How much power is enough? Upgrading

The track argument still doesn't come close to holding water. How many owners track their cars? Probably less that 5%. I have to pay, make appointment, wait my turn, buy a helmet, and worry about crashing my car by getting in over my head. Nope, it happens on the street.

 

Keep the horsepower......its torque that wins races!!!! Never enough torque!!!

 

The answer is 600, hp and tq. Gimme 600 in my GT, 600 in my SUV, I'm happy. 600.

I did a C6 back in 2012, sent it to Lingenfelter directly from the dealer lot. I had a talk with them about which package to go with. From a handling standpoint, it was their opinion that about about 700, you start getting into significantly more danger by outperforming the nannies. I don't need that. When I was a kid and there was no such thing as too much, I didn't need it then either.

So I went with 600

The 599 has about exactly that, too. Perfect.

 

What "performance" are you talking about where a luxury car beats a sports car, in your example F430? I'd almost guarantee you're talking straight line acceleration... and for that, my response is "big deal". Put another way, "who cares".

I can put my foot to the floor and go quickly and fast in all sorts of cars that aren't remotely sporting. Yes, lots of luxury cars can accelerate quickly - that doesn't make them sports cars. The added dimensions of sports cars are in the ride, handling, responsiveness, braking - and you don't need to reach the limits on the street to appreciate those attributes.

I have an Audi S5, that does 0-60 in 4.8 seconds or so. I have an Audi S7, which the magazines say does 0-60 in 3.8 seconds. I have a supercharged Miata, 0-60 around 5.5 seconds. Then I have my 1984 Ferrari 308, which maybe does 0-60 in 6.5 or 7.0 seconds.

Guess which one is the sportiest, most fun to drive? Hint, it's neither of the two quickest accelerating cars, which are also the heaviest and most luxurious.

That's actually a trick question - the supercharged Miata is by far the most FUN to drive, it's a pure sports car which provides very responsive, nimble ride and handling (and will lap for hours on end on a track, while still being easy on brake and tire consumption). The 308 is almost as fun, and has more of a sense of occasion to the experience.

 

I am blinded by love with my classic sportscars as well. However,the reality is that on a track a guy will be tailing you in a modern Golf (Rabbit) R (4 wheel drive, 300 PS) with just one hand at the steering wheel and talking with the girl next side to him. And occasionally looking to the front in order not to bump into your car.

Most of the thrill of classic sportscars is that they feel and sound a lot quicker than they are (compared with modern cars) .

 

This is definitely true, but in the U.S. at least, the reality is that low speed limits, strict but unpredictable enforcement designed for fund raising rather than safety, and consideration for others on the road who don't expect to encounter fast-moving cars (bicyclists in particular, in my part of the country), means that even run-of-the-mill cars can't be pushed anywhere near their limits in most cases. Sure, amazing acceleration alone is a kick, but that gets old, fast. Classic/older cars, however, can still be fun in real-world situations.

"How much power is enough?" I'd say that it's enough that allows you to drive in a way that requires you to focus 100% of your attention on what you're doing.

 

If that's all your 355 does it might be time for a service

 

The F355 is faster than the requirement. It was the requirement that was listed, especially the 150 MPH mark.

 

There are somethings that you can never have too much of:

Horsepower
Speed
Altitude
Runway in front of you
Money
Love

I say go for it!

Sid

 

A modern high performance car with huge horse power, or a 1950's vintage car with what ever you get. The answer is simple for me. The rest of the time I will drive my Sienna van.

 

A premis, let us investigate::

So you think 100,000 HP would be just fine?
You think that 600 MPH is just fine?
You think 800,000 feet altitude is just fine?
You think 6Billion miles of runway is just fine?
I will give you the money
You think 600 women after you is just fine?

Really?!?!

 

I don't think Sidtx was wanting to be viewed as a smarta**. The first four are standard pilot positions which all translate to safety when in an airplane. As for love, who can fault that!?

 

I see ALOT of crunched aluminum, steel and carbon fiber on wrecked exotics.

Many many owners who thought that more power is better.. and don't have the ability to contain it on the road.

