Utilising the power on a VERY powerful car...

Utilising the power on a VERY powerful car...

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Discussion

ging84

8,829 posts

145 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
quotequote all
if people think a car on the road is just a mode of transport
what the fk are they doing on this forum?

MC Bodge

21,552 posts

174 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
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E65Ross said:
True. But I'd bet my bottom dollar that if it got the same mpg and cost the same to run etc then you'd have rather done the same trip in something with a bigger engine.

You may not have got there any faster, but I'd be pretty confident that at SOME POINT you'd have had that little bit more fun in something with a sodding great V12. And for that little bit of fun, it so makes it worth it in my opinion, and because of that little bit of fun, it's not pointless. But 100% agree that you don't NEED a big engine.

But then, I don't NEED a HD TV, but I quite like it compared to one with poorer quality.
Maybe. I no longer do the miles I used to and may buy a petrol car next time, if I can find a suitable
One. A faster car does allow for
More overtaking out of uphill hairpins, I'll give you that, but a 2.0TD is not the work of the devil that some appear to think.

It's not about the car though. One of my best ever drives was in a Ford Eco Sport ....across the desert and The Andes. Driving an MGB is quite fun too.

Ps. I have a CRT TV too wink

Edited by MC Bodge on Wednesday 26th November 20:09

MC Bodge

21,552 posts

174 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
quotequote all
ging84 said:
if people think a car on the road is just a mode of transport
what the fk are they doing on this forum?
Who thinks that?

mikerons88

239 posts

112 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
quotequote all
MC Bodge said:
Maybe. I no longer do the miles I used to and may buy a petrol car next time, if I can find a suitable
One. A faster car does allow for
More overtaking out of uphill hairpins, I'll give you that, but a 2.0TD is not the work of the devil that some appear to think.

It's not about the car though. One of my best ever drives was in a Ford Eco Sport ....across the desert and The Andes. Driving an MGB is quite fun too.

Ps. I have a CRT TV too wink

Edited by MC Bodge on Wednesday 26th November 20:09
Lots of reverse snobby and justifying st cars. I assume you don't drive anything powerful.

rhinochopig

17,932 posts

197 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
quotequote all
skyrover said:
A throttle is linear, it's not binary

A little self control is all you need wink
Not according to Roy Castle wink

Djtemeka

1,802 posts

191 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
quotequote all
MC Bodge said:
Motorbikes are similar. You pull out, wind on the gas and are easing off before completing an overtake.
-More usable(in good conditions) than a fast car due to the small size, although a torquey mid-weight is more than adequate.

A sports 1000 is very fast. I don't know what the latest 200bhp ones are like...

Edited by MC Bodge on Tuesday 25th November 12:07
that kind of power makes the bike "boring".
I used to rag my 600 everywhere without too much fear. Now I have 200bhp there is almost no where to open the bike up. I find myself pootling in town at a little over idle in 4th gear. Mind you, that is still pretty fast acceleration though.
i go to santa pod sometimes to scare myself stless. Brands Hatch is on the cards for next year. I've seen 172 on the speedo with full luggage though biggrinhehe

MC Bodge

21,552 posts

174 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
quotequote all
mikerons88 said:
Lots of reverse snobby and justifying st cars. I assume you don't drive anything powerful.
quite right, (I do ride. Bike, though) although you've missed my point.

Edited by MC Bodge on Wednesday 26th November 23:42

BlueEyedBoy

1,918 posts

195 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
quotequote all
I just rode home from work on some a and b roads on my bike in heavy rain, in pretty much any car I would have went faster as visibility through the visor was appauling and the rodes slippy.

All this talk that bikes are faster is generally talking about nice dry conditions. I ride my bike pretty much all year round, and prefer my car over the bike any day of the week.

I also have a Z4M (and also had previously a 4.5 Cerbera) and don't / didn't struggle at all using most of the power regulary in 1st to 3rd.

