Just a shower thought; I’m curious what others think.

I’ve been driving for about 15 years. During the first few years, I drove vehicles of a variety of sizes and model years ranging from 1999 to 2005. Nothing luxury. Simply put, most of those vehicles required conscious effort to drive aggressively. Fast turns felt a bit soft and wobbly in all but one (a Mazda Protege), reaching highway speeds took a while, and cruising above 120 km/h (75 MPH) was quite noisy. Driving aggressively required conscious effort and tolerance of unpleasant handling and noise levels.

As I purchased and rented newer vehicles over time (I currently have a 2016 and a 2020), I’ve noticed how much less unpleasant it has become to drive aggressively in regular cars. Many are quite planted and precise in fast cornering. Cruising at 140 (87 MPH) is not much less serene than 110 (70). Many family vehicles now have the power to hit 60 MPH in 6 or 7 seconds, and those that don’t tend to manage engine noise and vibration so well that the sound of flogging the motor is not as gritty or cringe-inducing as it once was.

Along with this perceived change, average speeds where I live have risen. 110-120 used to be the norm, now 120-140 is. Elantras, Corollas, Tuscons, and Civics fly past me at $300 ticket speeds every day and take corners in the industrial park like a go-kart course. New cars make it easy and comfy for suburban moms to blast along at speeds that used to be the domain of sport/luxury brand drivers.

Anyone else share this perception or is it total bunk?