Modern Cars Do Nothing Leave Me Cold

[caesarmascetti]

So my uncle buys a 2017 Porsche 911 Carrera4 S, great car right....ehhhh I'm not so sure. I drove it and with all the electronics etc...I don't know it just kinda seems sterile and almost as if the driver isn't really needed. Don't get me wrong it's technically brilliant has capabilities only a race car had not that long ago but it just seems to be more about generating numbers than driver involvement, and enjoyment. Maybe it's just me getting to be an old cranky fuck. What do you guys thing have modern sports/performance cars gone so far in the quest to generate numbers they have forgotten about driver involvement and having fun?

Full disclosure I'm biased as this is my fun car, and for the record I wouldn't trade it for his Porsche no matter how much that thing costs:

[hobbit712]

Beautiful Shelby!

My dream car is still a Porsche Cayman however.

[djh1201]

Agreed! Still driving my E46 M3 almost daily, not a fan of the newer sports cars out there.

[logan2z]

Same feeling here about modern 911s. If you want a Porsche that feels like a 'proper' sports car buy one from 1998 or earlier, preferably '87-'89 or '95-'98. There's a reason the market for those cars is still hot.

Re: the Cayman, those are great cars. My Cayman R was a joy to drive, it had the best gearbox I've ever used. I miss it.

[toxicavenger]

i was cold once, then i turned the heater on

[Mr_Pacman]

Agreed! Still driving my E46 M3 almost daily, not a fan of the newer sports cars out there.

my 1999 E36 with 48,000 miles says "hello". Can't be bothered with new cars. I love to see other people drive them and I always roll down the window when they drive by to hear the motor, but if it were my money, I would be in an aircooled 911 or an E30 M3/ E28 M5.

[dukerules]

Ehh, different cars. Your Shelby is undoubtedly an engaging and a great weekend fun car. But you're not going to commute five days a week in it, in any and all weather conditions, like your uncle can in that 4S. The 911, like a bunch of other modern GT/sports cars, is a brilliant one-car solution--daily-drivable, yet eminently capable as a sports car. That said, if I had the scratch, I would own an old air-cooled 911 for the weekends, and a modern Porsche for the weekly grind.

[djh1201]

my 1999 E36 with 48,000 miles says "hello". Can't be bothered with new cars. I love to see other people drive them and I always roll down the window when they drive by to hear the motor, but if it were my money, I would be in an aircooled 911 or an E30 M3/ E28 M5.

Nice! E30, E36, E46 are the truly great BMWs, hope to keep mine forever.

[caesarmascetti]

Yup I get it the modern 911 is definitely a great car, just not engaging in the way a 70s carrera or even n air cooled sc was from the 80s, definately a better everyday car, but I kind of think they've lost something along the way in the pursuit of perfection.

I read an article on the McLaren Senna, the test driver took it around a circuit along with some other cars....at the end he walked away and said it's technically brilliant, but he couldn't help feeling that his wife could get in it and turn a similar lap time, the car was that good

[sierra11b]

Giora Epstein had the same problem as arguably the best fighter pilot in the world. Once fighter jets went fly-by-wire he hung-up his boots and flew fly-by-wire airlines instead.

[blkgsl]

There are different uses and joys to be had with both “modern” and “vintage” cars, and I have both. The vintages are more rewarding and engaging, the moderns are more comfortable and responsive. Different choices for different moods, and I wouldn’t change one for the other as I have all types of moods.

Of course, in 25 years, today’s modern cars become the vintages of the future. I suspect in 2040, we’ll be saying “man, remember the 2017 991s? Those are so engaging and rewarding to drive - they have a steering wheel !”

[BlueSky]

I love vintage autos, but will take new tech any day.

[foodle]

Those are so engaging and rewarding to drive - they have a steering wheel !”

Yup, I fully expect that my kids will be one of the last generations that learns to drive a car. I doubt their kids will ever need to learn to drive.

That being said, I'm shopping for a new car as my E90 M3 is getting long in the tooth. Test drove a new M5 and all of the electronics puts me off. BMW's new electronic instrument cluster (iDrive 7.0) is terrible. Audi's Virtual Cockpit does a much better job. I'm reluctant to give up my naturally aspirated V8 and hydraulic steering. Maybe I'll just keep it ...

