Fast Cars - Not Any Faster in The Real World

[jut703]

Was watching The Grand Tour and they pitted a beat-up sedan (Renault 9) vs 3 GT cars (BMW 850i, Bentley Continental, Aston DBS) on a 50-mile race across towns, highways, and backroads.

The 55-hp Renault had a 2 minute headstart which you'd expect the GTs (all above 500 hp) to catch - but the reality is that external factors (traffic, speed limits) and driver capability/road knowledge matter infinitely more than how fast your car can go. Net, the beat-up car got to the destination ahead of the GTs.

Which brings me to my point - all the performance mods that people put on their cars will not make them get to their destinations any faster. A Vios can get to Baguio just as quickly as a Supra can, if you push it hard enough.

The advantage of course of having a faster car is that it feels better to drive. Also, if you mod your car right and have the corresponding skills to maximize them, you could shave a few seconds off your lap times (although really, less than 1% of people who mod their cars ever bring them to a track).

A snippet of the Grand Tour mini-segment here:
The Grand Tour: Real World Race - YouTube

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[GTi]

GTs? TG hosts? I'd pay to see a couple of veteran PUV drivers driving a couple of dinky cabs in that episode instead. [emoji1787]

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[Egan101]

As EQ would always say, "it is much more fun driving a slow car fast".

[heavenlee]

As my dad used to point out, what good is a sports car in (metro manila) traffic?

[oj88]

Of course fast cars won't have that much advantage in the real world. People buy them or tweak their cars to go fast for status symbol.... bragging rights.... like owning a real life "Top Trumps" card, a game we used to play in the 80's.



And a tiny percentage just have a passion for the finer things. Ain't nothing wrong with that.

Doesn't matter if you take first class or economy on a plane. You'd still be arriving at the same time. However, the overall experience is vastly different.

[jut703]

Of course fast cars won't have that much advantage in the real world. People buy them or tweak their cars to go fast for status symbol.... bragging rights.... like owning a real life "Top Trumps" card, a game we used to play in the 80's.



And a tiny percentage just have a passion for the finer things. Ain't nothing wrong with that.

Doesn't matter if you take first class or economy on a plane. You'd still be arriving at the same time. However, the overall experience is vastly different.

Yes it's the same with branded shirts vs Uniqlo shirts, or Swiss watches vs Seiko 5s. It's really about the status and a taste for finer things - though I've seen so many people make justifications for their luxury purchases.

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[Egan101]

If we are all practical people, we will all be driving Innovas.

[shadow]

Matagal ko na sinasabi na lahat ng pwedeng puntahan ng BMW kaya rin puntahan ng vios.


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[timming_gear]

Kaya hindi na big deal yung kupad ng crosswind dahil sa sobrang trapik na. Hindi mo na magamit yung performance na binayaran mo sa mga high end cars [emoji16]

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[Wh1stl3r]

Locally, UV express vans are the fastest. Driving on the wrong lane, counterflowing, beating red lights and a devil may care attitude are just too much of an advantage.

I agree that a better driver with a slower car can be quicker than a mediocre driver with a faster car. But from experience most of the time I arrive a little bit earlier with a faster car. And I'm less tired when I get to my destination.

Law of diminishing returns applies of course, and sometimes I still wonder if I would have been better off getting the cheaper option in past car purchases.

I just try to play mind games with myself and enjoy what I have. If I feel like I underspent, I tell myself I'm enjoying the savings. If I feel like I overspent, I just tell myself the thing is there already. Might as well enjoy it.

[Egan101]

If you frequent the expressways, you’d appreciate a quicker vehicle. When the traffic is light (like today and yesterday), you can let it rip thru the highway. 30 minutes lang byahe ko kanina from BF to BGC.


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[ninjababez]

If you frequent the expressways, you’d appreciate a quicker vehicle. When the traffic is light (like today and yesterday), you can let it rip thru the highway. 30 minutes lang byahe ko kanina from BF to BGC.


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comparable sa silang cavite trip ko kahapon 45 min, sa c5 lang ako medyo nag slowdown dahil sa bottlenecks

[StockEngine]

If you frequent the expressways, you’d appreciate a quicker vehicle. When the traffic is light (like today and yesterday), you can let it rip thru the highway. 30 minutes lang byahe ko kanina from BF to BGC.


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Effortless 160kph

Then theres effortless 240kph lol...

Such is life.

[GTi]

IMHO, in this country, 100hp is already more than enough for daily city driving and the occasional out of town trip.

Do lots of highway and/or mountain road driving? Around 150hp. Already sufficient to do 100 at 2000rpm or so with more than enough power for the occasional overtake. Speed cameras take away all the fun. [emoji23]

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[Egan101]

Effortless 160kph

Then theres effortless 240kph lol...

Such is life.

160-170 kmh puwede sa SLEX between Sucat and Nichols. Hehehe


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[ninjababez]

160-170 kmh puwede sa SLEX between Sucat and Nichols. Hehehe


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NB and SB ba wala camera bro? ^_^

[Egan101]

NB and SB ba wala camera bro? ^_^

Nahuli na sana ako noon pa. Hehehehe


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[ninjababez]

Nahuli na sana ako noon pa. Hehehehe

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hahaha pag nahuli ako, "bakit si egan di nyo hinuhuli?" LOL

[Egan101]

hahaha pag nahuli ako, "bakit si egan di nyo hinuhuli?" LOL

May naikuwento dati na may nahuli na FCP member sa Nichols. 150kmh takbo nya from Bicutan to Nichols. Aside from that, wala na iba ako nabasa or narinig.

Pero since I lived in Parañaque since 2009, never pa ako na-tag dyan sa SLEX between Sucat and Nichols. Last month nga, I was flooring it at 150kmh northbound between Bicutan and Nichols tapos an Accord 3.5L passed me. I guess I was not going that fast. Hehehe


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[Jun aka Pekto]

Quicker and faster are two different things. The 2006 Sonata I used to own can only do 0-60 mph in 6.6 sec. But, it had a top speed (as shown in YT videos) of 152 mph (245 kph). Not the quickest. But, the top speed is fast enough to me for a grandpa car.