How Much HP Do You Really Need???
02-13-2010, 09:58 PM
#101
It's a Cavalier
Some talk about 500 hp like the wheels will catch on fire and the fenders will blow off if you leave a stop light at part throttle. LOL.
I understand, though. Stock RX8 owners instinctively use every ounce of power to get around. I know I did. It would be a different mindset if you had gobs of power to spare. It's not insane to have 500 hp RX8 on the street... you just use it when you want to, and not when you need to.
I understand, though. Stock RX8 owners instinctively use every ounce of power to get around. I know I did. It would be a different mindset if you had gobs of power to spare. It's not insane to have 500 hp RX8 on the street... you just use it when you want to, and not when you need to.
02-13-2010, 10:01 PM
#103
It's a Cavalier
02-13-2010, 10:09 PM
#105
Super Moderator
Bathurst 12 Hour is currently ON NOW....
A few Mazda's in it...3 or more Speed 3's MPS..
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Placings
http://bathurst12hour.com.au/live_results.asp
A few Mazda's in it...3 or more Speed 3's MPS..
http://bathurst12hour.com.au/
Placings
http://bathurst12hour.com.au/live_results.asp
02-14-2010, 10:25 AM
#108
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02-14-2010, 11:39 AM
#109
It's a Cavalier
02-14-2010, 12:29 PM
#110
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In answer to your question, yes a Z06 vette IS pointless on public streets. The highest speed limit in my area is 65 mph. Get caught going more than 20 mph over the limit and you have to go to driving school and your insurance goes thru the roof.
There is NO PLACE to responsibly use 500 mph on public streets! And you know this! Get real!
There is NO PLACE to responsibly use 500 mph on public streets! And you know this! Get real!
02-14-2010, 01:02 PM
#112
It's a Cavalier
In answer to your question, yes a Z06 vette IS pointless on public streets. The highest speed limit in my area is 65 mph. Get caught going more than 20 mph over the limit and you have to go to driving school and your insurance goes thru the roof.
There is NO PLACE to responsibly use 500 mph on public streets! And you know this! Get real!
There is NO PLACE to responsibly use 500 mph on public streets! And you know this! Get real!
02-14-2010, 01:13 PM
#113
lol. Assuming you have the corresponding proper equipment, it might not actually make much of a difference. With bad wheel/tire width choices, a civic could be pretty dangerous. Using 500 hp might not be the safest, thing... but I dont think it's guaranteed to be unsafe.
02-14-2010, 01:34 PM
#114
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So we are talking about being able to use all the power without getting into much trouble? Are we talking about the practicality of having 500HP in a 3000 lb car? A driver like me would find time but for everyday use on public streets for the average person, I would say no IMO.
02-14-2010, 01:45 PM
#115
Look there are 2 mindsets to this.... and I think this whole question of how much HP you need DOES apply to the majority of us who enjoy a good run through the gears into the triple digits here and there. There are certain roads/ "spots" around me where I know it's clear, there are no turn-offs or side streets etc etc where I feel pretty comfortable enjoying my WOT goodness and I don't feel irresponsible doing it. Granted, I only have 200hp at the wheels, but even so. Don't knock it just because you've never been over 65mph....
02-14-2010, 02:22 PM
#116
It's a Cavalier
Look there are 2 mindsets to this.... and I think this whole question of how much HP you need DOES apply to the majority of us who enjoy a good run through the gears into the triple digits here and there. There are certain roads/ "spots" around me where I know it's clear, there are no turn-offs or side streets etc etc where I feel pretty comfortable enjoying my WOT goodness and I don't feel irresponsible doing it. Granted, I only have 200hp at the wheels, but even so. Don't knock it just because you've never been over 65mph....
Now some days, I'm out there all alone, and I might grab a hard 3rd gear pull, but that's rare.
02-14-2010, 03:43 PM
#117
Yah, that makes sense. To me, I don't have to hit triple digit speeds. Taking off slowly from a light, rolling into the throttle in 1st and finding the limit of adhesion, modulate the throttle, and shift nicely, not hard into 2nd, and starting over again is a blast. Shift lighly out of 2nd to 3rd at about 65mph, I haven't really even broken the speed limit, not put anybody at risk, but to feel that nice bit of power... its just plain fun. I've driven a couple of cars with 700 hp, and with better tires than I have, the way to drive it on the street is basically the same, but it just pulls soooo much harder. You would be a complete idiot to hammer the 2nd or 3rd gear shift in a car like that because you be all over the place or just "sit n spin". You just learn very quickly to respect the hp.
Now some days, I'm out there all alone, and I might grab a hard 3rd gear pull, but that's rare.
Now some days, I'm out there all alone, and I might grab a hard 3rd gear pull, but that's rare.
WOT is where its at, I would not want a car that you couldnt go WOT because imo that feels like a compromise. granted its all the horsepower but whats the point of all that horsepower if you cant harness it to the ground? Ive had this talk with my friend who has the same gen GTO as you and lucky for me he understands that and loves the way the 8 feels, but for most of the muscle car guys out there (Stangs) they dont understand that. I guess I should say to each his own, but I still stand my what I originally said.
