Thrills vs frustrations in daily driving

[harperium]

How does one safely and legally enjoy an M car? On a daily basis, I mean - track use is such a tiny fraction of miles driven for M cars.

What % of the time do you drive aggressively or “make moves”? Or do you just never do this? What is your approach to driving? Do you end up frustrated more often than thrilled? Isn’t that basically why we don’t all drive Camry's?

My 340 MPPSK has gotten me into trouble twice this month (two minor tickets from aggressive driving). The car honestly has more power than I can really enjoy - I can’t remember the last time I did a WOT run. Overtaking and passing on the highway at just half throttle often lands me in triple digit speeds unless I’m very careful. In fact lately I just pass via cruise control: roll the knob up a few times to increase speed by +10, pass, and back down. BORING. But safe and legal. Otherwise digging into the throttle is limited to fractions of a second. It’s like watching porn but not being allowed to, well, you get the idea.

I’m curious to know how you guys drive your M cars b/c I’m now questioning the practicality of owning fast cars. I now understand the appeal of the MX-5 - fun and engaging to drive at safe, legal speeds. Thrilling more often than frustrating. Though for me it’s just too impractical. But aggressively driving a fast car on a daily basis is not sustainable and, eventually, will not end well.

I sold my 320i b/c it wasn’t powerful enough; ironically I spent a lot more time at WOT in that car than the 340. In that sense it was more fun.

As an aside, if the current HP and 0-60 wars continue, at some point cars will be accelerating so fast that eventually laws will be passed to limit the raw acceleration of cars. I mean, it’s inherently unsafe to accelerate that much around other cars, isn’t it? You’re putting the car into a new position so fast that other drivers don’t have time to react or anticipate. Up until lately, the laws of physics were enough, but in 10 years when sub 2-second 0-60 is “normal”… I can see lawmakers in zealous states legislating that anything more than 1 G (2.739s 0-60) is not street legal.

[Thescout13]

just waiting for this thread to blow up like the DSC off thread.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by harperium

As an aside, if the current HP and 0-60 wars continue, at some point cars will be accelerating so fast that eventually laws will be passed to limit the raw acceleration of cars. I mean, it’s inherently unsafe to accelerate that much around other cars, isn’t it? You’re putting the car into a new position so fast that other drivers don’t have time to react or anticipate. Up until lately, the laws of physics were enough, but in 10 years when sub 2-second 0-60 is “normal”… I can see lawmakers in zealous states legislating that anything more than 1 G (2.739s 0-60) is not street legal.

This type of regulation would most probably be a non-starter simply because it is impractical to enforce. Vehicles can already accelerate much faster than other drivers can anticipate, and there are already laws on the books for "unsafe start" or other related offenses. In other words, it doesn't need to be quantified because law enforcement doesn't need to measure actual acceleration times in order to issue citations with regard to unsafe acceleration.

[harperium]

And please don't yell at me; the cops did enough of that. I already know I'm a f*cking idiot.

[IM2C]

C'mon officer, I was pulling only one g!

[shortseller]

Originally Posted by harperium

And please don't yell at me; the cops did enough of that. I already know I'm a f*cking idiot.

OK!

[Jewson]

I understand where you're coming from. These cars really just start to come alive AFTER the speed limit has passed. Truly made for a road like the Autobahn as a highway missile(and Nurburgring carver on the weekends). In some regards, it's easier to have more fun in a slower car when driving daily on the street.

[harperium]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

This type of regulation would most probably be a non-starter simply because it is impractical to enforce. Vehicles can already accelerate much faster than other drivers can anticipate, and there are already laws on the books for "unsafe start" or other related offenses. In other words, it doesn't need to be quantified because law enforcement doesn't need to measure actual acceleration times in order to issue citations with regard to unsafe acceleration.

I hope you're right. There are gas-guzzler taxes already around MPG levels. I think states could enforce a power-to-weight ratio limit on cars - they could refuse to allow cars to be sold unless they were under the limit. It wouldn't be enforced on the streets. I would hate this - I'm just saying, if the trend continues, acceleration limits could become a reality

[harperium]

Originally Posted by M0011

C'mon officer, I was pulling only one g!

Let me just say, Chicago PD doesn't like having aggressive moves made on them. Stupid, stupid me.

[Zayzel]

Originally Posted by harperium

And please don't yell at me; the cops did enough of that. I already know I'm a f*cking idiot.

hahahahaha

[captainaudio]

Originally Posted by harperium

How does one safely and legally enjoy an M car? On a daily basis, I mean - track use is such a tiny fraction of miles driven for M cars.

What % of the time do you drive aggressively or “make moves”? Or do you just never do this? What is your approach to driving? Do you end up frustrated more often than thrilled? Isn’t that basically why we don’t all drive Camry's?

My 340 MPPSK has gotten me into trouble twice this month (two minor tickets from aggressive driving). The car honestly has more power than I can really enjoy - I can’t remember the last time I did a WOT run. Overtaking and passing on the highway at just half throttle often lands me in triple digit speeds unless I’m very careful. In fact lately I just pass via cruise control: roll the knob up a few times to increase speed by +10, pass, and back down. BORING. But safe and legal. Otherwise digging into the throttle is limited to fractions of a second. It’s like watching porn but not being allowed to, well, you get the idea.

I’m curious to know how you guys drive your M cars b/c I’m now questioning the practicality of owning fast cars. I now understand the appeal of the MX-5 - fun and engaging to drive at safe, legal speeds. Thrilling more often than frustrating. Though for me it’s just too impractical. But aggressively driving a fast car on a daily basis is not sustainable and, eventually, will not end well.

