How much power can a FWD car have?

How much power can a FWD car have?

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Discussion

V8RX7

26,765 posts

262 months

Saturday 25th April 2015
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Axionknight said:
V8RX7 said:
It can have as much as you can afford.

But trying to make a fast exit from an uphill T junction I can tell you that even a mere 180bhp can't be deployed by a Leon Cupra.
That's because it's a crap car.
Depends what you're comparing it to and what you want it for.

But yes, as are 99% of FWD cars.

The problem being that there aren't many RWD cars around these days, combined with the vast majority of new cars being dull due to both their weight and design.


moustache

292 posts

110 months

Saturday 25th April 2015
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I drive a 9-5 HOT Aero and it CAN torque steer like a good un. The torque is limited in first and second because the wheels spin easily, especially when damp. However, when moving and accelerating hard, the thing is epic for such a big car and mine hasn't been remapped yet!

I'd have to say that after its map to stage 1 (275bhp and 440nm) I think that would be a sensible limit. The remap should hopefully give it some go at lower revs, as it is a little slow to pick up. Thing with that car is, you hit 90mph in third and change to fourth gear and there is a massive wave of torque and it just keeps pulling hard.

carl_w

9,154 posts

257 months

Saturday 25th April 2015
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Focus RS500 was 345bhp through the front wheels. Chevy Monte Carlo put 303 bhp of LS4 V8 goodness through the front wheels.

likesachange

2,630 posts

193 months

Saturday 25th April 2015
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I've had a number of powerful FWD cars.

All depends on the car (weight/gearing/power delivery/diff)
250 seemed adequate for first 2-3 gears in 147gta but then it felt a little gutless truth be told...
420 in the focus RS was bonkers and too much for first 2 gears but fine for rest (only in dry)

A LSD over 250 is a must and pilot super sports or something similar...

A guy I know has his focus RS in for 1000bhp, don't worry it will only be FWD for a few months until winter

griffin dai

3,194 posts

148 months

Saturday 25th April 2015
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470-480 in my old SAAB 9000 Aero.

320 in this SAAB 9-3 Aero, aiming for 400 over summer.

No issues with either really, obviously 1st will spin of you just floor it, but both still managed a respectable 0-60 smile
Anyway....torques where it's at wink

Olivera

7,065 posts

238 months

Saturday 25th April 2015
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Depends on many factors such as tyres, if a limited slip-diff is present, chassis rigidity and front suspension design. Archaic chassis such as old Saabs and Volvo T5s are much poorer than putting the power down than say a revo-knuckled Focus RS or latest Leon Cupra.

philmots

4,630 posts

259 months

Sunday 26th April 2015
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2.4 T5 310hp

Fine in the dry, terrible in the wet.

PorkFan

291 posts

179 months

Sunday 26th April 2015
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The problem isn't really bhp but torque. My k20 dc2 (Integra with a modified newer shape civic type r engine for non honda geeks) had maybe 240-250bhp, a propper plated LSD and had absolutely no problem putting every bit of power to the ground. It could maintain traction through first and second gear unless you deliberately provoked wheelspin by being agressive with the clutch.

From what I've read Rotrex supercharged Hondas even in the 4-500 bhp range dont really have traction problems either due to the way the power builds more gradually than say a turbo 400bhp.

Ive also had a front wheel drive Nissan sunny GTi with a GTiR engine that was making maybe 350-370 bhp (again with a proper plated LSD) that could break traction in 5th gear at 100mph by simply flooring the go pedal.

I deffinately think there is more to the equation than bhp alone...RPM helps a lot

VolvoT5

4,155 posts

173 months

Sunday 26th April 2015
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kapiteinlangzaam said:
gamefreaks said:
Corbeliere said:
My missus has a V70 2.4 petrol turbo which is BSR tuned. It's about 252BHP with 410Nm torque. To be honest, that's about all I would consider as if you floor it from a stand it simply spins the wheels. On the move it's a different story though, it really does get a move on.
I had a vanilla P2 T5. (250bhp IIRC)

If you planted your foot, the traction control light would be flickering all the way through 1st, 2nd and 3rd all the way up to about 90mph. (allegedly!)

It certainly had 'adequate' power for the drivetrain!
Another ex-t5 owner here (P2 with 230bhp).

