Utilising the power on a VERY powerful car...

[E65Ross]

Yesterday I, again (admittedly for the first time in a while!) drove a new shape BMW M6 and having driven it, it got me wondering whether you can really use the power of anything much faster. It was devastatingly fast and you really, really need to think quite far ahead before you can say "yes, I can now put my foot down" and before you know it, you're at rather silly speeds.

This got me wondering....what on earth something like a full-on hypercar/supercar is like....I mean, it must be absolutely mental. How many of you have cars getting on for that kind of performance and can use it?

Having said all of that, I spent a lot of time driving an E92 M3 before and thought "bloody hell this is quick" but the M6 changed my perspectives on that a little, as it feels noticeably faster. Even on the motorway in 6th or 7th gear is still just PULLS like a train. God knows what something like a McLaren P1 is like on the public road!! I suppose you get used to it, mind.

My 745i feels absolutely glacial in comparison now

[kambites]

I think you can use the power in any car (unless it's actually traction limited up to motorway speed, which as far as I know no production car is in the dry). The question is just how long you can use it for.

I decided a long time ago that I simply don't like road cars which are hugely fast in a straight line. The fact that you can't use all the power very often detracts from the driving experience for me. Anything over about 250bhp/tonne is too much for me on the road.

[TurboHatchback]

I've thought for a long time that there really isn't any point in having more than about 200bhp per ton on the road. I almost never use the whole mighty 150bhp/ton in my Golf, quite how you would ever have space to use 500+bhp on UK roads I have no idea, especially if you plan on keeping your license.

[vtecyo]

Think of the throttle as a dimmer switch rather than on/off and you'll be fine.

Although I can't imagine a P1 at full chat down a B road being much fun at all.

[Z.B]

kambites said:

I think you can use the power in any car (unless it's actually traction limited up to motorway speed, which as far as I know no production car is in the dry). The question is just how long you can use it for.

I decided a long time ago that I simply don't like road cars which are hugely fast in a straight line. The fact that you can't use all the power very often detracts from the driving experience for me. Anything over about 250bhp/tonne is too much for me on the road.

I'm with you. Even past 150bhp/ton it's diminishing returns and figures become fairly irrelevant if you want to drive rather than willy wave. I'd nearly always trade some horsepower for nicer dynamics.

Give me a battered old base spec 911 for the road and save the crazy metal for the track.

[skyrover]

A throttle is linear, it's not binary

A little self control is all you need

[E65Ross]

skyrover said:

A throttle is linear, it's not binary

A little self control is all you need

Yes I know that, but then you aren't utilising all the power are you, you're utilising a bit of it

[skyrover]

Why would you want to use all of it all the time?

It's there for when you want/need it.

Likewise you don't have to hit the speed limit all of the time

[PositronicRay]

The trouble is with the really quick kit you can rarely enjoy it (use all the revs and gears) without being dangerous and or illegal.

[RGambo]

I have the same issue with my RS6, first car I've owned where you have to think about your surroundings a lot more before you consider full gas, even then I would say you have approx. 2-3 seconds of full throttle before you are going WAAAAAAAY too fast for the road, no matter what speed you start at. Over takes become, an exercise in restraint, pull out give the car enough throttle to accelerate quickly and then back off way before you've past the car/lorry.
I can only imaging what a Veyron/ P1/918 650s/ 458 special must be like. It can be a bit frustrating as the hit of acceleration is addictive and you can't get it as often as you would like. )

[T1berious]

I think restraint is the key to anything with a decent power to weight ratio. I mean an Elise has what 150 bhp? but due to its gearing, weight etc if you drive like a nutter, everywhere with zero regard for other road users, it's a big stack soonish.

bring >500 bhp into the mix with a large estate (AMG, RS6, M5 etc) and you're actually in the same boat, you'll be able to loosen the leash on an Autobahn but the rest of the time it's all about measured restraint.

I'm guessing you'll be exercising even more restraint with something really exotic (lightweight / > 450 bhp), outside of a track or unrestricted motorway, you'll be bumbling along like everyone else.

Surely, it's all about "look what my car has the capability of doing!" Rather than (outside of a track) "Woo hoo! look what I'm doing!".

We drive them because of what they can do, rather than actually doing it (track use aside)

Methinks,

T1b

[MC Bodge]

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

[Baryonyx]

Try a sports bike, it'll redefine what you consider fast.

[mikerons88]

T1berious said:

I think restraint is the key to anything with a decent power to weight ratio. I mean an Elise has what 150 bhp? but due to its gearing, weight etc if you drive like a nutter, everywhere with zero regard for other road users, it's a big stack soonish.


T1b

"It's a big stack soonish"
What do you mean?

[mikerons88]

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?

[lufbramatt]

The Caterham Roadsport 140 I had for a day was about 255bhp/ton. You can definitely use that much power on the road

Wouldn't want much more than that though. And it was a hot sunny day! Can imagine it going very wrong very quickly in the damp.

Incidentally I just realised after checking the number plate that it was the exact car featured in the Evo Cayman vs. Caterham shootout:

http://www.evo.co.uk/videos/planetevovideos/292762...

[D1bram]

It's funny - wife's Nissan is about 200bhp/tonne - It always feels MORE than enough on the road to me.

However I've had fast bikes with nigh on 500bhp/tonne (including my weight) and I've found myself utilising much more of it.

I always thought a hypercar would be more like the bike and make you feel like you can use more power than a more everyday powerfull(ish) car.

Only ever been a passenger in an old shape M6 by the way, and even 4 up it made for the horizon at an amazing rate

[Jimmy No Hands]

If you ever have the opportunity to drive or passenger in an FF or an F12, I guarantee that will change your perceptions once again. Mind blowing.

[Rawwr]

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?

Well, the Atom 300 recorded 0-100mph in 6.86s. Most current litre sports bikes will do it in around 5. They're pretty nippy.

[Kitchski]

I don't get as much enjoyment out of mentally-fast cars as I don't enjoy driving them hard on the road. There's too much to worry about, as you're never sure what lies around the next corner, and a split-second decision at high speeds could impact yours and somebody else's lives forever. Sure, there's a novelty to flooring the throttle on something very quick for brief spats, but it wears off after a while. I care more about how fun a car is, rather than outright speed. I'd much rather drive a Lamborghini Miura than an Aventador for example.