[Em135eye]

There's quite a lot of willy waving going on here leading me to the question, how fast is fast?
Now I've had my M135i for over two years - it felt fast when I got it, it still feels fast. Yet I see people claiming an M235i with mods is "slow."
Or Corvettes. Or the new Merc.
Or other cars 99.9% of people would consider pretty fast.
So where does it end and does people end up with a warped sense of what is fast. Because to 99.5% of people, even my M135i is pretty damned fast. I see no need for a faster car.

Of course there is also usability - a lot of these focussed cars are a PITA to live with day to day. And BMWs M division seems to make a few of them. No point having a car that can crack 100 in no time if it's only on the driest track in the World.

[David70]

I think we spend too much time worried about track numbers and time slips and too little time worried about the experience and driving enjoyment. Surprises me when in a head to head test people immediately go to the numbers and any amount faster one car is over the other and they declare a winner.

[mkoesel]

The answer to the question is inextricably linked to the average performance of new cars hitting the market at any given time.

In a world where family sedans can accelerate to 60MPH in near 5s and compact hatchbacks can beat 8 min on the 'Ring, the definition of "fast" has to be defined against those and other facts. Last centuries exotics will get smashed by today's sporty secretary cars. And tomorrow's performance car will soon become old news when the next big thing hits with better performance at a better price. If it weren't this way, the performance car market couldn't sustain itself.

Your M135i was never the king of the hill, and as time goes on it will only become less a measure of performance. Modifications help, but that wears off quickly when the manufacturer releases the hot new model with the equivalent modifications from the factory. Hence we see folks trade in their chipped 435i for an M4 or their modded up M235i in for an M2.

So, what's fast? Whatever is hitting the market today. Like that new 2017 ZL1.

[Never_Enough]

Originally Posted by Em135eye

There's quite a lot of willy waving going on here leading me to the question, how fast is fast?
Now I've had my M135i for over two years - it felt fast when I got it, it still feels fast. Yet I see people claiming an M235i with mods is "slow."
Or Corvettes. Or the new Merc.
Or other cars 99.9% of people would consider pretty fast.
So where does it end and does people end up with a warped sense of what is fast. Because to 99.5% of people, even my M135i is pretty damned fast. I see no need for a faster car.

Of course there is also usability - a lot of these focussed cars are a PITA to live with day to day. And BMWs M division seems to make a few of them. No point having a car that can crack 100 in no time if it's only on the driest track in the World.

So what does your 135 run or trap?

Some people think their Civic is fast. All depends on what you're used to & what you know about cars.

My Miata was slow as balls in a straight line, obviously, but my god that car was fun to drive & the best $1500 I ever spent.

My Z06 should be good for 10s & trap 130+ MPH. Some call it fast. I call it never enough.

My Speed6 should be good for 12s, but it's slow to me. Some call that fast.

There is definitely a lot of truth in the saying "It's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow." Of course, that implies you have a fun slow car, not something like a Kia Rio.

[Em135eye]

Originally Posted by BoostedRide

So what does your 135 run or trap?

Some people think their Civic is fast. All depends on what you're used to & what you know about cars.

My Miata was slow as balls in a straight line, obviously, but my god that car was fun to drive & the best $1500 I ever spent.

My Z06 should be good for 10s & trap 130+ MPH. Some call it fast. I call it never enough.

My Speed6 should be good for 12s, but it's slow to me. Some call that fast.

There is definitely a lot of truth in the saying "It's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow." Of course, that implies you have a fun slow car, not something like a Kia Rio.

Good post and I agree - I've had huge fun in not very quick cars (mk3 MR2, Ford Puma 1.7, etc, etc) but found some powerful cars rather dull (almost any fast Audi...).

I've not timed mine (except on a track) but a mate got 13.008 in an identical cars at Santa Pod. Track times for the M135i punch well above it's weight and cost but that's not me driving - that's mostly pro drivers. Which I'm not.

But it's not much to do with straight line speed - the Radical posted up here blitzes a P1 around Anglesey. Because it corners better. A well driven hot hatch will embarrass an RS6 on a really tight, twisty road because it's light and chuckable. I know because I've done it.

But my car is and will remain plenty quick enough. I'm not hankering after the latest kid on the block (IMO nothing has been released that does what an M135i does and nothing is imminent) like so many do.

