I'm not going to start banging the drum for cars as I've got a few bikes tucked away and thats where my true passion lies but an R500 will accelerate to 100 and back to a stand still in 11 seconds. In real world terms the car matches the bikes on acceration up to 100, is better on the brakes, and quicker around the corners. All said, I still took the bike out for a play last night....
I did say with some excepts, and I know from first hand how quick those 500s are! Must be bonkers to drive
Try doing a few laps of the Nurburgring, where sports cars and sports bikes are mixed together. Most of the quick cars are much quicker the most of the quick bikes. All bikes get overtaken by cars quite a bit, but bikes can only overtake the slower cars. You would have to be one hell of a rider, on anything, to keep up with a quick Porsche. Sorry, but that's a fact.
Not many would take the Baron around there regardless what they drive, so apples and apples I'd still back a S1000RR v any road legal car (that costs less than 200k!)
I think it's all about the size of balls, and the confidence that comes with a performance car. I had a few fast cars before I got into bikes, and I've been to the 'Ring a couple of times, and in my experience an average car driver in a fast car will be quicker than an average rider on a fast bike. My 999 is undoubtedly quicker than the 911 I had, but I would definitely get a better lap time from the 911. It's easier to be ballsy in a caged car with 4 sticky tyres than it is on a twitchy missile sports-bike, IMO.
It's true, I used to do mixed track days at Silverstone, Brands and Goodwood with my Porsche 964RS, the bikes struggled to keep up and even with all the posh kit I was a bit of a Captain Slow!
All I can say is, I dont hang about in the car and ok I dont drive a porker or caterham or high perfromance but beemers do om and keep up with most as does VW product as they are taught. And I'd leave me behind on my 848 over the same road, by miles. 160 is possible on many A roads on bike, no way I coukd do more than 130 on same in car (if that). But take the point of track re feeling safer...but again when you see comparisons of a pro racer bike v car the bike normally comes out just ahead unless its an F1 or very similar but soft top cars are fun at slow speeds...and thats the point
On a track or proper fast road riding cars will always corner faster, bikes remain much more fun thou
A decent fast car will make a reasonable driver look good... A really fast bike will make a reasonable rider look scared... fact ! (IMHO)
I've always considered convertible versions of hard tops to be girlie, although I am toying with a convertible for my next car simply because I've never had one. As for power steering, pretty sure there is nothing made (bar things like caterhams) without it. Modern systems don't diminish steering feel at all. Part of the reason sports cars have been in decline for so long is that a decent hatchback now drives so well. I've just bought an 03 seat leon 20v and I must admit its a fantastic handling car. It was bought as a stop gap, but I suspect it may be kept for quite a while.
You called.......how did you know we have a convertible as our second car when I only joined this month, I say we, I don’t drive it very often. Ling has the roof down on her SLK sport every chance she has, even when it’s not that warm she dolly's it with the heated seats and air scarf running and when its hot the roof is down with the ac running. As for your latest comment on power steering, I find the power steering very heavy and hard work on the SLK compared to the variable steering on my E class.
My wife wanted a convertible and we plumped for a nice mid grey Merc SLK, which is pretty and girlie with the roof down, but looks like a 'proper sports car' with the folding hard-top in place. i really like it, but if it's me driving I prefer the roof up and air-con on...
Power steering will always "diminish steering feel" to some extent as it always has a natural damping effect. Front wheel drive systems always do the same - it's simple physics, there's more rotating mass therefore more inertia. Our Smart Roadster has far more "feel" that my Honda Tourer - It is rear wheel drive, but has power steering to turn the wide tyres. It does NOT however have anything like the connection to the front wheels that my Spitfire had... Personally I think the decline in sportscars is purely down to changing demographics - the average age of the population is getting older, and you can't get 2.2 kids ( or 4.84 grand-kids ) in a two-seater...
I dunno, because young people now have more disposable income than ever before. Don't forget, the spitfire would have been sharp in its day, if you drove it now it would feel like a slithery wallowing pig. The advent of the hot hatch pretty much killed the sports car because it did everything better while being more practical, and I think the ever increasing standard of the regular hatchback is slowly killing the hot hatch. I'm as big a classic car fan as you are going to find - I've had many from a lotus cortina via chevettes and capris to a 1959 ford zodiac. The inescapable common factor is they are always worse than new cars, every facet of their driving experience is eclipsed by a newer vehicle. Case in point - my run of the mill Seat Leon 20v automatic is quicker, better handling, better braking, more reliable, safer and more comfortable than my old lotus cortina was. It does all of this using half the fuel. Everything about the Seat is 300% better than the old ford. Doesn't mean I wouldn't love another - you just can't ignore 45 years of development.
I fully accept that new cars are better braked, faster, safer, more reliable and more comfortable... And that is what the average motorist wants. I don't accept, however, that modern cars necessarily offer a better driving experience for a car enthusiast. The Spitfire's steering was light (without the use of power assistance) direct, self-centering and allowed the driver to feel everything that the front wheels were doing. This was, to a large extent, because the front suspension and the steering were designed to perform a function and were not compromised by having to cope with front wheel drive or having to fit inside the latest trendy hatch-back body shape. Yes, I have driven one recently, and no, it does not feel like a "wallowing pig"... The Smart Roadster is nearly as good to drive - and yes, it is safer, more efficient etc etc - but it still has to have power steering to cope with its wide tyres... I'm not ignoring the development, I'm just saying the vast majority of modern cars are nowhere near as involving are as satisfying to drive as a proper sportscar. To be fair, about 95% of the Spitfire's contemporaries weren't either - Austin Allegro, Morris Marina, Vauxhall Viva........