[Hi DWC, long time no post. But I do stop by occasionally to lurk and see how your criminals are doing. ]

[blkgsl]

Those are so engaging and rewarding to drive - they have a steering wheel !”

Yup, I fully expect that my kids will be one of the last generations that learns to drive a car. I doubt their kids will ever need to learn to drive.

That being said, I'm shopping for a new car as my E90 M3 is getting long in the tooth. Test drove a new M5 and all of the electronics puts me off. BMW's new electronic instrument cluster (iDrive 7.0) is terrible. Audi's Virtual Cockpit does a much better job. I'm reluctant to give up my naturally aspirated V8 and hydraulic steering. Maybe I'll just keep it ...

[Hi DWC, long time no post. But I do stop by occasionally to lurk and see how your criminals are doing. ]

I'm a fan of the F10 M5. You get the analog gauges, and they're a real bargain at about $45k.

[foodle]

I'm a fan of the F10 M5. You get the analog gauges, and they're a real bargain at about $45k.

I drove a regular 5-series from that generation and it drove like pig. Don't know if the M5 of that generation does better or not. Worth a test drive if I can find one.

Test drove the F90 M5 last weekend, and it handled really well. Drove like a much smaller car with pretty neutral handling. But the 2020 model switched from the analog looking gauges to the new gauges. I might try to find a 2019 that still uses the analog looking gauges. Plus there should be some incentive from the dealer to get a 2019 off their lot.

Had an Audi a while ago and it was very nose heavy and understeered. But I should try out the new RS5 sportback to see if they've improved.

[HapaHapa]

i was cold once, then i turned the heater on

Haha. Good one.

I’ll save the comments I just deleted for Grouchy Old Man Day.

[logan2z]

Those are so engaging and rewarding to drive - they have a steering wheel !”

Audi's Virtual Cockpit does a much better job.

I just bought an S3 to use a daily driver and looked around for one without the VC. I spend enough time looking at a computer screen, I don't want to look at one while I'm driving. The analog gauges look much better IMHO.

-- Andrew.

[foodle]

Audi's Virtual Cockpit does a much better job.

I just bought an S3 to use a daily driver and looked around for one without the VC. I spend enough time looking at a computer screen, I don't want to look at one while I'm driving. The analog gauges look much better IMHO.

I'm all for analog gauges. Looking at either a 4-series or used M3 with analog gauges or at very least the 2019 F90 M5 with virtual analog gauges.

My reference to Audi Virtual Cockpit doing a better job was in relation to BMW's version of an electronic instrument cluster which sucks balls.

[logan2z]

Audi's Virtual Cockpit does a much better job.

I just bought an S3 to use a daily driver and looked around for one without the VC. I spend enough time looking at a computer screen, I don't want to look at one while I'm driving. The analog gauges look much better IMHO.

My reference to Audi Virtual Cockpit doing a better job was in relation to BMW's version of an electronic instrument cluster which sucks balls.

I knew what you meant.

[BlueSky]

Same feeling here about modern 911s. If you want a Porsche that feels like a 'proper' sports car buy one from 1998 or earlier, preferably '87-'89 or '95-'98. There's a reason the market for those cars is still hot.

Re: the Cayman, those are great cars. My Cayman R was a joy to drive, it had the best gearbox I've ever used. I miss it.

I just looked at some 993s FS... Hot market, for sure.

[jtbenson]

summer fun


winter fun


daily: dog/club/bike/booze hauler


first two have three pedals.
wish i lived somewhere i only needed the first.

[dnslater]

summer fun


winter fun


daily: dog/club/bike/booze hauler


first two have three pedals.
wish i lived somewhere i only needed the first.

Fantastic setup!

[jtbenson]

thanks, i'll be sure to show that post to my wife
she doesn't understand why i need three vehicles when i drive less than 5k miles a year between 'em all. "seasons babe" doesn't seem to work...

[dukerules]

Jason wins!

[zepp21]

My fiancé has an X3 now and was looking at an X5 for her next car. We requested an X5 loaner when it was being serviced last weekend and we were able to test drive this....not exactly apples to apples and I’m still not sure why the dealer would let us use this as it certainly wasn’t what we were looking. Nonetheless, it was a blast to drive and I was pleasantly surprised by how it drove, power, and luxury, all bundled up.


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