Little old ladies on oxygen understand and appreciate sports car performance better than you’re letting on.
Well, and also, the whole “it’s more fun to drive a slow car fast!” thing I think kind of underscores the answer the OP is really seeking. The “fun” in question there is that with an underpowered car you have to really push it to its absolute limits just fighting normal day to day traffic, which is exhilarating in a certain way but can be pretty disconcerting to someone just trying to get from Point A to Point B. Some econobox that can eventually get up to 70 is indeed technically adequate for all legal driving situations, but that doesn’t mean a faster car can’t do it way more comfortably.
I used to think like the OP, and drove a succession of mostly Fords and Toyotas. Then for a few years I drove a 62 Corvair 4-speed. What a hoot to drive, with a whopping 102 horses!
One of my buddies has a vanilla Vette, which is an absolute rocket. Not my personal taste, as I don’t favor “wearing” the car. But I’m seriously considering a Golf - maybe the GTI - for my next car. Driving CAN be fun, even in traffic. And your car CAN be more than just an appliance like your washer/drier.
Yes, although I think Tamerlane has a valid point: I bought a G37 a few years ago, and while I love it, my wife can’t drive a stick, thinks the seats are uncomfortable for long drives, and doesn’t like performance driving at all. I save the play-driving for when she’s not in the car with me.
For acceleration freaks, motorcycles present the best bank for the buck. For less than $10,000, you can have acceleration that will compete with million-dollar supercars. And if you’re seriously passionate about enjoying the driving experience, then you go to where the twisty roads are. There are plenty of places in the US that fit the bill, e.g. the Smoky Mountains, the Rockies, southern Utah, on and on. If you still find yourself pining for high speed and less traffic, you can attend a racing school, or just get together with your friends and rent a racetrack for a day: no cops, no cross-traffic, and an ambulance on site in case things don’t go well. Just check your insurance first: your basic coverage may not cover you on a track (even if you’re not racing).
I few years ago I took a Prius to the top of Mount Evans (14,000+ ft). The engine is rated for 100 horsepower at sea level, which means about 60 horsepower near the summit. “Hybrid” doesn’t mean dick when you’re climbing a miles-long grade; it’s all on the engine. Suffice it to say that we didn’t pass anybody on the way up. 
Thanks for all the replies. I am from NJ so I am Mr. Stuck in Traffic All Day. You can understand why I shake my head at car commercials that advertise freedom, power, handling, and style. I’ll gladly take your word for it that it’s a transformative experience. I’d like to see what the fuss is about, but, having been paralyzed by a drunk driver, I see more advantage in focusing on driving safely than having “fun” on the road. After all, you are driving a machine that could easily take the life of another, very quickly.
I have not been behind the wheel of a performance vehicle, yet I am a fan of roller coasters. I think the best part of driving is that when you’ve been driving the same car for a while like I have, the car begins to become an extension of you, you know? Like you are the vehicle and its thoughts and actions are yours. I know it sounds weird, but it’s almost like I’m not operating a machine, it’s like I’m Voltron or something. Is that just me being crazy, or does anyone else feel like they are preternaturally attuned to their car?
MY 1987 Toyota MR2. It’s almost an “if you have to ask, you wouldn’t understand” thing. I bought it when it was dead. I rebuilt the suspension. I swapped the engine. I woke it up turned it into a thrill ride for me and one passenger. It weighs just over 2000 pounds which gives almost no resistance to the 165 horses. You get in, the tiny minimalist interior hugs you. You start it up, the engine growls mere inches from the back of your head and you feel the rumble in your guts. You don’t look at the tachometer, or listen to the engine pitch for your cue to shift–you learn the vibration, feel it in the base of your neck and just know where you are on the power curve, and what to do next with the stick. There is no power steering–you can read the Braille of the road through the steering wheel. You say go, it can go a little faster than you’re comfortable with. You say stop, it’s stopped. Within 5 minutes, you are not in a sports car, you ARE a sports car. The steering, the handling, the responsiveness interface so naturally with your body, you simply cease to be a mere bag of meat–you are human perception melded with this machine. Maybe you’re just commuting to work through town, maybe you’re spanking it on a road track or navigating a mountain road under the influence of varying degrees of responsibility. But in any event, you are more than just you.
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I have a car, and I take no special pride in it. If it gets me from point A to point B I am happy.
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I wonder if you’re this pragmatic when it comes to your musical instrument of choice?
[QUOTE=pianodave]
…But this other stuff that shows off the strength and speed of the car…the power. The maneuverability. In today’s world, at least where I live, you’re going to be stuck in traffic much more often than you’re going to be tearing up the Autobahn. I just can’t imagine someone buying a car for these “superficial” reasons. I’d like to hear from people who actually pay attention to these kinds of advertisements and understand why these items matter to you…
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My weekend car was described by one of the major car mags thusly, “…It’s like the hand of god comes down from the heavens, slaps you on the ass, sending you on your way…”
I read it and had to have it. They weren’t wrong.
Car nut here . . .
Yes, speed, power, and maneuverability really matter to me. Not that I’m zooming down I-95 at 142mph or anything – but I like knowing that I could. Actually, NOAA just posted a tornado warning for the area, so I might just get to see if I can out-drive a twister :eek:
*The Interwebs say that a maximum speed for tornado movement is 70mph. This is not to suggest I would play chicken with one.
It makes a very big difference to me, the acceleration I feel when I put my right foot down in a powerful car makes me quite happy. More power also means better climbing of hills and mountains and more easily merging into traffic. I love a well handling car too, love curvy hilly rural roads.
I most certainly have experienced it, repeatedly. And enjoyed it every time.
However, I am not prone to an addictive personality so I can take it or leave it. It’s not worth prioritizing. I don’t need the rush. I have more important things to do, and buy, and take care of.
Ah, I knew the Straight Dope Paean to Ascetic Practicality would turn up eventually.