Confession Booth

[Boffin]

He's still not driving a sports car.

Look. What I'm trying to say is that if you recognize a car as a sports car, you will drive faster regardless of actual performance.

Ummmm. My mate has a ute that apparently is not as fast as Paulies, and I can tell you now the thing has huge power ad it picks up amazingly well.

And there's less weight on the rear tyres, so they are easier to spin.

 

[Rykon Zero]

Ummmm. My mate has a ute that apparently is not as fast as Paulies, and I can tell you now the thing has huge power ad it picks up amazingly well.

And there's less weight on the rear tyres, so they are easier to spin.

IT. IS. NOT. A. SPORTS. CAR.

I am not doubting that utes are fast as hell, I'm saying they're not sports cars!

And anyway, I was probably mistaken, if Paulie's got a Holden, it doesn't have the same engine.

 

[Danny]

He's still not driving a sports car.

At this point, I'd like to point out that Dressage is a sport.

 

[Bram Turismo]

Oh. My. God.

Please cut this first-time car crap already. Saying an MX-5 is a bad first car because it's lively makes me want to post a facepalm image. You have got to drive like a bloody idiot to crash it. Drive with some freaking responsibility and common sense and you can have any car as a first car.

 

[Azuremen]

IT. IS. NOT. A. SPORTS. CAR.

I am not doubting that utes are fast as hell, I'm saying they're not sports cars!

And anyway, I was probably mistaken, if Paulie's got a Holden, it doesn't have the same engine.

You're 14, you've never really driven, so STOP. TALKING. ABOUT. DRIVING.

 

[Stevisiov]

Over the weekend, i went managed to get into a 19+ clubbing event. It was probably the riskiest thing i've managed to pull off. A friend of mine had to pass back his ID to me after he got into the club, mind you he was using someone elses ID as well. 19+ events are just so much damn better than all ages...alcohol really does make a big difference in the amount of fun you have. Even all the girls got better looking

Fraudulently gaining access to a club whilst being under-age is certainly illegal and thus against the AUP. So I would like to say, that under no circumstances, have I ever, ever been in a club underage.

Fortunately, I don't have such an issue any more since I am old enough to enter clubs legally. Although be warned, IF I gave my ID to a friend who wasn't old enough, the bouncer could have seized it and passed it onto the police. Once again, I would like to point out that under no stances would I do such an illegal thing, nor have I ever had to send of for a new licence as a result of it happening to me.

Oh. My. God.

Please cut this first-time car crap already. Saying an MX-5 is a bad first car because it's lively makes me want to post a facepalm image. You have got to drive like a bloody idiot to crash it. Drive with some freaking responsibility and common sense and you can have any car as a first car.

^This.

Common sense and self restraint is easily the biggest factor. Car control is obviously important, but a sensible driver should be able to avoid reaching the point where can control becomes necessary. It's only a few select circumstances in when a certain level of car control is required and through no fault of the drivers. Unfortunately, its restraint and experience that the vast majority of new drivers lack, and a fair few are unfortunate to lack the common sense aspect too. Giving these people a powerful car is obviously a risk. I've never driven a 300zx, but I have little reason so believe its going to be such a handful, only driven in a careless manor is it likely to bite. You have to be very honest with yourself legendary, and ask yourself without your obvious bias, do you really have the self restraint to avoid driving recklessly for a few seconds, the tendency to quickly show of your cars prowess to your mates, is the easiest way to land your car in a nearby ditch.

I've never driven in a powerful car with my mates, which is probably a good thing. Quite often I have driven powerful cars with my dad (who is an ex-rally driver and now instructor), non of the times in my own car, this certainly prevented me from driving like an idiot.

Other times I have driven powerful cars whilst working, and when your in a position of responsibility, you don't mess about.

The problem is, when you own the car, drive it everyday, think you are comfortable with it and then one day you push it too far. You need a fair bit of restraint not to do this, esspecially when you have a car that is designed to travel fairly briskly and likes to be driven in a sporty manner. This is where experience comes in, it not only tells you where your limits are, but also tells you when and where its safe to drive a little spiritedly.

 

[Paulie]

Old, unfettled MX5s have no power. The idea behind them is keeping momentum and having smooth inputs.

