Looking back
- Thread starter Vikas
- Start date
- Status
Originally Posted By: Vikas
How many under 10 lb/hp cars are available these days? I suspect even the so call fast cars are more in 13 lb/hp ratio.
Just depends on how you define horsepower.
SAE Net ratings are much tougher. Side by side on an engine dyno a 6.1 Chrysler of today made MORE horsepower than an authentic 425 (7.0). So first you have to take that old car down by 20-30% to even up the numbers.
Many cars are beating the 10 pounds per HP even at todays much bigger horses!
How many under 10 lb/hp cars are available these days? I suspect even the so call fast cars are more in 13 lb/hp ratio.
Just depends on how you define horsepower.
SAE Net ratings are much tougher. Side by side on an engine dyno a 6.1 Chrysler of today made MORE horsepower than an authentic 425 (7.0). So first you have to take that old car down by 20-30% to even up the numbers.
Many cars are beating the 10 pounds per HP even at todays much bigger horses!
I've had too many to list, so I'll go with slowest/lowest to highest in each category:
Slowest/Lowest HP auto: '92 Ford Mustang LX 2.3L: 100HP
Wife's when married auto: '81 Chevy Citation 2.5L: 90 HP (slower than above).
Most HP car: '10 Lincoln MKZ 3.5: 263 HP / 249 ft-lbs
Lowest HP SUV: '07 Mercury Mariner 2.3L: 153 HP / 152 ft-lbs
Highest HP SUV: '09 Chrysler Aspen Hemi: 376 HP / 401 Ft-lbs
Lowest Truck: '97 Ford F-150 4.2L: 210 HP/ 255 ft-lbs
Highest Truck: '12 Ram Hemi: 390 HP / 407 ft-lbs
Slowest/Lowest HP auto: '92 Ford Mustang LX 2.3L: 100HP
Wife's when married auto: '81 Chevy Citation 2.5L: 90 HP (slower than above).
Most HP car: '10 Lincoln MKZ 3.5: 263 HP / 249 ft-lbs
Lowest HP SUV: '07 Mercury Mariner 2.3L: 153 HP / 152 ft-lbs
Highest HP SUV: '09 Chrysler Aspen Hemi: 376 HP / 401 Ft-lbs
Lowest Truck: '97 Ford F-150 4.2L: 210 HP/ 255 ft-lbs
Highest Truck: '12 Ram Hemi: 390 HP / 407 ft-lbs
while there have been many over the years, the ones that stick out in my mind are:
First car, 1969 Buick Skylark - 350 V-8, 230 hp. Car would fly.
First and only new car to me, 1993 Geo Metro, 1 liter 3 banger, 48 hp. Got great MPG.
Car I hated the most, 1981 Chevy Malibu, 229 V-6, 110 hp. A dog in every way. That car was like an onion, every time I drove it, I wanted to cry.
First car, 1969 Buick Skylark - 350 V-8, 230 hp. Car would fly.
First and only new car to me, 1993 Geo Metro, 1 liter 3 banger, 48 hp. Got great MPG.
Car I hated the most, 1981 Chevy Malibu, 229 V-6, 110 hp. A dog in every way. That car was like an onion, every time I drove it, I wanted to cry.
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Originally Posted By: Vikas
How many under 10 lb/hp cars are available these days? I suspect even the so call fast cars are more in 13 lb/hp ratio.
Just depends on how you define horsepower.
SAE Net ratings are much tougher. Side by side on an engine dyno a 6.1 Chrysler of today made MORE horsepower than an authentic 425 (7.0). So first you have to take that old car down by 20-30% to even up the numbers.
Many cars are beating the 10 pounds per HP even at today's much bigger horses!
I drive a winter/son's/my car until mines finished/ 95 Escort with 88hp and about 2400lbs.
I'm building a 2400lb car with 350 crank HP. It'll be quite fun and I don't care about the mileage though at that weight driving it easy will net good enough mileage numbers for a summer daily driver.
The machines that really move are sport bikes - almost 200hp and under 375lbs, an easy 10sec 1/4 mile missile. I ride a modern 450 motocross bike at 55hp/230lbs and it will rocket forward anytime you twist the wrist.
I like that math a lot !
Originally Posted By: Vikas
How many under 10 lb/hp cars are available these days? I suspect even the so call fast cars are more in 13 lb/hp ratio.
Just depends on how you define horsepower.
