well. Last week of July. I didn’t go as far south as you did though, I mainly stead near lake Garda and Verona.

As a European myself the types of vehicles used by Italians aren’t as foreign to me as they must be to you, but it’s always interesting to see how others do it. It sis surprise me that Italian city dwellers took some of their behemoths (like Merc MLs) way up the mountains and through tiny villages, through two way streets almost too narrow for one car. I was glad I took my own car and not the Dodge Magnum we planned on taking, as I’m sure I would’ve gotten that stuck somewhere.

Did you calculate how much diesel your van used?

pip bip - choose Corrour > Sinanigans 08/10/2015 at 04:43

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Opel Insignia.

Smoggi - powered by 3 cylinders > SlickMcRick 08/10/2015 at 04:55

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Long straight mayor highways with a speed limit of 70/75mph (85 in small parts). Every single one of those small cars can do those speeds and they do it on the Italian highways too. I commute on the Autobahn in Germany twice a week in my 64hp Skoda and I have no problems with merging or keeping up with traffic.

Cé hé sin > pip bip - choose Corrour 08/10/2015 at 05:10

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And the van could be an Opel too!

Have a Vivaro, it’s mechanically the same as a Trafic (with one F)

pip bip - choose Corrour > Cé hé sin 08/10/2015 at 05:18

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Renault

Cé hé sin > pip bip - choose Corrour 08/10/2015 at 05:24

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Nissan.

They’re all the same, grille and badging apart.

SlickMcRick > Smoggi - powered by 3 cylinders 08/10/2015 at 07:44

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Try merging on American highways with that 64hp. In general that’d be a bad idea. I’ve felt under powered in all of my small cars and they’ve had at least twice the HP of yours.

Mattbob > Sinanigans 08/10/2015 at 08:05

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This makes me want a motorcycle more than any other motorcycle ever has. What is this? I know very little about motorcycles but the engine sticking out makes me think BMW?

duurtlang > SlickMcRick 08/10/2015 at 08:09

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That must be a sign of poor infrastructural design. As in: way too short onramps. How do tractor trailer combinations merge in the US? Do they accelerate to highway speed from a standstill in 10 seconds?

Long Live the Longdoor > Sinanigans 08/10/2015 at 08:10

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Awesome post!

Really makes me want to go to Italy and drive a small car or perhaps a Trafic (with one “f”)!

Two Drink Minimum > SlickMcRick 08/10/2015 at 08:41

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Not sure I follow this. I mean, I think 64hp would be pretty grim, but twice that should be more than sufficient. My old 114hp Honda Fit had zero problem getting up to highway speed. I’ve run it up to 90+ mph on I-495 around Boston (the Yankee Autobahn), and while I wouldn’t describe the ride as peaceful, the car more than held its own in fast traffic.

Frankly, the real problem with merging on US freeways is that drivers refuse to accelerate to highways speeds . My Abarth makes probably 220-ish hp right now with mods, but I’m often getting onto freelways no faster because I’m stuck behind an Explorer going 45 mph as it enters the damn freeway.

Which goes back to the bad habits theory. People in overpowered cars feel no urgency getting up to freeway speed because they can always mash the pedal later.

smobgirl > Sinanigans 08/10/2015 at 09:05

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Now I have to go to Italy. And I’m curious whether they have any of those programs where you can rent cars from people (rather than the usual companies). It would be fun to experience it in something small, slow, and older.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Sinanigans 08/10/2015 at 09:12

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I will own one of these or a FIAT 126 someday!!! LOVE the nice old patina on this one! :)

wkiernan > SlickMcRick 08/10/2015 at 09:30

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I did it for years, with 44HP (‘66 VW Beetle) and 60HP (‘67 SAAB Monte Carlo) and 75HP (‘81 Toyota Corolla E70) and I never had any problem merging and keeping up with Interstate traffic and passing most of it... My secret? LEAD FOOT CONQUERS ALL.

Cé hé sin > SlickMcRick 08/10/2015 at 10:37

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Speeds are much higher on Autobahnen. How can a 64 hp car safely negotiate these and not American motorways? I’ve driven on 130 kmh French autoroutes in a 700cc Mk1 Smart and lived to tell the tale.

Cé hé sin > Mattbob 08/10/2015 at 10:40

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BMW.

Sinanigans > SlickMcRick 08/10/2015 at 12:54

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Mostly true but they do have a number of long and straight highways. I did lots of driving on the A1 Autostrada and it was quite long and straight in many parts.

Sinanigans > Cé hé sin 08/10/2015 at 12:56

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Yes I saw those as well! Wonderful things they are!!!

Sinanigans > SlickMcRick 08/10/2015 at 12:58

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Driven many times in D.C. area but I still think Baltimore is worse. I live just outside of NYC so I know all about horrible drivers.

Sinanigans > Mattbob 08/10/2015 at 13:00

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I felt the same! I couldn’t tell you what it was because I couldn’t find a logo or name. But it looks like an air cooled boxer motor so maybe an old BMW?

Sinanigans > duurtlang 08/10/2015 at 13:05

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I couldn’t figure it out because I couldn’t find the tripometer. I drive like 2000km in seven days but lost track of how many times we fueled since we only topped up the fuel. I’d say we spent about 200eur on fuel. With that being said, it was very fuel efficient!

Sinanigans > smobgirl 08/10/2015 at 13:06

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You have to do it!

Sinanigans > Long Live the Longdoor 08/10/2015 at 13:06

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Just don’t drive it in Florence... Most difficult drive of my life!

Sinanigans > Long Live the Longdoor 08/10/2015 at 13:07

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Go to Italy! Just do it!

duurtlang > Sinanigans 08/10/2015 at 13:12

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I believe diesel in Italy is about €1.40 a liter or so. So roughly 140 liters of diesel for 2000 km, or 7L/100 km (33.5 mpg US). Which isn’t bad I guess.

Sinanigans > duurtlang 08/10/2015 at 13:20

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Hey that’s not half bad! LOTS of the driving was on tight, windy, hilly roads, and through very old and narrow streets.

duurtlang > Sinanigans 08/10/2015 at 13:27

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Well, it is a very rough estimate. Your €200 could’ve been €250 and your 2000 km could’ve been 1750 km for all I know.

Mattbob > Sinanigans 08/10/2015 at 13:39

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from my brief research it looks almost like a BMW S 1200 R with a custom rear end/seat.

Sinanigans > duurtlang 08/10/2015 at 13:42

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I’m almost certain it was 2000km’s give or take 100km. Same with the fuel spending. I’m pretty sure we didn’t spend over 225eur. Still impressive considering the type of driving I did :)