<VV> Spyder/Corsa turbo -- fast?

[Ron]

You're absolutely right, Tony.  A car that can do 200 mph and/or 0 - 60 in 
2.6 seconds is about as useful as one that can hop like a rabbit and any 
money spent for those features is money burned instead of being spent on 
some useful purpose, and there are many useful purposes wanting.
RonH

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tony Underwood" <tony.underwood at cox.net>
To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 25, 2010 8:45 PM
Subject: Re: <VV> Spyder/Corsa turbo -- fast?


> At 01:30 PM 12/22/2010, Eric S. Eberhard wrote:
>>The problem with us old people is the definition of fast has changed
>>a lot.
>
> So has the definition of "car".
>
>>The latest Bugatti iteration goes 0-60 in 2.6 seconds and
>>zero to 200 and back to zero in less time than by 62 PG sedan makes
>>to 60 ... that is a little sobering.
>
> The cost of that vehicle (which I challenge as to whether it's a real
> car or a racehorse) is also sobering.   It is my position that once
> the price of a car exceeds 100,000 bucks it ceases being a car and
> becomes a status symbol.  More on that in a minute.
>
>
>>Add to that modern stability control and you have stunning
>>handling.
>
> Now:   This is fine and good for the wannabe performance driver who
> is willing to pay bucks for computer controlled stability...
>
>  I can buy a Mustang or Vette or Caddy off the
>>showroom with more than 500 hp and for fairly modest (compared to
>>foreign stuff) prices.
>
>
> Modest?   I think not.   How much of a percentage of your yearly pay
> will one of those cars cost you?
>
> Compare that with how much of a year's salary a 'Vair cost.   There's
> that old adage:  "Speed costs money.  How fast do you wanna go?"
>
> When money is no object, you can buy whatever performance you
> want.   Hell, get rich enough and you can hire a race car driver to
> ride you around in your Bugatti.   You can sit in the shotgun seat
> strapped to all that leather and just observe... the epitome of the
> loss of driving skill.
>
>
>>Not as fun as our Corvairs, requires way less skill to drive at speed
>>that are stupid on modern roads (in fact opening up a new Vette
>>should be grounds for going to jail), but that is what is fast in
>>today's world.
>
>
> Yes...  cars today are teaching people how to NOT know how to
> drive.  Their car thinks for them...
>
> I'll pass, thanks.   I like to think I know how to drive a car
> without having to argue with an onboard computer.   I still get a bit
> of a cold-blooded chuckle remembering the issues Toyota had of late
> with their electronics.   I want nothing to do with drive-by-wire or
> anti-lock brakes working in conjunction with the throttle.
>
> Maybe I WANT the car to spin tires on occasion...
>
>
>>Corvairs are fun because they are old and funky and cool.
>
>
> And, to exploit them to their best, the driver needs to KNOW HOW TO
> DRIVE.   Cars today seem to be designed to remove that
> responsibility.   Today's car owner has become a vehicle operator
> instead of a driver.   Hell, cars today parallel-park
> themselves.   How worthless is the "driver" who can't parallel
> park??    THAT is one of the requirements in Virginia that a driver
> MUST know how to do before the commonwealth will issue them a
> driver's license.   They check for it in the parking lot at the DMV
> and grade you on it.
>
> Manufacturers today are removing the requirement for drivers to know
> how to drive their own cars.
>
>
> It is my humble opinion that this is our loss...
>
>
>
> tony..
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