I used to subscribe to the ‘you need the acceleration’ to get out of trouble defence. In truth I could count on the fingers of one hand the number of times in a lifetime of driving when really rapid acceleration has got me out of trouble. It’s just not swift enough, reaction time is much more important than acceleration as is judgement, if you get yourself into a situation like that, the chances are you aren’t reading the road correctly. Those were the occasions only rapid acceleration corrected my faults. On one of my speeding re education courses we had a go at hazard spotting. I saw the most (ok over the top) at over 50, some were multiples, the average for the group was quite high, but some got in single figures. Our own appreciation of our driving skills is like our perception as lovers, none of us is bad at it. The reason I get done for speeding is because I drive usually at what a safe speed is, not what the signs say. I also get honked at on a particular 40mph road because I drive at 30 or less on it, any more is dangerous.
If you ever get the chance to train with the police you will see they really are trained to read the road a long way ahead. There are few situations where really rapid acceleration gets you out of trouble. You should have not got in it in the first place, better to work on your road reading rather than buy a quicker car, what’s the difference in real terms between 0-60 in x or 0-60 in y, for that short span of time it could make a difference better driving would be more sensible. And for me, everyday, I see people who have not read the road get into trouble, that combined with slow reactions is far more of a problem than acceleration. How many people always slow right down at roundabouts every time because they can’t read the traffic and slot seamlessly in. If you are reading it right and you know what all the cars are doing you will see it before you get to the roundabout. Its no good always deciding what to do when you get there, cars don’t materialise out of thin air.
Even if you had the reactions of an Alonso and the cockpit of a ferrari around you, the road is full of people who don’t see any hazards, have the reactions of a slug and should not be in a car. Half the time your swift progress is going to cause them to brake violently and cause a pile up as they over react too slowly and too late.
I get the sexiness of certain models, I get the thrill of the open twisty road, when you can find it. But it really comes down to what you fancy, what you feel when you are in it and how you feel it handles. But none of that is within the remit of motability. I used to buy and sell cars. Image is a potent seller, but motability does not care how you feel, just whether you get from A to B.
Have a track day, buy something rapid and trudge out to anglesey. You won’t get it on motability, nor should you.