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Everything is fast now

jeff

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#1
Been thinking about this for 15 years or so, but it's more true than ever, would love to hear your commiseration on this subject.

Back in 2006 I bought a brand new 244hp Honda Odyssey Minivan. The V6 pulled like a train, did 5-60 in about 7 seconds which is relatively quick for a van. Accords and Camrys around that time could do a sub-6 second run to 60 with the right engine. My Forester XT did it in 5.3, it was a true sleeper.

In the years since I've noticed more and more that just everything is fast. Vans, sedans, compacts, all of it - the power to accelerate the way a Ferrari did 30 years ago is in the hands of the average 18 year old driver or soccer mom now. And the "fast" cars, the actual sports cars like Mustangs etc., go from a roll to 60 in around 4 seconds or under even. Not that 5-60 is everything, but it does translate to real world performance especially if you're driving an auto trans.

Add electric cars to the mix....a Chevy Bolt doesn't have to be shifted, just press and go, you're easily quicker than Civic Si, BR-Z, Fiesta STs, and etc. And that's just a Bolt....we haven't even mentioned Tesla and etc.

Anyhow all that's to say that the thrill of being fast is kind of meaningless now because everything is fast. Talking street, not track.

Counterpoint, in a car like the Fiesta ST, that experience of "being fast" is wonderful because (a) the car is so well-tuned suspension-wise (b) it is so light (c) it has a 6-speed (d) on and on. So in cars like ours or a BR-Z I'd suggest that the enthusiast will truly enjoy the experience of speed/driving for those reasons. That's what makes our cars special in a world of faster Chevy Bolts and Honda Odysseys.
 


Ford ST

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#2
Still tons and tons of slow. Many vehicles still have 0 to 60 times that are over 7 seconds, and the 9 second plus category is very real. And believe it or not some cars even go into the 11 second zero to 60 time. Electric cars will fix this.

I have a car that will do 0 to 60 in under 4.5 seconds.

I have a drag track right down the road from me I can hear it from my house. 1/8 of a mile I've never been to it though, because I hate drag racing.

My point is sure a lot of vehicles can have decent 0 to 60 times, but as soon as you put a curve into that equation it doesn't matter anymore. I do understand your point though. Some vehicles have definitely gotten faster but some have not.



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SteveS

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#3
It's funny what is considered slow nowadays. My 1978 Fiesta came from the factory making something like 66 HP and was supposed to be able to do 0-60 in 11.5 seconds. That was actually considered quick. A Mustang II with a 302 V8 did it in 11.2 sec. A Camaro with a 350 could do 8.8 sec.

After some Formula Ford-based mods, the Fiesta could get to about 98 HP. You can see how fast that made them by watching the mixed saloon car class from Goodwood this year.

Thing is, nobody can drive 0-60 in even 7 or 8 seconds in daily driving. With the exception of some strange on ramps in Houston which had traffic lights about 50 feet from where you hit the beltway, there are very few places you can go from a dead stop to freeway speed without risking a ticket for C&I.
 


SteveS

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#5
Nope. I can't think of any place where there's a stop sign or light in a road with a speed limit 60 mph or higher. Lots of places I can turn right onto a highway with speed limit 55 or 60, but you're going to have trouble doing your 4 seconds starting with a 90 degree right turn. Also lots of places you can do 30-60, 30-70, 45-70. But legally from a dead stop to 60 on a straight road? Like I said those weird on ramps in Houston qualify. And I guess an intersection like the one James Dean died on in a desert might have it. But around here if there's a stop sign, they are going to have a reduced speed limit coming into and out of the intersection.

I guess there are places you can do 0-60 straight, but it's on a road with a 45 mph speed limit.
 


Ford ST

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#6
55 mph. They don't even mess with you unless you do over 10.
So yes I can accelerate 0 to 60 from a dead stop and never not ever have to worry about one blue light.


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M-Sport fan

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#7
Route 202, just over the river from me in Joyzee has stop lights on a 55 MPH highway.
The last light on that road southbound is more than 4 miles from the toll bridge crossing into Pennsyltucky.

Launching from that light, with the Shell station to the right in Ringoes, N.J., more than a few other drivers' eyes have bugged out of their heads at just how quickly this 'little shitbox' disappears away from them, and I am still on the factory turbo/tune (but possibly lighter than many on here with the back interior gutted, no additional sound equipment, and a very base car). [thumb]

Even if they are piloting something which is much quicker in a straight line, they just do not expect our econoboxes to scoot that ferociously. LOL [wink]
 


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#8
Tis funny that Teslas are fastest on street by far now, thus our FIst handling is our main strong point. The day a soccer mom tesla driver blew the doors off my built EVO IX I new the end was here!
 


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#9
That's what makes our cars special in a world of faster Chevy Bolts and Honda Odysseys.
I think you're on to something, @jeff. I think the word we're looking for is engagement. I'd rather hit 0-60 in 6.5 in my FiST than do 0-60 in 5.5 on a rolling couch. It feels faster. And it's rewarding to know that I had to do a little work to get the car to speed that quickly (from both modding and from working the shifter).
 


Last edited:
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#10
Yes everything is getting faster relatively speaking especially since I started driving during the introduction of the smog controls. The auto makers are always trying to squeeze just a little more out if each new model year.
Jeff you shouldn't have to worry to much about whats fast now with that X47, lol. even if I'm not as fast I can always catch them at the corner. I just love the gocart feel of our cars.
Besides I bet a lot of the forum members here have surprised many a soccer mom with our "fiestas" I know I have.
 