I sold my 320i b/c it wasn’t powerful enough; ironically I spent a lot more time at WOT in that car than the 340. In that sense it was more fun.

As an aside, if the current HP and 0-60 wars continue, at some point cars will be accelerating so fast that eventually laws will be passed to limit the raw acceleration of cars. I mean, it’s inherently unsafe to accelerate that much around other cars, isn’t it? You’re putting the car into a new position so fast that other drivers don’t have time to react or anticipate. Up until lately, the laws of physics were enough, but in 10 years when sub 2-second 0-60 is “normal”… I can see lawmakers in zealous states legislating that anything more than 1 G (2.739s 0-60) is not street legal.

I doubt that there will be legislation to limit acceleration. There is no legislation limiting the top speed of cars and any car you can buy today is capable of speeds well above the speed limits.

[superbrew]

Safely and legally are two separate issues

[MicaCeli]

Nothing to do with power.

- On/Off ramps, slow down to get a bunch of room between you and the guy in front of you.
- Do a few pulls in a safe manner (no cars in the area)
- Go to track days or autoX, you need to get the aggression out somewhere.

For not getting pulled over:
- Use WAZE app
- Don't weave through traffic
- Use your turn signals

[shortseller]

Originally Posted by harperium

How does one safely and legally enjoy an M car? On a daily basis, I mean - track use is such a tiny fraction of miles driven for M cars...I sold my 320i b/c it wasn’t powerful enough; ironically I spent a lot more time at WOT in that car than the 340. In that sense it was more fun....

You mean 425hp+ isn’t enough? The speed & tune shops are not going to like this thinking. Yes, it’s much more fun to drive a slower car at 75% of the limits than a fast car at 25%. For daily use M setting wise; eff, comf, comf & S1 will help enjoy more but won’t be a panacea for what ale’s you!

[MicaCeli]

Originally Posted by captainaudio

I doubt that there will be legislation to limit acceleration. There is no legislation limiting the top speed of cars and any car you can buy today is capable of speeds well above the speed limits.

I think VA has this covered under the reckless driving law. Its all arbitrary and you cant argue it in court. Officer with 20 years on the force has seen everything there is to see and thought you were accelerating excessively, boom ticket. While legally not enforceable you will loose this argument 95% of the time in VA court.

[harperium]

Originally Posted by MicaCeli

Nothing to do with power.

- On/Off ramps, slow down to get a bunch of room between you and the guy in front of you.
- Do a few pulls in a safe manner (no cars in the area)
- Go to track days or autoX, you need to get the aggression out somewhere.

For not getting pulled over:
- Use WAZE app
- Don't weave through traffic
- Use your turn signals

I did autoX last year; haven't done it this year, can't do it until I go to Court next month and get my license back.

My approach has been "short controlled bursts" of speed and aggression, but even that approach - you have to be 100% certain there aren't cops in the vicinity. One cop that got me was unmarked; the other was in my blind spot at night. What I did wasn't really unsafe per se, but digging into the throttle with a loud exhaust next to a cop is pretty much an automatic ticket.

[420Coupe]

Originally Posted by superbrew

Safely and legally are two separate issues

^ This

[SMGCFP]

I guess it depends where you live. I live in an area with about 300,000 people depending on how big you draw the circle. Outside of that circle however are miles and miles of roads, some windy, that you can have a nice spirited drive on. We often take a drive into Vermont, and have a fun time.

On the highway on a Sunday morning, I can do some nice WOT pulls as the traffic is light to non-existent. With the days being very long here right now, sometimes I'll get up at 4am and drive for 2 hours before everyone gets out on the road.

I guess the point is that depending on where you live, there are still places to let this car stretch its legs. If I lived in a place where gridlock was a daily thing, and the rural areas too far away to get to at least weekly, I'd consider a practical car.

[MicaCeli]

Originally Posted by harperium

I did autoX last year; haven't done it this year, can't do it until I go to Court next month and get my license back.

My approach has been "short controlled bursts" of speed and aggression, but even that approach - you have to be 100% certain there aren't cops in the vicinity. One cop that got me was unmarked; the other was in my blind spot at night. What I did wasn't really unsafe per se, but digging into the throttle with a loud exhaust next to a cop is pretty much an automatic ticket.

Yeah....dumb bad luck. Seriously find every AutoX venue during the summer you can get to and get your aggression out on the weekends, this helps, trust me. My wife and I used to do 2-3 autoX's a weekend to get rid of the stress of commuting and the work week.

I know people harp on the Active Sound of these cars but its really great in some ways. I don't have to have an loud exhaust where everyone can hear it but can enjoy the sound inside the car.

[barnsdale]

Well for starters, you own a 340i and not a M correct? First step would be to actually own an M car.

Step two...take it down a notch and just enjoy owning such a great car, I take advantage of the power that comes with the M car when the right time comes. Sometimes I really enjoy the smoothless and overall car just driving around when I fire the car up and don't even realize I am not in any of my pre-set M modes.

There's other times where I am on the highway or back country and I fire it into beast mode and hammer the car into another world hahaha

Main point I'm trying to make is, I don't worry about how I can enjoy the car and think too much about it....I just enjoy the car when and where I can.

Like others will probably say, take it to the track or get a track only car if you're thinking about this often.

[golovko]

aggressively driving a fast car on a daily basis is not sustainable and, eventually, will not end well.

Aggressively driving any car is not sustainable and will not end well.

[Mazen189]

Between Austin and Houston on 290 and FM2930

There's some good stretch of hwy that allow for some spirited pulls