How do you M owners show restraint?

[MetMan]

I've been toying with the idea of possible upgrading to a 3.0si or even a Z4M as I like the idea of having a bit more power. Well there is a Z4M Roadster that recently became available at a local dealership so I went last night for a test drive. All I can say is WOW!

After I let the car warm up and with the sales person by my side, I hit the on ramp to merge onto the expressway. All I can say is my 3.0i doesn't sound like that when I hit the gas! Once we merged onto the expressway I planted my foot a bit more and the car just took off! Let me just say that the acceleration definitely puts a huge smile on your face. I was also pleasantly surprised at how firm but non-punishing the ride was ( This car had Michlin PS2 tires).

After leaving the dealership I realized that as nice as that car is, you have to show some serious restraint as it's easy as sin to hit 100mph and get into serious trouble with law enforcement! So again I ask, especially those that don't track the car, how do you show restraint?

[Nhopkins1394]

Haven't gotten any tickets yet but I've really tried hard!
I'm having an Escort 9500ci installed this evening.

Glad you test drove the ///M because I wouldn't advise "upgrading" from a 3.0i up to a 3.0si. IMHO, just not enough to justify a move like that.

I never test drove an ///M because the wife ruled out a manual.

'nuff said.

My little 3.0si can get some!

[vachss]

Same point for me. When looking to buy I test drove the M. Liked it a lot, but just knew I'd lose my license within a few months. The 3.0si I got was just enough to keep me out of jail.

[lucid]

Take it (or another car) to the track and get the speed thing out of your system in a controlled environment without putting others at risk. Having said that, there is always the highway ramp where you can test/experience the car's power/acceleration without breaking any laws or speed limits.

[pokeybritches]

Originally Posted by MetMan

how do you show restraint?

The car is barely warmed up by the time I finish my morning/evening commute. Where I work, every car has to have stickers on their windshield to get through security, and everyone lives in the same area (so everyone knows where I work and my car is easily identifiable). If I was to drive like a bat out of hell, I can be assured I will hear about it from someone higher up. That's the problem with having such a unique car - you can't blame your antics on anyone else... although it was nice when I had two that were almost the same color, and I imagined pulling into the garage and closing it, and displaying the one with the cold engine (so it couldn't have been me!).

So how do I show restraint? Other than upholding my rule of always driving the speed limit or less in residential areas (kids do some VERY dumb stuff), I don't want to: damage the car by running it hard before it's warm, get fired, get a ticket, and I have a good self-preservation instinct. That's about it.

[BlackMoupe]

Always drive with the gas light on, that way hooning rewards you with being stranded.

[esqu1re]

Yeah, I try to keep it cool on the streets. You never know who is watching and like people above say, it's such a noticeable/identifiable car that if someone sees it parked somewhere and you wronged him/her somehow w/ some asinine driving in the past...well...you know.

[a_riddler]

http://www.radarbusters.com/motorcyc...jn&subid=18058

Because their definition of speeding isn't mine...

[Huz-Z]

I hit 100 mph here one day in my 3.0si. It was funny in retrospect because as I'm in Canada, I'm used to think that the number 100 (in kph) is the speed limit. But my "imported from the US" Z4 3.0si displays miles per hour in bigger numbers. So, I was actually happily cruising along at a good 40 miles per hour over the posted limit.

And I had no idea, until I slowly realized.......

So. the 3.0si has plenty of guts.

And its a darn good thing that I did not buy an M! Because a few times since that first time, I've said "WTF" and stomped on it! (but always with no traffic, on an empty road and never in town)

[mousitch]

I don't show restraint or at least i didn't. That's why the vert is dead and I have coupe now. RIP my sepang baby wherever you are. I'm sure her s54 will be given a second life. "tear"

[Samjam927]

20 year old + Z4M = massive amounts of restraint....its impossible not to push the limits, for me though, its all about knowing when to do so and when to hold back, just gotta find that balance

[M_Six]

I pretty much behave myself on the highway. Never more than 10 over. Luckily the back roads here have miles of sight lines and almost no other traffic, so I can get up and go when the urge hits.

[Swashplate]

With power, comes responsibility.

[mousitch]

Originally Posted by Samjam927

20 year old + Z4M = massive amounts of restraint....its impossible not to push the limits, for me though, its all about knowing when to do so and when to hold back, just gotta find that balance

WHS ^+1

[FerRrari]

Cruise control. Also try to be in 6th most of the time (downshifting to 4th for a pass is nice!).

Going to the track is also my fix but haven't done it with the Roadster yet (just got it and track season is over).

[jmillet]

140 MPH on the front straight at Pacific Raceways takes care of my need for speed. Helps to have good brakes too

[STIHLBOLTS]

Having restraint in a car that can do it is easier than a car that can't. I get a kick out of having some kid in a tuner pull up and make his go fast muffler sound and take off. All the while knowing he just would not stand a chance.

I do like on ramps.

[Dammmittt]

A-U-T-O-B-A-H-N

[Serious]

ehhh... I just leave DSC on, and to be honest after a month or two it just becomes another car to me. Same one I go to get groceries in, same one I drive to work in... so I guess for the most part I just drive normal on the road.

[The HACK]

You don't need restraint when you work out all that aggression at 120+mph over and over and over again at the track. Compared to driving on the track, where you don't have any morons around you besides yourself that decides all of a sudden that they want to be in your "lane", whatever you can do on the street will seem MUNDANE by comparison and not worth doing.

I've only been ticketed once since I started doing this on a regular basis, and that was a totally bogus ticket for a 40 in a 35.

[MetMan]

Originally Posted by The HACK

You don't need restraint when you work out all that aggression at 120+mph over and over and over again at the track. Compared to driving on the track, where you don't have any morons around you besides yourself that decides all of a sudden that they want to be in your "lane", whatever you can do on the street will seem MUNDANE by comparison and not worth doing.

I've only been ticketed once since I started doing this on a regular basis, and that was a totally bogus ticket for a 40 in a 35.

Yeah, I was definitely excluding the folks who track the car. Maybe the sensation wears off after awhile but the sound of the engine as well as the thrust during acceleration as well as the feel of the brakes was very intoxicating to me! And BTW, I don't consider my 3.0i slow by any stretch but I now understand that the M is a different animal entirely.

[03BeastCharmer]

Not sure the enjoyment wears off if you go to the track, but it gives you a new perspective on how long it takes to brake from 120 and between not wanting to go to jail or be part of a mega accident on the freeway, I don't really speed on the streets. Now cloverleafs are a different story

If you want to talk about restraint, hop on a sportbike. :O That was truly hard to keep at legal speeds. M Coupe and M5 are easy.