Questioning whether there's really a point to owning a performance car these days?

[Bullet]

I love my Cupra (2019 290) and it feels great every time I get in it. however, had a day out to Rockingham Castle today and went past/through so many speed cameras, average speed sections/radar traps/vans that it makes you wonder if there's a point it it any more. I fully understand why the cameras are there, limits etc and don't want to drive flat out anywhere but... You spend the whole journey worrying you might miss something and get points.
Compounded by white-van man weaving in and out of lanes, cars jumping red lights etc kind of makes you a bit sad for driving.

 

[Fester999]

I agree mate. My car is a 1.4 150 fr.
I nearly went for something quicker but bought a 1000cc motorcycle.
Can't use that at full beans end up banned or dead!

 

[BocaBill]

I sh!t myself for 2 weeks waiting for a PCN to drop through the door if I think a smart motorway camera has got me a couple mph over the displayed limit..

 

[Hawkers]

Do some track days then you won't care about having fun on the road anymore.

 

[Bullet]

Must admit, I think track days are the way to go. Used to do sprints and autotests in a MKII Escort years ago (how I wish I still had it!) and it really helped. Caterhams are a bit expensive though

 

[Legojon]

At weekends I have to do some twisty national speed limit roads. I've been getting up earlier and earlier to try and avoid the traffic. But like last weekend, I was behind a Prius doing 26mph in a 60. I could have easily got past him, but it was solid white lines for overtaking. So I followed him to the traffic lights where there was a battered old van in the left lane and instead of pulling over and letting me have the right, the Prius pulled up in that lane. So then there was a slow off when the lights changed as each edged to get to 15mph. Then you get to the point of frustration where you've just had enough and do summat stupid. That's what spoils driving a 400bhp car for me every weekend.

 

[SteveW]

I hear what you're all saying about why bother owning a performance car these days, most of the time you can't use the power can you?

I know my FR 184 isn't in the same league as your Cupras, but it's no slouch and still the quickest car I've owned in over 30 years of driving.

Where I get my enjoyment from driving is doing the same as Legojon, finding some nice twisty National Limit roads that I know very well (I'm lucky to have a few around here that I can use). It's not so much about the top speed for me, but the sporty models of a car always have better suspension so they handle the bends so much better and enable you to carry more speed through them. That's what gives me the smiles. Most of the time I wouldn't get much more than 10 or so MPH over the speed limit, and always within the "three points" area if I did get caught.

Mrs SteveW has a Dacia Stepway, which she's had from new in 2014. You could lose your licence driving that even (although it would take a few minutes to reach a licence banning speed ). It's great around town, which is pretty much all she uses it for - but it's painful to drive on a long distance. Hard work constantly changing gear, suspension rolling about all over the place, seats and driving position nowhere near as nice as a "performance" car.

Doing 100+mph on the road has never really done anything for me, save those sort of speeds for track days - it's safer for all concerned. I've done plenty of track days over the years and always enjoyed them. These days when I'm on a motorway I'll just put the cruise control on at around 75-78, sit back and relax. When you need a "performance fix" on the road, find some twisties and see how much fun you can have not going silly fast

 

[Mike the_cupra]

I had a similar realisation a while ago. I never remapped my previous Golf R, and must've been about the only person in the world who didn't. 300bhp is 'enough' on the road, so I decided to change for practicality instead. Every now and then you get a fun little drag race off some lights, but I've learned over time it's nice just to make good progress all the time with the power.

 

[SteveW]

Must admit, I think track days are the way to go. Used to do sprints and autotests in a MKII Escort years ago (how I wish I still had it!) and it really helped. Caterhams are a bit expensive though

I did a full day at PalmerSport a few years ago, it was through work so didn't cost me the £1000ish they charge for a full day. Got to drive various cars on the limit (my limit, not the car's limit I'm sure ), BMW M3, Ariel Atom, single seater F3000, but the most fun I had was in the Caterham. A proper driver's car.

Would love to do a track day with just a Caterham for the day at some point, that would be superb

 

[martin j.]

Wife and I had a run along a law coastal road at the weekend, stuck to the 40/50 limit, but stayed off the brakes as much as possible, they don’t fit ‘Jesus’ handles in soft tops so she moved about a bit more in the corners, nice to feel the tyres grip, enough to lose the 2 ton Police BMW through the bends, attaining a high average speed throughout the journey can be fun too.
Want ‘high speed’ do track days, great fun, someplaces do them in groups rather than open pitlanes and you can be out with similar speed/ability groups.