[Closed] Super-cars on public roads.

Not adding anything to the conversation, but that was just down the road from me.

...but adding to the conversation. The weather was absolutely atrocious last night, so I think I would rather have a car with disc brakes the size of dustbin lids and super fat tyres.

Obviously the driver was the problem here. Would have probably spun out a Ford Fiesta instead.

I bet his premium has gone up a bit. McLaren F1s are worth about £750k these days ar they not?

I am a big fan of performance cars in all shapes and sizes, but seeing some of the tubes that cut about the Manchester area (up and down Deansgate on a Saturday) in all sorts of stunning motors in horrendous colours with ridiculous wheels dents my enthusiasm a bit I must say.

I can't help feeling when Ferrari were perfecting the F458's dynamics, it wasn't* so some knob in the Man City/Utd youth team could paint it matt black, put alloys with their initials in the middle on it, and drive up and down a shopping street.

*I do appreciate Ferrari are a commercial enterprise trying to make money.

he should have stuck to this 😆

[img] [/img]

Atkinson is a renowned driver. Poor McLaren, mind you he could have had it in a better colour

The weather was absolutely atrocious last night, so I think I would rather have a car with disc brakes the size of dustbin lids and super fat tyres

Bean/Atkinson/Blackadder is righ tin to his supercars and has been for years.

What's the point in having a 'super-car' on normal roads? Sure they look good but they must be a nightmare to drive, you probably cant get the thing out of 1st gear, maybe notch it up in to 2nd on motorways. Is it purely a I've got so much money I can spend 100's of £k on a car.

Troll. Either that or you're trying (And failing) to sound clever about something you clearly have utterly no clue at all about.

There does seem to be constant stream of celebrity smashes in them

Such as?

Except that super fat tyres don't necessarily do so well in the wet (and lots of torque doesn't help when grip levels are low).

I said 'I would rather have', not that it would be any safer 😉

*I know nothing about cars.

McLaren F1s are worth about £750k these days ar they not?

And some. In 2008 one sold for £2.5 million at auction.

Oh my god, you can't be jumping on the band wagon for that one.

What difference does it make it was a supercar? There are thousands of accidents on the UK roads every year that sound exactly like that.

Rowan Atkinson uses his supercars all the time and it's the first time I've heard of him crashing. There's nothing in there to say it was anything to do with the car, weather, or a small child running out in the road in front of him to cause it.

If people can afford it why not own one? I know I would. It's the same as saying why do people need a £4k bike when they could have as much fun on a £1k one? Or why buy a £7k road bike if not racing? Most of the modern supercars are very easy to drive when just cruising along. It was probably a lot truer years ago when they were complete pigs to drive but the companies making them know it's middle age bankers who drive them so have to make them as easy to drive as the BMWs and Audis they've been driving for years before.

Anyway, I hope the car is ok!

EDIT - after re-reading I'm now wondering if I did get sucked in by some trolling, oh well, worse things have happened!
DOUBLE EDIT - sounds like it's not trolling.

Troll. Either that or you're trying (And failing) to sound clever about something you clearly have utterly no clue at all about.

I've never driven a fast car like that and don't watch Top Gear or shite like that, so don't know what it's like to drive one. But why is it a troll to ask what's the point in having what is basically a F1 car with a numberplate and some lights on it on public roads? You need to revise you definition of a troll.

And some.

Fair point! Two million Euros anyone?

http://www.whatonemillionbuys.com/mclaren-f1-for-sale-in-basel-switzerland

Still impressive to chuck it on that section of the A605. It's a bit undulating, but no real bend.

[img] [/img]

But why is it a troll to ask what's the point in having what is basically a F1 car with a numberplate and some lights on it on public roads? You need to revise you definition of a troll.

[i]In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory,[2] extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response[/i]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_(Internet)

Which is exactly what you are doing.

I rest my case!

That'll buff out.

[img] [/img]

or a small child running out in the road in front of him to cause it.

Which is exactly what you are doing.

I'm stating what I think. I suppose you know best though. 🙄

I think a 150mph+ car on roads with 70mph limit are pointless. Is that clear enough?

Because they are nothing like an f1 car, thus showing how little you know. Especially about the gearing. Most modern supercars are so tractable you can drive everywhere in 3rd.

My car does near enough 150mph. It's a diesel family saloon, should it be banned too?

My car does 145mph and it's a focus

Considering the conversation on here yesterday about expensive watches being left in drawers because people don't want to damage them, I think it is great he actually uses his cars - he is a car fanatic and on Top Gear recently he was saying how he uses the F1 all the time.

