How much HP is too much on the street?
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
Joined
·
2,385 Posts
Personally, I don't care what the auto makers do as far as HP is concerned, but it seems quite evident from experience that anything around 300hp is more than sufficient! 
Bad situations tend to arise when you have alot of HP in the hands of someone not competent to manage it safely...
I guess it would also depend on where you live...
Bad situations tend to arise when you have alot of HP in the hands of someone not competent to manage it safely...
I guess it would also depend on where you live...
Joined
·
11,607 Posts
Sometimes even my 330 is a little too much. Punch the throttle on the highway, and you're easily 20-30 over the legal limit. Judicious use of the throttle is required to stay within the limits... and we all know how much fun that is. :thumbdwn:
HP alone isn't enough of a gauge of performance though. If your car weighs a few tons, having all that HP and torque is only so you can get your car moving.
I think race cars pretending to be street cars are a little irresponsible. I think cars like the Dodge Viper, 911 GT2, and similar have a place, and it sure isn't on any of the streets I drive. Not that I wouldn't mind one, but they are way more car than most people could handle.
Of course, for a lot of people, I think even the Honda Accord is a little too much responsibility. :tsk:
HP alone isn't enough of a gauge of performance though. If your car weighs a few tons, having all that HP and torque is only so you can get your car moving.
I think race cars pretending to be street cars are a little irresponsible. I think cars like the Dodge Viper, 911 GT2, and similar have a place, and it sure isn't on any of the streets I drive. Not that I wouldn't mind one, but they are way more car than most people could handle.
Of course, for a lot of people, I think even the Honda Accord is a little too much responsibility. :tsk:
Hey, to some people out there pushing a shopping cart is seriously testing their abilities.
On the other end of the scale, I remember Tim Allen telling stories of driving a 600-wheel hp (~700 crank) Mustang everyday and saying it was a bit too much for the street. A BIT?!?!
It's all in how the person can handle it. The torque of my 323 on a rainy day with the ASC off is enough for me, thank you very much.
On the other end of the scale, I remember Tim Allen telling stories of driving a 600-wheel hp (~700 crank) Mustang everyday and saying it was a bit too much for the street. A BIT?!?!
It's all in how the person can handle it. The torque of my 323 on a rainy day with the ASC off is enough for me, thank you very much
.
Joined
·
1,995 Posts
I just read in the Auto Weak (sic) that I received today that Bugatti is releasing their $250k ultra-luxo-mobile 'Veyron' in '03, and it's rated at a nice round 1000-hp!
Got a call into my insurance agent to give me some serious quotes on this puppy!
I figure with a $25,000 deductible we can probably fit it into the family budget. Course, that's only after selling the crib to pay for it.
Got a call into my insurance agent to give me some serious quotes on this puppy!
I figure with a $25,000 deductible we can probably fit it into the family budget. Course, that's only after selling the crib to pay for it.
Joined
·
9,967 Posts
Driver skill is more of a determining factor than hp. That said, I don't think most driver can handle 150HP, never mind 300HP. The two groups of drivers that I find most dangerious are 1) teenagers (read, inexperienced drivers) whose parents brought them powerful cars (ie >150HP) 2) old drivers (65 years+) any motor vehicle.
Ed
Ed
Joined
·
551 Posts
i driven the M3 twice for about ten minutes each time and i am somewhat ashamed to admit the car was too much for me. maybe i would get used to it. it was a thrill to drive the car, no doubt, but also a little too over stimulating. i am going to get flamed and be called all kinds of names (wimp, wuss), but as of right now that's how i feel. and i have gone to a couple of driving schools so i do know what it feels like to push a car beyond street style driving.
Joined
·
662 Posts
More to do with total car...
Basically, whatever the "total" car can handle. What I mean by this is Tim Allen's Mustang (Casper) referred to previously had LOTS of power but the chassis and suspension (let alone tires) were not up to handling that power.
But, a car can be built to handle 600-700 hp (not sure how close to a steet car that would be, though). Another classic example of what I'm talking about is the M3 vs. M5. The M5 has 400 hp (almost 70 more than the M3) but is built to handle it (wide tires, suspension calibration, and is one heavy mother!!!!). 400 hp in a Miata would be dangerous.
