Don't you love clueless parents.... (caution, rant)

[Astranomical]

Well, this morning we were talking about cars at breakfast, and for some reason someone bought up P platers in fast cars. Anyway, mum tells me that she thinks that V8s should be banned and that P platers shouldn't be able to drive anything more powerful than a 4 cylinder. I'm sorry, but to me, that makes no sense. By this rule, a P plater would be banned from driving, say, a 1971 Holden HQ Kingswood with a 253 V8, which has a GVM of 1,379 kilograms, and puts out 138kW at the flywheel. However, there would be no problem at all with them driving, say, a current model Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, which although weighs more than a HQ Kingswood (1,537 kilograms), and is not a V8, is much, much more powerful. (217 kW at the flywheel) I'm sorry, but to me that makes no sense that you can't drive a ****ing slowass V8, yet its perfectly acceptable for you to drive a powerful 4 cylinder, simply because the number is smaller. This is just me, but to me, saying that a V8 is "faster" than a 4 or 6 cyl is like saying that a 2.4 Ghz Northwood Intel Pentium 4 is faster than a 1.6 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo simply because the number is bigger, which, if you know anything about computers, is, as you'll know, not the case!

I'm sorry, just this sort of thing really ****s me off...people shouldn't say stuff like this unless they know what they're talking about, imho! (that is, they actually know what they're talking about and they're not just going by whatever Tracey Grimshaw on A Current Affair or whoever says)

[nicko]

think it should be the same as with motorbikes in SA, while on L's and P's there is a certai power to weight ratio that you have to stay within. simple. i was happy to learn in a 1.5L KB laser, sure i would have loved a v8 but i look back now (not long actually) and think that im glad i wasnt given a powerful car to begin with. i understand where your coming from with the lancer and the HQ so it can be solved with a power to weight raito.

[Astranomical]

Yeah...I learnt to drive in a Lancer GLi and then a 4 cyl TR Magna, and then learnt to drive manual in a 4 cyl Mirage. I now drive a 4 cyl '95 Hilux 4WD. I don't really feel that I need a powerful car - as much as I'd love a V8, I wouldn't love the extra costs that come with it. I just can't stand clueless people that think "The bigger number makes it faster", thats all. :-/

[minux]

It's funny, I find the biggest wankers on the road are those in slow cars. All P platers I know in high powered cars actually drive quite sensibly. They have nothing to prove, unlike say your 6 cylinder/VS/EF driver who think they have a rocket because their car is loud.

[VL_5SPEED]

Not to mention a lot of 4 cylinders are quicker then the majority of all stock 6's. Just look at the Honda vtec motors, 1.5l-1.8l and they are quicker then any stock v6 commodore.

[andrewmac]

I think the best way to moderate the powerful from the non powerful cars is power to weight ratio.
Although I dont belive that limiting the power of cars will make a difference to the road toll.
You can drive fast in anything and if you crash at 150KM/h in a 4 cyliner buzz box or a V8 the result will most likley be the same.
The problem is the attitude of driver not nessesarily the car they drive.

[CSP]

Problem has never been with high performance cars. The underlying problem has always been with driver attitude.

look at the Honda vtec motors, 1.5l-1.8l and they are quicker then any stock v6 commodore.

LOL!!!!!!!

Line it up next to the current stock 195kw Alloytec V6 SV6 and try and prove you point...

I'm stand back and LOL some more....

Ready? LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[azkwazere]

This mostly spurs from that saying all V8 drivers seem to base there lives around:

Theres no replacement for displacement.

Now, although technically wrong, its gives the impression that V8 = FASTER and MORE LIKELY TO KILL ORPHANS, KITTENS AND NUNS.

Now, we all know peoples ignorance and we know this isnt going to change. Theres no point in trying to convince those not willing to listen! I know alot of Really Fast MkII RS2000's, there NA 4's (except the ones with cosworths) but there fast, there solid and there suspension is tuned to an micrometer. Now the drivers admitably will not crash them cos there dragging anoth V6 with something to prove but my point is, its all about power to weight!

130kw to a ton or whatever it was/is was great! Guys with small penis's could drive a V8, cant modifiy them but still, and those with not enough money could buy there 11sec VS V6 and drive it...

Then again, Ban Low Preformance Drivers no High Preformance Cars comes to mind too... hell, my RGV is quite capable of +230kmh... it has quite low power to weight...

So, in the end.... it all comes down to this:

People will always ruin it for other people. NO MATTER WHAT!

this thread is sooooo done!

aZk.

[Astranomical]

It's funny, I find the biggest wankers on the road are those in slow cars. All P platers I know in high powered cars actually drive quite sensibly. They have nothing to prove, unlike say your 6 cylinder/VS/EF driver who think they have a rocket because their car is loud.

Thats what I've noticed as well...most people with say, an VE SS or BF XR8 or whatever, tend to drive like Miss Daisy, mostly because they have a very nice expensive car that they care about, and don't want to see impounded or crashed, whereas people in old bombs couldn't care less about their cars, as if they get impounded they simply go out and buy another one.

