From Performance Car To 'normal' Car

[Dani Boi]

Just wondering if there is anyone on here who has gone from owning a performance sports car and switched to a 'normal' car i.e. mazda 3. Do you regret it?

I've had my skyline for 7 years going on 8 and I can't decide whether or not I want a normal car. I only want to spend 30k and there are no NEW performance cars in that price range.

Edited November 4, 2014 by Dani Boi

[r32-25t]

Tried it, it sucks big time, you need a sensible performance car or a normal daily and a weekend car

[RBrennan25]

Yeah it sucks. I've owned a skyline for the last 5 years and they've always been my daily, but now I have a Camry for a daily and if I didn't have my R34 in the garage I don't think I could handle it.

Absolutely agree with the above comment, get a daily and a weekend car you will miss having a nice car for sure

[warps]

All depends I guess.

I went from an 09 WRX to a new Focus sport. The Focus is cheap and cheery (virtually a straight trade for an almost 5 year old Rex to brand new Focus) and fun to throw around, but nothing like the buzz of some decent power under the right foot. I don't really miss the Rex, but I'm not one to fang around on the roads much anyway, so I found that I wasn't really using the performance of the Rex that often.

What do you want? a "performance" car or a fun car? There are plenty of cheap (<30k) fun cars with reasonable performance (eg Fiesta ST, Polo GTI, Clio RS Sport, Toyo 86). None of these will win too many traffic lights grand prix, but can still be a hell of a lot of fun to drive.

I have a gravel rally car, as well as a tarmac car in the build (if I ever get it finished!!) so don't see the need to spend lots on a fast road car - it will only tempt me to do stupid things anyway.

As for RBrennan's comments - yeh I agree. I think if I had to drive a Camry I'd probably be suicidal. There's only so far one can lower one's standards

[niZmO_Man]

The lack of boost is disturbing...

I daily a N16 Pulsar now, but did daily my GT-R for a bit (bad idea).

Having a daily and a weekend car does make you appreciate your car a lot more (e.g. realising how low the R32 sits, all that tech came out in 1989). Driving it everyday around Sydney made me start to hate it.

Luckily I only drive my car for about 20-30mins a day at most these days.

But, you do save heaps on petrol costs.

[mad082]

Depends on what you want out of a car. If you spend a lot of time sitting in traffic then you won't miss it much. It also depends on what you replace it with. If it's something nice to drive with a bit of poke and comfy seats, etc, you won't miss it much at all.

Does the car have to be new? If not, look at a few year old mazda 3 mps. Then you won't miss your skyline at all. I drove a mates one a while back. They go like stink and are great to drive.

For me it isn't so much the performance that I miss so much, as the general ride and comfort of lessor cars. The missus car (n15 sss pulsar) was similar in comfort and ride to my 33, but obviously not as powerful (although it's as fast, if not faster than a natro skyline thanks to a few mods). My current car is a 1.5l mirage. It's gutless, the steering weight is ordinary, the ride is ordinary, the seats are crap but it's dirt cheap to run (I drove 730kms a week to and from work and it costs me about $65 a week). The lack of comfort and power get to me. When I had my 33 and I drove the pulsar I didn't really mind as it was nice to drive and still has enough go. When I drove mum's corolla the lack of power didn't really bother me, but again the poor seats and neutral ride leaves me feeling a bit empty.

Now when I hop in the missus car I'm happy from the moment my arse hits the seat because there's still some sort of sportiness to it. And when I took my mates mazda 3 mps for a drive I liked it before I'd even turned the key. It was even just a nice place to sit.

If going a new car, and thus ruling out most of the current turbo hatch models at the moment, I'd at least try and go the sports version of it means you get better seats and a more sporty ride, as that will make it more enjoyable than how fast it if

[Yo-Yo]

You buy yourself a nice, practical 'normal' car to get around in. You think to yourself "this is a nice change of pace". You enjoy how comfy it is, the fuel efficiency and creature comforts of a newer car...

