Utilising the power on a VERY powerful car...

Utilising the power on a VERY powerful car...

Author
Discussion

SuperchargedVR6

3,138 posts

219 months

Tuesday 25th November 2014
quotequote all
Who looks back on their life and says: "I wish I owned less powerful cars, I wish I had less sex, I wish I partied less, I wish I had a smaller house, I wish I had less money" ?

No one does.

So you've got a Veyron, which according to PH wisdom, can't be enjoyed to the full on public roads because it smashes some de facto p/w ratio. So what? I've got a 1000 watt RMS domestic AV system, which I can't use to the full. Does that mean I should sell it and by a 10 watt stereo because I can play it louder more often?

The whole point of huge power reserves is effortless performance. You can hear and feel the difference between something made to do a specific job and no more, and something made to do a job and THEN SOME. It's the quality of the experience. 1000lbft of thrust from the Veyron I would wager is more satisfying than wringing a VTEC's neck for it's 145lbft of modest, thrashy thrust.

You can get around Venice in a dingy with a 10hp outboard, or you can get around Venice in in a Riva Aquarama. I bet the Italians don't debate whether an 800hp twin V8 powered speedboat can ever be used to it's full performance around Venice. It just isn't the point.

Personally speaking, the more power in reserve, the better. There are too many moronic zombies on the roads these days and the quicker I can under / over take them and be on my way, the better.

Edited by SuperchargedVR6 on Tuesday 25th November 14:23

Zod

35,295 posts

257 months

Tuesday 25th November 2014
quotequote all
Can we please exclude bikes from fast car threads? Every single one is invaded by bikers saying the same old thing.

We know!

Jimmy No Hands

5,007 posts

155 months

Tuesday 25th November 2014
quotequote all
paulmnz said:
This. I drove an F12 earlier this year thinking 'no big deal, how much faster can it really be' after having driven 458's and a F430 scuderia in the past and not been amazed by the feeling of acceleration.

The F12 was on another planet to the 458.
Yup. They are terrifying. laugh

Conscript

1,378 posts

120 months

Tuesday 25th November 2014
quotequote all
SuperchargedVR6 said:
It's the quality of the experience. 1000lbft of thrust from the Veyron I would wager is more satisfying than wringing a VTEC's neck for it's 145lbft of modest, thrashy thrust.
Not necessarily sure that's always true for everyone. Some might say that having to really work a car to extract the driving is all part of the fun and the challenge of spirited driving, as opposed to just pressing you're right foot a bit harder and going to hyperspace.

I get what you're saying though. The Veyron would be easier to exploit anytime you want, where as the revvy VTEC is fun, but only when you put the effort in.

Dover Nige

1,308 posts

242 months

Tuesday 25th November 2014
quotequote all
This is exactly why I sold my Z4M Coupe for an Austin A35 with optimised brakes and suspension, powered by a throbbing 1098cc putting 64bhp out. The little thing makes me grin like a fool every time I get behind the wheel.

It's so much more fun than the Z4M which only made sense at high speed.

I've not looked back since changing once.

Durzel

12,232 posts

167 months

Tuesday 25th November 2014
quotequote all
SuperchargedVR6 said:
Who looks back on their life and says: "I wish I owned less powerful cars, I wish I had less sex, I wish I partied less, I wish I had a smaller house, I wish I had less money" ?

No one does.

So you've got a Veyron, which according to PH wisdom, can't be enjoyed to the full on public roads because it smashes some de facto p/w ratio. So what? I've got a 1000 watt RMS domestic AV system, which I can't use to the full. Does that mean I should sell it and by a 10 watt stereo because I can play it louder more often?

The whole point of huge power reserves is effortless performance. You can hear and feel the difference between something made to do a specific job and no more, and something made to do a job and THEN SOME. It's the quality of the experience. 1000lbft of thrust from the Veyron I would wager is more satisfying than wringing a VTEC's neck for it's 145lbft of modest, thrashy thrust.

