Its a method of transportation.

Going fast used to be everything to me.

Now getting there safely and comfortably is what's most important for me and my family.

Guess I'm growing up!

 

sucks to be you

 

A fitting name for ou lol

 

Since my TSX is my first car that I paid for myself, I actually treat it with the utmost respect. I wash it every week, change fluids on the clock, and every scratch and dent I see I fix it.

I've grown to be attached to it since it has taken me through the twisties of the mountains, the distance of a 2000 mile trip, the fuel efficiency of a daily driver, and the space to carry my families in. It's been great to me and it has become a part of my life, not an extension of my life. I don't think I can ever sell it. I've literally put blood and sweat into it with all the DIY that I've done and all the polish/wax prep before car meets/shows. I would spend 11 hours on a detail and often wash my car at 1 AM in the morning.

My car is not a car

But I actually understand your feelings.

 

lol in all fairness I consider myself a safer driver when I drive somewhat faster.

For example.... Speed limit on the fwy is 65. Sometimes I just feel like staying on the right lane and drive 65-70. And its very relaxing, but I dont pay much attention.

Now if i'm going 75+ everything normally changes. First and foremost I'm looking for cops. But that makes me look way ahead of the road. And I constantly observe peoples driving too, if I see a person brake with no one in front of him I slow down (maybe there's a cop) most of the time there isn't and I dunno why people brake on the fwy with no one in front of them

And if I'm approaching a car and a much faster pace it is going I'll look on the other lane next to me to see if that guy comes into my lane all of a sudden. But this is only if i'm going quite faster than the guy I'm approaching or else braking will normally work.

Overall I'm paying a lot more attention when I'm speeding and you should if you are...


Speeding causes less deaths than drivers not paying attention...


disclaimer before I get flamed...
Speeding is obviously not safe but I take the precautions I can when I do it

 

Don't get me wrong I take great care of it!!

I Just don't mod or go nuts like I used too

And I still drive over the speed limit when conditions allow. The TL really loves to cruise at 80mph

 

Not disagreeing as my preference is definitely different than yours. But I can care less for speed. What I really love is tracking the car. I took my car to Glendora Mountain Road and my God, I fell in love with my car. I never knew it could handle the way it did up and down the mountains. Anyone can step their foot on the gas and go straight. But it takes a great amount of skill to exit the corner fast.

No joke. I was running GMR with my buddy and this trueno passed us. We tried to keep up with it but that thing was zipped in and out of the corners like it was delivering tofu.

 

Mdk, be careful on GMR it might be fun but those drops are far. Loose gravel, other cars double laning, etc. just don't push to hard I've almost lost friends up there

 

ohh I was just saying that there was nothing wrong with speeding and how I drive safer that way.

I HATE fwy driving lol, its full of bad driver and like you said all you have to do is push a pedal

I love canyon roads! And circular fwy ramps especially ones that are a good curve in it so you get to go faster and more G's pulling you to the side.

Sometimes I surprise myself for being that "brave" and I've learned my tires like to squeal quite a bit. Even if there is a ltl bit of grip left...

Now I've never had the chance to go to places like GMR. But I liked the drive up big bear, although I had others in my car so I didnt push it (never drive fast on canyons with passengers, my rule at least)

Theres this kinda nice small canyon road by my house. I use it to go to Brea
Drive through there quite often. I basically know it by heart and the limits i can push it.

Here's the road right behind my house

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=ch...ra=ls&t=h&z=13

not the best, but better than nothing

 

That's why I never recommend it to anybody, haha.

 

Enjoy your Camry.

 

With a long work commute, I sometimes feel this also. But it all changes when I get on the go-pedal

 

I feel the same way too sometimes, but usually those thoughts disappear when I see an on-ramp/off-ramp ahead of me with no other cars on it and I think "how fast can I take this corner before the rear end wants to come out?"

 

While I definitely do not mod like I used to... I still personalize my vehicles and enjoy them as well.

I think part of it is also being smarter with my (our) money. I'd rather put the money into something that will give us a return verses a depreciating asset like a car. That said, a weekend/pleasure vehicle is still on the list :devilgrin

 

I'm in the same boat. I love my V8 but I may have a major change in life soon where I'll be driving a lot; I'll be looking at a prius at that time. I just can't justify losing 30mpg just because I like getting on the onramp fast. Once I'm on the hwy, I just flow with traffic anyway.

 

Funny I'm having the complete opposite feeling lately. Now that I'll be working from home gas mileage won't be as much of a concern, so I'm already starting to ponder the idea of getting the car I originally wanted... G8 GT. Not that the Mazdaspeed6 is an economy car or slouch by any means but I miss tire shredding fun sometimes, when the kid isn't in the back seat of course.

