Discussion
Ok, so after 18 months with my supercharged MX-5, I've moved on.
Since birth I have been massively passionate about cars. As a youngster, throughout my youth, my Dad is a keen enthusiast, used to do a spot of rallying, cars literally dominated my every thought.
So, 18 months or so ago, new job up my sleeve, decided to get something uncompromised and every journey can be a bit of an adventure. Highly modified, amazing sounding supercharger, intercooled, hard riding on Koni king springs, top down, back to basics exhilaration. My intention was to do a bit of track work with it, with the intention of going maybe for a smaller pulley for the blower, or maybe go turbo and get some serious figures.
18 months of crap ensued. Oh yes, it was fun - about 3 times I actually took it out of Sydney. For the rest of the time it's reliability was at best questionable, my back was getting smashed around, potholes (of which Sydney is one big one) avoided, care taken on speed bumps (ditto), no air con so sweating my arse off in summer and the constant fear of being pulled over (car wasn't strictly engineered for the blower). And you know what? Between this car and Sydney life I have had all my car enthusiasm completely sapped. Far too much like hard work.
So, my new wheels? A 1996 Toyota Camry Vienta, 3.0 V6 manual. And it's comfortable, and it's smooth, and I can be whatever temperature I want, and my back is happy, and, well, this thing is bloody awesome! I absolutely love it! The best $3k I've ever spent. I look forward to driving it more than I ever did the Mazda and spend my days crusing around in awe of the fact it does absolutely everything I could ever want from a car (in Sydney that is). This thing is going to last me for years and I will not be left wanting for anything.
So, have I sold out? Can I no longer be regarded as an enthusiast? Am I a sad old b
d now? Or can we point the blame squarely at Sydney and it's ste roads, ridiculous road rules and total enthuisiasm-sapping crapness? Am I alone in this? Is it an age thing (I'm 33)?
Yours, in bargain silky V6 smooth bargey contentedness,
Stu
Since birth I have been massively passionate about cars. As a youngster, throughout my youth, my Dad is a keen enthusiast, used to do a spot of rallying, cars literally dominated my every thought.
So, 18 months or so ago, new job up my sleeve, decided to get something uncompromised and every journey can be a bit of an adventure. Highly modified, amazing sounding supercharger, intercooled, hard riding on Koni king springs, top down, back to basics exhilaration. My intention was to do a bit of track work with it, with the intention of going maybe for a smaller pulley for the blower, or maybe go turbo and get some serious figures.
18 months of crap ensued. Oh yes, it was fun - about 3 times I actually took it out of Sydney. For the rest of the time it's reliability was at best questionable, my back was getting smashed around, potholes (of which Sydney is one big one) avoided, care taken on speed bumps (ditto), no air con so sweating my arse off in summer and the constant fear of being pulled over (car wasn't strictly engineered for the blower). And you know what? Between this car and Sydney life I have had all my car enthusiasm completely sapped. Far too much like hard work.
So, my new wheels? A 1996 Toyota Camry Vienta, 3.0 V6 manual. And it's comfortable, and it's smooth, and I can be whatever temperature I want, and my back is happy, and, well, this thing is bloody awesome! I absolutely love it! The best $3k I've ever spent. I look forward to driving it more than I ever did the Mazda and spend my days crusing around in awe of the fact it does absolutely everything I could ever want from a car (in Sydney that is). This thing is going to last me for years and I will not be left wanting for anything.
So, have I sold out? Can I no longer be regarded as an enthusiast? Am I a sad old b
d now? Or can we point the blame squarely at Sydney and it's ste roads, ridiculous road rules and total enthuisiasm-sapping crapness? Am I alone in this? Is it an age thing (I'm 33)?Yours, in bargain silky V6 smooth bargey contentedness,
Stu
- edited for typos
Edited by Google [bot] on Monday 29th June 03:12
No, front wheel drive. Yes, this has 235,000kms on it and it is like a new car... reliability is right up there.
