Thrills vs frustrations in daily driving

[xfactor]

It's not how you drive your car, it's how you stand by it at the local coffee shop.

[ImGoingPlaces]

Spirited driving when the mood fits, and traffic permits. i NEED the thrill, it makes me feel alive. I commute from work late at night at the roads are usually pretty clear, nice way to end the day for me.

[///M-Furby]

Originally Posted by xfactor

It's not how you drive your car, it's how you stand by it at the local coffee shop.

[jmg]

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.

On a daily basis it can operate like a normal car, then like a beast if you punch it. Traffic is just fine, and it makes you yearn for a clearing. I have a daily driver, but I do take the M3 to work at least once a week in Los Angeles traffic. I sometimes take the long way home up and over the Hollywood Hills via Mulholland. There is a small drive through Griffith Park that I can take as well. Nothing too crazy: don't want to kill anyone. You don't have to take every corner with your hair on fire all 4 tires screeching going sideways... even a brisk pace is fun.

[Ian1973]

Originally Posted by NoMoreAudi

Mitigate your appetite by riding a 1000cc sport bike. Driving fast in cars is never the same.

I don't think 1000cc's is all there is. I have a 1300cc non sportbike that will allow me to keep right up with them in most cases yet not strain my body.

Though the rest I agree with you.

The same was said about sportbikes 20 years ago when they made huge jumps. Everyone claimed regulations were an inevitability, yet they never came. Sportbikes, you can spend 10 grand and go as fast as your imagination took you. At least with cars, the more powerful ones are expensive which keeps much of the population away.

I dont own an F80 anymore, but drive my lowly Mazda 3 just like the F80, same speeds, it just takes me longer to get there.

[georgere]

Sorry for saying this but if you cant control what you got then get something that you can control.
Alternatively, move to Germany or other countries with open speed limits, or corrupted police so I can pay off.

[elinstylez]

It's always great to have the extra power when you need it and for those rare opportunities where you can open it up. You need to figure out where you can and cannot speed to avoid getting ticketed. I'm in LA but I regularly take a mountain road that is usually empty of other drivers and police so I'm able to enjoy the power and handling of my cars.

Just buy the m and if nothing else you can always just admire the aesthetics of the car

[gunsmoker]

Accelerate from stop to speed limit fast, drop to second and floor it under bridges, obviously when there are no cars or people around to annoy. Practice your far-ahead looking and corner cutting all year round to be ready for the track.

[THEROK]

Originally Posted by elinstylez

It's always great to have the extra power when you need it and for those rare opportunities where you can open it up. You need to figure out where you can and cannot speed to avoid getting ticketed. I'm in LA but I regularly take a mountain road that is usually empty of other drivers and police so I'm able to enjoy the power and handling of my cars.

Just buy the m and if nothing else you can always just admire the aesthetics of the car

The longer I live in LA the less I enjoy driving a really nice sports car. People in Seattle complain about their congestion and road condition, but it's unicorns and rainbows compared to what we got going in GTA San Andreas aka Los Angeles.

I rarely WOT because there's not enough road or too many cars. The S55 easily overwhelms the PS4S 295s out back. Like you, I'm in love with the F8X design, especially so when lowered nicely on a set of well fitting black 20s. This is 90% of the reason why I bought the M4. The last 10% is the amazing M engineering in this particular model, in particular the chassis.

All in all, I drive defensively. My other car is a lifted truck on 35s and it's just as enjoyable to drive in a different format.

[allinon72]

I struggle with enjoying the car vs. driving like a jerk. I probably care too much about what everyone else thinks, but I try to be courteous while still enjoying the car safely. Do my best to avoid the "typical BMW driver" stereotype. At times I just want to disappear and enjoy the car, like when you're lined up next to someone else at a light and punch it and people think you're trying to race. No, I'm not trying to race you in your Corolla S, I just want to feel the speed.

[Hachima]

Originally Posted by allinon72

I struggle with enjoying the car vs. driving like a jerk. I probably care too much about what everyone else thinks, but I try to be courteous while still enjoying the car safely. Do my best to avoid the "typical BMW driver" stereotype. At times I just want to disappear and enjoy the car, like when you're lined up next to someone else at a light and punch it and people think you're trying to race. No, I'm not trying to race you in your Corolla S, I just want to feel the speed.

Yeah, I know the feeling. The worst is when its a comparable car next to me at a perfect light for some fun acceleration but I'm not looking to race.

[tropicalypso]

I feel your pain, OP.

I often tell people that "full throttle is a commitment" when they ask about the M3. You're talking about a car that can eclipse 100mph in just over 8 seconds... that's fast... blindingly fast. As such, I often find myself 1/2 to 3/4 throttle pulls when I'm on stretches of road that warrant it. Gives me a bit more time to actually enjoy the pulls (and you can get away with it in light traffic).

When the stars align (no traffic on a road that historically has fewer cops), I'll switch to Sport+, grip the wheel, and let the good times roll. Its a chance I take to satisfy those thrills, and each time I do it, I pray that I don't come across a cop, a bad driver, a pedestrian, a crossing deer, debris in the road, etc, etc, etc.

