Lets be fair, how much power do you need!!!

[XR6 Hulk]

I had the T modified to 307rwkw. took it for a spin and thought, surely I dont need this much power. Can only go 60km/h, cant street race, not towing a boat, noone to run. Took the Hyundai Getz for a drive and thought, this car has enough power for everyday commuting.

I say a family car with 200kw at the motor (160rwkw) is more than enough power. Do we want more power because we need it or is it because gotta be better than your next door neighbour and you want bragging rights at the BBQ??

[Yellow_Festiva]

57kw has done me fine for the last 7 years : When Im at a BBQ I win bragging rights for having the LEAST power lol :

[nugget378]

For basic commuting you really only need enough power to move you with the traffic,same thing can be said about anything in life,do you need a huge house that could house a football team etc,or is a unit enough to live?
But we are what we are and it makes life as we know it possible,how else would we have our well paying jobs if people didnt spend on what they dont absolutely need.

[Melchior3]

I think it's bragging rights and the knowledge that you can smoke em up at any given moment if you want to, not because you do it all the time or street race etc. Though you can go to the drags if you wish to.

I think the main reason is because it's fun modifying cars, stock cars are boring.

[ck11]

Have always wanted to post this question because it would be really interesting to see the views of the turbo and v8 owners. Especially in the current climate of speed cameras and traffic congestion. Not to mention rumours about electronic speed limiters in the future.

Wouldnt it be incredibly frustrating to have a powerful car but restricted to 60km/h-80km/h in many parts of sydney ( i wont starts on victoria's speed tolerances)? I am lucky to hit 70km/h in many of my routes. Freeways would be just as bad with the ridiculous speedlimits. Would be looking out for police and cameras more than enjoying the car.

If its about the acceleration or torque, couldnt a smaller capacity turbo or diesel engine give the same feel?

Have always aspired to own a v8 or turbo 6, but driving in australia has really put me off.

[plext]

The desire to build or invent something better has been with humans for a long time. It's what took us out of caves and will be around for a long time hence.

Add to this the desire (particularly in males) for the adrenaline rush now and then, particularly in an ever more cotton wool wrapped, OH&S friendly world and you net a percentage of the population that requires an outlet, be it extreme sports or luridly fast vehicles.

At the end of the day, no matter our veneer of civilisation, we are still animals that respond to certain instincts and generally find a way to fulfill them.

[bingoTE50]

My TE had 200kw ex factory and it is fine. I had a Caprice with 240kw but the TE is better to drive. I would rather have a nice looking car than outright power.
I have a turbo diesel triton GLXR ( new) and I have more trouble keeping it under the speed limit due to the narrow rev range (auto). Between 2000 rpm & 3000 rpm you can do between 100k and 135 kmh ,not much to work with .
So for me a nice looking car rather than outright grunt!

[LTDHO]

IMO the most you need is 200kw and enough torque to tow a caravan confortably.

Any more is a waste.

I have retired from the 'chasing every kw' race.

[Powdered Toast Man]

Originally Posted by ck11

If its about the acceleration or torque, couldnt a smaller capacity turbo or diesel engine give the same feel?

True, but it doesn't have that V8 sound :sm_drool:

I have a V8 with "only" 230kw or so and it frustrates me that I can't use it 80% of the time. But for those long drives in the country I love the rush of torque when you give it some.

I love having a torquey engine because I'm not a big fan of revving the tits off my car but I seriously think my next car will probably be either a turbo diesel or a turbo petrol hatch for those exact reasons.

There is just nowhere to use a V8 or hipo turbo in surburbia anymore. If I actually lived in or near the city and only commuted on roads with low speed limits then I wouldn't have even bought my BA.

The only reason I buy V8s is for the "prestige" and the sound (ie bragging rights), a base n/a 6 has more than enough go for day to day use.

[XYGTHO]

Originally Posted by LTDHO

IMO the most you need is 200kw and enough torque to tow a caravan confortably.

Any more is a waste.

I have retired from the 'chasing every kw' race.

LOL from the man with 360rwkw. I think for me its the adrenilan, thorttle response, kick in the pants and also the sound of a highly revving and highly tuned motor. It feels good to be able to give it a squirt through the gears. I can loose traction whenever i like howevr now how to drive to get off the mark quick without loosing traction. I don't want my car confiscated.
Its the same as having great brakes i suppose. If you judge and leave the room you can pull up fine with standard brakes, just feels so much better with good brekes under your right foot.

[KBBossedXR]

I had the T modified to 307rwkw. took it for a spin and thought, surely I dont need this much power. Can only go 60km/h, cant street race, not towing a boat, noone to run. Took the Hyundai Getz for a drive and thought, this car has enough power for everyday commuting.

I say a family car with 200kw at the motor (160rwkw) is more than enough power. Do we want more power because we need it or is it because gotta be better than your next door neighbour and you want bragging rights at the BBQ??

