Sports & fast cars are stupid.

[StageLeft]

Seriously they are. Look how much money people spend on cars that go fast. 1/4 in 13.5 0-60 in 5.5. Rips up country roads. Who cares? Marketing for new cars is filled with performance numbers that the majority of people will never use. First of all it's basically illegal to do a 0-60 at the lights in 5.5 seconds anyway (ticket for display of speed).

Essentially marketing for performance cars and the decision to buy one all cater to a buyer's fantastical thoughts of someday actually driving the car fast and using its capabilities whereas in most cases they never do, and in the few cases they do if a cop sees them they'll end up losing their license anyway. And autocross and drag racing aside (something few people do), the average joe buying a performance car is throwing money into an aspect of his car he'll never use.

The argument can barely be made that the same can be said about SUVs and off roading. True, few people will use their SUV off road, but then most buyers for SUVs are buying them because it's a large beast on the road. I'm sure few of them have any idea (or care) about how it is off road, but I bet you most 350z users can rattle off the horsepower of their car, even though they can get to work no sooner than somebody in the backseat of a taxi.

 

[theNEOone]

thank you for that information.



=|

 

[TheAudit]

What's your point?

 

[freebee]

The choices we make in life are not always rational.

 

[jonmullen]

350z 287 HP at 6,200 RPM

But hey sports cars are as much of and image as anything else, and if you have the money to blow, why not. I would love to have enough money to buy a 350z or maybe one day get a nice 325i or even maybe a M3

 

[Vortex22]

I always see fools that are in a hurry speeding and swerving in and out of traffic, then I laugh when I leisurely pull up to them sitting at a red light. They got no further being wreckless than I did being safe.

 

[TheNinja]

I first thought you meant that sports are stupid and that fast cars are stupid. But then I realized you meant that both sports cars and fast cars are stupid. I don't think sports are stupid, but I do think overly fast sports cars are

 

[PunDogg]

Originally posted by: freebee
The choices we make in life are not always rational.

true, gots to have some fun

DOgg

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: jonmullen
350z 287 HP at 6,200 RPM

But hey sports cars are as much of and image as anything else, and if you have the money to blow, why not. I would love to have enough money to buy a 350z or maybe one day get a nice 325i or even maybe a M3

Yeah they are definitely all image, but it's an image you can never fulfill, which is really a bit silly.

However, sillier yet, are those who spend money on their cars to make them faster. Now you're actually actively spending money in addition to the original cost of the vehicle for something you'll never use. It's like buying the heaviest most awesome winter jacket in the world - except you live in key west.

And really the silliest is making your street legal car go faster on a 1/4. Great, you just shaved a second off your quarter and spent $6k to do it. Now you can drive at 80 on the highway just like me in my beat up econobox. Wow, what a waste of money!

 

[agnitrate]

I still want an Enzo or a McLaren

-silver

 

[Zenmervolt]

True, most of the time a person won't be able to use the car's full performance. But a car that can run 0-60 in 5 seconds can probably be called on to pass a slow-moving motorhome without any drama. The big draw, to me anyway, is that if the car can scream when pushed hard then it's not going to be working hard at all in daily driving.

ZV

 

[Ns1]

power = torque

and torque = fun

and i probably won't get to work any faster than somebody in the backseat of a taxi, but i'll have alot more fun doing it =D

 

[TheAudit]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
True, most of the time a person won't be able to use the car's full performance. But a car that can run 0-60 in 5 seconds can probably be called on to pass a slow-moving motorhome without any drama. The big draw, to me anyway, is that if the car can scream when pushed hard then it's not going to be working hard at all in daily driving.

ZV

That is a great point. Maybe you won't ever do 0 to 150 in 17 seconds, but you will pass that station wagon on a two lane or need to merge into traffic, and that's when this power will be useful.

No one really needs 400 horsepower or a truck that is bigger than a school bus. But if you want it, why can't you buy it?

 

[Insane3D]

So, let me get this straight. Just because you think it's a "waste", "silly", and "will never get used", that is how we should all feel?

Just because fast sports cars are obviously not your forte', doesn't mean everyone else feels that way.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
True, most of the time a person won't be able to use the car's full performance. But a car that can run 0-60 in 5 seconds can probably be called on to pass a slow-moving motorhome without any drama. The big draw, to me anyway, is that if the car can scream when pushed hard then it's not going to be working hard at all in daily driving.

ZV

A speedy car is better than a slow one for that reason. Ie, a car with 200 horsepower is better for regular, legal & safe, driving than a 60 horsepower one. But I think once you get below the 7s or so for your car's 0-60 anything you're doing in it that calls upon all its power is surely illegal anyway.

 

[MaxDSP]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: jonmullen
350z 287 HP at 6,200 RPM

But hey sports cars are as much of and image as anything else, and if you have the money to blow, why not. I would love to have enough money to buy a 350z or maybe one day get a nice 325i or even maybe a M3

Yeah they are definitely all image, but it's an image you can never fulfill, which is really a bit silly.

