Humiliation
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 510
Likes: 19
From: Waterford CT
Humiliation
I spent the past week in Germany and Russia on business. Drove all over Germany in a rented Diesel volvo wagon. If that wasn't bad enough, while tooling down the Autobahn at 149kmPH, I was passed by a Smart car..No kidding.
I was Ok with the big Audi's and Mercedes flying by. Even the occasional VW. But a Smart car? I thought I was imagining things.
My co-driver owns a twin turbo Porsche, and I own a 427 - 68. It was too much to bear. . He had to call back to our office back in the US to announce what had transpired.
Oh, the indignity of it.
I was Ok with the big Audi's and Mercedes flying by. Even the occasional VW. But a Smart car? I thought I was imagining things.
My co-driver owns a twin turbo Porsche, and I own a 427 - 68. It was too much to bear. . He had to call back to our office back in the US to announce what had transpired.
Oh, the indignity of it.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 434
Likes: 0
From: Triangle Area NC
No kidding about the stiff breeze...
I had one up to 110 kph on the highway heading west out of Nice France towards Sophia, and even that was extremely puckery. Dunno which version it was...the "big" version (it kind of had a back seat/cargo area as I recall).
Miserable little box.
I had one up to 110 kph on the highway heading west out of Nice France towards Sophia, and even that was extremely puckery. Dunno which version it was...the "big" version (it kind of had a back seat/cargo area as I recall).
Miserable little box.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 576
Likes: 3
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,704
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
Pro
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 576
Likes: 3
It sounds like a motorcycle and not a very powerful one at that.
That's 8.33 lbs/HP, factory new my C3 was 20lbs/HP.
And for future reference a Hayabusa IS a motorcycle.
They bolted a 1.3L engine into what is essentially a shopping cart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ex-0...eature=related
Watch it spank a Ferrari here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5S1NAMnYKM&NR=1
Last edited by Imo Apita; May 14, 2011 at 11:19 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,972
Likes: 6
From: Chester Virginia
Try a Volkswagen GTI with 18" wheels and the new 2011 250 hp motor....I rode in one on the vir track as the pacing car and we hit 130 MPH on one of the straights! Little doesn't always mean slow anymore.......they often have engines that are forced air with cams and can turn out some rpms though that'd be asking a lot for a Smart Car I'd think. The GTI is sort of an amazing little mover.
Lance
Lance
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,022
Likes: 33
From: Lokeren, Belgium
Don't worry I tend to intimidate lil cars every day with my Ram, everyday over here. It's funny to see everyone switch lanes asap when I'm coming at speed lol. Hope it compensates a bit 
Nick
Nick
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 878
Likes: 55
From: Deep South Denmark
I spent the past week in Germany and Russia on business. Drove all over Germany in a rented Diesel volvo wagon. If that wasn't bad enough, while tooling down the Autobahn at 149kmPH, I was passed by a Smart car..No kidding.
I was Ok with the big Audi's and Mercedes flying by. Even the occasional VW. But a Smart car? I thought I was imagining things.
My co-driver owns a twin turbo Porsche, and I own a 427 - 68. It was too much to bear. . He had to call back to our office back in the US to announce what had transpired.
Oh, the indignity of it.
I was Ok with the big Audi's and Mercedes flying by. Even the occasional VW. But a Smart car? I thought I was imagining things.
My co-driver owns a twin turbo Porsche, and I own a 427 - 68. It was too much to bear. . He had to call back to our office back in the US to announce what had transpired.
Oh, the indignity of it.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Exactly- One of the first things I was taught when living in Germany was the difference between a parking lot and an Autobahn. 149 kph is considered parking lot speeds and in some areas is expected that you keep to the slow lane on the right- with the trucks.
No wonder he got passed.
No wonder he got passed.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
REALLY.....192 HP in a "car" that weighs 1600lbs?
That's 8.33 lbs/HP, factory new my C3 was 20lbs/HP.
And for future reference a Hayabusa IS a motorcycle.
They bolted a 1.3L engine into what is essentially a shopping cart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ex-0...eature=related
Watch it spank a Ferrari here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5S1NAMnYKM&NR=1
That's 8.33 lbs/HP, factory new my C3 was 20lbs/HP.
And for future reference a Hayabusa IS a motorcycle.
They bolted a 1.3L engine into what is essentially a shopping cart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ex-0...eature=related
Watch it spank a Ferrari here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5S1NAMnYKM&NR=1
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 510
Likes: 19
From: Waterford CT
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 510
Likes: 19
From: Waterford CT
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
If you thought the car was too unsafe to drive faster than 149kph (~90 mph) then it was probably not safe to be on the road at all and should have been returned.