SonicHedgeHog

2,534 posts

181 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
quotequote all
This is the eternal problem. I've got a 1.6 petrol Fiesta Zetec S. Brilliant car. Terrific ride, steering and handling. Good gearbox and a decent engine. All wrapped up in a stylish practical package. 120bhp is perfect for driving around town and around Surrey's B roads where I spend most of my time. However, it's no good on the motorway. Driving home late at night, knackered I'm crying out for a big torquey engine and an auto 'box. But If I buy that kind of car it'll be crap on the B roads. I just go round and round in circles. I can see why people buy Golf GTIs because even though they leave me rather cold they are the closest thing to the perfect all round car available today. Boring but true.

crosseyedlion

2,170 posts

197 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
quotequote all
Randomthoughts said:
crosseyedlion said:
Now, how many 200hp+ diesel cars are on the road? Not many
Merc 250 CDI upwards, BMW x25d upwards, Audi 3.0TDI upwards, Volvo D5, Ford 2.2TDCI, Jaguar 3.0 TDI... Getting bored of that one now.

crosseyedlion said:
How many 200hp+ hot hatches are on the road? Not many.
Corsa VXR, Fiesta ST, RenaultSport Clio for the last 5+ years, every RenaultSport Megane, Astra VXR, Focus ST for the last 7+ years, Audi TT TFSI, Golf GTI, Volvo C30/V40 T5, Kia Pro'Ceed GT... Again, getting bored.
You missed my point entirely, the fact is most car's aren't those listed. Look at the cars on he average British commute or supermarket car park.

1 in 100 being golf mk5 r32 performance or faster is a about right. And having driven 3 of the diesels listed and 4 of the hatches listed, the ones I've driven wouldn't beat the golf in a straight line.

And saying you're bored with something when it was my first comment on it is one hell of an attitude.

H100S

1,436 posts

172 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
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mikerons88 said:
Baryonyx said:
Try a sports bike, it'll redefine what you consider fast.
Even if you already have an Atom with a supercharged honda type r engine?
I've ridden a 600cc sports bike that felt fast but the supercharged Atom i drove was quicker. A 1k sports bike would destroy my 600 but the Atom felt awesome.

Also driven a LP670SV and a F430 but the Atom made them both feel slow.

ORD

18,086 posts

126 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
quotequote all
SonicHedgeHog said:
This is the eternal problem. I've got a 1.6 petrol Fiesta Zetec S. Brilliant car. Terrific ride, steering and handling. Good gearbox and a decent engine. All wrapped up in a stylish practical package. 120bhp is perfect for driving around town and around Surrey's B roads where I spend most of my time. However, it's no good on the motorway. Driving home late at night, knackered I'm crying out for a big torquey engine and an auto 'box. But If I buy that kind of car it'll be crap on the B roads. I just go round and round in circles. I can see why people buy Golf GTIs because even though they leave me rather cold they are the closest thing to the perfect all round car available today. Boring but true.
Golf R (current or R32)

Porsche Cayman/Boxster S

Any fast 3 series

Job done :-)


crosseyedlion

2,170 posts

197 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
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E65Ross said:
MC Bodge said:
E65Ross said:
He wasn't quoting you to be fair, he quoted me who, in turn, quoted someone who said that a big engine was pointless. That'd a big difference to NEEDING something.
I the context of long distance motorway driving, a big, thirsty engine is fairly pointless, though!
Except it isn't though. I recently did 500 miles in a day in my 745i. Having done similar mileage in something with a 2.0 I can assure you that having the 4.4 made the much more pleasant experience!

If anything, having a bigger engine makes more sense on long trips! Much more relaxing, easier for overtakes, far less stressful when getting back up to speed after slower traffic has moved out of your way.... The list goes on.

The only reason, in reality, you'd ever choose to have a smaller engine is the save money. Because one is more expensive, doesn't make it pointless. Longer range, you say? On a long trip, I'd usually stop every 200-250 miles (I've done 300 without stopping, but never more) and often I need to empty my bladder before the car needs filling.

I recall doing a trip from Southampton to Plymouth, going a route which involves very little motorway. It's a nice drive, but get stuck behind one caravan and you can be stuffed, which just annoys me. Something with a big engine means it's easier to get past.... Makes it more fun and less stressful!
I agree with all of that. In a nutshell big engines have a magic ability to shrink journeys, yes I could have driven a 2.0 diesel down to Spain this summer, but I feel better for taking my 5.0 petrol - even more so when I took a detour over the pyrenees, it flattened the climbs.

And that's the point, being more capable over more conditions, having reserves. Even if you don't use them all the time.

Also helps that with bigger engines you normally get more kit, I enjoyed my switchable air suspension and active massage seats that would have been expensive options on the other engined variants. Driving for 7 hours and not feeling like you've done more than a couple of hours and with no aches or fatigue is hugely valuable on a long trip.

30mpg and 500 mile range was nice too.

Basically, a 2.0 will do the job well- a 5.0 better.