Good on him - he can afford to have it repaired.

only if its a 335d.

They are pretty pointless on the public roads, Evo regularly make this point.

Well a client / old friend of mine has razzed about the Bristol roads in his Ferrari and his Lamborghini without much trouble.

I'm not jealous at all..

I think a 150mph+ car on roads with 70mph limit are pointless. Is that clear enough?

Maybe it's actually safer, any overtaking move is going to be completed with the minimum amount of time on the wrong side of the road!

Lots of things in life are pointless, it's about being able to afford it. These cars will still provide plenty of enjoyment for the owners without breaking any laws.

I'm stating what I think.

With the intention of starting an argument, knowing it would annoy people

Hence, troll.

I suppose you know best though.

Now we're getting somewhere!

I think a 150mph+ car on roads with 70mph limit are pointless. Is that clear enough?

Yep.

I think your trolling is pointless, but amusing as you're making a right eejit of yourself! And I know best, remember.....

Clear enough? 😛

You should see around my way every summer as the Middle Eastern chaps fly their blingwagons over. Comedy!

I think a 150mph+ car on roads with 70mph limit are pointless

I think the following is pointless:

Dance music
Bungee jumping
Dorma bungalows
Toyota Priuses
Celery
The French
Lipstick
Poodles
Tennis
Gravel drives
The colour mauve.

But I don't go around blabbering on about it just becasue I've seen a celery-sucking poodle leaving a mauve dorma bungalow with a gravel drive in a Toyota Prius on his way to play tennis with a French dance DJ!
🙂

You just did..

thus showing how little you know.

I think your trolling is pointless, but amusing as you're making a right eejit of yourself! And I know best, remember.....

Clear enough?

Maybe you could draw up a list of topics that you consider to be acceptable, that would help prevent you having to endure topics that don't meet you approval. Go and try the hanging tread, that seems more your cup of tea.

Peter, you missed the following off your list:

Cheap duct tape
BBC3
The Davies Cup
Michael Mcintyre
Multipack x8 probiotics for the same price as x12

It is now complete.

I cant believe we are this far into the thread without the flash car = small dick comment

Maybe you could draw up a list of topics that you consider to be acceptable

Wrong end of stick grasped there matey! This is nothing to do with acceptable topics, I'm merely playing the anti-troll..... 😛

I ran a Ferrari 360 for a while back in 2002. It was an amazing piece of engineering but I have to agree pretty pointless most of the time, impractical and not that comfortable; to be honest a Mitsu Evo was probably quicker point-to-point on most roads. Also not that great on the track. I ended up buying a range rover (brilliant) and a trailer, and a caterham for the track so had the best of both worlds. I probably wouldn't buy another "super"car again, I'm too self conscious and prefer big comfortable cars these days.

I ran a Ferrari 360 for a while back in 2002. It was an amazing piece of engineering but I have to agree pretty pointless most of the time

Oh yes. It may well have been an UTTERLY pointless car. But both you and I know that's not the point, is it? 😉

PeterPoddy - Member

I'm stating what I think.

With the intention of starting an argument, knowing it would annoy people

Hence, troll.

I suppose you know best though.

Now we're getting somewhere!

I think a 150mph+ car on roads with 70mph limit are pointless. Is that clear enough?

Yep.

I think your trolling is pointless, but amusing as you're making a right eejit of yourself! And I know best, remember.....

Clear enough?

Shut your whining, its a frigging chat forum and this is just a discussion about something relevant in the news. I really dont get your point or understand how its only you getting so upset by this post.

Or do you just trawl looking for "trolls". If someone is talking S$%t on here they will be told so in no short terms

I'd rather drive something that's designed to operate well in excess of the speed limits, and can stop on a six pence than something that can barely reach the speed limit in 30 seconds and takes 100m to stop at that speed. If I could afford to I'd drive a Maclaren F1 everywhere!

Rowan Atkinson is a proven race driver, taking part in numerous race series, I can only assume that he is a better track driver than me. I hope both he and the car recovers soon. The rest of the celebrities that have crashed, yeah fair enough, bunch of idiots!

Rowan Atkinson uses his supercars all the time and it's the first time I've heard of him crashing.

I'd be doubling his premium if i were his insurance company he can't drive for shite.

I should add that i am almost his age and never crashed my F1, not once 😀

tbh I agree with the op about the appropriateness of something like an F1 for driving on UK roads. It is not as if you can (legally) use all the power.

Surely something like an MX5 or an Elise would provide enough driver enjoyment without the same level of risk to the driver and others?

Shut your whining, its a frigging chat forum and this is just a discussion about something relevant in the news. I really dont get your point or understand how its only you getting so upset by this post.

Phhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

I'll be serious for a moment, for those who are hard of humour.

I'm not whining. I'm pointing something out
I'm certainly not upset. I'm actually sitting here with a collegue having a right giggle. Why? becasue it's soooooo easy to rip the pee out of OPs like this one, who clearly reads the Daily Mail on a Daily Sport intelligence* when it comes to this subject... 😉

(semi) serious mode off

Or do you just trawl looking for "trolls".

If someone is talking S$%t on here they will be told so in no short terms

OK, great! You're talking S$%t! 😛

-----------------
*I was quite proud of that part! 🙂

Is a supercar for use on public roads a little bit like buying a top end MTB to go to the shops on? Or buying a medium format digicam for family snaps?

I suppose it depends on your definition of supercar - some super expensive cars would be lovely cruisers, some would be real work for no benefit other than vanity.

I don't see why people are getting so upset about it? I don't think the post is trolling as he's not picking a fight, just asking a question.

I also don't get the point in such cars. They guzzle petrol, cost a fortune to run (a mate recently had a puncture on his Ferrari and was very upset about it, lets say), They are often big, making parking and country roads difficult, terrible in horrible conditions and poor quality roads. Uncomfortable and noisy - said Ferrari is a tin on wheels.

I think people fall in love with the idea of having one.

I cannot understand how someone cannot like any form of dance music! That must really limit what music you listen to, so I imagine you like no music at all. I guess music is something you cannot explain to people who don't get it also. I suppose they've become deaf from their supercars, maybe?

Isn't the Mclaren actually serval leagues above a "supercar" anyway. Servicing it four times would cost 120,000 pounds, not far off the cost of buynig a Ferrari brand new. It needs servicing every 6000 miles.

Why are people getting wound up so much, someone doesnt think supercars should be allowed/used on public roads. Thats just their opinion ffs.

FWIW my opinion is I dont care what people drive, as long as they do it safely. Id rather see celebrities doing 100mph down A roads than the local chav doing 40-50 down 30mph roads. I wonder which one causes more peds and innocent motorists to die.

I cannot understand how someone cannot like any form of dance music! That must really limit what music you listen to, so I imagine you like no music at all

Oh my giddy aunt!

[slaps forehead]

Please re-read my post and then complete this multiple choice question:

Is the tone of my post mentioning 'dance music':

a) Serious
b) Tongue in cheek
c) Don't know

Unless, of course, you have a super-dry sense of humour, in which case:

LOL 😀

The choice of car is irrelevant but treating shared roads like a personal race track whether you are in a million pound car or a souped up saxo is both arrogant and selfish.

"I rest my case"
I wish you'd rest your typing fingers. You sir, are the internet version of a gobshite.
The guy just asked a reasonable question prompted by a recent newsworthy event.

Rowan Atkinson is at the top of the list on Top Gear for celebrities driving around in cr@p cars isn't he.

Perhaps it's all gone to his head and he thjinks he's invincible.

The choice of car is irrelevant but treating shared roads like a personal race track whether you are in a million pound car or a souped up saxo is both arrogant and selfish

Truest statement on the thread so far.

He might have been a tad "over-'car'ed" for that bit of road, but no one on here has ever been "over biked" for that bit of track/towpath have they. 🙂

Good luck to him, and hope he gets it fixed and carries on driving it.

I wish you'd rest your typing fingers. You sir, are the internet version of a gobshite.

And YOU, sir, are a cad and a bounder, and I challenge you to a duel at dawn!

(Please notice my failure to bite at your personal insult, and also my failure to report your post......)

*runs around in a circle giggling like a loon*

Aha yes now I remember, more downsides of owning a flash car are repeatedly being called a ****er by people you don't know, never being let out at junctions, idiots (in passats and audis, why is it always passats and audis?) tailgating you, nightmare parking, always being afraid someone will vandalise it, etc 🙂

He might have been a tad "over-'car'ed" for that bit of road, but no one on here has ever been "over biked" for that bit of track/towpath have they.

Actually, THAT'S now the truest statement on the thread. 🙂
I like the cut of your jib!

He might have been a tad "over-'car'ed" for that bit of road, but no one on here has ever been "over biked" for that bit of track/towpath have they.

True, but the consequences of binning the car on a public road can be rather more severe...

