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James May from Top Gear famously once said, it's more fun to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow. There’s a certain thrill in pushing a humble hatchback or sedan to its limits, that driving a Lambo at half-speed doesn’t necessarily offer.
Don’t believe us yet? Here’s why the fastest cars aren’t always the most fun.
Short of driving on a racetrack, our driving speeds are limited in Australia. We don’t all have the German Autobahn to race along. So in some ways, you can enjoy a better experience using the full range of a slower car rather than a portion of a fast one. Here’s another way to consider it: would you rather ride a horse having the time of its life at full gallop, or a racehorse limited to 20% of its full speed? Embrace the slow car way of life and you can unleash your ride without even breaking the speed limit (or your bank account).
Both fast and slow cars require a level of skill to master momentum. In the fastest cars, of course, it’s all about controlling that almost-immediate momentum so you don’t skid off the road. But driving a slower car fast arguably involves more driving skill so you can gain and maintain momentum. For example, you need the foresight to get up that steep hill without petering out – aka The Little Engine That Could. You might need to plan ahead a little to overtake a vehicle. And you get to master ‘momentum driving’ style, which makes the most of your car’s grip on the road around corners.
Here’s how it works: where high-powered cars generally navigate corners in a ‘slow in, fast out’ technique, slower cars can navigate them in more of a ‘medium in, medium out’ style that can feel really smooth and satisfying when you have the technique mastered. That’s why a slow car can help you develop true driving skills, rather than relying on raw power. And if you’re driving manual, even better – rally drivers would be proud of those strategic gear changes.
Plenty of people would argue that the underpowered car is more fun on the road simply because you don’t need to be so precious about it. You might drive a high-powered car with great care, worrying about the cost of repairs or replacement, whereas the humble hatchback or economy sedan comes with far lower stakes. For many of us, our first bomb of a car was our favourite to drive because it could be thrashed without a care in the world. Dirt roads? No drama. Wanted to make some mods to personalise the ride? Absolutely.
Slow car drivers don’t have anything to prove, and they’re not overcompensating for anything – they’re just getting from A to B in an economical manner, and that’s pretty awesome. Just as with drivers of the humble people mover, the coolest people just don’t give a stuff what others think of them.
It’s fair to say we love the underdog in Australia. Remember the elation we felt when Steven Bradbury skated to gold at the 2002 Winter Olympics – simply by staying upright? Much like slow-but-steady athletes, there’s something about the underpowered car that we just love to love. To prove this point, there’s still plenty of nostalgia for the Holden Camira, Ford Laser and Mitsubishi Magna – even if it is for how lacklustre they were!
These types of cars make up for their low-end lack of grunt with plenty of personality. After all, who needs to be the first to take off from the lights when you have a big grin on your face?
We’ve made the case about how fun driving can be even without high horsepower. So which side do you land on? Do you love experiencing the full range of a slower car, or do you still dream of a souped-up ride? Wherever you land in the debate, you can find your ultimate set of wheels with Carma. Carma’s team of in-house experts select and inspect a wide range of pre-loved cars using a detailed checklist, so you can explore a full range of second-hand cars online that are ready to roll complete with a 3-month warranty. Find out more about how it all works, and start your search for that fast (or not-so-fast) car today.