You can get around Venice in a dingy with a 10hp outboard, or you can get around Venice in in a Riva Aquarama. I bet the Italians don't debate whether an 800hp twin V8 powered speedboat can ever be used to it's full performance around Venice. It just isn't the point.

Personally speaking, the more power in reserve, the better. There are too many moronic zombies on the roads these days and the quicker I can under / over take them and be on my way, the better.

Edited by SuperchargedVR6 on Tuesday 25th November 14:23
Eruditely put.

It can be enjoyable just getting up to speed fast, or even just knowing that it's there. That's why I've never quite understood the mentality of people who think that someone who has a fast car absolutely must drive it like they stole it from the moment they turn the key, or why they aren't "enjoying it sufficiently" by just sticking to the speed limits.

The only real practical issue with excessive power is that it exposes inexperience or inability of the driver more. In a "normal" car you'd have to be a bit of an idiot for a sustained period to catch yourself going too fast, whereas in a supercar - particularly an older one - you'd only have to put your foot down in sufficiently bad conditions and find yourself being asked questions of your reactions and driving ability.

BobSaunders

3,027 posts

154 months

Tuesday 25th November 2014
quotequote all
MC Bodge said:
It's been established many times on here that most of the people on here only pootle to work and back, but like knowing that the power is there.
Agreed. I don't get much out of 40-50mph in the city- i just like knowing that in an emergency there is 560bhp under my right foot to get out of the way of something.

Will i use all of it legally? Yes. In a straight line, on a track. Will i use all of it illegally? God no. Points do not win prizes.





Jasandjules

69,825 posts

228 months

Tuesday 25th November 2014
quotequote all
I can't use all of the TVR, but now and again you give the throttle a squirt, the V8 roars and the car rockets up the road, and I giggle.........

MC Bodge

21,552 posts

174 months

Tuesday 25th November 2014
quotequote all
BobSaunders said:
Agreed. I don't get much out of 40-50mph in the city- i just like knowing that in an emergency there is 560bhp under my right foot to get out of the way of something.
I didn't say I agreed with it though wink

Drive slow cars fast-ish rather than fast cars slow.

epom

11,398 posts

160 months

Tuesday 25th November 2014
quotequote all
Jimmy No Hands said:
paulmnz said:
This. I drove an F12 earlier this year thinking 'no big deal, how much faster can it really be' after having driven 458's and a F430 scuderia in the past and not been amazed by the feeling of acceleration.

The F12 was on another planet to the 458.
Yup. They are terrifying. laugh
Often wondered about the F12 and how fast it would be say compared to a 458. It has what 730bhp? Think about that for a second, brilliant.

*Al*

3,830 posts

221 months

Tuesday 25th November 2014
quotequote all
I've had various 1000cc Supersports bikes over the last few years and no car I've ever had or been in comes near to the thrill of riding, even when taking it easy. I could never exploit a litre to it's maximum on the road but with a car it does feel possible. Yes of course they are 2 very different types of vehicles, I love both.

nitrodave

1,262 posts

137 months

Tuesday 25th November 2014
quotequote all
Yyou don't need to be using all that power all the time, but having it on tap to use at an appropriate time is awesome.

It's like owning a super pricey, powerful and high quality home hifi. You get great pleasure listening to it at normal volumes as the quality is sublime and feel chuffed when the time comes to crank it up one notch from distortion and enjoy all the power it has to offer.

DrDoofenshmirtz

15,186 posts

199 months

Tuesday 25th November 2014
quotequote all
Zod said:
Can we please exclude bikes from fast car threads? Every single one is invaded by bikers saying the same old thing.

We know!
Aww, Can't you just pretend to disagree so we can have an argument that nobody ever wins?

Robert Elise

956 posts

144 months

Tuesday 25th November 2014
quotequote all
Durzel said:
SuperchargedVR6 said:
Who looks back on their life and says: "I wish I owned less powerful cars, I wish I had less sex, I wish I partied less, I wish I had a smaller house, I wish I had less money" ?

No one does.

