What does everyone here consider a fast car?

**Chrissmazdamx6** · 12-23-07, 3:29

This may be a pointless thread, or it may become a fairly decent little conversation. Either way, Im bored, so what the hell?

Just wondering what peoples idea of a fast car is. I know it varies, and its all a matter of opinion. Ive noticed that theres really no standard for the words "slow", "quick" or "fast" when referring to cars. Those terms are used so loosely, that I almost hate to voice my opinion about whether I consider a particular car to be slow or not. Wouldnt it be nice if we had a simple scale that everyone understood and used when explaining how fast a car is? Sure, that would never happen, and its unlikely, but I still want to know what everyones idea of a slow, quick, and fast car is. I like to base it on 1/4 mile times.

Heres my opinion:

I consider anything that runs 17 seconds or slower to be an extremely slow waste of time and money.
16 seconds in the 1/4 mile I consider to be slow.
15.9-15.0 I consider to be mildly quick
14.9-14.0 I consider to be moderately quick
13.9-13.0 I consider to be extremely quick/a little on the fast side
12.9-12.0 I consider to be very fast
11.9-10.0 I consider to be extremely fast
9.9 and under, I think is unsafe to drive on the street.

So, how about it, is everyone elses "scale" similar to this?

**91turbo666** · 12-23-07, 3:42

if it can pull your head back under highway overtaking acceleration thats about all i need out of a daily driven car.

what constitutes fast or slow is just weenor comparing

**KING6** · 12-23-07, 3:59

I can agree with that scale.

however somebody is going to rant about "top speed" fast

**Chrissmazdamx6** · 12-23-07, 4:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by KING6

I can agree with that scale.

however somebody is going to rant about "top speed" fast

From my experience, most people that think top speed makes a car fast don't know their ass from a hole in the ground. To me, top speed means nothing. I think its all about 1/4 mile times. As long as you dont make so much power that you run out of gear, or your speed governor doesnt kick in before you finish the 1/4 mile, I dont think top speed means [shizzle]. Just because my car will do 145 mph doesnt make it a fast car, and there is no where that I will ever need to go over 100, and even that is too fast for the street IMO. Thats exactly what id tell anyone that asked me what my cars top speed is.

**Turk** · 12-23-07, 6:28

Ive seen you mention this scale of yours before in a thread, im sure of it.

I would agree with your scale. Anything that can break 13's, is fast. Top speed though might not matter, but you have a car like an NA mx6, that even with a top speed of 230kms, after 160-170 it gets there very slow. v8s with a top speed that high or a bit higher (maybe mid 90's ones) will get there alot quicker, but run a similar quarter.

**mx6GT91** · 12-23-07, 13:54

I go by MPH traps. You can run low 1/4 mile times but have no MPH, the only thing you have is traction.
So, if you were to do a roll race you would suck at life.

104-108mph = Quick
108-112mph = Fun
112-116mph = Fast
116-up = Motha Chicken!

My dads truck traps 127mph. Best time is 11.1@127mph.
I consider my car in the quick range. It can also feel fun.

**Cross** · 12-24-07, 12:33

I don't disagree with it. Kinda looks like a goal list for some of my cars lol.

**Chrissmazdamx6** · 12-24-07, 13:15

I guess Im on the same page as a lot of people then. I just get tired of hearing people say that something is fast when its really slow as hell. Everyone has a different idea of fast though, so I guess its a matter of opinion.

**Graham_A_M** · 12-24-07, 13:34

An <11 second car on the 1/4 mile, but also something that can really cut it on the track as well.

**grangalan** · 12-24-07, 13:54

12.5 on the audi on 18psi , cold ass night.

Is that enough for me? nope. Cant wait for the K04h, injectors and hammer file ECU to come in.

**mx6GT91** · 12-24-07, 14:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrissmazdamx6

I guess Im on the same page as a lot of people then. I just get tired of hearing people say that something is fast when its really slow as hell. Everyone has a different idea of fast though, so I guess its a matter of opinion.

It could also depend on the car too. Cars that have low HP running in the 16's I consider quick, sometimes fast.

Ive seen Fits running 15.5-16's. Thats pretty damn fast for a 100-105whp car with mods. Thats on street tires too.
Mine ran a 16.7@81mph with an intake. I was pleased; its by no means fast. Its fast for the car considering they run 17-18's stock.

**mx6dave** · 12-24-07, 17:28

15s are decent if you are starting out with a used small motor type of vehicle...
14s dont suprise me but is where my goal is for daily comfort...so quick 15s IMO are expected...
13s are fast cars. When i think 13s, im thinking 3kgts, FDs, MGTs, skylines, Zs....
12s are FAST. Lets face it, a lot of super cars run 12s, and you can't argue that is fast. And 11s are just insane IMO. Although lots of people run 11s not many cars STOCK can do it.

I think fast to me depends on where you start. A car that stock runs 16 and gets a 14.5 is fast... whereas a car that should run 13.5 and runs 14.5 is slow (relatively speaking).

I think my car is quick. And i think my friends Z is fast. While my friends 500 whp civic is rediculous and sometimes useless (traction wise) lol

/ramble

**alwaysbannedMX6** · 12-24-07, 17:52

I would disagree with that scale, because quarter mile times are considerable variable and not necesarily represent the true speed of the car. True, they normally represent the quickness of the vehicle, but they dont necesarily show the real potential of it. Why? Because not necesarily a car that can do a very fast quarter mile is a safe/usefull/reliable. Look at one of our cars. Im sure we can have a mx6 n the 11's or 12's, but would you consider it fast? If so, would you race it against a Lotus/ferrari/Aston, cars that are normally consider fast, yet have times in the quarter mile that might be under these (not all ferrari's are 12 sec less cars...a ford GT is about 12.4). And would you drive it down the road, knowing that it probably has the life expectancy of a fruit fly?

I would visualize a fast car depending on the following : 0-60, overall acceleration (0-100, and how linear the acceleration is), and sustainable top speed. Because is not about being fast, is how long you can be fast for.

javelinpr · 12-24-07, 20:39

its not what top speed you get is how fast can yo get to top speed. i love fast revving cars, thats how fast should be measured. 0-60 times are somewhat acurate on that.

**mx6dave** · 12-25-07, 15:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by javelinpr

its not what top speed you get is how fast can yo get to top speed. i love fast revving cars, thats how fast should be measured. 0-60 times are somewhat acurate on that.

and a lot of the time 0-60 can be scued to driver's skill as well... You car SHOULD run a 6.0 0-60 for example, but if you can't launch (like myself) your 0-60 might be 6.5 or even 7!