Cars

[sasguru]

Yeah, that's my main concern. I am quite a vigilant driver (I got the strictest examiner at the test centre on my test apparently, and only got 2 minors) but I agree it might be a bit much.

.

And what GCSEs did you do?

[oracleslave]

If he buys the right car, such as a 911, he won't need to sort the rest of that out...

Ahh so you also subscribe to the Porsche > Tree > Nothing but a fond memory theory.

[Charles Foster Kane]

Indeed.

Just because a car is capable of going very fast, doesn't mean you will necessarily drive it at it's top speed.

Why would a sports car going at 30MPH, be likely to hit a tree?

[gingerjedi]

Yeah, that's my main concern. I am quite a vigilant driver (I got the strictest examiner at the test centre on my test apparently, and only got 2 minors) but I agree it might be a bit much.

I think I'm decided on an Elise now (not a turbo), it's nice and small, lets you feel the road beneath you, and happens to not look like an upside down bath, which is nice.

The Elise is a great car but have you actually sat in one? When I was looking it was on my list but when I sat in one and realised how low down and vulnerable I would be I struck it off, my main reason was I have to go on the motorway every day and didn't fancy sitting lower than a lorries centre caps in a car made primarily of fibreglass, especially in winter with poor visibility.

[Charles Foster Kane]

The Elise is a great car but have you actually sat in one? When I was looking it was on my list but when I sat in one and realised how low down and vulnerable I would be I struck it off, my main reason was I have to go on the motorway every day and didn't fancy sitting lower than a lorries centre caps in a car made primarily of fibreglass, especially in winter with poor visibility.

I haven't driven one, no. But this was a concern, I kind of assume the experience would be like driving one of the older mini's, on steroids (not like a Sinclair C5 hopefully).

On the plus side, I guess going 30MPH feels very fast in an Elise as you are so low, so you don't really need to speed and are more aware of how fast you're going.

[Bear]

Just because a car is capable of going very fast, doesn't mean you will necessarily drive it at it's top speed.

Why would a sports car going at 30MPH, be likely to hit a tree?

If you go for the Elise - then it will be when you are going round a tight corner on a country road with nothing else around.

You'll be half way round the corner, realise that 35mph was too quick for the corner - your natural reaction will be to dab the breaks.

Your inexperience will tell.

You'll hit the tree backwards at 30mph.

[ookook]

I'd agree with GingerJedi - Civic Type R is more than enough power for someone new to driving, its cheapish and well built and practical. Plus its loads of fun, especially over the Snake pass.

[Charles Foster Kane]

The Elise is a great car but have you actually sat in one? When I was looking it was on my list but when I sat in one and realised how low down and vulnerable I would be I struck it off, my main reason was I have to go on the motorway every day and didn't fancy sitting lower than a lorries centre caps in a car made primarily of fibreglass, especially in winter with poor visibility.

Oh, I suppose on the lorry side of things, you could always get in in ultra bright yellow to make sure they see you.

I like the Top Gear review of it, they say something along the lines of, there are no safety features in the Elise as Lotus are banking on you being able to escape any scrapes in the Elise thanks to it's speed and acceleration.

[Bagpuss]

Just because a car is capable of going very fast, doesn't mean you will necessarily drive it at it's top speed.

Why would a sports car going at 30MPH, be likely to hit a tree?

You should be OK with an Elise if you drive it properly, progressively, not violently. It's only about 140bhp, but as power to weight it will feel more.
It's not a practical car in any way though, the boot will fit a small sports bag and that's it. As a first car I'd go for one a couple of years old, then you won't feel so bad when you bump and scrape it. Plus they make great track day cars.

Jedi is right, if you need to do lots of motorway driving then chose something else

I'll drop another car into the equation, call it the sensible Elise. Toyota MR2 roadster, the engine was used in the Elise, it feels like a go kart like the Elise, yet it has airbags etc. 0-30 is faster than a 2.7 Porsche Boxster

[Charles Foster Kane]

I'd agree with GingerJedi - Civic Type R is more than enough power for someone new to driving, its cheapish and well built and practical. Plus its loads of fun, especially over the Snake pass.

May as well get a girlfriend named Donna, a council flat in Hackney and a Kappa tracksuit while I'm at it.