[Tim_P]

Once upon a time I had a 1.4 Escort. I thought that holding it mid throttle in second gear and then flooring it made is seem quite quick.

After that I had a 1.8 16v 92 Orion and was surprised when I was beaten by a nova GTE over a long stretch.

After that I bought the very same nova GTE and with only minor mods it kept with Renault 19 16v's and 4x4 Cav GSi's over short distances, stayed glued to a G60 Corrado on a bypass. It also stayed with a poorly modded but rapid GTE 16v to about 85mph.

In these days I had very little idea of 0-60's, top speed, 1/4 mile anything like that, but I was happy. Plus at that time driving was very new.

After the Nova I had a 2.0 8v Astra GTE, all I knew was bigger engine, more power etc etc It was a great car and I was sorry to lose it.

Still knowing nothing about cars I bought my first Cav GSi, all I knew was I loved the shape, size and that it was powered by the famous red-top engine.

That was when I found MIG, and all of sudden it wasn't fast enough.

If you take into account that I have had 4 red-tops, one of which being a GTE which by any standard is quick and that I now own a turbo which is the fastest car I have owned, I don't feel like I have made much progress in straight forward performance terms. All the cars have handled well, the nova and second Cav GSi perhaps the best but in terms of power, my current car is about 5 or 6 seconds quicker to 60 than my first car and the top end, something like 45mph greater.

To me it just doesn't seem fast, though it clearly is, if you put me in a Cav Turbo or GTE 16v when I passed my test I would have promptly messed myself and then crashed, such would be the hike in power and performance.

Do you look at the big picture with cars or performance or are you always scrutinising the tiny things?

 

[DarrenH]

my only criteria after running my cavalier into the ground was to buy something "quick". Ford was ruled out purely on the grounds that my dad has only owned fords since the year 200A.D. So, had to rebelious, something quick, something vauxhall. Saw a gte16v in the paper the same day, went down, had a look and put a deposit on it.

I guess that makes me option A.

"bought purely on the basis of reputation for speed"

 

[Adam_Davis]

When I bought my V6 I had decided that I wanted a car that was more powerful than my first car (a Rover 216 GTI) with four doors (the Rover was a 3 door hatch and I ended up hurting my back badly getting my daughter in and out of the car).

My V6 fitted the bill on all criteria

 

[Davo]

I remember the first time I floored my first car - Pug 309 1.3.
It felt scary rapid!
It was always a fun car, but had very low limitations.
my Next car was my Rover 414SLi which I lowered and added 15s. That is still the best handing car I have ever had due to such low engine weight, but the power was pretty low, so I then doubled the power with a 420 turbo.
The Astra isnt as quick but invites you to push it around more, and is definately more fun.
More power is on the cards, and I have driven quicker cars.
If I had this power the day I passed my test I would probably have stacked it - lack of experience and I have mellowed a bit now.

 

[Cemesis]

My car isn't fast enough. I deem a car fast enough when you can no long put your foot all the way to the ground.

That doesn't mean that the car disintigrates or anything but that you are absolutley assured that if that pedal hits the carpet - you are going to die.

Of course this limit is proportional to the car, in a Nova I suspect it happens around 300bhp (I mean a standard Nova, all this roll cage and massive wheel stuff just means you feel safer ). In a Skyline I'm sure it feels safe until those magic four figures are reached.

For me? I don't know. I'm still not totally happy with it, its just a bit squeaky and rattly for me right now but I'm hoping to do something about that on Sunday.

Maybe an overtake button will be wired in I love the thought of shooting down the road when you are already doing 80ish

 

[Freak]

No

When i was 17 and learning to drive i was on my dads company car policy at the time.
From passing my test ive always had access to cars with a fair bit of performance.....as such ive respected it and not driven like a loon.....probably the reason people say i drive unusually safely for someone with a nice/sporty car.

However, at first a 2.0 16v omega would have been percieved as fast....not any more......so in that perception yes my perception of speed has changed.

 

[Fenix]

TBH its a long time since i've been in a big std quick car. i remmeber feeling rather scared as a passenger at 150 MPH in a ferrari. But that was prob something to do with you're sat on the floor as similar speeds in my dads old Primera GT didn't seem uncomfortable at all.

When I had my first nova i considered my mates saxo VTS to be quick.

I'm now on my third nova and after being in Ian Storeys car on a tet flight lmao i think the best appreciation for speed i'm gonna get is dropping a powerful engine in a small car or possibly a caterham

 

[d0gz_bollox]

perception

My perception of performance went out the window when I tried to race a 911turbo sports thing in my 1.4 (which by all means was a nippy little motor @ 119bhp & 130lb/ft). After the porka had disappeared leaving a trail of rubber (and I had checked that my car was actually moving) I realised that supercars are performance cars and all our little motors (including valverS novas) aint got NOTHING on these beasts.




ps. I knew I wouldnt win against the 911 was just curious of how fast they was.

 

[Teddy]

Mine has changed ill be honest.

From my first car the nova 1.3sr to the 1.4sri there is alot of difference the sri is very quick for me compaired to the sr.

The SRi can now after mods keep with Saxo Vts PUg 106 GTi etc...and bigger cars as well. Its still quite driveable for evryday use! there have been times when i have been driving and thought come on more more more!!!.