BigBen

11,610 posts

229 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
quotequote all
dcb said:
Those folks that buy 4 or more litre cars and then never use most
of the performance make me laugh. Ok they have bragging rights down
the pub, but what a waste !
You actually laugh at them? Bizarre.

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
quotequote all
BigBen said:
dcb said:
Those folks that buy 4 or more litre cars and then never use most
of the performance make me laugh. Ok they have bragging rights down
the pub, but what a waste !
You actually laugh at them? Bizarre.
Bizarre indeed.

People buy cars for all manner of reasons such as the way it looks, the noise it makes, the power it produces, the way it handles... Sometimes just because they like a big engine, and apparently you laugh at them because of that?

I don't own a 4 litre car, but one I do own is a flat six 3.8, just because I like it, and I couldn't give a flying fk about the fuel economy.

I would rather listen to that mechanical orchestra all day long than something that clattered like a van.

getawayturtle

3,560 posts

173 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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jamieduff1981 said:
That's perfect right up until you come up behind a modern diesel which is "well driven" in that rage-inducing manner of driving at the speed limit on the straights but slowing gently and early to speeds which remove any sensation of lateral G from corners. When you catch one of these, they will DEFINATELY ruin your drive, and you need to overtake although on the sort of roads you're likely to be on opportunities may be on the tighter side and you need grunt to get past. Whereas something like an MG Midget was great fun up until this point, the drive is now completely ruined and there's no hope of redemption because someone in front is controlling your speed.
A brilliant point. I loved my mk1 MX5, but had many drives ruined by someone dithering about on a tight twisty road. I'm in a 326hp Impreza now which I'm still getting to grips with, but I can get my overtakes done so quickly and just keep pressing on, it's lovely. I know the two cars require totally different driving styles, but I'm able to enjoy the Impreza a lot more because other people can't ruin the fun.

R33dk

74 posts

112 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
quotequote all
My Nissan R33 gtst four door ,
Runs around 280-300bhp
4.1 diff
18inch wheels with 255 rubber on the rear.

Never felt the need for more power, will leave a 46 m3 easily enough.
In fact most things this side of £50k haven't been much of a threat.

My priorities aren't power , purely chassis mods helping in putting the power down and keeping the front wheels pointing the right way.

Of course I would love 500+bhp but seriously I find what I have being more than enough on uk roads.

Dk

amusingduck

9,396 posts

135 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
quotequote all
R33dk said:
My Nissan R33 gtst four door ,
Runs around 280-300bhp

Never felt the need for more power, will leave a 46 m3 easily enough.
In fact most things this side of £50k haven't been much of a threat.
M3 = 338hp / 1549kg = 218hp/Tonne
R33 = 280-300hp / 1390kg = 201-215hp/Tonne

Lets be honest, you're not leaving an E46 M3 for dust if you're only making 280-300hp. And there are plenty of cars under 50k which would comfortably leave you behind.

Pan Pan

1,116 posts

126 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
quotequote all
getawayturtle said:
jamieduff1981 said:
That's perfect right up until you come up behind a modern diesel which is "well driven" in that rage-inducing manner of driving at the speed limit on the straights but slowing gently and early to speeds which remove any sensation of lateral G from corners. When you catch one of these, they will DEFINATELY ruin your drive, and you need to overtake although on the sort of roads you're likely to be on opportunities may be on the tighter side and you need grunt to get past. Whereas something like an MG Midget was great fun up until this point, the drive is now completely ruined and there's no hope of redemption because someone in front is controlling your speed.
A brilliant point. I loved my mk1 MX5, but had many drives ruined by someone dithering about on a tight twisty road. I'm in a 326hp Impreza now which I'm still getting to grips with, but I can get my overtakes done so quickly and just keep pressing on, it's lovely. I know the two cars require totally different driving styles, but I'm able to enjoy the Impreza a lot more because other people can't ruin the fun.
This is like turning into your favourite twisty driving road, in your favourite driving car, going around the first bend and finding a Nissan Micra puttering along there smile

TheAngryDog

12,394 posts

208 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
quotequote all
amusingduck said:
M3 = 338hp / 1549kg = 218hp/Tonne
R33 = 280-300hp / 1390kg = 201-215hp/Tonne

Lets be honest, you're not leaving an E46 M3 for dust if you're only making 280-300hp. And there are plenty of cars under 50k which would comfortably leave you behind.
In his defence, he is running a short diff, which will affect the acceleration and lower vmax.