The joy of cars

[Zak]

Howdy all, I've been thinking about my car a lot lately and what I want to do with it and all, and I haven't come to a conclusion

But it got me thinking about what I want in a car, and the compromises that go with it. Now I drive alot of cars and I like the feel and comfort of new cars, the lack of rattles and the bonus of not getting a head ache driving them. But just looking at my 86 puts a smile on my face that not many other cars can do, sadly it is horrible to drive on New Zealands roads.

There is some thing about it though, every time I jump in it, I smile, it just feels right, going around a corner and feeling the g's feels awsome. The sound it makes winding out in second gear, or the diff trying to break traction all the time. The charger "blouping" when it shuts off, all just add's character that all the new cars seem to lack.

Any way, enough of the random rambling... What do you look for, appreciate or just makes you smile about a car?

[l1ttle_d3vil]

tvis opening and sucking all the air in through 2nd and 3rd

oh, and a car which actually goes normally cheers me up

[Pelo]

I feel the same way about my MR2, it just has that indefinable character and sense of occasion every time you drive. Old cars have so much more personality that new ones.

I just look out the window at my car and smile sometimes - despite the leaky roof, rusty spots, patchy paint, rattly engine, squeaky suspension... I really need to spend more $$ and time on it!
Driving to the shops like a grandma or thrashing round the track, I have fun no matter what.

I like all sorts of cars and judge each on their merits, be it a 1930s Austin, a 70s Mustang, or 2007 Mazda 6! But if I really had to decide to buy one dream car it would not be a new one. A classic 911 maybe hmm... The old stuff has "X" factor, which seems to be engineered and fashionised out of new cars.

I drive brand new cars all the time at work, marvelling at how quiet, luxurious etc. it is, but I can't see myself falling in love with any of them, let alone owning one!

Perfection creates Boredom. Flaws spawn creativity.

[AE86less]

Perfection creates Boredom. Flaws spawn creativity.

Amen!

I agree, in new cars everything is done for you; in many new cars you don't even need to push the gas pedal! I thought i would love it if my 85 had squeek/horrible grinding noise free suspension, but i realise that if it didnt, it would seem less unique.

[bluemaumau]

oh, and a car which actually goes normally cheers me up

[gmacrae]

i dont think "personality" has anything to do with the age of the car, its all about how much time you spend in it and how many little things you modify that make it feel more and more like 'your' car. If you buy a car and dont start playing with things to make it more "your own" then it will always lack personality, no matter if its 30 years old or brand new.

[RomanV]

When I was younger, I wanted a car that handled well, was quick, had lots of traction, cornering speed, accelleration, etc. I looked at my requirements from a car from a cold and calculating point of view, and the MR layout made sense. From there, I thought along the lines of "How do I make the car quicker/faster/better/etc"

After a few years of playing around with it, my MR2 now fulfills all of the criteria that I orignially had in mind.

The car doesnt understeer; it doesnt oversteer.
It doesnt spin up the rears; it doesnt lock up the front.
It doesnt sledge into corners, it doesnt get the tail out on corner exit.
It doesnt really do anything anymore, except for go way too fast around corners. And putting your foot down 1/4 of the way in 5th on the motorway will take you to license losing speeds, way too easily. Which is exactly what I *thought* I wanted from a car.

So why hasnt the increased performance of the car, lead to increased satisfaction in driving it?

Understeer, oversteer, tires squealing, sledging into a corner... these are all things which require a reponse and reaction from the driver. Even though they seem like bad things for a car to do, they make it more fun... Because you need to *do something* about it, and you become more a part of the experience, rather more or less being along for the ride. When you successfully countersteer and ease off the gas to correct oversteer, it's fun. When you ease off the brakes because they've locked up, eased back on them again, it's fun. When you let half off the throttle to shift the weight to the front to reduce the understeer, it's fun. etc etc. If your car no longer does any of these things, it takes away from the driving experience, and ultimately the fun of it all!

Many modern cars take this 'fun' out of the driving experience, in a similar way that my MR2 has. ABS, traction control, etc all reduce the amount of driver input that is required.

It seems wholly counterintuitive, to think that the *worst* car I've ever owned, (from a technical point of view) was the one that I've had the most fun driving, the one that bit the biggest smile on my face, the one that makes me feel funny in my special place, every time I see one drive by. (I'm of course talking about a KP starlet)

So to answer the original question, what do I want from a car?
I want drive involvement, and most of all I want a car that is lots of fun, and not necessarily 'good'! (in the classic sense of the word)

[Cahuna]

I look for a car that::
* handles nicely but isn't going to break my back
* goes relatively quickly but doesn't break the bank in fuel bills
* doesn't need fixing every 5 minutes
* feels nice to drive - hard to define but I know it when I drive it

I was looking at replacing the Sentra a few months ago and was looking at what options were out there. Things like new Corollas were nice enough but not perfect and were well outside my price range. Civics ditto but more affordable. Something larger that could tow the rally car were either too big, too expensive, no good for the odd open-road tour or consumed the annual exports of Kuwait just driving to get a loaf of bread.

