Horsepower. Less is sometimes more!
- Thread starter sciphi
- Start date
- Status
I had a 1988 Honda Accord w/carb & 98 hp/109 lb.tq. that cruised at 90 mph better(or as good as) any car I have owned to date. Never an issue about power in this car. A little torque defficient off the line but, got to speed quickly after that.
I've owned and driven lots of ~90-100 hp 4 cyls and never a problem. Oh, a car like an older Subaru Loyals were really slow
I've owned and driven lots of ~90-100 hp 4 cyls and never a problem. Oh, a car like an older Subaru Loyals were really slow
I had a '90 loyale!! put over 60k on it. it was fine in the 5spd as long as you knew where to shift and when to hit it. friends couldn't drive it well at all -- the power curve of that motor required a certain feel to squeeze it out. it would have been well-suited if the stick had been a little less clunky.
I hauled about 1600 lbs of computer rack in it one day... fully built rack.... sticking out the tail... and cable-towed several full size cars, including a buick regal, on some long hauls, in that thing. Camping trips with it packed to the gills inside and on top.... riding on the bump stops, with part time 4wd. That poor car put up with a lot of abuse... on 95HP SPFI.
good experiences with that lead me to the 2.2L legacy which was by all means a great vehicle, though quite underpowered as well. in hindsight, a regear on that legacy would have been great. If they'd had an aftermarket blower I'd have bee all over it. The 2.2 was Stout, but man that car was anemic.
I hauled about 1600 lbs of computer rack in it one day... fully built rack.... sticking out the tail... and cable-towed several full size cars, including a buick regal, on some long hauls, in that thing. Camping trips with it packed to the gills inside and on top.... riding on the bump stops, with part time 4wd. That poor car put up with a lot of abuse... on 95HP SPFI.
good experiences with that lead me to the 2.2L legacy which was by all means a great vehicle, though quite underpowered as well. in hindsight, a regear on that legacy would have been great. If they'd had an aftermarket blower I'd have bee all over it. The 2.2 was Stout, but man that car was anemic.
to COUNTER that--- a lack of power is what really killed the 2002 accord I had for me. It was an auto, 4cyl. The mpg was not that impressive... around 24 tops. And there was a HUGE difference in power based on outside temp. from morning commute to afternoon commute it had two very different personalities, and that made it dangerous. Sometimes it would accelerate, sometimes it would not. and the AT didn't know the difference... dangerous. would have been fine in a stick. But people with wrist injuries don't drive stick....
Like many here with a manual transmission, I don't find the lack of HP in Kitacam a problem since I can choose the gear I need to get the most out of those ponies....
...though I can easily see problems where an autotransmission is designed to shift up through the gears as soon as possible to save gas...or maybe it's just that I don't know enough about how to use ATs since 14 of my 16 vehicles have been MTs...
...though I can easily see problems where an autotransmission is designed to shift up through the gears as soon as possible to save gas...or maybe it's just that I don't know enough about how to use ATs since 14 of my 16 vehicles have been MTs...
Honestly a big part of what I appreciate about the Jeep being overpowered is driving it with a cold engine. It's got plenty of power at low rpm without getting on it hard, so while I'm being gentle with it (keeping it under 1/2 throttle and 2500 rpm), it's still pretty easy to pull out into traffic on busier roads.
Plus, it's nice (and fun) to be able to launch it off a Merritt Parkway stop-sign ramp, and passing on 2 lanes is good as well and doesn't require an unholy distance to accomplish. It also doesn't become obnoxiously slow when you drop a trailer behind it.
Plus, it's nice (and fun) to be able to launch it off a Merritt Parkway stop-sign ramp, and passing on 2 lanes is good as well and doesn't require an unholy distance to accomplish. It also doesn't become obnoxiously slow when you drop a trailer behind it.
My '02 only has 100 bhp and my Club Sport has 150. I have no trouble keeping up with traffic or merging in either car. And the Club Sport still acquits itself quite well at HPDEs. That said, my 287 horse Mazdaspeed IS fun. Hardly anyone in my town knows what it is and it has humiliated more than one V8 at the Stoplight Grand Prix...
