How much power is too much for the roads?
but track days still have the same problem, at coombe earlier in the year, cant remember the show but i spoke to jay there.
a guy had tuned up his nissan to 300bhp and not bothered with the brakes , second lap stamped on them and nothing as they had overheated and went straight into the tyres
so 600bhp may be dangerous but 300 is just as bad if you cant stop.
a guy had tuned up his nissan to 300bhp and not bothered with the brakes , second lap stamped on them and nothing as they had overheated and went straight into the tyres

so 600bhp may be dangerous but 300 is just as bad if you cant stop.
Power is a funny thing you think the car your driving is fast and then a month later you think there's something wrong with the car because it feels slower to you or maybe it needs a service,but the truth of the matter is that you have just got use to the power and need to modify it further to get that THIS CAR IS WICKEDLY QUICK feeling back again.
One of the reasons I sold my car
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.
Power is nothing without control as they say.
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From: Flying the Flag for the GC8A
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.
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.

You ***** must be that big, that they suck all the blood from your brain. Nasty.
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.
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.
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
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
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
I find the more powerful the car I have driven, the more sensible I am as I don't need to prove anything
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 11,778
Likes: 4
From: Newcastle. 330bhp-289lb/ft @ 1bar boost - 12.4s @ 105mph
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. when I do something stupid because I'm female) 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
I find the more powerful the car I have driven, the more sensible I am as I don't need to prove anything

Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 11,778
Likes: 4
From: Newcastle. 330bhp-289lb/ft @ 1bar boost - 12.4s @ 105mph
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 19,945
Likes: 2
From: "Engineering Perfection in Essex"
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!
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.
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.
Last edited by stonejedi; Oct 1, 2012 at 10:18 PM.
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!
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!


+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.
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.
Last edited by SkullFudge; Oct 1, 2012 at 10:44 PM.







nice to have the extras grunt when you need to 

