Topic: My Automotive joy is derived from....

[aquadorhj]

You will note that there's no third choice, say, a good compromise between the two(say, M3's, Cayman's  etc). 

I know it exists.  Then there's Ferrari's, Nissan GT-Rs, Audi R8 V10's, MB Blacks, etc that provides the ultimate of both.

but, nowadays, i read about all those cars, watch the videos and all i can think is..  meh...  i mean, i'm interested, but not that much.  primarily because i cannot afford them and i'm thinking, i would have more fun driving small, nimble cars with just enough power to reach 160~200 hp/ton ratio. *I* don't need more. 


so that got me thinking about you guys. 

how do you find yourself, always wanting more power or thinking your car needs sharper handling to have more fun day to day?

[articsteve]

Humans are rarely satisfied for long.

I need higher speed limits.

[vdk]

Torque.

[rrocket]

We had the convo at the NAIAS...about expensive cars and how we are caring less and less about them.

For me?  Once I got bit by the big power bug (Supra), that was it.  I LOVE huge power.  It's like a drug.  And I'm the addict.

[Mike]

Grew up a power junkie but the more I drive the more I like handling....as steve said, we need higher speed limits....then I might change my mind.

The power in the Charger R/T I am driving right now is pretty fun, but it corners like the boat it is.

With my WRX I am more concerned with it braking and handling better than I am with making it faster

[CanuckG35]

My S2000 isn't overly powerful and by no means has a lot of torque, but it handles like an f'ing go cart.  For me, having something nimble and composed through the twisties is much more fun.  The G35 I find is a nice balance of power/handling.  Growing up in a household of muscle cars, power was always king. 

[ajay]

My Automotive joy is derived from....

Nimble good handling cars are where its at for me
The toysub would be the perfect example . 

[tortoise]

Where's the "BOTH" button?

[Snowman]

Both.

[rrocket]

Well..I suppose it is both.  But the cars I like already have great handling.  They just need more power! 

[Fobroader]

Ive gotta say both, if you have a car that handles like crap, who cares if its got 600 horses. Inversely, if you have a car that handles like its on rails but its only got 120 horses....you almost have to have a nice balance of both.

[Arthur Dent]

I like cars with some sort of character first. I'd probably choice handling over power in most cases though. The current daily driver has neither.

[Karumba]

Handling > Power for me

But the best motoring joy for me is not really either of these, it's being in one with the car.  A car doesn't have to put out great slalom numbers or have a good 0-60 time to be fun. Example most could relate to would be old hondas - performance figures are average, and yet somehow they just feel good to drive. Communicative chassis, willing engines, great transmissions, riding well, making good noises, eager to change directions on a whim - these are attributes that help make the driver be just more in tune with the car.

Example of handling > power
Mazda2 - this car is slowwww in numbers, and yet this stood out as one of the most enjoyable test drives I ever took.  Much more enjoyable than the camaro ss/cts-v I also had a chance to test drive, though those had automatics. The Mazda had the right feedback, the right noise, a good amount of playfulness that just encouraged me to flog the hell out of it.  Good handling was a factor although it's only a part of it.

Example of good handling numbers does not equal fun
Genesis coupe 2.0T - this car has some sticky tires and puts out decent slalom numbers.  And yet - where is the driver involvement?  The engine makes the wrong noises, steering uncommunicative, slow to rev, rubbish shifts - it didn't encourage me to drive it fast in any way. In fact, this might be the anti-sports car, as going at 80 feels like i'm going at 60 - this was one of the few cars that I felt like I was going to fall asleep driving in.

[Julie]

Great question aqua.

I've owned cheap, used econo cars that have made me a little tense merging onto the highway  (not enough power) to a car now that has too much power for my own good.

More power is fun, but handling is key.

Most cars enthusiasts would be looking at (as long as budget allows) probably would have enough power these days - mainstream cars have a lot of power these days.  So if I eliminate the anemic cars, handling >>> power to me.

[airbalancer]

from......... Just driving

Powerful car, hybrid , truck , rag top , box, I really do not care
I just like getting behind the wheel and just drive
Go for 17 hour drive no problem , lets go

[Sir Osis of Liver]

from......... Just driving

Powerful car, hybrid , truck , rag top , box, I really do not care
I just like getting behind the wheel and just drive
Go for 17 hour drive no problem , lets go

[Vmango]

modding.....

[life in the slow lane]

from......... Just driving

Powerful car, hybrid , truck , rag top , box, I really do not care
I just like getting behind the wheel and just drive
Go for 17 hour drive no problem , lets go

We may not agree on another thread, but I am with you on this one. Now that I'm older and find it harder to sit for long periods of time, I've reduced mine to 12 hours.

[5 Wheel Drive]

I think my joy is more from nimble handling than lots of power.  First thing that came to mind was my Miata.  It had awesome handling, without the ride being punishing.  The steering just felt right.  It wasn't fast, but it felt quick. 

Although I prefer handling, I won't buy something that can't even get out of its own way.

[Giant Dwarf]

I'm with Snowballs on this one:  both.  And if you can't get it in one package, get it in two as he's done.  I drove my brother's STI again the other day (now modded with intake, exhaust, and chip) and decided that an enthusiast could be exceedingly happy to have an STI for the daily grind (and power fix) and a Cayman R or even S2000 for the back-road twisties and F1-driver-wannabe days. 
Snowman, you've got that figured out!