Performance car purchase dilema..

[4Vman]

Ok.. a bit of a hypothetical here, lets say you've test driven a number of vehicles, looked at magazine test articles and anictodal owner results for acceleration performance etc.
Vehicle a) stands out as a winner "by the numbers" its a bit faster to 100 or over the 1/4 than the other... BUT the other car of consideration, vehicle b) definitely "feels" faster "seat of the pants" to drive.. all other aspects between both vehicles are roughly equal in your mind, Some more background..
You are not inclined to be a weekend track warrior, the vehicle is a daily driver and for the occasional spirited weekend enjoyment..

The big question, Which one would YOU purchase?

[GTP owner]

easy comparison in the real world 4vman is the xr6 turbo (is quicker, faster, more economical, wins on paper - but is soulless on the road) and the xr8 (feels and sounds better on the street). I chose the second option in this thread because in many ways i have regretted buying xr6 turbos - they are quicker, but on the road they leave me cold. So they become the wife's car. i will stick with my v8s.

[Fev]

I would go option B - its not like you can full utilise the speed and power of a car on the road anyway so why not get the most enjoyment TRYING to lol

[RG]

Option B, always go for the one that feels better.

[deesun]

I've chosen A because it's the every day driver. I must be getting old. I like my creature comforts. :

[DJR-351]

No brainer for me, B of course.

Thats why i prefer old school muscle, they may not be the fastest or best handling compared by todays standards, but to me they just feel right and that is all that matters......

[FreddyDUZ747]

"what the heart says VS what the brain says"?
hard to answer as i would modify both cars anyway,different if you were going to keep it all stock?if both cars do the monday to friday just as well as each other then its down to the spirited driving factor for me.assuming both cars are of equal $ the one for me would be the officially faster one.if you had two identical cars built the same to choose from but one was 4 tenths faster over the quarter,would you buy the slower one?

[jcxr]

Norm, Im 2 weeks into driving XR8 FG and the difference over the XR6T BF is huge. Yes the turbo had the big " rush " but the 290 has the presence on the road. There will be no going back for me. Fuel economy is soooo close it doesnt matter which is also a bonus.

[Powdered Toast Man]

Definitely the one that feels faster. It's all about the driving enjoyment not about the numbers.

[gossy]

Originally Posted by Powdered Toast Man

Definitely the one that feels faster. It's all about the driving enjoyment not about the numbers.

x2

That's what I've always said. Most times, from the heart is better than the head in these situations otherwise you regret it later.

[FPV+fteT3]

Originally Posted by Powdered Toast Man

Definitely the one that feels faster. It's all about the driving enjoyment not about the numbers.

I couldn't have said it better.

[GT0132]

Option B....Perception over reality

[flappist]

Now here is a quandry. If something "feels" faster while not actually being faster this implies it is unstable and non-linear.

The human body cannot detect accelleration, it can only detect change in accelleration.

e.g.
After rotation in a heavy jet you are accellerating from about 200kts to maybe 400-600kts but it justs feels like you coasting along.
Conversly, a ride at the show or theme park fells like you are breaking the sound barrier when infact you are not going very fast at all.

For a vehicle to feel faster on the "bum-o-meter" it must be jerky and bumpy.

So.......do you want a JET or a THEME PARK RIDE..........

[zx10]

Originally Posted by flappist

e.g.
After rotation in a heavy jet you are accellerating from about 200kts to maybe 400-600kts but it justs feels like you coasting along.
Conversly, a ride at the show or theme park fells like you are breaking the sound barrier when infact you are not going very fast at all.

For a vehicle to feel faster on the "bum-o-meter" it must be jerky and bumpy.

So.......do you want a JET or a THEME PARK RIDE..........

LOL what a great example! Do you want a mode of transport or do you want an exciting ride?

How many people line up at the airport to take a plane to perth cause they get excited by the takeoff?

How many people line up at movie world to ride the "superman escape" all the way to perth?

2 different audiences and both are right.

[geckoGT]

I am going to completely leave the 6 and 8 thing as well as the FPV and HSV thing alone (or any other thing you can think of that closes threads).

I think there have been some excellent points on here and the key to it all is it comes down to personal choice.

One of the factors that greatly influences personal choice is circumstance, what is right for you at the time.

I have been in the situation a number of times where I have let the bum-o-meter buy the car instead of the cold hard facts, I do not regret that. Now my circumstances have changed and with all other car features being the same, I would go for the faster not the "feels the fastest". Why, because I don't want a boy racer car that seems fast, I want a bit more subtle that is fast.

Please do not assume I am tlking F6 and GT, I am not, the examples in my mind are not even Ford.