However, sillier yet, are those who spend money on their cars to make them faster. Now you're actually actively spending money in addition to the original cost of the vehicle for something you'll never use. It's like buying the heaviest most awesome winter jacket in the world - except you live in key west.

And really the silliest is making your street legal car go faster on a 1/4. Great, you just shaved a second off your quarter and spent $6k to do it. Now you can drive at 80 on the highway just like me in my beat up econobox. Wow, what a waste of money!

what difference does it make to you on how other people spend their money?

 

[Aftermath]

I agree.

But it's probably because I don't have much money to spend on cars, and if I did I would rather have a nice one with lots of neat creature comforts than something I can use to try to turn heads and get attention with.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Insane3D
So, let me get this straight. Just because you think it's a "waste", "silly", and "will never get used", that is how we should all feel?

Just because fast sprots cars are obviously not your forte', doesn't mean everyone else does.

It's silly, in my opinion. I'm not stating it as an undeniable fact, but really other than having a car with decent power (for overtaking), anything else on that certainly does seem to cater toward's a fantasy that people can never even engage in.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: MaxDSP

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: jonmullen
350z 287 HP at 6,200 RPM

But hey sports cars are as much of and image as anything else, and if you have the money to blow, why not. I would love to have enough money to buy a 350z or maybe one day get a nice 325i or even maybe a M3

Yeah they are definitely all image, but it's an image you can never fulfill, which is really a bit silly.

However, sillier yet, are those who spend money on their cars to make them faster. Now you're actually actively spending money in addition to the original cost of the vehicle for something you'll never use. It's like buying the heaviest most awesome winter jacket in the world - except you live in key west.

And really the silliest is making your street legal car go faster on a 1/4. Great, you just shaved a second off your quarter and spent $6k to do it. Now you can drive at 80 on the highway just like me in my beat up econobox. Wow, what a waste of money!

what difference does it make to you on how other people spend their money?

Crikey, what's with the defensive ness? This is an opinion thread. I'm not going to press congress to ratify any new laws

 

[spidey07]

they may be stupid but they sure are fun.

And some of us do call upon all of our car's potential and love every minute of it.

 

[KEV1N]

It's not that I excessively exceed the speed limit.. I just want to get to it as quickly as possible!

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
True, most of the time a person won't be able to use the car's full performance. But a car that can run 0-60 in 5 seconds can probably be called on to pass a slow-moving motorhome without any drama. The big draw, to me anyway, is that if the car can scream when pushed hard then it's not going to be working hard at all in daily driving.

ZV

A speedy car is better than a slow one for that reason. Ie, a car with 200 horsepower is better for regular, legal & safe, driving than a 60 horsepower one. But I think once you get below the 7s or so for your car's 0-60 anything you're doing in it that calls upon all its power is surely illegal anyway.

Woah...you seem like a really fun guy. You know...this may be a shock, but some people live in areas where they CAN use the speed and performance without run in with the law. Again, just because it's seems silly to you that doesn't make it the case for everyone else. Traffic laws and enforcement vary as well.

 

[ajpa123]

Hey Man,

A fast car is a way to express yourself and to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Most desirable cars just happen to be fast, and that's that. You get more technological and mechanical refinement as you pay more..

As for 0-60, i don't use that at stop lights, when i merge onto an empty highway, that's when i use that acceleration.. when i'm sure the only person i can hurt is myself (either by hitting a tree or by getting a ticket).. It's my right as an American to do that.

Actually, sometimes it fun doin 0-50 in like 4 seconds when nobody is about, i do that a lot

America is about freedom and you gotta let people express it. I think bikers represent freedom, that's why i don't care if i get woken up at nite by some biker at 3.00 in a loud bike... i get over it.. lol

I think that the marketing for performance cars (about its performance) is something people use everyday, like how well it corners flatly, no body roll, yaw control, active suspension, skid control.. remember you don't have to speed to appreciate these things, but you gotta know what driving is all about..

Your argument is based on speed and not performance.

AJ.

 

[Mutilator]

*Waits for someone to say that Nissans (especially Maximas) are stupid*
:evil:

 

[jonmullen]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: jonmullen
350z 287 HP at 6,200 RPM

But hey sports cars are as much of and image as anything else, and if you have the money to blow, why not. I would love to have enough money to buy a 350z or maybe one day get a nice 325i or even maybe a M3

Yeah they are definitely all image, but it's an image you can never fulfill, which is really a bit silly.

However, sillier yet, are those who spend money on their cars to make them faster. Now you're actually actively spending money in addition to the original cost of the vehicle for something you'll never use. It's like buying the heaviest most awesome winter jacket in the world - except you live in key west.

And really the silliest is making your street legal car go faster on a 1/4. Great, you just shaved a second off your quarter and spent $6k to do it. Now you can drive at 80 on the highway just like me in my beat up econobox. Wow, what a waste of money!

Does the image appeal to you obviously no. Do I personaly thing the car improvements are "silly" yes, but would I still love to own an M3 you bet I would. The fact is if you have the money and will gain joy and satisfaction from it why the hell not. Yes its wastefull, yes there are better uses for the money, but at that point I dont care.