Do you use your car to its potiential?

barura

A funny concept occured to me the other day. I use my car as a car 90% of the time. The other 10% I use it to move large objects with the seats down. This is something most people would consider an estate for, but I can get it done. Even if I can only carry one passanger during that time.

So an interesting thought occured to me, how much of the potiential of your car do you use? I mean, I transport people around and stuff in mine, and I would feel I get a lot of use out of it... But I'd say 50% of the time I'd be on my own in it and pretty much for leisure or convience.

I hope what I'm asking makes sense!

Alanstrainor

My car has no potential, it'll die alone and unloved...

barura

Alanstrainor wrote: »

My car has no potential, it'll die alone and unloved...

Oh? Wanna give it to me then? :P

af_thefragile

Potential as in pushing hard then I push my car to about 70-80% of what it can do pretty regularly. Wouldn't wanna push any harder in case the engine goes pop!

If you mean by making use of it as a vehicle of transport then 99.9% of the time its only me alone in my car... My next car is definitely going to be a 2 seater!

CiniO

I generally carry between 1 and 3 people in the car.
Very occasionally I have to fold down the seats to transport something bigger.
I use my roof-racks for caring bicycles quite often though.

When I saw a thread title, I though it's going to be a question about using engine power, as some people has over 150 BHP cars, but never drive above 3000rpm

barura

af_thefragile wrote: »

Potential as in pushing hard then I push my car to about 70-80% of what it can do pretty regularly. Wouldn't wanna push any harder in case the engine goes pop!

If you mean by making use of it as a vehicle of transport then 99.9% of the time its only me alone in my car... My next car is definitely going to be a 2 seater!

Both aspects really!

That's interesting that you're on your own in your car that much.

Voodoomelon

How do you define "potential"? As in, how often all are all the seats filled? Or how often is the boot packed up? Bit of a funny question!

mik_da_man

My Car has the potential to go 155 mph


So the answer is yes












Of course this was not on a speed limited public road...

barura

Voodoomelon wrote: »

How do you define "potential"? As in, how often all are all the seats filled? Or how often is the boot packed up? Bit of a funny question!

Like how much you use a car to its capacity. You could have a Ford fiesta and a Ford Mondeo estate do the same job, shift people around or when needs be, transport a lot of stuff, but if you're only doing one or the other at a time, what's the point of having a bigger car?

Having said that, the amount of time you actually use your cars engine power, handling, etc is the other aspect of my question.

Mr Benevolent

Voodoomelon wrote: »

How do you define "potential"? As in, how often all are all the seats filled? Or how often is the boot packed up? Bit of a funny question!

I think he meant acceleration, cornering etc. I regularly flog my car to the limiter, do wheelspins, try to get the tyres to loose grip etc and generally try to find the limits. Not a peep of protest from the car either.

EPM

95% of the time I'm on my own, don't drive it hard and carry a few very light but bulky items in the boot. I can't remember the last time anyone's sat in the back seat.

If you class use as potential then that's it. However I plan on using potential in other ways - remap, new suspension etc.

barura

EPM wrote: »

95% of the time I'm on my own, don't drive it hard and carry a few very light but bulky items in the boot. I can't remember the last time anyone's sat in the back seat.

If you class use as potential then that's it. However I plan on using potential in other ways - remap, new suspension etc.

Perhaps then people should answer by what they think potiential means.

In your case, you're getting a lot out of what you can make the car do as regards performance, I'm getting a lot out of my car by what I can move in it. Perhaps it's too broad a question in fairness as the answers from everyone can be pretty different.

Jimmy Bottlehead

I found with the Polo it was too big (yes, yes I know) for me, as I drive alone about 60% of the time, and the other 40% it's just the girlfriend with me. I never pushed it too hard, but then again what is there to push in a Polo?

With the S2000 I've not had to use the boot space much. Driving wise, the only pushing I really do is moderate so far - might put the foot down, but in a straight line.

Voodoomelon

barura wrote: »

Like how much you use a car to its capacity. You could have a Ford fiesta and a Ford Mondeo estate do the same job, shift people around or when needs be, transport a lot of stuff, but if you're only doing one or the other at a time, what's the point of having a bigger car?

Having said that, the amount of time you actually use your cars engine power, handling, etc is the other aspect of my question.

In that case, I should switch to a Cinquecento as 5 days a week its usually just me in the E38. Whats the point in having a bigger car, well it means I dont have to drive a Cinquecento!
A the weekends I usually ferry friends about as there's loads of space and I like the driving.

99% of the time I drive absolutely completely normally, let rip down onto motorway on-ramps and the likes, nothing crazy. For such a big car its very agile on twisty roads.

It also has the potential to stow 3 dead hookers, must try this out some time.

CiniO

barura wrote: »

Having said that, the amount of time you actually use your cars engine power, handling, etc is the other aspect of my question.

Whenever I drive my Fiat bravo 1.2 I usually push the engine to the limit.
Meaning reving it up to 6500rpm almost on every gear

Two years back I remember traveling through Germany with a Mondeo 1.8 petrol, and for about 400km almost all the time I kept in in 5th (last) gear with the foot down. Car was doing over 200km/h. So I can definitely say it was using the car to it's potential.
But obviously no one is using the car up to it's potential every day,.