 

This thread doesn't even make sense to me.

Cars in general are something that I lust over and dream about. Sure getting from point A to point B are my main concern, but I'll be damned if I ever pull up next to another car exactly like mine. Cars are the cover to your book.

 

There are drivers and then there are enthusiasts. Drivers only see their cars as a mode of transportation whereas enthusiasts will tweak it to his/her desire. I used to be a driver until I had started modding my first car I had gotten for myself. I didn't understand why people would mod their cars but I finally saw why after I had made mine look/sound distinctively different from the other 3G TLs that are out on the road.

 

IMO, mods have always been a point of contention for me. For all the guys that went full JDM/combat kit/mugen this or that, I've always thought it misses the point. It should be about the driving...

Its like when you show up to the basketball court with the latest shoe but you can't play a lick or you get to the driving range with the best equipment, but your technique sucks....mods, IMO, are a little overrated if you don't know how best to use them.

Its okay to grow out of mods, but if you've always enjoyed driving, that should never go away if you are an enthusiast.

 

My cars are inanimate objects. They both serve a purpose and put a smile on my face to drive, but that's all. They are maintained, insured, cleaned and fueled.

Though I would love to slum it in a CTS-V

 

There's no difference between Dr. Phil's "Getting Real" and "The Sound and the Fury" by Faulkner.

It's just information, right?

 

What I realize after I got my car is that having a faster car doesn't mean that you drive faster than before.

I drove like a maniac with my 3G TL for 5 years always going much faster than the traffic on the freeway.

Now in my MS3 which is much much faster than my previous car, I cruise at 70.

But once in awhile I go to Angeles Crest Highway which is this crazy long canyon road here in LA, and I have some fun. The car handles pretty good and pushing the car through the endless corners in 3rd gear for about 30 minutes makes me high.

 

By the way, before I bought my 3G TL, I drove a 2000 Accord EX with a 4 banger which was my first car. I think I always drove it like I stole that damn thing. I was one crazy asian maniac on the road.

I swear I raced thousands and thousands of Civics and Corollas back then.

 

Going fast means nothing. It's all about enjoying the ride...

 

i was the same way with my 2G. i drove the shit out of it.

now im a bit more relaxed with the MS3

 

Well said.

Getting in my car, dropping the top and sticking my elbow at the side driving 65 on the freeway is amazing. I can smell the envy coming off some that pass by.

 

I don't feel as extreme as the OP but, I do get the drift. I'm not nearly as into cars I was when I first joined Acurazine over a decade ago. Heck my most recent purchase was a 12 Accord EX 4 cyl auto....so, clearly I was shopping for a transportation appliance.

However, I still tend to drive well above the speed limit on most highways. However, it has less to do with feeling 'racy' and more to do with keeping me awake behind the wheel.

 

I still feel to be a car enthusiast, but once I had kids a car became more of just transportation. Growing up, I either had a big hitting system or a bunch of mods. Now, I wouldn't do a big system and both my vehicles are stock. I also have had a car payment since I was 16, as I'd constantly sell or trade and seem to never have a car without a payment. Now that I'm a little older, the best feeling ever is no car payment. I'll never buy new again, as my '05 Escalade was $68,000 new and now with 100k on it, I probably couldn't get $18k for it. It's been a nice ride, but once the "newness" wears off, you realize how much money was just wasted. The older I get, I just want a reliable ride to get around that's comfortable. I don't care about brands or status anymore.

If I had a few hundred thousand laying around, I'd have a nice toy though.

 

which is different for everyone

I've never been the type to lay back and cruise with the windows down air blowing in to often. It is relaxing though which is enjoyable.

But I get more joy by getting thrown to the sides of my seat. Gets the adrenaline pumping!

 

You might as well drive a refrigerator around.

 

I'm glad I don't feel like you OP: My Subaru and the family are off to Europe. And I plan on going fast because I can.

 

 

Well duh

 

Give it time....you'll get bored and want to get something faster and more fun to drive.

 

^

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that most people on an automotive internet board are going to disagree with the OP...

 

All my friends have grown up, guess im the oddball one now =/

 

I'm pretty sure if I don't have a fun car my head will explode

 

Unless you drive a red Corvette convertible.

 

I used to start modding a car in my first year of ownership. My current cars are the only two that I haven't done any major mods to in over 2 years of ownership. I do want to mod them but they're plenty fast already, and the mods for these cars are so freaking expensive. But I do NOT consider my cars are just a car.

For those who "push" their cars through the twisties, try taking it to the tracks. Much safer.

 

^^^^

I think I appreciate a modded car a lot more than I need to own one. I'm fine with what I have. It is still just a way to get from point A to point B but at least it's more fun that the last one.