Practicality or Performance?

[JohnBM01]

Not every car is practical. Not every car is a performer. Not every car is a performer and practical. Not every car is practical nor a performer. As a "spinoff" to my "What is your ideal car?" thread, I'd like to ask about practicality and performance.

Everyone has different tastes in cars. Usually, a person into trucks obviously wants performance. A person with a family obviously wants something practical. I am very fond of art. I believe that as an artist, a car should be a reflection of one's character and tastes. So with that said, a person with a sporty sedan believes in practicality, but has some power to the side. A person who has a luxury sedan obviously has a calm side on the road and is not driven too much on power.

But if you ask me, I'm normally a fun-loving person. But as I type this introduction, I'm calm and silent. You know, a quiet feeling, but happy nonetheless. So if I wanted to exhibit my character from this state of calmness, my car of choice would probably be a beautiful Lexus sedan of some kind. Or if it comes out anytime soon, the Scion tC would be another nice choice. If I wanted power, I have three choices. First one is simple- get some Americana horsepower and blow the doors off any two-bit stocker. The second choice- go for something with low-to-medium horsepower and have performance based on handling, not flat-out speed. The final choice- get some exotic muscle with good horsepower and great handling. Practicality or performance? Your call, GTP.

 

[Josh]

If I could only have one car I'd choose performance over practicality anyday. I have the best of both worlds, though. A practical car for daily driving - '95 Lexus GS300, and a performance car for tearing up on the weekends - was a 500hp '03 Cobra. Soon to be 600+hp Supra.

I like impractical cars. Driving a loud ass, heavy clutched, knotchy shifting, high horsepowered car makes driving fun. Driving my Lexus bores the **** out of me, but it keeps the miles down on my weekend toy(s). Blah.

 

[vat_man]

Sadly, operating in the real world of large mortgages, speed cameras, expensive fuel, insurance, the other half driving and the need for to combine as much into one vehicle as possible means we're pretty well tied to the Japanese midsizers, since the European equivalents are:
a) too expensive in comparison
b) crap.

So, the super Sube fits the choice. Goes okay, fantastic grip and handling, fits all the crap we put in it. I'm still pitching for a Liberty/Legacy wagon replacement later in the year...

 

[McLaren'sAngel]

Hiya!

Hmmmmm...this one might be kinda hard for me to answer . I think that I am a mix of both when it comes to car. I like to pick a performance car and drive it as if its just a pratical car or as how John would drive a Lexus. Calm and nice is all! Although I do think at times when you look at me and see how my Camaro Z28 can reflect me is just soooooooooooWRONG Yea it is to me! Its like I am one of those gurls who would like better driving something more gurly like a new Volkswagen Beetle

Well, for me and my friends being loud whenever we talk outside or at the mall does make up for me and my car being compared! If I am loud, my car must be loud! Enter the SLP LoudMouth!!! Um anyways yea! I just like choosing a Performance type car and driving it very calmly because there is nothing to prove who is the better person by driving faster or racing. Its only dangerous for you and others. I just luv the feel of some performance and cruising away with happiness...with some loud American Muscle sounds!!! ooOOo and and and also I wont never ever forget my baby McLaren F1!!!!!!!!!

 

[Sage]

About the only thing I care about luxury-wise is that the seat is comfortable (especially in lower back support, which a lot of manufacturers can't get right). Being that I live in soCAL, A/C would be nice too. Otherwise, I don't particularly care about the rest.

 

[Joey D]

Usually, a person into trucks obviously wants performance.

No they usally want hauling and towing capibilities.

 

[West Side Ninja]

Performance all the way for me. All I need on the inside are pedals, a seat, steering wheel, all nessesary guages, and of couse the shifter.

 

[emad]

As practical as possible without sacrificing performance. Frankly, having a performance car where I live is pretty pointless. There's only 1 track anywhere near Toronto and they charge craploads of money on the very very rare occasions that they hold track days. Plus I like cruising around with friends and it's just not possible with most sports cars. So that'd mean something like a Cadillac CTS-V, Audi RS6, Subaru Impreza STI, etc. The reason I like these is because they'll comfortably seat 5 and for whenever I'm bored, they'll be really quick off the line

 

[1X83Z]

Both: used Audi A8 4.2. About as expensive as a new A4 V6 but better with 110 more horses, room everywhere, improved quickness, and all the luxuries of a luxury sedan. I'd say the S4 is the fusion of practicality and performance, also, but they're not on the cheap side, really.

 

[retsmah]

Practicality all the way:

It can seat TWO people!

 

[JohnBM01]

Wow. A lot of you would rather try to have a mix of both. Some of you hardcore people want performance than practicality. Now, the truck thing I was mentioning was that some people get trucks for "tow and go," as we would say. And most trucks have that get up and go to almost throw practicality out the window.