It had decent tyres, but in anything other than bone dry conditions it would spin up the wheels in 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Bloody good fun for an anonymous dog wagon.
^ X2. Had several T5s, autos as well which kills the power a bit. All would spin up the wheels in anything other than bone dry conditions... even at 60mph+.
Fun maybe? but not really getting the most out of the engine. Shame because for such old/huge cars they went around corners OK.

Fleckers

2,851 posts

200 months

Sunday 26th April 2015
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I guess this 8 second focus has a fair bit

http://www.superstreetonline.com/features/custom-2...


anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 26th April 2015
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Depends on how well the car is set up - I had a Mondeo ST220 which never struggled to put down its power, even in the wet. I would've thought you could get 250 - 270bhp down without significant issues.

Cyder

7,045 posts

219 months

Sunday 26th April 2015
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V8RX7 said:
It can have as much as you can afford.

But trying to make a fast exit from an uphill T junction I can tell you that even a mere 180bhp can't be deployed by a Leon Cupra.
280ish doesn't seem to be too much of a problem in the old mans shiny new Cupra.

14-7

6,233 posts

190 months

Sunday 26th April 2015
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I love my current work cars, several 530d BMW's, Insignia VXR, Audi 3LTR TDi, few other toys, but even though I love the 530's they don't compare to my old 147GTA with a limited slip diff. That thing gripped like st! bks to 4wd or RWD.

JordanTurbo

937 posts

140 months

Sunday 26th April 2015
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My old turbocharged Astra had about 370bhp through the front wheels with a Quaife LSD and it handled the power well.

Took it up to about 280-300 without the LSD before it started to really struggle with traction.

People moan about torque steer in FWD cars but quite like it, adds some excitement to the drive IMO.

framerateuk

2,730 posts

183 months

Sunday 26th April 2015
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The current R.S Meganes handle very well with 250-275HP.

Fast FWD cars need to be driven smoothly, they don't react so well to stabbing the throttle, you need to feed it in, but once you're going there's no issues. My 250 has been great in the wet too.

It doesn't quite have the finesse of a RWD car out of tight bends, but it's fun in other ways.

aka_kerrly

12,416 posts

209 months

Monday 27th April 2015
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PorkFan said:
The problem isn't really bhp but torque.
I'm inclined to agree but would add that throttle control is essential.

It does nark me off when people make statements like 200hp/250/300 is too much because you can spin the wheels. It's such rubbish that people blame the car for their own lack of self control.

FYI PorkFan , I've survived many laps in a 360hp K20 rotrexed EP3 with Kaaz diff and Yoko AD08s , rain or shine it puts down a staggering amount of power.

thetrash

1,847 posts

205 months

Tuesday 28th April 2015
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aka_kerrly said:
PorkFan said:
The problem isn't really bhp but torque.
I'm inclined to agree but would add that throttle control is essential.

It does nark me off when people make statements like 200hp/250/300 is too much because you can spin the wheels. It's such rubbish that people blame the car for their own lack of self control.

FYI PorkFan , I've survived many laps in a 360hp K20 rotrexed EP3 with Kaaz diff and Yoko AD08s , rain or shine it puts down a staggering amount of power.
Same here, I had a 400bhp/249lbft rotrex'd Civic and it was fine.

bloodfart

170 posts

170 months

Tuesday 28th April 2015
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Currently have 425bhp/433lbft in a 20 year old VW with a Quaife. The hairiness just adds to the fun hehe Launching from a standstill is a no go, but I had it built to make my M25 commute more fun. I have since bought a diesel for winter and poor weather duties as traction can be an issue.

kiseca

9,339 posts

218 months

Tuesday 28th April 2015
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aka_kerrly said:
PorkFan said:
The problem isn't really bhp but torque.
I'm inclined to agree but would add that throttle control is essential.

It does nark me off when people make statements like 200hp/250/300 is too much because you can spin the wheels. It's such rubbish that people blame the car for their own lack of self control.

FYI PorkFan , I've survived many laps in a 360hp K20 rotrexed EP3 with Kaaz diff and Yoko AD08s , rain or shine it puts down a staggering amount of power.
If you have to use partial throttle to avoid spinning the wheels, that's admitting that the car has more power than it can manage.

When the driver then spins the wheels, it means that the driver is failing to compensate for a limitation of the car. It doesn't mean that the car's limitation no longer exists.

Gandahar

9,600 posts

127 months

Tuesday 28th April 2015
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600bhp is fine as long as you drive everywhere in reverse.