Learning to Drive

[northernladuk]

There's a bit of a difference between going fast in the 1970s/80s and what it means 50 years later.
A 1978 Chevette was 0-60 of 15.6 seconds with a top speed of 90mph.
A 2020 Astra 1.4 was 7.8 seconds and an extra 20+ mph.

Absolutely but many more differences on a plus side as well though, handling, breaking and even the acceleration can be a plus as you can get around something and not wait ages to accelerate so all mean you can go faster but more safely. Not quite a good thing but it's not as bad as it sounds in a simple comparison like that.

I also drove like a loon as a kid but I did it in a 2L Cortina Crusader but what I thought was a fast white knuckle drive back then is probably a standard shopping trip for most people now.

It reminds me of a post I put on here awhile ago about middle age men jumping in Teslas with insane acceleration. I couldn't understand why half of them weren't wrapped around a tree six months later. Brother in law got one that was faster than my stage 4.25 tuned GTR running 700bhp. I had to evidence to my insurance I've driven cars over 500 BHP before they'd insure me and I had top end tyres on it an all sorts. He gets a Tesla that does 0-60 in 2 seconds less, pays way less insurance on a pair of bog standard thin tyres. He is either foot to the floor or hard on the break. Absolute nightmare to passenger with. Was pointed out to me it also stops in half the time, grips like nothing else and has many other safety features. So he, like many young uns now will drive to the limits of the car like we did in cars of old which I guess goes a long way to explain why accident rate is still only around 20% 30 years later.

[sadkingbilly]

Absolutely but many more differences on a plus side as well though, handling, breaking and even the acceleration can be a plus as you can get around something and not wait ages to accelerate so all mean you can go faster but more safely. Not quite a good thing but it's not as bad as it sounds in a simple comparison like that.

I also drove like a loon as a kid but I did it in a 2L Cortina Crusader but what I thought was a fast white knuckle drive back then is probably a standard shopping trip for most people now.

It reminds me of a post I put on here awhile ago about middle age men jumping in Teslas with insane acceleration. I couldn't understand why half of them weren't wrapped around a tree six months later. Brother in law got one that was faster than my stage 4.25 tuned GTR running 700bhp. I had to evidence to my insurance I've driven cars over 500 BHP before they'd insure me and I had top end tyres on it an all sorts. He gets a Tesla that does 0-60 in 2 seconds less, pays way less insurance on a pair of bog standard thin tyres. He is either foot to the floor or hard on the break. Absolute nightmare to passenger with. Was pointed out to me it also stops in half the time, grips like nothing else and has many other safety features. So he, like many young uns now will drive to the limits of the car like we did in cars of old which I guess goes a long way to explain why accident rate is still only around 20% 30 years later.

Brake (with 'a')

• Verb: To apply the mechanism (e.g., "She had to brake suddenly").

• Memory Trick: Think of the 'a' in "car" or "stay" for stopping.

• Noun:
  A mechanism to stop motion (e.g., "The car's brakes failed")
  .

Break (with 'e')

• Noun: A pause, rest, or fracture (e.g., "a coffee break," "a broken arm").
• Verb: To separate into pieces, damage, or interrupt (e.g., "Don't break the vase," "Let's break for lunch").

[northernladuk]

Brake (with 'a')

• Verb: To apply the mechanism (e.g., "She had to brake suddenly").

• Memory Trick: Think of the 'a' in "car" or "stay" for stopping.

• Noun:
  A mechanism to stop motion (e.g., "The car's brakes failed")
  .

Break (with 'e')

• Noun: A pause, rest, or fracture (e.g., "a coffee break," "a broken arm").
• Verb: To separate into pieces, damage, or interrupt (e.g., "Don't break the vase," "Let's break for lunch").

I think I got it... let me try again.

Shut it or I'll brake your tuliping legs.

[malvolio]

I think I got it... let me try again.

Shut it or I'll brake your tuliping legs.

No no no. Break is what happens if you don't brake. Simples...

[northernladuk]

No no no. Break is what happens if you don't brake. Simples...

My head hurts

[Protagoras]

Give us a break. Please!

[ladymuck]

Give us a break. Please!

Have a Kit Kat

[Protagoras]

Have a Kit Kat

That's so scary. Are you psychic? I've just finished one!

[sadkingbilly]

I think I got it... let me try again.

Shut it or I'll brake your tuliping legs.

aye, right.