Many who are reading this are thinking as I am as I write this "well that's not me!"... right?

Take the car to the edge of its ability without crashing it. On the road we all see 50% of our cars potential. A VW GTI driver that knows how to use his car at that 99% of its capability and keep his car on the road is going to SPANK most exotic drivers I know.. even those who track their cars.

 

Exactly. There's a limit. Most of us need nanny modes to survive these cars. That hp limit is the point at which you've overwhelmed your nannies.

 

And if it's necessary to continue adding nannies to deal with the horsepower, then to my mind the only thrill left in driving such a car is the rush of amazing acceleration. Not to knock that kick at all, but it leaves out a lot of aspects that make driving fun.

 

Context!!!

100,000 HP? Might not be enough if I was piloting the Shuttle. Personally, I'd also like to try driving one of those 18 wheelers that I see at airshows, that have the 3 large jet engines (with afterburners) mounted on the back! Not sure if they have 100K HP - but it looks like it!
600 MPH - Way too slow when I'm traveling transcon
800,000 ft - Used to have dreams of going this high - and higher
600 women after me? Depends on what they are after! My money - no way. My love and affection - no problem. Sex - I'd sure give it a try!

Perhaps this all points to some psychosis of mine? A fear of lacking? A fear of never having enough? Perhaps I'm a human version of those seagulls from the movie "Finding Nemo" - you know - the ones that kept repeating "Mine! Mine! Mine!".

Sid

P.S. Was just having some fun, not meaning to be an a$$ - I really do admire the tuners, guys/gals that are always extracting more power from seeming less. And, I happen to think big power, big blocks are really cool. Give me a Boss 429 and I'm a happy camper.

 

You nailed that one! (Although many have accused me of being a smart*****.

Got my private ticket in 86.

Sid

 

On the street?

450hp (At wheels) max.

On the track? No such thing as too much power.

 

Jeremy Clarkeson (love him or hate him, but he's probably driven more exotics than most of us and certainly more than me) opines that 500-550 bhp [in a sportscar] is the "right" amount, providing a balance between visceral "my goodness that's quick" acceleration, unassisted handling prowess and electronic intervention.

In the bike world, I had an S4RS Ducati. Had about 140 bhp. Could open the taps all the way at 50 and flick through the gears, front wheel skipping the ground. Perfect. Sold it to buy an MV Agusta 1090 RR. Much quicker. Felt like the bike would wheelie in a big way at 80, maybe 100 mph. I didn't have the balls to find out. For me, less fun and way more terrifying.

Most of us would look at the purity of an F40 and say "wow". And what was it, 478 or so bhp? The current generation of F cars are 700 bhp. Controlled by electronics rather than a careful foot and quick hands. I think for some of us, with that control comes dilution of the driving experience.

 

Spot-on. My car has 400 hp, 0-60 of 4 flat and a quarter mile in 12 secs. Frankly, it feels perfect for the road because I can unleash it (a bit) here and there, and enjoy the naturally aspirated engine note, feel the road through the wheel, and feel like I'm driving the car. I've driven faster cars, including much cheaper cars with much more power, but I prefer balance.

There is a reason the Nissan GTR doesn't dominate on the sales side in its price bracket, despite absolutely trouncing all the competition (save for the vette, perhaps).

 

The GTR is a good point to make. It has one of the strongest names in teens and young adults. It's reputation as a Giant Slayer is ironclad.

Yet it has beyond embarrassing sales.

Porsche moves nearly ten 911's for every GTR sold.

And even more stinging blow-The Corvette Z06. They have similar price points kitted out and the Z06 3 month sales has beaten the GTR yearly sales by a factor of 2 to one.


Performance isnt everything.

 

The 205hp in my 308GTSi is more than I can drive safely or competantly.

Why the hell would I need more?

 

Going uphill with a slow diver in front of you..trust me, you'll want more

 

Power is basically meaningless unless it's considered in relation to weight (or more correctly, mass).

 

My 2001 Polo DD has 75hp.

My 82 Golf DD had 55hp.


I do understand power/weight.