is it possible to enjoy fast driving today?

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lazarus · #1 Post by **lazarus** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 7:45 am

I've given up bikes and sold the last one - for a combination of reasons I wont bore you with. As compensation, I've treated myself to a Lotus Elise R - 190bhp in 850kg of aluminium and plastic.

We have a family car but its a boring auto Volvo so previously if I ever wanted to have a bit of fun, it had to be the bike. Just no point in trying to hustle a gas powered two ton barge. But now it has to be the Lotus, and thats what I've been driving over the last week or so.

Its a cracking car. It sticks to the road to an unbelievable degree, and all the controls are beautifully organised for driving pleasure. Its as fast or faster than the bike down an empty windey road because you dont need to slow for corners the same - until you come to one of the typical rolling road blosks of three hatches behind a van. None of them leave space between for anyone else to crawl up the queue, so it can take miles to get past them all. Even out here in the sticks, it quickly becomes frustrating.

I reckon they have beaten us. And its not the cameras that the have done it with but congestion. I forsee a future of clones driving radar controlled Volvos of the sort shown off by Thatcham recently. Does all your braking for you, and is probably pre programmed to give you a lecture if you try to exceed 24 mph.

Do you reckon you can have any open road fun in a car these days?

Samray · #2 Post by **Samray** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 8:05 am

Nope.

and I reckon you have just catalogued the reasons a bike is more fun and always has been.
Sorry to hear you are now bikeless.

back_marker · #3 Post by **back_marker** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 10:02 am

Trouble is it isn't much better on a bike, you've still got cage after cage to overtake and if the road's any good (read twisty), that can sometimes still take miles.

The only alternative is to escape early weekend mornings or summer evenings for a few hours. I have found that not only can i get out and enjoy the roads properly but if I put the little one to bed and then immediately don my leathers and fire up the beast, even the missus is happy about if because she can watch crap on telly to her hearts content and I can go out and play for at least a couple of hours before it gets really dark.

Samray · #4 Post by **Samray** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 10:08 am

back_marker wrote:Trouble is it isn't much better on a bike, you've still got cage after cage to overtake and if the road's any good (read twisty), that can sometimes still take miles.

I reckon that's a regional thing.

BikerGran · #5 Post by **BikerGran** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 10:11 am

When I'm off on my travels on the trike I usually look for the roads that have been superceded by motorways and bypasses - they're often quite empty!

Sometimes of course, it only takes one or two to hold you up though and I don't have a lot of extra oomph for overtaking with my little 550ccs!

lazarus · #6 Post by **lazarus** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 7:26 pm

Thats a fair point BG. I came back up from Exeter recently, and thanks to a complete closure of the M5 I decided to take the A38. Much of it was clear just as you say, but against that it went through towns with 30 limits. So it took way longer but was more interesting.

Evenings are no good - I refuse to ride or drive after a drink, and dinner without a drink is a bit bare. So I'll have to try early mornings and hope the farmers arent out there sileage making.

bigun · #7 Post by **bigun** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 8:30 pm

Its not too bad up here but then there's not many people in the vast expanse that is Northumberland. A mate of mine has an Impreza STI with something stupid like 360bhp and having driven it on some twisties up here, it is absolutely possible to have fun in a car, it is an awesome piece of kit.

I think you've just got to have the right place and the right car (your Lotus would be class up here). Still wouldn't swap my bike for it like but I have seriously considered buying one.

Falco9 · #8 Post by **Falco9** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 6:39 pm

Vist the Isle of Man

Bloody brilliant at any time of year, cheap ferries and unlimited speed limits mean you'll enjoy the mountain section on or in anything sporty

F9

HowardQ · #9 Post by **HowardQ** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 12:00 am

I've driven reasonably fast cars all my life, (my last three would all hit 140), but it has become very difficult to find somewhere to drive 'em fast recently, which is why I ride bikes. Yeh you have to pass a few cars now and then, like that's a problem?

I regularly get waved on by exotic stuff from Italy and Germany. More recently even "lads" in Scoobys also tend to pull over, wind the window down and wave me by, they sort of give a "wish I was on your bike" look as I give them a thankyou wave.
So, as far as I am concerned bikes are still the only way to have some fun, although it's not as easy these days.

BikerGran · #10 Post by **BikerGran** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 9:42 am

Track days?

Samray · #11 Post by **Samray** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 10:36 am

Not here for sure !

HowardQ · #12 Post by **HowardQ** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 11:35 am

BikerGran wrote:Track days?

I need a fix every week!
Can't afford anything like that many Track Days in money or time.
The fix can be variable, some days I like to go quicker than others, I just enjoy being out on a country road on a bike. Two or three hours over a weekend run is normally fine and gives me time for other things like Gardening and DIY!

(Did I just say that/).
You have to totally concentrate on the ride for the two hours or so and everything else gets blown out of you mind.
Bit like a drug I suppose.

Samray · #13 Post by **Samray** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 11:45 am

or alcohol.

HowardQ · #14 Post by **HowardQ** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 11:50 am

Yeh OK, but not at the same time as the bike!

#15 Post by **Kwackerz** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 5:14 pm

Samray wrote:Not here for sure !

42 seconds.. What the heck did he bother with his indicator for!!!!