All in all, owning and operating one of these cars on regular roads requires a LOT of restraint and patience. Know your roads, know where, when and what you can get away with.

[THEROK]

Originally Posted by 95f82

Which truck? I'm thinking about getting the new Raptor in a few months to pick up daily driving duties.

Nearly a quarter century old land cruiser brotha, official vehicle of the UN and NATO. Hehe

[THEROK]

Originally Posted by tropicalypso

I feel your pain, OP.

I often tell people that "full throttle is a commitment" when they ask about the M3. You're talking about a car that can eclipse 100mph in just over 8 seconds... that's fast... blindingly fast. As such, I often find myself 1/2 to 3/4 throttle pulls when I'm on stretches of road that warrant it. Gives me a bit more time to actually enjoy the pulls (and you can get away with it in light traffic).

When the stars align (no traffic on a road that historically has fewer cops), I'll switch to Sport+, grip the wheel, and let the good times roll. Its a chance I take to satisfy those thrills, and each time I do it, I pray that I don't come across a cop, a bad driver, a pedestrian, a crossing deer, debris in the road, etc, etc, etc.

All in all, owning and operating one of these cars on regular roads requires a LOT of restraint and patience. Know your roads, know where, when and what you can get away with.

Preach!

[Negtvions]

I enjoy my Mineral Gray 6MT M4 Comp pkg in the following ways.

Freeway on-ramps are the best. They allow me to bang through the gears (6MT) and get up to speed and into the flow of traffic. I am able to do this twice a day. While on the freeway, I enjoy (safely) overtaking slower cars to pass. Dropping down a gear, or two and feeling the surge of power/torque never gets old for me.

I also find that enjoying my M is not all about going fast, the handling of the car is very special too. I live in SoCal and there are lots of nice twisty canyon roads I take the car out on, on the weekends. Here I can enjoy the performance without speeding or worrying abut the law.

And lastly, for me the M is a total experience. Real world performance figures are likely not that far off from other sports cars including 340/440 M-sports. But what I enjoy about the M are the M appointments.

On the outside, I think the M4 is a sculpted work of automotive art. I've had the car for a year and I still look over my should after parking to gaze at her lines. And on the inside, the Competition Pack seats are amazing to sit in and they look very cool. The fat M steering wheel, the full leather dash, all add to my driving experience.

So in the end, for me, its not all about high top speed, and low 0-60 times. I find the true enjoyment of the M is in the details.

[Jim B]

Originally Posted by Negtvions

I enjoy my Mineral Gray 6MT M4 Comp pkg in the following ways.

Freeway on-ramps are the best. They allow me to bang through the gears (6MT) and get up to speed and into the flow of traffic. I am able to do this twice a day. While on the freeway, I enjoy (safely) overtaking slower cars to pass. Dropping down a gear, or two and feeling the surge of power/torque never gets old for me.

I also find that enjoying my M is not all about going fast, the handling of the car is very special too. I live in SoCal and there are lots of nice twisty canyon roads I take the car out on, on the weekends. Here I can enjoy the performance without speeding or worrying abut the law.

And lastly, for me the M is a total experience. Real world performance figures are likely not that far off from other sports cars including 340/440 M-sports. But what I enjoy about the M are the M appointments.

On the outside, I think the M4 is a sculpted work of automotive art. I've had the car for a year and I still look over my should after parking to gaze at her lines. And on the inside, the Competition Pack seats are amazing to sit in and they look very cool. The fat M steering wheel, the full leather dash, all add to my driving experience.

So in the end, for me, its not all about high top speed, and low 0-60 times. I find the true enjoyment of the M is in the details.

+1 Same for me. I've had my M4 for 3-1/2 years now, and I'm STILL loving it. Yes, mine is 6MT too, and that gorgeous SO with the SO/black full leather make it even better.

[xantdieselx]

Originally Posted by Jim B

+1 Same for me. I've had my M4 for 3-1/2 years now, and I'm STILL loving it. Yes, mine is 6MT too, and that gorgeous SO with the SO/black full leather make it even better.

Well said. It's a lot similar to how I feel about my M235i. Yes it's a blast to drive fast but it's a car that feels special at any speed. I think the problem is the F30 just isn't that engaging - I had one and couldn't wait until my lease was over. Especially when compared to the E9X the dynamically it's a step back.

Now, my lease is up next March and I've been researching the M3/M4 as a replacement. I'm certain the M will feel every bit as special as my M-Lite and more. I'm sure if get the M3 I'll drive the same way.

[IbizaSandro]

FRUSTRATED is an understatement. Living in the city with shit roads and traffic everywhere is a challenge. Aside from moving somewhere where me and the M can be alone lol, I don't have many options!

[Poiseuille]

I live in New Jersey and as stated above really good opportunities are few and far between. The car gods have however provided us with highway ramps. I especially like the ramps found along route 295 because the DOT keeps the brush cropped well back so that the deer that infest this state can't sneak up on me. I especially like on-ramps which are almost always uphill and, as we know, gravity can be our friend.