I was rather hoping someone would post their thoughts and/or experiences of Australia draining enthusiasm - part of posting this is almost a 'look what you've done to me Sydney...!' emotion
I was rather hoping someone would post their thoughts and/or experiences of Australia draining enthusiasm - part of posting this is almost a 'look what you've done to me Sydney...!' emotion
Google [bot] said:
I was rather hoping someone would post their thoughts and/or experiences of Australia draining enthusiasm - part of posting this is almost a 'look what you've done to me Sydney...!' emotion
I think what you’ve done is highlighted the fact that sometimes a fast more exciting car is best as part of a “two car solution”. That way you don’t care so much if its un reliable, you don’t care so much about fuel consumption and the insurance can come down a lot if you commit to fewer kms. It also makes your fast car feel faster when you daily drive something slow.Google [bot] said:
No, front wheel drive. Yes, this has 235,000kms on it and it is like a new car... reliability is right up there.
I was rather hoping someone would post their thoughts and/or experiences of Australia draining enthusiasm - part of posting this is almost a 'look what you've done to me Sydney...!' emotion
I know what you mean.I was rather hoping someone would post their thoughts and/or experiences of Australia draining enthusiasm - part of posting this is almost a 'look what you've done to me Sydney...!' emotion
I have tried having hardcore toys and they just dont seem to work here. I never found enough opportunity to use them on the road and when I did I was always worried about the police and their yellow stickers and book of anti hoon laws to throw at me or hidden cameras. Then the other very average road users just got in the way and spoiled it all....if I could be bothered driving 45 minutes out of Perth to find a decent road!
The last toy had no AC and it was just horrid on a hot day so it never really got used in the summer.
I also found that cars are to expensive to buy and maintain to justify having them as a weekend only toy.
Much happier now I have my turnkey reliable Impreza with its climate control. I have also done 2 trackdays in as many months...I didnt even achieve 1 trackday in either of the toys I used to have which just hacked me off even more!
Totally agree with you… I find I don’t use the Elise anywhere near as much as I did in the UK, its now a pure weekend toy and the occasional times I use it during the week, I leave work early to miss rush hour traffic… the fear of some muppet driving into the back of me is just too great. Daily drive is a Range Rover Sport which is big enough to get me out of trouble, that said… two people have driven into the back of me in rush hour traffic, last one was a girl doing her make up whilst driving in traffic…
Lane discipline is just the worst out here and the road conditions are hardly desirable but at least the fix things/resurface roads during the night to avoid too much traffic in the morning so credit where credit it due!
Australia is only draining your enthusiasm as its winter – when summer's here, you'll be back on form!
Lane discipline is just the worst out here and the road conditions are hardly desirable but at least the fix things/resurface roads during the night to avoid too much traffic in the morning so credit where credit it due!
Australia is only draining your enthusiasm as its winter – when summer's here, you'll be back on form!
Edited by 7805 on Tuesday 30th June 03:45
^^^ Gentlemen,
Thanks for the feedback and responses, and (dare I paraphrase) maybe I'm not getting sad and old and boring. Agreed re: having a weekend special, but that's not financially or spacially viable at the moment.
It's somewhat reassuring (and somewhat depressing) that I'm not alone in this mindset though. But hey, I can enjoy my 13 year old Toyota for the foreseeable and one day get back into the spirit of driving with an addition. Or, as above, get a good all-rounder such as an Impreza or S3 (or a whole host of other gems).
Cheers. Oh, while I think on, surprised no-one has taken the piss out of the Camry - it's surely ripe for it?! (except I'm immune - my smooth comfortable serenity is like a shield of steel
)
Thanks for the feedback and responses, and (dare I paraphrase) maybe I'm not getting sad and old and boring. Agreed re: having a weekend special, but that's not financially or spacially viable at the moment.
It's somewhat reassuring (and somewhat depressing) that I'm not alone in this mindset though. But hey, I can enjoy my 13 year old Toyota for the foreseeable and one day get back into the spirit of driving with an addition. Or, as above, get a good all-rounder such as an Impreza or S3 (or a whole host of other gems).
Cheers. Oh, while I think on, surprised no-one has taken the piss out of the Camry - it's surely ripe for it?! (except I'm immune - my smooth comfortable serenity is like a shield of steel
)I'm lucky in some ways. My job takes me throughout country NSW so I'm pretty often on hidden gems of roads in country areas with no other cars around (and getting paid for it, and not commission based either) so I see the good side of driving more than most. But even so I do see the point. The constant focus on the speedo is soul destroying and the standard of driving is generally abysmal.
And a Camry is pure white good on wheels. But is honest about it.
And a Camry is pure white good on wheels. But is honest about it.
I'm completely with you on the car front. Having had a few nice car's in the uk, I was looking originally at getting something like a HSV. porsche boxer or M3, but 12 months here, and I'm not looking at car's at the moment.
