Underestimating and Overestimating Actual Performance

[JohnBM01]

Cocky? Confident? Absolutely sure? Do you think your tuned Supra can put a sexy Saleen S7 on the shelf? Do you think your Bronco can outhandle a Dakar racer? Or on the other hand, do you underestimate your car? Judging it too early and too critically, saying that it handles like crap? Or saying that it oversteers too much, usually unecessarily? GTPlanet, this topic is about underestimating and overestimating performance. If your car can actually out accelerate more powerful cars either in class or in an upper class, you are UNDERestimating your car. If you think your budget-concious, underpowered economy car can outrun a muscle car that can run 11s or even 10s, you are OVERestimating your car. So the situation in question is about finding out how to actually take advantage of what kind of car you have, and keeping performance on that level without modifying it to be four times better than it's supposed to be on the street or in competition. How do you make the distinction? That's the question, you see.

Since I have a voice and have my own opinions as you do, I'll start.

A person who usually overestimates his/her car's capabilities usually ends up crashing hard or losing races. This can include a street stock VW Beetle trying to ford across water about 4 inches high, whether in off-road or flooded road conditions. Underestimating would be taking a Chevrolet Camaro around the mostly high-speed road course at Willow Springs like it's the Grand Prix of Monaco, the corners at Brno, or the SLOW hairpin at Donnington Park. Usually, if you have a certain car that's fast, one should be able to prove it and unlock the car's potential. No matter how much you love your little performer, it isn't a perfect, do-it-all machine. In terms of getting into avoidable accidents, more people overestimate their cars than underestimate. Examples include outrunning trains, going through flooded streets, or anything like that. You'll need to learn about your car and know what it's capable and incapable of.

Your turn!

 

[Joey D]

I estimate my trucks performance perfectly well. It's not fast, top speed around 98mph. It can't handle at all, thank you rwd and **** tires. It can't accelerate, 16 sec quater time. It can't stop, 3700 pounds of sheer metal on crappy discs.

They only thing that I can possibly beat is some punk ass kid in a Civic, another S-truck, or a K-car from the 80's - early 90's i.e. Geo Metro. Wow looks like I got a true sports car here

 

[rollazn]

Why did I know from the title that it was going to be a JohnBM01 thread? Maybe it is a lucky guess or what not.

Anyways, seems like an interesting thread. Although you have already done one about the most underrated car, have you not? I know this is quite different but on the other hand, they share some similarity.

 

[ShobThaBob]

Generally, for non-professional drivers, it's less about their cars performance, and more about whether they can adequately gauge THEIR performance.

 

[McLaren'sAngel]

Hiya! Meow! (='.'=)


Me having a LT1 Camaro Z28 always give me a BIG smile whenever I start the car! I actually underestimated it when I first got it. That underesimation was in the "confortability" section. I thought that sitting in the car would feel like othe "normal" cars like all of my friends and relatives have. But just sitting in it with clean leather seats just changed me into lUVING the car! Just so fun to feel comfortable during rides to anywhere!

As for performance, I didnt really pay attention to it...sorta. I underestimated the Automatic transmission as I thought it would be SLOW but it actually surprised me when I pressed the pedal all the way down and got scared Still wish I have a Manual though

and one thing I did wrong too about the car...I OVERESTIMATED the gas by ALOT!!! Seeing that Z28 badge on the side of the car when it first came into my driveway as a surprise made me want to cry alittle bit knowing its a V8 5.7 Litters. But after driving around from time to time, its not bad at all...in fact its not expensive! well that is if you dont drive to far places!

 

[speedy_2]

I underestimated my car when I first bought it. Weighing it at almost 4000lbs and thought the STS would be slow and sluggish. But, when I took my first corner and ran it for the first time on the freeway I knew there was more to this car than it's weight. I was really suprised when I took it to the track. Putting "ricers" to shame with thier bolt-on mods and gutted interiors. I was beating them with everything but the kitchen sink in my car. I might've overestimated the gas milage a little. Especially in the city. On the highway I can get a good 20mpg at 90mph. Not too bad for a 4.6 V8. But, the way I drive in the city makes for 14mpg averages on a good day.

 

[MazKid]

I've driven my 323 to the limits of grip and mechanical performance - when I first started driving it I believe that I under-estimated it.

Gotta love the economy car performance driving. Who knew 82hp could propel a 2200(or so) lb 4 speed auto to speeds over 100mph.

But it looks pretty damn good that I'll have that elusive '92 MX-3 GS sometime soon...the place that has it still has it listed on AutoTrader and when I called the first time(over a week ago) they said it was sold. Now they've dropped the price to $1800, and I called on it and while it's an auto(changeable), it's only got 37K miles on it. I'm going to check it out tomarrow with my brother - no salesmen pressure on Sundays.

 

[retsmah]

Heheh, whenever I see a Ferrari I say something like "Hey, look, a Ferrari 308. Pretty sweet... not as fast as my car though."

 

[neanderthal]

underestimating or overestimating your car is simply the result of not knowing your car.

i can tell when i have one tire thats low on air pressure, and i can tell you which one too. i know exactly what spaces i can squeeze my car(s) into (people who drive next to each other at about the same speed on the freeway have found this one out the hard way.) i know how far i can go once the reserve light comes on. i know approximately how much fuel economy im getting at what speed in top gear on the freeway. i know the top speed, and the most comfortable speed for either car. i know where the limits of adhesion are although the tires play a part. i can tell when either needs a tuneup. i know the depth of water that i can forge in each car since i know how high the air intakes and transmission vents are. i know the minimum space required for me to brake from "x" distance to a complete stop and adjust my following distance accordingly.

i am in tume with my cars when i drive them.

thats why i hate typical rental cars with vague steering, feedback, communication etc.

 

[SkylineObsession]

I know that the Ferrari F50 was quited at a 324km/h top speed, whereas tests from owners only got it to about 318km/h.
A Mercedes-Benz SL 55 AMG in Aussie got a top speed (with restrictors taken off) of 325km/h...