Slow car fast OR Fast car slow??

[grober]

An interesting question posed on Jalopnik. Is it "more fun" to drive a slow car fast or to drive a fast car slowly? Think Fiat Panda 1100 down a quiet twisty B road or an SL 55 AMG in heavy traffic on the M25. Is it a tough call or obvious?

 

[Dryce]

An interesting question posed on Jalopnik. Is it "more fun" to drive a slow car fast or to drive a fast car slowly? Think Fiat Panda 1100 down a quiet twisty B road or an SL 55 AMG in heavy traffic on the M25. Is it a tough call or obvious?

Being a very sad person I actually get a kick out of managing to make good pace in a slower car - especially if I can do it while either chasing down or leaving behind somebody trying to work a faster car hard. If I can get a decent mpg at the same time and leave my passenger unruffled then so much the better (being a very very sad person).

 

[sym]

Being a very sad person I actually get a kick out of managing to make good pace in a slower car - especially if I can do it while either chasing down or leaving behind somebody trying to work a faster car hard. If I can get a decent mpg at the same time and leave my passenger unruffled then so much the better (being a very very sad person).

.....

Agree. On the whole.

But nothing quite beats the noise and excitement of something reaaalllly quick off the mark - preferably leaving large wide dollops of smoking molten rubber all over the road !

(until you check out your fuel and tyre bills, that is !)

S.

 

[whitenemesis]

An interesting question posed on Jalopnik. Is it "more fun" to drive a slow car fast or to drive a fast car slowly? Think Fiat Panda 1100 down a quiet twisty B road or an SL 55 AMG in heavy traffic on the M25. Is it a tough call or obvious?

Obvious!! Fast car slowly = frustration

Slow car fast... impossible

But there is far more potential with the fast car and reserve to deal with the unexpected

 

[Dryce]

But nothing quite beats the noise and excitement of something reaaalllly quick off the mark - preferably leaving large wide dollops of smoking molten rubber all over the road !

Or a decent bike.

 

[Dryce]

Slow car fast... impossible

Not impossible.

I once had a demonstration (as a passenger) of how a 948cc Fiesta could outpace a Cavalier Sri on a highland road.

It put my own limited abilities into rather depressing perspective

 

[A210AMG]

Hello,


Ive had some great blasts in my old MX5, don't laugh it was a great car and properly modified with lowerd ajustable suspension, anti roll bars, roll cage, borbet alloys, F1 tyres.

Even though it wasn't that quick you could push it to the limit. several years on..

The same roads in my last car (a bmw 330ci) you cannot get to the limit and don't feel as involved.

I agree knowing the road is half the battle and worth some serious BHP, I've had many a blasts with much more powerful cars.


My brother has a track car and its an old hatchback but properly set up, so much so we can keep up with lotus elsie's, and clio v6's. It just goes to show how set up also makes a huge difference.

I also agree having a quick..ish car I do tend to drive slower..but its nice knowing you have some vrrroom with my first cars I was a mad man in. If I think how quick we use to drive when younger (I had a 205gti and to think back I was mad in that! no ABS, Airbags, made from tinfoil steel....Great though

 

[timskemp]

A standard MX5 with a well disciplined driver will outpace most things on the road with Mr. Average at the wheel.

When it comes to buying cars we all have to comprimise - I need secure boot, room for five and low day-to-day running costs so that tends to limit me to medium diesel saloons, so therefore I have the E class, the only other car I'd consider would be a 5 series.

Engine size is of little relevance on UK roads but comes into its own driving at night through Germany, which is why this time I bought on price and mileage (and ignored the 320Cdi I could have had). Point to point the E270 is as quick as my chipped Volvo was, but the Volvo had 50bhp more and weighed less, yet wasn't as balanced in the bends.

Fun is a combination of a well balanced car that has predictable limits and can be made to understeer or oversteer, the Volvo was seldom fun due to its inablilty to oversteer and its heavy turn in (normally followed by smoke and wheelspin on exit). The A class was more fun but not quick at all, its limits being so short.

E class or 5er all the way for me at the moment.

 

[fuzzer]

fast car slow

 

[Colin_b]

Depends on the roads, I think. Try driving across Hardknott pass, and a modestly powered car with good traction is more fun than a high powered front wheel drive car....

 

[davidpavey]

Slow car driven fast, everytime

 

[jimti]

I used to steel my wifes car to go to work when I was on very early starts and a bit more adventurous, she had a lowly Fiat 126 (0 to 60 in 37 seconds)and I used to get it sideways with very little effort,(on private roads of course) rather than a boring drive in my 190 that wouldn't even have had a chance to get warm.
Mind you I only had to go about 3 miles, if it was a big commute the 190 would win every time

 

[jaymanek]

fast car slow... i love crusing in the SL and the SEC

 

[chriswt]

Slow car fast -

Its what any good driver would tell you due to the challenge and the enjoyment of finding the limits of the slower car. Its alot safer as well, provided that you don't push it over the limit.

Of couse it all depends on what floats your boat. If you just like cruising then it's fast car slow!!

 

[Howard]

Slow car fast .....

I had a Mk1 GTi Golf , which while quick(ish) wasn't a patch on anything really fast ...

But driving it on the roads round Henley or round Cornwall ..... great fun !!

Same with my old CRX too ....

 

[pammy]

Fast car fast - oh sorry not an option

But deffo slow car fast . If I was chosing to drive a fast car slow that would be diff, but if it was being held up by roadworks, traffic etc then it's no fun in any car. But with some space etc then pushing a "slower" car to it's limits is great fun.

 

[glojo]

Horses for courses and it depends on the who, what, why and when.

On a race track driving a fast car slowly would be purgotory, but on a busy public road I would prefer the comfort\luxury of a fast car being driven no where near its limits, compared to a small car being driven flat out? but it all depends on the definition of 'slowly'

John

 

[Thmsshaun]

Hmm depends on the car.

Fast car slow does = frustration
Then fun you can have in my 850 Mini is great. Just depends what the roads are I guess.

 

[Carrotchomper]

fast car slow... i love crusing in the SL and the SEC

Pimpin'

 

[renmure]

I have an 8 mile A/B road commute into the nearest town. Its just as much fun in the MINI than in anything else.

In terms of FrUsTrAtIoN, I Dont really think you can drive a "fast car" fast these days (unless its on a track).