Performance: Relativity and Balance

[Zak33]

Agila is a GREAT example. I have no problems with them, they are a HOOT to drive, you have to practice cornering in them to improve them, every thing you do makes a difference, and Moby came back with a wide smile
Why? Because, as he so wel words it, it's like Gran Turismo....it is not fast, it rolls and it simply doesn't matter, because, well driven, it will suprise people

But....when I discuss relativity, I alsomean relativity in your mind to what you last drove.

Example: I was on a Ride and Drive day, many years ago, when a man who had driven a TVR to the test track (Millbrook, which I know like the back of my hand) and his first car on the Drive was a Calibra 2.0 16v Red Top.
I have never heard anyone so vehemently slaughter that car....but not for handling. Oh not, he thought it turned ok (it was raining, so in comparison to his S3 is prolly did) but to the "sheer lack of power"
I deliberately aimed him at a Cartlon 2.0i because I knew it would make him froth at the mouth. it did....he hated it....it was "so slow that he wondered how anyone was allowed to make such dangerous cars"
I dropped him into an Astra 1.6 Cesaro, which he then said was not bad..for what it was...and then a Nova 1.4 which I had to fight to make him drive. He looked rather shocked at the lack of brakes but the power suprised him.

Relatitivity had taken over.

and then, cos I'm a git, I put him in a Cavalier 2.0 CDi (115 bhp, vs the Calibra's 150 earlier on in the day)
He came back and pronounced that the Cavalier was the fastest, the best accelerator, and was the only car he'd even consider driving daily.

So I put him back in the original Caibra 2.0 16v Red Top andf he came back and stayed silent until he went home,
He didn't thank me, but he did consle himself with the words "I guess it's what you get used to"

I am assured that he wrapped his TVR around a tree on the way home, but that story may not be true.

Relativity.

[[GSV]Trig]

If you think you're going faster in your 1.2 Nova (I know, I thought I was when I drove one too) than your 2.0 Mondeo then fine

Rob's 1.0 Nova does 0-60 in less than 5 seconds

[Konan555]

Relativity.

After getting back from a week of driving a (new at the time) X plate transit, the little S reg 1L polo I had would always feel like some insane go-kart.

Of course, in comparison with most cars, it was a most hideously underpowered boat anchor of a vehicle with no link between the direction of the front wheels and the direction it was headed..... but next to a transit.

[Zak33]

brilliant Zakkly my thought too

[[GSV]Trig]

Thats probably the same boat I'm in atm, I went from a 3.2 V6 Trooper to the A2 1.4 petrol, it does feel like a gokart, mind you saying that having been driving the Trooper borrowing the works Vectra Sri130 Deadsel felt like a sports car and handled like it was on rails...

[Zak33]

so....you see where I'm coming from? Every one is, at the moment, trying to get the best car ever....even if it's their first car...with nothing to compare it to.

I think that, on the whole, as I've said a few times here, it's good to try some slower stuff first.... build yaself up slowly.

This is in relation to the number of First Car posts and the , in my opinion, very high sights people are setting themselves.

[[GSV]Trig]

Yeah I know exactly where your coming from, there are many factors in owning a car that make it fun, good, or whatever word you use to describe how you feel about it, or rather how it makes you feel...

[Zak33]

so how do two old dudes...like you and I Trig.....fathers.... explain this to the kids of today ... huh?

[[GSV]Trig]

Clingy, is old...
Father tho, I'll let that one go...

Cars are weird things, almost as much so as women, hence the old phrase, if its got tits or tyres...

For me a car has to be semi practical, relatively fast, cheap, fun and most of all subtle.
I like my subtle cars me, out of everything I've ever owned my Calibra fitted that bill most, I also liked my old GSi but for different reasons, that car was bombproof, get in, nail it, get out, as long as you kept up with the servicing it was fine, the Calibra was almost as good on that front but being a turbo was a touch more delicate..

But explaining it, I'm not sure you can, cars are personal things to men, ask a woman to explain why one handbag or pair of shoes is better than the next, same thing.

[dkmech]

When I went to the Birmingham motor show a few years back they were offering test drives round a car park course. You had a race driver with you as a passenger and you had a wide range of cars to choose from. You just had to sign up and wait your turn in the queue.

Having seen that the subaru queue was 2 hours long I went for the Nissan X-Trail. That was out on the track so they offered me a Micra while I waited. It was great fun chucking that around the twisty "track" while keeping it below the max 30 mph. Then I had even more fun in an X-Trail - hairpins at 30mph in an off-roader are more fun than pootling in an impreza wrx while trying not to go above 30. Relative

[malfunction]

It all comes back to cars being status symbols though - there was never one in my family growing up and in fact my parents never learnt to drive - so I didn't bother until much later in life than usual (~30).

So for me, while I'd like a nice car one day other things take priority and I'm quite happy with a boggo 1.6 Focus (mk 1 at that). Plus as has been sorta said already if it's not that fast and you 'have to' thrash it to make it go anywhere it feels faster because you're putting so much more effort in and because the engine is screaming. That said when we bought the focus (before I even learnt to drive - so at the moment it's my wife's car) I did read around and for me the focus was the winner based on being a good price (was 2nd hand not new and lots about) and the best handling in the class. So I guess I was influenced by the car's 'status' / capabilities but not to the extent where I wanted a premium badge or a faster car with lower mpg and higher insurance.

In fact my wife's getting a car through work soon and I'll be inheriting the focus and am more than happy for it to be my first car (though I probably will be vain enough to get the dint(s) and scratches repaired properly and get the interior valeted)

[Zak33]

(though I probably will be vain enough to get the dint(s) and scratches repaired properly and get the interior valeted)

That's not vanity.... tis pride. Totally different

[[GSV]Trig]

Vanity and pride can we weird things not always good when it comes to a car, I know ppl that have had old bangers that dont even get services but still get used for track days, cars arent always about looks, the better a car looks, the more expencive they are the more paranoid you are about them which can take the fun out of a car imho...

[dangel]

Vanity and pride can we weird things not always good when it comes to a car, I know ppl that have had old bangers that dont even get services but still get used for track days, cars arent always about looks, the better a car looks, the more expencive they are the more paranoid you are about them which can take the fun out of a car imho...

..and you're right there. My old-banger audi is far more 'stress-free' to drive/park than my other car.
It's wonderful not worrying about supermarket dinks..

[Lowe]

I see where you're coming from now Zak.

Sarah's car's a 1.1 Saxo. When the Clio was off the road for a while I borrowed the Saxo - getting back into the Clio after a month of Saxo, well you can imagine.

[[GSV]Trig]

2 years of Deadsel Vectra, Trooper and A2, reaaaaally cant wait to fire the CavT up again...