Muddy, the torque is addictive.

 

I know that 0-60 acceleration has been a benchmark for decades but have we gone a bit too far? By "we" I mean the car enthusiast world in general.

If car "A" does 0-60 in, let's say, 4.0 seonds and car "B" does it in 4.2, I'd consider them both to be equally "damn fast cars" and start looking towards other attributes to decide which to buy. After all, a couple tenths difference here or there can easily be accounted for in road/atmospheric conditions, driver skill and/or agressiveness, and even normal car-to-car production differences within the same model.

Nowdays, it seems, buying car "B" is something a self-respecting car nut simply couldn't bear to do. Who would want to own such a turd?

And, actually, both cars are probably magnificent in many ways...but both relegated to the "I wouldn't be caught dead in one" pile as soon car "C" comes along that'll sprint to 60 in 3.9 seconds.

I'm obviously being a bit silly here in an attempt illustrate my point but this king-of-the-hill stuff over 0-60 times is a bit much at times. Well, for me, at least.

Mini-rant over

Cheers
DD

 

Doug, you make a good point. At my age, (60) I don't get too hung up on such things, although , I do like a fast car. It just doesn't have to be the fastest, highest horsepower/torque offering. To me, buying a 500-700 horsepower car to drive on the road every day makes little sense, not because it's not desirable or invigorating to accelerate quickly, but rather, the inability to actually use that power safely. If you're into tracking your car, that's another matter, but I would say that the majority of high end, ultra powerful cars have never been to a track. The horsepower desire is simply ego/ bragging rights driven.

Just my thoughts. If I were 40 again, perhaps I would view things differently.

 

I'm only 43. I still have something to prove.

 

I get that

Actually I'm tickled that power/speed/acceleration and 'Jaguar' are part of the same conversation again. For quite a few years it seemed that Jaguar wasn't interested in anything but grace and elegance.....and far too many of them driven as though they were made out of glass

Cheers
DD

 

Me too!



Me too!





Via my job I have at my disposal a whole slew of really fast cars. It's actually part of my job to drive them.

I can honestly say that some of the lower powered cars an be more enjoyable to drive. You can take a 300hp car and really run it thru the gears and have fun with it, easily.

The 500-600-700hp (or more) monsters require a more serious approach, more road, and more ideal conditions to drive....and short-shifting a 600 hp car really isn't all that much fun.

But, when there IS opportunity to actually put some of the high HP cars thru their paces I return with an equally wide grin no matter which one it is, even if, on paper, it's two-tenths-of-a-second slower to 60 than one of the others I may have chosen that day.

Cheers
DD

 

My cousin-in-law was visiting the other day and told me, "I heard you got a Jaguar. I thought, What's Jay want an old man's car for?' I didn't know you got THIS!"

Made me smile.

 

Absolutely - I enjoy driving our Fabia vRS (the Skoda equivalent of the VW Polo GTi). Only 180 HP, but lightweight, supercharger and turbocharger, 7-speed DSG 'box, stiffened suspension, 17" wheels with 205 low-profile tyres. It's a baby rally car, and a real hoot to drive on twisty B-roads.

It's not all about horsepower, it's about power-to-weight and roadholding.

 

One of my projects at work is an old 246 Dino. I'm slowly working out the bugs. (I'll NEVER complain about a Jaguar wiring diagram again, I promise)

Anyhow....

That little car has only 190 horsepower but it has about 500 'grin power'. An absolute gas to drive !

Cheers
DD

 

agreed. as a die hard past m3 owner I dont think I will even own another one. they are supposed to be a boy racer car and every generation they are less boy racer. that is why I bought mine. they dont even look sporty anymore

I had a 2002 bmw m3 convertible (was 23 when I purchased it) upgraded from an RSX-S rice burner and loved the low to the ground feel, harsh steering, 9k redline and touchy clutch. those are long gone days as that is what the old m3 were about.

it was by far the best car Ive ever owned. fast, fun to drive, lasted forever, looked great from all angles

the e30 m3 from 88-91 were the classic too