Japfest.....To be fair, people on track at car shows are different to what you get at a proper trackday..You still get a few ***** but not as many.

Not so much with a 550bhp car... I thought how long until I kill myself

One of the reasons I sold my car

How longs a piece of string

My mate used to race in a lotus on track series and he said the best money he ever spent was on walshy car limits days learning how to drive properly. He regularly pushed more expensive cars round knockhill carrying loads more corner speed.

Power is nothing without control as they say.

James you just needed a bit more practice mate then you would of been fine,how long is it going to be before you open up your evos lungs with more modifications?

I think 300 bhp/ton is the sweet spot for road use and is my ultimate goal. Think that's about 360 bhp in a classic. Annoyingly that's just at the point where you need to forge the engine.

Take a look at cars that achieve that power to weight. Quite surprising as there's some serious machinery there.

I've come to the conclusion that 400+ is overkill on a road car.

550 but if you dont have the supporting mods you will be better off with 300 and a bit safer

At least you didn't let yourself down and kept the same line of tact as your first post!

You ***** must be that big, that they suck all the blood from your brain. Nasty.

I struggle to use all of my power all of the time

The only ball sucking that takes place is between me & your lass.

My car 355bhp and is just fine- I run it on low boost/300hp most of the time and it spends 99% of it's time off boost to be honest.

Which is the point. I live on the IOM so have derestricted roads and the Mountain to play on.

If you want more, rent a cheapo Fiat or Fiesta for a day. you'll soon realise even a standard WRX is plenty special.

My classic is 380 and imo is about right for road use
However I'm hoping to go around 450+ but that will be purely to enjoy on track

My 380 /360 type r is def enough if its slightly damp will catch you out big time . I wouldn't want any more power on road

Agreed, although my 475 at present is enough for most conditions

Interesting question.

I wouldn't say I was guilty of the pub number game but for me personally was about seeing what the car could take with set ups bit by bit.

For me to do this my wife and I agreed that if I did this "It had to be used as an everyday car" .

I have to be honest, I don't get to use the power on the car everyday but every now and then on way or from work I have a play so it seems justified. Some what.

For everyday use. 400 BHP is plenty if I am honest. Anything above that is a Brucie Bonus.

I'm running 480 on meths or most of the time 450 (and a bit more) on lower settings map.


Steve

How can you have to much power? Restrict how much power you have on that wet slippery road by not planting your foot.

Mine is 330/328 and feels more than enough. Most of the time I am pootling around off boost and when I need the power (i.e. some **** cuts me up) it's there.
I find the more powerful the car I have driven, the more sensible I am as I don't need to prove anything

EFA

LOL ...... what's the highest power you have driven on the streets mate ?

I think I had it accurate first time - I hardly let my husband drive my car

Sense of humour, rare commodity these days.

It's not how much power do you need , it's how much power is useable
And that depends on a million and one things
There's never gonna be an ideal figure

I did see a clip of Andy F testing his beast on the open roads and that looked a touch too much

In a Subaru i think 350/360 is the peachy sweet spot. That sort or power can be used and enjoyed alot of the time.

My daily drive is a Clio 182 and its power is perfect day to day and i can keep up with almost anything in my local roads.

Nobody has even mentioned yet the amount its costs to fuel a 550bhp+ car day to day.

Probably because most of the people spouting off about how much power they "think" they need have no idea what a genuine 550bhp car feels like!

It's all personal opinion and I doubt you will ever get an agreed figure but imo I have owned 9 impreza's all various specs power wise most with suspension and brake mods but in all honesty on the road I would say 350 of each is fine. I've found it more than capable and more usable than anything higher don't get me wrong 450+ is awesome and for the grin factor its so enjoyable but to get all of the power down is another matter. All imo

Well power is like most things in life you either got it or you ain't,what feels enough for one person my not feel enough for someone else,that's why I'm a glutton for power,I guess Ive been watching to much fast and the furious who knows,nitros anyone all joking aside frayz is right about cost it's getting abit tedious having to plan every journey in my scoob via a shell petrol garage and a cash point,sometimes taking me a good few miles out of the way.

+1

Frayz is probably bang on.

I can only comment on classics as I have never owned a new age although I have driven several at different power levels and must admit they do feel a lot heavier.

350 - 400 (with decent handling & brakes) is very enjoyable and plenty fast enough when driven hard.

As Frayz also mentioned most haven't a clue just how fast a 500+ actually is. I know this is true as I see and hear the reactions of people when they sit in mine. I'm running 525 (actual - not estimated or power dyno runs then set back)
and it's extremely easy to become dangerous.

On a run cruising at 65 - 70 it will deliver 180 miles from the full 50 Ltr tank.
On the floor it uses 3 Ltrs per 60 seconds.

The dangerous bit isn't the 525 bhp, but the power to weight which is roughly 436 per ton.
It feels sooooo light when driving it hard and the slightest bump on the roads will catch you out.

I got use to 350 bhp and the next step to 440 but I've had 500+ in my everyday car for nearly 4 years now and I still class it as extremely dangerous on the roads. If guys tell you different they are lying to you.