Until someone drives past you on the road in their performance car. Instant Regret.

Believe me I've been there.

If you're after sub 30k performance have you considered a 370GT sedan?

good: still a skyline, 7 speed tiptronic is better than the average slush box (revmatch downshift), newish, RWD, about 180-200rwkw which is plenty for a daily driver, rear seats (albeit 2+2), decent sized boot, classy as f**k

not so good: insurance cost, thirsty V6, half the factory features are useless in aus ie; nav screen & menus etc. , same BS when buying an import ie; checking auction sheets & dereg certificates etc etc.

[Hadouken]

I daily a poosar.

I would imagine my life to be filled with tea parties and long walks on the beach if I didnt have a GTR.

[Nismo 3.2ish]

I did not think I would miss my R34, but without my TT350GT now for 5 weeks and my R being in the shop being built for 4 weeks now, I am driving my Tiida. Never worried me before as I always had the 350 to get my rocks off before I bought the R34GTR.

After 4 weeks of not having a car I really enjoy driving I am sick of it and want my car back, well it will not be the same car with the 3.2 stroker in it

But I would buy another 350GT , even without the TT it is a nice car to drive and goes OK and the kids fit in the back seats OK but not good for taller passengers , you can get a good one for about $20k.

CRD, if you read this, get your finger out, I am dying here

[djvoodoo]

Similar story for mee too..

I daily an N16 pulsar and by Fri I'm itching to get in the GTR. Def makes you appreciate boost

If you have 30K, do something similar, buy a nice 32/33 R and use the left over 8-10K on an early/mid 2000 hatchback for the shopping duties.

**ps. you must have the funds to register and maintain 2 cars though**

[niZmO_Man]

In N.S.W., regoing car is bullshit.

[Dani Boi]

All depends I guess.

I went from an 09 WRX to a new Focus sport. The Focus is cheap and cheery (virtually a straight trade for an almost 5 year old Rex to brand new Focus) and fun to throw around, but nothing like the buzz of some decent power under the right foot. I don't really miss the Rex, but I'm not one to fang around on the roads much anyway, so I found that I wasn't really using the performance of the Rex that often.

What do you want? a "performance" car or a fun car? There are plenty of cheap (<30k) fun cars with reasonable performance (eg Fiesta ST, Polo GTI, Clio RS Sport, Toyo 86). None of these will win too many traffic lights grand prix, but can still be a hell of a lot of fun to drive.

I have a gravel rally car, as well as a tarmac car in the build (if I ever get it finished!!) so don't see the need to spend lots on a fast road car - it will only tempt me to do stupid things anyway.

As for RBrennan's comments - yeh I agree. I think if I had to drive a Camry I'd probably be suicidal. There's only so far one can lower one's standards

Depends on what you want out of a car. If you spend a lot of time sitting in traffic then you won't miss it much. It also depends on what you replace it with. If it's something nice to drive with a bit of poke and comfy seats, etc, you won't miss it much at all.

Does the car have to be new? If not, look at a few year old mazda 3 mps. Then you won't miss your skyline at all. I drove a mates one a while back. They go like stink and are great to drive.

For me it isn't so much the performance that I miss so much, as the general ride and comfort of lessor cars. The missus car (n15 sss pulsar) was similar in comfort and ride to my 33, but obviously not as powerful (although it's as fast, if not faster than a natro skyline thanks to a few mods). My current car is a 1.5l mirage. It's gutless, the steering weight is ordinary, the ride is ordinary, the seats are crap but it's dirt cheap to run (I drove 730kms a week to and from work and it costs me about $65 a week). The lack of comfort and power get to me. When I had my 33 and I drove the pulsar I didn't really mind as it was nice to drive and still has enough go. When I drove mum's corolla the lack of power didn't really bother me, but again the poor seats and neutral ride leaves me feeling a bit empty.

