QOTD: What's The Best Fast Car To Drive Slow?
Reader Claude Dickson asks
I was watching Road Testament on YouTube and they were purported talking about the best fast cars to drive slow. Most of their suggestions were ridiculous, but the question they asked is becoming increasingly relevant if the question is refined to what are the best high performance cars to drive at sane speeds on public roads. The point increasingly made by many of your reviews is that fast track times or better performance stats do not dictate a better road car. A good example is your review of the new 911-superior in just about any performance metric you might select,- just not that much fun. So B & B, which performance cars put a smile on your face while driving around town and which just don’t???
This is a question I face whenever I have a high performance car for the week. Most of the time I’m stuck in gridlock hell with Baghdad-quality roads that makes Los Angeles look like a quaint one-stoplight town in terms of congestion. But there are some standouts that can do serious damage – should I ever get the chance to unwind them.
The Jaguar XKR is a real sweetheart. No clutch and shifter to fiddle with, a very complaint ride, a plush cabin and 510-horsepower on tap. The Porsche Panamera GTS is another candidate; aside from the comfortable cabin, the low hood lets you see the entire front of the car, making it easier to judge distance when darting in and out of traffic. The all-wheel drive and V8 thrust doesn’t hurt either. I hear the McLaren MP4-12C is extremely comfortable over awful pavement and the dual-clutch gearbox is a boon in stop-and-go traffic. If anyone is willing to let me verify that, feel free to email me.
All other suggestions are welcome in the comments below.
More by Derek Kreindler
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Dodge Challenger.. #1. The V8 sounds awesome. #2. People smile and wave at it - probbaly because its so quintessentially american. #3. It's quiet when you want quiet (cruising on the highway) but you hear the engine when you hammer the throttle. #4. German like handling balance on the newer ones - that is - asborbs plenty of bumps but still feels tight. Of course the downside is like the Camaro its not a car that makes you feel comfortable weaving through traffic with the poor C pillar visibility.
I would go old. Any hot rod or classic muscle car is almost as fun to cruise slowly as they are to rip a 1/4 mile. So much of old cars is about the problems, the squeaks, the rattles, the engine sound, the idle, and the reactions. They aren't always easy to drive slowly, or in traffic, but it's such an occasion just to be in one, it puts a smile on my face, even if I'm not going anywhere. On the flip side, a Rolls Royce Phantom was quite nice. It sealed out the world quite nicely.
I have a Ferrari at home and it doesn't look good if I drive too slow. They are made in this world to run at godlike speed so what's the point to drive them slow?
I have a Ferrari at home and it doesn't look good if I drive too slow. They are made in this world to run at godlike speed so what's the point to drive them slow? bobcat colombia