Utilising the power on a VERY powerful car...
Discussion
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.
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
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. The F12 was on another planet to the 458.
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.
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.
It's so much more fun than the Z4M which only made sense at high speed.
I've not looked back since changing once.
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.
Eruditely put.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
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.
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.
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. The F12 was on another planet to the 458.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Eruditely put.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
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.
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. 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.
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.
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