Quote:
Originally Posted by ALLTRBO
I got into a debate today with my supervisor (whose opinion and experience I greatly respect on most things) about fast/powerful street cars. He's on the strictly practical side and says that no one should have a (street) car that accelerates or tops out any faster than it HAS to for any condition it'll reasonably come across (ie. My wife's 4-door automatic Civic is still too fast, though he's mainly referring to sports/muscle cars). He's all for limiting every car to 85-90 mph, and doesn't think any car should have a better power/weight ratio than the average econobox. He feels that people should only be able to have what they want (in this regard) so long as there is a HUGE tax on it so that, basically, no one can afford it. According to him, people who drive fast cars, by human nature, will automatically drive them more dangerously to some degree and cause more accidents, and the cars are a pointless drain on natural resources (oil), etc. etc. He says that on some basic level, it's all about fulfilling one's "macho-ness".
Now he isn't some pointless ranter, he is a very intelligent and very accomplished person who has done his share of stupid things when he was young, and in my job he is definitely a valuable mentor. He is spot on in most everything he speaks of, and when he isn't, he's willing to listen to the other side of the argument. He definitely isn't a greenie tree-hugger, either.
That being said, it bothers me more than it typically would that he essentially thinks I'm an idiot on the subject and that he disagrees with just about all of my points.
Yes, powerful cars are definitely more than one needs, but it isn't about practical needs. While their are many, many idiots who have these cars to fulfill some form of "macho-ness", it's far from all of us. For me personally, it's about the physics as a whole... the feel, sound, how the mechanics of the entire system work together to create something perfectly harmonious, even the aesthetics of the thing, those sculpted lines that flow together to create a look of purpose. All of it meshes together to create a whole that is more than the sum of the parts, something more than an A to B, something more than a bland tool to get you from here to there. It's what some would call a passion, something beyond the "practical". I would love driving my cars just the same, staring at them with a smile just the same, if there were no one else on Earth (though that would be awfully lonely without any gearheads with which to share conversation about them).
It just so happens that it also gets you from here to there.
No doubt about it, the Camaro is a LOT of car in either form, and can get anyone into a LOT of trouble. However, opening it up for a couple seconds on an EMPTY stretch of highway, taking that "15 mph" corner at 35 mph when there is no traffic around and when you can SEE all the way around it, playing with the edge of traction from a stop sign to 60 mph when no traffic is in sight, or easily (and legally) passing the jerk in the fast lane who's going 10 under the speed limit? That isn't the epitome of stupidity in my eyes. Practical? Hell no. Reasonable? With half a brain and some manner of self control... I think it is. None of that is to mention the local drag strip, autocross, or road course for those of us who are self inclined and able. There isn't much that's better than driving your A to B to a legally sanctioned event, blasting it around for a couple of hours, then driving from the B back to the A!
The amazing part? That's all in one car. I can't do that in the Civic, which is very ho-hum, basic and utilitarian... not something that can help me put away my worldly cares for a short time, not 'me'. If it is 'you', then congratulations! I get it!
Many different cars are 'them'... slow ones, ugly ones, and even powerful ones.
Is all that really so selfish, macho, and just plain stupid? Really?
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I've been in similar conversations... and here is my take...
Freedom.... We have generations of people that have given all to insure we have the freedom to make choices...
These choices are based on personal beliefs, which are derived from our upbringing and our environment, our perceptions and desires....
Answer this for me... Does your boss wear a suit... If so... why... polo shirts or t-shirts or simple button downs are practical... Suits are for show... plain and simple...and it takes more resources to make a suit than it does to make a t-shirt...especially when considering all of the supporting fluff... Cuff links, a matching level watch... expensive ties.... etc... Society deems it the standard that in given situations you dress to a certain level... Why... because of someone elses opinion, or our own desire to fit societal norms... Is a suit practical, or is it the norm...?
Where does this boss live... in an economical/efficiency apartment, or in a nice house, with a yard.... The apt situation is practical... and is less of a drain on personal and environmental resources... The house is more of a drain on personal and environmental resources... So, which is practical....
Is the Camaro practical, regardless of the trim level... Well... Mine averaged over 26 mpg before it was modified, and now still averages over 23 mpg... Its safety rating is as high as the scale goes.... It is comfortable beyond most anything I've ever owned or driven... Wifes thoughts and comments, and she has lower back issues... Yes, arguably there are more practical daily drivers out there... but remember...
LIFE is not all about being practical... If we were a bunch of automatons... maybe... Most of our holidays are not practical... they interrupt work... Weekends are not practical, for the same reasons... Some would argue that they are a time for recovering from the stress of the work week... do they all need to be at the same time... why not stagger break periods so that there is no stoppage or interruption in work...Then if something is promised to be delivered in ten days, it's ten days, not 14 due to there being two weekends thrown in...
Before the flaming begins... These are random arguments and not necessarily my beliefs... they are just food for thought...
Freedom... We have the freedom to choose, and others have the freedom to criticize... turn it around in an intelligent duscussion and see where it goes... There is no reason for it to be heated though... you dont even have to really believe your points, just have them well thought out...