The E30 - nahhh. A 318i having the same power as a 3L V6 in a Japanese sports car? Give over - even a 325 wouldn't be as powerful.

They are all dangerous because they are older. See videos of old station wagons going up against new small cars and the results are actually quite frightening. I'd say the 205 GTI is the most dengerous - have you seen how thick the A pillers are??? The are like toothpicks.

For some stupid reason I just saw E30 and thought 3.0L .

IT. IS. NOT. A. SPORTS. CAR.

I am not doubting that utes are fast as hell, I'm saying they're not sports cars!

And anyway, I was probably mistaken, if Paulie's got a Holden, it doesn't have the same engine.

No it isn't technically, but I love it like one. But I've never gone out hooning, ever. Wait, is that a confession? I've never been hooning .

 

[TB]

IT. IS. NOT. A. SPORTS. CAR.

It might take a bit longer but almostany car can get to 100mph and then wrap itself around a pole. Sports car or not.

 

[Boffin]

For some stupid reason I just saw E30 and thought 3.0L .

You have much to learn, young Paulie . Don't worry - I do that sometimes.

IT. IS. NOT. A. SPORTS. CAR.

I am not doubting that utes are fast as hell, I'm saying they're not sports cars!

And anyway, I was probably mistaken, if Paulie's got a Holden, it doesn't have the same engine.

Oh....terribly sorry - the fact that someone classifies it as a sports car or not instead of what the actual machine is capable of determines whether they crash of not. Righto, I'll remember that for next time.



And wouldn't a sports car be safer than someothing that isn't - because it would handle better?

The ute - there's no weight on the rears, so one could easily drift/spin out at a roundabout on a wet day - and the sheer acceleration of a well maintained one should seriously render it almost illigal. Not that it should be - they are a work horse with practicality in mind - but don't for a second think they won't tear your head off if you take too many liberties with it.

With sports car dynamics, incidental weight shifting won't be as much of a problem as in something with the rear swinging like a pendulum. Thats before you consider the power the ute has. Hence if a car loses (or starts to lose) control, the sports car would probably have a better chance of regaining control over the ute if they were travelling at the same speed.

 

[Azuremen]

The difference between the 'ute and the Sports Car is the 'ute will only step out under power while a properly setup sports car will set out under throttle lift or trail braking. Which the 'ute has even more problems with do to that majority weight being up front. And power induced over steer is much easier to manage than lift-off induced, thus why an M3 is easier to drive sideways than an MR2. On top of that, I imagine a 'ute is more softly sprung than a sports car, which leads to a slower transfer of weight, thus making it a little less on edge in a dynamic situation.

As a side note, I am quite curious what performance numbers these 'utes put down, as you are making them out to be ragingly fast in a straight line... and I am wondering if this is actually the case or some exaggeration based on other cars over there, kind of how a 15second 1/4 mile is fast compared to a great deal of the cars sold in Europe, etc.

 

[TheCracker]

As a side note, I am quite curious what performance numbers these 'utes put down, as you are making them out to be ragingly fast in a straight line... and I am wondering if this is actually the case or some exaggeration based on other cars over there, kind of how a 15second 1/4 mile is fast compared to a great deal of the cars sold in Europe, etc.

10 seconds to 60 from 204hp. From what i can find.

 

[TB]

10 seconds to 60 from 204hp. From what i can find.

So you pull up next to a '99 Honda Odyssey in your V6 Commodore and lose.

 

[McLaren]

I imagine the big V8 models are much quicker. Probably 6-7 seconds to 60.

 

[Azuremen]

I imagine the big V8 models are much quicker. Probably 6-7 seconds to 60.

Which still isn't really fast... That is hot hatch, etc speed. Hell, my MR-S with a massive 138hp did it in 7 seconds...

 

[Perfect Balance]

The ute - there's no weight on the rears, so one could easily drift/spin out at a roundabout on a wet day

Not really sure what the topic is about here, but.....is this a problem?

 

[Boffin]

Not really sure what the topic is about here, but.....is this a problem?

When it is unexpected, yes. Utes are amazingly hard to catch once they let go.