Still, I'm thinking that a 500 Abarth may be a nice compromise, as I really prefer small cars(my wife's 3er is as big a car as either of us ever want to own).
Still, I'm thinking that a 500 Abarth may be a nice compromise, as I really prefer small cars(my wife's 3er is as big a car as either of us ever want to own).
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Fuel slurping big engines are already penalized by taxes. They pay huge taxes at purchase and tons more on every gallon of fuel they consume. They also cost more to insure, more to maintain, etc. I could go on...
I would never change a thing. It's a personal choice, and one of the few left.
It's all good, as long as you do not whine about it.
Fuel slurping big engines are already penalized by taxes. They pay huge taxes at purchase and tons more on every gallon of fuel they consume. They also cost more to insure, more to maintain, etc. I could go on...
I would never change a thing. It's a personal choice, and one of the few left.
It's all good, as long as you do not whine about it.
The Celica GTS I'm driving now is ideal for me at the moment. I can get well over 30mpg highway, but if I needed to pass I can downshift from 6th at a 60mph cruise to 3rd and land right around the 6200 cam change or 'lift'.
Originally Posted By: MCompact
Still, I'm thinking that a 500 Abarth may be a nice compromise, as I really prefer small cars(my wife's 3er is as big a car as either of us ever want to own).
I know this first hand, as my gf showed me yesterday morning that her 2012 Abarth can stay in front of my 2011 RX-8 here in Denver, when the light turns green. I would love to repeat the experiment at sea level, but I can't really think of any reason why we would travel cross country with both of our cars at the same time.
BC.
Still, I'm thinking that a 500 Abarth may be a nice compromise, as I really prefer small cars(my wife's 3er is as big a car as either of us ever want to own).
I know this first hand, as my gf showed me yesterday morning that her 2012 Abarth can stay in front of my 2011 RX-8 here in Denver, when the light turns green. I would love to repeat the experiment at sea level, but I can't really think of any reason why we would travel cross country with both of our cars at the same time.
BC.
My first vehicle at 16 years old was a 1969 VW Bug with ~60 horses and a 4-speed. Not fast by any stretch of the imagination, but I made some straight pipes for it in high school metal shop class and the thing sounded like a Harley. Most fun I've ever had on 4 wheels was driving that thing around.
I also just took a 28hp 250cc motorcycle on a 500 mile round trip to Las Vegas. It will eventually get to a reasonable cruising speed and stay there, so I don't have too much of a problem.
I also just took a 28hp 250cc motorcycle on a 500 mile round trip to Las Vegas. It will eventually get to a reasonable cruising speed and stay there, so I don't have too much of a problem.
Originally Posted By: cutter
The Celica GTS I'm driving now is ideal for me at the moment. I can get well over 30mpg highway, but if I needed to pass I can downshift from 6th at a 60mph cruise to 3rd and land right around the 6200 cam change or 'lift'.
My Cruze is similar in that it'll gladly eat up the miles at 60 mph, and doesn't mind being revved high to pass. It's fun to wind that little engine out, although it has about zero power past 5000 RPM. It still sounds great, though.
The Celica GTS I'm driving now is ideal for me at the moment. I can get well over 30mpg highway, but if I needed to pass I can downshift from 6th at a 60mph cruise to 3rd and land right around the 6200 cam change or 'lift'.
My Cruze is similar in that it'll gladly eat up the miles at 60 mph, and doesn't mind being revved high to pass. It's fun to wind that little engine out, although it has about zero power past 5000 RPM. It still sounds great, though.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Originally Posted By: sciphi
Originally Posted By: cutter
The Celica GTS I'm driving now is ideal for me at the moment. I can get well over 30mpg highway, but if I needed to pass I can downshift from 6th at a 60mph cruise to 3rd and land right around the 6200 cam change or 'lift'.
