Is there a need for performance cars on the road?

Thing is with Clarkson, he'll say something sensible like the above, then in another review change tack, for instance with the 458 Spider:

"The end result is that the car I tested would actually cost you £262,266. And that’s what an economist would call “a lot”.

But it’s worth every single penny. Because this car is simply sublime."
 
But the review would be pretty crap if he reviewed the Ferrari and said 'This is a great car but frankly its made terrible by the fact an MX5 is 10 times cheaper'

Both points - that the Ferrari is sublime and worth every penny and that the MX5 is all you need, are equally valid.
 
I'm not convinced that I'd need more in a car than the S2000. Much as I've always hankered after the ridiculous, I echo the sentiments that I wouldn't be able to use more performance. This is especially true when commuting and using the car for commuting. There's also plenty under the hood for me to run out of talent and have a spin or a crash. Without being a driving legend or having either completely empty roads or a track, pushing the limits in my car is impossible.

The massive caveat to all of this is if I could own more than one car. There's no way in hell that I'd compromise! Small Eco box for commuting with comfy suspension and a nice stereo. Wild animal with no roof, flip paint, straight six and 350+ horses from Blackpool for the track and showing off.
 
As others have said, it's mainly the overtaking ability that concerns me. I've yet to drive anything over 200bhp with 4 wheels, but I think I want more than the Octavia (MkI vRS) has, which is 180bhp (on a good day).
 
I don't really agree with the overtaking point.

With more powerful cars comes riskier overtaking manoeuvres. From experience if an overtake is going to be low-risk and safe then it doesn't matter whether you have 100bhp or 400bhp under your bonnet. The latter only facilitates taking opportunities to perform dangerous overtaking manoeuvres.

I still think there is a pretentious element to the whole performance car scene. C'mon, most of us have looked out the window at people in slower cars and though "I'm faster than you." It's human nature, especially with blokes, to want to be the strongest/best/fastest etc.
 
scott212 said:
I don't really agree with the overtaking point.

With more powerful cars comes riskier overtaking manoeuvres. From experience if an overtake is going to be low-risk and safe then it doesn't matter whether you have 100bhp or 400bhp under your bonnet. The latter only facilitates taking opportunities to perform dangerous overtaking manoeuvres.
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I guarantee you'll think differently once you have your new car :)
 
It's not that you are faster than them though, it's more a case of 'I bought a faster car than you' which has a different meaning ;)
 
scott212 said:
I don't really agree with the overtaking point.

With more powerful cars comes riskier overtaking manoeuvres. From experience if an overtake is going to be low-risk and safe then it doesn't matter whether you have 100bhp or 400bhp under your bonnet. The latter only facilitates taking opportunities to perform dangerous overtaking manoeuvres.

I still think there is a pretentious element to the whole performance car scene. C'mon, most of us have looked out the window at people in slower cars and though "I'm faster than you." It's human nature, especially with blokes, to want to be the strongest/best/fastest etc.
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I don't really agree. Its been a while since I've had a car over 200bhp but it really makes a difference.I didn't find myself doing anything more dangerous but was getting by slower cars quicker and back onto my side of the road, if anything having that bit more power makes you far more aware of what's going on and less likely to get frustrated then do something a bit risky.... there is simply no need.

My mr2's have been my favourite cars, 1 Turbo and 2 na's - its hard not to love the mk2 Turbo but it'd be embarrassed on a short circuit by the mk3 which I found could corner ridiculously well in the dry. Both are equally as fun but for different reasons. I wouldn't want to be forced into only having one option
 
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S2000 is ideal for me on non motorway UK roads for fun, involvement and speed.

Something like an E90 M3 is too quick for the road. I know someone who's just sold theirs and gone back to an Elise for that involvement and low speed fun.
 
i think their is a need if you want to over take safely..

or mazda323gtr had 240bhp which was a nice amount for overtaking..

but my 205gti track car was so pointless on the road, too noisy, no comforts at all. not even a heater, totally stripped..

not having a decent amount of power can be annoying if you want to overtake someone going 40 in a 60 on a single lane road
 
I wouldn't buy a performance car but I do enjoy the practicality the Legacy has of 280bhp and AWD, tempered by the fact that 1470kg is quite a lot weight. It's powerful enough to have some fun without being bonkers but is practical too.
 
Having enough power that can get you out of trouble if you're in a bit of a tight spot can be good. Driving a Ka means I have to be very wary overtaking.

Good handling is nice on B roads as well. Hot hatches or sports cars I feel are nice here.

kd
 
King Damager said:
Having enough power that can get you out of trouble if you're in a bit of a tight spot can be good.
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To be honest this gets said a lot but I think it's pretty much complete rubbish. I have never, ever found myself able to get out of a situation thanks to the power on offer that I wouldn't have been able to without it, except for situations which, had I not had the power, I'd never have got myself into in the first place...
 
[TW]Fox;23672172 said:
To be honest this gets said a lot but I think it's pretty much complete rubbish. I have never, ever found myself able to get out of a situation thanks to the power on offer that I wouldn't have been able to without it, except for situations which, had I not had the power, I'd never have got myself into in the first place...
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I 'survived' in a 70ps 1.25 fiesta for 4 years since passing, so yes, I have to agree :D
 
i think while i was driving the van which had about 70bhp i tried to over take someone but as i did the person next to me put their foot down and i then had nowhere to go..

if i had 240bhp this wouldnt have happened
 
All i can say is i find it infuriating driving my 98 civic 5 door, being stuck behind another vehicle knowing that i need a rather lengthy strech of open road with nothing in sight on the other side of the road to even contemplate overtaking, whereas in my Evo i'd have been past almost as soon as i got on the back of him.
journeys home are always shorter in the more powerful car and i'm not even one for speeding, i'm just a firm believer in making progress on the road!

personally i believe(although there are may factors) ~350-400Bhp is roughly enough for UK roads in a 4wd/rwd vehicle, i'm not saying you cant make use of more, however i would say you are more limited in the situations where you could take advantage of anymore power.
 
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