On the current car front, I feel I can see you, and raise you with a 1993, Mitsubishi Magna, 2.6L with 248000 KMS on the clock. Cost $1000. Bought from Pommygranite. She runs like a dream, and is brilliant for the daily commute to the train station. Yes, she drips oil, but 12 months of ownership, 12000 kms, she's cost me a set of spark plugs and an alternator. She has a few dings in the body work, but that's less to worry about someone banging her with doors and the like which happened to our other car within weeks of purchase.
She has had front end modifications, done by our own PH Pommygranite, obvously doing his make up whilst driving too......
and meeting the rear of a stationary car.
If I do get serious about changing her, I'm sure it's going to be something to get there in style, with power, but more A6, BMW 5 series than a HSV. Or, like has been said before, keep her, and get something for the weekend.
On the current car front, I feel I can see you, and raise you with a 1993, Mitsubishi Magna, 2.6L with 248000 KMS on the clock. Cost $1000. Bought from Pommygranite. She runs like a dream, and is brilliant for the daily commute to the train station. Yes, she drips oil, but 12 months of ownership, 12000 kms, she's cost me a set of spark plugs and an alternator. She has a few dings in the body work, but that's less to worry about someone banging her with doors and the like which happened to our other car within weeks of purchase.
She has had front end modifications, done by our own PH Pommygranite, obvously doing his make up whilst driving too......
and meeting the rear of a stationary car.If I do get serious about changing her, I'm sure it's going to be something to get there in style, with power, but more A6, BMW 5 series than a HSV. Or, like has been said before, keep her, and get something for the weekend.
Edited by toomuchbeer on Tuesday 30th June 07:05
I think this thread highlights why big Aussie muscle cars make so much sense.
Despite their faults they DO seem to work here...they have an ideal set up for plodding along for vast distances at 110KMH, their big unstressed, torque laden engines and lounge like seating are perfect for the daily slog and the handling is good enough for fast road driving the few times you get out on to the open road.
Wanders off to see how much a HSV Clubsport goes for these days....
Hmmm $45K gets a nice used one with under 50,000kms on it...could I be happy with one though....I dont know. I have a feeling they make an epic daily car but would not handle any trackday stuff.
Despite their faults they DO seem to work here...they have an ideal set up for plodding along for vast distances at 110KMH, their big unstressed, torque laden engines and lounge like seating are perfect for the daily slog and the handling is good enough for fast road driving the few times you get out on to the open road.
Wanders off to see how much a HSV Clubsport goes for these days....Hmmm $45K gets a nice used one with under 50,000kms on it...could I be happy with one though....I dont know. I have a feeling they make an epic daily car but would not handle any trackday stuff.
awesome car!
I've got a 95 Camry CSi as my daily. It does 600km/tank without fail, it's cheap as chips to maintain and you can drive them everywhere and anywhere! You can park it anywhere without worrying about it.
Only problem is that mine has no power and is auto.
Makes me respect the weekend car much more while obviously keeping its kms down.
I've got a 95 Camry CSi as my daily. It does 600km/tank without fail, it's cheap as chips to maintain and you can drive them everywhere and anywhere! You can park it anywhere without worrying about it.
Only problem is that mine has no power and is auto.
Makes me respect the weekend car much more while obviously keeping its kms down.
No, per the above I was going to track my supercharged MX but I got so sick of everything to do with driving here, and I have no storage and I'm not that flush at the moment, so any car thoughts are well on the back-burner. It's taken me many years to get this apathetic about driving fun, but Sydney gradually saps it out of you. Maybe one day in future...
ETA: CS?
ETA: CS?
Edited by Google [bot] on Thursday 27th August 05:36
Google [bot said:
but Sydney gradually saps it out of you.
I hear ya mate. Just over a year of driving in and out of the north shore and I'm just over it. I used to love driving down the old pacific highway, but even that's gone to st with cops at times - it's too obvious as a "hoon road". A combination of rubbish roads, and generally woeful driving standards have pushed me to the point where I actually enjoyed driving around in a diesel santa fe for a week! Just in case there are any aussie truck drivers reading this: NO, it isn't ok to pull out 30 feet in front of a car doing 100kph, at 40, on a busy freeway, in peak hour.
Anyway, I'm seriously considering the cheap, LPG powerd, automatic barge option myself.
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