My Cruze is similar in that it'll gladly eat up the miles at 60 mph, and doesn't mind being revved high to pass. It's fun to wind that little engine out, although it has about zero power past 5000 RPM. It still sounds great, though.
I do a 6th to 3rd or 6th to 4th at 60mph and I can light up the tires, LOL! I can't imagine somebody in a ZL1 or GT500, it would be sketchy!
Originally Posted By: cutter
The Celica GTS I'm driving now is ideal for me at the moment. I can get well over 30mpg highway, but if I needed to pass I can downshift from 6th at a 60mph cruise to 3rd and land right around the 6200 cam change or 'lift'.
My Cruze is similar in that it'll gladly eat up the miles at 60 mph, and doesn't mind being revved high to pass. It's fun to wind that little engine out, although it has about zero power past 5000 RPM. It still sounds great, though.
I do a 6th to 3rd or 6th to 4th at 60mph and I can light up the tires, LOL! I can't imagine somebody in a ZL1 or GT500, it would be sketchy!
Originally Posted By: Anduril
I also just took a 28hp 250cc motorcycle on a 500 mile round trip to Las Vegas. It will eventually get to a reasonable cruising speed and stay there, so I don't have too much of a problem.
I rode my Honda CB125S from Arlington to Austin (about 150 miles) National speed limit was still 55mph which was good because it took level pavement and a full tuck to get 70mph out of it. I thought I was pretty tough for doing that.
I was way off.
My dad made several trips from Dallas to Ft Bragg, NC on a Honda 160.
Don't know the altitude of the Smoky Mountain Tennessee roads he was taking in the early '60s but I can't imagine the little Honda liked it. I've got a picture of him posing with his bike wearing his M1C Paratrooper helmet as a motorcycle helmet on some mountaintop.
I also just took a 28hp 250cc motorcycle on a 500 mile round trip to Las Vegas. It will eventually get to a reasonable cruising speed and stay there, so I don't have too much of a problem.
I rode my Honda CB125S from Arlington to Austin (about 150 miles) National speed limit was still 55mph which was good because it took level pavement and a full tuck to get 70mph out of it. I thought I was pretty tough for doing that.
I was way off.
My dad made several trips from Dallas to Ft Bragg, NC on a Honda 160.
Don't know the altitude of the Smoky Mountain Tennessee roads he was taking in the early '60s but I can't imagine the little Honda liked it. I've got a picture of him posing with his bike wearing his M1C Paratrooper helmet as a motorcycle helmet on some mountaintop.
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
I do a 6th to 3rd or 6th to 4th at 60mph and I can light up the tires, LOL! I can't imagine somebody in a ZL1 or GT500, it would be sketchy!
Someone in the car club at my college said there dad bought a few year old GT500 super snake (750hp, IIRC) a few months ago. In 60* weather on sticky tires (not sure what type), he said it would do rolling burnouts from 90mph (at less than WOT).
I can light 'em up on a WOT 4 - 2 at 50 - 60 mph... If it's raining, that is (and it'll break loose again sometimes when it grabs 3rd again when I back off, depending on speed). On dry pavement, it'll hook from a 5mph roll.
I do a 6th to 3rd or 6th to 4th at 60mph and I can light up the tires, LOL! I can't imagine somebody in a ZL1 or GT500, it would be sketchy!
Someone in the car club at my college said there dad bought a few year old GT500 super snake (750hp, IIRC) a few months ago. In 60* weather on sticky tires (not sure what type), he said it would do rolling burnouts from 90mph (at less than WOT).
I can light 'em up on a WOT 4 - 2 at 50 - 60 mph... If it's raining, that is (and it'll break loose again sometimes when it grabs 3rd again when I back off, depending on speed). On dry pavement, it'll hook from a 5mph roll.
Last edited:
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Originally Posted By: rslifkin
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
I do a 6th to 3rd or 6th to 4th at 60mph and I can light up the tires, LOL! I can't imagine somebody in a ZL1 or GT500, it would be sketchy!