In the end I decided the best car was the one I already had. Every time I drive mums Mazda 626 I like the air con and quietness but can't stand the way I feel like I've been wrapped in cotton wool - no feel through the backside, pedals or steering. My car just feels right, it is what I know best so I'm sticking with it (for now).

[Stealer Of Souls]

Zak sure makes a point. I'm the same with my AE86.
I look at it often and think, gosh, it's noisy, rides a little hard, it really doesn't out handle a modern sports car, it realistically is barely as "fast" as my parents wagon rolla, and it lacks the modern comforts.

BUT... I too get that smile on my face as I ring out the 4AGE right up to 7000 in second. The wry look on my face as I tear out of a side street, back end twitching a little due to the bumps in the road.
And the thrilling knowledge knowing that it can go on the track, get flogged and drive home (more likely to my mechanics, but you get the idea).
There just is no substitute. Sure I practically puke every time I think about how much the car has cost me in repairs/replacements.

I think older cars do have more character, more personality, and are more fun because they aren't so perfect. There's always room for improvement, something you can change/try/do to make it better. I love the challenge of early eighties technology.

[~SlideWays~]

I keep thinking about selling my ae86 after owning it for over 5 years, I want something newer like an Evo 5 or something. But I simply can't bring myself to part with it!

I've spent way too much time, money and 4 letter words on it. Even after having it for so long I still get a big grin when I drive it

Instead of selling it I just buy more cars! ie I've had a ae92 gtz turbo for the last year or 2 and thats become the new project. While the 86 sits comfortably in the garage for the odd thrash every now and then

I will buy an Evo sooner or later..but thats after I finish the gtz-into-club-car project....then I'll get a hilux 4wd ute...then a dirt bike...then a bigger garage and an Evo to park next to the 86

[Chelles]

If I can go out to the garage look at my toy and it brings a smile to my face I don't care about its issues. I've spent over 5k in repairs and upgrades on my race car in the last five months. Most would throw their hands in the air and sell it. I look at her and smile knowing for all the effort, she's fun, she handles like she's on rails and most of all after a good spirited drive I still giggle like a school girl with excitement. What would we all do with out our 'out let' to express ourselves, to spend our money and find pleasure... whatch TV every night and all weekend?

Live your dreams boys... life it too short not to have at least one bit of joy in our lives. I've also noted that a lot of girlfriends don't under the obsession. Don't worry about it, most never will...

[~SlideWays~]

I've also noted that a lot of girlfriends don't under the obsession. Don't worry about it, most never will...

Mine does (ie spending more on the club car project than on the mortgage... won't let me buy another car though )

gf says, "I don't want to know how much that cost"

[Lanius]

Thank goodness ... I'm normal after all! I'm driving a much later model, turbo 4wd now, but I miss my AE82 horribly

Sold it to a friend a couple of weeks ago, and every time he comes over, I cringe, knowing that my new car is awesome, but that I would so love to drive the Corolla again

[Snoozin]

Pulling the air filters off and listening to that oh so glorious Dellorto rortyness does it for me...

As far as the KP goes, it's such a riot to cane around in that you can't help but smile even thinking about it.... wet roundabouts ftw.

[Brick]

for me just the angryness and roaring of the intake under acceleration (drowns out exhaust and stereo and people talking!) and the lumpyness of the cams, if only i got a $ everytime i got asked if it was a rotor

[~SlideWays~]

for me just the angryness and roaring of the intake under acceleration (drowns out exhaust and stereo and people talking!) and the lumpyness of the cams, if only i got a $ everytime i got asked if it was a rotor

If its a hot rota chick then "hell yeah its a rota"
If its some hood rat "piss off"

[Brick]

for me just the angryness and roaring of the intake under acceleration (drowns out exhaust and stereo and people talking!) and the lumpyness of the cams, if only i got a $ everytime i got asked if it was a rotor

If its a hot rota chick then "hell yeah its a rota"
If its some hood rat "piss off"

They are just stupid hoodrats, one even had an argument with my gf tryin to say it was when she was telling him it wasnt get a good laugh though. Engine is probably as reliable as the rotor to, i built it

[Chelles]

I've also noted that a lot of girlfriends don't under the obsession. Don't worry about it, most never will...

Mine does (ie spending more on the club car project than on the mortgage... won't let me buy another car though )

gf says, "I don't want to know how much that cost"

Ya see that is the exception to the rule. Hold on to that girl!!

[thaphatty]

I've found cars go with women like 240v goes with a full bath.

f**king shocking

[RomanV]

I've found cars go with women like 240v goes with a full bath.

f**king shocking

Brilliant!