Its simple drive on the road like your ment to, and get yourself out to the Drags and have fun driving your now modified car,
You will be able to have plenty races against people, go as fast as you want, flatten it of the lights, as for towing the boat you got the wrong car for that anyway.
If you disagree with all of this as a suggestion i suggest you sell the car and go buy a Hillman Hunter as that was the first car that i drove on the road and it barely done the speed limit.

[merlin]

I cant really answer the question "how much power do you need"? as there is too many other factors!

What about weight, torque, power delivery/torque curves?

There is speed limits, camera's ect. but no laws on how fast you can accelarate to the limit and for me this is what I enjoy in both cars and bikes - acceleration and engine responsivness.

My bike has 80kw but can acellerate to 100 in under 3 seconds - is this enough power? A Renault Clio can accelerate to 100 in around 6 seconds with what 120kws? A family saloon needs 240kw for the same resiult. The question to me does not make sense.

[T3ts50]

Originally Posted by XYGTHO

I think for me its the adrenilan, thorttle response, kick in the pants and also the sound of a highly revving and highly tuned motor. It feels good to be able to give it a squirt through the gears.

Couldnt have said it better my self.

[Jeeepers]

I say 260-300 rwkw is a sweet all rounder, and something that will always thrill. The beauty of the XR6T is it's ability to be driven sedately. My 68 y.o. Mum drove mine the other night, and loved it.

[DivHunter]

Originally Posted by merlin

I cant really answer the question "how much power do you need"? as there is too many other factors!

What about weight, torque, power delivery/torque curves?

There is speed limits, camera's ect. but no laws on how fast you can accelarate to the limit and for me this is what I enjoy in both cars and bikes - acceleration and engine responsivness.

My bike has 80kw but can acellerate to 100 in under 3 seconds - is this enough power? A Renault Clio can accelerate to 100 in around 6 seconds with what 120kws? A family saloon needs 240kw for the same resiult. The question to me does not make sense.

'Excessive Acceleration' is an offence

[RG]

I'm compensating for something

[|||]

remember tim allen when he used to do funny and crazy things in the early 90s like add more power to his lawn mower or soup up every day appliances to give them more power thats sort of how i look at life he was a visionary

[S3SR]

i didnt buy either of my falcons because it had more power than most others.

i bought them because i loved the car, i didnt like small cars (still dont) let alone fit in one, it was big enough to cart around everything i needed to, and fit all my mate comfortably, one thing i am greatful for with having that extra power is when overtaking gun it and im not sitting in front of oncoming traffic.

it was more it had to be something that was comfortable, big enough for me, look good and well be a falcon...... the added power was a bonus

[The Yeti]

is this a trick question? no we dont need more power we / I want it plane and simple,

[xrfranjo]

i went from a 29kw suzuki mightyboy and getting chopped by a state transit bus to the current fun toy.... i am never going back.. just knowing you have something under your right foot is enough, plus it individualises your car as it is not part of the ten million t's produced

[troppo]

Choosing not to use the power is infinitely more pleasurable than not having the power to choose.

[scoupedy]

Its more about power to weight than overall power for me about 350HP ~250Kw in the Landau should be plenty

[ebxr8240]

Its controlled by "the nut" I like having some in reserve though..
Having adjustable power / torque is nice !!!

[xe351]

how much power do you need?

well i have been driving a corolla 1.6 for the last 3 years, and im starting to feel like i have no soul, damn petrol tycoons

[TZENU]

Its a power trip... Knowing you have the power is "power" in itself...

[merlin]

In retrospect the question is similar to asking "How much sex do you need" Too which my current answer would be to stare at you quizically and wonder if you are insane for asking such a question. The answer of course is "Never enough". Then ask me in 20 years time and it would most probably change. In summary both graphs would peak between late teens and mid twenties then slowly diminish with age in a perfect parabolic curve.

[Rev28K]

How much power is enough?

Ideally just enough that your braking and handling are ahead of it (and concentrate on the torque curve rather than just top end). In reality enough that you aren’t vulnerable in traffic.

My car has kept up with plenty of other cars on the track that have double it’s power.

[DivHunter]

I believe the answer is 'more'

[andrewts]

How much power do I need? Probably that of a 2.0L I4.

How much power do I want? A LOT.

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by S3SR

i didnt buy either of my falcons because it had more power than most others.

i bought them because i loved the car, i didnt like small cars (still dont) let alone fit in one, it was big enough to cart around everything i needed to, and fit all my mate comfortably, one thing i am greatful for with having that extra power is when overtaking gun it and im not sitting in front of oncoming traffic.

it was more it had to be something that was comfortable, big enough for me, look good and well be a falcon...... the added power was a bonus

Same here. I buy cars that I like, not the power they make.

No matter how much power you have, there will always be someone with more.