The latest Subaru Legacy, as I noted, appeared to be a beautiful car. Or as I commented, "Subaru's sleeper." To me, it looks like a practical car, but it has a pretty capable engine. And since it has Subaru's all-wheel drive system, you know you'll get Subaru handling.

Now let's look at the Chrysler 300M coming out. Luxury family sedan. Rear-wheel drive. I think that car totally looks practical, if not aggressive. I guess that some cars can be practical until you drive it. What do you think?

 

[1X83Z]

The latest Subaru Legacy, as I noted, appeared to be a beautiful car. Or as I commented, "Subaru's sleeper." To me, it looks like a practical car, but it has a pretty capable engine. And since it has Subaru's all-wheel drive system, you know you'll get Subaru handling.

Yeah - and the new Legacy is great. But it's no more of an all-rounder than the Mitsubishi Galant GTS, Honda Accord EX V6, or Nissan Altima SE. Everybody seems to be giving Legacy the benefit of being a new model without considering the great things offered by already-existing models.

Now let's look at the Chrysler 300M coming out. Luxury family sedan. Rear-wheel drive. I think that car totally looks practical, if not aggressive. I guess that some cars can be practical until you drive it. What do you think?

It's called the 300 and comes in 300, 300 Touring, and 300C designations; the 300M was quietly cancelled, much to my disappointment.

 

[JohnBM01]

Really? I didn't know that.

 

[Race Idiot]

My next car will probably be under the performance category, although performance isn't really a category i'd class it as. More like sex on wheels, impractical sex on wheels.

 

[Race Idiot]

Edit: Arses, double post!

 

[Maklov]

I would go for a mix, but more on the performance side. But I like them in a "subtle" look, nothing like 2F2F and all thsoe vinyls and colors. Maybe a bit of neon lights in the inside for the spedometer and tachymeter(think thast wut it is), anyways but i would also use it for daily driving. Something not to powerful for a daily driving but more power then other peoples cars when they drive...

 

[ExigeEvan]

Well I would like to go for performance, so that would be an Elise . But that is in no-way practical. So I would probably go for a Lotus Carlton. Good performance and seats 5 .

0-60mph takes 5.2secs and 0-100mph just 11.5secs

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Sadly, operating in the real world of large mortgages, speed cameras, expensive fuel, insurance, the other half driving and the need for to combine as much into one vehicle as possible means we're pretty well tied to the Japanese midsizers, since the European equivalents are:
a) too expensive in comparison
b) crap.

So, the super Sube fits the choice. Goes okay, fantastic grip and handling, fits all the crap we put in it. I'm still pitching for a Liberty/Legacy wagon replacement later in the year...

Your import laws (they're not your personal import laws, obviously) do pretty much suck. The Germans are definitely the best at the fast estate, with Audi, Mercedes and BMW all carrying strong cars in different sizes in that class. However, the Australian taxation system pushes them out of financial viability.

For me, if it's a single car, you have to go for practicality. I have a wife and young child, and I need to be able to move them comfortably. I also want to be able to move them quickly, and when they're not about, go extremely quickly.

So, a German performance estate for me please.

As stated in PunkRock's $200,000 thread, I'd have an RS6 Avant.

However, if you can discount the practicalities (you already have another car, for example), then it's performance all the way. I really want a toy car, like a Caterham 7 or an Ariel Atom.

 

[1X83Z]

Really? I didn't know that.

It's true - in fact, the 300M wasn't the only Chrysler that was cancelled; the Concorde is done too. Even more interesting is that, in creating the rear-drive Magnum wagon, Dodge has quietly cancelled the front-drive Intrepid sedan, which sold fairly well.

 

[JohnBM01]

So what's next? Dodge will silently cancel plans of a new-age Viper attack on Le Mans next year? Dodge will silently build its own LMP to challenge Audi? Or who knows? Dodge may even build a small car to challenge the Daihatsu Copen or the Mini Cooper S?

 

[1X83Z]

So what's next? Dodge will silently cancel plans of a new-age Viper attack on Le Mans next year? Dodge will silently build its own LMP to challenge Audi? Or who knows? Dodge may even build a small car to challenge the Daihatsu Copen or the Mini Cooper S?

It's all entirely possible.

I'm a bit disheartened with the two new 'big Chryslers' that everyone keeps talking about. I've seen as many Chrysler 300Cs as I've seen base Chrysler 300s, and that means there are Chrysler 300s running around with a 190bhp 2.7L V6 that does 0-60 in about 11.5 seconds. Right now the used cars bought by people who can't afford real cars are mid-90s Buick LeSabres and Oldsmobile Cieras - in ten years, it'll be the base Chrysler 300. Not exactly a brilliant statement for Chrysler's image.