Automotive

With the inexorable intrusion and "progress" of digital technology into the world of automotive (and powersports in general) engineering ( automotive.watchprosite.com ) as well as the inescapable kowtowing to the government and mandated safety and "green" quotient of cars, I find myself increasingly disenchanted with the resulting products, even as the "performance figures" break old milestones and produce new thresholds; ever lower lap times at the N'Ring and other race tracks around the world (the fastest are still fastest, but the unskilled and untrained are closing the gap not through skill or practice but tech aids...); "improved safety" through electronic nannies (what ever happened to good old "good driving?") and ever lower "nasty emissions" and semi-eternal half lives of toxic elements (I can't argue with this one...)

It's all been a somewhat vague, discomforting feeling, and for someone who loves to abstract and deconstruct; to find elemental points and broad sweeping trends, this vagueness has been bothersome. What is the wellhead, the underlying tailwind, of this developmental trend, and how can driving enthusiasts who lead the manufacturers allow this to happen?

It seems all too easy to blame the bean counters and regulatory compliance officers in the big marques.

Porsche Carrera GT, 918, and 959; their GT cars and the evolution of the GT3 from 997 to 991

Ferrari 288, F40, F50, Enzo, and now La Ferrari

Lamborghini; BMW...

and suddenly, I read this (emphasis added mine) -

"(As I write this, we're moving ever closer to driving the McLaren P1, LaFerrari and getting a proper drive on the road in the Porsche 918 - technological tour de forces, all of them)

But what about the cars that were specifically designed for the driver, and not EU cycles or outright lap times?

What about the cars designed to reflect the skill level of the pilot and not to showcase the technical brilliance of the manufacturer?"

Nick Trott, Editor, EVO magazine September 2013

Brilliant, simply brilliant.

This is my big big issue, we see it in the world of motorbikes too... as a rider, I like the fact I can go faster, safer, but part of me feels as though I am cheating.... I should be riding a bike without any electronic aids....

Hi, ik2000,

I don't care when an individual makes a personal choice to drive the GT-R or 458 at what used to be professional speeds and then get out and think, "hey, I can be competitive in F1!"

but the trend you imply in the last part of your sentence is what worries me -

"The more we showcase this technology, the further removed a driver becomes from the actual act of driving, and hence the knowledge of how to ride/drive gets further reduced...."

I've seen lots of "fast" drivers who are just accidents waiting to happen.  Condolences to their families...

(of course, I'm slow and I don't make any pretenses otherwise...

  )

was when driving a Porsche 356 Super 90 in the alps. Tried several modern (basic, nothing fancy) Porsche´s and was not impressed, to make it short. Even high speed feels somehow boring. Some years ago I drove to a Porsche dealer with my MX 5 from 1999 and did a testdrive with a Cayman. I left with a smile and my "humble; 110 PS only" MX 5

Modern Super Car´s are impressive because of the their design and their features, but sometimes I miss the (real) benefits.

Maybe it´s just me.

Oliver

Hi, Oliver,

No, it's not just you...

What you described is the "slow car fast" syndrome - "I'd rather drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow"

Not everyone agrees, and those that tend to like the later tend to be focused on either the quantitative aspects of driving - acceleration times and top speed; lap times - and, mainly, the ego and bragging rights.

Those that tend to focus on the former tend to enjoy the mastery of driving - man against physics and mechanics, analogue skills in an analogue world.

Pre-PASM, ABC, ASC, traction control, possibly even ABS: NA and NB generation MX-5's...996GT3 RS vs Nissan GT-R; F-40 vs Enzo (and people STILL keep crashing the Enzo!)

Of course, there are those that like to "drive a fast car fast..." - you'll have to ask Le Bimb about that, I wouldn't know. 

I've only pushed these 7/10...

and these 4/10...

 

 

"slow car fast" syndrome. To me it felt more like fast cars feel slow.

Maybe I need one for the incoming mid-life crisis ... who knows

Maybe I have to try one of your super fast cars, one day

Maybe there are already enough addictions in my own small luxury world

...

Cheers,
Oliver

PS: Bim, he is a junky for speed, chocolate ... and a GREAT guy in general.

The most pleasure I have ever had behind a wheel was in a 1969 Mini Cooper S. It always felt faster than it was, but it handled well, even if the brakes were a little dodgy. After that a first generation MX-5 still brings a smile. These cars felt like I was wringing everything I could from them and that was where the pleasure lay.

Andrew

How perfectly 'appropriate'!!! This message has been edited by Jester on 2013-09-07 07:40:30

"What you described is the "slow car fast" syndrome - "I'd rather drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow""

I am already seeing that.
Yes the Evora is a great car, but to let her roar I'd need to be on a track.
I could push Elise to her limit on certain public roads.
Yes, Elise was more fun.
Why does practicality always have to be part of the equation?
Don


As to your thread starter, we are just seeing the logical consequence of a consumer society where the bankers have the say.
Where only money has value the cars must be made to sell as many as possible, everyone who has the money must be put in a position to drive one.  Driving nannys are an absolute neccessity.
People with other interests, such as having a car which requires (and rewards) personal driving skills, have to find their way as they can.
I want those rewards.

 

.. that my most epic drive for 2013 was a one mile trip in a late 90ies Suzuki Swift with a 75 hp 1300 cc engine ... .

I'm not a purist in this regard.