[Shovelman]

Being an engineer really is different. The world looks different when all the works of man are seen as 'designed for a purpose'.

Toasters, software, furniture, cars...

Just to pause on transmissions; I prefer the stick shift because it lets me make a selection and experience the results. It's not faster or more efficient or easier, it just lets me be true to my nature.

Engine size, my 230 has more power than I would have given it. It works just fine and I don't think a change either up or down is worth considering at this point. It's not broken. But to a guy with a history of much slower cars, this is not ideal.

Not ideal for me but the best choice at the time. It was designed for a purpose and that is 'to sell profitably'. The market believes that more power is better. I get it and I am ok with it, I just see it differently.

[liebetrau88]

As an engineer myself.......what?

[chattanooga240]

Too fast?

That's a like a wife that is too pretty, it's not possible.

[BimBimM2]

Originally Posted by Shovelman

Being an engineer really is different. The world looks different when all the works of man are seen as 'designed for a purpose'.

Toasters, software, furniture, cars...

Just to pause on transmissions; I prefer the stick shift because it lets me make a selection and experience the results. It's not faster or more efficient or easier, it just lets me be true to my nature.

Engine size, my 230 has more power than I would have given it. It works just fine and I don't think a change either up or down is worth considering at this point. It's not broken. But to a guy with a history of much slower cars, this is not ideal.

Not ideal for me but the best choice at the time. It was designed for a purpose and that is 'to sell profitably'. The market believes that more power is better. I get it and I am ok with it, I just see it differently.

As an engineer myself, my initial response was "okay boomer" to this post.

You are not really as impartial to "works of man" as you may think you are. For instance, why is the choice made through a manual transmission any better or worse than made by an automatic in manual mode? Both offer choice. I don't see the point you are trying to make. Do you just adore toying around with a shifter? Is that it? Well that's cool... why don't you admit that? It has little to do with "works of man" but more to do with "works of man" which fit your fetishes.

Absolutely trying to be cheeky, but what are you trying to say? That your 230i is "too fast" for you, while a "change [neither] up or down is warranted"? That seems incongruent, but, buttttt... maybe I do have an answer for you: get a Miata!

To all these guys buying RWD 230i MTs and then making painful self masturbatory posts about them, please get a Miata? Put these 230i MTs out of their collective misery.

(Yeah yeah, some would say "oh but I needed the back seat!" OR "I am toooo big for a Miata"... but come on! Who are you fooling?)

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by Shovelman

Being an engineer really is different.

I completely understand your thoughts and feelings. I'm not an engineer, but worked closely enough with the variety encountered in a vehicle manufacturer that it rubbed off. I came to understand that most engineers don't see the proverbial glass as "half full" or "half empty". The glass was simply twice the capacity it needed to be. We all just need to find our own "right size glass".

Originally Posted by nvmaddog

That's a like a wife that is too pretty, it's not possible.

That should go over well at home...the endless expectation that's impossible to meet!

[4Hockey4]

As a non engineer, but also have a MT fetish , just dont push down right pedal as hard, or leave in Econo, or buy a Civic (Non R)

And whats a millennial that acts like a boomer ?

Get off my Lawn !!!

[Shovelman]

Sportstick you have driven the nail with one blow.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by Shovelman

Sportstick you have driven the nail with one blow.

Thank you but I'm not sure how I could possibly be correct as my solution did not include a Miata.

[BimBimM2]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

Thank you but I'm not sure how I could possibly be correct as my solution did not include a Miata.

.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by BimBimM2

.

Maybe,
Instead,
Accept
There are
Alternatives

[cristo]

If the 230i is too fast, just get an M240i instead.
I’ve found that that model is just fast enough.

[BimBimM2]

Originally Posted by cristo

If the 230i is too fast, just get an M240i instead.
I've found that that model is just fast enough.

Or as 4Hockey4 said it (and quite honestly said it way better than myself): just don't push the pedal too much man.