And as for the utes - I have no idea what numbers they put down - but a blast in a 12yr old one of those impressed me more than a blast in a friends XR5 turbo.

Maybe it was sheer suprise though.....

 

[Rotary Junkie]

10 seconds to 60 from 204hp. From what i can find.

That absolutely cannot be right.

Older, less powerful versions of the same motor, in heavier cars, knock out at least mid-8s to 60.

 

[Alex.]

My car does 0-60 in 10 and a bit and mine has 68bhp

 

[Azuremen]

My car does 0-60 in 10 and a bit and mine has 68bhp

Doubtful, you have an Aygo right?

 

[Alex.]

Yeah, I had a friend time it (empty very straight back road). He got 10.9 and said he pressed it late though. However it was a slight downhill gradient so I think a proper figure would be nearer 12 than 10.0. It feels fast though, much quicker than say a 1.3 Corsa (only car I have ever driven besides this one though!)

Don't get me wrong though. I've only ever done that once and am not an unsafe nutcase of a driver who think it's al about how fast you can make your first car go.

 

[Azuremen]

Hmm. Numbers I found were high 13 second to 60 mph. Slowest car I ever owned was a Tercel, which was still under 12 seconds to 60...

Pretty sure I'd kill myself if I had to drive anything slower than 8 seconds to 60 now... and using the term "fast" when describing 0-60 in 2 digit numbers is a bit odd.

 

[Jondot]

Yeah, I had a friend time it (empty very straight back road). He got 10.9 and said he pressed it late though. However it was a slight downhill gradient so I think a proper figure would be nearer 12 than 10.0. It feels fast though, much quicker than say a 1.3 Corsa (only car I have ever driven besides this one though!)

Don't get me wrong though. I've only ever done that once and am not an unsafe nutcase of a driver who think it's al about how fast you can make your first car go.

Also worth noting that speedos tend to be out by a bit. 70 on mine is around 64, for example.

Frankly I think the 0-60 is slightly irrelevant over here, although it does give you a vague indication of how quick a car feels to drive. I have never done anything close to 9.7 seconds (or whatever my car actually does), because I feel like a tosspot as soon as the revs stray over about 3500rpm. And I prefer not to chuck my passengers about.

 

[Perfect Balance]

It feels fast though, much quicker than say a 1.3 Corsa

Oh man I lol'ed.

Something that slow would probably be on the verge of being dangerous to drive over here.

 

[Alex.]

Fastest car I've been to 60 was a Ferrari California, that WAS fast But the car has a sense of nippyness about it.

Oh man I lol'ed.

Something that slow would probably be on the verge of being dangerous to drive over here.

You make it sound as if there is a minimum speed limit of 120mph in Virginia.

 

[Azuremen]

You make it sound as if there is a minimum speed limit of 120mph in Virginia.

No, its called a freeway. You are expected to merge at 60 to 70 mph, not 30 something. And most on-ramps are not exactly long. Not to mention semi rural highways where you pull out from a stop sign onto a road way with a speed limit of 60mph. With your car, you'd have to wait AGES for enough room to pull out without slowing traffic.

 

[Perfect Balance]

No, its called a freeway. You are expected to merge at 60 to 70 mph, not 30 something. And most on-ramps are not exactly long. Not to mention semi rural highways where you pull out from a stop sign onto a road way with a speed limit of 60mph. With your car, you'd have to wait AGES for enough room to pull out without slowing traffic.

Exactly. My friend owns a 1980's VW Rabbit diesel, and pulling out into traffic during our lunch break at work is just about impossible, and requires the pedal to the floor when you finally get a chance to go after 4 minutes of waiting.


And yes, rural highways where you've got people going 65mph on a hilly road, over which there may be an intersection where a car has pulled out in front of you.

 

[Jondot]

No, its called a freeway. You are expected to merge at 60 to 70 mph, not 30 something. And most on-ramps are not exactly long. Not to mention semi rural highways where you pull out from a stop sign onto a road way with a speed limit of 60mph. With your car, you'd have to wait AGES for enough room to pull out without slowing traffic.

