Is 180-200BHP too much for a new driver?
Discussion
My first car has ~65bhp (jealous much?) and that felt fine as my first car - I’m on my 7th car now, a 3.0 XJ with 271, and that feels fine, too.
I can’t help but feel that, whilst the XF is a fantastic vehicle, and as first cars go that’s an amazing opportunity which you’ve given yourself, I don’t know if I would.
Well aware that autos are exploding in popularity these days, love mine - and mine’s the 6, rather than your potential (and much better) 8, but when I was new to driving nearly 10 years ago, I wanted nothing more than a throaty carb and a 4-speed manual. It was great fun on a twisty b-road managing to keep up with a much more powerful car because their power meant nothing on such a small width of tarmac, where a 700kg 80s hatchback can maintain as high a speed.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d have given one of my hearts to own a big jag for my first car, but don’t you think it’ll spoil you? I always looked forward to an upgrade whenever I managed it, but how do you upgrade from a big jag? (Unless you were involved in the Hatton Garden raid, maybe that’s how you can afford the insurance
)
I can’t help but feel that, whilst the XF is a fantastic vehicle, and as first cars go that’s an amazing opportunity which you’ve given yourself, I don’t know if I would.
Well aware that autos are exploding in popularity these days, love mine - and mine’s the 6, rather than your potential (and much better) 8, but when I was new to driving nearly 10 years ago, I wanted nothing more than a throaty carb and a 4-speed manual. It was great fun on a twisty b-road managing to keep up with a much more powerful car because their power meant nothing on such a small width of tarmac, where a 700kg 80s hatchback can maintain as high a speed.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d have given one of my hearts to own a big jag for my first car, but don’t you think it’ll spoil you? I always looked forward to an upgrade whenever I managed it, but how do you upgrade from a big jag? (Unless you were involved in the Hatton Garden raid, maybe that’s how you can afford the insurance
)OGR4M said:
My first car has ~65bhp (jealous much?) and that felt fine as my first car - I’m on my 7th car now, a 3.0 XJ with 271, and that feels fine, too.
I can’t help but feel that, whilst the XF is a fantastic vehicle, and as first cars go that’s an amazing opportunity which you’ve given yourself, I don’t know if I would.
Well aware that autos are exploding in popularity these days, love mine - and mine’s the 6, rather than your potential (and much better) 8, but when I was new to driving nearly 10 years ago, I wanted nothing more than a throaty carb and a 4-speed manual. It was great fun on a twisty b-road managing to keep up with a much more powerful car because their power meant nothing on such a small width of tarmac, where a 700kg 80s hatchback can maintain as high a speed.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d have given one of my hearts to own a big jag for my first car, but don’t you think it’ll spoil you? I always looked forward to an upgrade whenever I managed it, but how do you upgrade from a big jag? (Unless you were involved in the Hatton Garden raid, maybe that’s how you can afford the insurance )
I understand what you mean about the different driving experiences. Driving in a smaller manual would no doubt be more fun, however the first cars most people buy don't really carry a lot of prestige, certainly not as much as the jaguar brand does. I know it's quite a shallow way of looking at cars and at life in general, but I'm a bit of a flashy 23 year old. Your last sentence made me laugh I can’t help but feel that, whilst the XF is a fantastic vehicle, and as first cars go that’s an amazing opportunity which you’ve given yourself, I don’t know if I would.
Well aware that autos are exploding in popularity these days, love mine - and mine’s the 6, rather than your potential (and much better) 8, but when I was new to driving nearly 10 years ago, I wanted nothing more than a throaty carb and a 4-speed manual. It was great fun on a twisty b-road managing to keep up with a much more powerful car because their power meant nothing on such a small width of tarmac, where a 700kg 80s hatchback can maintain as high a speed.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d have given one of my hearts to own a big jag for my first car, but don’t you think it’ll spoil you? I always looked forward to an upgrade whenever I managed it, but how do you upgrade from a big jag? (Unless you were involved in the Hatton Garden raid, maybe that’s how you can afford the insurance
)
OGR4M said:
Don’t get me wrong, I’d have given one of my hearts to own a big jag for my first car, but don’t you think it’ll spoil you? I always looked forward to an upgrade whenever I managed it, but how do you upgrade from a big jag?
I wouldn't call a 2.2 XF a 'big Jag', though plenty big enough for a first car. There are plenty of bigger, faster, more expensive cars to upgrade to after it.I say - go for it. If you don't like it it can always be sold, and you've ticked the box. When you're 50 you'll be comparing 'first cars' with your friends... XF will win over their Kas, Foci etc.
mcg_ said:
You'll crash it no matter the power, so may as well do it in something pricey I guess
I'm inclined to agree with the first part; everyone has one good accident in them and you don't know where the edges are until you step over them. That's a wonder of a system that can send you out as a fully qualified driver but perhaps never having gone over 30mph.Second part - if you are going to smash something up, maybe better to do it in a cheap car.
Ex Boy Racer said:
Spend less (much less) on the car and use what you save for property/savings/investments
You'll thank me one day
EFA. Cars go down, the rest go up.You'll thank me one day
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