[Sportstick]

I see we have more engineers than the OP aboard this thread. One of the other qualities I noticed over the decades was that many struggled with the exercise of empathy. They were clear in their own convictions but not as able to understand others' points of view. Perhaps, this was a factor as to how and why they self-selected engineering versus, for example, being a psychologist or other social scientist. Of course, there are exceptions, but some posts in these threads again demonstrate a strong belief only in one's own feelings, ideas, preferences, but are remarkably unable to see beyond to "walk in the other person's shoes." These mindsets are often not susceptible to new input, so these discussions wind up being more for entertainment value, or even mockery, than any meaningful exchange of ideas, despite Shovelman's opening attempt to share his thoughts with us.

Carry on.

[B58togo]

Originally Posted by cristo

If the 230i is too fast, just get an M240i instead.
I’ve found that that model is just fast enough.

It’s all perspective though. When I swap my catless DP for the OEM cat and flash my car back to stock every year to pass inspection, my 240 feels like a dog.

[aerobod]

As an Aeronautical Engineer by training, I can say nothing is ever too fast, but I can see the point when it comes to Civil Engineering - if it moves it IS too fast.

[Moflow]

I get it.

Look, there are multiple competing desires inside my brain. They don't all play nice with one another and they don't necessarily make sense, but that's just how 'desire' as a concept works.

One of my desires is to truly drive on the limit while experiencing all the wonderful handling traits rear-wheel drive makes possible. In that sense, my car is way way too fast. When I reach the limits of adhesion, i'm definitely breaking the law and my margin of error is very low. I drove a 1st gen miata for 15 minutes and spent more time sliding around in that thing than I would in a month of M2c ownership. In that sense, the 2-series IS too fast.

However, another desire I have is to push down on the gas pedal and feel absolutely crushed by awesome turbo torques. I also have the desire to merge onto the freeway with enough power to always be able to make that gap. Speaking of gaps, I also have the desire to put a nice gap between me and anything that might be behind me on a twisty road.

So I get where the OP is coming from. I feel the same way, there's just another, bigger part of me that's like "naaah fuck it. I wanna go fast!"

[Throttlesteer14]

I struggle with the fact that my DD is awesome. But, the things I wish it did wouldn't make it such a great DD anymore.

I think our minds make things too complicated sometimes. Maybe the secret is to just jump into the driver's seat and go for a drive without giving a $hit.

[AleksanderSuave]

car is too fast?

Do you need your thyroid levels checked?

[BimBimM2]

Originally Posted by Throttlesteer14

I struggle with the fact that my DD is awesome. But, the things I wish it did wouldn't make it such a great DD anymore.

I think our minds make things too complicated sometimes. Maybe the secret is to just jump into the driver's seat and go for a drive without giving a $hit.

The grand irony is that we cannot even type the word "shit" without giving a shit, and type it as "$hit"

But you make an excellent point! In fact when it comes to cars especially, minimal shits should be accounted for if one is to maximize the fun.

But in OP's case maybe moderation of his right foot can go a long way in enjoying slow, deliberate drives. Or whatever.

Point is, what you talk about are things out of your control: trading one set of characteristic for another entails an opportunity cost. Shovelman just needs to slow down if he wants a slower ride. That's within his control.

[Throttlesteer14]

Well, it is a family site.

[cooolone2]

Do you profess that being an engineer somehow or another lends an air of validity, to a hightened level of intelligence, over say - a layman, with practical experience in assessing a vehicle design and tolerance for speed, power or drivability?

A ridiculous and amusing hypothesis! Thanks for the laugh!

[BimBimM2]

Originally Posted by cooolone2

Do you profess that being an engineer somehow or another lends an air of validity, to a hightened level of intelligence, over say - a layman, with practical experience in assessing a vehicle design and tolerance for speed, power or drivability?

A ridiculous and amusing hypothesis! Thanks for the laugh!

https://www.Reddit.com/r/iamverysmart