Anan1

I use all the potential of my car, in the sense that all of its interior space, its AWD, its ground clearance, its performance and its handling is essential to me.

challengemaster

Jimmy Bottlehead wrote: »

With the S2000 I've not had to use the boot space much. Driving wise, the only pushing I really do is moderate so far - might put the foot down, but in a straight line.

Probably a good idea with the whole RWD vtec and all

Sooner late or later when that torque kicks in you don't want to be facing sideways...
:pac:

flyingsnail

I drive a 1.8 Mondeo saloon.

80% of my mileage (usually between Limerick and Dublin) the boot is full and I am the only person in the car.
15% The boot is empty and I am the only person in the car (mostly local trips)
4% The boot is empty and there is somebody else in the car
1% for all the other situations.

I used to to all of these things in a smaller car (1L Opel Corsa). The difference is in the comfort levels, and the ability to overtake when the boot is full.

Voodoomelon

Anan1 wrote: »

I use all the potential of my car, in the sense that all of its interior space, its AWD, its ground clearance, its performance and its handling is essential to me.

What do you drive again Anan?

Nope, I like the sound off the engine so I use the right foot a bit (no need for the left one as 'tis auto). Any car at all would do me fine really at the moment.

Mr Benevolent

Voodoomelon wrote: »

What do you drive again Anan?

Forester 2.5 turbo AWD I think.

Voodoomelon

Yeh had either a Forester or A4 Avant in me head.

Zubeneschamali

I commute on my own in a 7 seater.

But at weekends, there are 5 of us plus a dog cage in there.

Our other car is a Mini, and usually has an adult plus 2 or 3 kids in it.

Reloc8

I drive a 320d.

I keep to the speed limit, road condition and visibility permitting.

I change down at 2000 rpm or below 99% of the time.

vroom !

ArphaRima

I drive an Aston Martin V8 Vantage.

If I used it even close to its potential I would have no licence.

As for storage, Most of the time its just me, occasionally +1, but I think the sweet spot is a 3 seater. Next car should be a McLaren F1.

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

Avensis 2.0L D4D

5 seats and a massive boot, most of which goes largely unused.

Just me in the car on the way to work.

The odd time I drive from Donegal to Athlone or Galway and its usually just me and a bag of clothes. I really never use the space I have, but I bought the car because

a) I'm quite tall and there's loads of legroom

b) She gets good MPGs

c) decent bit of poke for coming out of roundabouts etc when there's some tosser stuck up your hole

Motorway driving isn't really an issue as between here and Athlone (160miles) there are about 7 miles of Dual Carriageway and the rest is potholes :mad:

cornbb

My last 3 cars have been estates, I don't think I'll be going back to driving not-an-estate anytime soon. I get a slagging for driving "daddy cars" but its great to be able to have a comfortable, nippy car with plenty of extras that will convert to a substantial load-carrier in the blink of an eye. And I do use that capacity regularly, I'd have the seats down maybe twice a week for transporting sports equipment. I use a roof rack regularly too. So yeah, I'd say I use it to its potential.

deccurley

deccurley wrote: »

..........................

decent bit of poke for coming out of roundabouts etc when there's some tosser stuck up your hole..............................

very strange reason to buy a car really :pac:

giant_midget

I drive a mondeo tdci 115bhp so ZERO potential to even use..:pac:

dar83

I only get to use about three quarters of 2nd and half of 3rd potential, then I'll be at the speed limit, of the M50.

As for utilising the space? Eh, well it's mainly only me in the car at any time, with potential for one passenger every now and again and my boot has an umbrella in it, nothing else. Why I decided to go for a 3 door this time around really.

ThisRegard

An estate with roof rails, often two bikes or a roof box on top during the summer. Every weekend 2 adults in the front, baby in rear with a pile of toys and then pram, bags and two dogs in the boot. I've become a real family man, I just need the country estate now.

no1beemerfan

My laguna gets used alright. I have roof racks, tow bar and a big boot so I've had canoes/bicycles on the roof rack, trailers of all sizes and the boot full of camping gear/tools depending on what I'm doing.

Is that what you mean op? Other than that the car is empty except for the essentials in the boot and me just driving to and from work etc.

Fiona

I like to think I use my car to potential

Normally I am on my own in the car, if I ever have company it is normally just himself, no kids or pets allowed the car

Lots of room in it as well have moved a good bit of stuff before for mates although forget about speed bumps with anything in the boot, you get that scrap of death when the exhaust hits off it so it scores a zero in practicality in that respect.

keithclancy

I drive to work every day on German unrestricted Autobahn, I stick the cruise control at 130km/h, anything over that and I have to fill the car during the week.

So if using a Diesel for its maximum fuel saving potential, then yes I do that every day

MugMugs

Liftback Avensis.

Mainly me Monday to Thursday in it. Friday, Saturday, Sunday the Racks are on the roof, boot is full and bikes on the back. Thats pretty much every weekend.

_Kaiser_

06 Passat 2.0TDI DSG

In my last job it was often pretty full as I used to carry IT equipment between locations a lot, but these days it's 90% just me in the car.

As RoverJames said though, I do like the ability to use the right foot effectively too and the DSG box is great for moving up rapidly

mickrock

I live in my car.

I don't drive it much, though. I prefer walking.