How Much HP Do You Really Need???
02-11-2010, 08:46 AM
#1
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How Much HP Do You Really Need???
I am as guilty of this as anyone, but how much HP do you really need in the real world??? We get consumed by 0-60 times, etc. But what makes for a really fun car in the real world??? I know I don't drag race between lights.
My answer would be a light car with decent hp. If I were to pick a car I wanted more than the RX-8, it would have to be the Elise, in regular or SC form. That car weights around 2000 lbs. The problem with the Elise is that it is a total toy and totally impractical. The RX-8 can perform everyday duties while being fun. The Elise would stay in the garage until a sunny warm day.
Aside from toys like the Elise, the RX-8 is already one of the lighter cars on the market, particularly if you talk about a car with any real practicality. I know the current RX-8 is dead in the marketplace for all practical purposes. But, in the real world in real world driving conditions, is a RX that is much more powerful or much lighter going to be THAT much more fun to drive day to day???
My answer would be a light car with decent hp. If I were to pick a car I wanted more than the RX-8, it would have to be the Elise, in regular or SC form. That car weights around 2000 lbs. The problem with the Elise is that it is a total toy and totally impractical. The RX-8 can perform everyday duties while being fun. The Elise would stay in the garage until a sunny warm day.
Aside from toys like the Elise, the RX-8 is already one of the lighter cars on the market, particularly if you talk about a car with any real practicality. I know the current RX-8 is dead in the marketplace for all practical purposes. But, in the real world in real world driving conditions, is a RX that is much more powerful or much lighter going to be THAT much more fun to drive day to day???
02-11-2010, 08:49 AM
#3
All depends on where you drive and what traffic is like. For me, no it won't make a difference because it's an overpopulated rich upper class yuppie neighborhood I live in. We get traffic being near the neighboring state all the time and it's freaking ridiculous. Takes me 30 minutes to go 10 miles to get to work.
Only on the highway or trips is it worth it but I'm content with what I got..................
Until I move back to the boonies.
Only on the highway or trips is it worth it but I'm content with what I got..................
Until I move back to the boonies.
02-11-2010, 08:56 AM
#4
went back to srsly broke
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Personally, I agree with the sentiment wholeheartedly. The car is already great around corners; giving it a bit more straight-line speed would be the ****. Especially if I don't have to shift down to 4th just to pass people and climb uphill.
02-11-2010, 09:34 AM
#5
We always want more than we have. When I first drove the '8 I was impressed with its "pick up.' But of course later in my life with the vehicle I find myself wanting more, even tho' I know I have enough for my typical street-spirited driving. I've NA modded my '8 about as much as I'm willing to do short of an engine rebuild/porting (better intake and exhaust flow, Cobb AP tuned by MM, BHR iginition). I endlessly evaluate FI and Nitrous, but just as endlessly overide my impulse with the practicality of overall reliability and frugal consideration of ease of resale (or ease of potential engine replacement should the need arise). I still may go Nitrous this season tho'..... 
02-11-2010, 10:22 AM
#7
I dont go WOT all of the time and I live in an area without that much traffic. So honestly if the rx8 would have just a little bit more hp, like the greddy or pettit to put it close to 300 that would be great in my opinion.
Kanes got it right when he says much past that you really just wasted money unless your going to track it
Kanes got it right when he says much past that you really just wasted money unless your going to track it
02-11-2010, 01:03 PM
#10
What I think is actually more relevant for a daily driver is ; how much torque do you really need ? Somewhere around 200+ ft/lbs in the 3-5500 range seems like plenty to me . Most of your daily driving is in that range .
300whp at 7500rpm is something you utilise infrequently (unless you are a nutter) although that does seem to be a good benchmark.
300whp at 7500rpm is something you utilise infrequently (unless you are a nutter) although that does seem to be a good benchmark.
Last edited by Brettus; 02-11-2010 at 01:06 PM.
02-11-2010, 01:16 PM
#11
^ true that Brettus. In traffic our superb maneuverability is a plus, but really needs to be further augmented by a bit more torque. I've always considered myself an offensive driver in that I try to preemptively avoid potential hazards (e.g. poorly skilled drivers as well as road). I rarely need off the line or top end speed, but often need more rapid at-speed acceleration.
02-11-2010, 01:35 PM
#14
A) Torque does no work
B) Torque times rpm ======== horsepower!
Why bring up irrelevant information?
Since I am too lazy to type.
http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles...que/index.html
B) Torque times rpm ======== horsepower!
Why bring up irrelevant information?
Since I am too lazy to type.
http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles...que/index.html
Torque is the static measurement of how much work an engine does, while power is a measure of how fast the work is being done.
02-11-2010, 01:45 PM
#16
A) Torque does no work
B) Torque times rpm ======== horsepower!
Why bring up irrelevant information?
Since I am too lazy to type.
http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles...que/index.html
B) Torque times rpm ======== horsepower!
Why bring up irrelevant information?
Since I am too lazy to type.
http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles...que/index.html
You can't give me a single number , which is why torque is relevant when talking mid range .
02-11-2010, 01:50 PM
#17
Really.
I don't understand the last two points.
Torque is the primary engine characteristic from which the more talked-about horsepower value is derived, as Kane points out.
As far as torque being "overrated", the area under the torque curve, as well as its distribution is an indicator of an engine's performance; just compare two strokes and four strokes of similar tune and see where the power lies.
Gains in high end rpm typically come at the cost of low end torque without some type of manifold pressure boosting system or variability in combustion timing. High torque motors generally achieve maximum hp before maximum rpm, but can drive a higher gearset.
The way I see it, what matters is not horsepower, but how it's made and how well it suits your needs, and that all is based on... torque.
I don't understand the last two points.
Torque is the primary engine characteristic from which the more talked-about horsepower value is derived, as Kane points out.
As far as torque being "overrated", the area under the torque curve, as well as its distribution is an indicator of an engine's performance; just compare two strokes and four strokes of similar tune and see where the power lies.
Gains in high end rpm typically come at the cost of low end torque without some type of manifold pressure boosting system or variability in combustion timing. High torque motors generally achieve maximum hp before maximum rpm, but can drive a higher gearset.
The way I see it, what matters is not horsepower, but how it's made and how well it suits your needs, and that all is based on... torque.
02-11-2010, 02:10 PM
#25
Does that make me a nutter?
Oh no. Here we go again.
Torque does ALL the work. Horsepower IS work, it doesn't "do" it.
Time is what makes force INTO work.
Torque, utilizing the TOOL that is TIME creates work.
Horsepower is a measurement of the work that torque does.
If you geared each of those motors appropriately, they would be completely equal.
Last edited by MazdaManiac; 02-11-2010 at 02:13 PM.