Round town its a little rocket and a love it. I have been in bigger more powerful cars and you only reliase the speed when you look at the speedo its just more refined.

Where as the GTE16v just feels silly. very very naughty car all round.

I believe its the way you look at things as a whole, and how used you are to your own vehicle!!!

 

[tomstickland]

Yes perception has changed. There was a time when I was genuinely thrilled with the A road performance of my 8v GTE.
I always consider it to be Ok performance wise. 15.2s 1/4 mile times is actually pretty fast, but it doesn't feel that mad. I have days when it feels fast and days when I seem to be sitting around waiting for it to speed up.
However, looking the rear view mirror coming of the lights or a roundabout and I realise that it is pretty fast, things get small quickly.
Same on the motorway when a blockage clears and I give a bit of right foot in 4th or 5th - the car behind gets small pretty quickly.

I do understand the feeling that there is never enough power. I think 350-300BHP is necessary for a car to feel monstrously quick.

 

[Noel]

Re: perception

ps. I knew I wouldnt win against the 911 was just curious of how fast they was.

WHAT!! You lost? I've heard of many a Nova 'do' a humble 911!

 

[Tim_P]

However, looking the rear view mirror coming of the lights or a roundabout and I realise that it is pretty fast, things get small quickly.

That is the only real indication I have, and it is impressive. I think the big difference for me would be good brakes and more noise.

If the car was lowered as well this may also add to the illusion since the Cav on standard ride height is ultra comfortable and not overly communicative.

I agree with what Scott Said too, this happened for me when I went from the nova to the 8v Astra GTE and to some extent the 16v GTE. For a while you don't keep the accelerator down all the way because you are positive the car will take off, prolonging this feeling is the route to satisfactory power

 

[Teddy]

You only reliase the power of your own car when you play.

but i will agree with the point that you need 300-350bhp for a car to feel geniuanly fast.

 

[Scott G]

I drive a slow car, and although i yearn for something a bit quicker its more than suitable for now.

However if you dont drive it for a week or two which im in the habit of doing and you get back in it seems to have a extra kick mid range in 2nd and 3rd.

Now this is only due to the fact that im forgotten what it feels like.

Now if i get a shot of dads jeep, or ride passanger in a certain calibra you feel you are doing 80-90 when in reality your doing 50.

Perception is a wierd thing.

 

[DarrenH]

who can remember the first time they drove their so called "upgrade" car. In my case it was 1.6 mk2 cav (100-110bhp) to mk2 astra (150bhp)

I remember pootling along after leaving the garage forecourt, then looking for a quiet road to just squeeze of a few rounds. And thats what i did, factor in 4x 185-65-14 hedgemaster+ to 150bhp and you get "whoooooooa f-ck". You know when youve just done something naugty and you instantly get a flush, feel kinda shakey and look around to see if anyones noticed, and then you do it again. It was mad, and very addictive.

The only time i got that feeling again was after fitting the throttle bodies. Its only after a big increase in power that you can appreciate it, i just wonder when i get my next "hit"

 

[ColinW]

I up until recently thought that my Calibra was quick and it satisfied my driving needs, I mean when i first got it i thought I could take on anything. However that was until last year when my girlfriend arranged a super car experience at Snetterton race track where I drove one fairly fast car (Audi S3) and Four very fast cars (Ferrari,Lotus,Viper & 911 (at the limit I might add)

You lot will be thinking lucky git, however each time I now drive the Calibra I can't help feeling that something is not quite right that there is something missing that there should be this force puching me back into the seat, in some way I think I've been scarred by the experience.

I long for a more powerful car - A TVR Cerbera would do nicely.

 

[paul maxwell]

i agree with oddball , it is very addictive. when i started looking at a different car i had sold my ax gt an i went to see my mate who had a white valver , managed to get him to sell it ....and the rest is history , erm well the white one is any way.....

you get used to the power its only when you plant your foot at 85 on the motorway and as tom says every thing starts disappearing in your rear view.

then u realise that u do have something a wee bit spicy under the hood.

 

[Tim_P]

13 seconds to 60 90mph
10 seconds to 60 115mph
9 seconds to 60 120mph
8.5 seconds to 60 125mph
8.3 seconds to 60 135mph
8.0 seconds to 60 138mph
7.4 seconds to 60 137mph
7.9 seconds to 60 137mph
6.4 seconds to 60 150mph

That's pretty much the history of my cars and their performance. As 0ddball says you need that 'hit' which ideally comes in at 35bhp per time. I chose a turbo for this reason, each phase kit would put 35 or so more bhp on the table, but realistically if I did use them it would be phase 2 first which is 270bhp or so, double the dose so to speak.

However, 35bhp for TB's on a GTE 16v would give a very nice and useable gain, with added rev limit and noise attractions. It is all relative but you do need the hits to keep you entertained.

 

[James_R]

My idea of performace changed after driving my mates GT4 with 260 under the bonnet suddenly the 1.2spi nova was a wheel barrow. Eevn my dads 280SL merc feels low now. Damn him for letting me drive it, I want one now!!

 

[DarrenH]

when i drove mr bells skyline up the inductrial estate (in 500bhp guise) now thats what i call a "hit" It would be a sorry day to get used to that kind of brown pant feeling.