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by David70

I think we spend too much time worried about track numbers and time slips and too little time worried about the experience and driving enjoyment. Surprises me when in a head to head test people immediately go to the numbers and any amount faster one car is over the other and they declare a winner.

This!

[MChat]

Fast is when you take your average driver for a ride and they develop a case of coprolalia when you hammer it and start rowing through the gears.

[omega145]

It's all relative. In the end, who cares? Enjoy the driving experience. There's always going be something newer and faster.

[RingMeister01]

Cool topic. Fast is only when you have to back off the throttle from fear. So its different for everyone. Ive never been in a "fast" car, only a quick car. Bikes on the other hand... thats fast.

I'm a bike guy btw.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Depends of the balls ...

[saleen556]

As said its not all about speed. My saleen had more power and was faster. However this M3 is way more fun to drive. BMW did a fantastic job on these cars.

[Em135eye]

Originally Posted by MChat

Fast is when you take your average driver for a ride and they develop a case of coprolalia when you hammer it and start rowing through the gears.

Blimey, I consider myself quite articulate but what does coprolalia mean?!

[eluded]

It'll depends on the person. To someone the 340 might be the fastest car in the world. Others might think it's slow

Me personally, I'm addicted to the go fast crack pipe. Nothing is fast enough. Standing Mile at 200? Bet I can still go faster

[MNoob]

To me at least, fast always ends up being something beyond my current car. Every car I get is step beyond the last. For a while, it seems fast. Then I get used to it and wonder where all the power went. The F80 with a few tweaks seems to be keeping that at bay for now. I don't know I would say it is 'fast', but for now seems to be enough.

Invariably, at some point, I will get used to the power and it will feel like there's just no oomph. That's when I will lay into it and ask my wife if it felt like it pulled at all, and she will respond 'how about I punch you in the face'. Eventually, my only gauge becomes a threat of a punch in the face.

[kunzjob]

If you want fast- switch to 2 wheels, lose 2,500 pounds, and jump on a modern 1000cc sportbike like the S1000rr or the new R1. That my friend- IS FAST.

[P1]

My friend had a Boost Logic Nissan GT-R with 1,200 hp. After riding in that, all other cars completely stand still for me. It almost ruined having a "fast" car for me. Oh well.

[Em135eye]

Originally Posted by kunzjob

If you want fast- switch to 2 wheels, lose 2,500 pounds, and jump on a modern 1000cc sportbike like the S1000rr or the new R1. That my friend- IS FAST.

Until you hit a corner...
Or need to brake hard.

[AW335TT]

Originally Posted by David70

I think we spend too much time worried about track numbers and time slips and too little time worried about the experience and driving enjoyment. Surprises me when in a head to head test people immediately go to the numbers and any amount faster one car is over the other and they declare a winner.

Not always the case, the one that ones to mind is all the tests done with the 458 and 12C. In every measurable way the 12C was better.. But it was never declared the winner of anything.

Numbers just take all opinion and bias out of the equation and give an objective comparison.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by Em135eye

Until you hit a corner...
Or need to brake hard.

Ah, but you must have missed the big news - they make sport bikes with steering and brakes now too!

[Twixboy]

Originally Posted by Em135eye

Blimey, I consider myself quite articulate but what does coprolalia mean?!

It means when you go so fast that your passenger starts cussing uncontrollably and sh!tting in his pants.

[AWSAWS]

Originally Posted by kunzjob

If you want fast- switch to 2 wheels, lose 2,500 pounds, and jump on a modern 1000cc sportbike like the S1000rr or the new R1. That my friend- IS FAST.

Poblem is it comes with a much higher lethality rate... whether or not you are the one at fault.

[Never_Enough]

Originally Posted by MNoob

To me at least, fast always ends up being something beyond my current car. Every car I get is step beyond the last. For a while, it seems fast. Then I get used to it and wonder where all the power went. The F80 with a few tweaks seems to be keeping that at bay for now. I don't know I would say it is 'fast', but for now seems to be enough.

Invariably, at some point, I will get used to the power and it will feel like there's just no oomph. That's when I will lay into it and ask my wife if it felt like it pulled at all, and she will respond 'how about I punch you in the face'. Eventually, my only gauge becomes a threat of a punch in the face.

How fast are the new M3s anyway?