Oh I see, so it's more force of habit that comes with having huge engined cars driving around everywhere, then? UK motorways are just as (if not) faster and busier than US ones, in fact probably more so. We're just kind enough (or maybe wise enough) to move out into the next lane when we see an on-ramp coming up. We don't have to give way legally, we just do. Mostly. If we didn't, the roads would probably be clogged up with Corsa diesels trying to get out.

 

[Perfect Balance]

Oh I see, so it's more force of habit that comes with having huge engined cars driving around everywhere, then?

Actually I think, but I'm not completely sure, that you literally are supposed to merge at the speed limit of the freeway, which would be 60-70mph depending on where you are. Getting on at a slower speed and blocking traffic could probably earn you a ticket.

UK motorways are just as (if not) faster and busier than US ones, in fact probably more so.

You guys regularly have freeways moving along at 95mph?

We're just kind enough (or maybe wise enough) to move out into the next lane when we see an on-ramp coming up. We don't have to give way legally, we just do. Mostly. If we didn't, the roads would probably be clogged up with Corsa diesels trying to get out.

If the roads aren't crowded people normally move over here as well, just sometimes you can't, and if you're not going fast enough by the time the merging lane ends, you're screwed.

 

[Jondot]

Actually I think, but I'm not completely sure, that you literally are supposed to merge at the speed limit of the freeway, which would be 60-70mph depending on where you are. Getting on at a slower speed and blocking traffic could probably earn you a ticket.

Mmm, actually we're technically the same. If (on test day, in a 1.2 Corsa most likely) you pulled out in front of a car and forced it to slow even slightly, you'd receive an instant fail.

You guys regularly have freeways moving along at 95mph?

Absolutely. Which is why my 1.6's MPG tends to equal that of a 3.7 Mustang. And presumably why learners aren't permitted on anything classed as a Motorway.

 

[mustangGT90210]

EDIT: Here, let me rephrase: if you get a sports car, you will think "Ooh, I have a sports car" and you will almost instinctively drive faster. This is not me picking on a kid who's barely younger than me, it happens to every single person in my family, from my mom's SLK, to my uncle's Viper.

Untrue. I get to drive a Mustang and Escape regularly next to my truck. While I drive both of them faster than the truck(not a hard thing, my baby is real slow to start with, I drive it like a granny to save gas). I just get up to normal paces in the Mustang and Escape. I do believe a Mustang is a sports car, yes? Why do I drive it in a very civilized manner everytime I get in? Please, let me hear your reasons

For some stupid reason I just saw E30 and thought 3.0L .



No it isn't technically, but I love it like one. But I've never gone out hooning, ever. Wait, is that a confession? I've never been hooning .

You, son, are deprived. I haven't gone 5 days without hooning in the past month. God I love sandpits/empty lots/limited slip diff's so I can do real donuts off road

It might take a bit longer but almostany car can get to 100mph and then wrap itself around a pole. Sports car or not.

I'm pretty sure a Smart car would just bounce off the pole, leaving it's occupants wrapped around it very unceremoniously...

When it is unexpected, yes. Utes are amazingly hard to catch once they let go.

And as for the utes - I have no idea what numbers they put down - but a blast in a 12yr old one of those impressed me more than a blast in a friends XR5 turbo.

Maybe it was sheer suprise though.....

This is right along the lines of my confession:

I had my first "loss of control" situation sunday. It was raining, I have like no tread on my tires. Drivin' my old truck. I was making my turn, doin' about 25, put my foot on the gas to kick the tail out a little and around she went Did about a 270 degree spin before I came to a stop, brakes worked good enough, I dialed in some opposite lock real quick, most likely too fast though, if it woulda caught I would have been screwed. But as I was doing it I was sure it wouldn't catch. Finally came to rest sideways across 2 lanes, but never touched a curb(they were on both sides) and just sat there for a second talking with the girl I had with me.

Lesson learned, the ass slides a lot better on wet pavement than sand/dirt where I've been practicing. What annoys me is the fact it won't do a good donut, yet it'll whip around and nearly complete a spin perfectly


Oh yeah, and to add to that 0-60 argument, my truck will do it in under 10 seconds. I have 145hp, 265 ft/lbs torque, and 5500 pounds of truck to lug around. It's by far the slowest thing I've ever driven, I don't know how you europeans can stand going slower, and considering this fast