Aha yes now I remember, more downsides of owning a flash car are repeatedly being called a **** by people you don't know, never being let out at junctions, idiots (in passats and audis, why is it always passats and audis?) tailgating you, nightmare parking, always being afraid someone will vandalise it, etc

Try riding a motorbike. Then they try knocking you off as well! 🙂

I now drive an anonymous grey german saloon most of the time, (which is faster than my old fezza and better in every way) and life on the road is much less stressful 🙂

Id rather see celebrities doing 100mph down A roads than the local chav doing 40-50 down 30mph roads. I wonder which one causes more peds and innocent motorists to die.

A mutual acquaintance tells me that he hit a patch of deisel and that's why he crashed.

You have to question the nature of his driving, he crashed it into the back of an Austin Metro a few years ago and now he's finally written it off. Talented driver maybe, safe/legal driver?

Perhaps it's all gone to his head and he thjinks he's invincible.

But I don't go around blabbering on about it just becasue I've seen a celery-sucking poodle leaving a mauve dorma bungalow with a gravel drive in a Toyota Prius on his way to play tennis with a French dance DJ!

pretty offensive to call molgrips a poodle!!

[i]If I could afford to I'd drive a Maclaren F1 everywhere![/i]

Really? It looks like a right pain in the arse for my local shopping trip to Tesco, and completely useless for trips to the DIY store.
Though I suspect if I could afford one, I'd get someone else to drive to Tesco. Or maybe not even Tesco with that money.

the appropriateness of something like an F1 for driving on UK roads. It is not as if you can (legally) use all the power

?

This arguement must apply to almost every car in Britain.

I can't legally use all the power of my car either. It's only a 1.8 Vectra but can easily exceed the speed limit.

A mutual acquaintance tells me that he hit a patch of deisel and that's why he crashed.

Maybe, but would he have crashed if he wasn't caning it?

Aye, he'd been a 'Gentleman racer' for years. Just goes to show though, even if you're pretty competant and have excellent machinery under you, it can still go horribly wrong.

pretty offensive to call molgrips a poodle!!

I did no such thing! Molgrips is a lovely chap! 🙂

Maybe, but would he have crashed if he wasn't caning it?

If he's damaged the engine lining he could make a fortune from "We buy any gold"...

The metro prang was 12 years ago. While it's not ideal, one bump every 12 years doesn't seem overly careless/unsafe.

PP - the clue to the dryness was in the deaf bit. I happen to love ballet, so was quite offended by your statement.

But yeah, I don't get supercars at all.

Have you ever driven a car like a Maclaren F1? It isn't exactly the same as driving a Ford Focus - they will not very forgiving to mistakes/conditions.

That sounds like the perfect reason for not driving it on public roads.

Have you ever driven a car like a Maclaren F1? It isn't exactly the same as driving a Ford Focus - they will not very forgiving to mistakes/conditions.

Have you? It's a question: if he wasn't caning it, it's not unreasonable to assume that the margin for error would be such that he wouldn't crash.

nothing like knocking a wing mirror of a bently and making the **** in the drivers seat shit him self at a set of lights in my book!

Have you? It's a question: if he wasn't caning it, it's not unreasonable to assume that the margin for error would be such that he wouldn't crash.

That sounds like the perfect reason for not driving it on public roads.

Why the assumption he was caning it in so many responses? He might have been pootling like the lad on the 5grand full susser as he hit the red section at the local trail centre???

I drove an F1 (not mine) on track and it was unbelievably scary - no traction control, no ABS, the brakes weren't even servoed iirc. I wasn't a good enough driver to get anything out of the experience, it was a great relief to get out of the car actually. I imagine they must be a nightmare to drive on the road (imagine an elise with 5 times the horsepower)

To lose control on that road, Mclaren F1 or not, it's either a shite car (no), he was driving like a moron, or he can't drive (no).

I flatly refuse to believe that a Mclaren F1 just 'goes' like that on a patch of diesel at 70mph on a big almost straight road.

With the Metro incident 12 years ago, correct me if I'm wrong but I seem to remember it wasn't so much a prang but it actually lifted the Metro off the ground and up onto the bonnet? Not bad going.

He knows better than anyone what he was driving in the current conditions etc.

I flatly refuse to believe that a Mclaren F1 just 'goes' like that on a patch of diesel at 70mph on a big almost straight road.

I wrote off a Fiesta XR2 (put it on its roof) on a perfectly straight road after an animal ran out on me and I swerved to avoid it.

Have you ever driven a car like a Maclaren F1? It isn't exactly the same as driving a Ford Focus - they will not very forgiving to mistakes/conditions.

True in a way, but at the [u]same speed[/u] as a Focus, you'll get away with a LOT more.
Drive a Focus at 100% and an F1 at 100% and then it all starts to get a bit hectic becasue the F1 will be going a LOT faster! 🙂