SAE Net ratings are much tougher. Side by side on an engine dyno a 6.1 Chrysler of today made MORE horsepower than an authentic 425 (7.0). So first you have to take that old car down by 20-30% to even up the numbers.
Many cars are beating the 10 pounds per HP even at today's much bigger horses!
I drive a winter/son's/my car until mines finished/ 95 Escort with 88hp and about 2400lbs.
I'm building a 2400lb car with 350 crank HP. It'll be quite fun and I don't care about the mileage though at that weight driving it easy will net good enough mileage numbers for a summer daily driver.
The machines that really move are sport bikes - almost 200hp and under 375lbs, an easy 10sec 1/4 mile missile. I ride a modern 450 motocross bike at 55hp/230lbs and it will rocket forward anytime you twist the wrist.
I like that math a lot !
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Originally Posted By: Vikas
How many under 10 lb/hp cars are available these days? I suspect even the so call fast cars are more in 13 lb/hp ratio.
Just depends on how you define horsepower.
SAE Net ratings are much tougher. Side by side on an engine dyno a 6.1 Chrysler of today made MORE horsepower than an authentic 425 (7.0). So first you have to take that old car down by 20-30% to even up the numbers.
Many cars are beating the 10 pounds per HP even at todays much bigger horses!
I take it by your sig. info that you have a certain Jeep with the exhaust exiting from the center of the rear bumper. I like those ones a lot. Saw the brand new one at the car show and it was not as nice as the previous gen.
Originally Posted By: Vikas
How many under 10 lb/hp cars are available these days? I suspect even the so call fast cars are more in 13 lb/hp ratio.
Just depends on how you define horsepower.
SAE Net ratings are much tougher. Side by side on an engine dyno a 6.1 Chrysler of today made MORE horsepower than an authentic 425 (7.0). So first you have to take that old car down by 20-30% to even up the numbers.
Many cars are beating the 10 pounds per HP even at todays much bigger horses!
I take it by your sig. info that you have a certain Jeep with the exhaust exiting from the center of the rear bumper. I like those ones a lot. Saw the brand new one at the car show and it was not as nice as the previous gen.
Last edited:
1981 Honda Civic HB 1500 DX ~70hp
1989 Honda Civic HB Si 108hp
1993 Toyota DLX 4x4 XCab V6 150hp
2007 Toyota 4Runner V8 260hp
The "toy" non-daily driver:1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu ~350hp.
I did creep up in hp with daily drivers...barring the last one.
1989 Honda Civic HB Si 108hp
1993 Toyota DLX 4x4 XCab V6 150hp
2007 Toyota 4Runner V8 260hp
The "toy" non-daily driver:1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu ~350hp.
I did creep up in hp with daily drivers...barring the last one.
Originally Posted By: Landrew
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Originally Posted By: Vikas
How many under 10 lb/hp cars are available these days? I suspect even the so call fast cars are more in 13 lb/hp ratio.
Just depends on how you define horsepower.
SAE Net ratings are much tougher. Side by side on an engine dyno a 6.1 Chrysler of today made MORE horsepower than an authentic 425 (7.0). So first you have to take that old car down by 20-30% to even up the numbers.
Many cars are beating the 10 pounds per HP even at todays much bigger horses!
I take it by your sig. info that you have a certain Jeep with the exhaust exiting from the center of the rear bumper. I like those ones a lot. Saw the brand new one at the car show and it was not as nice as the previous gen.
Nope, mine is a 300C SRT8, laughingly called "Mob muscle in a business suit". When I bought the car in August 05 there was only the Magnum and my car available, the Jeep model came a bit later.
BTW, the Jeep is a bit faster off the line but before triple digits the car models blow past him pretty hard...
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Originally Posted By: Vikas
How many under 10 lb/hp cars are available these days? I suspect even the so call fast cars are more in 13 lb/hp ratio.
Just depends on how you define horsepower.
SAE Net ratings are much tougher. Side by side on an engine dyno a 6.1 Chrysler of today made MORE horsepower than an authentic 425 (7.0). So first you have to take that old car down by 20-30% to even up the numbers.
Many cars are beating the 10 pounds per HP even at todays much bigger horses!
I take it by your sig. info that you have a certain Jeep with the exhaust exiting from the center of the rear bumper. I like those ones a lot. Saw the brand new one at the car show and it was not as nice as the previous gen.