I modified a '92 Mustang LX 5.0L to the point of 350 hp - for this car and the set up I had, this was and ideal street car. Any more power and I would not have been able to keep it on the ground. My uncle had a Mustang he modified in almost the exact same way and then put a blower on it. He was pushing over 550 hp with it and said it was the biggest mistake he had done with the car - he would break the tires loose in 3rd gear at highway speeds simply by punching it - not safe (and not enjoyable, either). But, if you take that 550 hp and put it in a AWD Porsche or a tuned Viper, that might be more acceptable.
I guess it comes down to power to weight ratio, chassis stiffness and suspension set up....
I agree with "ff" on the point of it not being the driver. A 50 hp Yugo can be dangerous in the wrong hands...
Basically, whatever the "total" car can handle. What I mean by this is Tim Allen's Mustang (Casper) referred to previously had LOTS of power but the chassis and suspension (let alone tires) were not up to handling that power.
But, a car can be built to handle 600-700 hp (not sure how close to a steet car that would be, though). Another classic example of what I'm talking about is the M3 vs. M5. The M5 has 400 hp (almost 70 more than the M3) but is built to handle it (wide tires, suspension calibration, and is one heavy mother!!!!). 400 hp in a Miata would be dangerous.
I modified a '92 Mustang LX 5.0L to the point of 350 hp - for this car and the set up I had, this was and ideal street car. Any more power and I would not have been able to keep it on the ground. My uncle had a Mustang he modified in almost the exact same way and then put a blower on it. He was pushing over 550 hp with it and said it was the biggest mistake he had done with the car - he would break the tires loose in 3rd gear at highway speeds simply by punching it - not safe (and not enjoyable, either). But, if you take that 550 hp and put it in a AWD Porsche or a tuned Viper, that might be more acceptable.
I guess it comes down to power to weight ratio, chassis stiffness and suspension set up....
I agree with "ff" on the point of it not being the driver. A 50 hp Yugo can be dangerous in the wrong hands...
Joined
·
10,983 Posts
I'm looking forward to driving my Mom's SL55 AMG when she turns in her S55, or SL500.
Nick
Nick
the m5 may have 70 more hp than the M3, but the M3 is faster and breaks faster as well...I'll keep my M3 and be very happy about it
But 333 does seem pretty powerful at times...but I woudln't trade this car for anything..I get the practicality I need with the sports cars looks and engineering I desire...the perfect package IMhO.
But 333 does seem pretty powerful at times...but I woudln't trade this car for anything..I get the practicality I need with the sports cars looks and engineering I desire...the perfect package IMhO.
Old
Wellll now wait a minute. Old is in the body, not mind. I'm 63 and drive an M3. Yes I know my reflexes have slowed down a bunch since I was in my 20's but I pay STRICT attention to my driving and know exactly what's going to happen when I puch the throttle. I take the car out to my favorite "twisty" two or three times a month and try to push my limits a little more each time. That having been said, I agree that most old folks (who couldn't drive worth a s***t when they were 20) are dangerous. Teens: I know a guy who gave is 17 yr old an M3. Should have just given him a six-pack and a 45 auto and told him to go and enjoy himself.
Wellll now wait a minute. Old is in the body, not mind. I'm 63 and drive an M3. Yes I know my reflexes have slowed down a bunch since I was in my 20's but I pay STRICT attention to my driving and know exactly what's going to happen when I puch the throttle. I take the car out to my favorite "twisty" two or three times a month and try to push my limits a little more each time. That having been said, I agree that most old folks (who couldn't drive worth a s***t when they were 20) are dangerous. Teens: I know a guy who gave is 17 yr old an M3. Should have just given him a six-pack and a 45 auto and told him to go and enjoy himself.
Joined
·
51 Posts
i concur
i think the more hp you have in your car, the more you are tempted to gun it on every gear...which is really bad. i think safety is number one before anything else.
i think the more hp you have in your car, the more you are tempted to gun it on every gear...which is really bad. i think safety is number one before anything else.
I think it's not how much HP, but how easy it is to control, and the HP/weight ratio...
600HP in a loaded semi isn't going to be fast. On the other hand 600HP in a Lotus 340R would be truly excessive and nearly impossible to control without computer and AWD assistance.
600HP in a loaded semi isn't going to be fast. On the other hand 600HP in a Lotus 340R would be truly excessive and nearly impossible to control without computer and AWD assistance.
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