So you've got a Veyron, which according to PH wisdom, can't be enjoyed to the full on public roads because it smashes some de facto p/w ratio. So what? I've got a 1000 watt RMS domestic AV system, which I can't use to the full. Does that mean I should sell it and by a 10 watt stereo because I can play it louder more often?

The whole point of huge power reserves is effortless performance. You can hear and feel the difference between something made to do a specific job and no more, and something made to do a job and THEN SOME. It's the quality of the experience. 1000lbft of thrust from the Veyron I would wager is more satisfying than wringing a VTEC's neck for it's 145lbft of modest, thrashy thrust.

You can get around Venice in a dingy with a 10hp outboard, or you can get around Venice in in a Riva Aquarama. I bet the Italians don't debate whether an 800hp twin V8 powered speedboat can ever be used to it's full performance around Venice. It just isn't the point.

Personally speaking, the more power in reserve, the better. There are too many moronic zombies on the roads these days and the quicker I can under / over take them and be on my way, the better.

Edited by SuperchargedVR6 on Tuesday 25th November 14:23
Eruditely put.

It can be enjoyable just getting up to speed fast, or even just knowing that it's there. That's why I've never quite understood the mentality of people who think that someone who has a fast car absolutely must drive it like they stole it from the moment they turn the key, or why they aren't "enjoying it sufficiently" by just sticking to the speed limits.

The only real practical issue with excessive power is that it exposes inexperience or inability of the driver more. In a "normal" car you'd have to be a bit of an idiot for a sustained period to catch yourself going too fast, whereas in a supercar - particularly an older one - you'd only have to put your foot down in sufficiently bad conditions and find yourself being asked questions of your reactions and driving ability.
doesn't address what makes a satisfying drive though. what is fun, rewarding? The oft quoted A35? Fiat 500? (in fact anything Italian with a small engine!)? Many people truly subscribe to the "slow car fast" mentality. It's not an either or thing, i love to experience V8s and full power when i can and regularly drive E92 M3s, XJRs and yet i don't miss that undoubtedly impressive power when i'm back in my lightweight cars. If i didn't get my regular 'fix' i'd have to buy a TVR of my own to satisfy that need. It's not B&W, and less powerful cars can certainly be heaps of fun.

EtcEtc

20,566 posts

171 months

Tuesday 25th November 2014
quotequote all
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?
Good at filtering, is it?

james_gt3rs

4,816 posts

190 months

Tuesday 25th November 2014
quotequote all
DrDoofenshmirtz said:
Zod said:
Can we please exclude bikes from fast car threads? Every single one is invaded by bikers saying the same old thing.

We know!
Aww, Can't you just pretend to disagree so we can have an argument that nobody ever wins?
Just don't mention the Isle of Man wink

xRIEx

8,180 posts

147 months

Tuesday 25th November 2014
quotequote all
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?
The first time your knee touches tarmac, yes - even if you're going slower than in the Atom.

Swanny87

1,265 posts

118 months

Tuesday 25th November 2014
quotequote all
Surely if it pulls like a train it's not that fast at all? You were doing well until you used the phrase "pulls like a train". hehe

DonkeyApple

54,923 posts

168 months

Tuesday 25th November 2014
quotequote all
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 tend to agree, subject to the driving style of the car itself. I had an XKR that must have been around 250/ton but was unexciting. My Overfinch was well under 200/ton but conversely very exciting.

For me, I'd say that my old 4.3 BV Griff, which was around the 250/ton level was more fun to drive the Typhon which is around 400/ton.

The simple fact is that with the Typhon by the time you are getting a driving buzz you are going faster than you want to.

200-250/ton in a slightly rough and ready car like a Griff is pretty much the perfect zone for me. Too much power or too much rubber or too much disconnect from the road brings boredom.

IanMorewood

4,309 posts

247 months

Tuesday 25th November 2014
quotequote all
Apart from a quick blip to go past a dawdler or two it's highly unlikely your going to use the full power of a supercar on the road, that said having a lot more power can make your overtakes safer.