Modern car hate club

snowdog · 11 Dec 2009 at 11:45

[TW]Fox;15504590 said:
Thats quite worrying.

I like braking hard sometimes... And I misjudged a corner once or twice in the past few months and abs prevented me from locking up...

Thats also quite worrying - its an FWD 2 litre Volvo, it only has TCS to look good in the brochure, it doesnt actually need it and by having it kick in all the time all you are doing is reducing your acceleration.

Have you considered learning to drive?

I don't actually need to floor it while in first either, I like it though.

I cant remember ever reading something about your driving that didn't fill me with horror. You are the same guy who gets 14mpg from his 2.0 Volvo on the drive home from work right?

First of all, it was 15 not 14...
Secondly, those are US miles, as google uses that for conversion, it's actually 18 UK mpg... Which could be lower but is not dramatically high for start/stop every 300 meters and flooring it in between the traffic lights.

I actually, on average, in town driving, manage about 22-23 mpg... And easily 30 mpg mixed...

Is it really so hard to accept I like to have a blast on an straight dual carriegeway with a lot of lights after work around 11pm ? I don't live in a hilled UK countryside, I live in a flat polder, my way to work I hardly ever have to turn the wheel, I only have to hold it straight.

Howard · 11 Dec 2009 at 11:52

Can't say I ever have any issues when I "floor it in 1st" in my Honda.

Also, I tend to drive in accordance to the conditions, so as Fox said, have you considered learning to drive?

Dr Who · 11 Dec 2009 at 11:52

Janesy B said:
A considerable mass of land and water separates us from Snowdog and his driving noob antics. That's enough for me.

Indeed, lets hope global warming doesn't hit too hard as all of holland will be driving boats then..

@snowdog

US mile is longer than a UK mile???

I think you mean the gallon is less than imp gallon?

[TW]Fox · 11 Dec 2009 at 11:53

snowdog said:
I don't actually need to floor it while in first either, I like it though.

Oooh the exciting world of nailing it in first and damaging your drivetrain. Why not do it in 2nd and enjoy more acceleration and less damage?

You just come across as a bit of a hamfisted chav when it comes to driving, I think if you thought about driving a bit more you'd have more fun long term, damage your car less and not worry everyone.

Janesy B · 11 Dec 2009 at 11:56

There's no fun in flooring it in first.

Matt82 · 11 Dec 2009 at 12:07

how are you going to damage your car if you floor it in 1st?!

Freefaller · 11 Dec 2009 at 12:07

Do you lot think they'll ever bring back a trend for RWD cars? Or are we so set in our ways now for FWD (which I presume is easier to manufacture?). I guess AWD is now the new desired thing?

snowdog · 11 Dec 2009 at 12:11

Janesy B said:
There's no fun in flooring it in first.

For me there is, the mo I quickly shift from first to second is the best mo imo, always make my wheels skid just after the change...

Dr who yes...
If you type '15l/100km to mpg' it will convert to miles per US gallon in google...
i only figured that out later.

Howard: yopour honda doesn't skid when you floor it in first while accelerating in a corner just after traffic lights? Or simply when it's wet on straights?

Amoeba · 11 Dec 2009 at 12:18

I would either end up in a ditch or wrong way around if I floored it in first

Janesy B · 11 Dec 2009 at 12:19

snowdog said:
For me there is, the mo I quickly shift from first to second is the best mo imo, always make my wheels skid just after the change...

You do you even do this? Why do you drive like a ****? You'll regret it when you brake something.

Freefaller · 11 Dec 2009 at 12:19

Flooring it in 1st or slipping the cutch in 1st on the mx5 was great fun for a bit of a tail wag

God I miss that car

I miss RWD - damned recession and exuberant lifestyle, must save for a new car!

snowdog · 11 Dec 2009 at 12:20

Matt82 said:
how are you going to damage your car if you floor it in 1st?!

What I'm wondering too, i floor it after biting point not before, I'm not dropping my clutch at the rev limiter or anything.

Janesy B · 11 Dec 2009 at 12:27

Because you are loading up the gearbox with 100% of the engine's power in a very short time. This is a problem with some Clio 172s where owners have been doing 1st gear launches and ended up needed a new gearbox. 1st should only be treated as a gear to get the car rolling.

This may be different in performance cars, but certainly normal boring boxes in normal boring cars would work on this premise.

Howard · 11 Dec 2009 at 12:49

snowdog said:
Howard: yopour honda doesn't skid when you floor it in first while accelerating in a corner just after traffic lights? Or simply when it's wet on straights?

Yes, if I properly nail it from a standstill it will spin the wheels but.. Why on earth would I want to do that? It a) wears out tyres b) wears out the gearbox/diff/shafts c) wears out the clutch and d) makes you look like a prize prat.

And yes it's a lot easier to spin the wheels in the wet but I.... drive according to the conditions :rolleyes:

Do they hand out licenses to 13 year olds over there?

-Laser- · 11 Dec 2009 at 12:51

ScoobyDoo69 said:
Unfortunately when it comes to modern car vs old car in a crash... old car dies along with its passengers at the hands of the new car's bumper

I think I'll stick with my heavy metal bumpers, long bonnet and chunky chassis rails over a modern crumple zone, insubstantial plastic bumpers, and a driving position practically on top of the engine thank you.

Alex UK · 11 Dec 2009 at 12:55

-Laser- said:
I think I'll stick with my heavy metal bumpers, long bonnet and chunky chassis rails over a modern crumple zone, insubstantial plastic bumpers, and a driving position practically on top of the engine thank you.

Seriously?! Do you know how much safer modern cars are?

Matt82 · 11 Dec 2009 at 13:03

Janesy B said:
Because you are loading up the gearbox with 100% of the engine's power in a very short time. This is a problem with some Clio 172s where owners have been doing 1st gear launches and ended up needed a new gearbox. 1st should only be treated as a gear to get the car rolling.

This may be different in performance cars, but certainly normal boring boxes in normal boring cars would work on this premise.

ive had loads of different cars from little 1.2s, non turbo diesels, turbo diesels and stuff with over 300bhp

it would have to be a sad sad car that if you floor it, you dont have enough power to wheelspin, but its enough force to start breaking bits. i can understand my audi maybe breaking bits. almost 400lbft and 4wd so no wheelspin, all the force is taken by the driveline... one thing that dont break on these cars is gearboxes

my golf, 215k miles, i floor it whenever i feel like it... no problem.

maybe you shouldnt do it if you dont drive a german car

Dr Who · 11 Dec 2009 at 13:08

There is a difference between flooring it in first once or twice to doing it on a regular basis..

If you drive it like you stole it, expect it to break, it's called mechanical sympathy.

-Laser- · 11 Dec 2009 at 13:09

Alex UK said:
Seriously?! Do you know how much safer modern cars are?

Bit of a blanket statement, even if it is generally true. Still, in a head on collision, I'm certain my car would give me a btter chance of survival than something smaller like a smart or something. To me it would be comparable to getting on a plane or rollercoaster or something - it maybe less safe than staying at home, but it's a lot less boring too.

Matt82 · 11 Dec 2009 at 13:15

Dr Who said:
There is a difference between flooring it in first once or twice to doing it on a regular basis..

If you drive it like you stole it, expect it to break, it's called mechanical sympathy.

once or twice... my golf has done 215k miles. it has been to santa pod more times than i can remmeber, it gets driven hard on a regular basis. full bore in first gear, even from a standing start doesnt matter unless you have a chocolate fireguard of a car