02-14-2010, 03:44 PM
#118
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300rwhp would be lovely
people always say you dont need that power cuz theres speed limit every where
they obviously need to go back to high school and relearn the difference between speed and acceleration
love some savagery acceleration always
people always say you dont need that power cuz theres speed limit every where
they obviously need to go back to high school and relearn the difference between speed and acceleration
love some savagery acceleration always
02-14-2010, 03:57 PM
#120
WOT is where its at, I would not want a car that you couldnt go WOT because imo that feels like a compromise. granted its all the horsepower but whats the point of all that horsepower if you cant harness it to the ground? Ive had this talk with my friend who has the same gen GTO as you and lucky for me he understands that and loves the way the 8 feels, but for most of the muscle car guys out there (Stangs) they dont understand that. I guess I should say to each his own, but I still stand my what I originally said.
02-14-2010, 04:06 PM
#121
A lot of cars can't grip very well at WOT in first or second gear... but if you can grip in third gear, then you can put that power to use. I've lost traction in the 8 at WOT in 1st gear and I don't think anyone's complaining about the 8 having too much power. It's all a matter of control until you get to the point where traction is not an issue.
Yes sir i did not consider that, but id assume most cars that cant go WOT in first are RWD cars and not AWD cars, my point was the car being completely useless because you cant control the car with all of that Horsepower. whats the point of power if you cant use it and transfer it to the ground? Oversteer is fun but it can get annoying when every time the slightest tap of the throttle causes your car to go sideways. Thats pretty much what Motor Trend said about the Vette ZR1 in their annual 10 best handling cars competition they had. Which is why the Miata won, and why the 8 the year before ranked really close to first.
imo 10:1 is perfect, which is what most of the turbo'd 8s on here are getting, if not more, hell they are getting 270Whp so they have more than a 10:1 ratio. I myself have gotten a ride in a turbo'd 8 and lets just say its a completely different car.
Last edited by WTBRotary!; 02-14-2010 at 04:08 PM.
02-14-2010, 06:03 PM
#122
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I can understand 275-300 hp. I can understand how that additional power would transform the RX-8 by giving it the low end grunt that it could use. I could see adding FI once I was out of warranty and sort of creating a brand new car in a sense.
500 hp is like trying to turn the RX-8 into something it is not, which is a muscle car. And triple digit speeds in the greater DC Metro area is insane. We have these things called deer and they often get in the way along with something we call cops. Triple digits is a non-starter here.
500 hp is like trying to turn the RX-8 into something it is not, which is a muscle car. And triple digit speeds in the greater DC Metro area is insane. We have these things called deer and they often get in the way along with something we call cops. Triple digits is a non-starter here.
02-14-2010, 07:52 PM
#123
It's a Cavalier
I can understand 275-300 hp. I can understand how that additional power would transform the RX-8 by giving it the low end grunt that it could use. I could see adding FI once I was out of warranty and sort of creating a brand new car in a sense.
500 hp is like trying to turn the RX-8 into something it is not, which is a muscle car. And triple digit speeds in the greater DC Metro area is insane. We have these things called deer and they often get in the way along with something we call cops. Triple digits is a non-starter here.
500 hp is like trying to turn the RX-8 into something it is not, which is a muscle car. And triple digit speeds in the greater DC Metro area is insane. We have these things called deer and they often get in the way along with something we call cops. Triple digits is a non-starter here.
02-14-2010, 09:07 PM
#124
I think horsepower is all relative, just like speed.
For example, when I first got my RX-8, I thought it was "decently" fast. It very quickly became slow. Did the car actually physically slow down? No, but I was just getting used to it's power and thus more acclimated.
Once I added the turbo kit, just off wastegate the car was scaring me! Then slowly I once again became used to the power, upped the boost, and soon 9psi felt slow again. Then so did 12psi. Finally 14psi was scaring me enough I didn't touch it for a while, but I still had the itch.
For example, when I first got my RX-8, I thought it was "decently" fast. It very quickly became slow. Did the car actually physically slow down? No, but I was just getting used to it's power and thus more acclimated.
Once I added the turbo kit, just off wastegate the car was scaring me! Then slowly I once again became used to the power, upped the boost, and soon 9psi felt slow again. Then so did 12psi. Finally 14psi was scaring me enough I didn't touch it for a while, but I still had the itch.
02-14-2010, 09:27 PM
#125
I think horsepower is all relative, just like speed.
For example, when I first got my RX-8, I thought it was "decently" fast. It very quickly became slow. Did the car actually physically slow down? No, but I was just getting used to it's power and thus more acclimated.
Once I added the turbo kit, just off wastegate the car was scaring me! Then slowly I once again became used to the power, upped the boost, and soon 9psi felt slow again. Then so did 12psi. Finally 14psi was scaring me enough I didn't touch it for a while, but I still had the itch.
For example, when I first got my RX-8, I thought it was "decently" fast. It very quickly became slow. Did the car actually physically slow down? No, but I was just getting used to it's power and thus more acclimated.
Once I added the turbo kit, just off wastegate the car was scaring me! Then slowly I once again became used to the power, upped the boost, and soon 9psi felt slow again. Then so did 12psi. Finally 14psi was scaring me enough I didn't touch it for a while, but I still had the itch.