Nope, mine is a 300C SRT8, laughingly called "Mob muscle in a business suit". When I bought the car in August 05 there was only the Magnum and my car available, the Jeep model came a bit later.
BTW, the Jeep is a bit faster off the line but before triple digits the car models blow past him pretty hard...
I guess the cars I played with in HS were not average cars. We all drove "big block" cars. And many of our cars made it into the 10 second range.
Consider the 67 corvette my roommate had. 427 cubic inches, and capable of 11 second 1/4 mile times with just a few tweaks. That thing was simply fun, and cheap.
My mustang was also big block powered. (only a 390) But equipped with headers, a big holley carb, a cam swap and off I went. Cheap performance.
Unfortunately, nothing I own today has that type of power. Or instant throttle response and rip-roaring fun.
Problem is, those cars were awful in so many other ways. I simply don't want to drive cars with such poor handling, brakes and comfort. But I do miss the big engines.
Consider the 67 corvette my roommate had. 427 cubic inches, and capable of 11 second 1/4 mile times with just a few tweaks. That thing was simply fun, and cheap.
My mustang was also big block powered. (only a 390) But equipped with headers, a big holley carb, a cam swap and off I went. Cheap performance.
Unfortunately, nothing I own today has that type of power. Or instant throttle response and rip-roaring fun.
Problem is, those cars were awful in so many other ways. I simply don't want to drive cars with such poor handling, brakes and comfort. But I do miss the big engines.
Looking back at all the cars I've driven, it wasn't about the horsepower that got to me. It was about handling and perceived quickness. The car has to respond quickly in acceleration, exiting corners, braking, etc.
The most fun cars I've driven were an 89 Renault R9 5sp with nice suspension, 1980 Corolla 5 spd, 1984 Dodge Lancer Turbo, and my current Jetta MK4 2.0 115hp 5sp daily driver.
I like my Jetta. It's quick enough at stop lights because it's a stick, and fast enough on the highway because the gearing is low. I'm basically using all the horsepower it has in my daily drive while it keeps me out of trouble and jail.
Other cars I've driven were...
1980 Chevy Impala, V6
1987 MB 300D, 123body
1984 MB 280TE, sweet inline 6
1987 VW Scirocco, got me hooked to VWs
1995 Lexus LS400, fast and smooth yet numb
1994 Cadillac Deville, floats like cruise ship
2009 Nissan Versa, puts me to sleep.
The most fun cars I've driven were an 89 Renault R9 5sp with nice suspension, 1980 Corolla 5 spd, 1984 Dodge Lancer Turbo, and my current Jetta MK4 2.0 115hp 5sp daily driver.
I like my Jetta. It's quick enough at stop lights because it's a stick, and fast enough on the highway because the gearing is low. I'm basically using all the horsepower it has in my daily drive while it keeps me out of trouble and jail.
Other cars I've driven were...
1980 Chevy Impala, V6
1987 MB 300D, 123body
1984 MB 280TE, sweet inline 6
1987 VW Scirocco, got me hooked to VWs
1995 Lexus LS400, fast and smooth yet numb
1994 Cadillac Deville, floats like cruise ship
2009 Nissan Versa, puts me to sleep.
Last edited:
I have gone all over the map...
Least power: 1984 Ford Escort L diesel, about 50HP.
First car: 1978 Ford Fairmont, 200ci six, ~95HP.
Most power from factory: 2007 Magnum R/T Hemi, 340HP.
Most power, period: my Caddy, 550+ from a stroker engine.
Most power driven (not owned): Liz's 10-second Grand National, 750+ at the wheels.
Owned several trucks (Jeep J-20, 1992 & 79 F-350's), all standard-shift 4x4's, all in the 175-225HP range.
Worst power-weight ratio: my Genesis, 200HP and ~25,000lbs.
Least power: 1984 Ford Escort L diesel, about 50HP.
First car: 1978 Ford Fairmont, 200ci six, ~95HP.
Most power from factory: 2007 Magnum R/T Hemi, 340HP.
Most power, period: my Caddy, 550+ from a stroker engine.
Most power driven (not owned): Liz's 10-second Grand National, 750+ at the wheels.
Owned several trucks (Jeep J-20, 1992 & 79 F-350's), all standard-shift 4x4's, all in the 175-225HP range.
Worst power-weight ratio: my Genesis, 200HP and ~25,000lbs.
- Status