My Ideal car...

as with most people I though I was a decent driver until I got ripped to shreds in the first 30 minutes of my first lesson!

 

Indeed. I'm going to look into roada shortly... I did IAM about 18 months ago and am ready for the next thing now.

 

'twas my uncle who taught me, an traffic cop and instructor for the police. I got alot more than the strict IAM stuff, it'd be interesting to know what it invloves, keep me informed, interesting stuff.

 

I did IAM, but found it a touch safety-nazi, though not as much as RoADA - this is why I'd have nowt to do with them:

 

Can't personally see the problem with that leonard... If you could pull off an overtaking manoeuvre at 70mph that you couldn't at 60mph then the safety margin is too small. If the person you're overtaking is doing 55mph on a 60mph limit road then they're really not worth overtaking.

 

The problem is that some folks have a terrible tendency to drive at 60mph when the road is nice and straight, but as soon as there's a corner they're down to 25mph...
The only way to get past someone who isn't "making progress" and who I may be stuck behind for 20 miles is to exceed the speed limit as soon as there's a suitable safe opportunity.
I normally drive at 60-65mph (not on motorways, as I'm lucky enough to rarely have to use them), but I like to keep it at that speed almost whatever the road's like..
If someone decides they must overtake me, I'm quite happy to slow down to ease their passage (!) by slowing down..
Those slowing-excessively-on-corners types tend to also speed up to make it difficult for you to pass.. Presumably they think "I'm doing the speed limit, how very dare he?", without noticing how annoying their lack of driving ability can be when they actually have to turn the steering wheel, or, God forbid, have to be in the correct gear for a corner!

 

Indeed, when I've been driving through Wales (the Wolves -> Aber run) these people drive me insane...60mph on the straights is fine, I don't expect people to speed, but the slightest kink in the road and some people panic and slow to an absolute crawl.

With regards to overtaking speeds always being within the speed limit, I've always been under the impression that (within reason) the greater the speed differential the better, so as to complete the maneuver within the shortest possible space of time, spending the least amount of time within the 'danger zone' on the wrong side of the road.

But then defining 'within reason' is awkward (as if its too quick you're likely to scare the driver of the car you're passing witless, especially on a superbike with race cans...plus some speeds are just too high for safe use on public roads), and an idea of 'the greater speed differential the better' would be like a red rag to a bull to some...

 

I fully understandand that Leonard. So stay behind them while they do the speed limit, and once they slow to a crawl, overtake them out of the corner because these same people who will slow down that much also won't accelerate hard out of a corner. If you do, you can easily achieve the overtake within the speed limit.

 

I find the guilty party in this case tends to be someone who has a powerful car - they always tend to accelerate out of the corner with more power than I've got available..
On the mosickle this is irrelevant, but if I want to get past in the motor I'll be doing 80mph by the time I've overtaken!
And the reason I want to get past is that just one of these eejits can slow my average speed by 20mph - i.e. an extra hour's driving per day!
Mebbe I'll have to get my car chipped for those extra 50odd horses..

 

The people that really annoy me are the ones who drive 40mph through a built up 30 zone, and then continue to do 40-45 in a national speedlimit. This can be rather dangerous.And if the road is in the sligtest bit twisty, then you may get stuck behind them. Patience is a virtue.

Also perhaps people who comfort brake all the time.

 

Crazy driving of an M5 vs RS6 :

Click here to see Video

At around £17.5k, I'd be interested in the Mk2 Seat Leon Cupra due out next year (circa 240 bhp) - I've got the Mk1 version now and it's a reliable, practical (and fun!) hot hatch which also makes for a nice motorway cruiser. Think Golf GTi/Audi TT without the price tag to match (still not 100% sure of the looks of the Mk2 though)

 

Whilst the 928 was a fine, if not overly long, porsche. The 924 started as VW's unwanted child - the first scirocco if you like. It deservedly had a cold reception when badged as a porsche and I think if not for the set of events which spawned it porsche may never have created its own front engined model. It did improve with iterations on toward the 968 of course.

 

Sorry to be pedantic but that's actually an RS4

 

Of course when you do try and overtake suddenly they want to drive at 70. Exact scenario almost caused my wife to have an accident. Tosser accelerated and she was stuck on the opposite lane. Classic English road manners IME - insecure middle-aged knob trying to control the road.

 

That video of the GSXR750 piston going through the rider's arm is disturbing, and no doubt was quite painful.

 

The fast production car "race" is interesting. Kind of turns on it's head the notion the 911 is the only supercar you can use everyday. The Honda NSX-R shows the 911 turbo a clean pair of heels and the M3 CSL gives it a very good run for its money. Only the Murcielago takes the Honda's crown and only becuase of straight line power. The NSX wasnt very popular but it is widely considered to be an excellent car.
video