OP
jeff

jeff

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Thread Starter #11
Still tons and tons of slow.

My point is sure a lot of vehicles can have decent 0 to 60 times, but as soon as you put a curve into that equation it doesn't matter anymore. I do understand your point though. Some vehicles have definitely gotten faster but some have not.



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My "everything" was hyperbole but I think you know what I mean.
 


OP
jeff

jeff

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Thread Starter #12
I think you're on to something, @jeff. I think the word we're looking for is engagement. I'd rather hit 0-60 in 6.5 in my FiST than do 0-60 in 5.5 on a rolling couch. It feels faster. And it's rewarding to know that I had to do a little work to get the car to speed that quickly (from both modding and from working the shifter).
Yes this is exactly what I was saying, but you said it better.
 


Dpro

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#13
Cars are definitely faster these days. HP numbers are up across the board. It used be a muscle car had 300-400HP now itā€™s like 400-700. Moms daily driver V6 Camry is actually quite quick. Ya Prius is quick off the line cannot handle for shit , Bolts are a little better , Teslaā€™s nothing to write home about in Handling even the Roadster was more like a overweight Lotus. Fast yes handle no.
As far as places to do that acceleration all over Cali we have stoplights at our freeway entrances and you are usually alongside someone so its instant drag race. :LOL: Even if they do not realize they are participating. We also have 65 mph freeways but the CHP do not do anything about anything under 80 here in SoCal unless you are weaving around a lot and drawing attention. Oh wait FiSTā€™s are real good at.:ROFLMAO:
None the less we have plenty of places to explore 0-60 operation . Hell we even have onramps long enough to datalog in third gear on.:LOL:
In the end yes they are making almost all car faster than they used to be. Question is is the driver capable of handling the extra power?
 


ronmcdon

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#14
Telsa model 3 performance actually handle really well surprisingly. Ran into their run group at Buttonwillow a few years back. Pretty scary how they launch out of corners too and probably won't overheat at all. What I'm not so much a fan of is maybe how consistent engine performance is as it loses charge. also not every track has good charging stations. I can go back to back 20 min sessions with ice car as long as it's reliable and cooling is adequate.

https://teslacorsa.com/

But yeah fun to drive I think is more important than how fast in straight line. My camaro isn't too shabby but it's personality isn't the same. My favorite all time fun to drive daily is still my 89 crx si which I regret getting rid of after it was stolen twice, stripped of parts and got fed up with owning old hondas.
 


PunkST

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#16
First car was an 89' lemans. It maybe had 50 hp when it decided to work. It was zippy because tin can deathtrap. Except when it wasnt. No power anything.
Second car was an 88' sunturd. Gained power steering and .1 of a litre, but it was slower and porkier. Somehow.

3rd car, 2003 focus zx3. Gained a second cam, 130hp crank, power amenities, and independent suspension. Car felt light and zippy like my first car. Spent way too much doing an svtf powertrain conversion to gain 40 more hp and another gear. ( i could have turbocharged the base zetec and got more) but the car punched way above its weight.

Fiesta is the fastest car ive owned so far.
 


gtx3076

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#17
My MS3 was a rocket, and cheap too. But the DISI motors are plagued with annoying maintenance quirks.

I've considered a 2.3EB mustang, because I'm confident it would be just as fast if not faster and easier to handle from a dig.

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#18
Telsa model 3 performance actually handle really well surprisingly. Ran into their run group at Buttonwillow a few years back. Pretty scary how they launch out of corners too and probably won't overheat at all. What I'm not so much a fan of is maybe how consistent engine performance is as it loses charge. also not every track has good charging stations. I can go back to back 20 min sessions with ice car as long as it's reliable and cooling is adequate.

https://teslacorsa.com/

But yeah fun to drive I think is more important than how fast in straight line. My camaro isn't too shabby but it's personality isn't the same. My favorite all time fun to drive daily is still my 89 crx si which I regret getting rid of after it was stolen twice, stripped of parts and got fed up with owning old hondas.
Another former 89 CRX Si owner...cool! I miss ditching mine years ago too. It is definitely one of my top 3 favorite cars...I can imagine how awesome it would be to still have it today. It was in awesome condition for its age when I sold it in about 2001. Here is an old photo of it. 1617810824797.png
 


OP
jeff

jeff

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Thread Starter #19
@ronmcdon
@skold

I looked long and hard for a CRX to restore about a year ago, slim pickings, couldn't find one. Such great cars. Just too old. However at the same time I got into Honda Insights which are about the same size as the CRX and in many ways the successor though a hybrid car. 1800 lbs, 5 speed, similar shape and handling, both have the 2nd rear window. I drove the two cars back to back (my buddy has an old HF) and they are remarkably similar. If you love CRXs you'd probably really enjoy a G1 Insight. I'm on my 2nd one right now, loving it.

NOT fast. But super fun.

https://public.fotki.com/greentrees2/grey-insight/1615412989853.html]
[/URL]
 


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#20
55 mph. They don't even mess with you unless you do over 10.
So yes I can accelerate 0 to 60 from a dead stop and never not ever have to worry about one blue light.
Sent from my LG-LS997 using Tapatalk
Here in Oregon we have a "display of speed" law. I had a buddy in college driving a 67 VW Bug, it had the bigger 1600 in it making ~47hp...He took off from a light as hard as he could...going up hill... and got a display of speed ticket. He didnt even get up to the 35mph speed limit, it "sounded" fast with cherry bomb muffler. Never mind he HAD to launch that thing as hard as he could to get UP the hill.

Has a cop ever watched you launch your car into a 4 second 0-60 pass?
 




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