[Black F6]

I feel that whatever feels best, is a couple of tenths, really gonna make a difference, in everyday driving ????

[gcg2503]

Norm just get the G6ET will you!!!!

[mik]

i have put deep thought into this one myself, and the answer would be the one that i would have most fun driving.... and the speed question ? if the one feels more lively to drive is still quick and is fun ....yes i would have that one, a few tenths / half a second behind......who cares its enjoyment factor for me, something clinical and fast is probably fun at times but the driving novelty would wear off pretty soon i think.

[Director]

what colour would they be?


only joking B for me

[Joshvee]

A for me. Because flappist is on the mark. If it feels faster but is actually slower, it is more likely due to poorer suspension or theres something wrong with it. My F6 DEFINATELY "feels" faster than it's V8 counterpart.

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by Joshvee

A for me. Because flappist is on the mark. If it feels faster but is actually slower, it is more likely due to poorer suspension or theres something wrong with it. My F6 DEFINATELY "feels" faster than it's V8 counterpart.

So are you saying its therefore slower in reality?

[Joshvee]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

So are you saying its therefore slower in reality?

well by that, you are saying that all cars that are faster, feel slower and all cars that are slower, feel faster.... no logic there.

What I'm saying is that generally, cars that are faster, feel faster.

[FPV+fteT3]

Originally Posted by Joshvee

A for me. Because flappist is on the mark. If it feels faster but is actually slower, it is more likely due to poorer suspension or theres something wrong with it. My F6 DEFINATELY "feels" faster than it's V8 counterpart.

Your F6 It may be faster in some instances but let me assure you there is nothing wrong with either of my 8's and the suspension is just fine the noise and rocking of a cammed 8 leaves a turbo sneeze for dead IMO. This gives the car soul and adds to the driving experience so yes it may not be faster but the feeling is pretty good behind the wheel.

[Joshvee]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

everyone else is drawing their own concussions based on their own "prejudices"..

Just in case that was aimed at me. I am most certainly not prejudice. When I was looking for a performance car, I was actually looking for a V8 initially. I test drove a lot of cars, and finally narrowed it down to 3. The HSV R8 clubby, FPV GT and FPV F6. I preferred the FPVs interior so that narrowed it down to 2 cars GT or F6. I chose the F6 because it handled slightly better (maybe due to less weight in the front) used less fuel, (9.6 L per 100 km on my trip to Margeret River) and was faster. (On paper and feel) all other features were identical.

Originally Posted by FPV+fteT3

Your F6 It may be faster in some instances but let me assure you there is nothing wrong with either of my 8's and the suspension is just fine the noise and rocking of a cammed 8 leaves a turbo sneeze for dead IMO. This gives the car soul and adds to the driving experience so yes it may not be faster but the feeling is pretty good behind the wheel.

I'm geeting a bit tired of the V8 boys ragging on the F6 owners and saying we are turbo boys and have no soul. Every time I mention something about why I prefer my F6 you guys get all defensive and attack me. I couldn't care less whats under the bonnet. I chose the best car (for what I was looking for) at the time. I thought this was a Ford forum.... not a V8 forum.

[Dave R]

Buying a performance car is all about the feeling and enjoying the drive, isn't it? Isn't this why people buy performance cars in the first place, instead of Camry's and XT's? For enjoyment? The choice is simple really, choose the car that gives you the most enjoyment. Purchasing a car based on numbers is a silly purchase that you will end up regretting. A true enthusiast will choose the car that's 'right' for them, not necessarily the car with slightly better acceleration that you probably won't notice anyway.

[FreddyDUZ747]

in the OP their is no F6 or Ford V8 mentioned?4Vman is that what you were hoping people would start to debate about?Turbo VS V8?Just trying to clear that up,are you talking about totally different cars?If not i think their is a similar thread having debate at the moment(2010 S/C GT).Or is this a question to help you in a purchase of a new vehicle?

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by gilmore

in the OP their is no F6 or Ford V8 mentioned?4Vman

EXACTLY.
Im not suggesting any particular engine type, transmission type or car group... everyone else is drawing their own concussions based on their own "prejudices"..

[cjf]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

EXACTLY.
Im not suggesting any particular engine type, transmission type or car group... everyone else is drawing their own concussions based on their own "prejudices"..

4Vman your spot on , I amazed at the rants of some members above who obviously did not read your initial poll / question.They have their prejudices
and are blinded by a simple hypothetical question.

[Tucool]

Good poll.... option B all the way for me :

[FreddyDUZ747]

i did the same,realised as soon as i hit submit reply