[coolvxss]

I no if i had an expensive ss or xr8 i wouldnt be hooning around. Just because i would have more respect for it and wouldnt want it to be impounded or crashed. Even with my VN. it may not be quick or anything but i have respect for it and i no if i crash it or something i have to pay to get a new car or get it fixed because i only have 3rd party insurance. Some of my mates have $500 **** boxes and hoon around all the time because if it gets impounded or they crash it, they will just buy a new one.

[levymetal]

yeah. it's been said here, but clubsport r8 6.0 litre or daihatsu charade 1.3 litre, they both do 140km/h, they both can go off the road and they both can hit a tree or another vehicle. but if your vehicle was about to lose control, which car would be easier to correct? r8 or charade? if you hit a tree, which car is safer to be in? r8 or charade? and which car are you more likely to care about thus generally driving more safely to protect your investment? r8 or charade?

i think there would be less p plater accidents if every p plater was forced to buy a r8 (a stupid statement because most p platers can't afford it, but true if it was to exist). for the people that didn't want the power, it's not there. just because you have a v8, it doesn't mean it's faster than any other car... just drive it normally. but look at all the safety features. or change that statement to every p plater was forced to buy a brand new exec ve or higher model. it's still got all the safety features. i guarantee less p plater deaths.

[albert5268]

V8 models usually have improved or upgraded brakes, suspension and safety features.

I recently drove in a mates (p-plater) 1960-something van and the thing seriously took his full concentration just to keep it on the road at 60, constant correction on the steering wheel just to keep it traveling in a straight line. This thing is a poxy 4 cylinder that has a top speed of around 80kmh which really shouldn't be on the road. I would rather every p-plater drive a V8 than that bloody thing.

[evil_monkey]

my 5.0L was a ****ing slug sounded nice though.

i pull more horses with my current v6 than i did with that.

and you can break the speed limit in all cars 3, 6, 8, 12 cyl. its just gonna take you a couple seconds more or less to get there

[AttaBoy]

P-plater should be restricted to push bikes LOL.

Seriously, its more to do with the attitude of drivers.

[xlr8_87]

not everyone knows the concept that V8 does not mean necessarily faster, you can't blame people for something they haven't learnt

[UNKNOWN]

Try telling this to the government....

[PRH]

Maybe some "clueless mums and dads" would still have their sons/daughters around if they asked the same stupid question,just a thought
Phillip

[Bilbs]

All the old v8 sayings, like no replacement for displacement, my sig one, milk n juice in 2 liters etc, they we dont say them cos it means that they are faster, its mostly about just the sound, feeling and tradition that is forged into history by v8s, and one more quick, most probably biassed point, if 4s can be just as quick as 8's, then, why do the top fuel, top alcohol, top doorslammer etc etc, all have BIG V8's

[POVRTY]

they should make it a power:IQ ratio

[xtrmty]

In VIC the law that im currently on is,
no V8's
no cars with superchargers
no turbos
no performance modifications
and even some quick six's are banned like bmw's and porches
Its stupid cos i could still do the same damage in my VT S that i could have done in the car i wanted (VT SS)

[Wombat]

Power to weight is the best way to go.

You have to remember that anyone over 40 will still have in thier mind that "four cylinder slow, eight cylinder fast".
At the time that Kingswood you mentioned was new, a four cylinder Corolla would have only put out about 50kw, at best, maybe less. Now we have ordinary Corollas with well over 100kw, and other four cylinders which go harder than V8's of the seventies.

I love V8's (can't afford to run one is all...however, it ain't the petrol, it's the rego...), I love big engines of all sorts, but I also love thrashing...sorry son, "borrowing for a drive to the shops" my sons 1990 twin cam Corolla Seca with the 4AGE 100kw motor...and it is an 18 year old car...new ones are quicker again.

[POVRTY]

the same question is in every1s head? maybe they hope u will have grown out of cars by the time u can own a v8, turbo, ect.

[evil_monkey]

the same question is in every1s head? maybe they hope u will have grown out of cars by the time u can own a v8, turbo, ect.

that theory makes no sense people who outgrow cars dont hang out till they finish their p-plates to go and buy a v8 or a turbo lol

[Bilbs]

Wombat, what state are you in? In vic, it doesnt cost any more for a V8 or a 3 cyl, its all the same, but a Ute is cheaper than a sedan however

[quick308]

Wombat, what state are you in? In vic, it doesnt cost any more for a V8 or a 3 cyl, its all the same, but a Ute is cheaper than a sedan however

really thats awsome. thats the way the rules shld be in every state. i think its pretty unfair getting hit with big rego bills i dont see why it should cost more than any other car. ppl ask me how i afford to run my car with current petrol prices and its the same answer every time its tha insurence and tha rego that kills you. jus another way of stopping people from buying them i think