Someone in the car club at my college said there dad bought a few year old GT500 super snake (750hp, IIRC) a few months ago. In 60* weather on sticky tires (not sure what type), he said it would do rolling burnouts from 90mph (at less than WOT).
I can light 'em up on a WOT 4 - 2 at 50 - 60 mph... If it's raining, that is (and it'll break loose again sometimes when it grabs 3rd again when I back off, depending on speed). On dry pavement, it'll hook from a 5mph roll.
That's pretty much what I expected those cars to do.... burn-outs at will, regardless of rubber, and at speeds of 100Mph. Absolutely insane!
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
I do a 6th to 3rd or 6th to 4th at 60mph and I can light up the tires, LOL! I can't imagine somebody in a ZL1 or GT500, it would be sketchy!
Someone in the car club at my college said there dad bought a few year old GT500 super snake (750hp, IIRC) a few months ago. In 60* weather on sticky tires (not sure what type), he said it would do rolling burnouts from 90mph (at less than WOT).
I can light 'em up on a WOT 4 - 2 at 50 - 60 mph... If it's raining, that is (and it'll break loose again sometimes when it grabs 3rd again when I back off, depending on speed). On dry pavement, it'll hook from a 5mph roll.
That's pretty much what I expected those cars to do.... burn-outs at will, regardless of rubber, and at speeds of 100Mph. Absolutely insane!
There you guys go again, always braggin' about bad traction!
While your spinnin', I'm winnin'!
Note that the reason the ZL-1 consistently whips the GT500 at road courses is that it can put its power to the roadway instead of a smoke show. This despite several hundred pounds more weight and a lot less HP.
While your spinnin', I'm winnin'!
Note that the reason the ZL-1 consistently whips the GT500 at road courses is that it can put its power to the roadway instead of a smoke show. This despite several hundred pounds more weight and a lot less HP.
Last edited:
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
There you guys go again, always braggin' about bad traction!
While your spinnin', I'm winnin'!
Note that the reason the ZL-1 consistently whips the GT500 at road courses is that it can put its power to the roadway instead of a smoke show. This despite several hundred pounds more weight and a lot less HP.
I'm seriously hoping the Super Sport tires fix this for me, as the Toyo's were AWFUL
There you guys go again, always braggin' about bad traction!
While your spinnin', I'm winnin'!
Note that the reason the ZL-1 consistently whips the GT500 at road courses is that it can put its power to the roadway instead of a smoke show. This despite several hundred pounds more weight and a lot less HP.
I'm seriously hoping the Super Sport tires fix this for me, as the Toyo's were AWFUL
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
While your spinnin', I'm winnin'!
If that's the case, I win every race with my CR-V!! LOL
While your spinnin', I'm winnin'!
If that's the case, I win every race with my CR-V!! LOL
Originally Posted By: rslifkin
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
I do a 6th to 3rd or 6th to 4th at 60mph and I can light up the tires, LOL! I can't imagine somebody in a ZL1 or GT500, it would be sketchy!
I can light 'em up on a WOT 4 - 2 at 50 - 60 mph... If it's raining, that is (and it'll break loose again sometimes when it grabs 3rd again when I back off, depending on speed). On dry pavement, it'll hook from a 5mph roll.
I was getting wheelspin in my saturn in 4th gear the other day. "Fun". Technical. I blame the packed snow.
Slow car fast... (for conditions)
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
I do a 6th to 3rd or 6th to 4th at 60mph and I can light up the tires, LOL! I can't imagine somebody in a ZL1 or GT500, it would be sketchy!
I can light 'em up on a WOT 4 - 2 at 50 - 60 mph... If it's raining, that is (and it'll break loose again sometimes when it grabs 3rd again when I back off, depending on speed). On dry pavement, it'll hook from a 5mph roll.
I was getting wheelspin in my saturn in 4th gear the other day. "Fun". Technical. I blame the packed snow.
Slow car fast... (for conditions)
- Status