Now when I hop in the missus car I'm happy from the moment my arse hits the seat because there's still some sort of sportiness to it. And when I took my mates mazda 3 mps for a drive I liked it before I'd even turned the key. It was even just a nice place to sit.

If going a new car, and thus ruling out most of the current turbo hatch models at the moment, I'd at least try and go the sports version of it means you get better seats and a more sporty ride, as that will make it more enjoyable than how fast it if

I have seen a few $30k new cars which look like fun cars to drive but I want performance as well and if that's what I want I would need to spend $45k to get myself a new wrx which I just can't justify. I drive my skyline a 20km round trip to the train station and home 5x a week and use it on the weekend for errands and that's it, I rarely give it the beans.

What I am tossing up between is either an EVO IX or a 2014 Mazda 3 SP25. There are much more advantages of owning the Mazda but on the other hand I don't know if I can get over the performance side of things.

[Nismo 3.2ish]

Hi Dan.

I do not understand, you have had your 33 for 8 years that you seem to like and will miss. You do not drive it very much or utilize the go peddle.

What makes you feel you have to sell it, is it laggy and crap to drive in the city or just sick of it ??

If I only had to have one car I would keep my 34.

KEEP IT and be happy

Pete

[Humbla]

I've had my 93 33 for twelve years now clocked up 500000 plus ,

Would I sell it no way,too much fun,lives to short to be bored silly . :-) :-)

[Kinks]

I had to drive an i30 for 3 weeks while I was between skylines. Worst 3 weeks of my life. Don't get me wrong, the i30 is a solid car and I've done a skidpan day, very impressed with the stability control Hyundai have come a long way. But it was an auto and had nothing going for it in the performance stakes and I was actually starting to get depressed without a decent car to drive.

If nothing else it's a reminder not to lose my licence for any reason

[Nismo 3.2ish]

^^^^^^^

I had an auto for 8 years and it was soooo good to get into a car I can drive again

Just wish I did not have all of the off road time doing mods, this is the last of it for me

[zoomzoom]

I've had my 93 33 for twelve years now clocked up 500000 plus ,

Would I sell it no way,too much fun,lives to short to be bored silly . :-) :-)

That's quite a few kms. I am curious how many "lifetime of the vehicle" parts you went through? Like wheel bearings, cv joints, big bushes like subframes etc

[warps]

Wheel bearings? Lifetime of vehicle? You've never owned a Subaru, I gather.

But I digress

Dan, Couple of questions:

1) What is your definition of performance? If you're chasing sub 6 sec 0-100 (ie straight line acceleration) then you'll be disappointed in any of the current hot hatches on the market. Personally I reckon a good measure of performance is lap times around a track, and any of the options I gave in my first post will be pretty handy at a race track. In fact, I'd wager they would all give your R33 a shake up around a track (depending on the spec of your current car, that is). Based on that, these cars still make a hell of a lot of sense. Maybe you need to drive one before dismissing them completely. In fact, on slippery stuff (khana, autocross) I'd say even my focus has a better than even chance of being quicker than your R33. Don't underestimate the value of late braking and cornering speed

2) Why do you need a new car? It's nice to be able to write new cars off as a business expense, but buying new really doesn't make good financial sense. If you can go for something 3-5 years old, it will really open up the market to you. Even getting something 1-2 years old can save a few $$, and still give you the balance of new car warranty for peace of mind.

[Nismo 3.2ish]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ sounds like good advice

I think buying a new car is one of the greatest wastes of $$$$$$$$s I can think of, well except getting married for the 4th time

I think performance is what makes you happy when you press the peddle and drive, all good whatever driving you enjoy doing

[The Bogan]

I will never daily a boring car again, you only live once, why have a sporty car sitting in the garage, they are not investments, all it is doing is losing money.

My 2 cents is buy the sportiest car you can afford and drive the pants off it.

I like cars and I like driving to much to sit in some POS and be a commuter.